I was expecting a great story, with a bit of action thrown in, however I never would have guessed that the story would start with a…bang. Right from the start, LfaC has a ‘mystery’ that is very heartbreaking. Marlee has a story that truly shapes her life from the opening pages and throughout the entire book. It really kept me on the edge of my seat, literally, and I read it straight thru til the end. I had to know how it all turned out.

Loved Marlee and Cooper. Marlee is such a strong, determined, headstrong woman and the story helps her to see that a different perspective, and maybe a wee bit of help, will go a long way to moving forward on her life’s mission. I don’t want to give you too many details because the story has to be read – and you will enjoy it, if you like your romance with a side of mayhem. IMHO, the author really hit the feelings and insecurities and family/love connections with all the characters. I truly adored Cooper as he put himself out there for Marlee; and Jace, and his mother (who is a riot, btw), and the rest of his ‘brothers’. I’d trust him to have my back – anytime.

The book is a standalone but I have read and enjoyed the previous books in this series. I like to read about previous characters and know who they are. It’s not necessary for most folks but I love the sneak peaks into their ‘now’ lives.

Excellent! Just the right amount of intrigue and romance. All the characters were well developed and likable.. I can see a series developing. Good job!

Wow! Donna Grant has done it again. Cooper and Marlee's story is heartbreaking and uplifting at the same time. I love their relationship and that they found their HEA. The storyline of the missing babies is sad, but keeps you on the edge of your seat to find out if they are going to figure out whodunit!

Overall I enjoyed this book, but I thought the prologue was stilted as well as a few spots here and there. I like her characters in this series, it makes you want to live in this town and have friends like that. I hope others pick up her books and enjoy them as I do.

Marlee has come to Texas, searching for the ones who kill women and steal their babies. When she sets her focus on Cooper’s friends, he gets involved, and the sparks fly. I like the author, and read many of her work, but the subject here bothered me a bit. Story is well written and such, and would recommend, but sad concept for me.

This is my first book I’ve ever read by this author and I’m sure it won’t be my last. When the book begins, it’s about a set of twins settling into adulthood together to raise the expecting baby. While one of the twins is at work, her sister is tragically murdered. The store goes to a time jump and we meet the hero of the story, family and friends. Along the way you meet a lot of other people including the villains of the story. I love the multiple insights given by the author, the mystery, the action, the love story, the tragedy and relationships the book holds. It is definitely worth a number of reads. And I hope for another characters book next.

Book 5 of the "Heart of Texas" series and I was so engaged from the very beginning with the good character and storyline development! I really enjoyed Marlee and Cooper together, they kept me turning the pages until the very end!

I received this book as an ARC thanks to the publisher & Netgalley. This review is my own.

Description from the book:
"P.I. Marlee Frampton always wanted to lead a nice quiet life, working as a cop in her local police department. But that dream came to an end when her sister was murdered—and her baby kidnapped. Now Marlee’s come to Texas to investigate the Harpers, who may be linked to shady adoption agencies. Cooper can’t believe that his friends could be involved in anything so sinister...and soon he makes it his mission to help Marlee discover the truth—and keep her safe in his arms."

First of all - I strongly recommend reading this entire series. It is really good and the background stories of the other characters are referenced from time to time, so having that "base knowledge" is useful.

This book starts with a reference to a horrific crime and does include multiple other descriptions along those lines as Marlee is tracking those responsible for her sister's murder. Marlee meets Cooper while she is investigating his friends and sparks fly immediately.

This is a nice easy and interesting read - with enough drama and suspense that you won't want to put it down!

I was looking forward to the story of Cooper as he was one of the characters in Book 4 in the "Heart of Texas" series by Donna Grant.

Looking for a Cowboy is one of those stories that really didin't peak my interest with the title but as I got to reading the prelude to the story I found myself pulled into knowing what was this story really about.as it didn't start off as one of those more happier meetings between the H//h. Although the beginning did not stump me and I knew what was coming when Marlee could not find her sister, it didn't take long for me to put together the pieces and know what had happended to her twin sister. As mentioned earlier, the book begins in the past with the horrific murder of Marlee's twin sister, the kidnapping of her niece that was stolen from her sister's body only in her eighth month, and her vow to find out who had killed her.

Now to the future, some 10 years later P.I. Marlee is still on a mission to find out the people behind numerous hideous crimes with the same M.O. where someone is killing pregnant women for their unborn child. Clues lead Marlee to Clearview, TX where she meets up with Cooper who is friends with the individuals that Marlee is suspecting behind this crime or have just adopted a stolen baby. With the help of Cooper in her investigation, not only does the suspense heat up but their attraction to one another.

I really didn't think I would enjoy this story but it had the makings of plot, minor characters to add to the fray, suspense, twists and turns, romance, intimacy between the H/h that ends in a nicely written HEA. I enjoy historical romances and this story by Donna Grant was very well written, as was in her last book.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this digital ARC in exchange for my fair and honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Let's start by saying this book is part of a series and to read the series beforehand. I was so lost and confused the first two chapters, I feel like it put a damper on the whole book.

The storyline itself was fast paced and worth reading. I wasn't overly in love with the main characters and I didn't like how the storyline wasn't resolved.

Would I buy this book? Not really. Would I read the first few books I the series and then give this another chance? Most likely.

This is a nice addition to this series although it isn't my favourite one. I couldn't 100% take to Marlee but I did warm to her more as the story went on. The book was fast paced and the storyline was interesting but I wish it had been totally finished out. I hope that the large loose end will be tied up in the next book.

Overall - a nice read.

Marlee was a cop when her twin sister was murdered and her baby cut out of her. Marlee leaves the police force and becomes a private detective who searches for missing and kidnapped babies. It’s been ten years since her sister was murdered and she is still looking for her niece. One of her cases takes her to Texas where she is investigating the Harpers. They have adopted a baby boy and Marlee believes it’s the baby of a man who’s wife was murdered and the baby stolen. Cooper is best friends with the Harpers and when he meets Marlee, he knows she is up to something. When he finds out she is investigating his friends and him, he is furious. Once he hears her story, he and his friends help her find the ringleader. As they get closer to the culprits, Marlee and Cooper are in grave danger. Marlee realizes that she has fallen for Cooper but it could be to late.

This story made me think “ This could really happen “. It kept me on the edge of my seat. You have suspense, action, and some sex. I feel like there was a cliffhanger but I don’t know if it’ll ever be solved. I loved the hero and heroine and think they are perfect for each other.

* Voluntarily read and reviewed this for NetGalley *

When Marlee Frampton lost her twin sister to a murder/ kidnap when she was pregnant with Marlee's niece, she made it her life's work to catch the murderer/baby thief.
She worked hard for 10 long years and thinks she finally has a chance to catch them.
Cooper Owens knows his friends would never adopt a black market baby, so when he finds out what Marlee is up to, he and his friends make it their mission to help. They knew that these were dangerous people, but they didn't know how dangerous. As they found out more and more about the ring, more bodies turned up, and several of the people helping Marlee were viciously attacked.
Marly and Owen got very close, so close they never wanted to be separated, but was it possible? Could they stop the baby ring without any else dying? Can they build a life together?
Ms. Grant weaves a tale of intrigue, with strong families and friendships. She also injects a hot and steamy love story in her tale of mystery. I highly recommend it to lovers of cowboy intrigue and smokin' hot romance.
I requested and received a NetGalley Arc to peruse gratis and offer my opinion in the same.

The story of Cooper and Marlee
They meet when she is in town investigating his friends. The story is emotional at times and not quite what I expected, bu a good read.

I adore Donna Grant and the stories and characters she creates!
I enjoyed getting back to previous characters from other books in this series. However, the main topic in this book of abducted infants, pregnant mothers murdered and their babies cut from the womb to be sold to the highest bidder was an extremely difficult one to read about. When I read, I submerge myself in the storyline and this one was difficult. Not even the building relationship between Marlee and Cooper could pull me out of the sickening and disturbing topic. Marlee hunting down the people killing pregnant women, avenging her sister and finding her niece is how she meets Cooper and his friends and family. The storyline started off strong but then Stella and her weird sudden consciousness toward killing people especially Marlee was just strange. Then there was the paragraphs that just ended with one character and started in with another character and situation, that was confusing and not a smooth flow reading. The the story wraps up quickly, not all questions answeted, Hea no epilogue the end.
Not my favorite book by this author but I will continue reading her books.

After her pregnant sister was murdered, the baby cut from her and sold, Marlee left her job as a police officer and became a PI spending the next ten years searching for her stolen niece and the ones who killed her sister and the crooked adoption agencies responsible for so many of these atrocities. She meets Cooper Owens when her investigation leads her to Texas and to the Harpers who just adopted a newborn. Cooper, the Harpers, the Easts (whom we’ve met and enjoyed in previous Heart of Texas novels) join forces with Marlee to help in her investigation and Cooper falls for the beautiful and hard-working PI and sparks fly.

Suspense and romance make for a great weekend of reading in this latest Heart of Texas novel from Donna Grant. Thank you Netgalley for this ARC to enjoy and review.

The book begins with a horrific crime. It has been 10 years since Marlee's pregnant twin sister was murdered. In her 8th month the baby was ripped from her body and kidnapped. As a private investigator Marlee has made it her mission to find out who committed the crime. This leads her to Clearview, Texas where she meets Cooper. While his friends have just adopted a.baby, Marlee believes they may have adopted a stolen baby. With Cooper's help they begin their investigation and while doing so their relationship heats up. What we have here is a novel high in suspense and a bit of romance. High in emotion, this is a book you cannot put down. I have never read anything by Donna Grant before, but this won't be my last.

Loved this book. The characters, the storyline, the challenges met by Marlee, Cooper and friends.

Why do things alone when there are people who will help? That's a question Marlee will have to answer during her journey.

Tissues may be needed but there will also be lots of emotions through this book. Plus I want to read Jace's story next.

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is one of my favorite series and guarantees suspense, surprise and sexiness.

The beginning of this Book starts with an event that sparks Marlee Frampton with a passion to fight for a cause and get justice. The last ten years she has spent tracking a crime ring of baby snatchers and corrupt adoptions. Her search has led her to Clearview, Texas and the famous East/Harpers and their band of friends. (You'll definitely want to read the other books in this series if you haven't- they are great!)

Marlee has done her due diligence on the background of this group and thinks an "in" with the group might be easy with sexy Cooper Owens. Cooper is taken with the beautiful Marlee but soon realizes that she is out for something else- more than just a dinner date. With Cooper burned and Marlee shooting herself in her own foot as they say, it's going to be a hard, long journey to figure out the clues that brought her to town. Marlee is smart and brilliant, but most of all has a story that aligns her with the group and they soon are backing her on the mission.

I loved Marlee and Cooper together- they seem meant to be so that's always a sign of good writing. The suspense and twist and turns in this story made for a very suspenseful and entertaining read. While you remain focused on the main mission, the secondary characters keep you entertained along with Cooper and Marlee. Of course, I can't help but wonder which gets the next story- Jase hopefully.

I really enjoyed the story. It was detailed and intriguing. I felt let down a tad at the rushed Epilogue but know that with the detail of the story it probably called for a shorter Epilogue.

This book was so boring to me. I didn't feel the connection between the main characters, and while I sympathized with Marlee's drive to help people in similar situations as the one she found herself when her sister was murdered, it didn't go beyond that. In fact, we don't find out anything about her niece, whether she's alive or not, and I think the synopsis leads us to believe that there would be a resolution to her case.
The romance was just, overall, wishy-washy, nothing really gripped me or made me interested.