A trio of small town western novellas by three favorites of the genre.

Diana Palmer takes us back to Benton, Colorado in The Hawk’s Shadow
Sheriffs inspector Gil Barnes calls the state crime lab for help when human remains are found by a crew repairing a water leak. Forensic archeologist Namera Landreth is shy and introverted and reacts to new and unfamiliar situations with snark and sarcasm. Gil is willing to dish it right back. But working close with Namera, he grows to appreciate and respect her professional abilities. More surprising, though, is just how much they have in common.

Rebecca Zanetti returns to Redemption in Rescue: Rancher Style
When Greg Simpson left for the Marines he never planned to return. In leaving he broke the heart of his first love, Tara. Now he’s back, the guardian to his deceased brother’s teen age children. Only, he doesn’t know anything about being a father. When his niece finds herself in some serious trouble Greg turns to Tara for help. But in saving Greg’s niece, Tara puts herself in danger. And Greg will do anything to save her.

Delores Fossen takes us to Loveland, Texas in A Cowboy Kind of Romance.
Brenna and Theo were inseparable high school sweethearts. But when school was over, the romance ended and they went their separate ways. Now that both are back, the whole town has plans to get them back together.

I like a collection of Novella’s that offers the chance to read the whole story in a short sitting. I enjoyed the collection, but my favorite was the story written by Rebecca Zanetti. Since the first Redemption story appeared in the Lone Wolf anthology (also with Diana Palmer) and haven’t been able to get enough of them. This was the longest story in the collection and had the most substance to the story. The story is easy to follow, even if you aren’t familiar with the previous two Redemption stories. I recommend this collection on the basis of this story alone. But the other two have the heart and warmth that is expected in the stories of Diana Palmer and Delores Fossen.

Individual star ratings are listed for each book.

In The Hawk’s Shadow by Diana Palmer: When bones are uncovered under the town water pipes. Deputy Gil Barnes must work with Nemara Landrith, a forensic anthropologist. They clash at their very first meeting, but will they find a shared interest, beyond forensic science? – 1 star:
In Rescue: Rancher Style by Rebecca Zanetti: Greg Simpson has left the military and returned to town after the death of his brother Chris. He and Chris were co-owners of the ranch and his three children will need Greg’s support. When there is a chance that he might lose custody of his niece and nephews along with the ranch, Greg needs help. His ex-girlfriend Tara Webber has agreed to testify on his behalf and when the judge has concerns, Greg’s teenage niece announces that he and Tara are planning to marry. When his family is threatened, Greg, the former military man protects those that he loves. I enjoyed everything about this story with characters from the previous books Rescue Hero Style in Peril and Rescue Cowboy Style in Lone Wolf. – 5 stars:
In A Cowboy Kind of Romance by Delores Fossen: Captain Brenna Sullivan, an eight-year veteran Air Force police officer is returning to civilian life. She had joined the military after her boyfriend, Theo Cameron, had left for the rodeo circuit. She has a job offer with the local police department in Loveland, Texas, but she soon learns that her family has other plans for her that involve Theo. The town has begun the “L Word Campaign” for tourists and it appears that reuniting with her ex is part of their campaign. Is there a second chance for Brenna and Theo? – 4 stars. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (paytonpuppy)

I grabbed this anthology for Zanetti’s Redemption story and stayed for cowboys. He’s My Cowboy delivers three-standalone novellas that are perfect for a rainy afternoon. Grab an iced coffee and check it out….

THE HAWK’S SHADOW by Diana Palmer. – This was a sweet romance surrounding a cold case that will remind you that someone out there is the perfect partner just for you. I enjoyed this although I solved the case almost immediately. The romance was sweet from the unusual pets to the shared meals. 3 cups

RESCUE: RANCHER STYLE by Rebecca Zanetti.(Redemption Wyoming Novella #3) – I loved heading back to Redemption. This standalone delivers a second chance romance with plenty of twists. Greg, a Marine, has returned to take over his family’s ranch and raise his brother’s three teenagers. Tara’s first love was Greg, now widowed and working at the children’s school. She steps in as a character witness in a custody battle and things take an unexpected turn. I devoured this in a single sitting and loved it despite some alpha moments from our hero. 4.5 cups

A COWBOY KIND OF ROMANCE by Delores Fossen. – This was my first time reading Fossen, but it won’t be my last. This sexy, sweet, meddlesome small-town second chance romance had me wanting to spend time in Loveland, Texas. The chemistry was off the charts. I loved all the family and town meddling as they tried to reunite an injured bull rider and retired Air Force officer. 4 cups

Anthologies are perfect for discovering new authors and enjoying short stories from authors you love. As an added bonus- you can finish a romance without staying up past your bedtime. *winks*

Quite a diverse collection of cowboy romances

This collection of three short romance stories is really hit or miss for me. I'm a huge fan of Rebecca Zanetti and Delores Fossen, but I can't say the same for the other author. I received an ARC for an honest review, so here goes.

The first story is "The Hawk's Shadow" by Diana Palmer. A more juvenile writing attempt I haven't read in many, many years. The only connection to the title in the story is when the FMC meets the MMC she decides he has a "hawkish shadow look." Yep, not making that up. This gal is certifiably TSTL, though she's brought into the murder case as a forensic archaeologist. She's inexplicably rude, which makes her instantly unlikable to everyone, including the reader. Broad strokes and over-the-top characterizations are used to tell us that the main characters are "enemies" who suddenly find themselves in love whilst working together to solve a murder. A murder which was solved by me, without even trying, at the first introduction to the murder scene. I rolled my eyes so hard throughout this story, I had to put the book down a few times to go find where they'd rolled off to. Enough said.

The second story is "Rescue: Rancher Style" by Rebecca Zanetti. Tara and Greg were high school sweethearts who are now, more than a decade later, getting a second chance at happiness. Greg needs to keep custody of his late brother's three children, so he asks local schoolteacher Tara to join him at the hearing as a character witness as well as someone who knows the children. This leads to a surprise twist that forces them both to deal with their ever-present mutual attraction while also figuring out how to help the teenage children cope with their father's death. This was a very satisfying story with well-written characters and just enough tension to make the HEA feel truly triumphant.

The last story is "A Cowboy Kind of Romance" by Delores Fossen. Here we see Brenna and Theo, who are being set up together by seemingly the entire town, certainly both their families, at the occasion of the wedding of her sister to his brother. Seems like the only way to get everyone to stop matchmaking them is to let them all think they've succeeded. Because, of course, they did. It's more lighthearted than the usual suspense stories I've read from this author but it's still a delightful story with charming characters and a wonderful HEA.

If you're a fan of any of these authors, you won't be disappointed by this collection. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

These short stories will capture your heart. You will love each of the strong willed ladies and the stubborn men. It might take them some time to figure out everything and they might get some help along the way but they all have a great ending! These three authors are amazing and I loved each cowboy story.

This is a collection of three novellas about romance Cowboy style. Short and fun, a great summer camping or beach read. Low angst and sweet stories. They all have former military main characters, and two also have a touch of suspense. I've enjoyed them - great beach reads!

The Hawks Shadow by Diana Palmer: 2-Stars
When remains are discovered Undersheriff Gil Barnes hopes to put his forensic training to work but ends up with a prickly forensic archaeologist, Nemara Landreth, as his partner. Not much mystery as to who done it, but it was fun watching the sparks fly between Gil and Nemara. I was very disappointed by this offering. I expected much better from Diana Palmer. I didn't care for these two characters. Each had some odd attributes and although they were a good match, they behaved like high schoolers when it came to communication.

Rescue: Rancher Style by Rebecca Zanetti: 5+++Stars
I love it! This novella is the whole reason I'm reading this book. I was intrigued by the Cattle Club men and the mystery surrounding their move the Redemption. Unfortunate this story is just one piece of their puzzle. It's not really about them at all. It's about the second chance romance of Greg Simson and Tara Webber. Greg is a Marine who left the service when his brother died leaving a ranch, three orphans and a nasty piece of work as his widow. Greg will do whatever needs to be done to help the kids heal and keep the ranch whole. Even marry Tara, who broke his heart years ago.

A Cowboy Kind of Romance by Delores Fossen: 2-Stars
"I'm sorry for breaking your heart and I don't want to cause you any regrets." That's this novella in one sentence which is repeated frequently throughout. Theo left Brenna to rodeo. He had success but blew out his knee ending his career. Brenna joined the Air Force and became military police. She is back home in Loveland, TX and everyone wants to see them back together. Matchmaking gone amuck.

My thanks to the Publisher and Author for providing a complimentary digital Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this novel via NetGalley. This is my fair, honest and personal review. All opinions are mine alone and were not biased in any way.

I thought all three of the novellas were really good, and I don't think I could pick a favorite! Overall, I would recommend!

I received an e-ARC from the publisher.

"He's My Cowboy" is an anthology with three novellas written by different authors: Diana Palmer, Rebecca Zanetti and Delores Fossen. They're all small-town romance.
I enjoyed my time reading them in a few hours. One novella leads to another as cherries.



THE HAWK'S SHADOWS by Diana Palmer:

Gil needs to prove himself in his new role as sheriff's investigator. That means working alongside a hotshot expert from the state crime lab who's come to Colorado to help untangle a long-ago mystery. But if they stop butting heads, they might discover a surprising connection.

I love Ms Palmer writing, is smooth, easy to read and her characters are really enjoyable. The mystery is about a cold case of murder, in a small town where everyone knows everything, and the maximum level of crime are tickets for driving too fast. Gil is the deputy, the sheriff's right arm and new investigator, he needs help with the case, but his first meeting with Nemara, FBI special agent, goes all wrong: they can't stand each other. Sometimes first impressions can change, when you have common ground on something and Gil and Nemara have that. At first I also didn't think so well of Nemara, my bad. But when you start to know her, you discover she wear a mask because she is shy and sometimes a little awkward with people, she's special and gifted. The plot is good, intriguing and I loved a lot the characters.

Rating: 4 STARS



RESCUE RANCHER STYLE by Rebecca Zanetti

Leaving the Marines and returning to Redemption as heir to the family ranch - and guardian to three wayward teenagers - Greg is in way over his head. But he's learned some deadly lessons since leaving the first love behind. And when she's in danger, nothing will stop him from saving her.

It's no secret my love for Rebecca Zanetti's stories, she's one of my favorite authors.

Greg is the kind of hero I love, strong-willed and protective. For him it's tough to raise his nephews, but he gives his everything to try to make things good for them, keep them together as a family. It's not easy for him, but he doesn't want things any other way.

Fate gives him a hand with his ex girlfriend. The grew apart before, lived their life and they have baggage but they find out that together they're really good. As Always Ms Zanetti characters are great and her stories amazing.

RATING: 5 STARS



A COWBOY KIND OF ROMANCE by Delores Fossen

After eight years in the Air Force, Brenna's hanging up her uniform and retiring home to Silver Sage, Texas. News of her parent's divorce has shaken her faith in love, even if the whole town is eager to match make between Brenna and her high -school flame. But never underestimate cowboy's powers of persuasion.

This novella is also a second chance and small-town romance, I didn't know the author, but I think the story is nice, easy to read and it was fun see Brenna's hometown playing Cupid with her.

Rating: 3.5 STARS

Thanks to Netgalley and Kensington Books for the kind preview.

Three cowboys...

In this novella collection. Three well know western authors and their three cowboy novellas. A nice cowboy collection. One even mentions Ten Things I Hate About You.
Recommend.

I only enjoyed one of the stories. That was the second one. The other two did not hold my interest. I usually enjoy short stories.

He's My Cowboy is a trio of unrelated (except for the western theme) novellas by Diana Palmer, Rebecca Zanetti and Delores Fossen, some of which I liked more than others.

Diana Palmer's entry is The Hawk's Shadow, thankfully it's not set in Jacobsville, Texas, and I liked it far better than I have some of her more recent novels. The focus in this story is Undersheriff Gil Barnes--who has recently become the new sheriff’s investigator, and, thanks to a water main break, he's about to get his first case on an old murder, nothing much left but a skeleton, thanks to the years it was buried underground. Gil knows that he'll need the assistance of a forensic anthropologist, and then the rather prickly and straight-laced Nemara shows up--frankly, her co-workers can't wait to see her go, and Gil is none too thrilled with her either. However, as the investigation continues, they discover they have much in common, including a love of large snakes as pets. What are the chances? A mystery and a rather odd and quirky romance in one short novel.

Rebecca Zanetti's entry, Rescue: Rancher Style is a second chance, fake marriage romance between Greg and Tara. High school sweethearts, Tara's heart was broken when Greg proposed after graduation then left for a year to join the Marines, when he came back a year later, he was a different man, and he ended their relationship, breaking her heart yet again. Tara became an English teacher and while in college met Brian, and even when Greg called to apologize and say he'd made a mistake, Tara learned that Brian had cancer and was dying, and so she married him. But the heart of this story is that after Greg's brother died, he was left with half the ranch and his brother's 2 teenage sons and 1 teenage daughter to raise, and just when you think it will be smooth sailing, they are up against the wall when Greg's brother's second wife decides to sue for custody. Plenty of twists and turns in this story and it was my favorite of the three in this anthology.

Delores Fossen's entry is A Cowboy Kind of Romance in which Air Force Captain Brenna O'Sullivan leaves the military and returns to her home town, and her return is full of surprises, including the fact that her high scool sweetheart and first love, Theo, who left her behind when he decided to become a professional bull rider, is now back in town after a career-ending toss off the back of a rank bull. Brenna's sister is about to get married and it seems that she and Theo are repeatedly thrown together as the wedding plans get more and more complicated, there's more family drama as well, and there's quite a bit of sizzle as this second chance romance reaches its HEA ending.

All in all, three rather enjoyable reads, no triggers to warn against, and three HEA ending.

I voluntarily read and advance reader copy of this anthology. The opinions stated are my own.

I enjoyed reading these novellas written by three of my favourite romance authors. Each features a couple that have a soul-deep connection, whether they try to deny it or not. For two of the couples it is a second chance at love now that years have passed and they have matured, but have never forgotten their first love.

The Hawk’s Shadow, is a rather sweet romance with some intriguing suspense. Gil and Nemara are at a stand off when they meet. Tension and conflict sit between them as each jostle for control of the situation and to show the other their skills. They soon sort things out and discovery they work well together. Further interaction reveals they have a great deal in common, even the taste for unusual pets. They actually feel a connection to each other, something that neither has felt before. But fears and old doubts surface to make the way forward a tad bumpy and uncertain for these two fascinating characters so deserving of a happily ever after.

Rescue: Rancher Style is a second chance at love romance with a little danger and conflict added for interest. Greg and Tara were once engaged until he broke things off between them. Now years later, he is a former Marine who is back on the family ranch and guardian for his orphaned teenage nephews and niece. A custody battle leads to Greg asking Tara, now widowed and a high school teacher, for help. Chaos in court somehow leads to Greg and Tara in a marriage of convenience in order to keep custody of the kids. Close proximity brings up all those old feelings, sparks soon turn into a blaze and both Greg and Tara begin to want more than a temporary marriage. Too bad they are stubborn and terrible at communicating their feelings and what they want with each other. The teenagers’ troubles certainly don’t make their situation any easier, bringing both friction and danger to them all.

A Cowboy Kind Of Romance is an another second chance at love romance with a great deal of behind the scenes matchmaking. Theo and Brenna were teenage sweethearts until he broke her heart. He want on to be a professional bull rider and she became a military cop. Now both are retired and back home in their small town where their relatives are trying to get them back together and using them as part of a campaign to bring couples in live to their town, Loveland.

I received an ARC of this anthology via NetGalley and I am voluntarily leaving this honest review.

This is a wonderful trio of cowboy romances. They are filled with great characters and each has its own mystery to solve. The spice is low with the exception of Ms. Fossen's A Cowboy Kind of Romance. She really lets it shine without being highly explicit. I loved being back in Redemption in Zanetti's Rescue: Rancher Style and look forward to future books in this world. While these are all novella length, none of them left me feeling short changed. This makes for a perfect summer read.

3.5 Stars. I struggle with anthologies and the story feeling rushed. These were all quick reads and it is nice to be able to see different authors writing styles. Here are my ratings by story:

Diana's story: 3 stars. There was a lot going on in here and I think it would have done better as a full-length novel. It would have allowed for more character development and not having the couple fall in love in what seems like a week.

Rebecca's story: 4 stars. By far my favorite of the three stories. I think that the couple having a previous relationship helped this story not feel so much like instant love, which is one thing I don't enjoy about anthologies.

Delores' story: 3.5 stars. While this story also had a couple that was previously in a relationship, I didn't like how easily Brenna just accepted her family's match making efforts.

I received this book from Kensington on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

He’s My Cowboy, anthology by Diana Palmer, Rebecca Zanetti and Delores Fossen
Contemporary romance. Cowboy country in Colorado, Wyoming and Texas. Slight paranormal edge to the Palmer story. Second chance troupe for the Zanetti and Fossen stories. Ex-military in all three stories.

The Hawk’s Shadow By Diana Palmer
Nemara is called to investigate a skeleton found in the small town of Benton, Colorado. She’s a forensic anthropologist that Gil’s called in, knowing he doesn’t have the expertise needed to clear the scene. While initially seeming antagonistic, Gil soon realizes there is more to Nemara than he expected when she observes details that he totally overlooked. The two investigate the twelve year old crime and while they talk with various people that remember the man, they also find they have a lot in common with each other.

A match is made in the the most unexpected places. Sweet and geeky.

Rescue: Rancher Style by Rebecca Zanetti
Greg leaves the military and returns to the family ranch to take care of his brother’s children. Tara, his former girlfriend and local schoolteacher is asked to be a character witness at a custody case. Tara gets pulled into the family as Greg tries to support the children while they get over their grief and figure out their way forward.

From the Redemption, Wyoming series, wild wolf Harley laughs after he’s made Tara drive off the rode and into a local marsh. From there, it’s family drama and rebellion. Greg really needs to work on his communication skills. The silent cowboy thing and “my word is law” is not working for anyone!

A Cowboy Kind of Romance by Delores Fossen
Brenna leaves the military to return home for a job as deputy. Her homecoming reception is filled with surprises, the biggest is that the families want her to get back together with Theo from their high school days. Theo is also back in town to to stay after a successful rodeo career and he’s still feeling the heat of Brenna though he knows he hurt her when he left town back then. Everyone is matchmaking and Brenna and Theo are having a hard time ignoring it all.

Sparks cannot be denied in this second chance romance between a cowboy and soon-to-be deputy.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley.

He’s My Cowboy is a novella collection or romances or romantic suspense.
The Hawk’s Shadow by Diana Palmer features Gil, a sheriff’s deputy in Benton Colorado. I have enjoyed all of the stories set in Benton. The author has introduced a new sort of hero that is a bit awkward around women and generally kinder than most the male MC from the 80s and 90s. Gil and Nemara get off on the wrong foot but soon find they have a number of things in common. They are investigating a cold case.
I’m not sure where the name for the story comes from because a hawk doesn’t seem to come up anywhere.
Rescue: Ranger Style by Rebecca Zanetti features Greg and Tara. This is a second chance love that Greg may sabotage by his hard line stance. There are three hurting kids that Greg is taking custody of. I like this town and the characters who have shown up in two novellas. I hope that when there are more stories they will be put together in one collection, so the reader can easily revisit these great stories.
A Cowboy Kind of Romance by Delores Fossen. Brenna returns home from the military to several pieces of disturbing news delivered by her former lover Theo. There is a lot of protesting the matchmaking attempts before the couple gets back together. It was honestly my least favorite of the three novellas.
Thanks to Netgalley and Zebra Books for the chance to read an ARC galley. I would recommend the first two novellas.

The Hawk’s Shadow- Diana Palmer
When skeletal remains are uncovered, Benton Deputy Investigator Gil calls in help from the state lab. Nemara is different and difficult to work with but extremely smart. Unfortunately it was not difficult to figure out who the murder was almost from the beginning. I was not impressed with the characters either. They had no depth. Not one of my favorite stories, but it was ok.

Rancher Style - Rebecca Zanetti
When Greg comes home from the military to take care of his niece and nephew after his brother’s death, he finds he needs help. Tara, his first love, steps in and sparks fly. I love Zanetti’s work, but again, not one of my favorites. I really wanted to knock Greg upside the head a few times. His “I know best” attitude and never listening to advice really irked me. Again, the story was ok.

A Cowboy Kind of Romance - Delores Fossen
Breanna retires from the military and comes home to family drama and secrets. It is left to Theo, her first love, to tell her. While these two are adults, the characters seemed a bit childish.

You will enjoy three short stories by either beloved or new-to-you authors. All are about cowboys finding their significant others, but otherwise are not related. I really liked two of the three. You will probably like all three or different ones from my favorites. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.

Three stories by the authors. I'm a great fan of all three.
Diana Palmer story Gil is a new investigator and when a body is found he needs help from Denver, and they send an agent that strikes sparks with him. After they realize they have a lot in common and take to solving the cold case murder.
Rebecca Zanetti story of Greg has returned to town to take over raising his 2 nephews and niece. His high school sweetheart still lives in town and is a teacher at the high school now. His niece is keeping company with a senior who spells trouble, and his brothers 2nd wife is asking for custody of the kids. Great story line.
Delores Fossen story is of Brenna returning home after leaving military service. He high school boyfriend has returned to town after his last injury in the rodeo. The family are trying to get them back together again.

Rebecca Zanetti wrote my favorite story in this book. I really like this ongoing series she has. An interesting small town, with lots of good characters and plenty of adventure. I'm looking forward to the next book!