This is book 3 in the Star Valley series and I think you could read this as a stand alone if you haven't yet read books 1 & 2 yet. Both Lyric and Thatch have had painful relationships in the past and have worked hard to deal with the emotions they have been battling. Lyric told Thatch she wasn't interested in a relationship earlier which made Thatch want to avoid her which he did until he needed her help and she needed his. Thatch needed her expertise in yoga to help him with his job but she needed help as she thought a young lady was being abused by her boyfriend. I enjoy books with a fake relationship that turns into more and I did like that angle in this book. I just wish both had been more open and honest about their pasts earlier but I did like how they worked together and finally got their HEA.

I enjoyed this story and the entire three book Star Valley series from Sara Richardson. The focus is on three Navy Seals that run a construction business in the small town of Star Valley, Wyoming. Having read the previous books I was already familiar with the main characters and anticipating their romance. I think this is more enjoyable reading in series order, but can be read as a stand alone.

Thatch Hearst wants to improve his standing as a bronc rider and is preparing for the upcoming rodeo days. To improve his flexibility he turns to Lyric Valenza who runs a local yoga studio. They are already part of the same friend group and he’s been attracted to her enough to ask her out but she declined. Lyric was married previously and it wasn’t happy. She has walls and defenses when it comes to attachment. But in order to keep an eye on a troubled high school teen she enlists Thatch’s help.

These books are very enjoyable contemporary romances. The author doesn’t throw in extra drama and she lets leads be passionate without explicit details. They do briefly fall into a fake dating situation but I like that the whole story doesn’t revolve around that. Lyric and Thatch both have issues from their past to resolve and their friend group is always there to support them. And of course having read the other books I was happy to catch up with the previous couples. I will be looking forward to Richardson’s next book and series.

What a fun and entertaining romance. I really do love a cowboy romance and that you have an alpha type of hero, but also mixing with small town gossip about the romance. The characters are both likable, and it was fun to see how the relationship developed. It’s a fun book to read.

Sara Richards did it again! This book touched my heart through the characters of Lyric and Thatch. Thatch was in love with Lyric but she wanted nothing to do with him until she needed something from him and he needed her yoga class to be a better bronc rider. The story that followed was full of fake dating, angst, yoga classes, and friends thinking they were a romantic couple.
What a great story! There were other sexy characters as well, ex-SEALS just like Thatch. I also liked the Star Valley community and how they supported and helped each other. Sounded like a nice place to live. I received an advance copy of this book and I willingly chose to write an honest review.

Counting on a Cowboy is the third book in the Star Valley series and it's a great addition! While it can be read as a standalone, I do think it's better enjoyed after reading the first two books as the other couples are also in this book as well.

Thatch Hearst is a retired Navy SEAL who has come back to Star Valley, but never really intended to stay. He's been in town for four years now working with his friends in a construction company and also trying his hand at becoming a bronc rider.

Lyric Valenza is a yoga teacher who had a less than ideal marriage, and so isn't looking to date or have any type of attachments. She's perfectly fine with her business and her friends

Knowing that he needs to become more flexible to become a better rider, Thatch knows that Lyric is the person to help him. He approaches her and asks her to give him yoga lessons. Lyric isn't thrilled to be teaching a cowboy considering she has a bias against them since her ex-husband was one, but she agrees to help him anyway.

As the two begin to spend time together, it's obvious that there is a connection there whether either one wants to admit it or not. Can Thatch show Lyric that not all cowboys are like her ex?

I really enjoyed the way this story unfolded and how the relationship between Thatch and Lyric developed. Add in their group of friends and it was such a wonderful journey to go on! I appreciated that Lyric recognized that she had to face her past before she could truly move forward and the way she did that was inspiring. This is one I would recommend picking up!

3.75stars-COUNTING ON A COWBOY is the third instalment in Sara Richardson’s contemporary, adult STAR VALLEY romance series. This is retired US navy SEAL /construction worker/ bronc rider Thatch Hearst, and yoga instructor Lyric Valenza’s story line. COUNTING ON A COWBOY can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary.

NOTE: Due to the nature of the story line premise, there may be triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from dual omniscient third person perspectives (Lyric and Thatch) COUNTING ON A COWBOY follows the fake but building relationship between our story line couple. Thatch Hearst is struggling in his training for an upcoming rodeo, and a suggestion to try yoga is just what was needed. Thatch has been lusting after local yoga instructor Lyric Valenza for as long as he can remember but Lyric’s outright refusal at Thatch’s attempts made life a little more difficult but having witnessed a possible case of domestic abuse, Lyric agrees to Thatch’s request in exchange for helping her uncover the truth. A fake relationship that will turn into something more hits a road block when Lyric is unable to let go of the past, a past that continues to control her present. What ensues is the building relationship between Lyric and Thatch,and the potential fall-out as Lyric runs at the first sign of trouble.

The world building focuses on betrayal and domestic abuse. Lyric struggles to trust; to open her heart to a potential future with Thatch but Thatch has his own fair share of betrayal, and in this, the face of his betrayers are someone he once loved.

The relationship between Thatch and Lyric is one of tepid friendship as Lyric continues to push Thatch away at every opportunity. Everyone suspects Thatch is in love with our story line heroine but Lyric struggles to open her heat to something new. The $ex scenes are passionate but mostly implied.

There is a large ensemble cast of charismatic secondary and supporting characters many of whom we met in the previous instalments including Aiden and Kyra (Waiting on a Christmas Cowboy), Tess and Silas (Betting on a Good Luck Cowboy), as well as several local high school girls, and Thatch’s large extended family.

COUNTING ON A COWBOY is a story of betrayal and heart break, family and friendships, relationships and love. The premise is captivating and intriguing but the return of Lyric’s past is slightly underwhelming. The romance is understated yet affectionate; the characters are desperate and dynamic.



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I enjoyed Lyric and Thatch's sweet friends-to-lovers story, and it was fun returning to the small town of Star Valley and catching up with all of the characters.

Lyric Valenza has turned to yoga to give her the strength to power through and change the trajectory of her life. She feels no need to let a man in. Thatch Hearst is a retired Navy SEAL and is looking for something to placate his adrenalin needs. He has turned to bronc riding. Little did he know that yoga was going to help him with that. He has had a strong attraction to Lyric but she has rebuffed him. When a high school girl in one of her classes seems like she's in trouble, red flags are going off. She turns to Thatch for help. He would do anything to protect her. Old fears die hard. With the help of her friends and the community, she has found the courage to face those fears. Now on to win the man who gives her all the space she needs. Love the ending!

I LOVED the main characters, Lyric and Thatch. Both held my heart throughout the story. All the characters are lovely.
A beautiful, fake dating story about overcoming past hurts.
The perfect cowboy romance novel!
Sara Richardson writes engaging and heartwarming cowboy romances.
Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

This is the third and final book of the series. Thatch and Lyric have both been hurt in the past. Can they have a happily ever after? Good story.

Counting on a Cowboy was a fantastic read featuring a great romance between a cowboy and a yoga instructor.

Retired SEAL Thatch Hearst never thought he'd stay in Star Valley but four years later he's come to call the small town home. Looking for something more in his life Thatch takes up bronc riding, training in secret for the town’s upcoming rodeo days. But to improve his scores Thatch needs to improve how he moves with the bull which has him turning to the town's yoga instructor for help. ​Lyric Valenza avoids cowboys as a rule but Thatch is hard to say no to. When Thatch helps Lyric out of a difficult situation, she accidentally implies they're dating and soon the news spreads like wildfire.

Thatch has shown his interest in Lyric in the previous books in the series but she turned down both of his attempts to ask her out. I liked that Thatch didn't push for more after Lyric turned him down and instead let her set the pace for anything that happened between them. Fake dating is a trope I really enjoy and I liked its' inclusion in their romance although it did cause some issues for Thatch as he was genuinely interested in Lyric plus he didn't want to lie to their friends. Their relationship is pretty slow going at first but I liked that it gave them time to get to know each other more. Once things do progress between them, it's very well done and I enjoyed their relationship.

As this is the third book in the series, we get to see the couples from the previous two books quite a bit. It's nice seeing them again after their books and getting little snippets of their lives together. The friend group between these six individuals is wonderful and I like how supportive they are of each other. Although I will say that some of the characters came on a bit strong with the whole "You're finally together!" bit which did cause some issues in Thatch and Lyric's relationship.

Overall Counting on a Cowboy was an excellent conclusion to the series and I would highly recommend this series if you're looking for some great contemporary romances.

I love cowboy romances. Soooo good. This one was really good. It made me smile and feel all the emotions.

Thach wants to compete in rodeo, and he needs to improve his scores. He asks Lyric for help, he'll do anything to improve scores, even yoga. Nothing comes for free, so she asks him for a favor.
They've attracted to each other for a while, but Lyric swore off men after her divorcee.
All the time spend together bring that attraction up.
I enjoyed the storyline.

Counting on a Cowboy By Sara Richardson is an engaging story about two people who don’t want to fall in love, Thatch and Lyric. Thatch is an ex-SEAL, which explains a lot, but his fiancee had fallen in love with his brother while he was gone, and married him, so he had some trust issues. He missed the adrenaline rush of being a SEAL so he was practicing to become a bronc rider. His coach didn’t know what to tell him to get him over the hump so he recommended he try yoga. Great! The yoga teacher was Lyric who had told him she wasn’t interested months before. She was a woman who was recovering from abuse at the hands of her then-husband. Both had secrets, but being thrown together like this was breaking down their walls. In addition, Lyric had seen what she though was abusive behavior at the hands of a young man named Franco, toward one of her students, Elina. She interfered and they both resented it. She enlisted Thatch to get to know the young man and help her figure it out.

Both of these are really good characters, strong, and yet, vulnerable. They tried to work it out in many ways, and nearly did before Lyric reached a breaking point. For a SEAL and a bronc rider, Thatch was a patient and forgiving man and he gave Lyric all the space she needed to come to him on her own. It was kind of heart wrenching to watch. Lyric ended up confronting her ex and it cleaned away some of the cobwebs. This was a wonderful book, with several contemporary problems addressed. The whole of Star Valley is filled with interesting and generous characters who just want to help. It is a very positive read. Thanks Sara Richardson for giving it to us!

I was invited to read Counting on A Cowboy by by Forever (Grand Central Publishing). All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #ForeverGrandCentralPublishing #SaraRichardson #CountingOnACowboy

I’d like to make a match with Thatch. A former Navy SEAL and now cowboy, who began as a midwestern farm boy checks all of my hotness requirements.
Thatch wants to make a match with Lyric but she’s afraid and determined not to fall into another bad situation. Silly woman, anyone can tell Thatch is a quality guy.
The fake dating trope is used and of course magic ensues.
I love that he falls first because I like it when strong alpha men become tamed.
I love Richardson’s books!

Thatch and Lyric are a perfect fit. I haven't read the other books in this series and was able to fully enjoy this book. The characters have a lot of baggage that the other doesn't know even though they have been friends for a while. I loved how their relationship developed and how they began to trust each other with the pain from their pasts. I've read other books by this author and I enjoyed this one as much as her others. I received an advance copy from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Counting on a Cowboy by Sara Richardson
Star Valley series #3. Contemporary western romance. Can be read as a stand-alone but better as part of the series. Couples from the previous books play roles and attends a few different events. Conclusion to the series.
Retired SEAL Thatch Hearst moved to Star Valley four years ago with a couple of his teammates. He wants to earn some extra money bull riding in the big leagues. His trainer tells Thatch he’s not moving with the bull so he enlists the help of a local yoga instructor to help him learn to bend and move. Thatch has been interested in Lyric for a while but after being turned down twice, he’s kept his distance. He will make it clear he is looking for her professional help and maybe she will relax a little around him

Lyric Valenza has worked with difficult clients in the past so Thatch should be just another appointment on her calendar. She’s definitely not getting involved with another cowboy. But the handsome man is really trying to understand and listen to Lyric that she can’t help being charmed. Just a little bit. When he helps break up an argument between two teens, Lyric impulsively claims they are dating and suddenly it’s all around town.

