Alana and Paxton have a long time relationship from Grade school and when she receives some extremely bad news about her fathers health - things need to change rapidly as time is running out!! What a great read to add to this exceptional series by one of my favorite romance authors!! Get this series - you will not regret it!!

Sometimes you just need to read a book that makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside - maybe with a few tears shed along the way. This story has all of that. Pax and Alana were clearly meant-for-each-other in a written in the stars kind of way. The grew up as neighbors and along the way, they never connected for various reasons, but it seems like they have been in love with each other for most of their lives. They are the only ones who didn't realize it.

Alana's father is dying from a brain tumor and his last wish is that he could walk his daughter down the aisle and see her settled with a partner who loves her and supports her. When Alana finds out, she immediately tells her father that she has been seeing Pax secretly for the last few months and they are getting married. Her father is elated and immediately wants to start planning a wedding for before he dies. All Alana needs is for Pax to agree.

Pax agrees immediately, and off they go for a fake engagement heading for a real but temporary marriage. It doesn't take long for things to get complicated - emotionally and physically. But it is clear that, no matter the complications, the fake relationship turns to real very quickly.

I really enjoyed just about everything about this story. Alana and Pax are both good people and well developed as characters. The town and people from previous stories make up a sweet and fun hometown atmosphere. Overall the story arc is pretty predictable - but that is just fine because that was what I wanted in this book - no big surprises, not a lot of drama, and a satisfying happily-ever-after.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley, but these opinions are all my own.

Carolyn Brown is an auto read for me. She writes cowboy romance, and women's fiction. She writes such relatable characters. This one is no different.
Alina and Paxton have known each other most of their lives. When Alina receives tragic news Paxton turns to Paxton. Friends to lovers to......
I laughed, cried, I was full of emotions.
Highly recommend.

A sweet frenemies to lovers romance, this book follows Alana, who's father Is Ill and Pax, her frenemy (they were enemies when they were younger and now were friends but with tension. Alana's dad's biggest wish Is to see her be married and Pax fits the bill In being the good guy who will pretend because he wants to help out. The issue is the latent attraction between the two-what happens when things start to feel too real during their fake engagement? Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy!

I really loved the characters. Pax and Alana were caring and sweet and together, they made a fantastic "fake" couple. I thought their progression towards being actually more than friends was really well done. I did think the book was a bit slow and dragged a tiny bit in the middle but I still enjoyed the overall story. The supporting cast was great and I believe, would have been covered In prior stories of this series but this is definitely a story that you could read without having read the other books In the series. I'll be looking forward to reading others in this series though.

I didn’t mean to jump into a series on the seventh book but this works really well as a stand-alone. Bursting with sweetness but still feeling a bit overly long, I could have dealt with less in the middle and a tiny bit more in the end when things wrap up quickly after the repetitive uncertainty by the main characters long after they have already already given in to the connection every one else has seen them share their entire lives. Still it was a well written connection, as the affection they feel for each other is apparent from the get go and demonstrated over and over again with them way they look after each other with care.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I love a friends to lovers story. While this one came about in a slightly different way, I still found the book enjoyable. Alana and Pax have neighboring ranches and have known each other forever. They have always been a sort of "frenemies" but leaning more towards the friends side. When something happens with Alana's father, she convinces Pax to marry her in a "fake" wedding that will soon after be annulled. Both are a bit surprised at how well they get on throughout the engagement. Carolyn Brown is a solid writer. You really get that small, town western feel in this book. I liked the characters of Alana and Pax. The only thing that really wasn't for me was how sweet it was and some of that old school western language (but that's just a personal preference and absolutely dead on for this book). I really think if you like a small town or western romance you will enjoy this one. It's a fast read and a nice story.

A fake relationship with a cowboy? Sign me up, partner! This one had serious “The Proposal” vibes which kept me turning the pages! A fun and flirty romance. 4.5 stars.

I love Carolyn Brown's books and this one is no different. She has a way with writing characters that move to us to emotion and keep us connected from page one. Cowboy Strong is no different. I've totally fallen in love with these characters and their friends.

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book is part of the Longhorn Canyon series but only having read the book right before this one, there wasn’t much of a connection between the characters.

I do think that it was a wonderful story about Alana and Paxton and how they were willing to do anything to fulfill Matt’s dying wish. Matt’s impending death was a tad depressing but it added to one of the many emotions this book made you feel.

Pax is a true gentleman and treated Alana like a queen - just as her daddy would’ve wanted for her.

Sweet, sexy and highly romantic are just a few words that come to mind reading the latest from an author that does romance right every time. New and die-hard fans alike will swoon for this friends to lovers tale.

Another cozy cowboy romance from Carolyn Brown with all the feels! This was a wonderful feel-good read - a little heat, a lot of family, smidges of humour, and that hallmark Texas charm. Easy to read with compelling characters and backstory - a hit for sure!

I can't go wrong with a Carolyn Brown book. Each time she produces a new one, I devour it. It's an age old plot: man and woman must marry for some reason. During the process they discover they really love each other. The uniqueness resides in the characters. Alana is feisty, strong, and desperate to please her father. Pax is the most amiable cowboy and eager to help Alana. I love the quirky sayings littered throughout the text. Brown brings The entire ensemble together For this wedding. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Cowboy Strong. The engagement and marriage of Pax and Alana is supposed to be one of convenience lasting only until Alana’s father, Matt, passes. Matt doesn’t know it’s a ruse and sets about preparing to give his only child the wedding of her dreams. The problem is that Pax and Alana not only have a lot in common as ranchers, but also a history. In Carolyn Brown’s capable hands readers know they will get a great story filled with family, friends, church, country music and two friends finally recognizing their destiny. Characters in the previous Cowboy books series figure prominently in this book and a new character is introduced. What’s not to love? I voluntarily reviewed an advance copy of this book from NetGalley. Most highly recommend.