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Cowboy Cafe #4
Confessing to the Cowboy
The Price of Deadly Secrets
Someone is killing waitresses at the Cowboy Cafe. Three women are dead, and Sheriff Cameron Evans means to find out why. But as he works to solve the case, the hunky sheriff must push beyond his feelings for the cafe's owner. There's a murderer on the loose. Passion has no place here.
For Mary Mathis, the crime is personal. Not only are the victims her employees, they may be a sign of something deeper. Eight years ago she came to Grady Gulch fleeing a violent past that has scarred her for life. Now she has to discover if that history is dooming the women who work for her. She already knows it has made new love impossible;no matter what she may secretly desire.
Someone is killing waitresses at the Cowboy Cafe. Three women are dead, and Sheriff Cameron Evans means to find out why. But as he works to solve the case, the hunky sheriff must push beyond his feelings for the cafe's owner. There's a murderer on the loose. Passion has no place here.
For Mary Mathis, the crime is personal. Not only are the victims her employees, they may be a sign of something deeper. Eight years ago she came to Grady Gulch fleeing a violent past that has scarred her for life. Now she has to discover if that history is dooming the women who work for her. She already knows it has made new love impossible;no matter what she may secretly desire.
288 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 1, 2013
54 people are currently reading
293 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
May 27, 2013
Excellent book and conclusion to the series. Cameron is at his wit's end. Someone is killing the waitresses at the Cowboy Cafe but whoever it is isn't leaving any clues behind. Mary is worried about her waitresses and now she starts to think the deaths are aimed at her personally. Mary and her son came to Grady Gulch eight years earlier. Shortly after that she bought the cafe and has been running it ever since. While Mary is friendly to everyone she keeps her own life very private. When she starts getting things that remind her of her old life she goes to Cameron and confesses her past to him.
I really liked Mary. She took control of her life when her husband's abuse became too much, doing whatever was needed to keep herself and her son safe. I loved the way that throughout the series she was always there to help others who needed it. She has been drawn to Cameron since the very beginning, but because of her past does not allow herself to pursue those feelings. When she starts receiving reminders of her past she realizes that the murders may be related to it, so she decides to go to Cameron and tell him everything. She is afraid she'll end up in jail and also fears Cameron's reaction to her story. She doesn't want to lose his friendship. When those fears are relieved their relationship starts to heat up, but Mary fears that Cameron will now become a target. She also doesn't really trust her feelings and fears risking her heart.
Cameron has been attracted to Mary since she arrived in Grady Gulch. He seems to be content to see her every day at the cafe and doesn't try to push a relationship. I liked the way that he has a softer side that shows in his care for the little dog and the way he is there for Mary's son. When the murders begin being around Mary is the only thing that relieves his stress a little. When she comes to him and confesses her past he is stunned. He is also angry at everything she went through and impressed by what she has made of her life. The first thing he does is check into her story and finds that she is not guilty of what she thought she was. He then uses that information to find out if her past has indeed come to Grady Gulch. I really loved his determination to solve the murders and to keep Mary and her son safe. Even when Mary initially rejects his love he is intent on remaining close to her.
The suspense itself, of discovering who was killing the waitresses was very intense. Cameron and his deputies are stymied by the complete lack of evidence at the scenes and frustrated by their inability to make progress on the case. As we finally discover the who, the question becomes how. The mind games played on Mary amped up her fear. When the final confrontation came the disclosure of the murderer was an unexpected twist. I loved the way that Mary was able to take control and face him down.
I really liked Mary. She took control of her life when her husband's abuse became too much, doing whatever was needed to keep herself and her son safe. I loved the way that throughout the series she was always there to help others who needed it. She has been drawn to Cameron since the very beginning, but because of her past does not allow herself to pursue those feelings. When she starts receiving reminders of her past she realizes that the murders may be related to it, so she decides to go to Cameron and tell him everything. She is afraid she'll end up in jail and also fears Cameron's reaction to her story. She doesn't want to lose his friendship. When those fears are relieved their relationship starts to heat up, but Mary fears that Cameron will now become a target. She also doesn't really trust her feelings and fears risking her heart.
