I loved the characters and the storyline development of this book. It was absolutely one of my favorites so far and I can't wait to delve in to the next one that this author writes. The storyline was simple, enjoyable, and entertaining.

Well, I certainly had Trouble with these Cowboys! Let me start this review by saying that although Ms. James writing falls on the slow-ish side for me, I usually find the cuteness of her romances makes up for the slower pace on her stories.

Unfortunately, in the case of The Trouble with Cowboys, the pace was not placated by the romance as the main issue between the main couple Tyler and Lainey was utter and complete prejudice, which is one of my most hated pet-peeves.

Actually, I think the town’s name should be changed from Wishing River to Judgy Waters, as practically the whole town population was one giant preconceived notion about a whole array of stuff. Ok, so I’m probably going overboard with this but it really felt like that at one point or another.

Tyler moves back home once he finds out his father had a stroke, after 8 years of no contact and a disappearing act. And I get that his friends and other people who knew him would be pissed at him for that, but no one actually knew what had happened, he could have been dead for what anyone knew and they are all still not-speaking-to-you-butthead once he finally shows up eight freaking years later??

Well, once we finally know the reason behind his leaving, I found it was more than warranted. I’m amazed he still came back at all. He was a sexy cowboy for sure, but he had lots of issues to work through and he almost didn’t make it.

Lainey just couldn’t seem to make up her mind, she despised Tayler on principle, but then felt bad for him and wanted to help. Then didn’t want to have anything to do with him but couldn’t help herself. She had a rough upbringing for sure, and also had issues to work through, but she just pissed me off most of the time with her jumping to conclusions.

I kind of liked them together, they had some sweet moments but I struggled to connect to them as a couple because I struggled with them as individuals. Eventually, everything works out and everyone lives happily ever after… I just didn’t really care that much.

There’s nothing wrong with The Trouble with Cowboys. This was definitely an “it’s me” issue when the story went on a different direction than I expected… and that direction was straight to my pet-peeves.

Rating: 2.5 “It was the pet-peeves” Stars

The Trouble with Cowboys, Victoria James’ new Whiskey River series story, will jump start your belief in finding your Happily Ever After. It’s characters are diverse and relatable, each having their own unique voice in setting the groundwork for a town that’ll stay in your heart long after the story ends. Tyler and Lainey are definitely setting the bar high for the stories to following in the series. I look forward to what Ms James has in story for Dean and Cade.

This ARC book was complimentary, provided by the Publisher and NetGalley. I am voluntarily providing my honest review.

This was a cute, dependable second chance romance, though I found the hero trying at times. And by at times, I mean I often wanted to whack him on the head with a heavy object.

While the writing itself was good, I wasn't a fan of the characters in this one. Pretty much everyone in this story was as judgmental as they come, and it went on for WAY too long. Ty comes back after 8 years to help take care of his dad, and everyone wants to act like he is the most horrible person on earth. No one asks what happened, they automatically assume he's just a jerk. His "friends", the girl he falls for, and most of all his dad. His dad knows exactly what happened, and is never called out for his part in everything. Even though Ty and Lainey start a relationship, every time something happens, she automatically blames him. Ty and Lainey do have good chemistry, but honestly it was hard for me to like them as a couple with Lainey still able to believe the worst in him for as long as she did. They get their HEA, so if the other stuff in the story doesn't bother you, you know you'll get the happy ending. Although I wasn't a fan of this one, I will be reading this author again.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book.

The Trouble with Cowboys

**received an ARC in exchange for an honest review**

3⭐️⭐️⭐️

I was not overly taken with this book. It had a good storyline but felt like you knew what would happen. It also was slow paced, it just couldn’t keep my interest at some points.

This book has some mild on-page sexual situations but nothing graphic, and only two f-bombs. It is so well written that it doesn't need to rely on sex to make it interesting, the story stands on its own.

Victoria James has a way of tugging at my heartstrings while making me fall completely in love with her characters and the settings of her books, and this one is no different. Despite their flaws, I adored Lainey and Tyler and I thought that their journey on the path of being together was really great...even when Tyler made me growl at times. I also really liked the plot with Tyler and his father. I don't want to spoil anything, but my heart broke for Tyler and I loved the way that they worked their way back to a more stable relationship. Ms. James balanced out the seriousness with humor and heart and amazing side characters. This is the kind of book that I will definitely re-read.

This was a really enjoyable small town romance. I loved the heroine and the hero grew on me. This is a slow build sort of romance and it's more on the sweet side than the hot side. All in all, I really enjoyed this one. There were a lot of different components at play - a family secret, the loss of hopes & dreams, betrayal and more. And I loved how all of it was brought together. It's a fantastic read. I loved all of the side characters and hope that this is a series so we can learn more about them!

The trouble with this book is that I’m really conflicted about it, making a review difficult to write.

Tyler Donnelly left home eight years ago after the death of his mother and a lamentable argument with his father. But now he’s home after his father suffered a debilitating stroke, determined to make amends - with his father and the friends he left behind - and help the family ranch get back on track. He didn’t expect it would be easy, or that he’d be welcomed back with open arms, but nothing has gone the way he thought.

The biggest thing Ty didn’t expect is Lainey Sullivan, hometown girl and owner of the town’s popular diner. She was young when he left, now she’s a grown woman, bent on helping Ty repair his relationships, including the one she thinks they could have together. Between them, though, they’ve got a restaurant-sized kitchen sink’s worth of dirty dishes to get through before they can get to their happily ever after.

This story started - and stayed - fairly slow through the first 65 percent of the book. I almost gave up on it, however the humorous banter between Ty and Lainey compelled to me keep flipping pages. Otherwise, there were several things I had trouble with.

The author utilized a technique I’m not fond of: not disclosing a crucial bit of information, holding it over the reader’s heads and referring to it frequently...all in an attempt to add mystery or suspense to the story. In this case, not telling us what awful things the hero’s father said that made him flee his home and not return for eight years. Thankfully, after the first several chapters, the topic wasn’t brought up as frequently (and several little clues about the truth were dropped instead), so that kept me from being annoyed throughout the whole book!

Then, I couldn’t quite understand all the anger and animosity by his friends. What’s up with that??? Did Ty’s leaving cause his friends to have to pick up a mess he left behind? Nope. They just had their feelings hurt and acted like middle schoolers about it.

But there were several things I did really like. For once we have a heroine who has certain ideals about the man she wants to be with and the kind of relationship she wants, and she doesn’t give those up because the hero is so hawt. And it isn’t easy for her - these ideals go against everything everyone else does. Bravo to her for sticking up for her beliefs and demanding the best for herself. It was a refreshing change of pace from what we get in most books, and is the sole reason my rating went up to three stars. The plucky heroine, and a compelling and more-quickly paced plot in the last 30 percent, saved this book for me.

I generally like my romance books to have a bit more steam to them, but by the end of The Trouble with Cowboys, I didn’t even miss it. The relationship between Ty and Lainey developed so naturally, and had so much tension to it, I didn’t feel like the story needed it. So that was another win for The Trouble with Cowboys. I wish the first two-thirds of the book had better pacing, but it finished strong and I’m glad I stuck with it.

* thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing, LLC/Entangled: Amara for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review

This book was an excellent example of an "I liked it, but..." story.

The Trouble with Cowboys has a bit of a different flavor to it than most (maybe even all?) of Ms. James's books that I've read in the past. Part of it might be the new setting--Wishing River, Montana--though she's had plenty of other books set in that part of the world, it is a new town with new people (and though I don't see it listed anywhere as first in a series, there's plenty of series potential here with the secondary characters she's given us, so...). This one has some fairly steamy scenes, though they don't go past the making out stage because of Lainey's determination to wait until marriage--so it's not closed door since there are no doors to close, but it's a step or two above a straight-up "sweet" romance. There is also a bit of a religious aspect to the story that I didn't quite expect; it's pretty non-denominational, there's talk of church on Sundays and a Father Andy makes an appearance about a third of the way in and then plays a smallish role in the last third or so--I didn't mind it, but it just seemed to sneak into the story without warning and ended up playing a role that wasn't obvious from the beginning. None of these things were problems; they just weren't quite what I expected, even after having read a good 50% or so of the book.

But maybe I just missed the clues?

The clues about the fight Tyler had with his father were pretty obvious, though, even if it took forever for him to tell us (and even longer for him to tell Lainey) the details. What was less clear was why the entire town, including Ty's two BFFs, spent eight years hating him and maintained their grudges for so long in the book. Even his dad, who clearly knew what had happened since he was a part of it, went out of his way to make Tyler feel unwanted until nearly the end, and I really don't understand why. If he really said what he said out of anger and felt bad about it, why didn't he make more of an effort in those eight years (or, if he really couldn't find Tyler, then at least when he came back) to try and make amends? It was frustrating to see him treated so badly for so long--he really didn't deserve it, and the fact that those who did end up "forgiving" him eventually did it with so little fanfare (or effort) added to my frustration.

The romance between Lainey and Tyler was sweet, though, and their chemistry was solid. I really did like them together, and was pulling for them to find a way to a mutually satisfying HEA. She lied to him by omission pretty early on (and kept it going for quite some time) and he ultimately was made to feel worse about it in the long run than she did, which bothered me, but it fit in with the anti-Tyler theme that was still going strong at that point, so I guess there's that? The dark moment and the grand gesture, like the religious aspect and Lainey's declaration, felt kind of tacked on without a lot to ground them in the story, but the epilogue was cute.

Ultimately, this isn't my favorite from this author, but if she writes more books in this fictional setting I will undoubtedly give them a try--Lainey's BFF's story, especially, could be interesting. As for this one--I liked it, but...

Rating: 3 1/2 stars / B-

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

This book was an excellent example of an “I liked it, but…” story.

The Trouble with Cowboys has a bit of a different flavor to it than most (maybe even all?) of Ms. James’s books that I’ve read in the past. Part of it might be the new setting–Wishing River, Montana–though she’s had plenty of other books set in that part of the world, it is a new town with new people (and though I don’t see it listed anywhere as first in a series, there’s plenty of series potential here with the secondary characters she’s given us, so…). This one has some fairly steamy scenes, though they don’t go past the making out stage because of Lainey’s determination to wait until marriage–so it’s not closed door since there are no doors to close, but it’s a step or two above a straight-up “sweet” romance. There is also a bit of a religious aspect to the story that I didn’t quite expect; it’s pretty non-denominational, there’s talk of church on Sundays and a Father Andy makes an appearance about a third of the way in and then plays a smallish role in the last third or so–I didn’t mind it, but it just seemed to sneak into the story without warning and ended up playing a role that wasn’t obvious from the beginning. None of these things were problems; they just weren’t quite what I expected, even after having read a good 50% or so of the book.

But maybe I just missed the clues?

The clues about the fight Tyler had with his father were pretty obvious, though, even if it took forever for him to tell us (and even longer for him to tell Lainey) the details. What was less clear was why the entire town, including Ty’s two BFFs, spent eight years hating him and maintained their grudges for so long in the book. Even his dad, who clearly knew what had happened since he was a part of it, went out of his way to make Tyler feel unwanted until nearly the end, and I really don’t understand why. If he really said what he said out of anger and felt bad about it, why didn’t he make more of an effort in those eight years (or, if he really couldn’t find Tyler, then at least when he came back) to try and make amends? It was frustrating to see him treated so badly for so long–he really didn’t deserve it, and the fact that those who did end up “forgiving” him eventually did it with so little fanfare (or effort) added to my frustration.

The romance between Lainey and Tyler was sweet, though, and their chemistry was solid. I really did like them together, and was pulling for them to find a way to a mutually satisfying HEA. She lied to him by omission pretty early on (and kept it going for quite some time) and he ultimately was made to feel worse about it in the long run than she did, which bothered me, but it fit in with the anti-Tyler theme that was still going strong at that point, so I guess there’s that? The dark moment and the grand gesture, like the religious aspect and Lainey’s declaration, felt kind of tacked on without a lot to ground them in the story, but the epilogue was cute.

Ultimately, this isn’t my favorite from this author, but if she writes more books in this fictional setting I will undoubtedly give them a try–Lainey’s BFF’s story, especially, could be interesting. As for this one–I liked it, but…

Rating: 3 1/2 stars / B-

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

“Victoria James” brought her A-game with this story, giving you all the feels and a perfect love story to melt your heart. I laughed, I cried and I swooned which is what I hope the author intended. Reading this has made me want to go back and read her books all over again. I absolutely recommend this book to all book lovers out there.

4.5 Stars
This book features Ty and Lainey. I understand why Ty did and felt the way he did. The truth spoken with harsh words can change a man’s entire life, devastating far more than just himself. The chemistry between Ty and Lainey is undeniable. Her vow to herself was a little surprising. After she told him, I was shocked at his reaction and all the unforgivable cruelty he dished out. I was outraged on her behalf! The story does not end there though.

This story line is smooth flowing. The characters truly fit their parts. I do believe that the lesson learned throughout this entire book was about forgiveness and each were heartfelt lessons. Fantastic!

The Trouble with Cowboys by Victoria James is a heartwarming story full of hope, and forgiveness when it comes to love and family.

A romance that is all about building fences, learning to trust, and learning to trust. This is a sweet romance with enough sweetness to put a pink blush on your cheeks and leave your heart full of joy.

Don't miss this must read for your next book adventure.

I really liked "The Trouble with Cowboys" by Victoria James. Lainey and Ty are opposites and there's a lot of back and forth, which keeps it interesting. She's sidelined her dream in life, which is to study art in Italy, in order to keep her late grandma Tilly's diner going in her little hometown. Ty abandoned the family ranch for eight years without looking back, but we know early on that he had important reasons for leaving.
Deep down, he believes in family. The small town setting resonated with me. Ty's dad had bonded with Lainey and loaned her money, which is what tight-knit communities do when needed. She shows her devotion by bringing the dad food when he's laid up recovering from a stroke. Lainey and Ty are immediately attracted but each knows that they are wrong for each other because they are such opposites, and their issues seem insurmountable at times. She's kind of the town sweetheart who goes around trying to patch up bad relationships between friends and family alike.
It's a sweet and wonderful "comfort read" to relax with. I highly recommend this heartwarming story as an escape when life gets too fast and complicated. This is two good people finding their way back toward one another, living in a small town, and enjoying delicious food. It explores some of what it's like to recover from a stroke too. I loved it! It's about making sacrifices while hanging in to your dreams, which is what we're all trying to do. I appreciate getting a copy from the publisher through Net Galley and this is my honest review.

This book better not be a complete stand-alone because I want it to be a part of a series. Tyler's friends need their happy endings! I even have a theme for the series and it fits another couple aka Dean and Lainie's friend. The theme will be "I judge my man without giving him the benefit of the doubt". Lainie was harsh to Ty without even knowing the reason why he left. After we found out, I thought that his actions were justified. Everyone is blaming him and he was only partly the one to blame. If we assume that the book is set in 2019 or even a year or two ago, we can say that Ty let his hometown around 2010. People had mobile phones then, so someone could have reached to him, instead of just sending a letter.

Ty spends most of the book thinking that he is undeserving of love and a family and it was sad. He is a good person and I was on his side. I loved the way he grooved and I was very happy with the solution the author gave to how Lainie and Tyler would spend their lives in the near future. I was going to be very unhappy if Lainie didn't get what she deserved. Lainie has been putting her life on hold for the last years and she is not living the life she was supposed to. Her current occupation is not what she has dreamt of doing, but life was forcing her to push her dreams aside and do what she had to. I wanted her to go to Italy since the first time she mentioned it and I was wondering how the author was going to do that because I didn't want to see the heroine compromise her future once again.

Overall the book was enjoyable and easy to read. It had a good pace and flow. The only thing that frustrated me was how Lainie, Dean and Cade where treating Tyler. There is so much bitterness and hate and it was sad since these men were his best friends and Lainie was his love interest. With everything said, I would recommend the book.

Victoria James is a new author for me but if her work turns out to be like this one, I will definitely add her to my favorite author lists.

The Trouble with Cowboys starts out with Tyler Donnelly returning to Wishing River. He regrets leaving eight years ago but dreads returning; however, his Dad needs him having had a bad stroke. Still, eight years ago, Tyler left following an argument with his Dad where things were said not easily taken back.

Stopping by, the local diner, Tyler finds Lainey has taken over from her grandmother. She has turned into a fine woman. Lainey, however, isn't happy to see Tyler. She is angry at him along with his two best friends for leaving his Dad like he did; but they don't know the whole story.

Lainey has become good friends with Tyler's Dad and takes him food every night but she has a secret of her own she doesn't want to share.

What I really liked about this book is that the author dealt with the subject of the heroine being a virgin and the guy really wanting to have relations with her. Tyler respects Lainey's wishes but doesn't agree with her. The angst between them makes this a page turner.

The other thing I like is how the issues are resolved between Tyler and his Dad. We all say things we wish we could take back. Communication is key and being humble rather than stubborn, though not easy, can go along way to mending fences.

Tyler ends up hurting Lainey before he comes to his senses and realizes he really loves her and needs her. His solution and subsequent apology make for one of the best HEA reads I have ever read. 5 stars! Thanks to Entangled Publishing LLC for allowing me to read this ebook through Netgalley.

I'm sorry to report that this book was just not for me. It was far too objectifying of the female lead from the very beginning. The people in this story held the most intense grudges for the most pointless reasons, and the secret surrounding the main plot line was dragged out for far too long in my opinion. To say this was not my cup of tea would be putting it lightly. I have enjoyed books from Entangled in the past, and I'm extremely thankful that they provided me this digital review copy, but unfortunately with this title, it didn't work out. I hope other enjoy this one more than I did!

There's a reason Victoria James is one of my favorite authors. She writes heartfelt stories that tug at your heartstrings, with characters you wish were real. The Trouble with Cowboys is a small-town romance, set in the town of Wishing River, Montana. In the town of a thousand people, everyone seems to know everyone and their business.

Eight years ago, after the death of his mother and a huge argument with his father, Tyler “Ty” Donnelly packed his things and left in the middle of the night. He didn't say goodbye to his friends or anyone. His pain was so palpable he just knew he had to get away. He had no clue where he was going or what he would do to survive. A phone call from his former best friend now doctor, Dean Stanton, informing him of his father’s stroke brings him back to town.

Lainey Sullivan hasn't had an easy life. She was abandoned by her mother and raised by her grandmother. It was just the two of them, until her grandmother passed away. Grandma Tilly left Lainey two things, Tilly’s Diner and a piece of advice, “never trust a cowboy”. For the past five years, Lainey has been faithfully running the diner. But she finds herself stuck and feels as if she's wasting away. At twenty-six, Lainey has always dreamed of being an artist. She even got accepted to a prestigious art school in Italy. But something would always happen to force her to change her plans. Now Lainey is stuck running the diner out of loyalty, duty, and obligation.

When Ty shows up at the diner, all heads turn to stare at him. No one asks how he’s been or welcomes him back. Even Lainey is cold and rude to him. But she sees something in his eyes. Something she recognizes in herself. Over the years, Lainey and Ty's father, Martin, have grown quite close. She views him as the father she never had. Since his stroke, every night Lainey drives an hour to take Martin his dinner, feed him, and spend time talking with him. Lainey refuses to stop her routine just because Ty seems to be uncomfortable with it. In quick order, Lainey and Ty form a friendship which leads to a growing attraction. However, each is hiding a secret that could jeopardize any future together.

The Trouble with Cowboys was a really nice read. I love the main characters of Ty and Lainey. They were truly what the other needed. The secondary characters of Hope, Lainey’s best friend, and Dean and Cade, Ty’s best friends were equally as good. They all have their stories and untold secrets. Hopefully, this is a start of a new series.

I love this story from the first page. I relate to Lainey on more levels than most in our decision to wait even though her reasons were different. Tyler...how many times can a girl swoon over a cowboy? So, so many. Deep down he has a giant heart whether he wants to admit it or not. There were a few holes in the story but nothing to deter me from reading it. It was over too fast for me. The resolution could have been more than it was, but ultimately it's a great fun romance I thoroughly enjoyed!