Heal My Heart

by Konnor Manning

My life has always been focused on three things:

1. Taking care of the ones I love.
2. Chasing my dreams of becoming a veterinarian.
3. Never letting a man interfere with my future.

I strayed from that path just once and promised myself I would never allow anyone to disrupt my plans again.

Until I met Cade Goldson.

He’s grumpy.

Completely guarded.

And so darn attractive in a hot cowboy kind of way.

Did I mention he’s also my new boss?

I’ve worked hard to keep myself on the right track and away from distractions, but now I’m teetering on the edge, unsure of which way I’ll fall. Is love really a risk worth taking?

CADE

Family ranching is in my blood. It’s all I’ve ever known. While my traumatic past keeps most people away so I can focus on the ranch and live my life alone, Callee Wendell remains unfazed.

She’s brilliant, passionate, and the most beautiful woman I’ve ever known. I knew hiring her on the ranch was a mistake. Now she’s leaving her mark everywhere—on my ranch, in my truck, and on my heart.

Past tragedies leave their scars. Love is delicate. Can I let someone in without risking losing them?

352 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 11, 2025

About the author

Konnor Manning is an Eastern NC contemporary romance writer. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends, visiting scenic places, and taking photos. You can often find her reading on her kindle or mixing up a sweet treat.
Her new novel, Heal My Heart, releases 11.11 on KU and Amazon.

Instagram: @konnormanningwrites

TikTok:https:@konnormanningwrites

Reviews

[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

What do you get when you mix a cranky cowboy boss with a free spirited student vet? Fireworks!

Cade needs help on his ranch, he’s been struggling to cope with the workload after the loss of both his father and sister.
Callee is a veterinary student who puts study above all else and doesn’t trust men as far as she can throw them (and Callee is pretty fit so maybe she’d throw them a little bit).
Cade hires Callee. Cade is cranky. Cade is a cowboy. Cade is her boss. Callee shouldn’t want this but her heart has other plans…

This is an adorable debut novel. Plenty of slow burning in this one. And the dynamic between Cade and Callee is hot hot hot.
If you like men in carhart pants (I think that’s what they are called), that love their Mumma, that may or may not chase you all over their property and kiss you passionately in their office… this book is for you!

[Ellie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was such a fun, easy-to-love cowboy romance with a perfect mix of grumpy, guilt-ridden hero energy and soft, chaotic banter. Cade completely nailed the “emotionally damaged but trying his best” vibe (bonus points for cooking scenes - I melted), and Callee was such a great match for him - bold, kind, and full of fire.

It wasn’t a flawless read - a few pacing spots felt a little off, and I wished for just a bit more emotional depth but overall, it kept me smiling, swooning, and occasionally yelling “THE DOOR OPENED” at my buddy read partner.

If you love cowboys with heart and slow-burn chemistry that sneaks up on you, this one is definitely worth the ride.

[Karen B · Rating 4 out of 5]

A tender, slow burn, workplace romance between a grumpy, closed-off cowboy and a spirited, driven vet student. Callee is focused on her future career, gaining employment at a local ranch. Her focus waivers a bit when she finds it hard to resist her attraction to her handsome boss. Cade is still grieving and not looking for love, trying everything to make his new employee leave, but he finds it hard to resist her too. Their seesaw feelings created banter and their romance slow-burn and low spice. I appreciated the authenticity of the character arcs and their situations, the gorgeous setting and the romance heartwarming and beautiful.
Thanks to the author for the eARC.

[Cindy Caballero · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two hearts, two different worlds — but Heal My Heart proves love can bridge anything.
Callee’s strength and Cade’s vulnerability make such a swoonworthy match, surrounded by found family, real emotion, and the sweetest animals. This one’s pure comfort for the soul.

[Kristy Barber · Rating 5 out of 5]

I never wanted it to end! Such a good slow burn!

[Sarah | Sarahs.BookCorner · Rating 5 out of 5]

✩5

✦What to Expect✦
•Cowboy romance
•Grumpy cowboy
•Boss x employee
•Strong independent FMC
•Slow burn
•Family>>>

✦Characters✦
•Cade Goldson
•Callee Wendell

✦Fav Quotes✦
“Eyes up here, baby. Seems like something has caught your attention.”

She doesn’t know it yet, but she owns a piece of my heart. Hell, she’s on the verge of owning it all.

The crazy thing is, caring about her was never an option for me. It was more like second nature, like God put her here for me to love.

“I have never seen anything more perfect. More mine.”

