The Cowboy Who Came Home: Second Chance at Friendship Leads to Lasting Love

by Kathy Douglass

Can they heal their broken friendship—and build a future together? 



Once inseparable childhood friends, Malcolm Wilson and Veronica Kendrick shared a bond that seemed unbreakable—until he let her down when she needed him most. But the investment banker turned rancher wants a chance to start over. That’s why Malcolm has returned to his hometown of Aspen Creek—to heal the past and figure out his future. 

Malcolm’s return changes everything for Veronica, who finally agrees to spend time with him—and that old undeniable chemistry ignites. Caught between past wounds and present desires, perhaps they can discover that a second chance at friendship could be their first chance at lasting love… 

From Harlequin Special Believe in love. Overcome obstacles. Find happiness.

An Aspen Creek Bachelors Romance

Book 1: Valentines for the Rancher
Book 2: The Rancher's Baby
Book 3: Wrangling a Family
Book 4: The Cowboy Who Came Home

272 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 1, 2025

About the author

Kathy is a born reader who as a child always had her nose in a book. That love of reading grew with her. She often would finish one book and immediately pick up another. She went from reading Bobbsey Twins to long, lush romance novels. One day she stumbled upon the Shining by Stephen King and was hooked. She turned her back on romance and became a serious Stephen King fan, reading every word he wrote. When she caught herself checking under the bed and looking in the closet for monsters or worse, she knew it was time to put down the horror stories and pick up the romance novels.
Her return to romance novels was short lived. She’d started law school and soon her reading was limited to legal opinions. Then one happy day her younger sister handed her a Harlequin romance. They were just what the doctor ordered. The books were short enough to read in a week and still get her required reading done. Best of all she knew there would be a happy ending and she wouldn’t have to search her room before she went to bed each night.
When her first child was born, she stopped practicing law to become a stay at home mom. Her second child followed nineteen months later. With two little ones in the house, reading suddenly became limited to Dr. Seuss and other children’s books. Any free time was spent trying to catch up on sleep or laundry.
All too soon her kids were attending pre-school two hours a day. She spent those few precious renewing her relationship with romance novels. After a while she felt the urge to write a book of her own and she began writing the stories she wanted to read. She spent many years writing some really terrible books and learning her craft. In 2014, Kathy participated in Brenda Novak’s online auction to raise money for a cure for Diabetes. She was the highest bidder for a critique by editor, Charles Griemsman. He did not buy that book immediately, but requested another which became her first book in the Sweet Briar Sweethearts series.

Reviews

[Joyce M. H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 4th book in the “Aspen Creek Bachelors Series.” Malcolm is an investment banker, and Veronica is the local librarian in the small town of Aspen Creek. The two were the best of friends and did everything together. It took one event too destroy what the two once shared. Both Malcolm and Veronica were upset about what torn them apart. Malcolm tried but Veronica was not hearing anything he had to say. Malcolm left Aspen Creek and made a life for himself in Chicago after college. Veronica has not forgiven Malcolm for what happened to them in college when Malcolm was not there for her when she needed him the most. The two were more than friends but they never admitted their feelings to each other. Veronica and Malcolm’s friends and family know that the two are made for each other. As Veronica slowly comes to the realization, she should forgive Malcolm she has another problem on the horizon. Veronica’s father walked away from her mother and her and never gave them a second thought as he went on to marry and have another family. Veronica’s sister from her father’s marriage looks up and wants a relationship with her. Just as she is developing a relationship with her sister her father shows up and makes demands that she not see her sister again. Veronica and Malcolm finally see eye to eye, and we have another HEA. Lovely romantic read. I would have love to know more about Veronica’s father as to whether or not he came to realization of actions of what he did to Veronica and her mother.

Will Veronica’s father be a part of her life, ask for forgiveness and/or will he keep her sister away?

I received an ARC via Kathy Douglass and I am leaving my review voluntarily.

[Harlequin Books]

Western Romance, African American & Black Romance, Contemporary Romance, Small Town & Rural Fiction
Miniseries
Aspen Creek Bachelors (Book #4)

[Joyce Honachi · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was terrible very hard to stay interested. I made myself finish it.

[Letha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love all of Kathy Douglass's books!