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Code of the West #11
A Cowboy's Secret
Montana cowboy J.D. Holt has more secrets than any man needs—and he’s not sharing a single one with bright and brainy Lydia Cochrane. He’s a hard-edged, down-to-earth cowboy, and she’s the smartest woman in the state. They have nothing in common—until Lydia buys his ranch!
Lydia has loved J.D. for as long as she can remember, but he barely knows she’s alive—that is, until she becomes his boss! Who cares if she isn’t a rancher? Lydia has never been afraid to learn, and surely J.D. can teach her the ropes. There’s a lot he could teach her if he’d ever look her way.
J.D. knows Lydia isn’t for him, and he definitely isn’t for her. But the longer he’s around her, the more she makes him want things he’s never wanted before—a home, a family, and mostly Lydia herself. J.D. knows he has too many secrets for this to work. But what if some secrets were meant to be shared?
Lydia has loved J.D. for as long as she can remember, but he barely knows she’s alive—that is, until she becomes his boss! Who cares if she isn’t a rancher? Lydia has never been afraid to learn, and surely J.D. can teach her the ropes. There’s a lot he could teach her if he’d ever look her way.
J.D. knows Lydia isn’t for him, and he definitely isn’t for her. But the longer he’s around her, the more she makes him want things he’s never wanted before—a home, a family, and mostly Lydia herself. J.D. knows he has too many secrets for this to work. But what if some secrets were meant to be shared?
192 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2000
24 people are currently reading
63 people want to read
About the author
Anne McAllister
341 books124 followersAnne McAllister has written nearly 70 romance novels for Tule Publishing and Harlequin Books.
She has won two RITA awards from the Romance Writers of America — for COWBOY PRIDE and THE STARDUST COWBOY — and has had nine other books which were RITA finalists.
Her books have also been finalists for the National Readers’ Choice Award. She was named Midwest Fiction Writers “Writer of the Year” and also received Romantic Times’ Career Achievement Award as “Series Author of the Year.”
But while the awards and sales are wonderful, Anne thinks the best part of writing is telling the story. With every new book she writes, she meets new characters – or gets to know old ones even better – and discovers what makes them and their relationships tick.
It’s the relationships that interest her most and the question about “where do you get your ideas?” has always astonished her as she has more ideas than she knows what to do with!
She has won two RITA awards from the Romance Writers of America — for COWBOY PRIDE and THE STARDUST COWBOY — and has had nine other books which were RITA finalists.
Her books have also been finalists for the National Readers’ Choice Award. She was named Midwest Fiction Writers “Writer of the Year” and also received Romantic Times’ Career Achievement Award as “Series Author of the Year.”
But while the awards and sales are wonderful, Anne thinks the best part of writing is telling the story. With every new book she writes, she meets new characters – or gets to know old ones even better – and discovers what makes them and their relationships tick.
It’s the relationships that interest her most and the question about “where do you get your ideas?” has always astonished her as she has more ideas than she knows what to do with!
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
December 27, 2019
JD is an honorable and lovely cowboy with a disability who tries his best to stay clear from the tempting lawyer Lydia
Wonderful story! Lydia is the daughter of the local banker and is one of the town’s most respected lawyers.
Since girlhood, Lydia has a crush on JD, the rebel cowboy that hated school and was always fighting. She also had a secret wish of owning a ranch, preferably one that looked just like the one JD was raised at.
As a decade passes and the opportunity to own JD’s former ranch shows up, Lydia embraces it. The problem is JD thought he was going to be the one acquiring the ranch.
He is so upset with the former owner (and his current boss, Trey) that he ends up doing something stupid and is forced by the local judge to stay at the ranch and fix up what he broke.
This brings him close to Lydia and he is surprised to see that, in spite of their different backgrounds, they get along so well together.
The problem is JD has a disability that he believes is an obstacle to a real relationship with Lydia.
Very beautiful and emotional. Love it!
Wonderful story! Lydia is the daughter of the local banker and is one of the town’s most respected lawyers.
Since girlhood, Lydia has a crush on JD, the rebel cowboy that hated school and was always fighting. She also had a secret wish of owning a ranch, preferably one that looked just like the one JD was raised at.
As a decade passes and the opportunity to own JD’s former ranch shows up, Lydia embraces it. The problem is JD thought he was going to be the one acquiring the ranch.
He is so upset with the former owner (and his current boss, Trey) that he ends up doing something stupid and is forced by the local judge to stay at the ranch and fix up what he broke.
This brings him close to Lydia and he is surprised to see that, in spite of their different backgrounds, they get along so well together.
The problem is JD has a disability that he believes is an obstacle to a real relationship with Lydia.
Very beautiful and emotional. Love it!
February 22, 2014
The only thing that kept me from giving this book the top rating is that McAllister tells her stories in this series from only the hero's point of view. So much happened to the heroine that I'd like to have been inside her head and heart as well.
This works well as a stand-alone, although some of the other characters' stories have already been told in the series.
J.D. Holt has more than one secret. I never would have guessed either of them, in that way this works like a good mystery. Lydia can't help falling in love with him, and the way she reacts when he finally confesses made me admire her character immensely.
The final scene had me chuckling out loud.
This works well as a stand-alone, although some of the other characters' stories have already been told in the series.
J.D. Holt has more than one secret. I never would have guessed either of them, in that way this works like a good mystery. Lydia can't help falling in love with him, and the way she reacts when he finally confesses made me admire her character immensely.
The final scene had me chuckling out loud.
February 26, 2009
emotive, funny and very delectable read.
October 28, 2022
I received this arc of A Cowboy’s Secret in exchange for my honest review. This is the third book in Anne McAllister’s series The Cowboy Code. This book features the ranch foreman J..D. Holt. We met J.D. in the prior books as he worked at the Phillips ranch. We learn that he had an agreement with Rance Phillips’ dad to eventually buy his family’s ranch. As the book opens, we learn that he was arrested for punching Trey Phillips. He called his attorney Rance but he got his partner Lydia Cochran instead. Lydia comes to the jail and bails him out. J.D. is angry because he discovered that someone else bought his family’s ranch from Trey. It turns out that Trey sent J.D. a letter about selling the ranch. He said he never read it. So he sold it to Lydia. When J.D. learns this, he isn’t happy. He won’t explain why he didn’t read his mail.
We learn that Lydia has had a crush on J.D. for years. She first met him when she came with her dad to meet with his dad over business at the Family ranch. He doesn’t remember anything about the meeting. For her it was life altering. She decided then she wanted to end up with J.D. and live on the ranch. She ended up in law school and returned to her hometown, working with Rance Phillips in a law practice. After he learned about his family’s ranch , he did some property damage which got him in further trouble with the authorities.
As his punishment, J.D. is required to work for Trey and then repair the corrals and stables that he damaged at the Holt ranch. Trey has him mucking stalls and all sorts of demeaning tasks. Then he goes to Lydia’s ranch and rebuilds what he destroyed. Lydia joins him each evening, cooking dinner for them and doing chores too to learn how things work. We know J.D. has a secret that none knows. His family didn’t know it, the school didn’t know it and his bosses don’t know. He realizes he is falling for Lydia but because she is a lawyer and he can’t read, he believes they don’t belong together. In addition to his secret, we learn another secret about him.
I really enjoyed this book. The slow building romance between Lydia and J.D. is so sweet. I also have so much sympathy for all J.D. has gone through. Both main characters are so likable. I’m glad we see the others from the earlier books too. This is a book I highly recommend.
We learn that Lydia has had a crush on J.D. for years. She first met him when she came with her dad to meet with his dad over business at the Family ranch. He doesn’t remember anything about the meeting. For her it was life altering. She decided then she wanted to end up with J.D. and live on the ranch. She ended up in law school and returned to her hometown, working with Rance Phillips in a law practice. After he learned about his family’s ranch , he did some property damage which got him in further trouble with the authorities.
As his punishment, J.D. is required to work for Trey and then repair the corrals and stables that he damaged at the Holt ranch. Trey has him mucking stalls and all sorts of demeaning tasks. Then he goes to Lydia’s ranch and rebuilds what he destroyed. Lydia joins him each evening, cooking dinner for them and doing chores too to learn how things work. We know J.D. has a secret that none knows. His family didn’t know it, the school didn’t know it and his bosses don’t know. He realizes he is falling for Lydia but because she is a lawyer and he can’t read, he believes they don’t belong together. In addition to his secret, we learn another secret about him.
I really enjoyed this book. The slow building romance between Lydia and J.D. is so sweet. I also have so much sympathy for all J.D. has gone through. Both main characters are so likable. I’m glad we see the others from the earlier books too. This is a book I highly recommend.
September 28, 2022
Once again, the author delivers another wonderful story. This time the story belongs to JD Holt, whom we met in the previous story.
JD has been managing the ranch of one of the wealthiest ranchers in the area. Though Trey had bought JD’s family ranch, a ranch JD wanted back, he missed his opportunity to buy it back when he failed to read a letter.
Not dealing well with the situation, JD loses his temper, has to deal with the aftermath of his reaction, by working for the new owner, Lydia Cochrane. All the while keeping the reason of why he didn’t read the letter offering him the ranch.
Lydia, a lawyer, has been in love with JD since her youth and now that JD is working for her, her feelings have grown. As JD helps Lydia with the ranch and the attraction intensifies, he’s sure she will never be his because of his secret.
Can these two trust each other and find their HEA or will secrets kept keep them apart?
The author presents a real life situation many face, illiteracy. As individuals and as a society, more should be done to help and encourage those needing the help to discover the magic of reading.
I was entrusted a copy of this book by Tule Publishing. The opinions expressed are solely my own.
JD has been managing the ranch of one of the wealthiest ranchers in the area. Though Trey had bought JD’s family ranch, a ranch JD wanted back, he missed his opportunity to buy it back when he failed to read a letter.
Not dealing well with the situation, JD loses his temper, has to deal with the aftermath of his reaction, by working for the new owner, Lydia Cochrane. All the while keeping the reason of why he didn’t read the letter offering him the ranch.
Lydia, a lawyer, has been in love with JD since her youth and now that JD is working for her, her feelings have grown. As JD helps Lydia with the ranch and the attraction intensifies, he’s sure she will never be his because of his secret.
Can these two trust each other and find their HEA or will secrets kept keep them apart?
The author presents a real life situation many face, illiteracy. As individuals and as a society, more should be done to help and encourage those needing the help to discover the magic of reading.
I was entrusted a copy of this book by Tule Publishing. The opinions expressed are solely my own.
October 20, 2022
A Cowboy's Secret is book three in The Cowboy's Code Series by Anne McAllister. As the series progresses I like the characters especially the female protagonists even more. So this is a series that has grown on me as I have kept reading. Montana cowboy J.D. Holt has a Clint Eastwood personality, meaning he doesn’t say anymore than he actually has to say. This is at the heart of his problem as far as I could see. It certainly wasn’t his secret which is not all that uncommon. Obviously that problem was really the fault of the educators and family adults in his life.
Attorney Lydia Cochrane is hard working, loyal and responsible covering for the Rance in the office (book two). However, she does seem stuck in a high school crush. She is a better more mature character than that. Otherwise I loved her.
A Cowboy's Secret is a re-released book with a new publisher by an author who has written many, many cowboy books. If you like tall, dark, handsome cowboys of few words than you will love A Cowboy's Secret
An ARC of the book was given to me by Tule Publishing which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Attorney Lydia Cochrane is hard working, loyal and responsible covering for the Rance in the office (book two). However, she does seem stuck in a high school crush. She is a better more mature character than that. Otherwise I loved her.
A Cowboy's Secret is a re-released book with a new publisher by an author who has written many, many cowboy books. If you like tall, dark, handsome cowboys of few words than you will love A Cowboy's Secret
An ARC of the book was given to me by Tule Publishing which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
October 21, 2022
JD Holt works o the ranch his family use to own with the understanding that one day he will buy it back. Then without warning the ranch is sold to Lydia, a lawyer in town. What would a lawyer want with a ranch? Lydia has loved JD since she was a young teen and watched him work with a horse on his family ranch. Now she is all grown up and he still does not know that she exists, that is until she buys the ranch he didn't want to purchase. Now he has agreed to help teach her the ropes of being a rancher. His plan is to work her to death, scare her off ranching and buy his ranch back from her. Instead she shows real interest and intent on making a go of things. He can't help but admire her dedication. The more time they spend together he starts to feel things for Lydia that he thinks he has no business feeling. He has a secret that he thinks would send her running. When his secret is finally revealed Lydia handles it with such grace and understanding that you can't help but want them to find their happily ever after. Great read.
October 22, 2022
A Cowboy’s Secret brings readers back to the town of Murray in Montana, where J.D. Holt, ranch foreman for wealthy Trey Phillips, has just discovered that Trey has sold the ranch he promised to J.D. Lawyer Lydia Cochrane, a city girl in J.D.’s opinion is the new owner and he’s not one bit happy about it. As the story progresses, it turns out that J.D. missed out on buying the ranch himself because he didn’t read a letter sent him by Trey making the offer to sell.
J.D. and Lydia are well rounded characters. They’re both stubborn and push each other’s buttons from the first, but it’s clear they’re also strongly attracted to each other. J.D., however, refuses to act on the attraction because he feels inferior to Lydia. He can’t read, something nobody knows, and he sees himself as just a cowpoke. I loved the sparks that flew between these two and of course when they finally came together i had a huge smile on my face. This is a lovely, feel-good story with believable characters and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
J.D. and Lydia are well rounded characters. They’re both stubborn and push each other’s buttons from the first, but it’s clear they’re also strongly attracted to each other. J.D., however, refuses to act on the attraction because he feels inferior to Lydia. He can’t read, something nobody knows, and he sees himself as just a cowpoke. I loved the sparks that flew between these two and of course when they finally came together i had a huge smile on my face. This is a lovely, feel-good story with believable characters and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
October 21, 2022
This is a sweet romance that will keep you engaged till the end it is light enough to be an escape but deep enough to keep you engaged
Lydia may be the daughter of the local banker and a respected lawyer in her own right but she has always wanted to own a ranch preferable one just like JD Holt's the boy she crushed on all through school So when his ranch comes up for sale she grabs Only problem is he wanted to buy it himself and when his boss the former owner sells it he doesn't react well Told he has to make the damage right he will have to work with Lydia As they spend time together he starts to fall for her but he knows he isn't the man for her after all he is disabled. Can she convince him he is the one for her and can they have a future together
Lydia may be the daughter of the local banker and a respected lawyer in her own right but she has always wanted to own a ranch preferable one just like JD Holt's the boy she crushed on all through school So when his ranch comes up for sale she grabs Only problem is he wanted to buy it himself and when his boss the former owner sells it he doesn't react well Told he has to make the damage right he will have to work with Lydia As they spend time together he starts to fall for her but he knows he isn't the man for her after all he is disabled. Can she convince him he is the one for her and can they have a future together
October 1, 2022
Torn inside and out from the promise of owning his family ranch ripped out of his hands, JD is feeling an angry loss. The buyer, Lydia, is a lawyer not a rancher. When he tears apart the sorrel and ends up on her ranch rebuilding the corral, the chemistry between could cause explosions. But, he has a deep secret that keeps him from Lydia and the love she offers.
A very alluring story of internal struggles and the call of love.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
A very alluring story of internal struggles and the call of love.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
September 27, 2022
Lydia’s loved J.D. since they were kids, but J.D. has a secret that makes him feel he is not good enough for her, so no matter the chemistry between them he cannot let himself love her, so if I go any further with what I want to tell
you it will be a spoiler so just going to say this is an awesome read that will melt your heart. I have loved every one of this authors books I have been able to get my hands on.
you it will be a spoiler so just going to say this is an awesome read that will melt your heart. I have loved every one of this authors books I have been able to get my hands on.
October 21, 2022
What a wonderful and emotional read this was. I loved Lydia's and JD. Their story kept my attention from the very beginning. I felt so much for both of them. Lydia has had a crush on JD for a long time but JD feels she would be better off without him. As they work together they become closer. Will JD change his mind and let Lydia in or will he keep her at arms length? I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
April 8, 2024
The cowboy's secret is a whopper of a secret. I cannot remember ever reading a romance with this particular theme before. It made for a really fresh take on a tortured loner cowboy romance. I mean, this is a tearjerker of the highest order as well as a sweet love tale.
This vintage romance is well worth seeking out and reading or listening to.
Rated 5 Unread Letters.
This vintage romance is well worth seeking out and reading or listening to.
Rated 5 Unread Letters.
October 31, 2022
3.5 stars. A good read. The secret wasn't so very surprising. I liked both characters but the situation that caused our plot was kind of weak and didn't make sense to me. That being said, it was still an entertaining read. *I received an ARC of this book and this is my voluntary and honest review.
November 11, 2022
Excellent book I had the pleasure of reading an ARC of it.
May 3, 2016
D1279 Mar00 Code of the West #11/Man of the Month J.D. Holt has secrets, he's worked for Trey Phillips as foreman working to buy back his family's ranch. Now, three years later, Trey sold the ranch to Lydia Cochrane. J.D. found out when his brother called to ask why he had changed his mind about buying it from Trey. Trey had sent a letter about giving the ranch to J.D. which he hadn't read. J.D. is sentenced to probation for 6 months and repairs for the ranch. All this happens because J. D. can't read, he has dyslexia, and he was so good at hiding it no one guessed. Interesting look at what can happen when a learning disability isn't discovered early.
December 26, 2023
Difficult secret
Adult literacy is a real problem in the US. Illiterate adults are ashamed and impatient. Some have no idea how to sound out a word. Thank you for bringing this problem to light..
Adult literacy is a real problem in the US. Illiterate adults are ashamed and impatient. Some have no idea how to sound out a word. Thank you for bringing this problem to light..
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews