They Knew Each Other From Childhood, But It Took a Dying Man’s Wish to Give Them Their Chance. The Longhorn Canyon series has introduced some great ranching men and women. Pax and Alana are no exception in this touching, emotional country charmer.
Review

Alana Carey learns the devastating news that her father only has about six weeks to live. Now, his frequent mentions of his dream that she find a good man and settle so he can walk her down the aisle holds an all new meaning. Matt Carey knows he’s leaving his only child alone and wants her to have a helpmate like he had with her mother to help Alana run their large cattle ranch. Alana is heartbroken, but is determined that her dad will have his dying wish so she goes to the only man she can count on to go through an engagement and wedding just to make Matt Carey feel he can die without worry and regret. It doesn’t hurt that she has crushed on Pax Callahan since they were kids and recently buried the hatchet on their teenage feud so they are dear friends. A lie for good intentions, but when the time comes, is it really a lie?

Pax once kissed tough and tall Alana Carey behind the barn and nearly got his teeth knocked in and told she wanted nothing to do with him. It hurt in more ways than one since he’d always had a thing for the golden-haired girl from the ranch next door. It is only years later that they get over that and now she needs him to stand by her as she must mourn her father’s coming death, keep her promise to tell no one he’s dying, and pretend she is all taken cared for in her future with Pax. He doesn’t even hesitate to do this and soon finds that being engaged is not as terrifying as some might imagine for the good-timing cowboy who has dreams of settling down- and those dreams now include Alana.

As you might surmise from the blurb, this one had a bittersweet quality particularly once the reader gets to know the dying Matt Carey and the beautiful legacy he has in his daughter, his ranch, and his friends. It was obvious that Pax and Alana were it for each other and they were connected strongly even if it took the fake engagement to get them to see it. Pax feels he has nothing to offer Alana since he’s got a half share in a much smaller ranch and no money. Alana doesn’t worry about that because she knows Pax has a lot to offer as rancher and hard worker, but she does wonder if settling down particularly with her is something he’s ready for. This could have gotten angsty especially with a few other interesting elements that come into the story, but it does not. The author wisely understood that what was there was plenty. It’s a beautiful story and has a gentle pacing. Lots of heartwarming moments and a couple funny ones. The family and friends, small town, and ranch life backdrop is feathered in so well.

I got emotional and still feel it while I’m typing this. It was a beautiful story in the style at only Carolyn Brown can write. Though not one of the high humor ones, it’s still got a good down home feel and I can strongly recommend it to cowboy-small town- contemporary romance fans.

My thanks to Forever for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Some books take a bit of time to decide how you feel about them. This was one of those books. I truly enjoyed reading the story. The characters are very strong and fight what everyone else already knows is love even as they pretend to be in love. It's a trope that I like. But something about this story kept me thinking and wondering just what to say in a review. The story is well written and keeps you turning pages eager to see what happens next. The characters are believable and fun. The story at times is heart-breaking and sweet and full of romance. The situation with Alana and her father is heart wrenching but also uplifting. The whole story at turns will have you wanting to cry, laugh, sign, rant and then it leaves you feeling like you've been through an emotional wringer but so glad to have been along for the ride. This is not an easy read as far as your emotions go. It is easy to read as in it's easy to get lost in the story. Just be prepared to have some tissues handy because at times you'll need them. There is an included story with this edition, Sunrise Ranch, and I'll leave a separate review on that story. But it's great to have it included. This is part of a series, but I have not read the previous titles and did not feel lost. I do plan to go back and read the previous titles now. I have to wonder if those who have read the previous titles will feel their heart even more torn reading this one. Great job, Carolyn Brown! I do recommend COWBOY STRONG to all readers who love romances with strong characters and touching stories. Well worth and time and money and emotional wringing!

Really enjoyed this friends to lovers/marriage of convenience story. Pax and Alana are great characters and throughout the story you feel they are made for each other. The two of them seem to be the only ones who don't know that! The characters are well developed, the wonderful small town is charming and the story is intriguing so it has everything you need for a relaxing entertaining read. I definitely recommend this one.

Carolyn Brown has done it again. Cowboy Strong is a second chance small town romance that hits all the emotions.

Alana Carey grew up competing in rodeo events. Alana could definitely hold her own against the guys. She and Paxton Callahan have been competitors all their lives. Living on neighboring ranches, they developed a strong friendship. Pax has much stronger feelings for Alana than he is willing to admit. When they agree to a fake engagement and marriage to make Alana’s father’s last few weeks of life happy, feelings become a little harder to control than they expected.

I was drawn into Alana and Pax’s story from the first chapter. I laughed. I cried. I didn’t want this book to end.

Cowboy Strong is Book 7 in the Longhorn Canyon series. It can be read as a stand-alone, but you really don’t want to miss the rest of this great series.

I received an ARC of Cowboy Strong from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Alana Carey is every bit as tough as her male cowboy. She can still outshoot, ride, and even work most of them. One thing she cannot do is let down her father, so when he tells her he is dying she knows his wish is to see her married. That is at least one of them. She tells him that she and Paxton have been secretly dating and were planning on eloping later. Now they can have a wedding. First, she must go over to the ranch next to hers and see if she can get Paxton on board.
Paxton Callahan has been in love with Alana Carey since forever, even after she slapped him when they were thirteen when he kissed her. He has always been drawn to her and when she tells him everything he agrees. Once you get into the meat of the story you see that Paxton is doing everything, he can show her that he is in love with her but she still thinks that he is just doing it because of the argument. When a few surprises come up he surprises her by wanting to be with her and now he just needs to get her to see the light. A wonderful story from the beginning to the end with an outstanding epilogue. Very much worth the read.

4.5 stars!

Man, I am so glad that we finally got Pax and Alana's story! I've been waiting for this one for quite a while!

This fake engagement/friends to lovers romance fed my soul in the best way! When Alana finds out that her dad has a terminal illness, she recruits Pax to be engaged to her, so that her father has a chance to see her walk down the isle before he dies. What she didn't count on, was the fact that she and Pax had been running from their feelings since they were kids.

The way these two came together made so much sense to me, and it was just such a treat to read. This book is very much about the journey, and I truly adored it!

I love these Longhorn Canyon people so much! Can't wait for the next one!

ARC for honest review with no compensation Received from NetGalley and Forever

Cowboy Strong is book 7 in the Longhorn Canyon series by Carolyn Brown, this is my first book in this series and while a stand-alone I want to read the others books to see how all the couples got together!

Alana and Pax have know each other since they were kids but never really connect as teens though they each had crushes on the other. Now years later, when Alana gets some devastating news about her father she turns to Pax and what happens next is frustrating, tears, chuckles, friends to lovers, and a fake marriage...or is it fake?

Cowboy Strong is the 7th book in Carolyn Brown’s Longhorn Canyon Ranch series. The beauty of Ms. Brown’s series is how characters may be introduced as incidental in one book but then get the opportunity to be developed in center stage as main characters in another story, or main characters may be revisited to see how things are going for them. I love this continuity.

In this story, Paxton Callahan is brought front and foremost by neighbor and childhood friend, Alana Carey. When Alana’s father Matt reveals to her that he has inoperable brain cancer and that his biggest regret was not having the chance to walk her down the aisle and know he would be leaving her in good hands when he is gone. Alana had lost her mother when she was 10, so when Matt passes she will be alone in the world.

On the fly Alana tells her dad that she has been seeing Pax since he returned to his family ranch and that he had just asked her to marry him. With this lie comes first convincing Pax to go along and then the fabrication of backstory and plans that will embroil them both in a trail of deception that could just lead to a very happily ever after.

This is a well thought out story with wonderful characters and a perfect western setting. Ms. Brown never disappoints! I did enjoy this book and I do recommend it!!

Alanas dad is terminally ill, and one of his wishes before dying was to see Alana married. When Alana learns of his deteriorating health, she decides to fulfill his wish to walk her down the aisle. She comes up with a temporary marriage plan with her neighbor and friend Pax.
Pax has known Alana almost all his life, and though they are attracted to each other, due to some reason or another they have ignored it till now. And when Alana comes to him with a temporary marriage plan to make her dad happy, saying no was not an option.
I have not read the previous books in the series, and despite that I had no issues following the storyline. It is a cute and easy to read romance. The characters are well developed and make a very good couple. I enjoyed the small, western town feel the author has created. Overall a fast paced, feel good read.

This book will just tug on your heart strings. Alana Carey is a hard working stubborn woman. She feels she has time enough to find the right man, get married and raise a family. Life happens though. She tells a lie to please her grandfather and everything changes. Now Paxton Callahan is a confirmed bachelor. He works hard on the ranch with his brother. The only person who has owned his heart since they were kids is offering him the world. Watching those two fall in love as adults was just precious. Planning this wedding brings the whole town together. Be prepared to have a box of tissues near by for the wedding.

I love a good cowboy romance and nobody does them as good as Carolyn Brown. Cowboy Strong is a marriage of convenience trope. Pax is more than willing to help out Alana and temporarily marry her. The plan is a quick divorce after the need is over. Fate and Cupid just might interfere with those plans and keep the couple together longer than they planned.
Both characters were very likeable and really good together. The secondary characters were just as important to the book and recognizable from previous books in the series. Overall--very enjoyable!
I was given a complimentary copy of this book via Netgalley. All thoughts are my own.

Cowboy Strong was another amazing read in the Longhorn Canyon series. It had wonderful characters and a seamless storyline. Can a fake marriage turn into true love and a happily ever after? Read this amazing story and you will find out. I would definitely recommend this book and this amazing series.

Carolyn Brown certainly knows how to write a compelling story that touches your heart and soul. From sexy, cowboy Pax to the strong willed and tall Alana, this story of a fake engagement pulled me right in until the very last page. What a beautiful wedding Matt gave his daughter and she gave him the gift of a lifetime.

I liked that some of the story made me happy, some parts made me laugh, some parts made me sad, and some parts made me cry. That makes the story and its characters absolutely perfect. I am sure Matt and Joy were smiling at the end as they watched over Pax and Alana. I received an advance copy of this book and I willingly chose to write an honest review.

Another fun cowboy read from Carolyn Brown! Alana and Pax have had their ups and downs in love, a kind of love/hate relationship that started in their young years but after years of being standoffish Alana needs a favor from Pax. Arriving back in town Pax wasn't expecting to become an engaged man but when Alana needs a groom to ease her dying father's mind. This book has humor, wittiness and heat! Great characters that you enjoyed in the previous book in this series make appearances, well worth the read!

Out of all the cowboy books I've read, this is my least favorite. I read so many great reviews on Goodreads before starting so I had high expectations, but everything was just..bland. From the start, we knew Alana's father was dying and that's why there was a wedding to begin with, but everything just felt like it didn't mesh well! From Alana & Pax's friendship to their day to day interactions, that "zing" was just missing. I expected them to fall head over heels in love with each other. I expected to cry during her father's funeral. I expected THE SWOON, but here I am, not swooning and wondering why I feel so unfulfilled. I probably shouldn't have gone in with expectations bc that's kind of the rudest thing you can do as a reader, so I apologize for that, but dang did I miss getting those butterflies. -JH

Thank you NetGalley, Forever Grand Central Publishing and Carolyn Brown for gifting me an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!
I read this as a stand alone but after reading discovered this is actually book number seven in a series involving the people of the town so if you enjoy this one first be sure to go back and read the others!
This was a lighter read involving a hunky cowboy, a strong cowgirl and their race to the altar before time runs out. If you’re looking for a clean and cute light summer read this one should be on your list!

This was the best of the series to me. We knew this might all happen once Pax went home. (This is book 7 and we meet him and his brother earlier in the series) But it has a lot of twists and turns, with a bit of troupes in it all. This felt fast but also not as fast of the others since they had really been in love with each other since they were kids. Alana is a strong women we meet in previous books and Pax is worried she is too strong for him. She will also take charge of a huge ranch compared to Pax. Pax is one of my favorites in this series, he is super kind and we find out calming to Alana when she needs him the most.

These all were a little too old school for me to give it super high stars, the writing is the same during the whole series and good but its a little troupe and not super original.. The steam is all closed door as well.

Overall, 3.5 stars and 2 steam (closed door)

Thank you to the publisher and author for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Although part of a series, I feel this can be read as a standalone story.

Pax and Alana grew up as neighbors and friends. Their first kiss was when they were 13. When Alana gets devastating need about her father's health, she makes up a story that sets the stage for an interesting and fun story.

It's a friend's to lovers story that's sweet and lighthearted, except as they deal with her father's declining health. They come to rely on each other and realize the feelings developing are real and they won't need to continue living a lie.

I received a free ARC eBook from Net Galley and the publisher in exchange for my honest opinions.

COWBOY STRONG is the seventh book in Carolyn Brown’s “Longhorn Canyon” series. This is a great book for readers who enjoy the “second chance at romance” and “fake romance that turns real” tropes. Alana Carey’s father only has about six months to live. It’s been just the two of them for years and she’s understandably heartbroken. His last wish is to see her married and with somebody to share her life with. With such a limited amount of time, Alana formulates a plan to give her dad what he wants before he passes on. She enlists her childhood friend Paxton “Pax” Callahan to put her plan of a temporary engagement and wedding into action. I love fake romances that turn real in the end and these characters are easy to root for.

Because Carolyn Brown tells this story from alternating perspectives, you get a sense of the secret attraction that Alana and Pax have had for each other over the years. For various reasons, neither has expressed a romantic interest since they’ve become adults. When they were about thirteen, Pax snuck a kiss and Alana responded with a smack and that was the end of things. Neither was mature enough at the time to have a conversation and work things out. Her father’s illness has forced the issue and given Alana and Pax a reason and time to explore the long-standing attraction. I really like this hero and heroine. Both are good people and very genuine. Through assorted dates, long talks, and sizzling make out sessions, this couple gets to know each other better and believe a future together is possible. Just about all the supporting characters in this book – family, friends, and well-meaning strangers – play the part of cupid in getting these two together for real. The original plan was to have the marriage annulled after Alana’s father dies, but as the days go by, a separation becomes harder to fathom for these two. One of the best things about this couple in COWBOY STRONG is the way that the two main characters work together and are so caring and sweet-natured. Their similar backgrounds of working on a ranch and growing up in the same town gives them some common ground to build on.

COWBOY STRONG has hot cowboys, tender moments, electric chemistry, and great storytelling. This is a good book if you like character-driven storytelling and an equal mix of sexy and sweet. I love Carolyn Brown’s cowboy romances and look forward to her next.

I loved this poignant yet sweet romance!

This charming, witty story has its tearjerker moments, too. We start the story with Alana getting just about the worst news possible, and from there her only goal is doing whatever she can to make her dad happy. Paxton, always the stalwart friend, agrees to marry her in less than a month to fulfill her dad's last wishes.

This sets up like a predictable friends-to-lovers romance, but it's written so well that it goes so much deeper than expected. Pax and Alana have such a rich history, with each other and within their community, that it made their love story truly captivating throughout.

I especially loved that their secret stayed a secret throughout; no requisite cringey unveiling followed by protests of "but it's real now." Truth is, it was always real, even when they didn't realize it.

I am an absolute sucker for these kinds of lifelong connection romances, and this one was simply sublime. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.