He’s a cowboy with a billion dollar problem. His best friend can solve it, but it might break his heart.
*Previously titled Cowboys Don’t Marry Their Best Friend*
Palmer wouldn’t trade his family’s land for the world. But the only way to save the ranch from financial disaster and claim his billion-dollar inheritance is to find himself a wife. His happily-ever-after would be complete if he could … happily-ever-after would be complete if he could just hitch his wagon to the woman who sees him only as her best friend.
Ames’ free spirit can’t be tied down. So she’s more than willing to help Palmer find the perfect bride before she takes off to pursue her dreams in LA. But every time she thinks about the rugged cowboy with another girl, her heart burns with jealousy.
Though Palmer tries to enjoy his new match-made companions, he can’t keep his mind off Ames. And now he worries her wanderlust is blinding her to what’s right in front of her eyes.
Can Palmer and Ames find the truth in their hearts before it’s too late?
Reviews for The Cowboy’s Best Friend:
★★★★★ “I don’t pass out 5 star reviews like candy, but I felt that I had stepped into a real setting with real people and real problems. Nothing felt manufactured in this story and the angst didn’t drag on and on.” – Ballet in AK
★★★★★ “Jessie Gussman gives her readers a bit of adventure, entertaining characters, interesting storylines and clean romance, if you’re interested in these attributes from the books you read, this is a book for you!” – Phyl
★★★★★ “I only lived in North Dakota for two years, but a part of me has missed it ever since. Reading this book reminds me of exactly why.” – Old Dog
★★★★★ “I loved this book. Best friends becoming something more and having to decide how much love is worth. I enjoyed the banter and antics between the two and the musings in their heads. The small town seems wonderful and the other characters mentioned seem great – I can’t wait to read about them in future books!” – Michaela
★★★★★ “If you’re signed up for Jessie Gussman’s newsletters, you already know there’s going to be a lot of humor in her books. This one is no exception. As much as this is a romance, it’s also a story about family values. And don’t forget the humor! I love stories that make me laugh out loud like this one did.” – Brenda
Books in the Sweet Water Ranch series:
- The Cowboy’s Best Friend
- The Cowboy’s Secret Baby
- The Cowboy’s Beauty
- The Cowboy’s Best Friend’s Sister
- The Cowboy’s Convenient Marriage
- The Cowboy’s Fairy Tale
- The Cowboy’s Secret Romance
- The Cowboy’s Bargain Bride
- The Cowboy’s Enemy
- The Cowboy’s Mistletoe Christmas
- The Cowboy’s Marriage Mistake
more
This story, “Cowboys Don’t Marry Their Best Friend”, by Jessie Gussman, is such a sweet, warm-hearted romance. I just devoured it. (I read an ARC and voluntarily offer this review.) The people in this small town in North Dakota are salt of the earth. The relationship between Ames and Palmer was fun and steadfast. They demonstrate sensible priorities and solid people-first decision-making skills. I love friends to lovers stories (not that we actually see them become lovers; it is a sweet, clean romance I’d be happy to offer to my mother or my daughter to read.) which ends Jane Austen-like, with a wedding (and more than a hint of where the next story in the series is headed.) If I had one, I’d tip my hat to Jessie for her excellent storytelling.
A truly sweet romance about a rancher and an Olympic gold winner who just happen to be best friends. Now in this book that kind of changes. What I liked was when Ames looked at Palmer it really was not a great time for her to realize her friend had turned into a hunk but things do creep up on a person. There is a bit of roller coaster ride for them, but Palmer was so willing to give up things just to be with her. It had a wonderful ending and a great set up for the next book. I am looking forward to Ty and Louise story. I did receive a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review it.
Jessie Gussman’s style of writing always leaves you wanting more! She weaves a story filled with delightful characters that face challenges without taking the easy way out. She presents raw emotion as well as humor throughout this story. It is a clean romance with characters that not only have a moral compass but live their lives dependent on that moral compass to guide them. I listened to this book on Audible and the narration by Jay Dyess can’t be beat!
I had a chance to listen to an audio of this book and really enjoyed the story. The narrator does a nice job with the story and I enjoyed all the voices he does to differentiate the different characters. The story involves Ames trying to help her best friend Palmer find a wife so he can get an inheretance that will save his farm along with help his grandpa. This is a clean read that was well written by the author and can’t wait to listen to more audios by this narrator as well as read books by this author.
WHAT IT’S ABOUT
One final summer before they’re parted forever.
Palmer wasn’t planning to get married. But when he got the unexpected letter, he knew he could pay the overdue medical bills and save the ranch. Just one problem. He needed a wife.
When Ames came home to North Dakota to spend the summer with her best friend before moving on to her dream job in LA, she thought there were would be work and fun, as always.
She didn’t expect him to say he planned to get married. Why doesn’t she want to help him? Will time run out before Ames and Palmer realize that love could be their answer?
MY TAKE
This was my first book by Gussman, and it was so fun! I downloaded the audiobook and was listening while I got ready for the day. Hubby was there too and listening. We got to the point where the love interests go to see the attorney about an inheritance.
But, it was time to get breakfast for Grandpa (he’s 93). So, we had Alexa play the audiobook while we got things ready and ate. Two hours later, while I was working on other things, the guys were still upstairs listening to the book. They totally hijacked the romance.
I guess that says it all. Charming story with rich characters.
This was a light-hearted fun read. I so enjoyed the angst that these two BFFs went through to find their HEA. I don’t normally read billionaire stories. I prefer a more down-to-earth type of character and this really did the trick. It was more about those down-to-earth characters than money.
Palmer and Ames knew each other since Palmer and his siblings came with live with his grandparents. She left to go on to become an Olympian gold medal winner and Palmer, well he runs the ranch now and takes care of his elderly grandparents along with his sister and her daughter.
Ames comes occasionally and has come home to spend the summer helping her parents at their store and during her off-time, out on the ranch with Palmer. He delivers news that he could inherit one billion dollars (yep billions with a B) if he marries a woman and they stay in North Dakota. Palmer knows Ames won’t stay and he can’t leave. The ranch is in his blood. These two have much to work through.
There were some really great scenes and lines that were so touching. I really hated to see this end. I adored the dual POV format and the way the author really immersed me the reader into the life on the ranch. I really felt like I was right there.
This is a sweet, clean romance that anyone can read. There were some kissing scenes but that was all. It was a great way to escape the realities of the day.
Palmer and Ames are best friends. Why does it bother her to see him with the women she introduces to him? He needs a wife to inherit a billion dollars. He needs money to keep the family ranch. I received a review copy from the author in exchange for an honest review. This is a very good start to a very good series. Yes I read a couple of the other books before the beginning.
What would you sacrifice for the one you love? Jessie Gussman answers that for Palmer and that is what it takes to make Ames realize what she really wants. Loved this story.
Great story line.
Jessie Gussman’s books have relatable characters and laugh out loud dialogue. They’re like potato chips, one is never enough. The Cowboy’s Best Friend is the first in a totally readable series. I own and have read them all.
Palmer is a swoony rancher who’s been in love with his best-friend Ames for ages. Ames has no clue how Palmer feels about her and — busy promoting her Gold-Medal winning sports career, she hasn’t bothered to examine her own feelings either — and then Palmer announces he needs to get married to inherit a fortune.
Okay, the fortune is astronomical and unbelievable, but you aren’t going to care because this book isn’t about the money. It’s about what really matters: friendship, family, community, and faith. So many good feels to be had here.
I didn’t mark the book “inspirational” although it undoubtedly is. Jessie doesn’t preach or try to “save” you in her novels, she just showcases the value of living a hard-working, honest, God-centered life.
I am so glad that I stumbled upon Jessie Gussman. I was offered codes to listen to her books on Audible. One of the best decisions that I made was to give that a try.
I enjoyed Palmer story. I have fallen in love with Sweetwater Ranch and can’t wait to read the rest of the stories. To give you a little heads up on this one. Palmer and Ames have been best friends for most of their lives. Palmer has received a letter that he can inherit 1 billion dollars if he marries 6 months after visiting the attorney who sent him the letter. There are several catches to the letter.
When Palmer visits the lawyer he takes his best friend Ames with him. She sets out to find him a bride. A really cute book that had me laughing at times and almost in tears at times because of the decisions they have to make and how they would affect everyone and not just Palmer.
Jay Dyess made the book even better. He puts his all into the story and using different voices that make it easy to identify who is talking. He does a wonderful job and is very easy to listen to. Makes the book more enjoyable.
Jessie Gussman and Jay Dyess have done a wonderful job together to make these some of the best books for us to enjoy.
A sweet romance of best friends. Filled with humor and playful banter, Jessie Gussman’s creativity turns best friends into happily ever after. Jay Dyess does an excellent job of narrating.
I loved this book. Best friends becoming something more and having to decide how much love is worth. I enjoyed the banter and antics between the two and the musings in their heads. The small town seems wonderful and the other characters mentioned seem great – I can’t wait to read about them in future books!
Dyess Audiobook review addition:
I have previously read all of the books by this author and am now working my way through listening to them. This is my first time listening to a book done by Dyess. I’ve heard amazing things about him, but he simply blew this out of the water! Incredible. The different voices, different enough to easily distinguish characters, but it sounded completely natural. Smooth speaking, emotions, a wonderful presentation of this book.
This review is for the free audible copy of the book I received from the author. Ame has a problem. Palmer needs a wife to receive a million dollars & save the family ranch. She tries to get Palmer set up with her best friends until she realizes she is the best wife for him & she really wants him. But she has to give up her wandering ways. It’s a really good story. I always enjoy listening to the story also. This is my voluntary review.
I love Palmer and Ames. They represent the best of the American Dream. They love God, family, and each other with a love greater than mere attraction, though there is plenty of that as well.
Theirs is a romance that more people would do well to emulate.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I do like the best friends into lovers trope, and this story did not fail!
I will definitely read more by this author!
I loved this story. Roxie was a little high class and Boone was a lot country. It was a mix that wouldn’t blend well. Poor Boone was such a gentleman when he thought he was saving her at the auction. This is another book that I could put down. Everything just kept going in the wrong direction making me sad, then it turned around only to fall backwards again. Differently another great book by Jessie.
I don’t pass out 5 star reviews like candy, but I felt that I had stepped into a real setting with real people and real problems. Nothing felt manufactured in this story and the angst didn’t drag on and on.
The Billionaire part was hardly mentioned, which was fine with me. And all the farming/ranching jargon and situations felt real. Like the author had lived it and knew what she was talking about!
I liked that church-going was included. It was a part of the rural setting she created and she didn’t skip how important it was to the people in the story.
The side characters/townsfolk were well-drawn and believable, even the slightly goofball ones 😉
I listened to this book and the voice actor is wonderful! He just SOUNDS like a cowboy! It adds an authenticity to this book that makes it all the more enjoyable!
*poor, **ok, ***good, ****very good, *****something special
I was given a complimentary audio copy of this book. As I was listening to the audiobook, I read along with narration on my e-book copy.
What I liked:
*The witty banter between Palmer and Ames.
*A very catchy beginning. I felt a part of the race between Palmer and Ames.
* I liked the descriptive wording.
The plot was very predictable, but I kept reading because I liked Palmer, Ames and their witty banter.
Palmer needs to find a wife in order to receive a hug el inheritance, that he really needs to keep ther family ranch. He has the summer to convince her best friend Ames. Can Ames settles in Ranch life in North Dakota after spending the last ten years traveling all around the world? Can Oalmer, wha has been in love with Ames forever make her realise that Sweet Waters in her place to live and love? The audiobook is great