One cozy cabin. One woman I can’t have. One last chance to make her mine.
I’ve spent years trying to forget Willow—the only woman I’ve ever wanted but could never claim. She belonged to my brother. Until she didn’t.
Now, after a tragic accident, she and her son need a fresh start. And I’m the only man they can turn to. Bringing them to Montana’s Off-Duty Rescue Ranch is supposed to be temporary—a safe place for them to heal, nothing more.
But the longer they stay, the harder I fall. I can't ignore my growing desire for Willow. And the kid stirs something deep inside me—the fierce pride of fatherhood, a role I never thought I’d fill.
As autumn settles over the ranch, the air thick with the scent of pine, I'm in trouble. I swore I’d keep my distance, but now I have two choices: let Willow walk away… or fight for the family I never thought I’d have.
Looks like my cozy cabin for two will need a bigger addition soon.
For fans of mountain men, forced proximity, and hard-fought, heart-melting happily-ever-afters.
Grab Cozy Cabin for Two—and the entire Alphas Fall Hard Collection—today!
Eight rugged alpha males. Eight heartwarming love stories. One unforgettable autumn.
Dive into the Alphas Fall Hard Collection, where the crisp air of fall brings sizzling romance to life. Each standalone novel introduces a brooding hero and the strong woman who turns his world upside down. From cozy cabins to bustling pumpkin patches, experience the magic of love blossoming amidst the vibrant hues of autumn.
Zee Irwin is a USA Today Bestselling Author who gets powered up by steamy small town romance. She's a bit of sunshine living countryside in Pennsylvania with her own grumpy alpha guy, two teenagers, and twin kitties. Her favorite character to write is a small town billionaire, especially if he falls first, is former military, and is possessive of the woman he loves. Visit her at zeeirwinauthor.com to keep up to date on her latest work in progress.
Ash oh Ash just look how dreamy this man is and he’s caring too . Takes care of horses on this fine ranch and that’s not all he takes care of ,the veterans even ones in his command ,gives them a chance ,a hope of a second chance to matter ,one community taking care of their own. Mind blown . He’s taken on this second ranch for his friend. He’s settled down at this homestead in Montana . Ash has made it homey for himself with a cosy cabin just for him because he’s done with sharing …ahem! Now one fine day he takes off because he’s meeting with his next recruit to their team ,another veteran needing a helping hand ,when lo and behold what he finds has him all kinds of excited and nervous and even in dread because this was the woman long ago who he had wanted in his bed. His sister in law Willow . The reason he had to go. Join the services ,go and fight because being around her took all of his might to resist .She was almost his but his brother was the safest bet . Not a bad lad like him. He wasn’t dim. But here and now she is with his niece Ro in tow. She wrote him letters but he never read them and tried to communicate but they went unanswered,every one. He couldn’t face any of the life he left behind ,not because he was unkind ,but he was hurting mind. They’ve come to stay ,oh my days so the cozy cabin he does give up . The guys are all wondering what’s up when he barracks with them ,but none dare barrack him as to the reason why….Willow had nowhere to go but to follow her heart . Ash ,he was her first sweetheart,the first that she fell head over heels in love with but he wasn’t the safest set of wheels to move her life along , her father would never approve so ,not wanting to put a foot wrong ,when she was asked out she went. She missed Ash when he went away but got on with it ,had Ro ,things were good ,you know. But then her husband went away too. What was she supposed to do? She had to give her heart a chance to be free. Choose who she wants in her life ,now she’s no longer a wife but a widow to his bro…This book is amazingly written,I am so smitten by Ash , Willow and oh my goodness little Ro! Such a sweetie. I love her cuteness. I was shouting at them I was ooh ahem at them. This book isn’t for the faint hearted but ooh when they started to see ,what was always to be ? Ecstasy ! Go out now and pre order this book ,it’s more than worth more than a glance this angst and heart beating race of a book. Oh my. A satisfying sigh emits as I so enjoyed this book ,every bit of it. Go take a look. Zee Irwin all the way ,she knows how to make my day better,albeit it a little ahem wetter…
*Cozy Cabin for Two* is the first book in the awesome *Alphas Fall Hard Collection* series, and it truly delivers with the heartfelt story of Ash and Willow. These two have always had a special connection, but things got complicated when Willow chose Ash’s brother, Scott, back in the day. Fast forward a few years, and Ash has built a wonderful Off-Duty Rescue Ranch in Montana, which also helps military veterans.
