Cowboy Tough is book two in Stacy Finz Dry Creek series and brings readers a delightful hero in Jace and an equally likeable heroine in Charlie. Jace is the type of man every woman dreams of meeting. Dependable, caring, honourable and kind; this man is just that good. He lives his life in a way that says, “You can trust in me” and he loves with all of his heart.

This story showcases two extraordinary people cultivating and building a new relationship from a deep and emotional connection to a blazing and passionate love. Jace is protective without being suffocating and Charlie is resilient despite a turbulent past. There is the confronting issue of domestic violence, but Ms Finz navigates this subject with care and compassion.

Jace’s boys add something special and the secondary characters are wonderful too. I can’t wait for the next exciting instalment in the Dry Creek series.

What do you do if you’re a victim of abuse? It’s easy to say you’d stay and fight, or you’d pick up and leave. But, what if the abuser has connections and could kill you? Do you go to the cops or do you run? Charlie ran. On her way to escape, things happen and she ends up at Dry Creek Ranch with Jace (the local Sheriff) and his family. Jace is a good guy, so Charlie was lucky.

I really enjoyed this story. The characters and their interactions seemed so real. Kids do silly things, and I really appreciated how Jace handled issues with Travis and Grady. I wish all dads were like that! The sweet (with a bit of heat) relationship that develops between Jace and Charlie is what makes this a romance. Enjoy!

Stacy has another winner with Jace and Charlie’s story. They meet when Charlie is at her lowest point, and Jace can’t seem to help going above and beyond to help the beautiful, sad woman. She ends up staying with him and his boys and amazingly, is the first caretaker Travis and Grady have not united to run off the place. It’s a match made in heaven except for her reticence and the danger that’s lurking.

This second book of Stacy’s Dry Creek Ranch trilogy does not suffer from middle-story syndrome; it’s clearly the setup for the third book, cousin Sawyer’s story, but that in no way takes away from Jace and Charlie’s love story. The continuing story arc involves an ongoing mystery, and we get Cash and Aubrey’s wedding here as a connection to the first book. My only small complaint is that with the mystery, there’s not much room for an epilogue, which I found a bit weak. However, the rest of the tale was told with typical Finz style, characters so real and wounded you want to take them home, and relationships that are complicated and difficult and glorious. Supporting characters make the town of Dry Creek come to life. This could be read as a standalone, but it’s better to read Cowboy Up first. Content warning for domestic violence and loss of pregnancy. I received an advance copy in return for my honest review.

Very good read! I definitely enjoyed reading this book! It had suspense, drama, heartache and heartbreak! It's a little low on the steam factor but the story makes up for that! I definitely recommend reading this book! Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for sharing this book with me!

I really enjoyed Jace and Charlie's story. I knew from Chase's story that it would take a special person to catch Jace. Charlie was a great match for him and it was enjoyable to see them get past all their problems.

So we meet Charlie who is running from her scumbag and abuser of an ex, leaving doubt in her, afraid and wary of who is who. and she needs to learn how to trust again, can you blame her? Well I certainly didn't and I liked and respected her, this lady has been thru a lot. She meet Jace, who is also trying to rediscover and trust again after getting out of a marriage to someone who would abandon their children (yeah-horrid) right when they both needed each other without knowing how much they did. Anywho they meet on a crazy situation, but again when they needed each other the most. I liked that these two got to know each other before jumping in the sack and feeling like they loved each other from just a look. No Stacy took the time to express what Charlie went thru, and how doesn't matter how poor or rich you are, abuse can come from anyone, or anywhere. We have Jace's sons who had to go thru the suffering of having a parent that leaves you because they were selfish, self centered, heartless. Luckily these two met and it wasn't the everything is good now, there were secrets and feeling that each had to overcome to be able to be what the other needed and they themselves can love and respect. Only thing that I didn't like was that I didn't know this wasn't the first book so I have to go back, and that it was just a little slower than I am used to..just a little

I thoroughly enjoyed book one in this series, and this one was just as good.
The premise of the series is of three cousins that inherit a ranch from their grandfather. A ranch they love and are trying to keep afloat, while working their various jobs.
This time the story belongs to Sheriff Jace Dalton. Single dad whose ex abandoned the kids to be a free spirit.
On a stormy night, Jace comes across a car on the side of the road with a pregnant woman in pain.
Unbeknown to him, that encounter was going to change both their lives. But with Charlie/Charlotte on the run from her ex, and keeping secrets the relationship was a very bumpy one.
While the plot was engaging and the characters, both main and secondary were complex and interesting, there was more to the story.
A reminder that domestic abuse exists in all social classes. That sometimes the abused individual feels trapped and sure no one is going to believe her. Especially when the abuser is a prominent individual. Sadly, the victims frequently lose their self-esteem, trust in others and in themselves.
Kudos to the author for bringing this issue to light.
I am looking forward to the next story in the series, which I suspect will be Sawyer’s.
I was entrusted a copy of this book by Netgalley and Kensington Publishing. The opinions expressed are solely my own.

I never miss a chance to read a Stacy Finz book, and this one certainly didn't disappoint.

This is the second book in the Dry Creek Ranch series, and what a great read it was. I loved Cash and Aubrey's story in Cowboy Up, but I have to say Jace and Charlotte's story was even better.

The characters are real, dealing with what we all know are real life situations.