I liked that Thatch wasn’t at all comfortable lying to their mutual friends. He also arranges to get the teen a job just because Lyric asked. He’s supportive and a hard worker. He’s willing to stay in the background until he needs to step up.
I didn’t care for Lyric’s bossy attitude all the time. She’s been hurt in the past so I understand her trying to protect the female teen based on her own experiences. But think they were too soft on a “borrowing” situation.
I loved the whole town acting together to help the family in need.
Plenty of steam and appreciation for the group dynamics of friends.
Great romantic ending and epilogue.
3.5

I received a copy of this from NetGalley.

Counting on a Cowboy. Star Valley Book 3 is a small-town cowboy romance. Sara Richardson’s main characters include retired Navy SEAL Thatch Hearst now bronc rider and yoga instructor, Lyric Valenza. This book deals with some serious relationship issues that happened in the past but are still very much affecting the characters. It is an emotional heart tugging book at times which shows the unwarranted shame that some victims have. Which I can think of no other reason that Lyric did not seek professional help for herself.

Of the two, Thatch is the easily to like, having made a solid transition from military to civilian life. He may not have always thought so but his life, actions and attitude show that he has. As the story progresses it is clear he is after more than just “fake dating”.

A cowboy romance where the good guy gets the girl, the right girl this time. Would read well as a stand-alone but fans of small-town romance will want to read the entire series.

An ARC of the book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley which I voluntarily chose to read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you @netgalley for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This review contains spoilers. Please proceed accordingly.

What I liked:

🤠 The FMC has a husky named Amos
🤠 All of the men in this story are clearly very in love and devoted to their wives.
🤠 There is a very tight-knit community in this story that takes care of one another. Without too many spoilers, it was great to see how they rallied around a teen in need.
🤠 Kyra and Tess seem like cool girls I would like to hang out with as friends.

What I did not enjoy (deep breath):

🤠 The writing in this book is the epitome of "telling" not "showing." Everything is laid out verbatim in the characters' inner monologues and in my opinion way too early.
🤠 The premise of this book is our FMC Lyric will be coaching our MC Thatch through yoga sessions in order for him to be a successful bronco rider. We see very little of these sessions in the book and the amount of weird secrecy around Thatch taking yoga is ridiculous, and often misogynistic.
🤠 Lyric states with her whole chest over and over that she doesn't think she wants to get married again based on her abusive past. She wants to date casually and feel freedom of choice. All of a sudden she is shown as wanting to have babies and immediately proposed to Thatch within a few months?
🤠 I don't believe these two together. It is stated at the beginning that these two are avoiding being in love with each other but I don't believe the author provided any evidence for why they feel that way. I will give the benefit of the doubt that maybe it is shown in previous books in the series, but I certainly do not believe these two within the confines of this story.
🤠 In no uncertain terms should it be written that it is a safe choice to go and confront a physically abusive ex. Nor should it be implied countless times that she was "avoidant" or "didn't get closure" because she had to leave for her safety!! When a man breaks your arm and has beaten you on numerous occasions, having to sneak out and run away was HER SAVING HER OWN LIFE. If your friends are keeping you safe, they are not putting you in the path of a violent ex.

Counting on a Cowboy is the third book in Sara Richardson’s Star Valley series. Retired Navy SEALs Silas Beck, Thatcher Hearst, and Aiden Steele moved to Star Valley after they separated from the service to help the widow of their fallen comrade Jace Valdez. In the years since they have formed their company Cowboy Construction and both Silas and Aiden have found their forever with Tess and Kyra. (Books 1 and 2 in the series)

Having suffered great betrayal in the past, Thatch has chosen a single life as has yoga instructor Lyric Valenza after surviving an abusive relationship. These two wounded people are brought together to help each other, coming up with a story that they are dating. It isn’t lack of attraction that keeps them apart, it is the wounds from their lives before. But as they work to help a pair of troubled teens, the relationship they do forge become blurred.

This is a sweet story that examines some very serious issues such as abusive relationships, neglect, and betrayal. With well drawn characters and an inspiring narrative this was a very enjoyable read. I do recommend this book.