Willow finds herself in a tough spot after losing her job and becoming a widow. She shows up with her cute little daughter, Ro, asking for a place to stay while she looks for work. As they spend time together, those old feelings between Ash and Willow start to bubble up again—feelings that never really went away! Their bond grows stronger with every moment they share.
Will Ash and Willow finally embrace their feelings for each other, or will they continue to hold back? I absolutely loved this book! The characters felt real, and their struggles with grief—losing a husband and a brother—are portrayed so well. It’s a beautiful tale of second chances. Some might call it forbidden love, but honestly, that’s probably just the opinion of nosy folks who should stay out of other people’s lives!
The slow-burning romance between Ash and Willow is a joy to read; it gives them both the time they need to heal and navigate their pasts. When the moment is right, it leads to just the right amount of steamy scenes! Plus, there’s a nice mix of mystery and suspense that keeps you guessing.
I also loved seeing some familiar faces from the original Off-Duty Ranch make appearances. Each story in this series stands on its own but is still beautifully connected with little nods to past couples. I enjoyed every moment and can’t wait to see what’s next in the series!
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Cozy Cabin for Two by Zee Irwin, book one in the Alphas Fall Hard collection, is a wonderful heartwarming, second chance story about love, great friends and with a bit of danger. Willow met Ash and his brother Scott as teens, after arriving at a new high school. While Ash was a bad boy that she was instantly attracted to she chose Scott because he was the safer choice with her strictly religious father. Despite sharing a kiss and they both wondered if they made the right choice. Years later, after Scott’s death, Willow lost her job and didn’t know what to do. With her adorable daughter Ro, they travel to Montana and the Ranch where Ash works; asking for a place to stay while she looks for work.
Ash has built an Off-Duty Rescue Ranch in Montana after years being at the original one; a ranch that rescues animals and also helps military veterans get back on their feet while being a profitable destination. Arriving at the bus stop to pick up a new worker Ash is surprise to see his sister in law Willow and niece Ro are getting off the same bus. Ash, having a complicated history with Willow many years before, is shocked to see her but unable to send her and his niece away; bringing them back to the ranch to stay at his newly built house.
Spending time those old feelings between Ash and Willow start to bubble up again; feelings that never really went away. With every moment they share, feeling and chemistry grows stronger; with both needing to find peace with their pasts before they can have that future together.
A short fast paced read with a nice mix of mystery and suspense that keeps you guessing. The chemistry between Ash and Willow was strong and their banter was flirty. Add in a little girl without a male influence in her life and a horse that finds it person this is a beautiful story. The Wylde sisters are a feisty bunch and Knox and Colt were fun and sexy. I can’t wait to continue the series to read more about them.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
This series is off to great start. I couldn’t put it down, reading it in one sitting.
Ash works at a ranch that rescues animals and also helps military veterans get back on their feet while being a profitable destination.
His sister in law Willow and niece Ro are getting off the same bus that is dropping off a new worker. She has moved back after becoming a widow and losing her job. He brings them back to the ranch.
Willow met Ash and his brother Scott as teens. While Ash was a bad boy that she was instantly attracted to she chose Scott because he was the safer choice with her strictly religious father. They shared a kiss and the both of them wondered if they made the right choice.
Feelings are still there. While Willow wants to try, Ash is riddled with guilt. Can they both make peace with their pasts and find a future together?
Although it was a short fast paced read I really found all of the characters enjoyable. The chemistry between characters was strong. And there was an element of suspense too. Ash is a perfect alpha, Willow a strong single mom. The Wylde sisters are a feisty bunch and Knox and Colt were fun and sexy. I can’t wait to continue the series to read more about them.
I highly recommend starting this series!.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
From grief to passion, their second chance can’t be denied
Ash wants only quiet after years of war and guilt. His cabin in the Montana mountains is supposed to be a refuge, a place for one man alone. But when Willow, his late brother’s widow, shows up with her daughter, the past he’s tried to bury collides with the life he thought he wanted.
Willow has lost too much already, yet she refuses to break. She comes to the ranch searching for stability for her daughter, but instead finds herself face to face with the man she once secretly loved. Old wounds reopen, desire sparks, and both of them have to decide if they’ll run from their shared history or risk a second chance neither expected.
As they navigate stolen kisses, tense confrontations, and tender moments of trust, the line between guilt and redemption blurs. Rosie sees in Ash the father she never knew she needed, while Ash discovers that protecting Willow and her child isn’t just an obligation but a vow. Love grows in the shadow of grief, testing whether they can turn loss into belonging.
What starts as forced proximity in a mountain cabin becomes something deeper: a story of resilience, found family, and love strong enough to weather fear and doubt. Together they learn that healing is possible, home is more than a place, and devotion can build a future worth holding on to.
A steamy, second chance, forbidden, small town, mountain man, single mom, cowboy romance, exploring second chances, family, love after loss, belonging, healing, trust, resilience, and home. It’s about finding second chances in love, building family out of loss, learning to trust and heal, and discovering that true belonging comes from creating a home together.
COZY CABIN FOR TWO is part of the multi-authored Alphas Fall Hard Collection as well as Zee's Off-Dutu Rescue Ranch world. It's a steamy, forced-proximity, mutual-pining, single mom gets her cowboy second chance of sorts romance. Ash is a hunky ex-military man with a playboy reputation. He is now the foreman at the Off-Duty Rescue Ranch. Willow is a widowed single mom to Ro. Her late husband was Scott, Ash's brother. Ash and Willow met first in school and crushed on each other, but Scott liked her too and Ash never wanted to stand in their way. Now, 10 years later, Willow and Ro need help and have traveled from California to Montana. Willow wants Ro to know her uncle, and she wants to see if the connection she remembers is still there. Ash is surprised but gives them his cabin to stay in on the ranch. This one pulled at the heartstrings. Ash clearly felt some guilt about wanting his late brother's wife, but also realizes they have a true connection. Willow knew what she wanted and once Ash let himself go there, it was amazing. Their chemistry was explosive and the ending was happy after some drama. This was another swoon-worthy, small-town romance with all the feels from Zee. I loved it and can not wait for Knox and Colt's books!!
Great start to a series I really enjoyed reading this story and was engaged from the very first chapter. Loving the storyline and all the characters both human and equine that find their home and healing at the Montana Off-Duty Rescue Ranch. Willow and her daughter head to Montana to the ranch she knows her ex brother in law Ash works at. Losing her job and having no where to go Montana is her last hope. Ash, having a complicated history with Willow many years before is shocked to see her but unable to send her away. This is a story of one man’s struggle as the woman of his past (that he can’t get over) appears back in his life. Also of a woman that has never forgotten how she felt all those years ago, always wondering what could have been. Add in a little girl without a male influence in her life and a horse that finds it person this is a beautiful story. A quick read about love, great friends and with a bit of danger. I received a copy from the author and this is my honest review.
Absolutely stunning story of redemption and second chances, flavoured with the sweetness of insta love and brooding alpha hotness. I marvel at Zee’s incredible ability to wrangle not only the gorgeous cowboys and gals but also the heart of the reader with her amazing storytelling and eloquent writing. Ash and Willow were simply meant to be from their resemblance to their namesakes to their destiny forged in their first meeting at the principals office. They complement each other in every sense and the sparks are on fire! The ODRR ranch setup works so well and I loved all the little side stories especially Juniper and of course little Ro. Every book of Zees is such a treat and you should definitely indulge in this one!.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Willow and Ash have a complicated relationship brought to light when she comes to face Ash and their hidden feelings for each other. I could feel Ash’s mind vs soul angst as he dealt with his mixed feelings. There were times I felt Willow pushed a bit hard. Ro was darling. Slow-burn to sizzle, emotion, tenderness, a bit of suspense, horses/ranch life, humor, realizations, found family and love-all lead to a forever.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The name says it all. This was a sweet and cozy read with some spicy scenes in the mix. I was skeptical about the idea of the MMC, Ash being with his deceased brother's widow (Willow), but the author made it work just fine. I love how this love story had a rescue ranch as a backdrop. Small town goodness and cowboy shenanigans completed this roundup. Definitely a good read.
I received an ARC of this book via Booksprout and this is a voluntary review
Ms Irwin never disappoints!! It was funny, steamy, sweet, spicy and absolutely perfect read. I loved this soo much (just like every other Zee Irwin book I've read! lol) this author definitely has me hooked and will continue reading her books. Just can’t get enough. Another great read by this amazing author that everyone should have in their library. Can’t wait to read more from this series. Happy reading
What can you say about this book? Zee did it again. This is the first book in the great start of the series *Alphas Fall Hard Collection* series, and it truly delivers with the heartfelt story of Ash and Willow. I could not stop reading had to know what going to happen. I love Ro also she is such a doll and her calling Ash, Daddy Ash broke my heart it was so like her. This had it all grief, passion and love. Cannot wait until the other books come out.
This is a very good ex-military/bad boy romance.. I liked it. It feels like insta-romance, but it's a long-time pining situation. Great rescue ranch setting.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Ashe and Willow met and connected but then life changed their future. Scott was who Willow ended up with until he passed away. Willow and her daughter Violet are surprising Ashe in Montana and their lives will never be the same. It’s a slow build high heat tale full of love and choosing to follow your heart. The HEA is sweet as can be too.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Ash may be her brother in law but neither he nor Willow can deny the attraction that still holds between them. A steamy read with the mountain man cowboy, and the widow and her daughter who need a man in their lives.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Cozy Cabin for Two by Zee Irwin is part of the multi-author Alphas Fall Hard Collection, Steamy Mountain Man Romance series. This story is based on one very big off-limits situation between Willow and Ash. But it is also about love, family, memories, moving forward, complications, and a sizzling connection that burns slowly until the spark that ignites it is lit.
This is a second chance love story between Willow and Ash. They pined away for each other even when she was married to his brother. She is a strong woman who finally goes after what she wants. Ash must overcome some strong feelings concerning her relationship with his brother, who is deceased. I recommend this book to all second chance romance readers.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Ash has longed for Willow for years. Willow has now turned to Ash for a place to land, recoup and breathe whilst she works out what to do next in her life. But for Ash this is both great and making their relationship even more complicated. A good read.
I really enjoyed this story of secret passion with tension. Ash works for a rescue ranch that provides a safe place. He is taken by surprise when Willow and her daughter show up. He is determined to do things right. Willow is trying to get Ash to give into the passion between them. Will they give into their feelings?.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Great quick read with lots of love, a little suspense and great characters. Willow and her daughter Ro need a new start and she knows just where that should be. They are off to Montana to see her brother in law Ash, who also is the love of her life. Share in their reunion and their tomorrows. Enjoy
Ms. Irwin has done it again! Loved Ash and Willow and their story from the past to their future. The history they shared and how they moved forward to find each other again and the promise of a future they deserved!
Loved this first book in the series. Such amazing chemistry and a page turning storyline, I was hooked from the beginning, Can't wait for more in the series,.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I thought it was a very heartwarming, suspenseful and romantic book! But I love all of Zee Irwin’s books that she writes because they are so easy to read and engaging and interesting! I can’t wait for the next one to come out and I know there will be a next one 😀😀
Let’s start with Ash. Oh, Ash. If ever there was a man to make your heart ache in the best way, it’s him. He’s a rancher, a veteran, a quiet caretaker of both animals and broken spirits — building a haven in the heart of Montana for those who’ve seen too much and need a soft place to land. He's built himself a life rooted in purpose and healing, even if it's one that keeps people (and feelings) at arm's length.
But all that carefully guarded peace? It’s shattered — beautifully — the day Willow shows up.
Willow isn’t just any blast from the past. She’s the one he couldn’t have. His brother’s girl. The woman he loved so deeply it broke him to walk away. And now, after all these years, here she is — standing at his front door with her daughter, Ro, in tow… a living reminder of everything he left behind.
The tension between Ash and Willow is everything. Years of longing, grief, missed chances, and unspoken truths simmer under every shared glance. You feel it in the way he gives up his beloved cabin without question, in the way she looks at him like no time has passed, even though everything has changed.
Ro is a ray of sunshine in this emotionally heavy story — curious, sweet, and impossibly endearing. Watching Ash soften around her, seeing how she tugs on Willow’s heart and Ash’s sense of duty (and something far deeper), adds a layer of warmth that makes this book feel like coming in from the cold.
But don’t let the cozy cabin fool you — this story packs emotional punch. It’s about grief, about loyalty, about forgiveness — especially forgiving yourself. Ash thought leaving was the only way to survive loving someone he couldn’t have. Willow thought safety meant settling. But now, with nothing standing between them but ghosts and guilt, they finally have to face the truth:
They were always meant to be.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
What was more forbidden than his brother's widow? But when he saw her step off the bus, his whole world turned upside down. Ash carried a lot of guilt with him. After the military, his boss, owner of the Off-Duty Rescue Ranch, sent him to run the new ranch in Montana. It was a place where rescued horses and veterans could get a second chance. Including him. But a second chance with Willow was not something he had ever considered. Willow had lost her job in California, and since neither her father nor her husband's father would take her and her daughter in, she thought of Ash. She had been emailing him for years, checking in and sending pictures of his niece, but he had never responded. But she found out where he was from his father and took a chance. Bought a bus ticket, and went to Montana. Ash looked surprised and not quite happy to see her. But just seeing him after so long still stirred so many feelings in her. She had to know if what she had always felt for him was real, or only in her head. Willow had met Ash first, years ago on her first day in a new school. But it was his brother who made the first move and Ash stepped back. She married the safe brother, and she loved him. He was the father of her child. But he was gone. And she knew that Ash was the one who made her heart beat faster. He always had been. This was a really good story. Ash was understandably hesitant. Willow was his brother's widow. As forbidden as it gets. But he moved Willow and her daughter into his cabin that he had built on the ranch. The more he was around her and his niece, the more he found himself wanting to be the father figure for the little girl that she didn't have. The more he found himself wanting to deserve them. There was a theme of connection and healing, both for the rescued horses and for the people on the ranch. Found family is often the best kind.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I’m a huge fan of Zee Irwin’s Off-Duty Rescue Ranch Series because the series centers around Chris Magnus’ ranch, his mission to help wounded veterans and mistreated horses get second chances. All the books in that series are emotionally heartfelt so I was really excited to hear that Zee Irwin planned this spin-off and I’m delighted with this first book. It delves just as deeply into the emotions of a love that wasn’t able to be but now has a second chance to be more meaningful than it would have been. The book brings in the elements of a group of men bonded by military service working to run the rescue ranch and a group of sisters helping out making for some interesting side stories. The horses all have their special moments in these books too with Juniper being a true hero in this one. But as all romantics know, Zee Irwin’s true talents shows in how she develops the love story between her characters. Montana’s Off-Duty Rescue Ranch boss, Ash Rhodes gets the shock of his life when he goes into town to pick up new recruit, Colt Calhoun, and Ash’s widowed sister-in-law, Williow Sampson-Rhodes, the woman he had dreamed of for years, and her young daughter, Rosie “Ro”, step off the bus first. Willow knows what she’s come to town for but will she be able to convince Ash that it’s the right thing? To shake things up a bit more there’s an escape fugitive in the area and the rugged mountains of Montana might just have a bear or two. Yes, Ash Rhodes’ peaceful ranch life in the small cabin he built for himself just got a lot more complicated. Another delightful romp into ranch living with sexy military cowboys, beautiful, strong women, rescued horses, steamy hot emotional romance and the heroics to overcome any threats thrown their way.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
An outstanding novella about two people who knew each other ages ago finding one another after she moves with her daughter to be closer to him. The two have had feelings for one another since when they first met and once she comes back into his life the old feeling comes back. He tries to suppress the old feeling due to the connection they have to his brother. During this time the two get closer as well as getting closer to her daughter, they start getting into a routine and they start working on a party the owner of the ranch their on that he works as the head of the ranch. The two also started seeing each other intimately but kept it as a secret from her daughter. After the party alot of things happened that brought the two closer together. Getting back to her daughter they told her only part of what happened so the girl would not get upset. Their friends showed up to support them. At the end they came together, leaving the daughter with friends to go on a trip. Happy about their new small family and a great future ahead of them, they're happy and in love.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
"Cozy Cabin for Two" was a 'cozy' read which I did like and enjoy but which had a few points about it lowering my rating. For example, I did not like an eight-year old referring to her mother by her first name; a widow speaking disparagingly of her deceased husband; or a horse with magical powers such as Extra Sensory Perception (ESP). I did like that there was more of an emphasis on story as opposed to just sex. Yes, there were, of course, some sex scenes; but, thankfully for me, they did not overpower the entire book. Having chapters written sometimes in the first person of the male protagonist and sometimes in the first person of the female protagonist worked well, In My Opinion (IMO). As this is, thus far, the only Zee Irwin book I have read; I do not know if that reflects her usual style or not. I suspect that it does, but that may or may not be the case. I also like the setting of the book at the second (2nd) Off-Duty Rescue Ranch (ODRR), one in Montana. There are three (3) previous Off-Duty Rescue Ranch (ODRR) books, set in Virginia at the first (1st) Off-Duty Rescue Ranch (ODRR) which might be worth the read. (smile)