Wild Ride Cowboy

*Book provided by Netgalley. Post contains affiliated links.*

Maisey Yates is quickly becoming one of my go-to authors. I actually got to meet her at RWA and might have fan-girled just a little bit...okay, a lot! I'd wandered into a panel with her and two other authors about how to keep writing when everything sucks. Maisey and her friends, Nicole Helm and Megan Crane, were funny, frank and inspiring about fighting your way through the messes of life. It was exactly what I needed to hear at that moment. 

I'm still annoyed with myself for not getting a picture with them! 

Anyway, about the latest Copper Ridge Novel: 

He's come back to Copper Ridge, Oregon, to keep a promise—even if it means losing his heart… 

Putting down roots in Copper Ridge was never Alex Donnelly's intention. But if there's one thing the ex-military man knows, it's that life rarely unfolds as expected. If it did, his best friend and brother-in-arms would still be alive. And Alex wouldn't have inherited a ranch or responsibility for his late comrade's sister—a woman who, despite her inexperience, can bring tough-as-iron Alex to his knees. 

Clara Campbell didn't ask for a hero to ride in and fix her ranch and her life. All she wants is the one thing stubborn, honorable Alex is reluctant to give: a chance to explore their intense chemistry. But Clara has a few lessons to teach him, too…about trusting his heart and his instincts, and letting love take him on the wildest adventure of all.

I love the witty dialogue and authentic, realistic characters. I never feel distant from the Copper Ridge characters. Yates has a fabulous writing style that snuggles you right into their souls.

Wild Ride Cowboy is a story of dealing with loss, living with guilt, and finding a way to let yourself be happy. On the surface, that doesn't exactly sound like a story that you'd find yourself reading with a goofy grin or even laughing out loud. But, I did both of those.

Alex and Clara both have such tragic stories but they come across as strong, guarded characters rather than whiney or wallowing.  I LOVED the chemistry between them and the love/hate banter that leads to the scene on the cover. (That's where the goofy grin showed up).

The laughing out loud happened during the scenes with Alex and his brothers (especially the cameo of Violet from Slow Burn Cowboy) as well as Clara's interactions with her new friends at the winery.

I would strongly recommend this book and look forward to Liam and Sabrina's story next!