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 received a copy of Looking for a Cowboy from St. Martins Press and Net Galley in exchange for a voluntary and honest review. My opinions are mine alone and not solicited**
Looking for a Cowboy by Donna Grant is the fifth book in her Heart of Texas series. This is Cooper Owens and Marlee Frampton’s story has premise is illegal adoption of infants without the mothers consent. This has a slow build up to a climatic end where it will lead to a surprise person behind the adoption ring who is a familiar person to her.
Marlee Frampton’s life changed with the death of her sister and her premature niece so taken. So she dedicates her life to find her and the other babies who were stolen. She meets Cooper when a lead to a stolen infant brings her to Clearview , TX and Brice and Naomi’s new son. It will bring all former H/h together from previous books to solve several recent murders and stolen infants until finally leading to not only a betrayal from her friend but how deep the the ring and stolen babies go even to a government agency.
Cooper Owen loves to help his family and friends when the need arises with his savvy mother invests money he decides to help the town. He never expects to fall for Marlee or help her with her quest to find not only her niece but all the others who were taken from their mothers. Will he be able to give his life when the King pins start to fall and will he finally tell Marlee how much she means to him?
Hopefully the next book will be Jace’s as there’s a story that needs to be told about him. This book is worth all 5 Stars and more.
This book is the first I’ve read by this author and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Even though it is book 5 in the Heart of Texas series, I had no problems following along. Marlee and Cooper’s story just pulled me in from the very beginning. My heart broke for all Marlee had endured, but I was in awe of her determination to bring her sister’s murder to justice. Ten years ago, Marlee was a cop but after her twin’s murder and her baby taken from her womb, she realized she could do more as a private investigator. She made it her mission to find kidnapped babies and those responsible. Years have gone by and she has done a lot of good, but it has taken a toll on her physically and emotionally, but she does not wane from her mission. Her latest investigation leads her to Clearview, Texas and to Brice and Naomi Harper and her extended family and friends. Even though she is positive she had found the kidnapped boy of one of her clients, things get a bit muddled the more time she spends investigating, especially Cooper Owens. As for Cooper himself, he was fascinated with Marlee from the very first sight, something about her drew her to him.
I was a bit leery going into their story because I knew the secrets Marlee was keeping, but I was pleasantly surprised at the outcome. Once Cooper found out why Marlee was in town, he and his friends were all on board with Marlee’s mission. The storyline definitely keeps you on your toes, it is fast paced and at times nail biting. The chemistry between Marlee and Cooper is intense and you definitely root for their happily ever after.
Overall, Looking for a Cowboy was a really great read, I am actually very interested in reading the previous books in this series.
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book. All opinions are my own.
Excellent! Just the right amount of intrigue and romance. All the characters were well developed and likable.. I can see a series developing. Good job!
Book 5 of the “Heart of Texas” series and I was so engaged from the very beginning with the good character and storyline development! I really enjoyed Marlee and Cooper together, they kept me turning the pages until the very end!
5 stars
Marlee was a cop when her twin sister was murdered and her baby cut out of her. Marlee leaves the police force and becomes a private detective who searches for missing and kidnapped babies. It’s been ten years since her sister was murdered and she is still looking for her niece. One of her cases takes her to Texas where she is investigating the Harpers. They have adopted a baby boy and Marlee believes it’s the baby of a man who’s wife was murdered and the baby stolen. Cooper is best friends with the Harpers and when he meets Marlee, he knows she is up to something. When he finds out she is investigating his friends and him, he is furious. Once he hears her story, he and his friends help her find the ringleader. As they get closer to the culprits, Marlee and Cooper are in grave danger. Marlee realizes that she has fallen for Cooper but it could be to late.
This story made me think “ This could really happen “. It kept me on the edge of my seat. You have suspense, action, and some sex. I feel like there was a cliffhanger but I don’t know if it’ll ever be solved. I loved the hero and heroine and think they are perfect for each other.
* Voluntarily read and reviewed this for NetGalley *
Donna Grant wrote a respectful story about a serious topic, illegal adoptions. While this topic provided the background for Marlee Frampton’s appearance in Clearview, the ‘accidental’ meeting of Cooper Owens was explosive. Marlee has always worked alone, but Cooper opened her eyes to the benefits of working with the right people to accomplish her goals. This story had wonderful characters with flaws. While reading, you can’t help but route for the good guys. ‘
Sooo good. Couldn’t put it down. 2 books in 1. Who could ask for more. I really loved Wish Upon a Cowboy. I recommend this book to everyone. What a way to start the holidays
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and I am voluntarily reviewing it.
