A Cowboy’s Fourth of July

by Melinda Curtis

I enjoy Harlequin Heartwarming books, and I favor books by Melinda Curtis. The Cowboy Academy series combines what I like in A Cowboy’s Fourth of July. In the prologue, the reader gets a peek at Allison Burns, a talented singing cowgirl, and Dixon Youngblood (Dix), her math tutor guarding a heavy crush on her, in high school. The rest of the novel focuses on them as adults, however. Allison is a single mom trying to manage a ranch floundering in debt, and Dixon has returned to his roots in Clementine, Oklahoma, working with his grandmother as a banker. Both characters have trust issues and long for the love found in a stable family. Most of the characters in this book have cowboy/rodeo connections and values rooted in family and the land. Dix, however, was abandoned by his parents and then his grandparents. He was taken in by a loving ranch couple who fostered lots of boys who chose to call them “mom and dad.” The ranch was their home, and they became brothers with all the teasing and support that comes with that relationship.

In his banking job, Dix has to work with people who are under water financially. They fear him because, despite his cowboying abilities, he dresses like a city slicker and has the power to foreclose on their loans. Allison inherited many loans when her parents died and doesn’t have the financial skills to get herself out of debt. Besides the obvious challenges of running a ranch and raising a child, Allison feels pressure to win out over “Pilates Queen” Evie in the yearly fair baking competitions continuing the Graces versus Burns feud, another family inheritance of sorts.

Dix has always been attracted to Allison and steps up as her fake boyfriend to help her in a difficult social situation. As might be expected in a Harlequin Heartwarming romance, sparks fly even as the two work on their own issues. Dix helps Allison discover why she is so far in debt and inspires her to recall the joy she once found in music. Throw into this plot Dix’s uncaring parents and sick grandmother, and Allison’s daughter’s self-obsessed baby daddy. The result is a fun romance with 4th of July fireworks.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Rating: 4/5

Category: Romance

Notes: 1. Allison’s daughter is Piper. She is 10 years old and enthusiastic about so many interests, especially as they relate to being “the best cowgirl ever.” Allison has never told her anything about her father and that comes to a head in this book when he appears in Clementine to sing. He is also unaware he has a child. Piper is a fun character, sweet but manipulative.
2. #2 in The Cowboy Academy series, but works well as a standalone because each book focuses on a different cowboy. There are four books so far in this series.

Publication: July 25, 2023—Harlequin Heartwarming

Memorable Lines:

“Even if you opened branches of the Clementine Savings & Loan across the state of Oklahoma, your mother would still look at you and see the boy she failed because she had to give you up. And until she can look at you without that filter, your relationship with your reals is going to be strained.”

“At some point, Dix, you’re going to have to make choices about your life based on what makes you happy, not what might mend that dysfunctional family of yours….Maybe then, you’d look around and find yourself a good woman, one who understands you’re always going to be watching for signs she’s leaving you to find a happier place in the world, because that’s what most fosters do.”

“If you wait until she’s worked through her issues and you’ve worked through yours, you might just be waiting forever…instead of finding your forever.”

A Cowboys Fourth of July was such a feel good romance. I just felt happy reading this one. The characters interesting and well developed. You were rooting for them the entire time! The declaration of love left me with the biggest grin on my face.

Here are some of my favorite lines...

"I was happy. I have been happy. But I wasn't joyous. You gave that to me."

"Your love fills me up in all my hurt and empty places."

Looking art Alison gave him the feeling of home.

"How long do you need me?" He hoped forever.

If you like: Small Towns, Hallmark Movies, Second Chance Romance, Fake Dating and Cowboys- you will love this book!

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a Clean Cowboy Romance, and this is the second book in the Cowboy Academy series. I enjoyed this book and getting to know the characters in this book, but I found parts of this book to be cheesy and move slowly. I loved the crazy family parts that were in this book, but I wish Dix let Allison know why he was doing some of the things he did. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Harlequin Heartwarming) or author (Melinda Curtis) 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.

This is a very sweet story about two very lost people finding their happy ever after. Set in small town Oklahoma, the city of Clementine is as much of a main character as Dix and Allison. This is a very heart warming book. Allison and Dix were friends in high school, but their paths diverged from there. She got pregnant and he followed a career path. They find each other just when they are both at crossroads.

Dix and Allison are well written and I love the addition of the secondary characters. They help bring the town to life. The leads struggle on their path to one and other. There iks just enough emotion al angst, humor, and joy to make this story a delight to read.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin for this ARC.

He's looking for a forever family...

Dix skipped two grades, was small for his age and crushing on Allison when they were teenagers. He was passed around as a child, since his parents had him when they were teenagers. Dix needs security and stability. Now, ten years later, he's back and working at the family bank and he's not playing well with the community. That includes Allison, now a single mother, juggling the ranch, a ten year old daughter and a very competiive baking competition.

Unfortunately, Dix is there to either foreclose on Allison's ranch or sort out the mess that is her finances. I did like that Allison put him to work.
Sweet/clean read.

I was provided an arc e-copy by the publisher Harlequin Heartwarming by
Melinda Curtis for a
honest review.

I enjoyed reading A Cowboy's Fourth of July in fact l read on the Fourth in one sitting. I love reading about second chances it was a cute read.

4 star read 🌟🌟🌟🌟


Happy Reading
Lisa 📚

I love second chance romance stories, and A Cowboy’s Fourth of July was a great one. Melinda Curtis always does a wonderful job with the emotion in her stories, and you can truly feel what these characters are going through. If you love sweet, clean romance stories, then I would definitely recommend giving this book a chance.

A sweet story of second chances. Small town girl gets pregnant at 18, never disclosing the father of her child. Flash ahead 10 years and her HS tutor, is back in their small town to help care for his grandma and work at the family bank. He's visiting ranches that are in arrears and facing foreclosure, hers included.

As they work together over the books, past feelings rise but can he act on them with a client? Then a former musician returns to perform at the local watering place and county fair. He figures out he's got a daughter and they all work on figuring out how their lives can coexist.

Although I received ARC eBook from Net Galley and the publisher, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

I throughly enjoyed this well written romance. A good plot with
great character development. I definitely recommend this book.My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my book. This is my unbiased review.