Texas Cowboy Sweetheart
by: Rebecca Crowley
February 22, 2024, Tule Publishing
238 pages
Review by: E. Broderick
There comes a time during the writing process for every one of my books when everyone but me, the writer of record, knows what needs to happen. My critique partners, agent, heck even my non-writer friends can plainly point out what I need to do to fix the narrative. Yet it still takes me weeks, kicking and screaming, to see what was right in front of my face the whole time. In this, I resemble Josie Star, heroine of Rebecca’s Crowley’s latest m/f romance, Texas Cowboy Sweetheart.
Josie opens the book with a bang, quitting her high powered corporate job without hesitation in order to take over The Lone Star Ranch from her father after he is injured. Josie has known her whole life she was destined to take over ranch management, and had been preparing for this moment, so it shouldn’t come as surprise to anyone when she assumes ownership. Yet somehow, ranch foreman Easton, who just so happens to be Josie’s childhood best friend, still manages to feel gut punched that he was never in the running for a higher role and potential ownership at The Lone Star.
While Josie has been far away attending college and climbing the corporate ladder, Easton’s been managing the day to day at The Lone Star. Now his absentee best friend is also his boss. Awkward much? Wait until he realizes he’s also in love with her. Yes, this is a best friends to lovers book that also manages to be a non exploitative and completely consensual boss/employee relationship. The romance is medium heat to me, with two explicit sex scenes.
Easton and Josie are so painfully perfect for each other that everyone else, including Josie’s three sisters, realize they should be a couple. It still takes them some time to come around to it though. Both have their own complicated pasts and emotional hook ups, but when they finally find a way through that baggage, the pay off is almost as good as finally untangling that plot snarl and managing to do the thing my characters need when I’m writing. Because Easton and Josie obviously need each other.
I loved that the setting was not one where most people typically expect to find a Jewish family. Josie very clearly identifies as Jewish and has her own ways of celebrating and observing that fact. The author clearly knows a thing or two about ranching, and Josie also represent a strong female presence in a male dominated industry. I would, however, council that this may not be the book for vegetarians. Every time we met a cute calf I was painfully aware that it was most likely being raised for food purposes. Especially with all the talk of beef prices.
This is the first in a series, and I expect each of the Star sisters we have met in this book will have their chance to shine. In addition, a subplot about family secrets and antisemitism experienced by the girls mother after she converted will hopefully be more fleshed out in the upcoming books. The seeds for a fine series are planted here.
Note: BookishlyJewish received a free e-arc from the author in the hopes we would review it.