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Cowboy Brothers in Arms #3
Cowboying Up
A hotshot pilot’s homecoming
takes an unexpected detour into off-limits romance…
Lieutenant Cal Donnelly has come home full of guilt he can’t shake for events he could never control. First, he has to tell his family he’s thinking of leaving the military. Second, he promised to give a Dear Jane message to his best friend’s girlfriend. At least Charlotte Wilson doesn’t seem heartbroken when he makes contact. In fact, she asks a favor that catches the born-and-bred cowboy completely off guard.
Charlotte needs a fake fiancé in order to buy a ranch to convert into a veterans’ respite house. When Cal agrees, Charlotte seals the deal with a kiss—one they both feel in the deepest part of their hearts. Cal’s life might already be filled with complications, but this unexpected attraction is impossible to ignore. And with Cal’s decision to return to Texas for good, Charlotte knows they’ll need to figure out just where this relationship is headed. Because a future apart is no longer something either can accept.
Cowboy Brothers in Arms
Book 1: Heart Like a Cowboy
Book 2: Always a Maverick
Book 3: Cowboying Up
takes an unexpected detour into off-limits romance…
Lieutenant Cal Donnelly has come home full of guilt he can’t shake for events he could never control. First, he has to tell his family he’s thinking of leaving the military. Second, he promised to give a Dear Jane message to his best friend’s girlfriend. At least Charlotte Wilson doesn’t seem heartbroken when he makes contact. In fact, she asks a favor that catches the born-and-bred cowboy completely off guard.
Charlotte needs a fake fiancé in order to buy a ranch to convert into a veterans’ respite house. When Cal agrees, Charlotte seals the deal with a kiss—one they both feel in the deepest part of their hearts. Cal’s life might already be filled with complications, but this unexpected attraction is impossible to ignore. And with Cal’s decision to return to Texas for good, Charlotte knows they’ll need to figure out just where this relationship is headed. Because a future apart is no longer something either can accept.
Cowboy Brothers in Arms
Book 1: Heart Like a Cowboy
Book 2: Always a Maverick
Book 3: Cowboying Up
305 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 24, 2024
27 people are currently reading
43 people want to read
About the author
Delores Fossen
638 books814 followersThank you for finding me on Goodreads!
Want to know more about me? Well, here it is in a nutshell:
I’m a USA Today bestselling author, and I’ve sold over 100 novels. Yes, 100! Needless to say, I write a lot. I’ve had the honor of receiving the Booksellers' Best Award for romantic suspense, the Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award, and I was a finalist for the Rita. My books have been featured in Vogue, Woman’s Day and Woman’s World. I’ve also had nearly a hundred short stories and articles published in national magazines. I love hearing from readers, and you can contact me through my webpage at: www.deloresfossen.com.
Want to know more about me? Well, here it is in a nutshell:
I’m a USA Today bestselling author, and I’ve sold over 100 novels. Yes, 100! Needless to say, I write a lot. I’ve had the honor of receiving the Booksellers' Best Award for romantic suspense, the Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award, and I was a finalist for the Rita. My books have been featured in Vogue, Woman’s Day and Woman’s World. I’ve also had nearly a hundred short stories and articles published in national magazines. I love hearing from readers, and you can contact me through my webpage at: www.deloresfossen.com.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
December 17, 2024
This book started out slow and the plot dragged at times but still was an enjoyable story.
September 21, 2024
Good continuation of the Cowboy Brothers in Arms series. Cal is one of four Donnelly siblings, all of whom are serving in the military. Cal is an Air Force pilot at the top of his game. But something happened that made him rethink his plans to make a career of it. He has returned to the family ranch on thirty days leave to consider his options. The other thing weighing on his mind is his promise to deliver a breakup letter to his best friend's girlfriend.
Charlotte and Noah were childhood sweethearts. They've been a couple for years but haven't seen much of each other because of his air force commitments. She is also an attorney in town but has big plans to buy a ranch and turn it into a rehab facility for veterans. Charlotte found the perfect place, but the elderly owner hesitates because she isn't married. She is talking with Mr. Becker about the property when Cal arrives to speak with her.
