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Grass Valley Cowboys #3

The Cowboy's Summer Love: A Sweet Small-Town Romance

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Wild and unpredictable, Travis doesn't want to be tied down until he encounters the girl who gives him roots.

After six years in the service and two tours of duty in the middle of a war zone, Travis Thompson eagerly returns home to Grass Valley, ready to resume his life on the Triple T Ranch with his two older brothers. Ever the wild-child, Travis doesn’t disappoint as he rolls from one adventure to another in his quest to keep his adrenaline pumping. He needs a release for the tension constantly building inside him, especially after he discovers the girl he’s loved his entire life just moved back to Grass Valley.

In love with Travis Thompson since she was old enough to notice boys, Tess Morgan can’t stay away from him no matter how hard she tries. Convinced Travis sees her only as his best friend’s sister, she wants him to realize she is the woman who could love him deeply and passionately.

Will the two of them finally surrender to love? Anything is possible as summer spins its spell at the Triple T!

Audible Audio

First published April 26, 2012

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About the author

Shanna Hatfield

160 books1,339 followers
A hopeless romantic with a bit of sarcasm thrown in for good measure, Shanna Hatfield is a best-selling author of clean romantic fiction written with a healthy dose of humor.

In addition to blogging and eating too much chocolate, she is completely smitten with her husband, lovingly known as Captain Cavedweller.

Shanna creates character-driven romances with realistic heroes and heroines. Her historical westerns have been described as “reminiscent of the era captured by Bonanza and The Virginian” while her contemporary works have been called “laugh-out-loud funny, and a little heart-pumping sexy without being explicit in any way.”

She is a member of Western Writers of America, Women Writing the West, and Romance Writers of America.

To learn more about Shanna or the books she writes, visit her blog http://shannahatfield.com
or find out news at her facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/shanna.hatfield

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5 stars
651 (62%)
4 stars
273 (26%)
3 stars
98 (9%)
2 stars
19 (1%)
1 star
3 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews
Profile Image for Glenda Kinard.
223 reviews5 followers
May 3, 2020
Once again, I needed a “lift my spirits book”!!
Well, I did I ever pick the perfect book!! The book of course, had to be a Shanna Hatfield, no other would satisfy.
The Cowboy’s Summer Love was the perfect choice, simply phenomenal.
Travis and Tess have been in love with each other since childhood and lost touch when Travis went off to military service. Now both grown adults and once again seeing each other for the first time in years and yes, the spark each have held for other is still there, although, both think that the other only sees them as that same childhood friend.
Will the burdens and wounds Travis carries from his years in the service, keep Tess away?
Can Tess let Travis know she truly loves him more than just a childhood friend and she wants to help him get over whatever is plaguing him? He keeps so much bottled up and isn’t ready to talk. Can she break his protective shield he’s hiding behind?
As always, Shanna Hatfield deals with real life problems with true compassion. This book is an absolute must read. I could not put it down once I started reading it!! Thank You Shanna Hatfield for once again, making me smile!!
Profile Image for Tonya Lucas.
1,266 reviews21 followers
May 24, 2020
I am forever amazed when I begin a Shanna Hatfield book. The heavenly-bliss is what romantic readers crave.
She is one amazing and talented author.
Her ability to bring love and joy into everyone’s heart through her books, is truly special.
Every time I read her books, I feel like I have become part of another loving family.

Travis and Tess are meant to be, if only they can break through the barrier holding them captive.
Sometimes the demons we fight inside ourselves need to be released and set free.
Often, it takes a special person to help release those demons, face reality, and truly capture what’s been right in front of you, an entire lifetime.

The Grass Valley Cowboy Series is my favorite.
It truly captures life on the ranch, family values, and God’s Glorious Grace.
Profile Image for romancejunkie.
390 reviews86 followers
August 7, 2020
Travis and Tess have been in love with each other their whole lives, so when they get close again to each other during summer, their feelings take hold and they finally admit their love and find their happily-ever-after. A gentle and sweet romance.
Profile Image for Kirsi Johnson.
309 reviews4 followers
February 17, 2016
Fun, Clean Read

This was the first book I've read by Ms. Hatfield, but it certainly won't be the last. I started with the third book in the Grass Valley series by happenstance more than anything else. I don't think I suffered for not having read the others first, though I imagine I would have appreciated some of the relationships in this book a little more if I had read the books in order. This particular entry follows the love story of the youngest Thompson son, Travis, with the girl next door, Tess, as well as Travis' journey with PTSD.

Overall, this was a fun, clean (there were some saucy kisses for those who don't like that), modern cowboy romance. Worth the read!
Profile Image for Jessie.
1,512 reviews90 followers
April 3, 2016
More Cowboy Fun

I have loved meeting the Thompson brothers through this series. Each book can be read independently. This book was about the last brother, Travis, who has recently returned from Iraq. He's still fighting some demons from his experiences there. Luckily, he has his brothers looking out for him, and his childhood friend, Tess.
It was fun watching Travis and Tess realize that they both had feelings for one another. There were deep moments to this book, tempered by some lighthearted flirting.

Content: clean (no language, mild descriptions of violence and medical injuries, kissing/making out)
1,260 reviews
September 18, 2020
Tess

Although I enjoyed this book it was not quite as good as the previous ones. Read and Travis grew up together but lost touch when he enlisted. Upon returning home they reconnect.
565 reviews
August 5, 2012


My favorite book of the Grass Valley Cowboys series so far. Another good happily-ever-after.
Profile Image for Robin.
Author 3 books30 followers
August 4, 2020
I was so happy to discover this book was about the third brother from a series which I'd started a couple of years ago. It was nice to see all three brothers' romances and how different each was from the other. This book had an interesting plot and while I didn't always agree with the MCs decisions, there was a happy ending.
A couple of things I'm learning about this author with which I'm not enamored: 1. She can be repetitive concerning minor details about secondary characters. 2. She can also be repetitive about the MCs views on certain things. I'm not sure whether this is because of her own perception, or a result of the characters, but since it seems to happen in each book I've read from her, I'd say it was indicative of her own perception. Either way, I found each successive instance to be like a gnat in the ointment which kept coming back to buzz in my ear.
Other than that, this book was a good, clean, cozy romance, light on the inspiration factor if you look for people who are working in ministry or doing some kind of ministering to others, but heavier on the inspiration factor if what you look for are signs in a person's everyday life...if that makes sense. These characters show their faith in the way they follow their parents' teaching, and also in the way they return to the faith if they have strayed.
It would have been nice to see prayers being lifted up regularly and not just in case of emergencies or distress. But I think concerning the hero, it's no surprise he'd have been neglecting to do this. His mindset made it fit his actions. But that should not have been so in the case of the heroine, in my opinion.
If you enjoy cozy, slightly inspirational romance, which is clean with a dash of spice, then you might enjoy this book.
607 reviews5 followers
September 2, 2020
Awesome, heartwarming, funny, clean romance!

This is Book 3 in a series, but it easily stands alone. However, it was SO good that I just bought 3 more books in the series. I can't wait to see how Cade & Trey got together, & same with Trent & Lindsey. They are so awesome in this bokk, & Cass is such a sweetheart I HAVE to read her story. She had her 1st birthday party ever in this story. I loved how the author took Travis's pain & nightmares & Tess's insecurities over her weight & brought them closer. I was a little surprised though that Travis never had THAT certain convetsation with Henry, the ranch hand, as promised. But everything else was covered superbly! I was never left wondering about a certain incident or person as I've done in so many romance novels. Kudos to a perfectly charming love story! I loved the quotes on love at each chapter's beginning. I had 29 wonderful years with my husband before cancer took him to Heaven. We never took each other for granted & always put the other's needs before our own. If married couples could just do those 2 things, like many of the authors' quotes suggest, there would be no divorces or unhappy marriages! Now to read the 1st love story about another one of the handsome Thompson brothers !
Profile Image for Judy.
1,864 reviews13 followers
May 2, 2020
❤️❤️ Tess and Travis ❤️❤️

Oh, how I loved this story! Especially the last third of the book...solid romance between two people who loved each other since childhood, but neither admitting until now. It was such a blessing to read of their newfound love for so many chapters with no conflict or angst. Travis loved Tess so much all those years he was deployed it was almost too much to take in. What a romantic story!

The steaminess of Cady and Trey's story was back...but nothing too inappropriate. Still surprised how Lindsey and Trent's story was so mild.

This story especially touched my heart as our youngest son came home from Afghanistan a broken man. A week before he wanted to give up, God brought our now daughter-in-love into his life! He finally has his smile back ❤️

Lindsey and Trent's wedding was magical!

Looking froward to Brice's story next!
508 reviews2 followers
August 2, 2023
Childhood sweethearts find their happily ever after.

Loved being back with the Thompson boys. Travis and Tessa story was sweet. It was steamy to just like Trey and Cady. Those two men know how to make your heart go pitter pat. Travis had a lot of demons to work through and he decided to recluse. The last time he did something recluse it brought he and Tessie closer she became his honeybee. Trey,Trent, C adenceand Lindsay and little Cass cared for Travis a lot.PTSD is awful thing to go through. Tessie and his brothers helped him get through it. Travis proposal to his little honey bee was sweet in their old fort. Looking forward to Denni and Hart story and Ben and Harper. I'm happy for all the Three Thompson men they each got great women . Looking forward to when Trent and Travis become fathers. I hope Trey and cadence have one of their own.
Profile Image for Dorothy Roller.
480 reviews3 followers
August 3, 2019
I loved this third book in the Grass Valley series.
Ms. Hatfield did a lot of research for this one as I know she does for all her historical books but this one was in need of special medical information and wow she amazes me each time.
I couldn’t put this one down but I had to.
This is the story of the third Thompson brother Travis, a vet who hasn’t been home long and has a lot of issues going one.
I highly recommend you read this moving romance story that has a lot of action and promise, disappointment and an HEA.
This one will move you to your core. It also was a magical wedding for the second Thompson brother and his bride to be and a special little love that brightens up the who Thompson Ranch.
Get this book and I know you won’t regret it.
Profile Image for Marty Moore.
810 reviews3 followers
July 12, 2026
Awesome Story

Tess and Travis have known each other all their lives. They grew up playing with each other and their siblings, they went through school together and that gangly, uncertainty of the teen years, they went through years of separation while Travis was deployed, but, when Travis came home after he left the military, they weren't sure just what to do with each other or how to find their way back to that easy comfort they used to have. They each loved the other but, didn't think the other felt the same. The family all could see how they felt about each other, could they help them get together? This is the story of Tess and Travis.
Profile Image for Joyce Marion.
582 reviews7 followers
August 1, 2026
Tessa has 2 brothers and they grew up with the 3 Thompson brothers. She always had a lot of spunk to put up with 5 boys. Now they are grown. Tessa has always loved Travis, but he is an adrenaline junkie. When he got back from the Army, he had a hard time dealing with all that had happened overseas. He wouldn't talk about it with his family. He just did one extreme sport after another. Tessa doesn't want someone who is always going to be putting himself in danger. Through time spent together, Travis realizes that he needs to talk about what happened to him overseas and find healing from the nightmares that still plague him. So sweet.
Profile Image for Kame.
794 reviews38 followers
February 1, 2019
I am a sucker for this kind of story.
Travis comes home from his military service trying to learn how to cope with all he has seen, factor in Tess his childhood friend he has secretly loved his whole life.

Then you get to spend even more time with the Thompson family.

No matter who else has a book in this series - this will probably be my favorite.

I would call it more of a sweet romance than Christian - to me ylu need more than mentioning you are a Christian along with prayers before meals to be Christian Fiction.

KU - 3.99 sales price
Profile Image for Maria Loeber.
164 reviews
January 8, 2024
This story was a little heartbreaking, a little confusing, a little "why on earth would you think that??", a good amount of fun, and a lot of sweet and comforting. The series is a little too good to be true, but it is heart warming and the characters just get to you... I really enjoyed reading this as a quick feel good novel, and if you like romance, chemistry and cowboys you should give this series a chance... Travis and Tess were very sweet even if they made me roll my eyes a couple of times, but... Which idiot in love wouldn't make you roll your eyes?? Hehe
Profile Image for  The Flipped Page (Susan K).
1,935 reviews41 followers
April 5, 2024
Cute, fun, contemporary Western romance

Romance, sweet, contemporary, western; series but stand alone read
Travis and Tess’ romance is a sweet fall, friends to much better.
Many obstacles block their way including Travis’ PTSD, crazy thrill seeking adrenaline high activities, and general crazy. They finally realize they are much better than friends, and Travis finally gets help for his PTSD after realizing it might cost him more than his prude by not getting help for it.
Sweet fall, lovely attraction, fun romance.
91 reviews
January 27, 2021
Couldn’t connect the dots

I wanted to like the storyline but early in the book the two lead characters were determined to resist their attraction to each other, and the author did not connect the dots as to why. It took nearly eight or nine chapters before I got the hint as to why. It seemed like the perfect ending, but then the book kept going with redundant scenarios. I think it needed some serious editing.
Profile Image for Vickie Raynor.
1,229 reviews17 followers
August 22, 2023
I love everything I read from this author. This one is by far my favorite yet! Right from the start, my heart fell for Travis. His character was strong and vulnerable, most of all, lovable. Tess, long time friend and always love interest. Watching her struggle over Travis and still be there was inspiring. I was left in tears multiple times and many laughs over a special little girl. Cass was a great addition.
235 reviews2 followers
October 26, 2023
cute romance

Everyone of this series novels is a pleasure to read. I especially enjoy it is a clean read and the characters step out from the very first sentence and grab your attention. Shanna is gifted at fleshing out her characters and their surroundings. Travis and Honeybee (her nickname from Travis) have known each other all their lives and been in love just about that long. Join them as the stumble towards their reality of “happy

Profile Image for Soleil Reader.
214 reviews3 followers
June 14, 2025
I enjoyed this story so much that I can't wait to grab the previous and the next ones in the series. I like stories about army vet and watch them fight and win against all the nasty thoughts they have. I like to witness their wins despite their struggles. I appreciate their unselfishness: they lost so much for their country.
Tess is a sweet bowl of ice cream while Travis is a tough pepper. And the result is amazing!
Clean and sweet.
Be aware of: ptsd/hot kisses
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for MaryEllen.
3,175 reviews34 followers
October 19, 2025
Travis and Tess have been in love with each other since they were kids, but they don't believe the other feels the same.
Both return to their hometown after years away and finally find their HEA, but not after a tough road.

This story was a bit steamier than other Shanna Hatfield books I've read but never crossed the line into inappropriate.

The plot and characters were both realistic and enjoyable.
324 reviews3 followers
June 4, 2017
They have loved each other forever.

Read and Travis grew up together. They have each loved the other but never let them know. She finally gives up on Travis and starts to date a nice doctor. Of course this is when Travis realized he doesn't want to love without her. A nice romance with heat but not explicit scenes.
159 reviews
August 6, 2019
Sweet read

Great families and great mains (and secondaries!) in this story of Tess and Travis, (who sometimes get a little too passionate). I appreciate the way the author dealt with Travis’ experiences. A number of references to prayer and getting reconnected with church and the pastor.
28 reviews
September 12, 2020
I've read two books in this series and liked them both. When reading them I can't stop. I want to know what's next. Shaman Hatfield is just that kind of author. This story highlighted the struggles of PTSD , the endurance of a love and family values.

The storyline involves a man and a woman who grew up together as neighbors and best friends. When they both went off to college and the service they didn't keep in touch. They have one returned home. I like the style of the authors writing. You find yourself as part of the family.
54 reviews
February 3, 2021
Summer love

This was a great story. The men in the military, hardly ever return home unscaved. To know that your family is there for you has to be a big plus. A lasting romance for the boys of the triple t ranch has to be a great read and it was. I look forward to other books you have written.
2,408 reviews13 followers
July 5, 2024
The Cowboy’s Summer Love

This was another great story. This time Travis, the youngest Thompson brother, finds his true love. He recently returned from service over seas. Tess, his child buddy, moves back closer to home. She’s a physical therapist. Each has loved each other since childhood hood but no actions taken on this. The time has arrived, enjoy their story.
28 reviews
October 2, 2017
Love these cowboys!

Started with book 2, but am going to go back to book 1, after reading book 3. The characters are wonderful...Love little Cass and her exuberance! My husband and myself are both wondering when the tv series is coming out!!!
131 reviews
January 29, 2018
The grass valley series

This is the third book in the series about the Triple T Ranch, run by three brothers. This book makes you laugh and cry. I love the quotes at the beginning of each chapter. You will enjoy the family aspects of the story
Profile Image for LUAYNE.
1,953 reviews5 followers
June 30, 2019
4.5 stars

The first three books are good. The first and third are better than the second. Cass is a great character who adds fun to the stories. Each book ends happily. Several grammar errors in each book. Spell check will not find the errors. EX. manager should have been manger.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews