A Family for the Cowboy Cop

by Tanya Agler

To catch a thief

Or to capture a heart?

Denver detective Jase Virtue has one return to his hometown of Violet Ridge, catch an escaped bank robber, go back to Denver. Staying at Cassie O’Neal’s farm isn’t part of the plan. But the single mom and her two young children need protection—even if she is the robber’s half sister and suspected accomplice. Bonding with the O’Neals, and a sweet little hen, has Jase wondering if he can truly trust Cassie. Because she makes him long for the home and happily-ever-after he never thought he deserved.

From Harlequin  Wholesome stories of love, compassion and belonging.

A Violet Ridge Novel

Book 1: The Triplets' Holiday Miracle
Book 2: Saving the Rancher
Book 3: A Family for the Cowboy Cop
Book 4: The Cowboy's Christmas Match

Genres: Romance, Contemporary

336 pages, Mass Market Paperback

Published July 29, 2025

Reviews

[Jo|Ruth Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great story!
Jase is sent back to Violet Ridge to investigate Cassie, the sister of a bank robber on the run. She thinks he’s there to protect her and her kids, but he’s actually looking for evidence to arrest her!

Forced proximity at its finest has him falling for the woman he’s investigating, all while carrying secrets of his own, secrets that have kept him away from his hometown for years!

As Jase and Cassie work side by side on the farm, waiting for her brother’s possible return, sparks fly. But Cassie doesn’t know the real reason Jase is there. And even if he wanted to stay, a promotion and family baggage back home are holding him back. Plus… is Cassie really innocent?

I really enjoyed this story overall. That said, full transparency: I struggled to stay engaged through the first half. I didn’t love the chapter length and pacing. While the book is around 320 pages long, the first three chapters alone took up nearly 100 pages. It made the beginning feel slower than I’d prefer, and the imbalance in chapter lengths threw off the rhythm a bit for me, making it hard to fully get pulled into the story. That said... once it picked up, it was a page-turner and had me rushing to see how it all would turn out! Now, I am curious if Crosby will get his own story?!

I received a complimentary copy. This review reflects my honest opinion.

[June Jacobs · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author has created a memorable story of learning to forgive people and events from the past before kindling a willingness to move on into a future filled with love, joy, and family . . .

Single mother, Cassie O'Neal, and her two young children—Penny and Easton—have begun a new life in Cassie's hometown of Violet Ridge, Colorado. Her original plan of staying married forever to the father or her children disintegrated when he abandoned them for the wilds of Alaska. Now she's trying to make lemonade out of lemons.

In addition to relocating to the family farm and surrounding community while running her new business, she is being pursued by her estranged half-brother, Keith, after he escaped from prison. Her brother's prison break prompted the Denver police department to place her name at the top of their suspect list of accomplices. Detective Jase Virtue, originally from Violet Ridge, is assigned to catch the escaped bank robber and bring him to justice back in Denver. He is also tasked with proving that Cassie was part of the plot from the beginning.

Those challenges cause an internal struggle inside Jase. He knew the young mother from their high school days, and he can't reconcile his memories of sweet, kind Cassie with what his superior at the police department suspects. After seeing her nurture and care for her children, he believes that she hasn't strayed from her original core beliefs to side with her half-brother.

I particularly enjoyed the scenes with Cassie's menagerie of hens, horses, and a new family member—Rusty the dog. There are some laugh-out-loud moments involving the animals and children. Cassie's creative ideas for how to grow her agritourism business were creative and interesting to me.

I have read several of the author's previous books in this genre, but I will freely admit that this title is my favorite! The author has gifted readers with an engaging story filled with depth, multi-dimensional characters, suspense, mystery, romance, and humor. The book is completely clean in language and content.

I received a copy of this book from the author through JustRead Publicity Tours. All of my thoughts and opinions presented here are solely my own.

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[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored A Family by the Cowboy Cop by Tanya Agler! This forced proximity trope has detective Jase Virtue traveling from Denver back to his hometown in Violet Ridge. He’s visiting under the ruse of “protecting” Cassie O’Neal from her escaped convict half-brother, but in reality, he’s there because Cassie is suspected of aiding her brother in both a bank robbery and in hiding the money that’s never been found. Cassie is a single mom raising two kids on the farm where she grew up. She’s worked very hard over the years to make the farm into the business it is today. Jase just thinks it’s evidence that she must be the accomplice since it takes money to run a business. Will he find that his suspicions are valid, or is Cassie really innocent?

I love a good forced proximity trope, and this is a great one. As far as Cassie’s children are concerned, Jase is staying there as a farm hand, and he is actually a good one since he grew up on a ranch close by. Agler describes the farm setting so well! I actually felt like I was there smelling the dirt as she harvested veggies and smelling the muffins she baked. I love the chickens and the cute things that happen with them! It didn’t quite make me want to be a farmer (who wants to get up and do farm chores?!), but I did want to be a regular visitor to her farm stand. As the weeks pass into fall, Cassie sets up a corn maze and pumpkin picking and that just made me want to visit even more! Throughout the weeks, Jase and Cassie begin falling in love, and it’s so sweet. I loved how much he fit into their family and how he was able to share things with his own family.

Cassie is such a strong woman. She’s had to raise her kids basically alone since her husband left her when their youngest was still a baby. She worked very hard to bring the farm back to its former glory, and she’s done it all for her kids. It takes grit and determination to run a farm 24/7, and she’s got it. Yet, she’s gentle and feminine. Not only does she run her farm, but she’s also started a community garden and is very involved with the senior citizens center. I want her energy! Jase is a complex character, and I think he’s the character who changed the most as the book progressed. I enjoyed how Agler made him become more vulnerable without losing his strength and masculinity. The side characters add to the entertainment value of the book with their wide variety of personalities.

If you’re a fan of heartwarming, sweet romance with low spice, I highly recommend you read A Family for the Cowboy Cop in which Agler brings the story to life with its rural setting, strong characters, and entertaining plot! 5 stars!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

[Hallie (Hallie Reads)]

for a breath of fresh air and country living, take a trip to violet ridge, colorado with tanya agler’s a family for the cowboy cop!

detective jase is on the case 😉 he’s back in his hometown to catch an escaped thief, and all the clues point to farmer cassie o’neal being an accomplice. but of course, the more he spends time with her while waiting for the escapee to make an appearance, the more he has to question if those clues are right.

while trying to do his job, too, spending time with his family pushes jase to confront the past from which he’s been running, while spending time with cassie makes him question if the future he planned is the future he wants. all this intertwines with sweet and humorous moments along the way and makes for a wholesome, heartwarming read.

if you’re in the mood for a quick romance, a bit of mystery, and fall vibes, check this book out.


✨ read if you enjoy:
—heartwarming romance with a touch of mystery
—a single mom + cute kids
—a detective main character
—returning home
—fall vibes
—a (colorado) country setting (where everybody knows everybody)
—a quick read


✨ considerations:
—language: none
—spice: kisses only
—faith: none
—content: mentions of loss of parents, fatal car accident, divorce, and absentee parent


(i received a complimentary copy from the author. i was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions i have expressed are my own.)

[Sophie Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book from the author. All opinions are mine.

This is my first introduction to the Violet Ridge series and I was hooked instantly. Jase, a brooding detective returns home to investigate the whereabouts of a criminal who happens to be related to Cassidy, a girl he went to high school with who runs the family farm. Even though she is divorced with 2 kids and beloved by her community, his mission is to find the evidence to prove her guilt. Instead, he finds his own heart under arrest with her honest, innocent, and hardworking character.

You will want to wear your favorite fall sweater and curl up with a steaming cup of cider to read this book. It has all the fall feels and then some.

Now I know why Harlequin calls it the heartwarming line of stories - it really is!

[Patty Duplechin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Detective Jase Virtue was sent back to his home town of Violet Ridge, Colorado to find an escaped prisoner, Keith, who robbed a bank. He’s checking out the half-sister, Cassie O’Nell. His boss seems to think she’s involved. Now he’s there to catch her and her brother and find the money. Jase will also get to see his family at their ranch. Jase rarely visits. He has a secret. He blames his six year old self for the accident. He never told his family that he carries the weight of their death. What would his family think of him if he told them that it’s his fault? Would the never want to see him again? When he meets the beautiful, smart, hardworking single mother, he’s surprised. Surely she guilty. Then he meets her children. He feels like maybe he’s wrong about her. He knows when this is solved he will head back to Denver, with a chance at a promotion. That’s what he’s wanted for a long time. As he spends time with Cassie and the kids, he wonders what it would be like to have them as his family. He didn’t realize that he was lonely. They wormed themselves into his heart. Now all he has to do is prove she’s innocent of wrongdoing and catch her brother and the money. Cassie can’t believe that she’s starting to have feelings for Jase. She needs to cool it especially after her first marriage ended. It’s her, the kids and the farm. Cassie helps Jase look for the missing money. Will Jase and Cassie find the money? Will they catch her brother and his partner? Will he go back to Denver or will he stay with his family? The characters are wonderful. I was rooting for Cassie, her children, the animals and Jase. She deserves a second chance at love. Her children deserves to have a wonderful father figure who loves them, in their lives. Jase finally needs to forgive himself. Realize that it wasn’t his fault. That his family will always love him. I couldn’t put it down. Tanya Agler makes you feel like you’re right there with the characters. Worth the read. I received this book for my honest review. I give it voluntarily.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Detective Jase Virtue has come back to his hometown with the express mission to capture and bring into custody Keith Yablonsky, who recently escaped prison. Jase is also looking for Keith's accomplice who he strongly suspects is Keith's sister, Cassie. Since Cassie just might be the accomplice, Jase heads to her farm in his hometown to set up surveillance and catch her in any wrongdoing. Problem is, she is scared of her brother and only wants to protect her two children along with their livelihood.

Cassie and Jase are no strangers. They were once school friends. However, that does not stop Jase's suspicions of Cassie at all. For whatever reason, Jase was convinced Cassie was guilty and he was going to stay close by, even helping out on the farm, until she slipped up. Throw in her two precocious kids and Jase will not help but fall in love with Cassie and her little family, if he can get over that he might just be wrong.

Cassie just wanted to stop living under the judgement of others for what her brother did and is doing. She thought that she had finally got past all that, until Jase comes and all her fears and insecurities revive again.

This was a cute story, it did seem to take a little bit to get going. There was so much mistrust and judgement, at first coming from Jase, that he was hard to like at first. He does have things riding on this capture, so he was a bit dogged in his pursuit. Also, Cassie is divorced, which made the story a bit sad for me, but she is a single mother trying to make the best of life for her kids.

I was provided a copy of this novel from the author. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.

https://pausefortales.blogspot.com/20...

[Kendra Neal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartwarming Romance books are a favorite book series of mine. I have become a fan of Tanya Agler over the past couple of years. A Family for the Cowboy Cop is Book 3 in the A Violet Ridge series I have not read the first 2 books in this series YET!

WOW, the storyline definitely had an unexpected twist to the story. The setting is Violet Ridge, Colorado. The 2 main characters are Cassie O'Neal and Detective Jase Virtue. Cassie and her 2 young children have gone through a lot in the past year and have come home to Violet Ridge. Jase Virtue has been sent to Violet Ridge on assignment. Cassie's brother has escaped prison and Jase is assigned to capture him and investigate Cassie for any possible accomplice connections to her brother. Jase and Cassie know each other from Childhood, as Jase also grew up in Violet Ridge. I LOVE that Jase becomes Cassie's Farm Hand to be close to the Farm and closely monitor Cassie. Cassie is afraid for her children and herself as fears her brother might show up and cause strife. Jase sees how much Cassie loves her kids and begins to wonder if his hunches about her are wrong. The story really begins to get sweet and romantic when Jase and Cassie begin to realize they are having feelings for one another. Jase really begins to dream how it would be nice to have an instant family and Cassie believes that having someone by her side to help with the Farm and Kids would be something she would want. The current situation has them both examining their past and knowing they can overcome to move forward in life. The book is one of Forgiveness, Faith, and Second Chances. I HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Heartwarming Romance books. GREAT BOOK!

[Christi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Family for the Cowboy Cop starts out with an interesting premise. Jase is on a mission to find an escaped convict who just so happens to be tied to an old school acquaintance. There is a moody, mysterious feeling that settles over the narrative as Jase reconnects with his past and with Cassie, who is the town sweetheart and has fought for years to be rid of the stigma surrounding her family name.

The connection to both Jase and Cassie, as well as Cassie’s two young children, was instant. While Jase had his suspicions, I knew Cassie was the sweetest and only wanted to do what was right for her and her family. One tidbit that threw me off with this novel was the chapter lengths. The first few chapters were quite a bit longer than the rest of the story, which I felt hurt the pacing and made me struggle to engage, but once I was able to lock in, I was smitten. The mystery that surrounds Cassie’s half-brother’s whereabouts is a lingering question that was an almost constant tug as the pages turned quicker and quicker as I had to know how it was all going to end.

The combination of faith, love, and mystery was intoxicating, and while it was a slower start, the rest of the story more than made up for this with a wonderful message, characters that you can’t help but fall for, and an enjoyable epilogue that gives the best happily-ever-after. It doesn’t get much better than this!

*I have voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book which I received from the author/publisher. All views and opinions expressed are completely honest, and my own.

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Family for the Cowboy Cop by Tanya Agler is a charming story. I enjoyed getting to know Jase, Cassie, and Cassie’s children. We also get to catch up with Jase’s family (from the first two A Violet Ridge Novels). I enjoyed the humor in the story. I had to laugh when Blossom, one of the hens, took a liking to Jase. I liked Cassie’s farm and what she was trying to accomplish. I do not know how she managed to get so much done on her own (I would have been worn out by lunch). Trust, forgiveness, family, and love are some of the themes in the story. The first couple of chapters were a tad long, so the story had a slow start. Once I got past those chapters, the story picked up. I liked the tension in the story courtesy of the escaped criminal (had me wondering what would happen next). A Family for the Cowboy Cop is the third A Violet Ridge Novel. It can be read as a standalone for those new to the series. I am looking forward to reading the next A Violet Ridge Novel.

[Heather Pickett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jase Virtue is back in his hometown. He's there to protect the sister (and her children) of a bank robber...or is he? Cassie O'Neal doesn't know he's investigating her as a potential accomplice!
Jase never planned on developing feelings for Cassie. But he's got secrets. Not only is he investigating her, but he has his reasons for staying away from Violet Ridge in the first place.
I loved A Family for the Cowboy Cop! Author Tanya Aglar kept me engaged between the love story, secrets, sweet children, a little hen, and the residents of Violet Ridge. This is a town I'd love to live in. Plus this book has my favorite, an epilogue!
I received a complimentary copy of this book, but my opinion is entirely my own.

[Rachel Williamson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read several books by this author and this was another fun story set in Violet Ridge and Lazy River Dude Ranch. Detective Jase returns to his hometown to investigate a fugitive on the run and to see if his old friend Cassie had any leads to the fugitive's whereabouts. He has a hard time trusting Cassie but also wanting to protect her and her family.
I liked reading about Cassie and her two kids and all the things they did with their produce stand and farming. I felt like I was right along side them working and having fun!
Sweet, clean, family romance with some drama and real life struggles. This story was easy to read, fun characters and interesting story line. I loved it!
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions and views expressed are my own.

[Kate Vale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another in A Violet Ridge Novel series, in which detective Jase Virtue is tasked with finding an escaped criminal whom his boss thinks may have gone home to where his half-sister, farmer and single mother Cassie O'Neal runs a truck farm business.

Jase doesn't think she's guilty of having collaborated with the criminal, but he has to prove it and catch the man before he does more damage and maybe even threatens Cassie and her two young children. Can he do it?

He's attracted to Cassie but fears that she will never trust him after she learns why he's kept distance between his own family for so many years. Will he catch the bad guy, get the girl and maybe even move back home to Violet Ridge? After all, he's supposed to become Chief at his Denver PD office.

[Mandi Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heartwarming mix of romance and suspense! Denver detective Jase Virtue’s return to Violet Ridge is supposed to be quick and straightforward, catch the escaped bank robber and leave. But everything changes when he crosses paths with Cassie O’Neal, a single mom caught between loyalty to her family and suspicion of being tied to the crime.

I loved the balance of danger, trust, and tender family moments. Cassie’s children (and even the little hen!) bring warmth and humor to the story, while the slow build of trust between Jase and Cassie makes their romance feel genuine and touching. It’s a wholesome, emotional read with the perfect blend of mystery, heart, and hope.

Fans of small-town romance and Harlequin’s wholesome love stories will definitely enjoy this one.

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and I'm loving this series. Cassie O'Neal thought detective Jase Virture was there to protect her and her children from her criminal half brother, when, in fact, he was there to investigate her. Jase bonded with her son but her daughter was harder to win over. The hen, however, was a push over. Highly recommend.

[Beth Carpenter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the characters in this story, Jace and Cassie and the kids, as well as the suspense of when and if the half-brother would show up and what Jace's secret was that had kept him away from his family. And of course there was Blossom, the cuddly hen. Fun read.

[Harlequin Books]

Western Romance, Small Town & Rural Fiction, Wholesome Romance
Miniseries
A Violet Ridge Novel (Book #3)

[Marty Frost · Rating 5 out of 5]

It only took me a couple of hours to read this charming romance story.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

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My review can also be found at https://novelsalive.com/2025/07/30/4-...

I’ve been a fan of the world that Tanya Agler has created in Violet Ridge, Colorado, first with her Rodeo Stars of Violet Ridge series and now her Violet Ridge spinoff. So when the request to review A Family for the Cowboy Cop, the third book in the Violet Ridge series, came through my inbox, I couldn’t wait to start reading.

A Family for the Cowboy Cop follows Jase and Cassie. Jase is a detective in Denver, assigned to a case that takes him back to his hometown of Violet Ridge. It happens that he’s searching for Cassie’s half-brother, who has escaped from jail, and the police believe Cassie is his accomplice. I won’t rehash the blurb of the book, but ultimately, Jase needs to find Cassie’s brother and clear her of any wrongdoing as well as come to terms with the growing feelings they have for each other. Throw in a secondary plot dealing with Jase’s family and why he’s been steering clear of town for most of his adult life, and I ended up reading a well-rounded story.

Let’s start with Cassie. I found her almost too good to be true. Everyone in Violet Ridge likes her, and she volunteers at the local senior center. She takes in abandoned pets to find them new homes, runs a farm pretty much single-handedly, and has a farm stand that people flock to in order to get her amazing baked goods. And she’s the perfect single mother to two young kids. I suppose her one flaw is that she’s too trusting. While I would love to have a friend like her, I was exhausted for her. I wish Cassie were less flawless to make her a more dynamic and realistic character, which could have added more depth and conflict to the story.

Jase, on the other hand, has several flaws. He has been harboring a secret from his family, which has kept him isolated from them. He tends to think the worst of people, but that probably mainly stems from his job as a detective on the police force. He’s also one of the good guys, dedicated to those he cares about and to his career. Jase is a more developed and realistic character. Throughout the book, I was rooting for him to solve the mystery and get his act together when it came to his family and Cassie.

While I enjoyed the story, I also got quite frustrated with it. I wanted more conflict. What little conflict there was in the book was resolved too easily. I understand that this is a Harlequin and not part of the Intrigue line, so the mystery aspect wasn’t the primary focus, but it was an integral part of the plot, and I wanted a less rushed resolution. However, given that the focus is primarily on the relationship between Jase and Cassie, which was well-developed and what kept me turning the pages.

Jase and Cassie are a good pairing, and their romance made me smile and sucked me into the story. I definitely recommend this book and series to fans of small-town romances.

I enjoyed A Family for the Cowboy Cop and loved returning to Violet Ridge, revisiting old friends, and meeting new ones.