Return to Heart Falls—a place for family, friends, and falling in love. The first stand alone novel in a new trilogy by New York Times bestselling author Vivian Arend. Lisa Coleman committed to stay in Heart Falls until her sister’s baby arrives, but after that, she’s moving on. She’s not sure exactly what is on the agenda, so it’s good to still have a few months to figure out her dreams. While … it’s good to still have a few months to figure out her dreams. While she’s waiting, there’s no reason she can’t enjoy herself with the very sexy local veterinarian. A naughty interlude with a man who knows all the right moves would be the perfect distraction from Coleman chaos: newborn baby! New dog! New found family?!
Josiah Ryder is beginning to feel women only want him for one thing. Playing fast and loose was fun in the past, but it’s time for a change. He’s ready to prove he’s in it for the long haul, but the one woman he truly wants insists she’s in town for six months and not a moment longer. He’ll have to pull out all the stops to make Lisa realize nothing out there can compete with finding forever right under her nose.
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Cheating on the Six Pack Ranchers 😉
4.5 stars – I feel like I’m cheating a little as I’ve been listening to and reading the initial Colemans series, Six Pack Ranch and here I am, skipping ahead. I won’t apologize because this was a copy I received from the author instead of my bookcase or the library. No, that doesn’t make it better but it does make it my goes anywhere copy.
Did jumping ahead cause any grief? Nope, not even a little. There are references to the main characters in prior books here and there, plus, we get the wind down of Caleb and Tamara’s story (which I’m assuming preceded this but I haven’t confirmed). Considering that, there were no concerns at all.
Now that I’ve shared more info than is possibly necessary, let’s talk about Lisa and Josiah.
There are so many things I love about this story:
– They are quirky and have big huge hearts.
– The story touches on being self-conscience about one’s body… from a male’s perspective.
– Ollie! The terrier that burrows her way into their lives and hearts.
– Each is supportive of the other before and after they solidify their relationship.
– The cards Josiah, and later Lisa, carry and ‘act’ out throughout the book.
– Their chemistry (it’s HOT!)
There’s so much more but I’d give too much away. The Coleman family welcomes new family members into the fold with open arms and it is touching. I look forward to continuing my love affair with the Colemans!
This was the audio version, as such, here’s my quick two cents on the narrator, Tatiana Sokolov. I like her voice and inflection throughout. It would’ve been ideal to have a male for Josiah and the other men in the story but she made it work.
Story: 4.5 stars
Narration: 4 stars
Plans can change when you fall in love! Read and find out all the changes and twists. Good read.
This is the first time I’ve read Vivian Arend, and I really enjoyed it. Great character development, and sweet story. I’m adding her to my booklist!
Great books.
Lisa Coleman was a treat to read! She will bet you about anything, she has quick wit, a brilliant smile, she is friendly, loyal, loving, and she is lost about what to do with her life. She is so used to being there for others, being the peacemaker, the one who brings things together, she hasn’t really settled on who and where she wants to be. What she does know is she wants Josiah. Josiah, in turn, wants her too, but has his own self-doubts. After being the ‘right now’ guy, he is thinking maybe he wants to be someone’s ‘forever’ guy. Lisa is who he sees in that role and he has a plan to make that work, cue cards and all These two are low angst, high fun, and simmering steam and emotions.
“Goddamn emotional baggage. Just because he was a grown-ass man didn’t mean his family and flashes from the past couldn’t swing in and knock his feet out from under him at times”
One of my favourite lines in the book comes from Josiah as he is overcoming his own thoughts and feelings. It shows the humanity we all have and it resonates how our past can dictate our future. Making choices, that is how these two find their way, because their pasts could definitely trip them up, and does, but catching that is the important part. I am so glad these two found a way to forge their futures together, because they were a perfect match, just ask Ollie *woof*
The Coleman women of Whiskey Creek do not disappoint with their love stories. You never know what they are going to do to their love interest. A great love story of strong women that need that strong man to complete them.
Sweet, heartwarming & steamy. Love it when a man is ready to pull out all the stops. Love the family and community connection as well as the drama in the plot is very realistic. Very well written and easy to read. Left me excited & anxious to read the next Coleman….heart fall. I received a review copy at no cost and without obligation from the author.
Looking for The Cowgirl’s Secret Love, now.
Love the latest from Vivian Arend!
I have read all of the Coleman (and Thompson) books in Rocky Mountain House and now all the books set in Heart Falls. Ms. Arend is a master at creating compelling characters. I have fallen in love with these people and these places. I was so excited when I learned that Rocky is a real place that I put going to Alberta on my Bucket list.
This book and Ms. Arend never disappoint. If you have read the Books from from Rocky Mountain House and the Six Pack Ranch Series, you have already met the Whiskey Creek girls but in the Heart Falls books we learn much more about Tamara (The Stones of Heart Falls) and now Lisa. I liked Josiah in the Stones of Heart Falls books but fell in love with him in this book.
I can’t wait for the next book in the series book. I am forever a fan-girl of Vivian Arend.
What an explosive kickoff for the Whiskey Creek Coleman’s spinoff. Lisa is the youngest sibling. She’s been flirting with Josiah for weeks now, but nothing has come of it. Enter two new players to the cast of characters. How will they play into future stories? And let’s not forget the unforgettable delivery of baby Tyler.
But beyond all of the excitement, the realization that George Coleman is human was a spectacular unveiling. Even though we weren’t privy to the conversation, he and Caleb both came to understand that they can’t smother those they love for fear of something bad happening. His story was touching and believable.
I can’t wait to see how the new characters (Julia, Finn and Zach) fit into this community and into the Coleman/Stone families.
Even though Lisa Coleman is taking care of her sister Tamara at Heart Falls, she knows her time there will be coming to an end once Tamara has her baby. She thinking about travel and adventure — that is until Josiah Ryder starts to woo her.
Josiah hasn’t had great luck with women, and he’s a really good guy. A veterinarian, he puts his patients first, but something is missing in his life. When he finally asks Lisa out, he realizes that is it companionship (and more 😉 that he needs. Even though he knows Lisa may be leaving Heart Falls, he moves slow with Lisa and gives them time to really fall for each other. I truly loved this about Josiah — while his decision to wait to take their relationship to the physical level has some roots in his past, he really just wants to take his time with someone he cares for.
Most of the book centered around Lisa and Josiah’s growing relationship. I really enjoy romance that pays attention to the “falling-in-love” part of the love story, and Vivian Arend does a great job of weaving Lisa and Josiah’s story into some other interesting storylines. Between Tamara’s baby, a situation with a puppy mill, and another new member for the Coleman family, the story stayed interesting to the final pages.
What I love most about this author, the Heart Falls series and this spinoff is that there is a recognition of some basic themes of family and how family takes care of each other, and just basic goodness of heart. These are feel good stories that are not boring and just leave me feeling good when I get to the end. It doesn’t get much better than this.
I am a huge Vivian Arend fan, and so I always look forward to reading her latest rancher novel. The Cowgirl’s Forever Love, is the first book from her brand new series, Colemans of Heart Falls. Although this book may be read as a standalone, knowing some of the history of the Coleman family is helpful.
Lisa Coleman and Josiah Ryder are the two main characters in this story. Their sexy times are hot, however, it took me a while to feel their romantic attraction to each other. While Josiah is the town’s veterinarian, Lisa is in Heart Falls looking after her very pregnant sister and her family. Lisa and her two sisters grew up on a ranch, so it is safe to assume that Lisa is a rancher. Lisa plans on exploring the world once the baby is born, however, Josiah’s presence in her life tweaks her future plans a bit.
Lisa and Josiah are a good team, and overtime they truly complete one another. I was quite moved by the animal rescue, and I loved how Ollie, the protective terrier, inserted herself into both of their lives. The epilogue provides some insight into Lisa’s sister’s story, and I can’t wait to read it.
Complimentary copy provided.
I voluntarily offered to review this book with no obligations and my opinions are honest!
It was a great book !
Lisa was in Heart Falls to help her sister while Tamara is pregnant.
Lisa was only going to stay until her sister had the baby.
However, a very charming veterinarian wants to change her plans.
It does not hurt that he is a hunk.
This was a very charming story.
Loved the characters + the storytelling !
It has all the ingredients that you need for a great book!
I can’t wait for the next book in this series.
***4 ‘I Bet’ Stars***
Diving into one of Vivian Arend’s books always feels like coming home and The Cowgirl’s Forever Love was no different. It was sweet, funny, smexy and filled with a lot of heart, along with that small town vibe where everyone is all up in everyone else’s business and giving a not so unobtrusive nudge here and there when they feel it’s necessary.
I loved Lisa and Josiah. Both are good, hard working people who tend to put others ahead of themselves, but they thrive on being there for them and helping when and where they can. Lisa has a sneaky streak, but comes by it honestly and good naturedly. And Josiah is simply a good man, who has a few…quirks…insecurities…that I would never have guessed at, but all they did was make me love him harder for it.
As for their journey to their HEA. It was a lot of fun. I loved how upfront and honest they were about what they were feeling and what they wanted, or at least thought they wanted, not only for themselves but each other. Their bantering was fun and the sweet and smexy going on between them was on point. There were many issues to deal with and the angst was low, but they did have a few hurdles to get over and I loved how things ended up for them.
This was a fun, quick read and filled with all the goodness I’ve come to expect from the author. There were a couple of twists tossed into the mix that I really enjoyed and am looking forward to seeing how they all play out in the series. I loved catching up with all the people I’ve met so far in Heart’s Fall ~ and there are quite a few, though not as many as in Rocky Mountain House ~ but Sonora is definitely my favorite and with what happened in epilogue I definitely cannot wait to get my hands on the next book!
~ Copy provided by the author & voluntarily reviewed ~
Ms Arend always writes stories with characters you feel you know or wish you knew.
They abound with humour, grittiness, reality and some sadness, just like real life.
In this latest instalment we get some old favourites mixed in with some new characters.
Lisa has planned and is just about ready to leave Heart Falls. Tamara and Caleb’s baby will be here soon and then she can head off to fulfil her bucket list. Unfortunately there is unfinished business with Josiah who has not accepted her advances for some fun.
Josiah is tired of being the best friend of all his ex’s and wants to settle down with his special woman, he believes that woman could be Lisa but she just wants a fun time and he won’t go that route.
There is also a great plot about a puppy mill and the poor animals involved with that, a new animal shelter to be funded, all wrapped around Josiah trying to prove to Lisa that staying is not as bad as she thinks it will be.
The smooth build up to romance with these two was sweet.
Loved the twist with the new addition, Julia and how that plays out. George seems to be getting a heart.
Great that Caleb made it back in time when Tamara went into labour.
The dogs steal the show but Ollie was super special.
And I cannot wait to read the story about Karen and Finn. That looks to be a doozy.
This is my honest review of this book.
THE COWGIRL’ FOREVER LOVE is the first instalment in Vivian Arend’s contemporary, adult THE COLEMANS OF HEART FALLS romance series-a spin off from the author’s HEART FALLS series. This is veterinarian Josiah Ryder, and Lisa Coleman’s story line. Josiah and Lisa have been secondary and supporting characters throughout the Heart Falls series.
Told from several third person perspectives including Josiah and Lisa THE COWGIRL’S FOREVER LOVE follows several paths including Lisa Coleman as she struggles with a direction in life. Staying in Heart Falls, Alberta while her sister Tamara awaits the birth of her baby, Lisa finds herself attracted to local veterinarian Josiah Ryder, a man who is more than aware of Lisa’s temporary time in the quiet, little town. Making his move Josiah Ryder will begin a slow seduction of our story line heroine, a seduction meant to lead to their own happily ever after. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Josiah and Lisa, and the potential fall-out as Lisa’s time in Heart Falls comes to a close.
Meanwhile, the Coleman family will quickly come to terms with their father’s past and the chaos that is about to ensue. As the daughters of a man who had distanced himself from his children, a surprise revelation will bring the tight knit family closer in the wake a stranger’s presence and the information she reveals.
Lisa Coleman is restless. Having successfully helped merge the Coleman family ranches, Lisa’s direction in life has come to a stop. With the impending birth of her sister’s baby, Lisa begins a bucket list of the things she wants to experience, and the places she wants to visit. Josiah Ryder is always busy and struggles to find time for himself but wanting Lisa Coleman means taking the initiative. When Lisa and local rancher Sonora Fallen uncover an illegal puppy mill, Josiah finds himself in for the long haul with the woman that calls to his heart.
The relationship between Josiah and Lisa is one of immediate attraction; a relationship that has been slowly developing throughout the Heart Falls series. Lisa has no plans to remain in Heart Falls, Albert but Josiah is determined to prove to Lisa that she has found her home with our story line hero. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate, without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.
There is a large ensemble cast of colorful secondary and supporting characters including Lisa’s sisters Karen, and Tamara (Caleb Stone), and their father George Coleman; veterinarian students Finn Marlette and Zach Sorenson; ranch hand Ashton Stewart; firefighter Brad Ford and paramedic Julia Blushing. Karen and Finn’s second chance story line is next in The Cowgirl’s Secret Love.
THE COWGIRL’S FOREVER LOVE is a story of family, friendship, romance and love. The premise is engaging and entertaining; the romance is sweet, passionate and seductive; the characters are familiar, friendly, fun and energetic. My only issue is the cover which, for all intents and purposes, does not truly represent the story line premise-the guitar is more of a prop for our story line heroine. Yes, I am that cover snob who struggles with the visual imagery when it does not meet expectations of the story within.
Vivian Arend does a fabulous job in writing about ranching families, from the Colemans to the Thompsons to the Stones. It’s like coming home, even if you don’t live in Canada. This story of Lisa and Josiah is no different. She has a way of writing that makes you get so involved with all of the characters without being “too wordy”. The only problem is that I read them too fast and have to wait for the next family member to get their HEA. I can’t wait for Karen’s and Lisa’s stories. I hope that we get to meet Josiah’s family, they sound fascinating.
How I love this series about Heart Falls, they are engaging and somewhat realistic so I feel I know all the people.
This one was sweet, funny, passionate and of course a happy ending.
Characters is well described and developed in to personalities with flaws that we all can have and that’s part of the reason I feel connected to them.
It’s a good storyline that progresses nicely
No unnecessary descriptions of surroundings
Fun and good dialogues that sounds natural when I read.
These books from Heart Falls is one of my favourite series and I’ve read them several times.
If you like a world of ranchers and their stories of finding love I do recommend both this first book in a new series and all the previous books in the other series from Heart Falls by this author.
5 stars
*A copy of this book was gifted to me from the author and I freely give my honest review*
Captivating, emotional, fun and at times, heartbreaking; The Cowgirl’s Forever Love is the epitome of comfort food and all things we treasure about that felling of coming home. An author who can make a reader release an audible sigh of contentment, has truly written something inspiring. And the cover is perfect!
Vivian Arend has this effect with each and every book. Her ability to grab a reader and hold tight till the last page is turned, is testament to the depth, yet simplicity of her world building, the strength of her storylines, and the complex and genuine characters that we find ourselves drawn to time and time again.
Readers will easily devour this book in one sitting as the plot and characters make it impossible to put down. Lisa and Josiah are delightful together, and the beautiful depiction of the slow, yet simmering growth of their relationship is heart-warming and realistic. And I’d be remiss not to mention the adorable four-legged Ollie, who lays claim to both these humans as her own.
I thank the author for a story that will stay will me forever, and it will definitely be joining the many Vivian Arend books on my shelf to be reread in the future.