Her Cowboy Sweetheart

Her Cowboy Sweetheart is a great addition to the Sweetheart Ranch series, yet it is able to be read and enjoyed as a stand alone novel, too. I really liked the two main characters, JD and Carly. They both showed, time and again, throughout the novel that they would put the safety of others above what their heart desired.

Their growing feelings for each other, despite JD’s apprehension to enter into a relationship while dealing with health issues, provided some great chemistry. I really enjoyed watching their romance develop. Carly’s in-laws were annoying and pushy, while Carly always clearly tried to have the best interest of her son at the heart of her decisions. She proved herself to be a very strong woman.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Real and appealing characters with real problems make this book special. So does the setting of ranch country in Arizona. It was fascinating to learn about JD’s balance disorder and how it could crop up at any moment and throw a wrench into his life. A good man, patient with dogs and children, and with Carly and her issues, too.

I have read “The sweetheart ranch” books number 2 and 3 so I was really excited to read the next book in the series. I love the ranch setting where these books take place. It’s really fun and easy to read.

I really liked Carly’s character and I could relate to her being a protective single mom and hesitating to bring a man into her child’s life. Her battles with custody are emotional and very real and tugged at my heart strings. I loved how the ranch was a safe place for her and her son to heal and move forward.

JD was also a great character! His passion to help others all the while struggling with his disease and trying to stay positive about life.

I laughed and got teary… lots of great emotions and events happening in this story! I can’t wait to read more in this series! Highly recommend for a fun, easy read.

I received a copy of this book complimentary for blog and social media review. All opinions are my own.

4.5 Stars
I so love this series so much. These books are make you feel good romances. This book was no different. I could hardly put it down. I read it i a day.I loved Carly ad JD. JD is going to win your heart right off. He’s a special man where life has throw him a curve ball ad he believes he’s a burden to any future love prospects. Carly and her little boy are a bright spot for JD. I turn he is for them as well. JD and Carly are so adorably cute together. Trust me after you finish this book your heart is going to be happy sighing. Then throw in JD’s dog Hombre you have recipe for a great book. It’s a must read!

Thank you Prism and Harlequin Heartwarming for a complimentary copy. I voluntarily reviewed this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

Her Cowboy Sweetheart
By: Cathy McDavid

REVIEW
I do love a good Harlequin Heartwarming story, and Cathy McDavid delivers a beautiful read that is wholesome, clean, entertaining and insightful. Carly and JD are a compelling couple from the start. Both have issues to concern themselves with daily. Carly is a divorced single mother with an ex husband who is a sorry excuse for a man. Adding to this, his parents create major trouble and stress for Carly. Fortunately, she has JD for support, but he has medical issues that changed his life. He is still adjusting and doesn’t want to be a burden to Carly. With an adorable little boy in the middle, Carly and JD must either fight for their love, or walk away before it’s too late. This story touches on series issues, and the author treats these with sensitivity and respect. Although there is a seriousness that prevails through the story, it is still fun and enjoyable. Carly and JD are warm, compassionate and genuine characters who are easy to love. Their story is an excellent balance of light and heavy. I very much enjoyed reading Her Cowboy Sweetheart, and I’m ready to read another story with all the feels, just like this one. Romance readers will delight in this touching story of life’s triumphs, tragedies and the power of love.

Her Cowboy Sweetheart is the fourth book in The Sweetheart Ranch series, but you definitely do not have to read these in order! You’ll enjoy this book just as much if you just jump in here. The Sweetheart Ranch books all revolve around the wedding business and horses, of course!

The main characters in Her Cowboy Sweetheart are ones that I really enjoyed getting to know. They’ve both got issues holding them back from serious relationships, but when you know you’ve found the one, you just know! I really liked Carly. She’s a single mom working two jobs to support herself and her toddler. Carly is a very caring and strong character. She was victim of spousal abuse, yet she doesn’t feel sorry for herself. This girl is driven, and she’s got goals.

Carly’s tie to The Sweetheart Ranch is the gift shop. She runs this shop that sells things like cake toppers, candles, garters…little things you might need for your wedding. Carly designs and creates jewelry for horses in her “spare” time. Her jewelry business takes her to the horse side of The Sweetheart Ranch since she likes to photograph her pieces with actual horse models. Being in the barns is how Carly becomes acquainted with JD.

JD suffers from Meniere’s disease which is a balance disorder. He had to leave the career he loved, bull riding, yet find a way to stay connected to his passion. He and Carly connect in a way neither of them expected. With their past and present issues, they feel that being friends is best. But like I said, when you know you know.

I enjoyed how the romance developed in Her Cowboy Sweetheart. The author brought conflict into the book for the characters as individuals and together. I love how they draw strength from each other.

This a very sweet and inspiring book, and I think you’ll enjoy it.

Thank you in advance to the author, Cathy McDavid, and Prism Book Tours for providing a complimentary review copy. A positive review was not required. All words are my own.

While I am not new to the Harlequin Heartwarming books, I am new to McDavid’s work.

While this is part of a series, it can easily be a standalone read. I wouldn’t have known it was part of a series to be honest.

What is interesting is that this is the third (3rd) in the Heartwarming line of “The Sweetheart Ranch” series, however “Mustang Valley” has eight (8) novels in the Harlequin Western Romance (formerly Harlequin American Romance) line. I am familiar with that one and had been reading the line over 20 years ago.

I was drawn to this story because of a different type of male protagonist – one with a disability (or rather a medical issue that is somewhat debilitating at first), JD Moreno. And, there is single mom Carly Leighton with an adorable little boy (roughly about a year old).

The story takes a different turn than most – these two realize they do care for each other right away and don’t deny it, nor do they really fight the attraction. However, JD is practical in that he wants to get his Ménière’s disease under control before entertaining the idea of a relationship, especially with Carly.

But, nearly a year after Carly’s divorce, her in-laws suddenly become interested in her son Rickie. Their son Patrick was violent towards Carly in their marriage, which was worse when he drank (alcoholism). There are some mild references to domestic abuse, and one incident (pre-story) of Patrick smacking Carly’s friend. These are disturbing and anyone who might get triggered by the events should make note of this.

Carly is suspicious and with good reason – her in-laws are not exactly being honest with their intentions. But, it ends up having a somewhat unexpected turn in that Carly and JD decide to date after all despite the initial reluctance. I loved how Carly was upfront and honest about her marriage with JD and their relationship was free from real arguing, anger, or anything negative. It was a beautiful, compassionate understanding of each one’s past and present which highlighted the more important aspects of a relationship – trust and respect. JD refuses to be a burden to her.

But, her in-laws don’t like JD, and after a medical episode – things go downhill pretty fast, and their true intentions are revealed. It made me wonder that even if JD wasn’t in the picture would they have done what they did.

JD’s love and respect showed when he had to make a decision that would break his and Carly’s heart. I also enjoyed seeing Carly’s own turmoil between doing what was right for her son; but, not completely ignoring a nagging suspicion, which turned out to be right.

In addition, Carly’s in-laws were pretty much fooling themselves in helping their son try to regain custody or reverse the termination. In Arizona (where the story takes place), it is often hard to get parental rights re-instated. Per a legal website: “it is possible, but there has to be strong legal or public policy ground. The courts believe there is a great interest in the finality of a judgment, and that includes the termination of a parent’s rights”. But, the threat was enough to worry Carly, so that showed how manipulative they were being in the situation. Even after everything that happened – I still didn’t trust them in the end.

McDavid’s realistic visual of the entire relationship with JD and Carly, along with the dysfunctional intricacies of the in-laws’ involvement was vivid and brutally honest. I was truly drawn into and invested in JD and Carly’s future. Also, Hombre the dog was a true tension breaker. He was just a sweetheart. I could feel JD’s frustration with him, but also saw the love he had for the poor misguided pup. It was also sweet to see how Hombre took right to Carly’s son without hesitation or any jealousy.

This is very different from the other Heartwarming novels I’ve read – in a very good way. It is not a light-hearted read; instead it is a powerful, heart-tugging, emotionally engaging, honest, and beautiful tale of real life issues and real love. A love that puts what is best and needed overall, rather than wants and desires.

A happy ending doesn’t always come right away, but it will come when it is meant to be. This is one read that will stick with readers for a while and perhaps make them examine their own relationships. This is perhaps one of the most emotional Heartwarming books I’ve read.

The cover was cute with the dog and little boy – though the boy on the cover is older than the boy in the story. That threw me for a bit, unless it is to represent the boy’s age at the end of the novel. A little child, a misguided pup, two people who love each other – that is the EXACT meaning of “Heartwarming”. This is a clean read with no intimate scenes and no foul language.

I enjoyed McDavid’s approach to touching on Ménière’s disease. Only a few symptoms of this rare disorder are touched on in this story – namely his loss of balance, vertigo, and nausea. There are other symptoms.

Some attacks can last anywhere from a few minutes to 24 hours. There were other symptoms that were not explored – tinnitus (sensation of ringing) in the affected ear, loss of hearing in the affected ear, aural fullness, and headaches. Most people being diagnosed between the ages of 40-60. For a complete diagnosis, one has to have the four major ones – prolonged vertigo (20 minutes to eight hours at a time); a fluctuating hearing loss of lower frequencies just before, during or right after the vertigo attack; roaring tinnitus; and a sensation of the affected ear’s canal filling up.

With regard to driving – JD may not have been allowed to drive until the symptoms are under control. So the author takes great care to highlight this aspect. It is something to seriously consider.

I did not know what kind of surgery or implant he could have that would alleviate the symptoms as the condition is incurable. I would’ve liked that better explained.

This book was a great way to introduce readers to this disorder that affects about 69 million American adults over the age of 40 at some point in their lives, roughly about 35% of the US population.

For those wanting to follow up on this particular disorder, AARP has a wonderful web page dedicated to the ins, outs, and celebrities who battle the disorder: https://www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/info-2018/menieres-inner-ear-hearing-loss.html.

This is another great article to read: https://vestibular.org/news/02-02-2015/swimmers-journey.