This one was not my typical read - western, suspense, romance. Whew! It was a fun read, but not my usual cup of tea!

4 star

I was pulled right into this story. The story has laughs, struggles, danger, secrets, and heartbreak.

This is Dillon and Cal’s story. Dillon inherited her aunt’s ranch, but someone wants her gone. There is danger all around and she is thinks she knows who is doing all the things at the ranch. But when Cal shows up, she believes that he is part of the danger until he helps her out. Now she has to trust that she is trusting the right person, or she will lose not only the ranch but her life. He wants to help and comes up with an idea which throws them even closer together. Can he really protect her and help her save the ranch from danger? When secrets are revealed will he be on her side or the side of the danger? Did she trust the wrong person?

I felt I was able to connect with the characters and the story was a great read.

I recommend this book.

That Cowboy of Mine is a romantic suspense story that will have you on the edge of your seat. What happens when you wake up after drinking too much and are accused of a crime? Cal Bennett finds himself in a sticky situation when a shotgun is pointed at him by a cowgirl named Dillon Young. She’s out looking for her prized horse when she comes upon a stranger who could be the culprit. Not knowing whether to trust him or not, she hires him to work on the ranch, just because she is desperate for help. For several months bizarre and dangerous things are happening at Dillon’s ranch and someone wants her gone. The danger increases when shots are fired and Cal saves her from death. You know who the bad guys are but still need to figure out the why. Things aren’t always what they seem and it is so hard to trust your instincts. This plot driven story is heavy on the suspense and light on the romance and I just couldn’t put it down. The author really knows who to spin and captivate the reader and I devoured this story easily.

This story sucked me in from the very beginning - danger, suspense, intrigue, and a hot cowboy - count me in!

Dillon Young finds Cal Bennnett passed out on her ranch and her newly purchased prized horse missing. Cal looks guilty until he saves her life. Someone is out to kill Dillon. Cal feels a instant connection to her but until he can sort out how he ended up passed out on her land with no memory how he got there. We kind of know who the bad guys are in this book pretty quick but we don't know who all the bad guys are. For a bit there are started wondering if every man in the story was a bad guy. Lot's of suspense but not a lot of romance. For me the ending was kind of weird. I enjoyed the book but would not read it again.

Dillon and Cal were one hot couple and the fireworks weren’t all sexual chemistry either! Donna Grant rocked another success.

That Cowboy of Mine by Donna Grant
Subgenre: Western romance
Release date: 26 Apr 2022
Publisher: St Martin’s Paperbacks‎
Format: ebook and print
Length: 281 pages
RRP: $9.54 (ebook); $21.90 (print)

It is not every day that Cal Bennett has a shotgun in his face. But he likes the look of the woman at the other end of that shotgun. Unfortunately, he doesn’t know how he got to be on this woman’s property. He was absolutely drunk, and the hangover is really starting to grow worse. As he and Dillion Young are looking for her prized and expensive horse, the gunshots ring out and he pushes her to the ground, saving her life.

Dillon Young takes him to the homestead and there he secures a job on her property. Dillon has inherited the property from her aunt, and as the story unwinds, we discover that property is much more valuable than Dillon realises, hence the attempted murder.

It turns out that Cal also knows Dillion’s prime suspect. This makes her doubt Cal on a whole other level, but she cannot deny her attraction to him. Cal has to try and work out what happened when he was so drunk and what he may have agreed to as he has a funny feeling that he is actually part of the group trying to get Dillon to sell her ranch at any cost. Dillon is suspicious of Cal and then decides to go around him when she can’t be sure of who to trust. But is she trusting the correct person or persons?

As the story evolves, the reader is taken through the twists and turns of why the ranch is so desired. Some of the plot twists are expected and some were not expected which is something I like in these types of suspense stories.

The attraction between Dillon and Cal is instant but due to the nature of the danger, it is very on and off, and, at times, it has that slow burn feel. The ending is a surprise and not a place I totally expected the story to go, but it was fitting.

This was a great relaxing afternoon read.

Reviewed by Heather

A review copy of this book was provided by the publisher.

I enjoyed every minute of That Cowboy of Mine with a unforgettable and relatable characters you feel like you know and a suspenseful romance that immediately pulled me into the middle of all that was happening and I couldn't put the book down until I read the last word. This is definitely a must-read for anyone who enjoys well crafted suspenseful romance. I received an advance reader copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of voluntarily leaving my review and liked it so much, I purchased a copy.

Combining thrilling suspense with a sultry Cowboy Romance, Donna Grant grabs my attention once again in her latest standalone release.

Dillon Young has inherited her aunt’s ranch and decides to stay and make a go of it raising the cattle and breeding Quarter Horses, but her ranch is holding on by a thread and so is she after all the mishaps. Someone wants her to sell out and leave and Dillon knows just who it is. She just needs to find a non-corrupt lawman and prove it.

Meanwhile, is the booze-soaked hungover cowboy she finds the night her prize Quarter Horse stud disappeared part of it or a big coincidental lifesaver? Cal has made his way into her trust and her heart as he helps her on the ranch, supports her, and keeps her out of the path of bullets, but weird happenings have her doubting everyone including him.

Cal didn’t make the bull-riding finals for rodeo and he’s flat broke, but going on a bender landed him in just the right place to help attractive, admirable Dillon with her troubles. If only she would trust him. Not that he blames her since he has connections to the big rancher next door trying to get her ranch. He aims to find out what is going on even if old ties and loyalties are stretched and broken.

I enjoy Donna Grant’s brand of romantic suspense and don’t mind that a lot of the book leans toward the suspense side in many ways. Dillon and Cal were wonderful characters who have their struggles and, in her case, struggles to accept the romance between them because of the circumstances. I enjoyed the mystery even though the reader is well aware of who the villains are and what they are doing from their own point of view. There are still some surprises and twists. Even Cal is a potential suspect which was a fun part to me. There are some sharp action moments that help build the story to a rush of a climax scene. The romance heats up in the background and takes the foreground now and then, but never feels neglected because these two talk about that aspect of their lives that builds relationships even while she still wonders if he’s part of the trouble.

All in all, this kept me fully focused and flipping pages rapidly through to the end. Definitely one I’d recommend to those who love cowboy romances, but also romantic suspense.

A strong-headed woman who handles her inherited ranch, Dillon is adjusting happily to farm life, not until bullets start to come her way. Someone wanted her dead. Deep inside, she knew who it was, but she needed proof, not a stranger who suddenly woke up on her property.

Cal, the famous bull fighter, didn't have direction in life, not until he found himself with a gun pointed in his face and he worked his way to gaining Dillon's trust. He would do anything to protect the woman, even if they pretended to be in a relationship.

These two are fun to read together, with the mystery and action in every scene. It really boils down to this: sometimes the people we see in the shadows most are the ones who would betray us.

I am adding one to many of the cowboy stories that I read from Miss Donna Grant. I am always grateful for the ARC, St. Martin's Press and Netgalley!

That Cowboy of Mine was a fantastic read featuring a romance between a ranch owner dealing with random attacks and the man who helps protect her.

Dillon Young loves the ranch she inherited from her aunt and is determined to make her proud. Unfortunately someone wants Dillon off the land and they're willing to do whatever it takes to get her gone. Dillon suspects her wealthy neighbor, who made several offers for the ranch, of being behind it all. Wary of all strangers, Dillon is on high alert when she finds a man passed out drunk on her property. Cal Bennett has no idea how he ended up on Dillon's land or why he's there but he certainly has no interest in taking her land. And when someone takes a shot at her, he knocks her out of the way. With Dillon's life on the line, Cal offers to pose as her lover for extra security. As the two work together to find out who is behind the threats, their fake romance starts to feel all too real.

Dillon lived in the city prior to her aunt's passing but she tried to spend as much of her free time as she could at the ranch. The ranch was the one place Dillon felt at peace and that's not something she wants to give up. Now that her aunt is gone, the ranch is the place she feels closest to her. The threats on the ranch and Dillon's life started not long after she took over and made it clear she was there for the long haul. I liked how Dillon refused to back down in the face of the threats while she was also realistic about what she could handle alone.

Cal is the son of a rodeo man and followed in his father's footsteps once he was old enough. At the most recent qualifying event, Cal didn't make the cut so he went to a bar to drown his sorrows before somehow ending up on Dillon's land. Now that he doesn't have the rodeo, Cal is unsure what to do with his life as he never imagined another path for himself. Him being unsure of his future was very relatable and I liked seeing him find a place for himself on Dillon's ranch independent of his desire to protect her.

Dillon and Cal's relationship does not get off to a good start as she is immediately suspicious of him being on her land and he has no explanation for why he's there. Despite the animosity, the two are immediately attracted to one another so when Cal proposed the ruse of him posing as her lover, I was immediately invested as I love fake dating romances. It doesn't take long for the pair to give in to the attraction between them and the scenes were very well done. Their relationship does hit a bit of a snag when events lead to Dillon suspecting Cal of being involved in what's going on. There's definitely a lack of communication there which was frustrating at times but ultimately made sense given what was going on. The investigation into who is terrorizing Dillon was well done and went in several directions I wasn't expecting. The build up in the plot is well done and the final confrontation with the bad guy was fantastic.

Overall That Cowboy of Mine was a great read and I would highly recommend it.

The heroine is strong, self reliant if a little naive. Our hero is floared but honorable. He learns not to trust an old friend who is not what he seems and eventually saves th day. Intrigue, romance, murder and triumph; it has it all!

Yes, another cowboy story from Donna Grant. After Home for a Cowboy Christmas, we now have Dillon who has inherited her aunt’s ranch. She is struggling to manage everything, especially when there are some strange accidents happening.

Cal doesn’t remember, how he got on Dillon’s ranch. He only remembers the barrel of a gun, staring him right in the face.

When Dillon finds a stranger on her farm, she is convinced that he is the source of the incidents. until someone shoots at her, while she has her gun trained on Cal.

When Cal saves Dillon, he decides to stick around to find the culprit. Because although he can’t remember how he got at the farm, he feels that Dillon is in need of help. While trying to find the source of the incidents, things heat up between Cal and Dillon. Dillon, however, is still not convinced she can trust Cal. But when things are escalating, she doesn’t have a lot of people to turn to.

Is Cal the one behind the attacks? Or is someone else the mastermind. As usual with Donna, she keeps you guessing right until the end.

So, hop on and enjoy the ride! Five out of five stars from me and a special thank you to Netgalley for providing the arc.

I must admit that after the last cowboy release from Donna Grant I went into this story with exceptionally high hopes and expectations, and though I overall enjoyed the story, I have to say this one didn’t rise to my expectations as much as I would have hoped. Obviously I have never read a Grant novel I hated or wouldn’t read again, but this story was not up to the normal level of awesome. Grant’s cowboy novels are always amazing and this story was filled with everything that I would want in a great read, intrigue, betrayal, and romance, but there seemed to have lacked the usual depth and emotional connection between Dillon and Cal for me. Dillon has had a lot of problems in her past with people disappointing her and she doesn’t trust easily, so when she meets the mysterious and confusing Cal she can’t understand why she almost immediately trusts him with her life. Cal wakes up with a gun in his face and no idea how he ended up on the land of the sexy rancher that is holding the gun, but he is drawn to her snarky, sassy self and when he discovers her life is in danger, jumps right in to offer his –somewhat meager—services as a bodyguard. The more they spend time together the more they both come to believe that there is much more going on around them they than initially believed, but there is some missing piece that neither can seem to find. Together they dig through layers of deceit and mistruths, but the connection between them draws them together in passion and there is no denying the need they feel for one another. When Dillon learns something that makes it nearly impossible for her to continue to trust in Cal, he has to work harder to find the full story and protect the woman that has stolen his heart and soul, or it might just cost both their lives.

While I enjoyed the overall storyline, the mystery and the connections that were uncovered gradually, there was just something lacking in this one for me and I couldn’t connect like I usually can to any Grant story. I liked Dillon well enough though she let her mistrust and fear leave her in the darkness entirely too much, walling off her heart and doubting her instincts instead of trusting in the one person she always should—herself. Had she looked deeper into her own life and what led to her fears it was entirely possible she wouldn’t have had half the problems she did and maybe that was why she wasn’t one of my favorite characters. Cal is the epitome of a loose and carefree cowboy that has hit rock bottom, and I enjoyed getting to see him find his own way out of that stereotype. It was obvious he was over living his selfish life and wanted to find a place for himself, and when Dillon captured his heart right away he is determined to offer himself up to her 100%. I will say that there was no lack of passion or sensual connection between these two, even if the emotional connection was hard to find due to Dillon’ trust issues. Maybe I just wasn’t in the right frame of mind at the time of read this one, and I will certainly give it a reread later on and see how I feel then, because Donna Grant’s books never have left me wanting before. That said, if you are looking for a fun romantic-suspense with sexy cowboys and creepy villains this story will give you everything you want. I’m looking forward to whatever comes next on the contemporary shelf for Ms. Grant and hope I’m in the right frame of mind to love it as I have previous stories.

I have read pretty much every book that Donna Grant has published and that I have loved every one of them.

For me, romances with cowboys are usually hit or miss but all of Donna's cowboy romances have been a huge hit for me.

I was hooked from the very beginning. If it weren't for the fact that I had been so tired and not feeling well I know I would have read That Cowboy of Mine very quickly because I just didn't want to put it down.

If you are looking for a romantic read that has action and suspense then I do highly recommend this book.

I am going to give this 5 out of 5.

I received a copy of this story for my honest review.
One of the things I love about reading Donna Grant’s books is the romance, mystery, and suspense. The setting, characters, and story line are all wrapped into a fabulous story. When I see her name on the cover I know it’s going to be a great read.

If you like a book that embraces multiple genres than this is for you. A little mystery, thriller, love story, HEA, with some corruption, deception, out and out lies, death threats and so much more. Dillon wants to live her life quietly running the ranch she inherited from her beloved aunt. She’s been incredibly clear that she doesn’t want to sell out to the narcissistic Hank who owns much of the surrounding area. She is content being alone and doing her thing. Would she like more, sure, but taking care of her ranch is her priority as she has learned to trust no one. As the threats become more forceful and the “accidents” on the ranch keep escalating she is worried. Then she finds Cal, on her property. He’s got zero idea of how he got there and unbeknownst to him, he is an integral part of a plot to take her land from her. Can she trust him? Not going to give anything away, but it is a romance so use your imagination! It’s an crooked, rough road to Dillon finally getting exactly what she wanted and needed in her life.

A copy of this book was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Donna Grant’s ‘That Cowboy of Mine’ is a contemporary romance novel with a bit of suspense.

Dillon Young has recently inherited a ranch from her aunt and is encountering many problems. One of which is discovering Cal Bennett passed out on her property while looking for her prized stallion that has gone missing. Someone wants to drive Dillon away, however, Cal is there to help even though there is some suspicion about him at first.

Both Dillon and Cal work together to find out who is after her and the ranch. The romance between the two is slow burning but well worth it.

With her, he’d found a place that gave him hope, a way of life that eased his soul, and the stirrings of something that he feared putting into thought, much less words. He’d given up ever having a fulfilling life, and yet, here it was, waiting for him. It felt too good to be true.
CAL BENNETT – THAT COWBOY OF MINE

While this novel had its twists and turns, there was some predictable factors. Overall, it was a well written story.

Dillion Young has found contentment on the ranch that she inherited from her aunt. She isn’t about to give in to the man who wants to buy the ranch. Dillion will fight even if it costs her life. Cole Bennett is a bull rider who is down on his luck. When he wakes up from a black out after a night of drinking to find himself on the wrong end of a shotgun. Cole finds a new way of life after going to work for the woman holding a shotgun on him. As Dillion comes to rely on Cole, she just may find a savior along with a love she didn’t expect in That Cowboy of Mine.

That Cowboy of Mine is the stand-alone western book by Donna Grant. A down on his luck bull rider will find a new lease on life after a night of drinking. A woman whose life is in danger just may find a protector in the stranger at the end of her shotgun. These two will find a way to trust each other through the danger that they face. That Cowboy of Mine takes two people not looking for romance finding it in the midst of suspense and trust issues with each other and everyone around them. Old connections just may come between the lovers. A surprise bad guy and trying to figure out the reason behind wanting her ranch so much will be the clues needed to defeat these bad guys. Donna Grant’s That Cowboy of Mine takes the reader through a suspenseful, romantic story of finding the right person even though you may not trust them. Lives are put in danger while trying to find out why the ranch is so valuable. A woman and man find their way to each other through danger, intrigue and trust issues. A must read for Donna Grant fans and a wonderful suspense filled story that keeps you wondering about what will happen next and if the good guys will come out on top.

That Cowboy of Mine by Donna Grant is her latest standalone cowboy romance with the right amount of suspense thrown in. Ever since Dillon inherited her aunt’s ranch someone or several someones have been making her life hell in order to get their hands on the land. They have even gone so far as to steal her newly acquired stallion and attempted murder. Just who can Dillon trust and and will she find out before it’s too late? I recommend that you read That Cowboy of Mine to find out.

That Cowboy of Mine was the perfect blend of cowboy romance and suspense. I really enjoyed reading Dillon and Cal’s story and recommend it to anyone who loves reading cowboy romances and romantic suspense stories.