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Capturing the Cowboy
When it’s high heels versus boot heels, something’s gotta give.
When cheery Mia Hawthorne arrives at Whispering Winds Dude Ranch, Silas Crockett sees right through her sunny facade. Mia is here for a two-week anger management program. Calling it R & R and oozing city slicker charm won’t change the storm of anger she’s hiding. Silas knows about weathering black clouds—and the brooding cowboy is determined to help Mia manage her fury.
If Silas can get her to let loose, Mia may find the path to healing. But Mia counters every poke and prod with sunshine and daisies. As their fiery connection intensifies, Mia awakens feelings—and a tragic secret—Silas had buried long ago. Can two hot heads master their demons and recognize that they are truly mad…for each other?
New York Times Bestselling Author
From Harlequin Special Believe in love. Overcome obstacles. Find happiness.
Whispering Winds Ranch
Book 1: Capturing the Cowboy
When cheery Mia Hawthorne arrives at Whispering Winds Dude Ranch, Silas Crockett sees right through her sunny facade. Mia is here for a two-week anger management program. Calling it R & R and oozing city slicker charm won’t change the storm of anger she’s hiding. Silas knows about weathering black clouds—and the brooding cowboy is determined to help Mia manage her fury.
If Silas can get her to let loose, Mia may find the path to healing. But Mia counters every poke and prod with sunshine and daisies. As their fiery connection intensifies, Mia awakens feelings—and a tragic secret—Silas had buried long ago. Can two hot heads master their demons and recognize that they are truly mad…for each other?
New York Times Bestselling Author
From Harlequin Special Believe in love. Overcome obstacles. Find happiness.
Whispering Winds Ranch
Book 1: Capturing the Cowboy
- GenresContemporary Romance
272 pages, Mass Market Paperback
Published April 28, 2026
About the author
Elizabeth Bevarly
393 books160 followersElizabeth Bevarly was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky and earned her BA with honors in English from the University of Louisville in 1983. Although she can’t recall ever wanting to be anything but a novelist-oh, all right, she toyed briefly with becoming an archaeologist, until she realized how awful she looked in khaki and flannel, and there was a brief fling with the interior decorator thing, until she realized she had trouble distinguishing chintz from moiré, and… (Where was I? Oh, yeah. My brilliant career.) Anyway, her career side trips before making the leap to writing included stints working as a bartender, a waitress, a movie theater cashier, a soap-hawker for Crabtree & Evelyn, an apparel-hawker for The Limited, and a bridal registry consultant for a major department store. She also did time as an editorial assistant for a medical journal, where she learned the correct spellings and meanings of a variety of words (like microscopy and histological) which, with any luck at all, she will never use again in this life.
She wrote her first novel when she was twelve years old. It was 32 pages long-and that was with college rule notebook paper-and featured three girls named Liz, Marianne and Cheryl, who explored the mysteries of a haunted house. Her friends Marianne and Cheryl proclaimed it “Brilliant! Spellbinding! Kept me up past dinnertime reading!” Those rave reviews only kindled the fire inside her to write more.
Since sixth grade, Elizabeth has gone on to complete more than 60 works of contemporary romance. Her novels regularly appear on the USA Today and Waldenbooks bestseller lists, and The Thing About Men was a New York Times Extended List bestseller. She’s been nominated for the prestigious RITA Award, has won the coveted National Readers’ Choice Award, and Romantic Times magazine has seen fit to honor her with two-count ‘em TWO-Career Achievement Awards. Her books have been translated into two dozen languages and published in three dozen countries, and there are more than ten million copies in print worldwide. She has claimed as residences Washington, DC, northern Virginia, southern New Jersey and Puerto Rico, but she now resides back in her native Kentucky with her husband and son and two very troubled cats where she fully intends to remain.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
April 30, 2026
4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | A heartfelt and engaging start to a promising ranch series
Capturing the Cowboy by Elizabeth Bevarly delivers a compelling blend of emotional depth, character growth, and classic opposites-attract romance, set against the warm and immersive backdrop of Whispering Winds Ranch.
At the centre of the story are Mia Hawthorne and Silas Crockett—two characters carrying far more beneath the surface than they initially reveal. Mia’s bright, polished exterior masks a deeper emotional struggle, and her journey through anger, vulnerability, and self-discovery is handled with care and authenticity. Silas, equally guarded, brings a steady, grounded presence, and his own past adds weight and complexity to their dynamic.
What makes this story stand out is its focus on emotional healing. Rather than relying solely on romantic tension, the narrative takes time to explore personal growth, trust, and the gradual breaking down of emotional barriers. The chemistry between Mia and Silas is undeniable, built on sharp dialogue, tension, and moments of genuine connection that feel earned rather than rushed.
The ranch setting adds an additional layer of charm, creating a sense of escape while reinforcing the themes of reflection and renewal. It serves not just as a backdrop, but as a space where both characters are forced to confront themselves and each other.
As the first instalment in the Whispering Winds Ranch series, this book lays a strong foundation. It introduces a setting rich with potential and characters that invite further exploration, making it an engaging entry point for readers who enjoy emotionally driven romance with substance.
A well-balanced read that combines heart, tension, and growth—perfect for those who appreciate character-focused storytelling within a contemporary cowboy romance.
Capturing the Cowboy by Elizabeth Bevarly delivers a compelling blend of emotional depth, character growth, and classic opposites-attract romance, set against the warm and immersive backdrop of Whispering Winds Ranch.
At the centre of the story are Mia Hawthorne and Silas Crockett—two characters carrying far more beneath the surface than they initially reveal. Mia’s bright, polished exterior masks a deeper emotional struggle, and her journey through anger, vulnerability, and self-discovery is handled with care and authenticity. Silas, equally guarded, brings a steady, grounded presence, and his own past adds weight and complexity to their dynamic.
What makes this story stand out is its focus on emotional healing. Rather than relying solely on romantic tension, the narrative takes time to explore personal growth, trust, and the gradual breaking down of emotional barriers. The chemistry between Mia and Silas is undeniable, built on sharp dialogue, tension, and moments of genuine connection that feel earned rather than rushed.
The ranch setting adds an additional layer of charm, creating a sense of escape while reinforcing the themes of reflection and renewal. It serves not just as a backdrop, but as a space where both characters are forced to confront themselves and each other.
As the first instalment in the Whispering Winds Ranch series, this book lays a strong foundation. It introduces a setting rich with potential and characters that invite further exploration, making it an engaging entry point for readers who enjoy emotionally driven romance with substance.
A well-balanced read that combines heart, tension, and growth—perfect for those who appreciate character-focused storytelling within a contemporary cowboy romance.
June 13, 2026
Reviewed at Happily Ever After Romance
Capturing the Cowboy opens the Whispering Winds Ranch series with an intriguing romance between Mia and Silas, each of whom has past issues that have shaped who they are today. Tragedy has made Silas internalize his pain and his anger at the death of his pregnant wife and unborn baby due to the actions of a drunk driver. He has worked through most of those feelings (perhaps), but they pop back into his mind when he least expects them. So, to say he understands there is an underlying anger beneath Mia’s pretend Suzie Sunshine persona would be an understatement. The reason she’s at the ranch is that the fury that she keeps hidden burst out of her when she attacked a coworker who finally pushed that last button with his nasty attitude toward women. She’s put up with it for years, but finally it all spewed forth, resulting in her required anger management situation.
In order to help her deal with the root of her anger problems, Silas needs to push her to that limit again and help her understand why and learn how to deal with it. That’s something that Mia has no interest in since… she’s fine, it’s fine, everything is fine, and people should just leave her alone. Not going to happen as far as Silas is concerned. Neither expected the spark of attraction between them, nor how learning to deal with anger could lead to a love that understands and can last a lifetime.
I enjoyed Capturing the Cowboy very much. Anger is such a tricky thing, and each of us deals with anger differently, but to say that it’s never felt is unrealistic. There are good reasons for Mia’s anger, and watching her heal from the past was an emotional part of this romance. Together, they are a believable couple who have issues but are working through them to face a future together. Their story is well-written, emotional, and passionate, and it deals with the reality that anger can trigger other emotions and responses as well. I felt that their story is a great lead-in to the series, and I’m definitely looking forward to the next release in the Whispering Winds Ranch series.
*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley, and I sincerely thank the author or publishing house for their trust. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*
Capturing the Cowboy opens the Whispering Winds Ranch series with an intriguing romance between Mia and Silas, each of whom has past issues that have shaped who they are today. Tragedy has made Silas internalize his pain and his anger at the death of his pregnant wife and unborn baby due to the actions of a drunk driver. He has worked through most of those feelings (perhaps), but they pop back into his mind when he least expects them. So, to say he understands there is an underlying anger beneath Mia’s pretend Suzie Sunshine persona would be an understatement. The reason she’s at the ranch is that the fury that she keeps hidden burst out of her when she attacked a coworker who finally pushed that last button with his nasty attitude toward women. She’s put up with it for years, but finally it all spewed forth, resulting in her required anger management situation.
In order to help her deal with the root of her anger problems, Silas needs to push her to that limit again and help her understand why and learn how to deal with it. That’s something that Mia has no interest in since… she’s fine, it’s fine, everything is fine, and people should just leave her alone. Not going to happen as far as Silas is concerned. Neither expected the spark of attraction between them, nor how learning to deal with anger could lead to a love that understands and can last a lifetime.
I enjoyed Capturing the Cowboy very much. Anger is such a tricky thing, and each of us deals with anger differently, but to say that it’s never felt is unrealistic. There are good reasons for Mia’s anger, and watching her heal from the past was an emotional part of this romance. Together, they are a believable couple who have issues but are working through them to face a future together. Their story is well-written, emotional, and passionate, and it deals with the reality that anger can trigger other emotions and responses as well. I felt that their story is a great lead-in to the series, and I’m definitely looking forward to the next release in the Whispering Winds Ranch series.
*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley, and I sincerely thank the author or publishing house for their trust. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Capturing the Cowboy follows Mia, who is sent to a ranch for “anger management” after losing her cool at work. There she is paired with Silas, who is filling in for an injured ranch hand. Mia insists at every turn that she is fine, while Silas, still working through his own anger from years past, initially tries to push her into confronting what she is clearly holding inside. When that approach does not work, he shifts gears and takes her camping in the Tetons, where nature once helped him begin healing.
At its core, this is a sweet story with a strong premise. The idea of two wounded people confronting buried anger in a rugged western setting has a lot of potential. Silas’s emotional arc, which unfolds gradually in pieces, was especially compelling and added depth to the story. The camping portion felt smoother and more engaging, and the emotional connection between them strengthened in those scenes.
However, the first third of the book felt repetitive, particularly with recurring phrases and internal dialogue that circled the same points without much progression. The repeated use of certain lines became distracting and slowed the pacing. While the story picked up after they left the ranch, the final stretch moved very quickly, and I would have appreciated more development after the trip before Mia returned home. A bit more balance between trimming repetition early on and expanding the resolution would have strengthened the overall arc.
Overall, this was a light, easy read that works well as a palate cleanser between heavier books. Readers who enjoy opposites attract dynamics with a western or cowboy backdrop will likely find it appealing.
Capturing the Cowboy follows Mia, who is sent to a ranch for “anger management” after losing her cool at work. There she is paired with Silas, who is filling in for an injured ranch hand. Mia insists at every turn that she is fine, while Silas, still working through his own anger from years past, initially tries to push her into confronting what she is clearly holding inside. When that approach does not work, he shifts gears and takes her camping in the Tetons, where nature once helped him begin healing.
At its core, this is a sweet story with a strong premise. The idea of two wounded people confronting buried anger in a rugged western setting has a lot of potential. Silas’s emotional arc, which unfolds gradually in pieces, was especially compelling and added depth to the story. The camping portion felt smoother and more engaging, and the emotional connection between them strengthened in those scenes.
However, the first third of the book felt repetitive, particularly with recurring phrases and internal dialogue that circled the same points without much progression. The repeated use of certain lines became distracting and slowed the pacing. While the story picked up after they left the ranch, the final stretch moved very quickly, and I would have appreciated more development after the trip before Mia returned home. A bit more balance between trimming repetition early on and expanding the resolution would have strengthened the overall arc.
Overall, this was a light, easy read that works well as a palate cleanser between heavier books. Readers who enjoy opposites attract dynamics with a western or cowboy backdrop will likely find it appealing.
May 4, 2026
Capturing the Cowboy (Whispering Winds Ranch Book 1)
by Elizabeth Bevarly
The central characters, Mia Hawthorne and Silas Crockett, exhibit significant complexity throughout the narrative. The book contains instances of repetitive phrasing and internal dialogues that often revisit key themes without progressing the plot, which can distract from the reading experience. The pacing in the first half of the book may challenge some readers, as the story unfolds primarily over the initial days of Mia's stay at the ranch.
Mia's story begins with her arrival at a Wyoming ranch for two weeks of anger management therapy following an incident with a fellow employee.
Initially, Silas's goal is to provoke Mia's anger, while Mia strives to maintain a positive sunshine demeanour during her stay. As the story develops, Silas becomes more concerned about Mia's sadness than her anger, despite her insistence that she is managing just fine. As they enter the second week of her stay, Silas's focus shifts to genuinely getting to know Mia, while Mia's perception of Silas evolves, leading her to develop deeper feelings for him. This change in their relationship dynamic contributes to the overall narrative progression.
I found that the slow start and the internal dialogue made it difficult for me to connect with the characters. It might be beneficial for the author to consider ways to engage readers more quickly and enhance character development. This is just my personal perspective.
by Elizabeth Bevarly
The central characters, Mia Hawthorne and Silas Crockett, exhibit significant complexity throughout the narrative. The book contains instances of repetitive phrasing and internal dialogues that often revisit key themes without progressing the plot, which can distract from the reading experience. The pacing in the first half of the book may challenge some readers, as the story unfolds primarily over the initial days of Mia's stay at the ranch.
Mia's story begins with her arrival at a Wyoming ranch for two weeks of anger management therapy following an incident with a fellow employee.
Initially, Silas's goal is to provoke Mia's anger, while Mia strives to maintain a positive sunshine demeanour during her stay. As the story develops, Silas becomes more concerned about Mia's sadness than her anger, despite her insistence that she is managing just fine. As they enter the second week of her stay, Silas's focus shifts to genuinely getting to know Mia, while Mia's perception of Silas evolves, leading her to develop deeper feelings for him. This change in their relationship dynamic contributes to the overall narrative progression.
I found that the slow start and the internal dialogue made it difficult for me to connect with the characters. It might be beneficial for the author to consider ways to engage readers more quickly and enhance character development. This is just my personal perspective.
May 7, 2026
First in the Whispering Winds Ranch series, in which Mia Hawthorne arrives, having been ordered to engage in anger management after she attacked a colleague. There she is paired with Silas Crockett when the person originally assigned to her is not available.
Silas has his own anger issues, successfully buried for years after the death of his wife and unborn child. He immediately recognizes that Mia isn't "fine" as she insists. It's his job to get her to acknowledge her feelings and to then begin to deal with him in a healthy manner. But will he succeed. Mia has had years of practice being little Miss Cheery.
On an overnight camping trip, however, Mia finally begins to admit what really was behind her misplaced anger and both of them also have to confront how they feel about each other: not something either had anticipated and one that Silas knows was not a part of his role in Mia's therapy. But what are they going to do about it? After all, she's only there for two weeks and when she returns back to St. Louis, she is going to have to work with the man she attacked weeks earlier.
Silas has his own anger issues, successfully buried for years after the death of his wife and unborn child. He immediately recognizes that Mia isn't "fine" as she insists. It's his job to get her to acknowledge her feelings and to then begin to deal with him in a healthy manner. But will he succeed. Mia has had years of practice being little Miss Cheery.
On an overnight camping trip, however, Mia finally begins to admit what really was behind her misplaced anger and both of them also have to confront how they feel about each other: not something either had anticipated and one that Silas knows was not a part of his role in Mia's therapy. But what are they going to do about it? After all, she's only there for two weeks and when she returns back to St. Louis, she is going to have to work with the man she attacked weeks earlier.
April 29, 2026
Mis and Silas meet when she's sent to a Wyoming Ranch for anger management therapy after attacking a fellow employee. He's filling on for the usual therapist who sprained an ankle. He sees a kindred spirit in Mia as he dealt with anger when his pregnant wife and unborn baby were killed in a drunk driving accident.
He does everything he can to upset her and fuel hr anger, all to no avail. She reveals a bit about her early family life, alerting Silas to the point of her discontent. But can he unveil the root cause and help her deal with the anger in a beneficial way?
A delightful story of accepting and dealing with life's tragedies and healing to live a full life.
Although I received a free ARC from NetGalley and the publisher, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
He does everything he can to upset her and fuel hr anger, all to no avail. She reveals a bit about her early family life, alerting Silas to the point of her discontent. But can he unveil the root cause and help her deal with the anger in a beneficial way?
A delightful story of accepting and dealing with life's tragedies and healing to live a full life.
Although I received a free ARC from NetGalley and the publisher, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
May 8, 2026
Mia is just fine. She regrets the misunderstanding at work, but everyone should just forget it and move on. Instead, she is in Wyoming for an anger management program for anger that she has never felt. Mostly.
Silas has been moved from his regular ranch duties to help Mia with her anger issues. She vehemently denies having issues, but he can feel the depth of them. He knows because he has been there himself.
Watching the two of them banter back and forth while they dance around their intense connection is hilarious. The writing is very witty, as I expect from this author. Still, there is an underlying sense of deep sorrow with both characters, and it is beautiful when they finally connect. I loved the ending.
Silas has been moved from his regular ranch duties to help Mia with her anger issues. She vehemently denies having issues, but he can feel the depth of them. He knows because he has been there himself.
Watching the two of them banter back and forth while they dance around their intense connection is hilarious. The writing is very witty, as I expect from this author. Still, there is an underlying sense of deep sorrow with both characters, and it is beautiful when they finally connect. I loved the ending.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
An interesting story with two people who need to heal from the past and own their emotions.
Mia has spent her entire life hiding her emotions and trying to be invisible but eventually she snaps and assaults a co-worker, whose bad behaviour towards women she has managed to ignore for ten years. Sent on an anger management course, she is in denial - she’s fine, think happy thoughts, be perky and push everything else down. But Silas, the cowboy assigned to her, keeps needling her, pushing her out of comfort zone and he hates the word fine!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Mia has spent her entire life hiding her emotions and trying to be invisible but eventually she snaps and assaults a co-worker, whose bad behaviour towards women she has managed to ignore for ten years. Sent on an anger management course, she is in denial - she’s fine, think happy thoughts, be perky and push everything else down. But Silas, the cowboy assigned to her, keeps needling her, pushing her out of comfort zone and he hates the word fine!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
April 29, 2026
Nice start for this new series. I look forward to reading more about Whispering Winds Ranch. The main couple had anger issues and the past in common. Interesting challenges. I did skip the intimate scenes. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.
May 5, 2026
Cute, well-written romance with some super effective vibes. 5 stars. tysm for the E-ARC.
May 23, 2026
This book is about fake dating that slowly turns into something real, blending sports romance energy with the tender ache of best friends realizing their feelings were never pretend. In this story, Bella North delivers a heartfelt contemporary romance set in the high-pressure world of professional football and public scrutiny. The story shines through the deeply rooted connection between the hero and Serena. Their friendship gives the romance a strong emotional foundation, allowing the transition from playful banter to genuine vulnerability to feel natural and believable. The fake dating trope is handled with confidence, letting the tension build gradually without leaning on unnecessary drama. Instead, the emotional stakes grow through quiet moments, shared history, and the fear of risking a friendship that already means everything. The pacing moves smoothly from lighthearted fun into deeper emotional territory, keeping the reader engaged while allowing the relationship to evolve organically. Although a little more exploration of commitment fears could have added extra depth, the story remains satisfying and emotionally resonant. Warm, swoony, and comforting, this romance proves that sometimes the love you’re searching for has been beside you all along.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews