Two of my favorite authors and they did not disappoint. Both stories were fast reads. I feel like even though they were short they felt complete. I loved that at the end of each you could smile. They had just enough steamy parts and that completed it.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is a sweet, satisfying duo of short stories—perfect for a lazy afternoon or a weekend getaway read. Linda Lael Miller delivers a heartwarming tale full of small-town charm, and Maisey Yates follows up with a story that’s equally engaging and full of heart. Both stories are quick, enjoyable reads with just the right mix of romance and character-driven moments. The writing is strong, the settings are vivid, and the tone is just right for a light summer escape. If you’re a fan of either author (or both), "Small Town Heroes" is an easy pick. Great for readers looking for feel-good fiction with a romantic spark.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for advanced copy, and I give my review freely

Susannah Holiday is a web designer and house flipper in Chicago. She gets a call that her sister is in the hospital and her niece needs her in Arizona. Ian McKenzie is a paramedic and horse whisper in town they meet the first day she hits town. Ian and Susannah spend time together and know they are attracted to each other. Can Susannah and Ian get together?

Birdie Lennox is the daughter of a thief and has had a hard life. She is caught trying to steal Gunnar Parsons horse so she can get a job. He decides to give her a job at his ranch. The more time they spend together they find they have a lot in common.

I absolutely love Linda Lael Miller and Maisey Yates!

You had me at small town, cowboys, romance and so much more.

One Lonesome Cowboy - Linda Lael Miller
I loved this heartfelt story about a guarded single mom and her niece, and a quiet, horse-whispering hero who’s just as cautious with his heart. With the perfect mix of romance, suspense, and a swoon-worthy lead, this is a story that stays with you—and a hero you won’t forget.

Cowboy, Take Me Away - Maisey Yates
Full of tension, charm, and unexpected heart, Cowboy, Take Me Away delivers a fiery romance between a tough-as-nails outlaw’s daughter and a straight-laced cowboy. Birdie and Gunnar’s chemistry crackles as they clash, connect, and uncover a love neither saw coming. A fun, heartfelt enemies-to-lovers story with a wild-west twist! I would love Gunnar to take me away!

Small Town Hero by Linda Leal Miller and Macy Yates, in the first book Susan gets a call her sister has had a tragic accident and she must go to Arizona to take care of her small niece, Susan thinks life can’t get any worse but they will get much better insert paramedic! Ian McKenzie and his cute little twins Mabel and Vivian. After a few bumps in the road he becomes a blessing not only to her but her sister and niece as well. The next story is Cowboy Take Me Away, when good boy and even better man gunner catches Birdie Lennox stealing a horse he thinks the apple doesn’t fall from the tree being the daughter of an infamous cattle wrestler but when he agrees to let her work off her and her dad‘s debt she doesn’t know what to think about her lifelong nemesis. they grew up next to each other with him chasing her away from his property especially the creek but the longer they’re forced to be in each other’s company the more they realize they’re falling for each other. Can Bertie let go of the past and allow her much abused heart to be loved or will her inner thoughts and self-doubt keep her from the one good thing she’s ever been offered. The first story loan cowboy is a good slightly action romance is a really good story I loved Elie the twins Mabel and Vivian, the romance was swoon worthy and a definite recommendation for me. As for the second book it was more a practice and wish fulfillment and OMG did it fulfill all my wishes I love stories like this and although I wish it had been written more like the first story if I was better versed in literary lingo I could explain further but regardless it was still a great book and one I definitely recommend. I love these two authors book bundles and cannot get enough of them and definitely recommend this one.#NetGalley, #KensingtonBooks, #TheBlindReviewer, #MacyYates, #LindaLealMiller, #SmallTownHero,

What a wonderful surprise, two stories in one great read from two great authors. Ian and Susannah it was love at first sight. Two do gooders falling for each other and then Birdie and Gunnar like two misfits with a slow burn love. This is a definite couldn't put down enjoyable read. Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

In “One Lonesome Cowboy” by Linda Lael Miller, Susannah Holiday arrives in a small Arizona town to help her struggling sister and care for her niece. But a roadside act of kindness brings her into the path of Ian, a compassionate paramedic with a guarded heart. Their connection is immediate and poignant, and Susannah’s warmth and resilience make her a standout heroine. The emphasis on family—both broken and healing—gives the story heart and grounding. Miller’s writing shines with tender moments and emotional clarity, reminding readers that love often arrives when you least expect it.

Maisey Yates’ “Cowboy, Take Me Away” dives deep into emotional territory with the story of Birdie Lennox, a neglected girl from the wrong side of the tracks in Central Oregon. After stealing a horse in a desperate bid to escape her circumstances, she meets Gunnar, the gruff neighbor who catches her—but also sees past her scars. Yates masterfully explores themes of judgment, shame, and second chances. The slow unraveling of Birdie and Gunnar’s guarded hearts is beautifully done, layered with pain, hope, and hard-won trust.

Small Town Hero is a heartwarming duet of novellas that celebrate redemption, connection, and the healing power of love, all wrapped in small-town charm. Together, these stories complement each other perfectly. Miller’s novella brings lightness and grace, while Yates offers raw emotional grit. Both novellas are emotionally satisfying and offer rich character arcs, making Small Town Hero a deeply touching, page-turning experience. A beautifully balanced collection that blends warmth, grit, and heartfelt romance.

I was excited to read "Small Town Hero" because Maisy Yates is one of the contributors and I love her books. What I didn't expect was how much I would enjoy, devour, and become attached to was Linda Lael Miller's contribution. The stories touched me in different ways making for a wonderful read.

"One Lonesome Cowboy" by Ms. Miller was story of hope and love at first sight. Susannah Holiday is called to a small town in Arizona to care for her niece and hopefully help her sister. Oh my, Susannah is the sister we all should be lucky enought to have. Her gentle and caring heart was an inspiration. Her kindness has her helping a boy on the side of the road. The chance meeting with Ian, the paramedic, was intense. I couldn't wait to see if anything would come of it. The family dynamics within this story brightened my day. Family comes first. Family above all else makes for a beautiful ending.

Maisy Yates's "Cowboy, Take Me Away" had me hoping for a wonderful romance. She did not disappoint. It taking place in small town, Central Oregon just made it that much better. My heart broke for Birdie. She had had a rough life living with her drunk father and all the bad things that go with being neglected. Instead of helping, the citizens seemed to turn away and talk about her, speaking of anything and everything negative. Desperate to leave, she steals one of the neighbor's horses only to get caught. It didn't take long for Gunnar, the grumpy cowboy, to see there is much more to Birdie Lennox. Learning about Birdie and Gunnar was like peeling layers from an onion, including the tears. Watching them discover each other, their truths and let walls crumble was the highlight of my day.

Sweet romances. I really enjoyed the first one by Linda Lael Miller. I did not finish the second one as I did not care for either one of the main characters. I may finish their tale later. Fun to read quick, happily ever after stories. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.

I really enjoyed both stories in this book. The first one was new to me , because I haven't read books by Linda Lael Miller before. It was romantic and I look forward to reading more books by her. I loved the one that Maisey Yates wrote. It was steamy and romantic. The ending was cute. I love reading books about small towns. I'm grateful that netgalley and the publishers let me read this in exchange for an honest review.

Linda L. Miller's story
The h leaves her home and got a job in Chicago. to go take care of her niece. while her sister is in a facility.. . She meets the H, who is a paramedic and horse trainer. Eventually the sister remembers what happened to her that put her in the facility.



M Yates
The h tries to steal one of the H's horses that she needs or a job. She gets caught by the H There is bad blood between the families. They develop a relationship .

I received an ARC from net galley

Bestselling authors Linda Lael Miller and Maisey Yates team up in Small Town Hero, a western romance anthology celebrating the men who risk their lives every day to keep their communities safe—the quintessential small-town hero.

Overview

The towns may be small, but the hearts of the cowboy heroes in this duo of romantic novellas are as outsized as the rugged land that surrounds them.

Standout Elements

Both novellas delve into themes of redemption, healing, and the transformative power of love. Miller’s story touches on the challenges of unexpected guardianship and confronting past traumas, while Yates explores the complexities of inherited reputations and the courage to forge one’s own path.

One Lonesome Cowboy by Linda Lael Miller

When a family crisis brings web designer and part-time house flipper Susannah Holiday to Arizona to care for her young niece, she’s soon juggling work, childcare—and her growing feelings for local paramedic and horse whisperer Ian McKenzie. They have more in common than meets the eye—including being cautious when it comes to love. But when a disturbing revelation from Susannah’s past surfaces, Ian is there to comfort her, and they both find their longing hearts opening to a better future—together.

Cowboy, Take Me Away by Maisey Yates

After Birdie Lennox, daughter of a notorious cattle rustler, gets caught stealing a horse off Gunnar Parsons’ land, she ends up bunking in his barn to work off her debt—plus her daddy’s. But Birdie hardly has patience for Gunnar’s moralizing. The man inherited his ranch and has always hated her family. Still, it beats prison. Maybe. What neither anticipates is discovering they have more in common than they dreamed possible. Even more unexpected is the spark between them—and the love it might ignite.

Character Analysis

Susannah Holiday: A resilient woman facing unexpected challenges, Susannah’s journey is one of growth and rediscovery.

Ian McKenzie: A compassionate paramedic and horse whisperer, Ian embodies the essence of a small-town hero.

Birdie Lennox: Determined and spirited, Birdie’s struggle to break free from her family’s shadow is both compelling and inspiring.

Gunnar Parsons: Stoic yet fair, Gunnar’s interactions with Birdie reveal a depth of character and a capacity for understanding.

Memorable Quotes

“Sometimes, the threads we fear will unravel us are the very ones that bind us closer together.”

“Love doesn’t always come riding in on a white horse; sometimes, it walks beside you in worn boots.”

Final Thoughts

Small Town Hero offers readers two heartfelt stories that celebrate love, resilience, and the strength found in tight-knit communities. While each novella stands on its own, together they provide a satisfying exploration of the western romance genre. Fans of Miller and Yates will appreciate their signature storytelling styles, and newcomers will find this anthology a delightful introduction to both authors.

Small Town Hero offers two offerings with girl meets cowboy/hero/good guy: One Lonesome Cowboy by Linda Lael Miller and Cowboy, Take Me Away by Maisey Yates.

One Lonesome Cowboy: After hearing the news that her sister has been hospitalized for her mental issues, Susannah Holiday heads to Arizona to care for her young niece. She meets paramedic Ian McKenzie and feels drawn to the hero/good guy/cowboy that he is. When she discovers information that could help her sister face past tragedies, the one person that she trusts to help her decide what to do is Ian. Strong main characters offer support and eventually love as both Ian and Susannah find a relationship that is truly worth nurturing.

Take Me Away: When Birdie Lennox needs transportation to get a job, she reasons that a horse... a stolen horse.. will do the trick. Her neighbor, Gunnar Parsons has plenty of horses - so it is only right that she gets one. Gunnar doesn't see it that way but offers Birdie a job instead. They both have the opportunity to see each other in a different light. She isn't the bad person that she thinks she is, and Gunnar is just the good man she deserves. Their friendship lightens many layers of loneliness. It is a true bonus when that friendship develops into love and a tenderness they both crave.
Thanks to Kensington, Linda Lael Miller, Maisey Yates, and NetGalley for this ARC.

Th duet of Small Town Hero by Linda Lael Miller and Maisey Yates is two wonderful stories of men doing the right thing daily. These novellas were short enough to read in an evening but long enough for me to get to know and like the characters.

One Lonesome Cowboy by Linda Lael Miller is the story of Susannah and Ian. Both have family issues but stand by their families. Their problems are very different, but both are important to the welfare of others and themselves. The romance is quick but then it is a novella.

In Cowboy Take Me Away by Maisey Yates is the tale of Birdie and Gunnar. Having known each other since childhood their backgrounds are very different. I enjoyed this story so much as Gunnar helped Birdie see a better way to live while Birdie helped Gunnar to grasp the joy in life. The epilogue was such a marvelous way to end their story.

Cowboy, Take Me Away, Maisey Yates, is a short story in a book titled Small Town Hero featuring Linda Lael Miller. A quick 15 min story but don’t think that it isn’t filled with all good things Maisey. This story does not disappoint.

Birdie Lennox was her own worst enemy, if she didn’t have bad luck she would have no luck. That old saying of making lemonade out of lemons can go suck a lemon. She had a reputation in the town she was currently trying to escape. Mostly because of her family, a little bit because of her. But she was ready to fly this coop, the only thing standing in her way was her lack of a horse. Luckily her PIA neighbor has more than one, surely he wouldn’t mind if she borrowed one.

It has been drilled into Gunnar Parson’s head just how bad the Lennox family is. Land adjacent to his family land for generations, they knew the Lennox family stole from them over the years, just had no way to prove it. Until now. Gunnar catches Birdie red handed, the question now becomes, what will he do about it?

This story moves quickly, each character finding things out about themselves they might not have known or were not ready to realize. Each growing through these realizations, and together. Quick little epilogue update at the end wraps up the story nicely.

In Cowboy Take Me Away we meet Birdie and Gunnar. They were neighbors since they were young but Birdie has a reputation in town as a thief and Gunnar is a good guy who was raised to always do good. One night Birdie attempts to steal one of his horses but is caught in the act by Gunnar. Instead of calling the cops he gives her a chance to work for him; which is something no one has ever done for her. As they get to know each other they realize they have more in common than they thought and fall for each other.

I am a fan of Maisy Yates and have loved her western romances. Linda Lael Miller is a new to me author and I hope to read more of her books in the future. Each story was short and sweet but left me wanting more.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

First of all thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

Two novellas in one!

The two stories are set in picturesque small towns where everyone seems to know each other’s business. Both stories feature characters who have a struggle going on in their lives and really deserve to find some happiness, even if it shows up in the most unexpected way. I’d recommend this book for anyone who enjoys a sweet cowboy romance and is looking for a short read.

If you enjoy shorter books with happy endings this duo of stories from two great authors is just for you. Linda Lael Miller brings us Ian and Susannah meeting over unusual circumstances and different backgrounds but connecting all the same. Loved the story but like a lot of these shorter stories it leaves you wanting more fleshed out characters and longer time to a HEA. Maisy Yates gives us Birdie and Gunnar's enemies to lovers stories. Birdie's family was always a enemy to Gunnar's family. When Gunnar catches Birdie trying to steal one of his horses they finally break that enemies barrier and realize they have a lot to talk about. Really get all these feels for these two. Both had different upbringings but they both had struggles with family. I enjoyed both of these stories. A long afternoon of reading time and you can relax with this book.

I loved both stories in this book. I’ve never read anything by Linda Lael Miller before and now I can’t wait to find more books by her. Maisey Yates is an autobuy author for me and I’m a sucker for a cowboy story.
Both stories were well written, centred around cowboys and gave me my small town sweet romance fix! Highly recommend for an easy and enjoyable read.

I absolutely loved both stories. This book is a number one seller in my opinion from two incredible talented authors who are in my top ten favorite writers. Don't miss this one.