***ARC Provided by the Publisher via NetGalley***

I just didn't ever warm up to Zack. I wanted to, and I, looking at the reviews, I am the only one who didn't.

That said, as I really didn't like the hero, I didn't end up finishing this title.

I am unable to recommend this book.

I have been dying for Zack's story, because let’s be honest what’s better than a grumpy hero meeting his match in a sweet and gorgeous heroine. I got into this series by chance when I was on a cowboy kick, and have since gone back to the preceding novels and can honestly say I have fallen in love with Caitlin Crews and her novels have become some of the favorite, with boneheaded men getting their asses kicked by sassy women that are their match in so many ways. This latest story is the last of the Kittredge brothers finding love in the most unexpected of ways when his neighbor takes on a nurse who immediately sparks his suspicious nature even as she makes his passions flair. Sherriff Zack Kittredge has gone his own way his entire adult life, escaping ranch life in order to be a deputy and then ultimately the Sherriff of his small town, but his issues with his family have left his gruff and grumpy for the most part. When his elderly neighbor takes on a new nurse he is immediately suspicious of the hot woman that has come into his town. Janie Atwood has a connection to Cold River that she wants to explore, but the more time she spends around Zack the more concerned she becomes that her secret will get out before she ever has a chance to full explore her past. Zack knows something fishy is going on when he continues to find Janie in parts of town she has no place being, but coming to her rescue gives him the chance to have her sexy body in his arms too. As they spend more time together the passion that burns between them begins to deepened into something more, but can they trust the emotions that are developing or with their fire burn hot and flair out just as quickly? Zack is the quintessential alpha asshole that knows he is right no matter what anyone else says and there is nothing anyone can say to convince him otherwise. While that trait can be annoying, Zack carries himself in a way that you just don’t question is confidence, but Janie does. Her playfulness and sweetness brings out a side of Zack we never expect and makes him more human. I loved watching them interacting and finding a way to have fun together. While it irritated me that Zack refused to give her the benefit of the doubt in anything it’s obvious his past rides him hard until he finally comes to terms with it. Janie is a sweetheart for sure, giving her all to her patients and trying to be everything to everyone around her, but it’s obvious she is missing something important she needs in order to be happy. When she tried to find the missing piece of her past, she has no expectation that she will find the love of her life at the same time, but she is determined to follow through on her promises to herself and meet her past head-on. I loved seeing her bridging long-standing squabbles and making a place for herself in the town and at Zack’s side. I am hoping that there is a another series coming down the line set in this interesting small town so we will get to see more of these brothers and their women, but if not I feel that this story wrapped it up beautifully. Ms. Crews did well indeed.

Home nurse Janie Atwood has an ulterior motive in accepting a position with the elderly Damaris in the quaint little Colorado town of Cold River. A letter Janie receives on the death of her beloved grandparents leads her on a search for her roots, a quest that uncovers a checkered history and a family she never expected.

Nor did she imagine falling in love with the irascible sheriff living across the street.

Sheriff Zack Kittridge takes pride in his black and white world. Either you’re doing right or you’re doing wrong, and if it’s the latter he’s happy to guide you back to the straight and narrow. The problem is his new neighbor doesn’t play in the lines. She’s a walking disaster zone, flamboyant with that fiery red hair, prim and unbearably sexy at the same time. In a word; contradictory. Janie Atwood is a puzzle and the sheriff is determined to find what she’s hiding- even if it means breaking some rules.

“People shouldn’t be jobs,” she said quietly. “If all you ever do is your duty, you miss out on all the good stuff that’s right there…

Summer Nights with a Cowboy- Caitlin Crews

And a droll note from Janie’s charge, Damaris

“I don’t understand your generation. Dancing isn’t a test of your manhood. I’s making love with your clothes on, because not everything in this life is meant to be instant gratification.

Summer Nights with a Cowboy- Caitlin Crews

By turns witty, charming, heated, and pensive this is an enjoyable story of learning not to take things at face value or all you’ll have is regret for a bedfellow.

It was a nice read, I didn't really connect to the characters or the story all that much. Nothing about the book stuck out.

What can I say? When Caitlin’s cowboys come along on Netgalley, I just have to request them.

Caitlin has two tied series in Cold River: the Cold River Ranch series and the Kittredge Ranch series. This one is about Zack Kittredge. The eldest of the Kittredge clan. And although you can read it as a standalone, it is so much more fun if you also have read about Riley (Secret Nights with a Cowboy) Amanda (The Last Real Cowboy) and Jensen (All Night Long with a Cowboy). In this part we can read on about the upcoming marriage of Jensen and Harriet. And although Zack prefers his solitude, he can’t help but envy his brothers and sisters a little for having found true happiness. Zack, however, doesn’t believe in love and a happy ending. And certainly not in a happy family life. One of the reasons of becoming a sheriff was to get out of the family business. Something his family will never let him forget.

Janie has taken on a new job as a home nurse in Cold River. Besides her job she also has another reason to come to Cold River: she wants to find some of her relatives and to discover her roots and ancestors. Clumsy as she is, she spills her moccachino all over Zack’s police uniform when they first met. Not wanting to divulge everything about her relatives, she acts nervous. And that’s why Zack is now convinced that Janie is up to no good. He believes that she is trying to swindle her patient out of his money.

So Janie and Zack end up in several funny situations where Janie and Zack are suspicious of each other. Needless to say that their chemistry is off the charts.

Cute, funny and sweet. And we finally learn why Zack became a sheriff. Four out of five stars from me and a special thank you to Netgalley for providing the arc. And hopefully Caitlin will create some more stories in Cold River.

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley, and every time I read one of Caitlin Crews’ books, I’m reminded of why I enjoy her writing. Honestly, I just feel so good after reading one of her books. They’re full of misunderstood heroes and strong, independent women. This one is about Zack Kittredge, sheriff of Cold River and eldest brother of the Kittredges of the Bar K Ranch, and Janie Atwood, new resident of Cold River, caregiver of one Damaris Gardiner and suspicious person-of-interest to Zack. Zack immediately suspects that Janie is hiding something from him, and she is, but it’s nothing nefarious. Eventually, he dubs her his “little outlaw.” The development of their relationship is inevitable and facilitated by Janie’s offer to teach Zack to be “charming,” knowing full-well she is already fully charmed by him. Still, it’s sweet the way he begrudgingly accepts her offer and finds himself attending afternoon tea and learning ballroom dancing, though he’s reluctant to admit it’s because he really just wants to spend time with her.

There were some wonderful descriptions in this book, as well as some clever observations. In chronological order, here they are:
“His eyes were like bittersweet chocolate mixed through with fire.”
“Did you come here to destroy dreams?” Janie asked. “Or is that just a typical by-product of the Zack Kittredge experience?”
“He unfolded himself from his vehicle, looking the way he always did. Crisp. Perfect. As if the very clothes he wore dared not defy him. As if the fabrics kept themselves obedient.”
Trixie, Janie’s grandmother, believed “...that spite, when properly applied, was a more powerful force than determination and three times as sweet.”
Janie observed that “Families were a collection of sweetness piled on top of sorrow, stories told and corrected and retold, and misheard by every member, all interlaced together over the years...”
Janie said, “...love doesn’t always look the way we want it to look. Sometimes it looks the exact opposite of how we think it should. That doesn’t make it any less love. It just means that sometimes, we all show love to people in ways that they’re not capable of seeing it.”
“There are no men in New York, Valentina (Janie’s friend) had texted. Only a thousand ways to be rejected by men you lowered your standards to go out with in the first place.”
“Bridezilla is such a fascinating term,” Harriet (fiancé of Zack’s brother, Jensen) said, wrinkling up her brow. “A woman who might have spent her life being told that all that matters is her wedding day is rendered monstrous by her attention to the details of that wedding. It’s almost as if women are set up to fail.” To me, this is the perfect encapsulation of the systemic misogyny of society that is so blithely accepted without question.
“He felt like an idiot. And, simultaneously, as if he’d been knocked so hard on the head that there were actual, cartoon little birds flying around him in circles.”
“He nipped her gently on her chin and smiled bright enough that Janie felt sorry for the stars.”

Do I recommend this book? Absolutely. It’s a heartwarming, sweet and steamy read (without being explicit), and I’d read it again.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and I am voluntarily reviewing it.

I am so torn on how to rate this book. There were some places that just dragged for me. Also I would have to re-read some sections as I felt like I was missing the point in the scene. Then there were other scenes that were just so deep and filled with angst and not just between the two main characters. Zack had some serious issues with his father. These issues where what led Zack to become the man that he is. They shaped how he lived his life and interacted with others. To him things were black and white with no grey areas. The author really built a solid foundation for Zack that she had to break down the walls that were built around him.

Then you have Janie the traveling nurse/caretaker. She comes to town to care for elderly Damaris. She also has an ulterior motive for coming to Cold River. The secret that she carries is one that will shape her interaction with Zack.

I loved so many things about this book. How people interact with each other. How something can shape and mold a person. How relationships can be so complex and yet so simple at the same time. Yes, this book is one that can take some getting though but it is one that shouldn't be missed. There are so many lessons here.

This is a sexy book so just a word of caution if you don't like reading that. The way the end was written and how the author wrapped up the characters almost brought a tear to my eye. I did get a little depressed as it almost felt like I was saying good-bye to some really good friends. I hope there are more book set in Cold River (HINT, HINT!!!!)

Their first meeting was one for the history books; She dripped and dropped her latte all over his shirt.  Unfortunately, it didn't get better Janie was one of the clumsiest people Zack had ever met, he might have to make a lifetime career of being there to keep her safe.  Zack is determined never to marry but his resolve fails in the face of Janie's determination to teach him charm.  A sweet romance that makes the perfect summer read.
Janie is a geriatric nurse taking up positions with elderly patients who are facing end of life but want to remain in their own home.  She's in town with a personal agenda as well as her job this time around.  It doesn't help matters when the town sheriff Zack Kitteridge looks at her with suspicion determined to unmask all her secrets.
 Zack has a lot of baggage of his own and is somewhat estranged from his family even while being there for them. I really liked that they both had their own set of family issues to work through. While Zack always had his family but had turned his back on them given his childhood issues its heartwarming how they both found family and reconnected with them.
 Between Janie's klutziness and Zach's angst and all the new friendships that Janie develops we get a nice emotional range to a well told romance story.

Romances are among my top 3 genres to read. I love all types of romances: erotica, shifter, contemporary, historical, western…etc. So, when an invite for a romance novel is in my email, I almost always accept it. With Summer Nights with a Cowboy, I was already familiar with the series (Kittredge Ranch) and the universe in which the book took place. So, yes, I decided to accept it before reading the synopsis. I knew that it was about Zack and that it took place in Cold River. That’s all I needed to know before I said yes.

Summer Nights with a Cowboy is book 3 in the Kittredge Ranch series. It can be read as a standalone book, but I highly suggest (as I always do) that you read the first two books before picking this one up. The main character of this book makes numerous appearances in that series. Even better, check out Cold River Ranch for the backstories of several of the secondary characters in this book.

Summer Nights with a Cowboy’s plotline interested me. Zack is the sheriff of Cold Creek, and he takes his job very seriously. Janie is a free-spirit traveling nurse who has moved into her client’s house. Janie and Zack’s paths cross when she accidentally trips and dumps her latte down the front of his shirt. And their ways continue to cross because Zack is her client’s next-door neighbor. After another rude encounter, Janie suggests that Zack needs etiquette classes and offers to teach them. To her surprise, he takes her up on her offer. As they get to know each other better, Janie has a secret that could derail their fledgling relationship. And Zack has deep-rooted scars from his traumatic childhood. Will Janie come clean to Zack about her secret? Can Zack accept it? And will Janie help Zack heal?

I loved that the author gave Zack a book of his own. He was such a presence in the Cold River series and in his brothers’ books that I wondered if it would happen. I expected his character to be a little less rigid than what he was portrayed in the other books. But, alas, he wasn’t. But you know what, it worked for me. I loved seeing him gradually (and sometimes it was at a snail’s pace) come to terms with what happened during his childhood. I also loved seeing him happy and relaxed when he was with Janie. The only thing I disagreed with was when he warned Janie about the Halls. I thought it was not cool (mainly because of what she was looking for) and a little selfish of him. Other than that, I loved him.

Janie was awesome. She was precisely the type of woman that Zack needed. She was awkward but sweet. She also was as clumsy as heck. Throughout the book, she was constantly tripping over one thing or another. I kept thinking, “Girl, how can you do your job?” I also loved how she went about gathering information about her secret. Her interactions with Zack, her friends (via text), and the other townspeople had me in stitches.

The author thoroughly explains Zack’s childhood in the book. It was alluded to in the previous two books but never explained. All I have to say is shame on his mother. What an awful thing to subject your children to. I had some sympathy for her, but at the same time, I was outraged. Her actions caused her children to have issues that took years (and the love of a good woman) to fix. I was irritated with his father, but my irritation turned to sympathy after what his mother revealed.

I loved how the author chose to reveal Janie’s secret and how she explained everything behind it. It brought tears to my eyes and made me laugh simultaneously. Janie finally had explanations about things that her grandparents had told her.

Janie and Zack’s romance was sweet. It wasn’t HEA. Zack didn’t like Janie when he first met her. He was suspicious of her and thought she was a klutz. Janie was intimidated by Zack and his manliness (yes, laugh, but it is true), and he made her very nervous, making her clumsy. But the more they got together, the more Zack started to see her for who she truly was and started falling in love with her. The same went for Janie. Their relationship was natural and evolved as it would have in real life. Which means there was no HEA. Maybe lust on Janie’s end but NO HEA.

The chemistry that Janie and Zack had was off the charts. The author built up that chemistry and let it linger until the middle of the book when they kissed for the first time. Then, she built it back up again and let it go until they had sex for the first time. I enjoyed that the author chose not to have them having sex rule the second half of the book. Instead, it was graphic once and then mentioned or alluded to a few times afterward.

The end of Summer Nights with a Cowboy seemed almost dreamy to me. The author gave me the impression that the book was Zack looking back at how he met and fell in love with Janie (with scenes cut in with Janie looking back). The way it was written gave me that impression. I thought it was a perfect way to wrap up the story.

I would recommend Summer Nights with a Cowboy to anyone over 21. There is mild violence, language, and sexual situations/scenes.

The third book in the Kittredge Ranch Novel series. Traveling nurse Janie Atwood has come to Cold River to uncover old family secrets, but Sheriff Zack Kittredge does not believe it he thinks she has some other nefarious scheme for coming there. I enjoyed seeing them get their happy ending with all their ups and downs. This is a new Author to me. I received a copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.

This is a voluntary review of an advanced copy.

This was so hard to put down when I started reading it and there were parts that were so heartbreaking that you wanted to give someone a hug.

Janie is a companion and nurse for the elderly and specifically picked the town to look into her past. After being raised by her grandparents when her mother died giving birth, they are the only family she had and when they passed, she wanted to learn more.

Zach was so uptight and kept himself in control so klutzy Janie was a ray of sunshine in his life. He has a terrible relationship with his parents and hasn't tried to resolve anything over many years.

There is a lot of personal growth that they both work through and have a secret "affair" going on. There were times that Janie was not sure if anything was going to come from their relationship and you kind of had to wonder if Zach would work out his feelings before he loses Janie.

Nice wrap up and HEA and I hope that won't be last from the Kittredge family!

I always love going back to the small town of Cold River. Caitlin Crews has done a wonderful job combining romance, personal growth, complicated family dynamics, and an interesting town/townsfolk into a story I couldn't put down.

Janie and Zack don't seem like a likely couple. She is sweet, sunshiny, and has a huge heart. She also travels for her work as a nurse. Zack is closed off, a bit of a grump, and has deep roots in Cold River. However, the two of them work so well together - even if it takes them a little while to admit it to themselves and each other. They have a bit of a slow burn which made it even better once they act on their feelings.

Family also plays a big part in the story as Janie looks for information about hers. Zack also works through his relationship with his father and how it has shaped his own life.

The story flowed well and is engaging and entertaining. I think this is the last book in the series, but I'm crossing my fingers that Janie's friends who are sisters ger their own series!

Summer Nights with a Cowboy is the latest in the Kittredge Ranch series by Caitlin Crews. It is a Cowboy romance between Janie, who is a quirky traveling nurse and Zack, who is the very serious sheriff of Cold River. Zack thinks that Janie is up to something more than just taking care of his elderly neighbor who he adores. Well as it turns out Zack is on to something because Janie does have a little secret, you see part of the reason she took the nursing job in Cold River is to find out information about her father who is supposed to be a member of one of the founding families. Zack has little problem though you see he also finds Janie very captivating and once their share an amazing kiss things change between them. Will Janie trust Zack enough to tell him her secret that played a part in her coming to Cold River? Read Zach and Janie’s story Summer Nights with a Cowboy to find out. If you like Cowboy romances with some steam then this book might be for you. Summer Nights with a Cowboy is not the first book that I have read by Caitlin Crews and it will not be the last. Even though this wasn’t one of my favorites of hers it was still an enjoyable read and I look forward to reading more.

A grumpy, cowboy sheriff? Swoon. A sunshine-y traveling nurse who has always been relegated as “the kid sister/girl next door”? I can so relate! This slow burn romance had all the feels. I loved the interactions between Zack and Janie, even the Hallmark movie love scenes. The interplay with the secondary characters was both hilarious and heartfelt. I felt Janie’s clumsiness a bit overplayed but I liked her positive attitude. The family drama was engaging. While this story is the third book in the Kittredge Ranch series, it is not necessary to have read the previous books to enjoy this one.

Summer Nights With A Cowboy (Kittridge Ranch # 3) By Caitlyn Crews

This is the 3rd book of this series, but only the 1st of them that I have read. They can be read as stand alone. Zack is the sheriff of Cold River. A bunch of family grievances led him to walk away from running their ranch as the oldest Kittridge son. Janie is a traveling nurse, has no family left and has come to the town to do some digging to try to see if she can locate some family. Zack and Janie meet with a clash as they run into each other and she literally spills all her coffee on him. He thinks from the start she has a motive that she isn't sharing and he doesn't trust her. Imagine her surprise to find her new client is the next door neighbor to the sheriff.
This is 5 stars.

I loved Summer Nights with a Cowboy and was glued to the book from start to finish with realistic characters you root for, lots of family drama and hot and steamy romance. I loved the undeniable attraction and skin scorching chemistry between traveling nurse Janie Atwood and Sheriff Zack Kittredge. Ms. Crews never disappoints whatsoever and her Kittredge Ranch novels are some of the best I have read. I received an advance reader copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

‘Summer Nights With A Cowboy’ is the story of Sheriff Zack Kittredge and Janie Atwood. Zack is known for his seriousness, and his hard work as a sheriff. The last few years he witnessed his brothers finding their wives, but he has never been looking for more himself. He is simple all about work. And when he meets Janie, he is sure there is something about her that isn’t right. And from the start he can’t seem to stay away from her.

Janie is a nurse and found a job in the small town of Cold River. Perfect for her, because her grandparents told her there was more to find about her past in the small town. And when she meets Zack, she is instantly attracted to him. Zack is the first guy that seems to look at her differently. And as the girl who every guy seems to see as the ‘friend’, she finds herself easily smitten with him. But she never expected Zack to want to spend time with her.

Throughout this series we read a bit about Zack. And I must say I’ve been really curious about him and his story. His character might have been a bit of a bad tempered guy on the outside, but there is so much more about him. And I just had a soft spot for him right from the start. And throughout this book we get to know him more and I definitely grew more fond of him with every single page.

The romance and chemistry in this book is a perfect slow-burn one. And it kept me hooked to the pages. As a nurse myself, I loved Janie. Her character was so easy to connect with and I loved everything about her.

The thing I didn’t really get was Zack’s problem with his parents. But since I loved the romance part so much, it didn’t bother me too much. Overall ‘Summer Nights With A Cowboy’ was a wonderful read.

Summer Nights with a Cowboy is a wonderful story with interesting characters. Zack and Jane were a case of opposites attract. Zack was a grumpy sheriff who didn't trust easily. Jane was that breath of fresh air that he needed. It was a good smooth read.

Zack and Janie are complicated, interesting characters, and they challenged each other to see themselves in a different light.

Sheriff Zack Kittredge takes himself and his job very seriously. When a young nurse named Janie moves in next door with his elderly neighbour, he is instantly suspicious of her. Janie is finding some freedom in Zack's low opinion of her to be a bit more adventurous than usual. Normally she is seen as the cute, well-behaved younger sister, and she revels in the fact that Zack doesn’t see her that way. Sparks start to fly when Janie offers Zack charm school lessons.

Janie’s memories of her grandmother and the non-relationship with her grandfather after her grandmother’s death are all intertwined and complicated. Intermingled is the mystery of who her father is. She is hoping to find the answers in Cold River. And Zack’s entire personality was firmly cemented by events that happened when he was 18.

Right from the start this story was all emotion. Attraction, yes, but also all the big feelings that Zack and Janie had about themselves. They brought out the best in each other. Janie made Zack re-examine the reasons behind the animosity he has for this father. And Zack was the one man who saw beyond Janie’s adorable freckles to the amazing woman underneath.

I really enjoyed this book and I can recommend it to any romance reader. This is the third book in the Kittredge Ranch series. It’s not necessary to read them in order, each stand well on its own.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Caitlin Crews’ Summer Nights with a Cowboy, book 3 of her Kittredge Ranch series, explores the forbidden passion simmering between Traveling nurse Janie Atwood and next-door neighbor Sheriff Zack Kittredge. Crews’ opening scene gets the novel off to an intriguing start, making me want to know more about Jack and Janie and discover Jack’s issue with her. She quickly sets up the tension and vibe between Zack and Janie that works for a sunshine heroine and grumpy hero as I think it’s meant to. Initially, Zack comes off as a jerk, stalking around after Janie glowering and scowling at her with suspicion and disapproval for no good reason, and treating her rudely, antagonistically. But because she’s not only unbothered by it but likes his attention, you find yourself not taking it so seriously. Especially when you realize it’s all for show. The barely leashed sexual awareness flowing between them makes him uncomfortable, so he hides his true feelings behind denial and feigned dislike. Crew develops Zack, Janie, and their relationship with vibrant description, lively dialogue, and humorous, snarky, and fiery banter and emotional interactions. Their scenes with Zack’s family and town folk also reveal and further develop their characters.

Trying to discover/uncover secrets about her family, Janie comes to Cold River. She takes a job as a caregiver for Zack’s elderly neighbor. Believing Janie might threaten his town with some nefarious scheme, sheriff Zack keeps a close eye on her. Zack is an intense, gorgeous loner, a serious control freak, and viewed by his family as a saint. Janie is cheerful, courageous, and tenacious. The sweet, friendly, quintessential good girl, Janie’s always been just the cute friend, one of the guys, invisible until Zack noticed her—even if for ridiculous reasons. He makes her want to be dangerous, bad, seen, everything she’s not. Janie believes love is too special to be wasted. On the other hand, Sheriff Zack Kittredge doesn’t believe in love at all. These two are complete opposites who help each other make peace with their families and pasts and become whom they’re meant to be.

Unfortunately, the pacing is slow, and the story drags at some parts. I had difficulty connecting with Zack for most of the novel, which affected my enjoyment. However, later we discover things that reveal more about who he is and why he became the man he is that help to soften his character. I’m not sure that it could have been written differently, but I might have been less frustrated with his attitude toward Janie and enjoyed the story more.

Exploring themes of discovering family secrets, searching for a home, reconciling the past, and opening your heart to love, Summer Nights with a Cowboy is a sweet, humorous, angsty, charming romance small-town romances fans may enjoy.