This cowboy’s handsome, sexy, and definitely off limits . . . Walker Everett spends his days at the Crossroads Ranch wrangling cattle—and steering clear of anything that would complicate his already too-complicated life. Until Violet Chastain, the ranch’s newest employee, asks him to pretend to be her boyfriend for her parents’ anniversary party. She’s the most beautiful woman he’s ever met … woman he’s ever met and needs his help. How can he refuse?
Violet isn’t about to fall for a brooding bad-boy cowboy, no matter how sizzling their chemistry. But she also never expected Walker to go along with the charade. Before long, he’s charming her parents at their weekly dinners and kissing her way more than necessary. Spending so much time together tests the limits of their “just friends” relationship, but what happens when their game of pretend becomes all too real?
Includes the bonus story Rocky Mountain Cowboy by Sara Richardson!
“A fabulous storyteller who will keep you turning pages and wishing for just one more chapter at the end.” — Carolyn Brown, New York Times bestselling author, on Second Chance Cowboy
“Cross my heart, this sexy, sweet romance gives a cowboy-at-heart lawyer a second chance at first love and readers a fantastic ride.” — New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Ryan on Second Chance Cowboy
urning pages and wishing for just one more chapter at the end.” — Carolyn Brown, New York Times bestselling author, on Second Chance Cowboy
“Cross my heart, this sexy, sweet romance gives a cowboy-at-heart lawyer a second chance at first love and readers a fantastic ride.” — New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Ryan on Second Chance Cowboyurning pages and wishing for just one more chapter at the end.” — Carolyn Brown, New York Times bestselling author, on Second Chance Cowboy
“Cross my heart, this sexy, sweet romance gives a cowboy-at-heart lawyer a second chance at first love and readers a fantastic ride.” — New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Ryan on Second Chance Cowboyurning pages and wishing for just one more chapter at the end.” — Carolyn Brown, New York Times bestselling author, on Second Chance Cowboy
“Cross my heart, this sexy, sweet romance gives a cowboy-at-heart lawyer a second chance at first love and readers a fantastic ride.” — New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Ryan on Second Chance Cowboymore
You know what’s funny? Up until this year, I didn’t think cowboy romances were something I’d enjoy all that much. I mean, I’ve dabbled in the past when an author I love put one out, but that’s been about it. I can thank A.J. Pine and her wonderful Crossroads Ranch series for opening my eyes to this trope. Hard Loving Cowboy was a delightfully sexy read that made me want to go in search of a cowboy of my own.
Speaking of tropes I love, fake it till you make it is up there near the top of the list. Oh how I love a good fake relationship, especially when you just know it’s going to be not-quite-so-fake before it’s all said and done. Walker and Violet were great characters and a wonderful match. After seeing Walker in the first two books, I enjoyed getting to know even more about him and his past and see how it impacted his future. There was so much more to him than met the eye. Violet was a sweet, loyal and determined heroine. I appreciated that quite a bit. Together they were fire.
I love these Everett brothers — and their leading ladies. The Crossroads Ranch series has been a total joy to read. I especially enjoyed how these books explored the relationship between the brothers along with the romance. The family dynamic just adds something more to the overall story and I’ve enjoyed peeling back the layers of each of the brothers. Hard Loving Cowboy was an excellent addition — and conclusion — to a series that was one of my favorites of 2019.
Favorite Quotes:
From the shoes to her pressed shirt and her perfectly styled hair, she was class and sophistication personified. He was—well, he was one fine mess.
“Didn’t take you for an ass man.”
“I’m an everything man. And you, Violet, have everything.”
“I’ve actually never been too good at rules. Broken a lot more than I’ve followed. That’s for damn sure.”
Crossroads Ranch #3, The last of the Everett brother’s finally meets his match. This was such an enjoyable series to read.
Walker Everett after being a drunk for the last ten years finally hits rock bottom. His brother, Jack, finally convinces him to go into rehab and now two months later he’s back working the ranch and fixing up the tasting room in preparations of the vineyard opening up and Jack and Ava’s wedding. He’s determined to stay sober but everyone keeps treating him like he’s going to fall back on old habits he needs some time away from his family and from the town who has seen him at his worst but he has to make it to the wedding first.
Violet Chastain really needs a job, she dropped out of college to help her mother when she was diagnosed with MS, she also helps her father in his restaurant as needed. She’s a sommelier by trade she’s gone to the Crossroads Vineyard to help set up the tasting room and help with the wedding what she finds is a sexy cowboy she knows she shouldn’t want.
