A. J. Pine

Childhood sweethearts have their second chance in love in this small-town romance book by acclaimed author A. J. Pine. After a tragedy broke the couple apart, they tried to start anew even while living at their small town. As the hero takes a step towards this new life, he realized that he wants the heroine to be in his life. And thus starts the second chance for love between the hero and heroine.

This is a great start to The Murphys of Meadow Valley series. There are secondary characters that appear from other series to make this book enjoyable. The couple faced their own personal issues, especially the hero. This book highlights how mental health is critical to one's overall wellbeing. Thus, I liked the hero a bit more than the heroine for his growth in this book. It's also nice to have support from others, so I enjoyed reading about the group surrounding the couple. Overall, it's an enjoyable book and I look forward to future additions to the series.

**Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy. All opinions and thoughts in the review are my own.**… (mere)

Rating: ★★★★✬ (4.5/5 Stars)
Title: Hard Loving Cowboy
Author(s): A.J Pine
Character(s):
― Violet Chastain: 25 years old, Brunette, Brown Eyed
― Walker Everett: 25 years old, Blonde, Blue Eyed
Setting: San Luis Obispo County, California
Tag(s): Romance, Contemporary
Content Rating: R
POV: Third Person
Smexy Level: Hot
Favorite Quote(s):
― “I’m an everything man. And you, Violet, have everything.”
―“I’m not the kind of guy who lets himself want things. Probably because there’s not a whole lot I deserve. But I want you, Violet. I want you like fire wants oxygen.”
― “Any other place, at any other time, Teach, and I’d have broken every goddamn rule for you.”
― “That whether it’s Oak Bluff, Santa Barbara, or Paris, you’re home to me.”
Overall Opinion:
A.J Pine "Hard Loving Cowboy" was a wholesome, heartwarming tale about opposites-attract that started off with a kiss. There was just something unique about this series that made it impossible not to finish it in one sitting. The way the author was able to mesh the characters together and not rush their bubbling relationship and pending romance won me over, and it was towards the end when they admitted their feelings for each other. I immediately loved the lead characters Walker and Violet. One hand you have a recovering alcoholic and another, the smart wine expert that dropped everything to help her aiding mother. Overall, a delightful read that left me wanting more.

… (mere)

Small town charm with a cowboy? Sign me up. I was intrigued by this blurb and the author came highly recommended, so I decided to give it a try. I have not previously read this author or the first book, and I did not feel lost. So, it can most assuredly be read as a standalone.

I enjoyed the small-town feel as it gave me a sense of reconnecting with my roots. These days, I seem to be grappling with being homesick. This could be because of current times. It is for that reason that I feel like this would be a good book for anyone feeling the same way during these uncertain times. I did at times have a hard time connecting with Charlotte as she felt a little too formal for me. Ben, also had his moments, but I empathized with him considering what he had been dealing with.

I can see why this author is a favorite as she does have a nice writing style. I would have liked to connect more with the characters than I did but it still was a great book.… (mere)