My Secret With The Cowboy

Sterling Brothers Ranch #2

by Lainey Winters

What’s a girl gotta do to escape her overbearing older brother for a few weeks while she tries to pen the next great romance novel? Move in with her older brother’s best friend, who happens to be a single dad and cowboy, that’s what.

MABLE

College should have been my way out of Willow Ridge, but I’m right back where I started, living with my older brother, which only reignites my crush on his best friend. He’s off limits. Not only because he’s my brother’s best friend, but because he’s a single dad, and he doesn’t let anyone near his son.

WALTER

She’s my best friends little sister. Much, much younger little sister. She’s off limits. My only priority is my son. I’m the only parent he has, and with all the changes happening on the ranch, I’ve got to keep him happy. But then Mable Wiley begs to move in for a few weeks to escape her brother.

And I know my heart won’t survive this.

My Deal with the Cowboy Is a steamy, small town, instalove novella that follows cowboy and single dad Walter Sterling and his best friends little sister, Mable Wiley as they navigate what it means to love someone off limits.

Genres: Westerns

124 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 29, 2025

Reviews

[Curvy Girl Book Nerd (Jen S)]

My Secret with the Cowboy is Book 2 of the Sterling Brothers Ranch series. It's a short and steamy, instalove, OTT, age-gap, forced-proximity, curvy virgin gets her cowboy romance. Mabel is a 24-year-old curvy romance writer. Walter is a 34-year-old hunky cowboy and single dad to the adorable Hudson. He's also her older brother's best friend. Mable has loved him for a while, and Walter likes her too. He's just worried about her brother and his son. When she ends up needing to stay with Walter after damage occurs to her room at her brother's house, things get hot and steamy. They say it's a secret, but their feelings are very real. What happens when it's time to return home? The chemistry between these two was pure fire and we got a very happy ending. I loved it.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Aria]

This book is easy to read, nothing heavy with drama and nothing going with miscommunication like most of love stories. Instalove all the way! I was hoping to read more about Cowboy thing not only they live in ranches but the story is still good.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Chandra Luna]

Mabel returns to her hometown with hopes of a fresh start, not expecting her quiet homecoming to be anything more than that. But a mishap at her brother’s estate quickly changes her plans—and her heart’s trajectory. Now she’s temporarily living with Walter: the boy she crushed on growing up… and the man she may or may not have kissed after one too many drinks the night before.

What began as a slip of the moment sparks something undeniable.

For Walter, that kiss is a turning point. It breaks something open—revealing feelings he’s buried for years and a fierce certainty that Mabel is the one. No more waiting. No more wondering. He’s ready to show her that the kiss was just the beginning of something real, something lasting.

As Mabel navigates her unexpected return, she’s faced not only with old memories but also with the man who’s suddenly very much in her present—and determined to be her future. Walter isn’t playing games. He’s all in. But can he convince Mabel that this isn’t just nostalgia or timing.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Mafia Wife]

She is an aspiring writer lacking real life experience. Home, staying with her brother, when an accident at the house leads to her needing a temporary place to stay she ends up on the ranch with her brother's best friend. The single dad, the one she has secretly had a crush on...what could go wrong. He has been focused on raising his son, not having time for entanglements. But when she is in his house, he doesn't want her to ever leave. This is a sweet story. The second in this series of the Sterling brothers. I love that you get a little check in with the previous brother who fell for his lady in the first book. These two have a sweet story with some spice and a happily ever after.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Victoria]

This is my first book from this series and right from the start I felt a connection to Mable and Walter, I believed in their connection and chemistry, and I really liked seeing them come together. I liked how Walter tried to balance his needs and wants as a Dad with those he had as a Man, I thought that he and Mable suited each other well and I enjoyed the connection and banter Mable had with Hudson. I liked seeing them stand together and go after what they wanted, the support they got from family and seeing them get their HEA.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Callie]

Walter is a widower, a single dad who lives for his son. No time to date, no real desire to. He is hanging out with his brother and his brothers new girlfriend, who was a single mom, at the local bar. He feels a twinge of pain seeing them together, not completely opposed to finding someone, but afraid of disrupting his son’s life.
My Secret With the Cowboy is Sterling Brother’s Ranch, book 2. It’s a great read with great characters and storyline. Grab this and the first one in the series and enjoy. I know I did.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sami]

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5
🌶️/5

🏞️ Second in a series about siblings; Mable & Walter’s story
🏞️ Novella — one-sitting-read
🏞️ Small town
🏞️ Ranch
🏞️ Brother’s best friend
🏞️ Age gap (10 years)
🏞️ Insta-love — he sees her in a new light, her childhood crush turns to something more — one kiss…
🏞️ Single dad
🏞️ Virgin FMC
🏞️ Forced proximity — FMC staying with MMC when she returns to town after a friendship breakdown with her roommates
🏞️ Secret relationship
🏞️ Well established secondary characters (from other novellas)
🏞️ Epilogue
🏞️ Cute & predictable easy read

[Debdutch]

“My Secret with the Cowboy” by Lainey Winters

-A sweet and steamy small-town romance with best friend’s sister and single dad tropes. I received a free copy and am voluntarily sharing my honest thoughts.

Mabel and Walter’s connection is tender, believable, and full of long-held yearning. Their week together turns into forever, with strong family support and no unnecessary drama. Heartfelt, fast-paced, and satisfyingly romantic—an easy favorite for cowboy romance fans.

[Terrie Romero]

I’m still in love

This book was better than the first one. Walter is struggling to do right by his son. Mable has been in love with Walter since she was a teenager. They kiss one night and the dam burst. They ignite a fire that blazes. Can Walter get out of his head and hold tight to love? Can Mable stop being afraid and grasp that love? This was sweet, fast and cute. A must read.

[Knight Linda]

Mabel had been in love with Walter for years, but she thought no one knew. Then she had to go stay a week with him, while her brother's house was being worked on. They decided on a secret relationship for the week. What happened at the end of the week?.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Val]

This is a great story of a brother’s best friend falling for the little sister.
Walter has to be careful with his son, Hudson, so he asks Mabel to keep their relationship secret. Can they keep being a secret or can they be more?.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Bailey]

it was a sweet cute story I really liked it. Them coming together was nice, wish there was a bit more but for a fast paced it was good.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[laura.lovesreading]

Mabel and Walter have a chemistry and connection, that speak through the pages.
I immensely enjoyed seeing them come together, the change in their relationship and the support of their family.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Linnette Parris]

Maybe

She’s loved him forever, he knows she’s grown up but she’s still his best friends sister. The story filled my heart, the people are real and engaging. I absoluloved the happy ending.

[Simone]

3.75 stars

[Jas's booktok]

Review...
Book 2 in the series and Walters story is cute. Age gap, Best friends little sister, single dad.... add to your tbr...

[R]

steamier than the last book let’s see how the next one is

[Taylah Thompson]

Short, sweet and fun.
A great pallet cleanser with likeable characters and an enjoyable brother’s best friend romance.