Matters become complicated very quickly when Charlotte begs Cal to play along with her declaration that he is her fiancé and lays a scorching hot kiss on him. He cooperates, but Becker still delays answering. After he leaves, Charlotte fills Cal in on her plans. Then comes telling her of Noah's breakup. We get the convoluted background of the friendships of Cal, Charlotte, Noah, and Harper (who is behind Cal's current dilemma). Charlotte's calmness about the breakup surprises Cal.
Cal's day becomes more difficult when he informs his family about his plans to resign from the Air Force. To say they are shocked would be putting it mildly, and the protests are intense. Worst of all is the reaction of his stepmother, the general who has mentored his career. I ached for Cal and the pressure he felt from his guilty feelings and his family.
Neither Charlotte nor Cal expected the attraction that flared up between them. They initially try to ignore it, but the sparks are too strong. They spend a lot of time together working on her plans for her facility, Port in a Storm, and their feeling for each other continue to grow. I loved the way they supported each other. However, trouble looms when Noah shows up wanting to resume his relationship with Charlotte. I loved her reaction, though Noah is more focused on his desires than what she says. I liked seeing Cal and Charlotte deal with him. Meanwhile, they continue to resist admitting their feelings for each other. When Cal gets an offer that would be hard to turn down, he must look deep to decide what he wants. I loved the ending and Cal's big moment with Charlotte.
I also enjoyed following along with Charlotte's Port in a Storm project. I loved her motivation and determination. I admired Noah's brother, Alden, the first resident of Port in a Storm. I would love to see him get a story of his own. Harper is a little harder to like after what she said to Cal, but I was more sympathetic to her after seeing what her father is like. Even grouchy old former owner Becker got in on the action. There are tense scenes with Harper and her father that are balanced by the supportive relationship Alden has with his father. I liked the realistic depiction of what some of our wounded warriors experience.
Other secondary characters included Charlotte's mother, Izzie, who I thought was controlling and selfish. She was more focused on the effect of Charlotte's breakup on her own plans than on what it meant to Charlotte. We also see Cal's two brothers and their ladies from the previous two books. I liked catching up with their lives. Cal's sister, Remi, makes a brief appearance. Cal's dad, Derek, is there with his opinion of Cal's plans. He is also front and center of another family issue - Rowan Cullen, the illegitimate son of Derek and Audrey. That situation is tense, and I'm looking forward to following its progress in the next book.
Charlotte and Noah were childhood sweethearts. They've been a couple for years but haven't seen much of each other because of his air force commitments. She is also an attorney in town but has big plans to buy a ranch and turn it into a rehab facility for veterans. Charlotte found the perfect place, but the elderly owner hesitates because she isn't married. She is talking with Mr. Becker about the property when Cal arrives to speak with her.
Matters become complicated very quickly when Charlotte begs Cal to play along with her declaration that he is her fiancé and lays a scorching hot kiss on him. He cooperates, but Becker still delays answering. After he leaves, Charlotte fills Cal in on her plans. Then comes telling her of Noah's breakup. We get the convoluted background of the friendships of Cal, Charlotte, Noah, and Harper (who is behind Cal's current dilemma). Charlotte's calmness about the breakup surprises Cal.
Cal's day becomes more difficult when he informs his family about his plans to resign from the Air Force. To say they are shocked would be putting it mildly, and the protests are intense. Worst of all is the reaction of his stepmother, the general who has mentored his career. I ached for Cal and the pressure he felt from his guilty feelings and his family.
Neither Charlotte nor Cal expected the attraction that flared up between them. They initially try to ignore it, but the sparks are too strong. They spend a lot of time together working on her plans for her facility, Port in a Storm, and their feeling for each other continue to grow. I loved the way they supported each other. However, trouble looms when Noah shows up wanting to resume his relationship with Charlotte. I loved her reaction, though Noah is more focused on his desires than what she says. I liked seeing Cal and Charlotte deal with him. Meanwhile, they continue to resist admitting their feelings for each other. When Cal gets an offer that would be hard to turn down, he must look deep to decide what he wants. I loved the ending and Cal's big moment with Charlotte.
I also enjoyed following along with Charlotte's Port in a Storm project. I loved her motivation and determination. I admired Noah's brother, Alden, the first resident of Port in a Storm. I would love to see him get a story of his own. Harper is a little harder to like after what she said to Cal, but I was more sympathetic to her after seeing what her father is like. Even grouchy old former owner Becker got in on the action. There are tense scenes with Harper and her father that are balanced by the supportive relationship Alden has with his father. I liked the realistic depiction of what some of our wounded warriors experience.
Other secondary characters included Charlotte's mother, Izzie, who I thought was controlling and selfish. She was more focused on the effect of Charlotte's breakup on her own plans than on what it meant to Charlotte. We also see Cal's two brothers and their ladies from the previous two books. I liked catching up with their lives. Cal's sister, Remi, makes a brief appearance. Cal's dad, Derek, is there with his opinion of Cal's plans. He is also front and center of another family issue - Rowan Cullen, the illegitimate son of Derek and Audrey. That situation is tense, and I'm looking forward to following its progress in the next book.
September 22, 2024
Cal and Charlotte’s story is engaging and fascinating. It includes some soul-searching, coming to terms with the past, and dealing with family expectations, as well as personal limitations and aspirations. Cal is at a crossroads in his career and not sure of which direction he will take. He feels burned out and dissatisfied and is looking to change that. His family definitely wants to weigh in on his decision and the direction he should take, but Cal soon finds that there is another person to consider when he makes a decision. He never expected to fall for Charlotte, to want to be near her rather than stationed or deployed thousands of miles away.
As for Charlotte, she has her own family drama and expectations to deal with and her own new direction to contemplate. She needs a fake fiancé to help her secure the land she needs to establish a veterans respite. A shared kiss and plenty of sparks between them have them both taking notice and wanting more than to play pretend. Could they possibly have a future together? While they ponder the ins and outs of that question, there is a whole lot going on with family and friends, sometimes a bit too much that distracts from their story.
I enjoyed reading this book and would be happy to recommend it.
As for Charlotte, she has her own family drama and expectations to deal with and her own new direction to contemplate. She needs a fake fiancé to help her secure the land she needs to establish a veterans respite. A shared kiss and plenty of sparks between them have them both taking notice and wanting more than to play pretend. Could they possibly have a future together? While they ponder the ins and outs of that question, there is a whole lot going on with family and friends, sometimes a bit too much that distracts from their story.
I enjoyed reading this book and would be happy to recommend it.
August 17, 2025
Book 3 in the Cowboy Brothers in Arms series finds Cal Donnelly on leave and tasked with breaking up with his buddy’s girlfriend who lives in their hometown. They all have been friends since pre-school. He fulfills this request because the asker saved his life when they were swimming at the age of 8 and Cal almost drowned when the tree branch broke that he was swinging on broke.
Charlotte Wilson is an attorney and had an on and off relationship with Noah Granger who all grew up in Texas.
Her mother Izzy is the town mayor and had hoped for a double wedding with Noah’s father. She blames Charlotte for her breakup and ruining her plans, again. She also blamed Charlotte when her father left her and her mother many years ago.
Charlotte wants to open a rehab center for injured veterans with Noah’s brother and 4th member of the friends Harper Johansen who was also a military fighter jet pilot whose biggest competitor was Cal.
Feelings of blame, incompetency, regret, guilt, strength,competition and depression along with increased romantic feelings and acceptance.
Charlotte Wilson is an attorney and had an on and off relationship with Noah Granger who all grew up in Texas.
Her mother Izzy is the town mayor and had hoped for a double wedding with Noah’s father. She blames Charlotte for her breakup and ruining her plans, again. She also blamed Charlotte when her father left her and her mother many years ago.
Charlotte wants to open a rehab center for injured veterans with Noah’s brother and 4th member of the friends Harper Johansen who was also a military fighter jet pilot whose biggest competitor was Cal.
Feelings of blame, incompetency, regret, guilt, strength,competition and depression along with increased romantic feelings and acceptance.
January 13, 2025
Another in the Cowboy Brothers in Arms series, in which Lt. Col. Cal Donnelly is on leave before deciding if he will go back into the military after the near-fatal suicide attempt of one of his childhood friends and military competitor. Coming home also means not only telling his family of his plans but also delivering a Dear John letter to a family friend for another of his military buddies (also a friend since they were children).