Walker and Violet’s story is emotional and heartfelt. Walker is struggling to find the new him, the new sober him and Violet dealing with her mother’s failing health and having given up so much for her parents. Together they form a friendship, when he’s with Violet Walker isn’t constantly reminded of what a failure he’s been. For Violet, Walker is someone she can talk to and together even though they are pretending for her parents to be boyfriend/girlfriend they form a deep connection and along the way it become real but Walker still hasn’t confided to her that he’s an alcoholic afraid that she’ll look at him differently.
Overall, this was a great ending for the Everett brothers. I hope A.J. Pine does something with Sam and Ben Callahan. I enjoyed the story very much the narration, the flow, the diverse cast of characters it was all wonderful.
I thought this was a good read. Although this story has a lot of big things to deal with, I didn’t feel like it was depressing or too bogged down with the sad parts. Walker wasn’t in a good place when the story starts, and he meets Violet after he gets back from rehab. Violet meets Walker when she’s trying to make someone else jealous. Although they didn’t have the greatest of beginnings, I thought they were good for each other. I know that Walker’s sobriety should have been made known to Violet, but I understood why it wasn’t. I could understand Walker wanting someone to not know the other version of him. I know other reviewers had problems with this, but I don’t read romance novels to get tips on how to stay sober. I feel like it’s not something that needs to be 100% correct in a book like this. I thought Walker and Violet had great chemistry, and they helped each other through a lot of things. The only thing that took away from the story for me was all the characters. I haven’t read any of the other stories in this series, so the brothers and their significant others, and the sheriff and his gf were a lot of names to keep up with. The ending was very sweet, and I thought it ended well.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book.
3.5 Stars
Review by Elizabeth
Late Night Reviewer
Up All Night w/ Books Blog
I was drawn to Hard Loving Cowboy by AJ Pine on the title alone. Anything involving a cowboy has me grabbing it and reading it right off the bat. However, with Hard Loving Cowboy, I could not connect with the characters no matter how hard I tried.
We meet Walker first and he has some major issues to overcome. Then we meet Violet. Her introduction was intense to say the least. I’m not going to deny that there was chemistry between Walker and Violet. They had that going for them from the beginning. My issue was not connecting with them individually and it made it all that much harder to read.
I think AJ Pine did an excellent job with the book because the plot is there. Everything is there. Since I was not able to connect with the characters, it was a bit hard to read and because of that, my review is not awesome. I am not scratching AJ Pine off my TBR list because I am looking forward to see what she comes out with next.
This is an amazing series with wonderful, in depth characters. This author has a way of pulling you in and keeping your attention from the beginning until the end. The storyline flows seamlessly. The characters are wonderful, loveable and flawed. They make you feel welcome, at home and pull you into their world. This is another amazing story. I can’t wait to read the next book.
I really enjoyed Walker’s story in this third book of the Crossroads Ranch series. While each of these stories can be read standalone, i think they are much more enjoyable if read in order. Understanding the family dynamics as the three brothers work together to save the family ranch builds throughout each of the books. Walker has always been the troubled brother of the three seemingly going down the same alcoholic path as the father. With the strength, love, and support of his brothers Walker is working to turn his life around Will he be able to slay his demons? Will his new friendship with a ranch employee be his salvation or his downfall?? You want to read his story and find out. I highly recommend it.
A.J. Pine is one of my “go-to” authors and I know if she writes it, I’m going to love it. It’s no exception with Hard Loving Cowboy, the final book in her Crossroads Ranch series.
In Hard Loving Cowboy, we get Walker’s story, the youngest of the Everett brothers. These brothers have been through so much in their lives and Walker is still battling his demons. He’s doing what he can to turn his life around and when he meets Violet in an unexpected way, things definitely get better.
What starts out as a fake relationship turns into so much more. Even though it isn’t an easy road to their HEA, you know these two are meant to be together. I was rooting for them from the beginning!
A great ending to the series, this heartfelt small-town cowboy romance is sure to have you turning the pages!
HARD LOVING COWBOY is the third instalment in AJ Pine’s contemporary, adult CROSSROADS RANCH romance series. This is twenty-five year olds, rancher and wood worker Walker Everett, and sommelier Violet Chastain’s story line. HARD LOVING COWBOY can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed when necessary.
Told from dual third person perspectives (Violet and Walker) HARD LOVING COWBOY follows the building relationship between twenty-five year olds, rancher and wood worker Walker Everett, and sommelier Violet Chastain. Violet is the new sommelier at Crossroads Ranch new Crossroads Winery, a position that brings her face to face with brooding and secretive Walker Everett, a man struggling with demons from his past.But a case of mistaken belief forces our couple into a fake relationship, a relationship that will turn into something more.What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Violet and Walker, and the fall-out as Walker’s past continues to haunt and control his present.
Violet Chastain is on a mission to make enough money to help her mother. With a potential end date to her time at Crossroads Winery getting involved with Walker Everett is all kinds of wrongs. Walker Everett doesn’t do relationships, in fact he struggles with the family he loves and adores but Everett’s history is dark and damaging, and in this, our hero continues to battle memories of the past.
The relationship between Walker and Violet begins as employee and employer but both Walker and Violet’s time at Crossroads Ranch comes with an expiry date, a date neither one has revealed to the other. Walker tries to keep his distance from the woman with whom he will fall in love but one night of fear and anger threatens everything Walker has struggled to overcome. The $ex scenes are passionate and intimate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.
All of the previous story line couples and characters play secondary and supporting characters including Walker’s siblings Jack and Ava (Second Chance Cowboy #1), Cash and Olivia (Saved by the Cowboy 1.5), Luke and Lily (Tough Luck Cowboy #2), and Walker’s Aunt Jenna. We are introduced to Violet’s parents Gabriel and Camille Chastain.
The world building continues to focus on the Everett family dynamics; the siblings struggle to move on from the past, a past tainted by abuse, neglect, addiction and loss.
HARD LOVING COWBOY is a story of family, struggle, hope and dreams. The premise is captivating and entertaining: the characters are energetic and charismatic; the romance is seductive. HARD LOVING COWBOY is an emotional and heart breaking story of one man’s struggle to move on from the past, and one woman’s battle to prove said man is worthy of love.
4.5 stars
Walker’s story really surprised me with how heartfelt and emotional it was. It was such an honest and unflinching story about finding your way, facing your demons, and loving and fighting for yourself. This is the 3rd book in the Crossroads Ranch series, but can be enjoyed as a standalone. Previous characters do appear though and our hero is introduced earlier in the series.
In Hard Loving Cowboy, we watch both our heroine and hero struggle with the responsibilities of life and triggers they face day to day. Sometimes they stumble and other times they rise. Both Walker and Violet are broken people when we meet them. Their introduction is less than conventional, but it allows them both to drop the masks and be happier versions of themselves without the stress of reality. Even with their omissions, they are both seen in a way neither has ever experienced before. Pine tackled several difficult subjects beautifully in this book, showing not only the harsh realities and lasting effects, but also the emotional toll carried by loved ones. It was raw and honest and really struck a chord with me.
I loved the chemistry between broody Walker and steamroller Violet. The build up between them was fantastic as they tried to fight the connection growing between them. They pushed and challenged each other, while being supportive and understanding. Walker’s weekly dinner date with Violet’s family was so sweet and tender. It was such a contrast to the person he felt trapped as in Oak Bluff. What I appreciated most about the story though was that even after everything is laid out on the table, both Violet and Walker knew that they needed to be whole before trying to build any future between them. They still chased their dreams and loved themselves as much as each other. So many times, a magic bullet comes at the end of the story to tie everything into a nice and pretty bow. Pine still gave us the pretty bow, but in a realistic and more meaningful way.
This was a great way to end this series and I loved the little tidbits about Cash, Jack, and Luke’s futures. A novella further down the line to check in with the everyone would be awesome and hey, doesn’t Jenna need her own HEA? 😉 We’re not leaving the Crossroads Ranch world just yet though, and the preview of My One and Only Cowboy at the end shows us that we’re headed to Meadow Valley with Sam Callahan next. I can’t wait!
*I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this book*
This series has been a wonderful one, and Hard Loving Cowboy is a fantastic conclusion to it. (Although, surely Jenna should get a HEA?!) The writing is smart, engaging and witty, the characters incredibly easy to root for, and the story one that was a well-balanced blend of banter, sweetness, heartache and heat.
Cowboys are my favorite kind of hero, and here A.J. Pine demonstrates (with the perfect amount of swoon) exactly why that’s so.
Hard Loving Cowboy A. J. Pine is book Three in the Crossroads Ranch Series. This is the story of Violet Chastain and Walker Everett. I felt this book could easily be a standalone book.
Violet is the newest employee on Crossroads Ranch and is causing some distraction to Walker who tires to focus on his focus on the ranch. When Violet asked for his help in pretending to be her boyfriend for her parents anniversary dinner he goes forward to help her…unable to say no to her. What Violet didn’t set out to do was to have Walker setting himself up in her life where the lines get blurry on what kind of relationship they are in.
As usual, I’m reading my first book by this author and, as usual, it’s the third or fourth book in this series (there was a book #1.5), so I was fairly clueless when it came what happened in the previous novels, but the author did a fairly good job of filling in some of the gaps, and it worked just fine for this reader as a standalone novel. I was able to discern that all the novels in this series relate to the brothers who now own and operate Crossroads Ranch, located in the Napa Valley, and who are in the process of growing a vineyard and building a tasting room which will feature and be stocked with their own home-grown vintage wines. Just a word of warning though–there are certainly a number of triggers within, relating to alcoholism, child abuse, cheating, etc., but all are deftly handled, and helped me give this novel 4.5 stars.
The one brother who is involved in the building of the tasting room, but who won’t be partaking of those wines, is Walker Everett, the youngest brother, and when we first meet him, he’s barely conscious, thoroughly drunk, is a bloody mess, has a broken and bloody nose, two black eyes, has fallen through a tap room window, and is in the process of being arrested for being drunk and disorderly–and he’s no stranger to those charges. When Walker and his brothers lost their mother to cancer more than a decade earlier, their father was devastated and turned to alcohol to dull his pain. Unfortunately, alcohol also turned him into an abusive monster, with Jack, the oldest of the Everett brothers, who did his best to take the beatings and abuse to protect his younger siblings. When Walker turned 18, his father sent him a bottle of bourbon, and drinking the entire bottle in one sitting helped Walker become an alcoholic, just like his father, the man he hated most in the world. He’s spent the last 10 years drunk. In lieu of formal charges, Walker is given an alternative–pay to replace the window and spend the next 2 months in a rehab facility, and he agrees to do both.
After sobering up, and returning home, Walker is still taking it one day at a time, using hard physical labor as a deterrent, but testing himself every night with a bottle and a shot glass, and so far, he’s been able to resist the temptation they pose to his sobriety. As someone who lives with a recovering alcoholic, what the author missed here was a program, like Alcoholics Anonymous, with regular meetings to attend, and a sponsor to help Walker along with his recovery. The fact is that most alcoholics who try to stay sober alone after drying out, fail to do so, time and time again.
It’s in the midst of working on building the tap room that a young woman suddenly appears, dropped off by her ex-lover, because she’s applying for a job at the winery to be their sommelier. She just learned that her former employer/lover, is already married and a father, so no sooner is she dropped off at Crossroads Winery, when she spots Walker, rushes to him and she lays a major kiss on him. He has no idea who she but doesn’t object to their kiss, and Violet begs him to play along. That kiss, and Walker’s appreciation of the beautiful young woman, becomes the start of an on again/off again friendship/relationship at the winery. We learn that her name is Violet, and she tries and succeeds at convincing Walker to also be her pretend boyfriend in front of her parents–both of whom run a restaurant in Santa Barbara, about 90 minutes away by car, which is where Violet gained her knowledge of wines. Violet’s mom has multiple sclerosis, and the family can’t afford to have her treated locally with an experimental treatment protocol, but since her mother is also French, she can receive treatment there, and Violet is working multiple jobs to earn the money to get her mother back to Paris.
One of the things they suggest to those who complete rehab is to avoid romantic relationships and anything stress-related during your first year of sobriety. That’s a tough job for someone like Walker, who’s building and working at a winery, all while trying to hide his alcohol addiction from Violet, with whom he shares some extraordinary sexual chemistry, and dealing with the demons of his mother’s death and the memories of his father’s drunken rages. He knows his brothers are watching and waiting for him to fail, and so he avoids people, including his family, as he struggles alone with maintaining his own sobriety, and his relationship with Violet is one in which he is repeatedly exposed to situations where a glass of wine or champagne is offered.
Both Walker and Violet are extremely likable as is the depth of their attraction to one another, the complicated situations they each must face, Walker’s own personal demons, and the dreams these two characters want to fulfill, all play a part in this very well-written novel, which, at its heart, is about kindness, forgiveness, acceptance, and the redeeming power of love. While I would have preferred a longer lead up to the abrupt HEA ending, this is a moving novel, with memorable characters, dealing with tough subjects, and I highly recommend it.
I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this novel. The opinions expressed are my own.
I have really enjoyed A.J. Pine’s series about the Everett brother and Oak Bluff. The stories are great and the characters are compelling. This book stands on its own however, do yourself a favor and read the previous stories too, Second Chance Cowboy and Tough Luck Cowboy.
I voluntarily reviewed and ARC of this novel.
YES!! Hard Loving Cowboy by AJ Pine is just fab!!! I loved everything about this book. The pages turned themselves and I was left grinning from ear to ear. 5 STARS!
4 star
I was pulled right into this story. The story has laughs, secrets, pain, and heartbreak.
If you have not read the below I would recommend reading those books(s) first
Second Chance Cowboy (Crossroads Ranch #1)
Tough Luck Cowboy (Crossroads Ranch #2)
This is Violet and Walker’s story. Walker is trying to keep his head above water. He knows his past makes people not have faith in him, but he is trying. When he meets Violet, he is smitten after all she kissed him without ever knowing him. She needs his help and he is willing to step up and help. But when he keeps stepping up, she wonders why? As they start to fall, they both wonder if it’s a good fit. They both have plans for the future, but do they fit into each other’s future? He is keeping secrets but are they in the end worth losing her over? The both fell hard but is the reveal of the secrets a time for them to lean on each other or walk away? Can they find a balance for the future or is this the end?
I loved these characters and the side characters. I felt I could connect with the characters and the story was a great read.
I recommend this book.
I really loved Hard Loving Cowboy. The story of the youngest in the Everett Family trying to fight his way to existence among not only with himself but trying to prove himself to his family and the woman who all of a sudden is taking up everything in his life.
I loved Walker vulnerability with his addiction to alcohol and how it has played such a huge role in his life. He may not have been that open with those around him but seeing him work through the demons of his past in order to find his future with Violet was gutwrenching at times.
This was the first book in the series that I read and I definitely will be going back to read the rest of the books in the series. The Everett Boys got me right where it counts, in the heart.
I haven’t read the previous books in this series but I don’t think that it had an impact on my ability to enjoy it. It definitely convinced me that I need to go back and read the other books though!!
I’ve read A.J. Pine before but none of her “cowboy” books because I haven’t been a fan of that genre until recently. This might just be my new go-to genre for a while.
I think that A.J. Pine tackled a serious and difficult topic in a really great way. She was able to make me feel all of Walker’s vulnerability, shame, regret, anger and the sadness he still struggles with from his past while, somehow, also making me feel a sense of hope and love for him and Violet.
This felt like a very well-rounded story with developed characters and perfect pacing. I can’t wait to go back and read about the other Everett brothers…and Sheriff Cash!!
This is book 3 in the Crossroads Ranch series and it features the black sheep of the Everett family, Walker Everett and the new sommelier at Crossroads Ranch, Violet Chastain. These two had smokin’ chemistry from the start. I absolutely LOVED how they remained friends with small amounts of benefits along the way. I felt so bad for Walker, always feeling like he wasn’t good enough. His family loved him so much! I guess it’s hard to see all that love when you’re fighting your own demons.
This story line was fantastic and had great flow. The characters were all people I’d love to be friends with. This is a perfect end to an amazing series!
My goodness, I’ve so enjoyed this fantastic Crossroads Ranch series! And while I absolutely loved Jack and Luke’s stories, I was really looking forward to Hard Loving Cowboy and Walker’s story.
And what a story it is! In this final book, we finally see the true connection and “family” between these wonderful men and the women that love them.
And we finally see just what Walker’s made of—the grit and gumption. What really makes him tick. And I couldn’t help but root for him to finally realize who he is and where he is and how much his family wants to be a part of his life.
And Violet. She’s a force to be reckoned with. She’s smart, fun, sexy and is quickly falling for Walker’s charms. And he’s falling fast too.
I loved the romance and friendship that bloomed between Walker and Violet—they’re truly perfect for each other.
And I absolutely loved my time spent on the Crossroads ranch. I loved the story of this family and am so excited to see what’s next in the new series!
I’ve been excited for Walker’s story since the first book in this series and I wasn’t disappointed!!
From their first meeting, I felt the insane chemistry between Walker and Violet. The friendship that grew between them kept me glued to story. I felt every second of their headache and hardships.
Addiction can be a hard storyline to get right and paired with the struggles of dealing with a sick parent, I was amazed at how both were handled with dignity and respect. I love this series and I never want it to end!!
*This is my voluntary review of an advanced reader copy*