A new series from Maisey Yates? Yes, please!

Unbridled Cowboy is--believe it or not--a modern-day mail order bride story. *And* Ms Yates had me pretty much convinced that it could actually happen that way. Plus, there's a baby named June Bug, which is just so adorable, but when you find out the reasons behind the name? I just can't even.

Sawyer and Evelyn's story is just lovely--sure, June Bug is the best behaved baby to ever exist, but I was willing to mostly overlook that tiny, slightly unrealistic detail, because their marriage of convenience story is just so full of all the emotions. Seriously. The reasons for why Evelyn decided to pack up and leave NYC for Four Corners Ranch, and the reasons why Sawyer is convinced that love is not ever something he'll experience are just...so much. I hovered on the edge of tears a whole lot while reading this, except at the end when resistance was futile. I can't wait to see them living their HEA in future books, and really can't wait to see Wolf, Hunter, and Elsie find their HEAs too!

And the novella at the end? Just so stinkin' cute. It's a Beauty and the Beast retelling, but the Beast has three half-feral children instead of an enchanted castle and Belle has to bring her own library with her. Set in the Four Corners Ranch universe, it had me smiling from start to finish--and fanning myself at times as well.

Rating: 4 stars / A-

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book

I enjoyed the first half of this book. I felt like the second half could have been written in a quarter of words. The plot was good along with the message.

Sawyer and Evelyn are the cutest couple together! And baby June the story of how she brings these two together is precious.

I love cowboy books and I am a huge fan of this author so ofcourse I had to read the book.

I’m glad I read this one because I just loved it so much that I went and bought a physical copy as soon as it came out.
I was hooked into this one.

Unbridled Cowboy by Maisey Yates

The storyline of ordering a mail order bride while not new, Ms Yates did a wonderful job with these stories that held my attention and I can recommend to others.


Sawyer Garrett is a stubborn cowboy who finds himself in need of a woman to help raise his infant daughter, when the mother of the infant leaves him and the baby behind to figure it out.

Evelyn Moore, who lives in New York where life was good until she found her love that she was planning on marrying on top of another woman, is seeking a change from that “good” life. That change comes when she clicks on “Oregon’s Largest Family Ranch Seeks Wife”, a dating website. After they exchange a few emails, and phone calls, off she goes to Oregon and her life nor Sawyers will be the same. I LOVED this story and the one that follows.

I absolutely loved the second story in this book called Once Upon A Cowboy. When Belle Langford leaves Seattle, Washington to go work in Pyrite Falls, Oregon as a nanny and housekeeper, hired by his mother in law Debbie, Adam Winchester is livid but now that Belle is here……whew what a great story. I fell in love with the kids and enjoyed the ride.

Maisey is a gifted storyteller who gives you enough in each story to keep you vested. The heat between characters, tension, plot and then ties it all up. Had me in tears at the end of both stories. If you enjoy romance books don’t miss this one. You wont regret spending time with these characters.

Rating 5
Linda C

Loved this story and how the couple came together! Such a fun story premise and made for some heartwarming scenes! I read this book in one sitting and really came to love the main characters. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series and hope for more fun twists to different stories and tropes.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Mary Jo – ☆☆☆☆
When worlds collide, you can either mend them together to create a whole new world or just try to subsist in each other's orbit.

Evelyn’s whole world imploded when she caught her fiancé and best friend – and partner in business – having sex in their office and feeling utterly betrayed when she finds out the third partner knew about affair. Evelyn's reaction to things she can't control or doesn't want to face is to walk away. Burn bridges and walk away.

Sawyer Garrett’s world has expanded in a way that he didn't expect. An unplanned pregnancy with a casual hook-up leaves him as a single dad who desperately needs a mom for his little girl. Believing that his family is cursed in the love arena, he plans on advertising for a wife/mom for his baby. He doesn't need love, he needs a mother for his child. If it's just business, she will have no reason to leave his little girl without a mother, right?

This is a complicated story full of emotional backstories of both Evelyn and Sawyer. Each has their own reasons for wanting to create a family and be a family for this little girl. Both Sawyer and Evelyn have to come to terms with their reasons for choosing the path they are on and what it means for their future.

There are a lot of moving pieces in this story and lots of characters, which can only mean lots more stories for the folks who make the Four Corners home.

I DNFed this at around the 50-60% point. The book was... fine. A little too monologue heavy, the characters thinking too much and not really talking to each other. Sometimes, it felt a little bit too women's fiction-y and I hate women's fiction.
The problem with it was that it was the same book Maisey Yates has been publishing for the past 3-4 years. She publishes a lot and a lot of her books seem to be the same (with slight, and I do mean slight, variations). As these books are being published, they are also getting more and more narration heavy, without the characters actually saying ou really doing anything. It's endless monologues inside their heads and they are getting more and more boring.

1.7 stars, rounded up to 2.

Maisey Yates is a master at western romances and her craft. I am in LOVE with this new series and cannot wait to read more from her!

I’m always here for a new Maisey book and it’s even better that it’s a start of a new series.

I really liked Evelyn and Sawyer. She’s content and he’s gruff and neither of them knew they needed something found in the other. I enjoyed the open communication (even if it was few and far in between) and the family dynamic.

Plot wise, it was okay. There’s loads and loads and loads of inner monologue as Evelyn and Sawyer think think and think some more. There’s a lot of history and hurt on both sides and it was interesting to a point. I thrive on dialogue and definitely needed more of that.

Overall, it was a great set up for a new series and I can’t wait to see who’s up next.

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

Thank you to NetGalley and HQN for this advanced review copy. All opinions are my own and are honestly given.

Rancher Sawyer Garrett needs a mother for his infant daughter; Evelyn Moore is looking for a soft place to land after her life implodes. What begins as a mail-order marriage of convenience quickly becomes more than either Sawyer or Evelyn imagined...

This was such a wonderful read. I had my doubts about whether a mail-order bride set-up would work in a modern story, but Yates totally pulled it off in one of my favorite CRs of the year. An engaging story, warm, compelling characters, two broken hearts learning to love and trust again-- this all came together beautifully. A great read for fans of Yates or Western romances, Unbridled Cowboy will definitely be a great fit for our digital collection. 5 stars.

Sawyer Garrett was an unrepentant player until he got a woman pregnant. The last thing he wanted to be was to be a father and to settle down. The last thing the mother wanted to do was to have a child, so she took off. Sawyer is a busy cowboy with a huge ranch and needs help with his baby daughter. He does something completely unconventional in this day and age - he lists an ad for a mail-order bride. Yes, a contemporary mail-order bride novel.

Readers of historical romance have no doubt come across this, or western romances from decades ago. But, in today’s world? How would this work? That is exactly what we find out in this absolutely fantastic book by Maisey Yates.

When Evelyn Moore replied to the ad, she was beside herself as to why she would make such a decision. She was just about to marry and discovered that she was being cheated on and has decided to start over again. So Evelyn leaves the big city of New York and ends up in Oregon and quickly falls in love with Sawyer‘s baby girl. In fact, she starts to develop feelings for Sawyer as well.

This book was touching on every single level. First of all, we learn about Sawyer and why he is the way he is and even the history of the small town where he lives. Then there is Evelyn and how her fiancé and best friend broke her heart, and the strong impact it has had on her life. With great primary protagonists as well as Sawyer’s siblings and friends, this book works in a remarkable way. I found this book to be absolutely convincing and could easily picture of myself in that town, with those characters, and watching the story unfold.

Unbridled Cowboy is the first book in the Four Corners Ranch trilogy. The next two books are Merry Christmas Cowboy and Cowboy Wild, set for release in October and February respectively.

Many thanks to HQN Books and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

Please also enjoy my YouTube video review - https://youtu.be/bNxjQOsCkC0

This is a Cowboy Romance, and this is the first book in the Four Corners Ranch series. Sawyer is a cowboy that is hard to really get to know, but he is a single new father that wants a mother for his little June Bug. Evelyn is a city girl that is trying to get over the fact her life is not what she thinks it should be right now. Evelyn answers Sawyer ad for a Wife and Mother for his little June Bug. I really loved getting to know the characters in this book, and Sawyer is so hard to really get to know. I think that Evelyn is everything Sawyer really needs. I love the romance and connection that the two main characters have. This book pulled me into this story super fast and I did not want to stop reading it. There are cute sweet moments, funny moments, and some very serious moments in this book which are so great. I cannot wait for the next book in this series. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Harlequin) or author (Maisey Yates) via NetGalley, so I can give an honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.

A magnificent story full of reflection, insightful introspection and the true meaning of love. Both Sawyer and Evelyn must face their pasts to have a chance at a loving marriage and future. It was refreshing to have the author reveal their personalities, layer by layer, as they shared events and experiences. It made for a richer relationship and a book of substance! I can't wait for the other books in the series.

I received an ARC from Net Galley and I am voluntarily submitting this review.

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Maisey Yates kicks off her brand-new series, Four Corners Ranch, with a sexy, sparkling and scintillating contemporary romance you will fall hook, line and sinker for: Unbridled Cowboy.

Sawyer Garrett likes being footloose and fancy-free. The handsome cowboy has got no intention of settling down and making a home of his own as the single life suits him just fine. However, when he becomes a single dad to tiny baby June, Sawyer realizes that he cannot keep avoiding responsibility. He needs to step up to the plate and give his adorable baby the best possible childhood, but he cannot do this on his own. Sawyer intends to find the perfect wife and mother the old-fashioned way – by putting out an ad for a mail-order bride!

Evelyn doesn’t know what possessed her to leave her city life behind to marry a stranger in Oregon! Having already escaped one near-disastrous marriage, Evelyn is going into this arrangement with Sawyer with her eyes open. This marriage is going to be purely about baby June – whom she is instantly smitten by. Feelings and emotions are not going to be a part of this arrangement, however, keeping Sawyer at arm’s length proves to be rather complicated as she is finding herself increasingly drawn to her husband!

When Sawyer had advertised for a mail-order bride, he never imagined that he would find himself falling for his convenient wife! Will he find the courage to admit to Evelyn that he’s crazy about her? Or is he about to lose the best thing that’s ever happened to him?

I love Maisey Yates’ books and her latest contemporary romance, Unbridled Cowboy, is a fabulously enjoyable tale I couldn’t stop myself from devouring. Written with all the wit, humor and sensuality which have become Maisey Yates’ trademarks, Unbridled Cowboy dazzles readers with a wonderful mix of red-hot passion, country charm, powerful emotion and sizzling intensity.

Fun, feel-good and wonderfully romantic, Unbridled Cowboy is another winner from Maisey Yates.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Unfortunately I didn't make it a third of the way in. The story was interesting but the constant ellipses made it difficult to read.

I love a good cowboy romance. it’s like a Hallmark movie in book form, which makes it even better. I haven’t heard of Maisey Yates before but this book was offered to me for a review and I was excited to check it out.

The story follows Evelyn as her world falls apart and Sawyer as he decides he needs a wife that can be a mother to his baby girl. Just a typical mail order bride story. Now I know the storyline is expected because what are they really going to do? Not have it end in a happily ever after? Doubtful, but it was still fun to read how they got there. I really liked Evelyn. She was a city girl, but also adapted well to her new surroundings. Her overall personality was relatable and a character I really enjoyed reading. Sawyer Garrett sounded like he was good looking and an overall good guy, but he was a bit too hard headed for my liking. It definitely made for a good read and Yates did a good job developing this character throughout. You really saw growth.

I have one complaint about this book and it’s the inner monologues. They were SO long. There would be a conversation happening between two characters, usually Sawyer and Evelyn, and between every spoken word there was a giant inner monologue that would last pages. Actual pages! I just felt it was excessive and the story would have flowed nicer if those monologues were shorter or there were less. Sometimes I forgot what the conversation as about because there was so much inner commentary between.

With that said the story was good and the characters were enjoyable. I loved the extended family and the work together vibes it gave off. I loved the family of all females and their ability to do everything the men could do. Girl power! I look forward to reading the rest in this series, as it says it’s only book one.

Unbridled Cowboy by Maisey Yates is book one in the Four Corners Ranch series. In her latest novel, Yates delivered a story about healing, forgiveness, love, and personal growth. 

What happens when your occasional sex partner becomes pregnant and saddles you with the baby? Place an advertisement in the newspaper seeking a wife and mother for the child. What do you do when you discover your fiancée cheating on you with your best-friend and business partner? Respond to the advertisement and abandon one’s life in the city and move to Oregon.

Unbridled Cowboy introduces unapologetic player Sawyer Bennett. Sawyer has no interest in a committed relationship and neither does he desire to be a father. However, when his casual hook-up got pregnant and wanted nothing to do with the baby, he chose to raise the child on his own. When the situation became overwhelming, he placed an advertisement in the newspaper seeking a willing female to be his wife and mother to his baby girl. 

Evelyn Moore is a successful businesswoman who was on the verge of marrying the love of her life, or so she thought. Then she discovered that the man she planned to spend the rest of her life with was cheating on her. Sawyer’s advertisement came at the opportune time as she sees it as her chance to start over. So she departs New York City and shows up in Oregon. Not only does she fall in love with her new life, she also fell for Sawyer and his baby girl.

 Unbridled Cowboy had many interesting elements. First, we have a man who, despite his reluctance to be in a committed relationship or being a father, willingly stepping up to take on his new responsibility. As the story progresses, Sawyer’s past is revealed and the circumstances from which his phobia for commitment arose came to light. Another interesting revelation within this story had to do with his reason for stepping up to his responsibility with no hesitation. The revelation will break your heart.

Evelyn didn’t have an easy life growing up, so her success in the business world meant a lot to her. It was her biggest accomplishment to date, along with her upcoming marriage to her fiancée. Then she lost it all in one fell swoop because of betrayal from persons whom she trusted. Her move to Oregon saw her gaining more that she lost. She gained a family and trusted friends. She discovered unconditional love and repaired the broken relationship with her mom.

I enjoyed interacting with the secondary characters, the most intriguing one being Sawyer’s brother, Wolf. I am so looking forward to his story. 

The pacing was off. I am not sure if it was me or if the pacing was naturally slow. It took me a while to get through the story. At the moment where it appeared to be picking up; it ended. It had me wondering where was the rest of the story. I didn’t buy into the romance. The physical attraction was present, but the emotional connection was non-existent. 

Samantha Cook narrated. I enjoyed listening to her female voices, but was not a fan of her male voices. Notwithstanding my dislike of her male voices, I found her narration befitting of the story.

Overall, a solid read, which has me curious about the next book.

Thank you to the publisher, Harper Collins, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of Unbridled Cowboy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

The Gist
This is the first book in the Mass Market Romance Summer Reads blog tour. And let me tell you right now, I’m not in a good mood.

My mood wasn’t great to begin with, but now having to deal with Unbridled Cowboy makes me want to mope into my bucket of ice cream and god help the person who tries to talk to me.

I shall explain my rotten mood below.

The Details
It all began with the very first sentence in this story: “It can’t be helped. I need a wife.”

My head almost exploded. No, fictional person, you do not need a wife. You are looking for a maid, cheap labour to help you deal with a mistake you willingly and knowingly made.

You know, years ago I wrote an essay on how women back in the 1800’s were nothing more than cash cows, cheap labour. I argued that wives were treated as unpaid labour around the house/farm under the pretext of it being their wifely duties to pretty much wipe their husbands’ butts.

Fast forward to 2022 and I get to read a new story that begins with “I need a wife”. Yeah, my hackles were raised and I became super defensive.

I really don’t care, if the core message of this story was the “love heals all wounds/love conquers all” cliche. It’s a bad way to start a modern story. Period.

On top of that, the reader has to deal with some atrocious storytelling that is all over the place. It almost reads like stream of consciousness writing, but really badly done.

Thoughts and topics jump all over the place and it’s difficult to follow the narrative.

The writing is pretty mediocre. Run-on sentences galore and just a general lack of effort.

The Verdict
Overall, it’s a big no-no from me.

I mean, if you are looking for a romance story to give you the warm and fuzzy feelings, try anything by Debbie Macomber.

An incredibly moving story about the power of love. This book was so much more than her books usually are. It has so much depth to it. I really loved watching Sawyer and Evelyn discover love.

I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley. This is my honest review.