But when he sees Charlotte, it's clear to both of them that what previously was a friendship is now more than that, something neither of them acknowledged when Charlotte was with Noah. So... what are they going to do now? Especially in the face of Charlotte's decision to create a special Care B&B for wounded veterans needing time to heal away from their families? And how are his family, hers, and Noah going to deal with the decisions Cal and Charlotte must now make?
But when he sees Charlotte, it's clear to both of them that what previously was a friendship is now more than that, something neither of them acknowledged when Charlotte was with Noah. So... what are they going to do now? Especially in the face of Charlotte's decision to create a special Care B&B for wounded veterans needing time to heal away from their families? And how are his family, hers, and Noah going to deal with the decisions Cal and Charlotte must now make?
September 23, 2024
I love this kind of story. Cal and Charlotte are at the center of it, but we also get to read about the things happening with the people that they care about. Cal's family isn't the only one that is dealing with upheaval. Charlotte and her mother have to reorient their relationship. And Harper, a childhood friend of Cal and Charlotte's, has to remake her entire life. There is quite a lot going on, but it feels like getting to know the lives of the two people falling in love. Because Cal and Charlotte have known each other for so long, they have lovely banter and great communication. I got swept away by the story.
November 11, 2024
This was such a good book. I loved reading about Cal. I had been looking forward to his story for a while. It did not disappoint.
Cal has come home on leave to deliver a dear jane letter to one of his friends girls. But when he comes to do that he is thrown into a situation that turns into a fire!
When he comes to tell Charlotte about her fellow than things turn on a dime.
One innocent kiss leads to more..
The chemistry between these two characters is fire..I loved them together..
It was good to read about how they navigated their ups and downs and the hard things they both had going on when they were young.
Really enjoyed this book so much!
Cal has come home on leave to deliver a dear jane letter to one of his friends girls. But when he comes to do that he is thrown into a situation that turns into a fire!
When he comes to tell Charlotte about her fellow than things turn on a dime.
One innocent kiss leads to more..
The chemistry between these two characters is fire..I loved them together..
It was good to read about how they navigated their ups and downs and the hard things they both had going on when they were young.
Really enjoyed this book so much!
March 10, 2025
This is a good book. The two main characters are Charlotte and Cal. They have known each other for all their lives. Cal has come home on a thirty day leave from the Air Force. One of the things he has come home for is to tell Charlotte that his best friend Noah doesn’t want to be engaged to her anymore. But before he can tell her she kisses him and introduces him to a client and says he is her fiance. He goes along with it. She is trying to buy the client property to start a rehab place for veterans. They start fake dating. The client sells the ranch to Charlotte. They both have issues but together they figure them out and fall in love.
September 18, 2024
So much going on in this novel
I wanted to love this book but I didn’t quite get there. The characters and premise were amazing but it seemed like there was so much going on that I was distracted by wanting more of the supporting characters stories over Cal and Charlotte. Maybell and Becker...Alden and Harper. Audrey and Derek. Even Izzie and Taggart. And definitely the mysterious Rowan!
I wanted to love this book but I didn’t quite get there. The characters and premise were amazing but it seemed like there was so much going on that I was distracted by wanting more of the supporting characters stories over Cal and Charlotte. Maybell and Becker...Alden and Harper. Audrey and Derek. Even Izzie and Taggart. And definitely the mysterious Rowan!
July 6, 2024
This was the second book I have read by Delores Fossen. I loved it and plan on reading more in the future. This was heartfelt and romantic. The ending was really good. I'm grateful that netgalley and the publishers let me read this in exchange for an honest review.
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September 1, 2024Small Town & Rural Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Western Romance
Miniseries
Cowboy Brothers in Arms (Book #3)
Miniseries
Cowboy Brothers in Arms (Book #3)
October 26, 2024
A great book now to see if I can find the first 2 books in the series!
November 21, 2024
As usual totally awesome enjoyed it . Thanks!!
February 9, 2025
It was a good book for only having small snippets of time to read. I found myself getting slightly bored about halfway through the book and thinking it should move faster.
October 15, 2025
an easy read. good premise
September 17, 2024
I liked this storyline with Cal and Charlotte teaming up to start the veteran house. I felt like it was missing something minor, but really enjoyed the ending.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews