Stacy Finz cannot write books fast enough for me. I have yet to read anything by this author that I haven't absolutely loved. Don't miss out on this one. Great story, wonderful characters and delightful setting. The best!

Angie has been in the witness protection program for six years when she believes all the people she testified against have been put in prison. Now she's going home to Dry Creek Ranch where her family lives. Living in a small cabin on the ranch helps her adjust to being back but she's still wary of her surroundings due to her past. Tuff lives in a cabin nearby and makes custom saddles and other leather work at his saddlery shop. The more Tuff's around Angie the closer they get and the more they realize they have in common. When her past comes back to haunt her, he'll do anything to make sure Angie is safe. Enjoyable romantic suspense.

I loved Tuff. And I am that Tuff and Angela met, So Angela is the long lost sister. She has been in the witness protection program after unwillingly getting involved with a militia group. Here she is trying to start over, trying to act like all is ok, but Tuff sees thru her and even if he doesn't think he is worthy and tries to fight his attraction eventually they give in slowly, and trouble finds them. If you have never read the series, do so and as the series go it goes slowly all of it, the getting to know each other, the falling in love, and the HEA.

I literally could not put this book down! I’ve loved all the previous books in the series but there’s something different about this one. Was it waiting and finally getting to hear Angie’s story? Was it Tuff and his wounded hero vibes? Maybe the life & death suspense aspect? The sweetest of HEA’s? I guess all of it together makes it just perfect! (Sigh). I truly hope there are more stories of Dry Creek Ranch to come!

Well finally we get the long lost sister's book. I was excited to get to read where Angela's been and why she was gone for so long. The wait was well worth as Cowboy Proud was a very interesting, aaction packed and romantic read.

Ange is back on the Dry Creek Ranch and living in the cabin acroos from Tuff, the quiet and reserved cowboy. While there seems to be ab attraction between the two, Tuff seems set on feeping Angie at arms length. Angie is ready to heal and move on and wants to act like thinks are fine, but Tuff sees through her act. While Angie thinks she's out of danger, things come to light soon enought to prove otherwise, Soon Tuff is finding it harder to stay away from Ange, not only because he wants to protect her, but because he can't fight the draw he feels to her.

After six years in the witness protection program, Angie is home and she needs to have a story; and what a great story it is. Of all the Dry Creek books, I do think this one is my favorite.

Tuff shouldn't be the man for Angie, they are as different as night and day but both are keeping secrets from each other. Somehow they find their way to each other and let the sparks fly.

The bad guys are after Angie and Tuff can't let her be a victim. Not only do you have love and romance, there is suspense as well.

Ms Finz again weaves a wonderful story with believable characters and keeps us up to date on other Dry Creek residents. I hope there will be more Dry Creek novels to follow.

“No, it was more an inner confidence than it was swagger. He was more protector than aggressor. He was more about kindness than physical strength. He was more willing to listen than to be heard.” (Quote from ARC)

A lovely story with great, well fleshed-out characters, “Cowboy Proud”, by Stacy Finz (Kensington Books), features an amazing hero, of the strong, silent type, and a heroine still dealing with very complicated circumstances.
The tension and restrain between Tuff and Angie is wonderful to watch, since they’re guarded yet also very honest people. I liked how friendship, intimacy and closeness were blended with physical attraction and lust in their relationship.
I loved how the author showed the many facets of the “quiet, unassuming cowboy” and his “hard and lonely” life, slowly revealing the secrets of a “tragic childhood”.
Despite feeling broken and damaged, this loner is such a giving, caring and kind person in a low-key way. And there’s so much emotion and pain reading that final letter.
I liked the balance between romance and suspense but thought Angie wasn’t that smart sometimes ignoring the signals.
Finz creates characters, places, families that draw you in and make you want to stay and know more about them.
Perhaps because her characters are multidimensional: the tortured hero is not only that, he’s also a good friend, an honorable man, a talented custom saddle maker, a loving owner of a cute dog… and there’s lots of showing rather than telling.

Another page turner from Finz. This is the kind of story I would not read by any other author. I don’t like damsel in distress books but I love this series and felt it was well done. All my favorite characters put in an appearance. It was particularly gratifying that Angie wasn’t instantly pregnant as happens in so many books of the genre. I read this quickly over a weekend and it was satisfying.

Angie has returned! The sister who had disappeared six years ago and who was stuck in a whirlwind of danger and worry came home! Of course, she’s not out of danger yet. And she’s afraid to share any of her worries because she doesn’t want to be called paranoid or sent back into hiding. So she tries to keep her wits about her while pretending all is fine. Except Tuff sees through her act. He’s used to being alone and isn’t built for long lasting love or relationships, but he can’t help wanting to be near Angela. And since he’s fighting a battle between his head and heart, he ends up playing a few unintentional games along the way. But when danger seems imminent and all too real, he’s got to be honest with himself and everyone else. He’s not going anywhere, he’s not leaving Angie, and he’s sure not about to let her get hurt or worse. He just has to believe that he’s worthy of the praise and adoration of a few, as well as the love of the most important person in his world.

You don’t have to read the previous books in this series to feel up to speed, but I’d recommend doing so. Not because you have to, but because you’ll likely want to. I love the development from almost failing ranch to tourist destination and thriving community center. I especially liked how Angie had ideas that she was sure would be scoffed at, yet were the big moneymakers to save the day. So I’d definitely say that this series is worth your time if you want to see some inspiration, worry, danger, angst, and love from both family and friends in your books. I know that this series sure gave me good and happy feelings when I was done with each story.

I received Cowboy Proud as part of a NetGalley giveaway.

Angie Dalton returns to her family ranch in northern California after six years in witness protection. While settling in, she meets Tuff Garrison, a ranch hand and leatherworker in town. Quickly the pair, stung by their respective painful pasts, bond, despite their differing family backgrounds. When ghosts from Angie's past return, however, their delicate connection is tested in the most terrifying of ways.

I enjoyed this. I felt like the witness protection program storyline was a bit overwrought but the romance was well done. Both Tuff and Angie were well-crafted characters and I appreciated the bond they formed despite their differences. The universe is a bit sickly-sweet, but one I wouldn't mind revisiting.

A good continuation of the series. This one has Angie, finally back at the ranch after being in the Witness Protection. Still jumpy, she is given the cabin next to Tuff, who does leather work, especially saddles. He also has a past that haunts him, so they actually understand each other. I did like this one, but didn't care for the bad guys coming after her again. Oh well, it did keep it as a fast read. Would recommend this one and this series and this author. Fun and easy summer read.