I've been reading Maisey Yates for many years now—I simply don't know how to resist the call of her cowboys. The last wave of the Gold Valley series, focused on the residents of Hope Springs Ranch, has been particularly addictive, and The True Cowboy of Sunset Ridge is no exception.

Look, it can be said that Yates relies heavily on inner monologue, and she does, but it works. A layer of emotion comes with being intimate with the workings of a character's mind, and it's used to great advantage here. Because both Colt and Mallory have their fair share of emotional baggage to unpack before they can move forward.

I'm something of a sucker for a surprise/oops baby story, and this one fits the bill nicely. From Colt stepping up and locking down the alpha protective thing right away to Mallory's need to care for and shield both Lily and Colt, this story rights the right notes. It allows the characters to open up, and the progression of their respective growth is surprising and compelling. Indeed, I would say that the trajectory of this romance is something of a departure for Yates, which makes it all the more enjoyable.

If you're already reading this series, I suspect it'll become a firm favorite. And if you're not, well, you can still dive in right here and enjoy a few hours of reading that's sure to twang your heartstrings.

I just love this author and all her books. This one has become my favorite of all. It was packed so full of emotions, heartbreak, and heartwarming moments. To see these two broken people come together and find a way to heal each other was amazing. I just loved Colt, especially when he showed how vulnerable he was. Mallory was great, even though at times I would have liked to smack her, but she was a great character and the growth from beginning to end was amazing. Great book!!!

I adore Maisey Yates and this book is one of my favorites of hers. I fell for the hero hard. The romance was sweet and stunning.

Maisey Yates wrote an intense, emotional, heart tugging, love story with The True Cowboy of Sunset Ridge, book fourteen in her Gold Valley series. Midwife Mallory Chance has finally dumped her cheating user of a boyfriend of 15 years and decides to start over in Sunset Ridge and be closer to her brother, who lives in Gold Valley, the next town over. She needs a break to find herself and hopes a little fun will help her along. She is also hoping to run into the hot cowboy, one she shared a visual connection with six months prior. When she runs into the hot, sexy, brooding Colt Daniels, the guy from before, she allows herself just that one night with him, then she needs to work on herself and devote her time to her new midwife practice. Colt can't believe she's here, without her boyfriend. She's been on his mind for months now, so as long as she's up for one night, he'll give her that, but he can’t do a relationship. Imagine their surprise when Mallory discovers her one-night fling turns out to be her landlord.

Colt and Mallory's lives continually seem to connect between family outings, or just being out and about in their small town. While all else is going crazy, Colt becomes responsible for the care of a baby girl, the product of his deceased mentee and his girlfriend. Mallory agrees to help Colt, with baby Lily, forcing the two to spend more time together; getting to know each other. The sizzling chemistry between these two is off-the-charts making it surprising they didn’t burn down Colt’s home. Colt and Mallory need time to discover who they are and who they want to be. There’s so much more to Colt than he allows others to see. Between his music and wood carvings, he has a true artistic soul. , Despite her picture-perfect upbringing, Mallory has always struggled figuring out who she was, how she fit in her family and among her friends, as well as honestly examining her previous choices. Both Mallory and Chase have deeply rooted issues of pain, loss, guilt, inadequacy, and secrets they've kept to themselves for years. Fortunately for readers, these characters were able to express their inner thoughts, their past trauma, losses and fears by opening up to each other; sharing their pain and fears.

Ms. Yates wrote a wonderful, intense, emotional and steamy story that should not be missed. She provided a tale rich with soul-searching, angst, characters whose personal stories will tug at your heartstrings, sizzling chemistry, and an amazing cast of secondary characters as Mallory and Colt, and baby Lily, find that happily ever after. I highly recommend The True Cowboy of Sunset Ridge to other readers.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

The main characters fight their romance. The each need to overcome their past demons as their relationship heats up. I appreciated the raw honesty as Colt realized how his life needs to head to once he got over the past. Mallory struggled with her past choices and her determination to not make the same mistakes eventually held her back from finding true happiness. Baby Lily was an added bonus that really tied these two together. A contemporary cowboy romance with loads of steam and heart.

Maisey Yates is always a go to author for me. I enjoy this series and my visit back to Sunset Ridge did not disappoint.
Newly single Mallory is ready to start over in Sunset Ridge, where her brother lives. She’s trying to heal from her past but when she locks eyes with Colt, sparks fly and she gives into them on the basis that it’ll just be a fling/one night stand. She doesn’t count on getting feelings for him. Colt on the other hand, is reserved and stand-off ish as a result of a major loss in his past. He’s forced himself to put up a wall so that he can’t get hurt again but when his best friend’s (who has passed away) girlfriend shows up with a baby she can’t take care of and gives her to Colt to raise, Colt is forced to face his demons and let the tiny miracle into his heart. When Mallory and Colt realize that what they have is more than just a one night thing, Mallory freaks out and runs. Colt has to try to convince her to give him and love another chance.
Super sweet without being super cheesy, just a little bit of steam.
Thanks to HQN Books for this Arc in exchange for my review.
Publication date: December 28, 2021

4 1/2 STARS!

Fast-paced, heartwarming and delightful! With the next foray into her Gold Valley series Maisey Yates brings her reader Colt Daniels' story in THE TRUE COWBOY OF SUNSET RIDGE and this wounded cowboy is sure to steal hearts. The opening scene had me hooked instantly and the emotional connection that followed kept me turning page after page. I really enjoyed Mallory and Colt and liked getting the final "sibling" on his way to his happily ever after.

Colt came across as disconnected from the family in the previous books, so watching him return home and be part of the inner circle again was really rewarding to watch.

Mallory has an emotional back story so watch her come into her own and finally believe in what she deserves in life is powerful.

I highly recommend this book as well as the entire series to anyone who loves a good cowboy, especially one that knows when to latch onto the good woman that crosses his path.

Well, this one was extra good since I was able to read it back to back with the previous one.

I loooooooved Mallory and Colt. I liked both of them in the snippets we’ve seen before and it was fantastic getting the backstory. They’re both such good people who find something in each other they didn’t know they needed. They had instant chemistry and enough UST to choke someone.

Plot wise, it was good. I’m not usually one for a baby plot line, but it worked so well. There’s a lot of inner monologue in this story and for once, I was here for all of it. I really enjoyed reading the shifting feelings, the insecurities, and the joy. Of course I would have liked a longer epilogue, but I’m probably being greedy.

Overall, this might be my favorite of the series. These two characters were so easy to root for and I know it’ll be a book I read again.

**Huge thanks to the publisher for providing the arc free of charge**

I love a good cowboy romance. Part of this is because they tend to be big cozy family stories. I love a series that gives us glimpses of past characters and potential stories to come and Maisey Yates does this so well. True Cowboy does just that. It's the story of Mallory and Colt and their instantly hot connection. Coming from a bad relationship, Mallory is looking for independence and growth. She doesn't think that she wants what Colt can offer her and he doesn't think he can offer it. But when a baby gets dropped off to him unexpectedly, they need to work together to take care of her. Their forced proximity and instant connection adds the best kind of tension and heat and kept me listening until I just had to finish on kindle because I NEEDED to know what happened. If you are a fan of long series, strong family stories, and steamy romance - you need to read this book.

It is deep into the series, but I started in the middle. They can absolutely be read stand alone.

If Maisey Yates isn’t one of your favorite authors, she should be! This book is true to her form of real feelings and real romance. She brings you I. To the story and holds you captive to the end. Free ARC given by NetGalley for honest opinion.

What an amazing story here! 5 sunset stars for this one!
We meet Mallory, she's looking for a fresh start, and ends her fifteen year relationship, and moves to Gold Valley to be closer to her brother, and hopes to maybe run into the hot guy she saw six months before. She needs a break to find herself, but a little fun will hopefully help her a long! When she runs into the hottie, Colt, she allows herself just that one night with him, then she needs to work on herself and devote her time to her new midwife practice.
Colt can't believe she's here, without her boyfriend. She's been on his mind for months now, so as long as she's up for one night, he'll give her that, but a relationship he can't do.
Read along and enjoy as Colt and Mallory's lives continually seem to connect whether through family outings, or just out in the small town. They both have demons they need to work on, can they do that together? Grab this and find out!

Contemplative Steamy Romance. Wait. How can a romance novel that effectively starts off with a sex scene be contemplative? Well, you're gonna have to trust me here... and then read the book for yourself to verify. :D Yes, there is hot and heavy sex here, even pretty well hate sex. So the sweet/ clean crowd... eh, maybe not for y'all. But this book also features quite a bit of solid introspection, and indeed it is this part of the book that is a refreshing change of pace to so many in the genre. At nearly double the length (380 ish pages vs 220 ish pages) of Yates' other soon-to-release romance from Harlequin (Rancher's Forgotten Rival, Jan 25), there is quite a bit more here, and much of it is more in the extended introspection and angst than anything else. (There are also a few more plot complications, including a fairly significant one. But really this book is about both of our leads figuring out how to clear their own heads enough to see what is right in front of them.) Excellent romance with a fair amount of cowboy to it, and a refreshing change of pace within the genre. Very much recommended.

I requested this book as I love the premise. A former bull rider who needs help raising his new charge and who better than the new girl.. The girl he's been secretly seeing. Unfortunately I struggled from the beginning. I felt a general sense of sadness between her loss, her brother's loss, Colt losing his friend. Despite being 30 and running her own clinic, I found Mallory to be rather childish and immature. Especially with her interaction with Colt.
It does end on a happy note but the struggles were real trying to get there

It you like books with a lot heat in them, then this book is for you. I wasn’t expecting a throbbing loins type book when I decided to read it. I thought the story was a bit predictable. I found myself irritated with Mallory and her constant obsessing about her old boyfriend. I’m sure they’re many who will enjoy this book but it just wasn’t my cup of tea.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy

I've read every novel in this series, and in Maisey Yates' previous series as well, and can state unequivocally that The True Cowboy of Sunset Ridge is her best novel to date. I was hooked from the very first paragraph, and read it cover to cover until the wee hours of the morning.

If you follow my book reviews, you know that I'm always searching for depth and character development and this novel has both in spades. Mallory Chance has finally dumped her cheating user of a boyfriend of 15 years and decides to start over in Sunset Ridge as a midwife, one town away from Gold Valley. During a visit to Gold Valley 6 months earlier she had a "Some Enchanted Evening" encounter with a tall, handsome cowboy, Colt Daniels, but that's all it was, especially since she was there with her live-in boyfriend, Jared, at the time, although she never forgot that one moment of eye contact. Six months later, after she dumps her cheating, user of a boyfriend, and moves back home, she again spots her cowboy in the same saloon, and after a sizzling one-night stand, she wakes up in her motel room alone--and they've never even exchanged first names. Unbeknownst to both, they soon discover that they are related by marriage, and that their one-night stand is one more secret they need to keep to themselves..

Both of these characters have deeply rooted issues of pain, loss, guilt, inadequacy, and secrets they've kept to themselves for years, and Ms. Yates' brilliant ability to express their inner thoughts, their past trauma, losses and fears, one of which is never talking about any of them to anyone, are what made this book so captivating to this reader, and what made these two characters so compelling.

When Mallory finds her rental home, it turns out that Colt is her landlord, and when she arrives at a welcome home dinner at her brother's house, she's shocked to discover that the cowboy in question is her cousin by marriage. It seems that their one-and-done, one-night stand is not something that can be easily brushed under the rug. When a tiny baby fathered by Colt's mentee, gets dumped off into Colt's arms (he would have been its godfather had the baby's father lived to see it born), Mallory, a practicing midwife, steps up to help him. Since they both have deeply rooted issues and feelings of guilt and inadequacy, their inner turmoil at the situation they are in, their slowly growing trust in one another, and their lack of trust in themselves are what make these two characters so unforgettable.

As Mallory and Colt slowly get to know one another, we get to know them well, because their inner thoughts make up the bulk of this novel, so if you're looking for rapid-fire action instead of soul-searching, angst, characters whose personal stories will tug at your heartstrings, some serious heat, and a deeply moving psychological love story, this is not the book for you, but it was most certainly the book for this reader. I absolutely loved it, and whether you're new to Ms. Yates' novels, or hooked on her Gold Valley series, this book will be one that will turn you into an avid Maisey Yates fan--it's just that good.

I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy of this novel. The opinions expressed are my own.

Such a book hangover!

Gah! This book! Mallory and Colt are not only one of the sexiest couples I've read, but their story is filled with deep introspection and heartbreaking turmoil and by itself is a master class in the philosophy of emotional maturity. When Colt opened up to Lily I honestly had to put the book down for a moment - such raw power in his vulnerability, and in the safest and most primal of relationships, that of a man with his infant daughter. When I say this book has ALL the feels, I've never meant it more.

The soothing beauty hidden in his artistic soul, the eloquence with which he mourned his mother, the fierce devotion he directed at Mallory once he realized just how his life needed to go = this book brought everything to the table, brilliantly and exquisitely. Mallory's life was just as haunted, despite her picture-perfect upbringing, and I loved how she struggled with finding her purpose and honestly examining her previous choices. These two pull no punches, and I was simply blown away by the intensity of their entire story.

Mallory is the perfect addition to the growing Daniels family. Her connection to Griffin may have brought her to town, but she brings her own brand of caring and optimism, finding that her chosen career is exactly what her new family needs. It was pure joy to see her interact with the entire Daniels clan at their weekly Sunday dinners, and the addition of Lily to the mix was the icing on the cake.

If you like contemporary cowboy romances with loads of steam and even more heart, you owe it to yourself to read this book and, really, anything by this author. It doesn't get any better than this. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

Maisey Yates has rekindled my love for romance and cowboys.

The True Cowboy of Sunset Ridge is a contemporary romance that follows good girl and Midwife Mallory who arrives in Gold Valley for a fresh start and on her first night in encounters a dashing cowboy. The thing about fresh starts is that they are messy and so when her night fling turns out to be her landlord an adventure ensures. While trying to figure out what to do a baby is dropped off for him. I enjoyed these characters immensely and would go to Gold Valley again.

A huge thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for my complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

When I think of romance, I think of books just like this one, that gives all the feels and satisfies every romance junkies' heart. This is a perfect books to snuggle up with on any day. This one took by surprise!

This is a good book the two main characters are Mallory and Colt. Mallory has just broke up with her boyfriend and moved to be closer to her brother. She meets Colt and they have a mutual attraction. One of Colt’s dies leaves behind a girlfriend and baby. The girlfriend can not handle the baby, so she leaves it with Colt when he tells her he will adopt her. Mallory help Colt with the baby. They fall in love.

Another winner in the Gold Valley series, this book features Colt, a cowboy who used to rodeo and is now a rancher, and Mallory, a woman moving back to town be near family. Mallory is escaping a toxic long-term relationship and wants to reinvent herself. Colt and Mallory hook up for a passionate one-night stand not expecting to see each other again, but they find out that Mallory's brother is married to Colt's cousin. Even though Colt is a love 'em and leave 'em kind of guy, he can't seem to get enough of Mallory. Then when she finds out he is her landlord, the temptation is strong to continue their affair. To add to the confusion a woman drops off Colt's baby goddaughter after the death of her husband. Very enjoyable romance with lots of twists and turns. Recommended.