Charlotte is running from an abusive situation, and Jace is trying to raise two youngs sons who have been abandoned by their mother. Once I started to read the book, I was totally hooked and was in it until I finished it.

Now to wait not so patiently for the 3rd book in the series.

I am a huge Stacy a Finz fan...she writes location and character so well, the books are a pleasure to read. This book is not much different and I read it in one sitting. This is Charlie and Jace’s story. While it helps to have read the earlier books, I think this works as a stand alone. My only concern is that I’m pretty much all filled up on damsel in distress plot lines. It worked well for me but isn’t my favorite type of story line. However it’s better than most of what’s out there, Finz writes with a very sure hand.

This is book two in a small town/cowboy series centering around the Dalton cousins Cash, Jace and Sawyer. Jace is the Sheriff, a single dad and trying to keep his grandfather’s ranch. He happens upon Charlie Rogers/Charlotte Holcomb on the side of the road. Charlie is fleeing a bad situation, and ends up staying with Jace and babysitting his two sons. Both Jace and Charlie have a lot of issues they have to work through before they get to their happily ever after. All of the characters are very likable, and I was rooting for Charlie and Jace. I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley for my honest review

What a wonderful story! Charlie is running from an abusive boyfriend, needing to learn to trust herself and others. Jace is learning to trust again after his failed marriage. His sons are still reeling with the fallout of their mother walking away, and Jace and his cousins are dealing with how to hang on to their grandfathers ranch. And the reader gets a heartwarming story of hope and healing, family, trust, and love! Wonderful characters, plenty of emotion, and a bit of suspense - this is a compelling read that I highly recommend!

4.5 stars.
“Cowboy Tough”, by Stacy Finz (Kensington Books), is a fascinating and very enjoyable story featuring a fascinating, ordinary, incredibly solid and decent man! It’s just great to have such a well-written story about a regular hero, who, besides being so besotted with the heroine, applies and shows kindness and sense of honor and decency in all facets of his life. He’s just a regular guy but there’s so much extraordinariness in that and Stacy Finz’s writing style is top-notch.
Jace and Charlie/Charlotte are caring people, seeking and needing affection, intimacy and love before sex.
Romance and the great chemistry between Jace and Charlie aside, there’s also a realistic insight into the dramatic effects of domestic violence on victims.
I also loved Jace’s boys, such great kids who are just kids and not precocious adults; and the families and small community facing real economical problems with no easy solutions.
Charlie is a great heroine, with a very interesting job, and there are great secondary characters too.
I’m waiting eagerly for the next story in this series featuring three very different cousins who inherited Dry Creek Ranch.

Charlie is on the run from an abusive boyfriend. Jace is the sheriff of a small town. He finds her by the side of the road and so it begins. Jace needs a babysitter, Charlie needs a place to hide out until things calm down. They both know nothing can ever come of it.

This book is the second in a contemporary western series. It's always easy to like Ms Finz's heroes and the supporting cast and this book is no exception. The small town is welcoming and typical of a small town where everyone knows your name and pretty much your entire business.

As Charlie works to find her new normal and become a contributing member of the community for however long she's there, love happens. This book is easy to read and as always with Ms Finz's books, the characters remind you of someone you've met and are friends with.

A must read if you love cowboys.

Cowboy Tough was a great rest have the second book in Dry Creek Ranch Series. Sheriff Jace Dalton has such great charisma in book 1 if this series that I couldn't wait for his own book. His great boys add such great family elements to the story and charm you as you read about the fun and hijinks.

Charlotte Holcomb or Charlie Rogers is such a heart warming character having struggled with horrendous abuse at the hands of her crazy abusive boyfriend. Charlie has such love and affection for The Sheriff's boys and struggles to figure out her next steps. The chemistry between her and Jace is played out sweetly and you just have to have them get together.

Stacy Finz wrote an amazing story of love, friendship and new beginnings while handling topics of abuse and recovery beautifully. I love this series and can't wait for what's next.

Charlotte is on the run from her abusive husband when Jace, the local sheriff, finds her in her car having a miscarriage. Terrified to trust anyone, Charlie tries to keep Jace at a distance but that is easier said than done. Jace is determined to find out exactly what happened and to protect her. She has some pretty powerful people after her but that isn't going to stop him. I enjoyed this sweet romantic suspense novel.

Charlies meets Jace when she is running from her abusive husband. He knows she is running from something but doesn't know what.

The more time they spend together, the more their relationship develops. What will happen when it is time for her to leave?

Sheriff Jace Dalton finds Charlotte or Charlie miscarrying by the side of the road and takes her to the hospital where he sees evidence that she has been abused. With no rooms open at local hotels he brings her home to his to young sons. Charlie’s plans to flee immediately don’t work out so she takes a job as babysitter to Jace’s sons. Slowly she begins to heal then flourish. But she knows her abuser can find her any time. And he does. But the sheriff saves the day.

The characters are believable and enough time goes by that a growing love seems possible and realistic. And what is more realistic is that after the sheriff saves her Charlie must still go away to be with her family and start to recover from the psychological aspects of the abuse. She is not miraculously ok just because the abuser is behind bars. She needs to get her head straight. Of course, she does and comes back to him for the HEA. The plot flows, the dialogue and relationships between characters help build and support the story.

I would recommend this book to my patrons.