This was a very intense story. There were times when I had to put it aside as the feelings of sorrow and despair that was upon me was heart wrenching. I adored how the author did such a fabulous job in bring me to such highs and lows; it was like riding a roller coaster.
Marlee Frampton left her job as a cop when her sister was killing for her unborn child. It became a cold case that would haunt her. Marlee became a P.I. looking for stolen babies and those that carelessly ripped the fetuses from the mothers before killing them. The black market for babies is one that is a dark place. The plot was one that was very troubling but compeling to keep reading.
Cooper Owens is attracted to the beautiful woman only to find out that she is looking into his friends adoption and it could be one of the babies that Marlee is looking for. Cooper and his friends are troubled by the thought of black market babies especially in their area of Texas. It is a daunting task that Marlee faces on a daily basis.
This book is a very gripping tale. I felt at times that I was right there with the characters. I adored the dual POV format. Also having prior couples and the entire group of friends making multiple appearances, felt like getting caught up with old friends.
While this is a part of a series (with repeat characters) you really don’t have to read the prior stories to enjoy this one. I would definitely recommend it though for your full reading pleasure.
I would only recommend this to someone over the age of 18.
This was an intense, fast-paced romantic suspense. It kept me reading long into the night and early morning because it was so hard to put down. This is the first book in the series that I have read but I didn’t feel like I had to read the others to be able to follow the story.
Cooper had grown up in Clearview, Texas. It was his home and where he had roots. He had a great group of friends who watched out for each other and had each other’s backs. Marlee showed up in town, a PI looking for some bad guys and hoping to eventually solve her sister’s murder and find her niece. Cooper was smitten and Marlee couldn’t resist.
There are so many layers to this story so I won’t give away the details but suffice it to say if you like romance, along with a good dose of suspense, you will likely enjoy this story. There were a few f-bombs and some graphic details of their sex which I don’t particularly enjoy but the story was good and engaging.
I was given an arc copy of this book and I willingly offer my honest review.
Looking for a Cowboy really clicked for me. I like the strong family ties and close friend relationships and small-town setting. Marlee is driven to find the ones who murdered her twin sister and stole her infant niece 10 years ago. Cooper doesn’t really need to work thanks to his mom’s good investment strategies but steps up to help his family of friends whenever he sees a need. When these two meet it’s under stressful circumstances, but they are instantly attracted to each other’s strong character and dedication. This story has so many twists and turns in solving the current situation Marlee is involved in and makes for a page-turning read that kept me up most of the night.
I am voluntarily posting an hones review after reading an advance copy of this story.
Looking For A Cowboy is book #5 in the Heart Of Texas seires. I’m sorry to say that this story didn’t resonate with me. I found the inner dialog to be too long and too much. The main female character was, to me, unlikable. The main male was ok but their relationship just didn’t work for me. This was such a shame as the subject matter was interesting and realistic.
#DonnaGrant #LookingForACowboy #Netgalley #StMartin’sPress #HeartOfTexas
This book isn’t your cookie cutter boy meets girl romance, but Donna’s books never are. The subject will grab your heart and make it hurt, but you won’t be able to put the book down. Not many authors would touch this type of story and after the prologue most authors couldn’t make you still want to read it. This book has the love of family and friends with murder and suspense thrown it. It also has more twists and turn than a snake on the move. I highly recommend this book and all of the books in this series. With that said it is a stand-alone with characters from the other books in this series. I can’t wait for the next book in this series.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
3.5 stars.
This was a tough read for me. Mostly because of the topic as it plays into real life so much!
These things are happening people! Right now!
I love Donna and I love her writing style but this one didn’t cut it for me like I would have wished.
The story line itself was good, it was well written and raw and I appreciate that she didn’t deter from this topic. I didn’t like the romance aspect this time around, it was a little too instalove for my taste. For me, the couple didn’t mesh well, separately though, I liked them. They both believed in what they were doing and fought for it.
I do recommend this series but just be warned, this one is a hard subject!
I’ve read a previous book in this series so knew some of the characters, which helps when reading a book in a series.
This is Cooper’s story and he comes across as a good man, maybe a little lost in his life journey.
Marley, well yes I liked her and her mission, she dives in and pulls out all the stops to succeed, putting her own life on hold. I didn’t like how at the beginning she messed with Cooper and his friends.
The story moves quickly and everyone seems to get involved. There is a romance and danger and a couple of bad uns! If anything I would have liked them to have more couple time, before declaring their love.
Still an enjoyable read.
3 – 3.5 stars
This is the 5th book in Donna Grant’s Heart of Texas series. The East/Harpers and their friends have faced difficult times before, but this time they faced truly despicable people.
Cooper Owens is happy for his friend Brice Harper and his wife Naomi when they adopted the baby they had longed for. What Cooper, and the rest of this group of friends (that includes the local authorities), didn’t know was this adoption dew the attention of Marlee Frampton.
Marlee Frampton’s world was torn apart when her sister was killed and her unborn niece was stolen. She used her training as a police office to become a PI to track down the group behind so many murders of expectant mothers to steal their unborn children. She believed Brice & Naomi’s new son had been stolen from his family.
Marlee tries to get close to Cooper to learn about the Harpers. He finds out but he decides to help her in her quest stop this evil enterprise. Cooper and his friends’ lives are all in danger trying to ferret out the people behind stealing and selling babies. This extended family never backs down from a fight for what they believe is right.
As always, Donna Grant’s writing is spectacular. This is very difficult and sensitive subject matter in this book and she handles it in a way to make you understand why these characters react as they do without being graphic. I honestly would not have read this book because of the vileness if the subject but I have been invested in these characters for a while now and want to find how their stories end. I enjoyed the characters, but this book was difficult for me to read because of the subject matter.
This story was really enjoyable. It struck the right balance between action and romance for me. There was enough suspense to keep me fully engaged instead of looking to just finish the book.
The characters are interesting and I liked their complicated back stories. I like Ms. Grant’s style of writing and her skill shows in both her ability to build likeable characters but also in showing us the environments in which they exist. She makes them real, with real problems and emotions.
I hope you too enjoy this book
Happy Reading!
This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review.
This is the fifth book in the Heart of Texas series. This is not your normal romance where guy meets girl, fall in love and live happily ever after quickly. This is hard-core suspense. There is love and boy meets girl but you have to get through the bad guys to get to the true love and trust that is needed to move on. Like I said this is a hard-core suspense.
I really like how she went about this story. It is a story that as you start reading it is will pull you in and never let you go. The drama, heartache, suspense and of course with heartache comes trust issues. The question is will Cooper and Marlee survive it all or will it keep them apart.
It is a very good story. I would recommend it and can’t wait for the next in the series.
Looking For A Cowboy was high on suspense with a dash of romance-overall a good read. I loved Cooper and eventually warmed to Marlee. It took me a bit to find good head space for this story because I wasn’t fully prepared for the subject matter to be so heavy. However, I am glad I stuck it out. LFAC was strong on bonds of friendships and trust. I loved the characters in general and their closeness with one another.
FYI-the purpose of Marlee’s job is finding missing children which stems from women being murdered and their unborn babies being stolen. Touchy stuff and I had to gloss my way through those scenes.
I received an advance reader copy from the author and this is my honest review.
Marlee Frampton’s life took a turn the night her sister was murdered and her unborn baby cut from her body.
Now Marlee spends her days traveling the country looking for missing children who were taken in the same manner as her sister’s child. The latest leads she has have led her to Clearview, Texas. When she first meets Cooper Owens, she sees an opportunity to learn more about his friends and he baby they recently adopted. Breaking her personal rules, she engineers a casual meeting to start asking questions.
.
Cooper is pretty taken with the new woman in town until she starts asking questions about his closest friend. Since leaving the service and returning to his friends and family in Clearview, Cooper has been drifting,, trying to find the right path for his life. When Marlee discovers she’s been following leads to the wrong child, Cooper is intrigued and agrees to help her in her search for the people behind the missing children.. Marlee isn’t used to working with people, but with Cooper comes his friends and Marlee finds working with a team beats working alone, especially when one of the team is Cooper.
I was thrilled to return to Clearview and Donna Grant’s Heart of Texas series, and the opportunity to visit old friends. Ms. Grant has tackled a difficult subject and crafted a story full of energy, action and emotion., It starts with a bang right from the start and never stops. As an added bonus she gifts us with a smattering of open questions about other characters and hints that future stories may be in the works.. i couldn’t be more excited at the prospect of returning to Clearview.
I like the premise of this book but overall it just wasn’t for me. Although I liked Cooper, I never connected with Marlee and her journey. I did like how the whole group banded together.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC received via NetGalley