Series: Gold Valley

🎧︎The True Cowboy of Sunset Ridge by Maisey Yates

Posted on January 8, 2022 by Nadene @ Totally Addicted to Reading in Reviews / 9 Comments

🎧︎︎The True Cowboy of Sunset Ridge is the first book from Maisey Yates that I have read and WoW! what an impressive read. I have no clue why I waited so long to read her books. Well, as they say, better late than never. This emotionally laden story will wreak havoc on one’s emotions, while allowing the characters to worm their way into the reader’s heart.

 

🎧︎The True Cowboy of Sunset Ridge by Maisey YatesTitle: The True Cowboy of Sunset Ridge
Author(s): Maisey Yates
Series: Gold Valley #14
Narrator(s): Samantha Cook
Published by HQN Books on December 28, 2021
Pages: 368
Length: 11hrs 52mins
Genre(s): Contemporary Romance
Source: Netgalley, Scribd
Format: Audiobook, eArc
Goodreads
Purchase: Amazon|Audible
Rating: One StarOne StarOne StarOne StarHalf a Star
Series Rating: One StarOne StarOne StarOne StarOne Star
Heat Level: One FlameOne FlameOne FlameOne Flame

When a bull-riding champion is left holding his friend’s baby, could it be time to put down roots in Gold Valley?
Midwife Mallory Chance is ready for a fresh start in Gold Valley. And when she locks eyes with a handsome cowboy across the saloon, it feels like fate. After too many years wasted on her cheating ex, good girl Mallory is read to cut loose and prioritize herself. But when the dust settles on their hot night together, it turns out that her mysterious one-night cowboy is none other than her new landlord—and someone she’ll be seeing very regularly around Gold Valley.
Bull rider Colt Daniels has a wild reputation, but after losing his friend on the rodeo circuit, he's left it all behind. If only he could walk away from his guilt as easily…or the temptation of Mallory. He can’t offer her the future she deserves—what does a cowboy with a heart as damaged as his know about forever? Then his friend's tiny daughter ends up in Colt's care. Colt has never wanted to rely on anyone, but he needs Mallory's help taking care of the baby he's beginning to love as his own. But is it all still temporary, or is it their chance at a forever family?

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

This post contains affiliate links you can use to purchase the book. If you buy the book using that link, I will receive a small commission from the sale.

 

🎧︎The True Cowboy of Sunset Ridge is the 14th book in the Gold Valley series. However, it works as as a standalone. Some of the characters from the previous books made an appearance, whetting my appetite for their stories.

This installment gives us Colt and Mallory’s story. The story began with Mallory moving to Gold Valley after dumping her cheating boyfriend. She came to Gold Valley to re-invent herself and utilise her midwifery skills. Feeling free for the first time in a long while, she resolved to indulge her fantasy of a one-night stand with the handsome cowboy she met six months ago. Of course, she thought she would never see him again after the deed was done. To her dismay, the handsome stranger who gave her the best sex of her life turned out to be her new landlord and her sister-in-law’s cousin. Talk about awkward.

Colt and Mallory were both poster children for painful baggage. Pain, loss, guilt, inadequacies and secrets permeated their lives. Now they both were not looking for a committed relationship. Learning about their past allowed the reader to understand their fears. They fought their attraction to each other, but the lingering memories of their one-night stand wreaked havoc on their senses. Then introducing a newborn baby placed them in an even more tenuous position.

There are many facets to Colt and Mallory, and I had an interesting time figuring out each of them.  Both are strong individuals which was evidenced by how they maintained their sanity after all the mess life threw at them. 

I loved the manner in which Yates delivered the story. As the reader, I was privy to their inner thoughts and feelings. It made their struggles so realistic. Yates bared their raw emotions throughout the pages. So prepare for an emotional roller coaster ride if you choose to read this book.

The story featured some sweet moments, which will warm the coldest of hearts. I loved how Colt and Mallory opened up to each other in ways they couldn’t with others. Their chemistry and connection felt authentic.

Narration

Samantha Cook narrated. She is a new to me narrator. I enjoyed her performance. Her female voices were fine, but I was not keen on her male voices. However, this did not take away from the beauty of the story.

 

Conclusion/Recommendation

🎧︎The True Cowboy of Sunset Ridge is a heartfelt story of love, healing and forgiveness. Thiis is a story that reach down into your soul and touch your heart. 

Story Evaluation
Plot
5
Characters
5
World Building
4.5
Writing Style
5
Pacing
4
Cover
4.5
Narrator (Audio)
4
Enjoyment
4.5
Ending
4.5
Overall: One StarOne StarOne StarOne StarHalf a Star

Favourite Quotes

“I’ll protect you, forever,” he said. He wanted to speak vows to this child. So that she would know. “And if it was all for this. If it was all for you… It’s enough. And I’ll be the best I can be. Because that’s what you deserve. You don’t deserve any less. There’s a lot of imperfect love inside me.”

 

“No,” he said. “What isn’t fair is that you’re alive. You’re alive— Trent is dead. You’re alive— my parents are dead. You’re alive and you don’t want to live. And believe me, that would’ve been the pot calling the kettle black just a couple of weeks ago. And I realize that now. There is no point in going on about everything if you’re just doing it to stay safe. I love you. And yeah, I want it all. The deepest, messiest parts of you. I want you to need me, the way that I need you. I want you to be mine. The way that I want to be yours. And when you can take that. When you can handle it… Well, then you can find me.”

 

“Mallory,” her father said, speaking after a long silence. “I wish I would’ve said this to you years ago. I wish I would’ve had the words to say it years ago. But special does not come from what you do. It is not grades on a report card, or a degree on the wall. It isn’t money in the bank. Special comes from being loved . When people love you, you occupy an essential place in their world. You are special, Mallory. Because we couldn’t live without you. Simply because you’re you. And I’m sorry that we did a bad job of making sure you knew that that love wasn’t dependent on anything. I’m sorry that our encouragement became impossible hoops for you to jump through. Because it was never meant to be.”

 

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 Q&A

 

  1. Please give the elevator pitch for The True Cowboy of Sunset Ridge.  

When Mallory Chance finally ditches her deadbeat boyfriend and moves to Gold Valley, Oregon to start over she’s ready for adventure. So when she locks eyes with a hot cowboy across the bar in town, she decides to throw caution to the wind and do something she’s never done before – have one hot night with a stranger. 

But her hot night is complicated by the fact that it turns out her anonymous hook up is Colt Daniels – related to her brother by marriage, and also, her new landlord. And when Colt ends up caring for his deceased friend’s tiny baby, he needs help. But playing house with strong, handsome Colt makes Mallory long for things she thought she’d let go of. In the end will they be torn apart, or will they be able to set aside their grief and make a family?

 

  1. Which came first, the characters or the plot line?

Colt and Mallory have both been in different books in the Gold Valley series, so they came first for me, and then when it was time to tell their stories, the plot came from them. That’s how it usually works for me, characters come in strongly first and then I figure out how to place them. 

 

  1. Why do you love Mallory and Colt and why should readers root for them?

Both Mallory and Colt have suffered a lot of loss in their lives, but they both give a lot to their families, but have a hard time accepting love for themselves. Also, there’s a gratuitous scene where Mallory walks in on Colt in the bath tub, and i was really rooting for them both there. 

 

  1. What was your last 5 star read?

I’m Only Wicked With You by Julie Anne Long. The hero, Hugh Cassidy is one of the best romance heroes I’ve ever read. He’s a rogueish American and the way he plays off of the very aristocratic heroine is so perfect. It’s breathtakingly romantic, and everyone should read it right now!

 

  1. What is one thing about publishing you wish someone would have told you?

 I’m glad that I didn’t know too much about publishing when I started out! I didn’t have any expectations, I was just amazed that someone thought my book was good enough for people to read. And when things get challenging in publishing – as they sometimes do – I try to go back to that simple thing. I get to write stories, and people read them. And it doesn’t get more amazing than that!

 

About Maisey Yates

Maisey Yates is a New York Times bestselling author of over one hundred romance novels. Whether she’s writing strong, hard working cowboys, dissolute princes or multigenerational family stories, she loves getting lost in fictional worlds. An avid knitter with a dangerous yarn addiction and an aversion to housework, Maisey lives with her husband and three kids in rural Oregon. Check out her website, maiseyyates.com or find her on Facebook.

Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

Nadene @ Totally Addicted to Reading

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