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Saltwater Cowboy
When city girl Rose Solace packed her bags to move to Wippowa Island, she thought she had it all figured out. But when one major piece of her fresh start falls apart, she’s left reeling in a place brimming with southern charm, untamed beauty, and a way of life that feels worlds away from her own.
Determined to rebuild from the ground up, Rose is focused on starting fresh—until she meets Wells Calloway, a rugged cowboy with a quiet strength and a past that rivals her own. Between sun-drenched fields and late-night bonfires, Wells becomes both her biggest challenge and her unexpected anchor.
As Wells introduces her to the simple joys of southern living, Rose begins to uncover not just the island's magic, but pieces of herself she thought were lost forever.
As the island’s winds of change sweep through her life, Rose must Will she cling to the plans that didn’t pan out, or take a leap of faith on a love as wild and untamed as Wippowa itself?
Determined to rebuild from the ground up, Rose is focused on starting fresh—until she meets Wells Calloway, a rugged cowboy with a quiet strength and a past that rivals her own. Between sun-drenched fields and late-night bonfires, Wells becomes both her biggest challenge and her unexpected anchor.
As Wells introduces her to the simple joys of southern living, Rose begins to uncover not just the island's magic, but pieces of herself she thought were lost forever.
As the island’s winds of change sweep through her life, Rose must Will she cling to the plans that didn’t pan out, or take a leap of faith on a love as wild and untamed as Wippowa itself?
404 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 25, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
September 27, 2025
Ashley McConnell has done it again! "A brilliant, laugh out loud comedy with black cat, golden retriever dynamics and a wonderfully atmospheric aesthetic!"
Saltwater Cowboy is a beautifully written, heartfelt romance that swept me away with its charming setting, unforgettable characters, and emotional depth. From the very first page, I was hooked, and by the end, I was laughing and crying in equal measure.
The story follows Rose Solace, a city girl who moves to Wippowa Island for a fresh start, only to have her plans fall apart. Enter Wells Calloway, a rugged cowboy with a quiet strength and a past of his own. As they navigate life on the island surrounded by sun drenched fields, bonfires, and farm animals. Wells becomes both Rose's biggest challenge and her unexpected anchor. Their chemistry crackles off the page, making this slow burn romance one of my favorite reads of the year!
Wells is the perfect book boyfriend, kind, patient, and just a little bit broken in a way that makes you root for him even more. His love for his farm, his animals, and the way he sees Rose for exactly who she is? Swoon-worthy! And then there's Rose, complicated, funny, and full of life. She's messy in the best way, and watching her grow throughout the story was such a joy. Their black cat/golden retriever dynamic had me grinning the whole time!
Beyond the romance, Saltwater Cowboy has an incredible atmosphere that makes you want to pack up and move to Wippowa Island yourself. The small town charm, the Southern aesthetic, and, of course, the farm animals (I loved the dog!) all add to the book's cozy, immersive feel.
Some of my favorite moments? The banter between Wells and Rose, their sweet and intimate swing moments, and these beautiful quotes that I'll be thinking about for a long time:
"I see you, Rose. All of you. And I don't need you to be anything other than who you are. You don't have to prove anything to me."
If you love heartfelt romances with a strong sense of place, laugh out loud moments, and a hero who will absolutely steal your heart, Saltwater Cowboy is a must-read. This one is definitely staying on my favorites shelf!
Saltwater Cowboy is a beautifully written, heartfelt romance that swept me away with its charming setting, unforgettable characters, and emotional depth. From the very first page, I was hooked, and by the end, I was laughing and crying in equal measure.
The story follows Rose Solace, a city girl who moves to Wippowa Island for a fresh start, only to have her plans fall apart. Enter Wells Calloway, a rugged cowboy with a quiet strength and a past of his own. As they navigate life on the island surrounded by sun drenched fields, bonfires, and farm animals. Wells becomes both Rose's biggest challenge and her unexpected anchor. Their chemistry crackles off the page, making this slow burn romance one of my favorite reads of the year!
Wells is the perfect book boyfriend, kind, patient, and just a little bit broken in a way that makes you root for him even more. His love for his farm, his animals, and the way he sees Rose for exactly who she is? Swoon-worthy! And then there's Rose, complicated, funny, and full of life. She's messy in the best way, and watching her grow throughout the story was such a joy. Their black cat/golden retriever dynamic had me grinning the whole time!
Beyond the romance, Saltwater Cowboy has an incredible atmosphere that makes you want to pack up and move to Wippowa Island yourself. The small town charm, the Southern aesthetic, and, of course, the farm animals (I loved the dog!) all add to the book's cozy, immersive feel.
Some of my favorite moments? The banter between Wells and Rose, their sweet and intimate swing moments, and these beautiful quotes that I'll be thinking about for a long time:
"I see you, Rose. All of you. And I don't need you to be anything other than who you are. You don't have to prove anything to me."
If you love heartfelt romances with a strong sense of place, laugh out loud moments, and a hero who will absolutely steal your heart, Saltwater Cowboy is a must-read. This one is definitely staying on my favorites shelf!
November 28, 2025
Ashley has hit small town rom com perfection out of the park again with this one. This book had everything you need to curl up on the couch with a coffee a blanket and all the feels. Small town romance, cowboy handsome leading man and a slow burn that was perfect. Totally recommend ❤️
June 18, 2025
Ashley has done it again and better than ever! Wippowa is cemented as my favorite fictional town and Rose and Wells story is her (imo) best yet! Rose’s vulnerability and raw heartbreak of feeling like she’s too much and not enough at the same time is relatable on every level, and the journey she takes to loving herself is perfection! 5 stars for this sweet, coastal cowboy romcom.
June 29, 2026
Omg this was everything!! Perfect cowboy summer romance. Wells is the absolute perfect saltwater cowboy and the sweet small gestures that he does for Rose are absolutely swoon worthy!! I didn't know they had another book to their story but I'm so excited to read it!!
April 13, 2026
Totally not my normal read, but I LOVED this! I highlighted more things in this book than I have in a long time. Can’t wait to read the next one! Rose + Wells set the bar high lol this was a fun surprise!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews