I have voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this title given to me via NetGalley. This was just a wonderful book to read and it was just easy to lose yourself in the story. I can’t wait to read more from this author.

Based off the blurb alone, I really wanted to love this book. And don't get me wrong, there are parts of it that I really liked. Boone is an awesome character and I loved him. I loved how he was dealing with his issues and not just brushing them under the carpet and being the "stoic" man. I loved that about him. I loved Casey's dad and his interactions with not only the people in his bar but his wife. He cracked me up at times and I just loved him. Now my issue. I absolutely hated Casey. She is supposed to be an adult now and can't take the time to listen to what happened in the past so they can move on? Something so simple and straight forward and she acts like a child and just refuses to discuss it? I wanted to smack her quite a few times. I seriously, just couldn't stand her. I almost wished at one point that he would find someone else and get a different HEA. But it's not my story and I understand that, but I probably wouldn't read it again just because of this character. Everything else in this book-I loved. Just not her.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

When I saw the quote from Carolyn Brown on the cover - I knew I had to read this book.

Pine writes a contemporary cowboy romance set in a small town where everyone is in everyone's business.

Casey Walsh - twelve years after a tragedy caused her to breakup with the love of her life - she is finally getting her life together. While driving to the interview that would guarantee success in this track, her car hits black ice and crashes.

Boone Murphy - the other half of that relationship - is about to get married. However, when it came to walking down the aisle, he could not. Blazing a path from the church to back "home" - he sees a car broken down on the side of the road.

From there - they try to repair their fractured relationship with a friendship, but quickly realize, they cannot just be friends.

This book is the first in a new series, but a spin off from the Meadow Valley series. Since I only read the last 2 in that series, I don't know if the back story of the peripheral characters were already revealed. I love the second chance trope and here we have Boone and Casey, high school sweethearts ( he loved her since he was 9 years old), who because of a tragedy and a failure to communicate have not spoken in 12 years, pretty hard to do in a small town.

The book starts off with Boone about to marry someone else and Casey to go back to school. But fate steps in. Boone realizes that he will never love another woman but Casey and ends up calling off the wedding and returning to Meadow Valley in time to rescue Casey from an auto accident. The story narrative flips back and forth between the present and 12 years ago to reveal what happen to split them apart, but does not explain what happened to Murphy Horse Ranch or his sister-in-law, Tess. Did I miss them from a previous book, or will those mysteries be explained in the next book? It seems that the Meadow Valley school does not have parent-teacher conferences, so Boone thought he was stupid and not until he was a senior did a new teacher and his older brother have him tested for a number of learning disorders. Since then Boone has been able to get his condition under control, but will he be brave enough to tell Casey what happened to him twelve years ago and will she give him the ear to listen?

The author's writing style keeps the reader engaged and the characters are realistic. I look forward to reading about this brothers. I read an ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley.com. This is my unbiased and voluntary review.

A delightful read that will pull you in right from the start. I loved the well developed characters and the chemistry between Casey and Boone is electric.
Many thanks to SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Holding Out for a Cowboy begins The Murphys of Meadow Valley series with a rocky romance that gets a second chance to fix the mistakes of the past… if they can, and that ultimate decision lies in the hands and heart of one woman who was so wounded by Boone’s actions a decade ago that she may never forgive a man who still loves her.

I was firmly in Boone’s corner in this story, and I’ll admit that I never warmed up to Casey at all. Small-town living means that your romantic mistakes are never far from sight, something that both Casey and Boone know quite well. A decade ago, they were a couple in love, planning a future until it all fell apart. Now, Boone was determined to leave Meadow Valley and start his life somewhere else… but he couldn’t do it, couldn’t live a lie for the rest of his days. The simple fact was that he still loved Casey, and if there was any way to mend their fences then he was going to do just that. Unfortunately, that was easier said than done.

While I couldn’t like Casey, I did fall for Boone. Each reader will see this couple differently, but it’s difficult for me to hope for a happy ending when I dislike the actions of one member of the romantic couple. However, what I enjoyed most about their story was Boone’s issues, how they were slowly introduced into the story, how he handled himself, and how he found his coping mechanisms through therapy (and was still in therapy). Any type of mental health issue that is realistically addressed in a fictional story will grab my attention because it’s something that is so often overlooked in the romance genre. No one is perfect, and sometimes the mental issues do not lie with the ultimate villain… they exist for the hero (or the heroine), and I enjoyed the realism of Boone’s journey thus far.

My reasons for enjoying this story might be different from yours, but I would encourage you to pick up Boone and Casey’s story for several reasons. It begins a new series with ties to the Meadow Valley series, and we’ll see some familiar faces here (if you’ve read that series). We’re introduced to some characters that I really want to know more about; hopefully, they’ll get their stories told one day. And lastly, I’ll always love a story that gives me a realistic character, one that I can believe is experiencing everything I’m reading about. I might have been firmly in Boone’s corner, but his story is a good one.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own – good, bad, or indifferent.*

Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for letting me receive this book as an ARC.
A second chance western romance. This is exactly what I was in the mood for. Our main characters Casey and Boone were high school sweethearts but with unresolved issues at play after running into each other again after years of no contact. At the start of this book, you had no idea where you wanted it to end. Boone was about to get married when he realized the woman, he left behind never left his head, Casey his high school flame. With feelings still around for the two and Boone returning home this relationship was bound to get a little messy. This was a cute standalone where both characters had to deal with those issues to move on and move past to find their fate.

This is a good book. The two main characters are Casey and Boone. They have known each other all their lives. They dated in high school. They became pregnant when they were eighteen, they lost the baby. They broke up. Twelve years later they try it again. They start out as friends but an attraction grows. They each have issues but together they work them out and fall in love.

I just loved Casey and Boone and they soo deserved a second chance, after having dodged each other since their break up it looks like Boone has finally moved on until ... he doesn't get married and now Boone and Casey get a chance to finally work through their emotions and allow those embers of love to spark again. There are plenty of emotions to go through with these two not just from what happened to cause them to break up when they were younger but the positions they are in now. There are plenty of laughs to be had as well as moments of sadness, dreams that may stay the same or look different, love that deserves the chance to grow again and some really heart warming moments in this great second chance at love book.

I really enjoyed this second chance romance from A.J. Pine!

Casey and Boone were high school sweethearts, but haven't really spoken much in years. Now, with big changes happening in both their lives their paths keep crossing and they reconnect. I thought they had great chemistry and banter, and it was easy to see their feelings for one another never really died. Their relationship development was nicely paced as they had to get to know each other again as adults. They each had some nice growth individually as the story progressed, too.

It was nice to see some familiar characters from A.J.'s past books and she set up a few others as potential less characters for this series. I cannot wait to read the next book!

Holding Out for a Cowboy launches the first in a new series and a return to the small town of Meadow Valley. The second chance story reunites high school sweethearts Casey Walsh and Boone Murphy when Boone rescues Casey from an auto accident and he looks like a runaway groom riding a tux on his motorcycle. It’s been 12 years since they broke up so long ago and they’ve kept a comfortable distance from one another, living and working in their small town. Casey hopes to jumpstart her cosmetology career and with his help she got to her interview in time. Now she just needs a way to pay for it. Boone tried to get married but he just couldn’t do it. Now he has to figure out a way to get back his auto shop. In the meantime, he’s working at his friend’s ranch and hopes this new friendship with Casey will be the start of something new.

I love second chance stories and Boone and Casey are able to get theirs after a few more bumps in the road. Starting anew as friends may also means taking a few more chances and live outside their comfort zone. With the help of their friends, which are a hoot with their antics, Boone reveals the progress he’s made with his personal growth and isn’t the same man he was as a teen. Casey and her parents also make strides in their relationships because it isn’t always easy to ask for help and keep a loved one in the dark. Casey and Boone have come a long way and the spark and love for one another never went away; it just needed a jumpstart. Fans of small-town romances will absolutely adore this story. Holding out for a Cowboy is a fun, heartwarming, feel good romance and just brings their love full circle.

Can I just say that I absolutely adore Pine and her words and I have missed them so much! Her cowboy stories make my heart swoon so much! There is a lot that plays out within this second chance romance and I was here for it. The connection that Boone and Casey have is one of those once in a life time loves. This story delves into topics that are sometimes hard to read but Pine writes them with grace and so much heart! Great read!

Holding Out For A Cowboy was just what I needed after watching a couple episodes of Yellowstone. Sometimes I just need to read a good book about a Cowboy and this did it for me. With this book, you get Second Chance Romance and it is so lovely. It’s a fantastic story that kept my attention the entire time. There were a few parts where it was slow but, I still go through it. If you’re in the mood for an easy book to read, this is for you.

Thanks again to Sourcebooks Casablanca for the ebook!

I received a complimentary copy of Holding Out for Cowboy in exchange for an honest review. This was easily read as a standalone romance, and was a quick and easy road. Casey and Boone had a lot of unresolved issues to deal with from their past, but when fate had them meet in an untraditional way, the chemistry and feelings were still there. It was a fun read watching them work through their issues to find their happily ever after.

3.75stars—HOLDING OUT FOR A COWBOY is the first instalment in AJ Pine’s contemporary adult THE MURPHYS OF MEADOW VALLEY romance series-a spin off from the author’s Meadow Valley series. This is thirty year olds, rancher/mechanic Boone Murphy, and Casey Walsh’s second chance story line.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Casey and Boone) HOLDING OUR FOR A COWBOY follows the rekindling romance and relationship between former childhood sweethearts turned lovers turned enemies Casey Walsh and Boone Murphy. Approximately twelve years earlier Casey Walsh and Boone Murphy’s lives imploded pulling apart our story line couple. Fast forward to present day wherein Boone Murphy, having waited his entire life to rekindle what was, forged a new path towards a future, a future he knew wasn’t for him. An accident, an stranded motorist, and a flash back to the past finds Boone facing the woman he still loved, the woman who never knew the truth about what happened or why. Hoping to rekindle their love, Boone begins a slow seduction of our story line heroine, a woman who continues to move forward, refusing to look back. What ensues is the rebuilding romance and relationship between Boone and Casey, and the potential fall-out as Boone and Casey continue to struggle with what as and what will never be.

Boone Murphy has some issues of mental health that often affect his day to day life but a required regimen and therapy aids in our hero’s fight towards gaining control but sometimes life throws Boone a curve and a hook, and Boone struggles to keep moving forward. Casey Walsh refuses to dwell on the past, so much so, she is unable to talk about what happened or why. With her head buried in the proverbial sand, Casey keeps her eye on the prize, often forgetting their was more than herself affected by the heart ache and pain.

The relationship between Casey and Boone is one of second chances; a rekindling romance and relationship destroy by by secrets, misunderstanding, grief and loss. Working together towards of new future, Casey continues to have issues of trust, especially as it pertains to the man she once loved. The limited and low heat level $ex scenes are passionate.

The secondary and supporting characters include many of whom we met in the original MEADOW VALLEY series including Casey’s best friend Ivy and Carter (Cowboy to the Rescue ), Delaney and Sam (My One and Only Cowboy ), Charlotte and Ben (Make Mine a Cowboy), Jenna and Colt (Only a Cowboy Will Do), as well as Casey’s parents, Boone’s brother Eli; Boone’s ex Elizabeth.

HOLDING OUT FOR A COWBOY is a story of love and loss, grief and misunderstanding, second chances and fate. A ‘Gift of the Magi’ kind of scenario where each will sacrifice for the person they love. The premise is engaging and captivating; the romance is seductive; the characters are broken yet determined-the heroine’s inability to address the past is the cause of the most of the story line conflict.



THE READING CAFE: http://www.thereadingcafe.com/holding-out-for-a-cowboy-by-aj-pine-a-review/


GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5150804782


AMAZON CA: https://www.amazon.ca/review/R1TFCLXB5OZIIO/ref=cm_cr_srp_d_rdp_perm?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B09RTH2PWG


BOOKBUB: https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/3511940369


B&N (Sandy_thereadingcafe) posted: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/holding-out-for-a-cowboy-aj-pine/1140960266?ean=9781728253756&bvnotificationId=e3cea600-87b3-11ed-ba0c-0a65eb76b3a7&bvmessageType=REVIEW_APPROVED&bvrecipientDomain=hotmail.com#review/236545766


CHAPTERS/INDIGO (Sandy_at_the_Reading_Cafe) posted

iBooks (Sandy sch) posted

GOOGLE PLAY (Sandy Sch) posted

I love cowboy romance and A. J. Pine sure knows how to write an amazing, sexy cowboy.

Boone was a dreamy, sexy man trying to move. Problem is, the main one he wants to move on from just so happens to be popping up everywhere he happens to be.

Casey and Boone were high school sweethearts and now are they going to go back there when they both thought they had moved on?

Quick Summary: A second chance at forever love story

My Review: Holding Out for a Cowboy by A.J. Pine was a love story with heart. It told the story of two young lovers who lost their way for a time after having to deal with and recover from a very adult choice. The inevitable reunion that needed to happen helped to heal past wrongs and misunderstandings. Could the love they once professed to have for one another help them to overcome the obstacles of the present? Would they ever get to have the forever future they always wanted? Would they have to lose any more time deciding what they truly wanted?

This dual perspective story flowed from the present to the past and back again throughout the book. It had a lot of moving parts. Not only did it reveal the relationship between Casey and Boone, but it also presented other characters who had their own beautiful and challenging experiences.

This book was easily read as a standalone. It had or rather communicated a feeling, however, as that of a series entry.

My Final Say: Readers who enjoy second chance romances will enjoy this story.

Rating: 3/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A

I voluntarily read this book via NetGalley. The words I have shared are my own.

* A Goodreads review has been posted.

I loved Casey and Boone. The characters were well developed, and the town connections were more than just superficial references. This one is definitely a recent favorite for these books, and I'd happily read more A. J. Pine stories!

The first book in The Murphys of Meadow Valley, Holding Out for a Cowboy is a fabulous second chance romance. They broke each other’s heart once, but a chance encounter has them back face to face. Can Boone and Casey find a way forward or will Boone leave Casey and Meadow Valley in the past for good. Well developed characters and an engaging storyline made this a very enjoyable read and I look forward to reading more.

I love a good cowboy romance.

What to expect:
*Second chance romance
*Mental health representation
*Closed door

Final thoughts: I really enjoyed this book. Boone was a great character and so realistic. His and Casey’s story was heartwarming and it was fun to see things come full circle.