Cameron has been attracted to Mary since she arrived in Grady Gulch. He seems to be content to see her every day at the cafe and doesn't try to push a relationship. I liked the way that he has a softer side that shows in his care for the little dog and the way he is there for Mary's son. When the murders begin being around Mary is the only thing that relieves his stress a little. When she comes to him and confesses her past he is stunned. He is also angry at everything she went through and impressed by what she has made of her life. The first thing he does is check into her story and finds that she is not guilty of what she thought she was. He then uses that information to find out if her past has indeed come to Grady Gulch. I really loved his determination to solve the murders and to keep Mary and her son safe. Even when Mary initially rejects his love he is intent on remaining close to her.
The suspense itself, of discovering who was killing the waitresses was very intense. Cameron and his deputies are stymied by the complete lack of evidence at the scenes and frustrated by their inability to make progress on the case. As we finally discover the who, the question becomes how. The mind games played on Mary amped up her fear. When the final confrontation came the disclosure of the murderer was an unexpected twist. I loved the way that Mary was able to take control and face him down.
October 12, 2024
The Sheriff to the Rescue
Three waitresses dead, all from the Cowboy Cafe, point to a serial killer obsessed with Mary, the owner. Sheriff Cameron has been in love with Mary for years, but can he protect her and her son Matt from a crazed killer? A major twist or two makes for a good mystery and a compelling story.
Three waitresses dead, all from the Cowboy Cafe, point to a serial killer obsessed with Mary, the owner. Sheriff Cameron has been in love with Mary for years, but can he protect her and her son Matt from a crazed killer? A major twist or two makes for a good mystery and a compelling story.
May 26, 2020
Whole Cowboy Cafe series is awesome!
Great, easy and super quick read. Takes you to another world filled with love, passion, fear and anger. Whole series, all four books are a must read to any one looking for romance with suspenseful twists.
Great, easy and super quick read. Takes you to another world filled with love, passion, fear and anger. Whole series, all four books are a must read to any one looking for romance with suspenseful twists.
May 19, 2024
Outstanding
What a great read with alot of suspense and great characters. Out of all the characters I never thought it was the guy in the wheelchair. What a surprise ending to this book.
What a great read with alot of suspense and great characters. Out of all the characters I never thought it was the guy in the wheelchair. What a surprise ending to this book.
July 11, 2013
4.3 big Super stars
I recommend this book.
If you have not read “Her Cowboy Distraction”, & “The Cowboy’s Claim”, & “Cowboy With A Cause” I would recommend reading those books first.
Mary Mathis owns the Cowboy Café where for the last few months waitresses have been murdered in the town of Grady Gulch, Oklahoma. Why are the waitresses being murdered and who has it out for the town or is it just Mary?
Mary has a ten year old son named Matt. She has told the entire town that her husband died before she came to town. She has been in town for the last 8 years.
The Sheriff Cameron Evans has been trying to solve the murders but with no clues how will that happen.
After a card and a package arrive for Mary and Matt that cause Mary to believe that the killer is really just after her. She believes that the killer is toying with her.
She has to figure out how to tell the Cameron her deepest darkest secret. Will they still be friends after or will he look at Mary differently?
As the killer gets closer can she really fully trust Cameron to protect her? Or should she push him away so he doesn’t get hurt or killed?
As always I enjoyed the book by Carla. She adds plenty of drama and romance and you really get a feel for the characters of her books. I really enjoyed all the books in this series. Look forward for a new book/series to start.
To find out the answers to the below pick up the book:
What really happened to Mary and how will Cameron handle it?
Who is the killer and why is he trying to kill Mary?
Some favorite parts from this book:
“Hey, Sheriff Evans,” Matt greeted with a friendly grin.
“Hey, yourself,” Cameron replied affectionately. He’d told Matt a dozen times that he could call him Cameron, but Mary insisted her son use Cameron’s official title. “I just heard that your mom spent the day at school with you. That must have been weird.”
Mary Laughed, the sound twisting softness around Cameron’s heart. “I think embarrassing would be first on the page if I was listing adjectives.”
“Nah, you didn’t embarrass me,” Matt replied. “At least you didn’t call me honey pie like Billy Morton’s mom did.” Matt stifled a snicker.
“True, although I did consider calling you honey pooh bear a couple of times.”
Matt looked horrified at the very thought, and Mary laughed.
“You wouldn’t do that to me,” Matt said.
“Probably not,” Mary agreed.
“That’s my plan, George.”
“Yeah, well, my plan is to marry some twenty-three-year-old hottie who thinks I hung the moon, but that ain’t happening anytime soon. Hope your plan works out better than mine. You know I take most of my meals at the café. What will I do, where will I eat if this creep manages to kill all the waitresses and Mary has to close down?”
Leave it to George to think about his own creature comforts rather than the loss of the three women. “Mary isn’t going to close down the café and we’re going to catch whoever is responsible for these crimes,” Cameron said with confidence that didn’t quite make it into his heart.
George’s scowl deepened. “Well you’d better hurry up about it,” he said as he moved past Cameron and headed in the opposite direction down the sidewalk.
He needed to find a home for Twinkie.
She was getting under his skin with her tiny kisses and happy dances. Whenever he sat anywhere in the house she managed to get into his lap and curl up with a contented sign. He’d actually dressed her in a little furry leopard print dress this morning, worried that she might get too cold in the drafty old farm house where he lived.
He should have a bulldog or a German shepherd, if he was going to have a dog. Not some designer diva who already thought she owned not just his house, but him, as well.
Before Cameron could stand, his father’s hand came to rest heavily on his right shoulder. Cameron closed his eyes and held his breath, reveling in the simple touch from a man who had scarcely even acknowledges his existence sine Bobby’s tragic death.
“You’re a good man, Cameron,” his father said softly. “I don’t tell you that often enough.”
“Every night that I turned that Open sign in the window to Closed it was with the anticipation that you were going to show up for that last cup of coffee. I loved the intimacy of sharing that time alone with you, talking about our day, our lives, our dreams. That’s when I realized we’ve been dating almost every night for the past eight years and that’s when I realized I could trust what I feel for you.”
George Wilton slid into the chair next to Cameron, his plate heaping with a little bit of all the food that the Thanksgiving feast had to offer. “Why do you have that dopey grin on your face?” the old man asked.
Cameron widened the smile he hadn’t even realized had been on his lips. “In the words of a very bright young boy, I’ve got a lot of stuff to be thankful for this year, George.”
George huffed. “And I’m still waiting for that sexy young thing to show up in my life to rock my world.”
Cameron laughed and in that moment knew that all was right in the world, or at least in the Cowboy Café in the small town of Grady Gulch, Oklahoma.
I recommend this book.
If you have not read “Her Cowboy Distraction”, & “The Cowboy’s Claim”, & “Cowboy With A Cause” I would recommend reading those books first.
Mary Mathis owns the Cowboy Café where for the last few months waitresses have been murdered in the town of Grady Gulch, Oklahoma. Why are the waitresses being murdered and who has it out for the town or is it just Mary?
Mary has a ten year old son named Matt. She has told the entire town that her husband died before she came to town. She has been in town for the last 8 years.
The Sheriff Cameron Evans has been trying to solve the murders but with no clues how will that happen.
After a card and a package arrive for Mary and Matt that cause Mary to believe that the killer is really just after her. She believes that the killer is toying with her.
She has to figure out how to tell the Cameron her deepest darkest secret. Will they still be friends after or will he look at Mary differently?
As the killer gets closer can she really fully trust Cameron to protect her? Or should she push him away so he doesn’t get hurt or killed?
As always I enjoyed the book by Carla. She adds plenty of drama and romance and you really get a feel for the characters of her books. I really enjoyed all the books in this series. Look forward for a new book/series to start.
To find out the answers to the below pick up the book:
What really happened to Mary and how will Cameron handle it?
Who is the killer and why is he trying to kill Mary?
Some favorite parts from this book:
“Hey, Sheriff Evans,” Matt greeted with a friendly grin.
“Hey, yourself,” Cameron replied affectionately. He’d told Matt a dozen times that he could call him Cameron, but Mary insisted her son use Cameron’s official title. “I just heard that your mom spent the day at school with you. That must have been weird.”
Mary Laughed, the sound twisting softness around Cameron’s heart. “I think embarrassing would be first on the page if I was listing adjectives.”
“Nah, you didn’t embarrass me,” Matt replied. “At least you didn’t call me honey pie like Billy Morton’s mom did.” Matt stifled a snicker.
“True, although I did consider calling you honey pooh bear a couple of times.”
Matt looked horrified at the very thought, and Mary laughed.
“You wouldn’t do that to me,” Matt said.
“Probably not,” Mary agreed.
“That’s my plan, George.”
“Yeah, well, my plan is to marry some twenty-three-year-old hottie who thinks I hung the moon, but that ain’t happening anytime soon. Hope your plan works out better than mine. You know I take most of my meals at the café. What will I do, where will I eat if this creep manages to kill all the waitresses and Mary has to close down?”
Leave it to George to think about his own creature comforts rather than the loss of the three women. “Mary isn’t going to close down the café and we’re going to catch whoever is responsible for these crimes,” Cameron said with confidence that didn’t quite make it into his heart.
George’s scowl deepened. “Well you’d better hurry up about it,” he said as he moved past Cameron and headed in the opposite direction down the sidewalk.
He needed to find a home for Twinkie.
She was getting under his skin with her tiny kisses and happy dances. Whenever he sat anywhere in the house she managed to get into his lap and curl up with a contented sign. He’d actually dressed her in a little furry leopard print dress this morning, worried that she might get too cold in the drafty old farm house where he lived.
He should have a bulldog or a German shepherd, if he was going to have a dog. Not some designer diva who already thought she owned not just his house, but him, as well.
Before Cameron could stand, his father’s hand came to rest heavily on his right shoulder. Cameron closed his eyes and held his breath, reveling in the simple touch from a man who had scarcely even acknowledges his existence sine Bobby’s tragic death.
“You’re a good man, Cameron,” his father said softly. “I don’t tell you that often enough.”
“Every night that I turned that Open sign in the window to Closed it was with the anticipation that you were going to show up for that last cup of coffee. I loved the intimacy of sharing that time alone with you, talking about our day, our lives, our dreams. That’s when I realized we’ve been dating almost every night for the past eight years and that’s when I realized I could trust what I feel for you.”
George Wilton slid into the chair next to Cameron, his plate heaping with a little bit of all the food that the Thanksgiving feast had to offer. “Why do you have that dopey grin on your face?” the old man asked.
Cameron widened the smile he hadn’t even realized had been on his lips. “In the words of a very bright young boy, I’ve got a lot of stuff to be thankful for this year, George.”
George huffed. “And I’m still waiting for that sexy young thing to show up in my life to rock my world.”
Cameron laughed and in that moment knew that all was right in the world, or at least in the Cowboy Café in the small town of Grady Gulch, Oklahoma.
March 17, 2019
Good
The story finally wrapped up the unsolved crimes in the last three books. I enjoyed it even though I figured out who the killer was before the reveal.
The story finally wrapped up the unsolved crimes in the last three books. I enjoyed it even though I figured out who the killer was before the reveal.
December 7, 2024
Great end to a great series. Looking forward to reading another series by Carla Cassidy.
January 14, 2025
Great book and series. Would recommend that you read in sequence though its not necessary. Audio narration was a plus.
December 7, 2025
This is a great heartwarming real life story and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I like this author. Very good storyline and great life characters.
May 29, 2020
Where the previous book Cowboy With A Cause enchanted me, this book did the opposite. The series fell flat. The personalities the previous couple had, this new couple Mary and Sheriff Cameron happened to lack the charisma the other couple had from the beginning. In fact, why are they even together other than being lonely and desperate?
Yes, Mary has a dark secret. In fact, you’ll be able to guess her secret early on. Sheriff Cameron is the guy who decided he shall stay single forever, because no one is as lovely as Mary.
Possibly the most interesting part about the book happened to be the identity of the villain in the very end. I don’t read romantic suspense often, so that surprised me. Aside from solving the crime, I cared little for the couple and was more interested in updates about Adam and Melanie, which you do get.
Once you get to the ending, it happens to be boring too. The book isn’t dreadful, but you can skip it without any regrets.
Yes, Mary has a dark secret. In fact, you’ll be able to guess her secret early on. Sheriff Cameron is the guy who decided he shall stay single forever, because no one is as lovely as Mary.
Possibly the most interesting part about the book happened to be the identity of the villain in the very end. I don’t read romantic suspense often, so that surprised me. Aside from solving the crime, I cared little for the couple and was more interested in updates about Adam and Melanie, which you do get.
Once you get to the ending, it happens to be boring too. The book isn’t dreadful, but you can skip it without any regrets.
January 17, 2015
I am assuming this was a self-published freebie that I downloaded just because it was there for the taking - the title alone should have told me how shallow it would be. The 7% of the book that I read was filled with awkward sentences and adolescent phrasing. In the opening scene, a fresh murder scene, the sheriff (main character) behaved in an entirely unbelievable way - so casual about a third murder committed in his small town. One murder in a small town would be real news; three (and all workers at the same restaurant) would be a really big deal. It would take a pretty incompetent sheriff to need THREE MURDERS before thinking there might be a connection between them. The tone of that scene was just entirely wrong. The same thing is true in the next scene in which the sheriff goes to notify the owner of the restaurant for which the three murdered women worked.
January 11, 2017
Sheriff Cameron Evans has been in love with the owner of the Cowboy Cafe, Mary Mathis and her son Matt for eight long years and while Mary loves the Sheriff too; she won't let him get close because of the deadly secret she's been carrying for all that time. However, their feelings and Mary's secret can't stay buried forever and when Mary's waitress' start dying everything comes to a head. Can Sheriff Evans keep Mary and Matt safe AND see justice done at the end of the day?
I highly recommend this book; the characters are complex and the mystery is very engaging. It leaves you guessing who the killer is until almost the very end.
I highly recommend this book; the characters are complex and the mystery is very engaging. It leaves you guessing who the killer is until almost the very end.
Read
December 29, 2014"Cameron and Mary are both genuine and sympathetic characters. Add to that good pacing and strong suspense, and this story shines." RT Book Reviews, rated 4 stars
Miniseries: Cowboy Café
Category: Suspense
Miniseries: Cowboy Café
Category: Suspense
March 23, 2016
Really liked finishing up the Grady Gulch books. Liked this book a lot. Gotta say that after an 8-year dry spell, I am surprised they didn't ravage each other way more! Another great Carla Cassidy book.
June 12, 2013
Love this book, was not thinking of buying it at first but then knowing Carla Cassidy was one of my favourite author and have lots of her books on my shelf and I was hooked from the very first page and cannot put it down until the end. Kind of rare that happened in a very long time.
January 14, 2014
I thought this book should of been tossed out, bad characters, bad script, bad plot, oh come on how could anyone not figure out one's mistaken identity and the whole thing about the restaurant owner with a dark past who wouldnt write about that? boring!
March 30, 2017
Loved the conclusion to the beginning stories of Grady Gulch! There are so many places Carla could take it from here!
Enjoyed it and looking toward to seeing more stories about this small community of family in Oklahoma
Enjoyed it and looking toward to seeing more stories about this small community of family in Oklahoma
June 11, 2013
I enjoyed this entire series. So glad Mary and Cameron had their happy ending. Will miss my visits to Grady Gulch.
June 25, 2013
I love this little town and people
May 10, 2017
great end to the series.
April 17, 2015
I enjoyed reading the book.
September 16, 2016
Cute, but a little drawn out.
Read
December 22, 2017This book was in a download packet that Harlequin gave away to thank people for subscribing to their website. So I guess that means they think it’s their best work.
Right… *eyes narrow*
It takes a third murder in a small town where they all work at the same diner for the Police to think they might be related?
Look we’re two chapters in, and you’ve already told us THREE times that she murdered her husband. We know… you told us.
How big IS this cafe? Three waitresses dead, two left and three more called in sick. And they just said there are five working the same shift. That’s a lot for a small town. So many, they aren’t even named.
The ‘waitress waster’ is without a doubt the WORST serial killer name I have ever heard. And way to go with the killer pov being a man after teasing us it could be a woman.
I just can’t…
Did not finish at 56%
Right… *eyes narrow*
It takes a third murder in a small town where they all work at the same diner for the Police to think they might be related?
Look we’re two chapters in, and you’ve already told us THREE times that she murdered her husband. We know… you told us.
How big IS this cafe? Three waitresses dead, two left and three more called in sick. And they just said there are five working the same shift. That’s a lot for a small town. So many, they aren’t even named.
The ‘waitress waster’ is without a doubt the WORST serial killer name I have ever heard. And way to go with the killer pov being a man after teasing us it could be a woman.
I just can’t…
Did not finish at 56%
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews