A cowboy finds love in the most unlikely place in New York Times bestseller Donna Grant’s newest Heart of Texas novel, Looking for a Cowboy. A beautiful stranger has come to Clearview, asking questions that are nobody’s business. Cooper Owens also wasn’t born yesterday. He knows that this out-of-towner is hiding a dark secret of her own. Much as he knows he should head in the other direction, he … head in the other direction, he can’t make himself turn away. . .
P.I. Marlee Frampton always wanted to lead a nice quiet life, working as a cop in her local police department. But that dream came to an end when her sister was murdered–and her baby kidnapped. Now Marlee’s come to Texas to investigate the Harpers, who may be linked to shady adoption agencies. Cooper can’t believe that his friends could be involved in anything so sinister…and soon he makes it his mission to help Marlee discover the truth–and keep her safe in his arms.
“Filled with passion, suspense, and strong characters.”–Rendezvous with Romance on My Favorite Cowboy (5 stars)
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I was expecting a great story, with a bit of action thrown in, however I never would have guessed that the story would start with a…bang. Right from the start, LfaC has a ‘mystery’ that is very heartbreaking. Marlee has a story that truly shapes her life from the opening pages and throughout the entire book. It really kept me on the edge of my seat, literally, and I read it straight thru til the end. I had to know how it all turned out.
Loved Marlee and Cooper. Marlee is such a strong, determined, headstrong woman and the story helps her to see that a different perspective, and maybe a wee bit of help, will go a long way to moving forward on her life’s mission. I don’t want to give you too many details because the story has to be read – and you will enjoy it, if you like your romance with a side of mayhem. IMHO, the author really hit the feelings and insecurities and family/love connections with all the characters. I truly adored Cooper as he put himself out there for Marlee; and Jace, and his mother (who is a riot, btw), and the rest of his ‘brothers’. I’d trust him to have my back – anytime.
The book is a standalone but I have read and enjoyed the previous books in this series. I like to read about previous characters and know who they are. It’s not necessary for most folks but I love the sneak peaks into their ‘now’ lives.
This book was not what I expected. I was on a roller coaster ride of emotions, from the beginning to the end. Although, at times, the book was very dark, I could not put it down. There was intrigue, mystery, suspense, romance and love. I normally read PNR, but this is a great series, if you are looking for something different. I highly recommend this series.
This book was very my original its not a topic I have ever read that I can think of. This series has been so good and you never know what’s going to happen next and that was very much the case with this book as well. It was very intense and yet disturbing at the same time. I liked this group of characters and the relationship they have, if you don’t have that kind of friendship it make you want one for sure. There was one thing in the end I wish would have happened but, I am sure that this is not the end for this group of characters. There is sexual content and strong language in this book so it may not be suitable for all. This book really did not disappoint it was hard to put down for sure. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Entertaining, interesting suspense, and a sweet romance. Marlee’s pregnant sister was murdered and the baby was stolen, so Marlee has been on the hunt for her niece and the bad people that have killed and kidnapped. It’s a dark topic; I’m not a huge fan of the suspense aspect being about baby trafficking, but it was interesting. Marlee gets some clues that lead her to Texas, where she’s investigating a couple that recently adopted a baby, and she just so happens to meet Cooper. They have an instant connection, but Marlee isn’t exactly truthful, not a fan of that deception. I like Marlee though; she has a good heart and she’s a strong character. Cooper is a nice guy; love how supportive he is, and he’s a good fit for Marlee. Sweet and steamy chemistry between these two! I’m not a huge fan of chapters from the villian’s POV; takes some of the suspense away for me, but it is interesting to get more details about their motivations for doing the bad things they do. Like getting caught up on previous characters too; love that they all work together and are ready to jump in to help do the right thing. Wanted a bit more for the ending, but overall, an enjoyable read. A good series so far!
Heartwrenching book. You know there is evil in the world but this is truly unforgivable. Marlee Frampton’s life changed the day her twin was killed and niece was taken. It has become her mission to find missing children and return them to their parents. Her police training has given her the tools to work these cases. Cooper Owens was born and raised in Clearwater. He is one of 4 that all went into the military together and have all come home. Cooper is having a hard time trying to figure out where he belongs. One look at Marlee and he knows she is the one. These evil people have it out for her and it is going to take them all to save the day. Yes we do get a HEA but it is well deserved.
Looking for a Cowboy is a ride you need to take. The suspense and danger keep you on the edge of your seat as Marlee is on the hunt to find out how is behind the murders and missing children. I love that there is such a connection between Marlee and Cooper. Cooper is amazing and you will love how he jumps into action once he finds out why Marlee is in town. This book is so good. I couldn’t put it down. I loved Cooper and Marlee together so much. I wish they could have their own series taking down the bad guys togehter. You will not want to miss this one.
Looking for a Cowboy is book five in Donna Grant’s heart of Texas series. I’ve skipped around in the reading order a bit (only read a couple of the other books) and I can tell you that while they are written as standalone titles, there are enough mentions of previous main characters in this book that it can raise some questions about how all of them connect. So it seems I’m going to have to read the entire series to satisfy my curiosity regarding how they all fit and what their backstory really is. Despite that, Cooper and Marlee’s story is a good read.
NICUnurse’s Rating: My only complaint with how this book ends is that I didn’t get the ultimate resolution that I really, really wanted. With that said, that’s a very personal opinion, so I’m not going to let it color my review as that’s the author’s prerogative. Maybe she’s got that planned for a future book, and I just don’t know that yet. However, for the sake of full disclosure, I have to admit that I feel like each time I pick up a book by this author, it’s a bit of a gamble. I’ve loved some of her books, and I’ve not cared for some of them. That seems to be true in about equal measure. But it’s enough that I keep going back, hoping for a tie-breaker, and this book seems to be just that. It helped to tip the scale to the side of “I like most of this author’s books,” so I’ll keep reading them. This story had action and suspense. It also had romance and a good bit of emotion. And there was a resolution that leads to a HEA. All of these elements added up to a page-turning and sometimes heart-pounding good read. If you like romantic suspense/thrillers, I think you’ll like this book.
I give Looking for a Cowboy by Donna Grant 4 out of 5 stars!
Cowboys, suspense, romance and family? Check. Although this one deals with a subject that may be difficult for some readers, the early copy that I read kept me on the edge of my seat, waiting to find out what happened next.
I loved the family of Cooper’s heart and the way they welcomed Marlee into their fold, as well as the reminder that families are made of both of blood and the heart. Fans of BJ Daniel’s will love this combination of cowboys, suspense and romance.
Looking for a Cowboy is a sexy, romantic suspense. P.I. Marlee Frampton has made her life mission to find the stolen babies of murdered mothers to be. A former cop, Marlee’s passion stems from her twin’s murder and the need to find her niece. Her newest lead brings her to small town Texas and the notice of Cooper Owens. When Cooper’s friend’s baby comes into question before being cleared, he decides to team up with his friends to help Marlee find the real missing baby and the bad guys. Marlee and Cooper’s chemistry is off the charts and the danger just amps up for an action packed, steamy read with a satisfying HEA. My voluntary, unbiased review is based upon a review copy from Netgalley.
This is a well written story, but if you don’t want to read about serial murders, you might want to think very hard before you read this. This is Cooper’s story, and he’s almost always hanging with his friend, Jace. That’s until a Private Investigator, and former Police Officer, Marlee brings her investigation to the small town of Clearview. The book starts off giving us Marlee’s backstory, and why she’s come to this part of Texas. Both of the characters are well developed, and caught and held my interest. The reader learns about the terrible things that have happened, and continue to happen. Donna Grant introduces the secondary characters who are the perpetrators slowly, which adds to the suspense. Toward the end of the book, other friends of the hero enter the story in support of Cooper and Marlee. “Looking for a Cowboy” is a suspenseful read, with a romance added alongside. It adds to the existing series, and makes me hope Donna will continue to add books to the Heart of Texas series.
I received an ARC of the book from the author, and this is my honest opinion of “Looking for a Cowboy”.
Donna is a favorite author of mine and she has proved over and over again that what she writes is a beautiful piece of work ! This book was no exception and I really enjoyed it. This series is amazing!!
This is only the second book I have read in the series. I am a an of Ms. Grant’s HR and PNR. I decided to give her contemporary romance a try. She has this amazing ability to pull you into the the lives of each of her characters. The suspense kept you on edge and the twists were not what I expected. There were times that I was not sure Cooper and Marlee would find their HEA. But we were not disappointed. They really did deserved it. Quite the intense read. I received an early copy and this is my voluntary opinion.
Donna Grant, master of the written word has gifted readers with the fifth installment of her Heart Of Texas series in Looking For a Cowboy.
This book is a little different than some of her previous works, it has some dark crime, and the content that may trigger some readers. That being said however, it is key to the story, and the story is so worth the read.
Cooper and Marlee have both seen what the world can take from people, Cooper a retired U.S Air Force airman and Marlee, a former police officer, now turned private investigator. Their attraction is immediate and hot, but the real world and the troubles they are chasing won’t let them forget reality for a moment. Marlee is on the trail of a serial killer that is stealing babies for profit. This strikes her hard, ten years ago she lost her twin sister, and her sisters’ unborn baby, she has spent those long ten years looking for the monster that took her family from her. Marlee follows lead after lead, and finally she catches a break. A break that leads her to Texas, and to Cooper’s friends and to Cooper himself.
The second Cooper meets Marlee he knows he wants her; he knows he has to have her, but he also knows she as secrets. When what happens to her sister comes to light, Cooper is the first one to offer a helping hand, even if Marlee is hesitant about taking it, she knows she needs the help if she wants to catch her sisters’ killer. Enter into the world of drama, angst, love and hope, Cooper and Marlee are two sides of the same coin and it will take both of them to solve this puzzle and save the day.
As always Donna Grant doesn’t disappoint. I very much enjoy her supernatural books, but her contemporary just hit different. They are always so filled with emotion and they always teach me some kind of life lesson that helps me at the time. Grant has a way with connecting with her readers that I find very special. 4.5 stars for Cooper and Marlee, way to go!
For those who have been following the series Heart of Texas, must have already fallen in love with one of the cowboys presented by the author; and with Cooper it would be no different.
An ex-military man, who now dedicates his life to taking care of horses – he has participated in countless rodeos – and his mother (even if she doesn’t accept it very well). But his protective side is further activated when he meets Officer Marlee Frampton.
Marlee goes to Texas, from California, with a mission: to find missing children. All this after her own sister was a victim and murdered when she was pregnant, and her baby was stolen from her belly.
Investigating a couple, Cooper’s friends, Marlee finds herself ever closer to those who have been doing so much harm to so many families and couples, and making kidnapping and selling children for adoption a profitable business.
The plot is strong, and although the couple has a certain chemistry, the mystery part is much greater than the romance itself.
4 stars
Looking For A Cowboy is the fifth title in the Heart of Texas series and brings us a mystery to solve and two, perhaps, unlikely people to watch fall in love along the way. This is not a sweet, cute-meet cowboy romance as you’ll quickly discover – there is intense emotional pain in this story, a crime (ongoing) that is heinous, to say the least, and a mystery to solve as well as stopping a crime ring. There were parts of this story that were not easy to read, for me, but needed to be told to tell the entire story. This is one of those times that I don’t see how a reader cannot be somehow affected by the story beyond the romance involved.
Cooper had, let’s call it a thunderbolt moment when he met Marlee – that moment of completely believing he’d just met the woman he’d spend the rest of his life with… now he just has to convince her. Lust, at first sight, would probably be Marlee’s reaction to meeting Cooper, or it would be if she wasn’t planning on using him to further her investigation into bringing down an infant selling crime ring. A ring she believes his neighbors and friends are involved in. Cross-purposes much?
Aside from Marlee’s initial plans for Cooper, we’ll soon find the entire family helping in Marlee’s investigation – with some surprising results that no one expected or suspected was happening in their small home town. A dangerous situation only gets worse the more they learn… and the increased danger is only drawing Cooper and Marlee closer day by day.
And anything more, any other details should be discovered firsthand as you dive into Looking For A Cowboy for yourself.
This story is intense on many levels but there is also time for two people to begin their own journey of falling in love in spite of circumstances going on around them. We get to run into old book friends from previous stories and get a bit caught up on what’s happened in their lives. If this is where you’re starting then I’d say that Cooper and Marlee’s story stands on its own quite well, but the earlier stories are just as entertaining so I’d suggest going back for them if possible.
If you enjoy a really good Romantic Suspense tale, solving puzzles, while watching two people fall in love and enjoy a large cast of characters, then you’ll feel right at home in Looking For A Cowboy.
*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher, St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*
Marlee Frampton became a PI after her twin sister was murdered and her baby kidnapped from her womb. She had been a cop before becoming a PI and became determined to find her niece as well as find as many missing or kidnapped children as she can and return them home safely. There were some that were dead but at least she could bring those families closure. Now she has gone to Clearview Texas following a lead on the latest missing baby after the mother was brutally murdered. Her husband has hired Marlee to find his son and the leads have brought her to the Harper family. There is where she meets Cooper Owens who is friends of the Harpers. Even though they find the Harpers are good people, Cooper makes it his purpose to help Marlee find and take down that illegal adoption agency. There is a lot of drama and suspense in this story but definitely worth reading. I received a free copy from NetGalley/St. Martin’ Press and this is my honest review.
Book 5 in the Heart of Texas series. Fast paced, sadness and a horrible string of crime. I Love Cooper! Donna does it again. Can’t wait for the next book!
I received an arc for an honest review.
Donna Grant’s book, Looking for a Cowboy, is a romance novel and more. In this book Donna Grant has brought to the forefront one of many atrocious crimes that is committed throughout the world.
Marlee was a California cop turned PI after the murder of her pregnant sister Macey. Marlee is tracking down child abduction cases and cases where the pregnant mothers are murdered so the babies can be sold on the black market, in an attempt to bring the children home or bring closure to the families. Marlee is following a lead about a couple adopting a little boy that brings her to Clearview,Texas.
Marlee decides to use Cooper to get closer to the family that she is investigating, and this turns into much more. Cooper is gorgeous and kind. Once the truth comes out, everyone comes together to help Marlee track down the people responsible for stealing the babies. Unbeknown to Marlee, the leader of this group is a longtime friend of the family.
This story was an emotional one and one full of true friendship and romance. This is a must read.
Looking For A Cowboy by Donna Grant is not you typical cowbiy romance. Ms, Grant has given us a suspence filled book full of twists and turns with a little romance thrown in. I loved it and couldn’t put it down. I laughed, cried and was so caught up in the storyline.
Cooper is my favorite cowboy in this series. Marlee, a former cop who become a PI after a tragic experience in her past that has her on a mission to find the culprits responsible for that tragedy.
Marlee finds herself in Clearview, TX working herself near to exhaustion on her one mission in life. Enters Cooper and everyone from the past Cowboys books. There is a romance that happens along with the harrowing storyline.
I particularily love love this book because Ms. Grant does not shy away from the harrowing storyline.
Go grab this book now. It is a must read.
Looking for a Cowboy is the 5th book in Donna Grants Heart of Texas series, with Marlee as a PI who comes to town looking for a stolen baby and crosses paths with Cooper and his friends. These are two adults dealing with some heavy subject matter. I love how family/friends play a major part in these books. The series is full of suspense, mystery and romance. I think this series is best if the books are read close together, it keeps all the relationships fresh in my mind. I highly recommend this series if you like a good HEA, no cheating, love, mystery, suspense type story.