A beautiful story about two people dealing with insecurities and scars. Sometimes internal scars are worse than the ones that other people can see. Gavin and Lou were endearing characters. This talented author brought these characters to life through her vivid and thought provoking storytelling. I also loved catching up with characters from the previous books. I can't wait to read what this talented author writes next.

Emotionally charged story, with such sweetness but not sappy. I enjoyed this story with all the ups & downs in it that took us on the journey of two friends finding their forever. What starts out as a quest to save a business, keep the devil away & a chance to be head of a ranch for 2 very stubborn people becomes a shot at forgiveness, redemption & healing. Gavin & Lou are 2 very strong willed, stubborn people & watching them grow together was a wonderful thing. As per my usual I’ve started a book half way through the series & now need to go back & read the others as well. Recommend to read.

A truly sweet country romance. Gavin and Louisa (Lou) grew up in neighbouring ranches and were best friends. Lou wants the family ranch and Gavin wants to manage it; Grandma says Lou needs to be married. Sneaky old woman was subtly matchmaking while keeping the land in the family. In a short time Lou and Gavin realized they really have what it takes for a loving marriage, not just a convenient marriage. It may have taken twenty years but their love finally bloomed. The Tyler family has tough ladies and rugged men but they are full of love. The whole series is great, from the crew that runs Mile High to the Tyler's. Each book reads as a standalone. My copy came through Netgalley.

This is a amazing book. I absolutely loved it, I highly recommend it as a summer read. I look forward to reading more books by this author!

This was another great addition to this series. I feel like Gavin and Lou's story was definitely a long time coming but it was well worth the wait. This is a very emotional yet fun friends to marriage of convenience story but the feelings have been there all along just itching to finally be let free. Gavin jumps at the chance to save Lou but will this "fake" marriage ever turn real? Can their friendship survive this new road they are going down? Very enjoyable story!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.

The Trouble with Cowboy Weddings is the fifth book in the A Mile High Romance series. It tells the story of Gavin Tyler and Louisa "Lou" Fairchild. They have been friends for many years, but they have reached a point in their lives where they need to help out each other. They decide to have a pretend relationship in order for her to keep control of her farm and for him to finally be in charge of one and not be in the shadow of his older brother. Should be easy for them since they've known each other for so long.
I had really high hopes for this story. Marriage of convenience is one of my favorite tropes, but it fell flat for me along the way. Even though they had been friends for so long they kept many secrets from each other. Important ones that would of helped better understand each other. I was hoping they would of gotten married sooner and see them resolve their issues together as a married couple. It seemed that most of the time Tyler was unsure of marrying Lou. For being almost a thirty year old man, his thoughts and behavior tended to be a little immature. Lou's self recriminations because of what happened in the past and choosing Rex over Tyler when she was younger got a little repetitive. They both had self-esteem issues that got resolved by revealing more of themselves to each other and their family.
Overall it was an okay story.

*Thank you to the publisher for the ARC given through NetGalley for an honest review.*

What a surprise to see The Trouble with Cowboy Weddings by Nicole Helm as another installment in the Mile High Series. I was also thrilled to see that Gavin would get his story What a story it is too. Gavin has many of the middle child issues that are commonly known. He is a rancher who technically does not have a ranch; is neither the oldest nor the youngest. However, they are nothing compared to Lou Fairchild’s life struggles.

This is one of my favorite situations being a “friends to lovers” story. Yet it really is more of an afraid to face the feelings that have always been. Lou certainly hides behind her shield of fear. Really who could blame her after her childhood. As she made the progress from doubt to trust, I cheered her on. A strong female heroine that worked through her feelings to not let the past hold her captive.

The character development with genuine emotional intensity makes this one of the best in the series. The story flows, revealing the characters’ history at just the right timing. The dialogue keeps the story from becoming too heavy, even providing some needed humor at times. I have enjoyed many Ms. Helm’s books in the past but found this to be an unforgettable story.

This is a voluntary review of an advanced copy.

I have not read any of the books in this series but was able to follow the storyline and previous events pretty well. I think it would have been more enjoyable to have read previous books but not necessary.

Lou was pretty prickly and hard to like at first, but you felt for her as she was dealing with scars both physical and emotional from an attack that had her trapped in a burning barn. Gavin had always loved Lou but never told her and she just does not see it.

There were times that I just wanted to shake both of them and tell them to figure it out! It was enjoyable as we watched them challenge each other and confront the other during their fake engagement.

Good thing they both had lots of family surrounding them that would also speak the truth and not allow them to foll themselves!

I would like to read more in this series and Boone looks like a tough one for his future woman to have to deal with!

Ahhh Gavin and Lou. I’ve been waiting on their story for quite a while. Hanging out in the background of other Mile High stories just wanting their story told. And boy was it worth the wait.

Gavin and Lou have been friends for about 20 years. Neighboring farms growing up, had them involved in pretty much all aspects of each others lives. Gavin has become a sort of protector of both Lou and her sister Em over the years, though he wouldn’t admit that to anyone. Gavin is more comfortable being thought of as the brut who uses his fists to make a point over being anyone’s hero. When he hears that the only way to save Lou’s family business was for her father to return to run it or one girl gets married he knows what he must do. Now, can he convince Lou?

Louisa, call her Lou please, is used to doing things for herself by herself. Every since she was burned in a fire, that drive has never been stronger. She is beyond pissed that she can’t save this farm and business on her own. When Gavin give her a proposition she can’t resist, what will that mean for their friendship.

Gavin and Lou navigate this new relationship and its pressures without losing who they are and who they’ve been together. Will their relationship survive the test life is throwing at them?

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance reader copy without expectations. I love returning to Mile High each and every time, to catch up with old characters and fall in love with new ones. 4 ½ stars for Gavin and Lou, strong friendships only get stronger over time.

The romance and setting of this book will appeal to readers of Carolyn Brown. The physically flawed female character was refreshing as was her self-consciousness, a real character that women can connect with. On the other hand the fake marriage or the farm is going to the deadbeat dad thing was adding too many round about issues for my taste and drew away from the characters. The secondary Grandma characters added some fun humor.

Loved this book and fell in love with the characters as well as Gracely Colorado. In fact I loved it so much I read it in a couple hours and can’t wait to go back and start at the beginning of the series. What I most enjoyed about this was that it had a little twist on the typical romance, it wasn’t a woman finding she “needed” the man it was a woman finding the strength in a man to aim for what she wanted and giving him the strength to aim for the future he dreamed of.

In second book, we read heartbreaking love story between Gavin and Lou. Gavin and Lou are best friends since they were kids and because Lou will lose her ranch Gavin offers solution to marry her. At first absurd offer turns in pretend dating. Gavin soon realizes the depth of his feelings toward Lou and is scared because he is full of doubt of himself. Will they marry or not? I loved this book full of family drama, and love. Another great enjoyable read.
I volunteered to review an ARC of this book for Netgelly

The Trouble with Cowboy Weddings is like something out of a Hallmark Channel movie. The book's romance takes a front seat and steers the reader into a whirlwind of emotions - the story flying by in an array of vivid, impactful scenes that touch the heart.

Gavin and Lou are the quintessential 'missed connection' case. Both have harboured half-realised feelings for one another since their teens years. However, neither have acted upon these feelings, choosing instead the convenience of friendship over the risk of romance.

But they have such a deep, abiding connection that chemistry between them is inevitable. Especially when Gavin proposes a way to help Lou save her family's ranch: marriage. To him. (quote here)

One of the most magnetic qualities both Gav and Lou possess is their vulnerability. Despite their outward bravado and vocalised 'reasons' for agreeing to the plan, both are subconsciously using the plan to gain access to what could be between them, should they take a chance. They have the opportunity to support one another and to be the 'better half' the other needs: (quote here)

Their 'playacting' as fiancés is, in fact, a very real period of emotional revelation for each of them. It's a chance to explore what lies between them and to decide whether it's work risking everything for. The Trouble with Cowboy Weddings is a tale of longing and of trusting - of exploring life's 'what ifs?' and taking a chance on the deepest desires of one's heart.

4.5 stars.
“The Trouble with Cowboy Weddings” is another brilliant novel novel by Nicole Helm, a stunningly moving story about friends turning into lovers, with all its problems, doubts, uncertainties and fears. Great dialogue, characters and lots of showing!
Gavin Tyler is this apparently ordinary guy who shows a deep-rooted loyalty and devotion for the heroine; the dimensions of his huge, secret crush are ever so slowly revealed. Strong, sturdy, decent, the rancher without a ranch to run, the typical middle son, Gavin often deflects delicate or personal issues, but his core of goodness and genuineness make him an amazing character.
Lou is a great character, too, strong (and scarred; the bandana seemed a bit unpractical).
The story was unputdownable until I started to feel that Gavin‘s complications and dilemmas – stunningly real and overwhelming until then – needed some earlier closure so that our wonderful romantic couple could move on.

Fun, and emotional cowboy romance. Each dealing with their own problems. A visit from past characters. Best friends turn lovers.

This is not my usual read, as I’m not very attracted to contemporary romances but the fact it was no office story with a billionaire and was about a marriage of convenience, one of my favorite trope in historical’s, i decided to give it a try.
I was graced an advance review copy by Netgalley and the publisher Kensington Books, but here is my true and real opinion.
It is incredible how much hurt people can cause by not talking.
Louisa Fairchild, Lou, had quite a beginning in life, I thought her harsh and self-centered at first because Gavin’s feelings were expressed earlier but then slowly Mrs Helm distilled bit by bit all the things she went through and the deep scars it left, not always obvious. But it is known children victims of abuse often get a bad and wrong picture of themselves, feeling guilty and deserving their pain. She should have seing a councilor as a kid, it would have helped her overcome her negative perception of herself and it would have avoided a lot of self punishment.
But then there would have been no story.
Gavin is the guy always there, you can count on him to stand by your side, but as a second son, he felt like he is not good enough for anything, why he never really fight for he truly always longed, Lou. So he let her go but stayed in the shadow, ready to step up if she might need him.
Why he is here, proposing his scheme to help her, just her.
But the closer, they get to their goal, the more he dreads he might lose himself and her in the process so he erects walls around him, afraid to face his sentiments and what they might result in.
So my feelings switched, I cheered up for Lou and was angry at Gavin for denying them both their happy ending.
But this book would have been a winner without all the side characters, each bringing its bit to the story.
It was my first read by Mrs Nicole Helm and it was worth going out my usual reads.

I’ve been looking forward to Lou’s story, and really enjoyed watching Gavin and Lou dance around each other. It was quite emotional at times, especially when Lou described incidents in her past, which made the reader understand why she was so standoffish with people, and after the fire, made things worse for her. Gavin had his own demons...so sometimes I just wanted to give him a shake. A really good story, can’t wait to read Boone’s and Mollys story

I always enjoy Nicole Helm's romance novels.
Gavin has been in love with Lou for years. I thought that was a really cute part of this book. It takes Lou a minute to realize her feelings for him are just as strong but when she gets there it's all-or-nothing.

The story of Gavin and Lou.
She wants to keep her father away from her grandmother's ranch, and he would love the opportunity to run a ranch himself, instead of working for his elder brother. So they make a pact to marry to get what they both want, but what will happen when they realise they each want more than they though from the marriage pact?

I loved the last book in this series so I jumped at the chance for an ARC of this one. Lou and Gavin have been friends forever (aka since Lou moved next door in 4th grade). Lou's grandfather has died and her grandmother isn't up to running the ranch, which is also where Lou operates her floral business. She insists that a man in the family takes it over, and the only one left is Lou's estranged father, unless Lou or her sister Em marry.

This leads Lou to propose a marriage of convenience to her friend Gavin. As the second son, he will not inherit any of his family's land. The opportunity to take over her family's ranch is a great deal for him.

The conflict in this romance isn't between the two of them, but in their own self-consciousness and low feelings of self-worth. Lou is scarred on her face and arms from a fire that her ex and his new girlfriend set in her family's barn, and internally from said ex and a horrible childhood before she came to live with her grandparents. Gavin has always felt that he comes in second because that's his place. They have a lot of work to do before they trust themselves to move forward in their relationship and the engagement of convenience gives them the time to do so.

One quibble: the unscarred part of Lou's face is often referred to as the good side. It's frustrating for the scars to be constantly referred to as the bad part. She is not less than or ruined for having scars.