✦Thoughts✦
This was so dang cute & sweet!!!!

I loved both of them so much!
A grumpy cowboy named Cade, yes please!!!!!! Also this man and his trauma/grief😭😭😭

I found Callee to be so relatable!

The friendship group & family dynamics were so fun!!

Also I love when a slow burn hits at the right moment and just has you squealing!!!

I was giddy reading this and can’t wait for the next book 🤭🤭


✦ Bookish links to follow ✦
Bookstagram • Goodreads • BookBub • Storygraph • Fable

[Erika Ankeny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am completely in love with this slow-burn, coworkers to lovers cowboy romance! Callee is the sweetest, most hardworking woman and she is so dedicated to her family, which was so beautiful. Her dreams of becoming a veterinarian, and constantly pushing herself to be the best version of herself was inspiring. Cade is grumpy, guarded, and carrying the weight of past family loss, but together they find something neither of them even realized they were missing.💗

What I loved most is how they healed each other. Callee taught Cade to open his heart again, and Cade helped her realize she doesn’t have to overdo everything to be worthy. Their love grows slowly, yet perfectly.

Also…Callee’s relationship with Cade’s mom? Absolutely heartwarming 🥹. Small moments like that made this story feel so real, so full of love and family, and so beautifully grounded. The community being so involved in ranching, rodeoing, beers & bars felt so accurate to what it’s like living in a country town. I just ate this book up.

Side note, but I worked in the vet field for many years, so reading this book brought me back in many ways. It felt very personal, and I now have a cowboy book boyfriend! 🤠

First cowboy romance for me and it hit me in all the feels.

Thank you so much to the author for the ARC in return for an honest review!!!

Rating: 5 ⭐️
Spice: 🌶️.5

[Sarah Sproat · Rating 5 out of 5]

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 An Amazing Romance Debut

Ah, this book is a must read for romance readers who love a great story! A strong (and smart) female main character with a strong love for her family, the HOTT cowboy who loves his mama, supportive friends, and family dinners (who doesn’t love to eat). When I read this book I felt so many emotions. Konnor Manning you nailed it!

From the moment I met Calle and Cade, I was hooked. Their chemistry! Watching their relationship unfold—from sparks to slowburn, to heart throbbing love—was pure joy. The emotional depth and vulnerability in their journey felt so real. I found myself smiling, sighing, laughing, and even tearing up along the way.

It’s not just a love story—it’s a story about growth, trust, and taking chances.I loved it, and hope her best friends will get their own stories.

The writing is excellent, the pacing is just right, and the bathroom scene? Chef’s kiss. I still can’t believe this is her first book!

If you love heartfelt romance with unforgettable characters, don’t miss this gem. I’ll be first in line for whatever Konnor Manning writes next!

I. Loved. This. Book = 5 stars.

[Brit Morton · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75 ⭐️ (rounded up to 5)
Heal My Heart by Konnor Manning is a beautiful debut cowboy romance! I absolutely loved this book. The pacing was perfect, and the writing was just stunning, heartfelt and so easy to get lost in.

This story is about growth, learning to trust, taking chances, and breaking those old cycles of self-doubt and blame. The friendships felt so real and relatable, and I adored the family group chat messages. They added so much warmth and personality.

Callee Wendell is such a strong FMC. She loves her people fiercely but puts so much pressure on herself to be the perfect in every aspect of her life. Then there’s Cade Goldson he’s loyal to his ranch, his friends, and his family, but he’s also carrying a lot of grief and guilt. Watching both of them grow, heal, and find their way to each other was so emotional and rewarding.

It’s definitely a slowww-burn romance, but I was HERE. FOR. IT. And listen… that bathroom scene? 🔥 Absolute FIRE. The chemistry between Callee and Cade was captivating and had me completely hooked. And the dual POV made it even better!

If you’re in the mood for a heartfelt, hopeful, and deeply sweet cowboy romance, this one deserves a spot on your TBR. 🤍

I look forward to reading more from Konnor and hope to see a certain couple get their own book, along with more Cade & Callee 💕

Thank you so much Konnor Manning for the eArc of Heal My Heart!

Tropes:
🐎Slow Burn
🐄Cowboy Romance
🐎Boss x Employee
🐄Rancher x Veterinarian Student
🐎Grumpy x Sunshine
🐄Sisterhood
🐎Strong Independent FMC
🐄Family > Everything
🐎Protective MMC

[Alexandra Vaverka · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️/🌶️

This is a super cute story between a 2nd year vet student and a grumpy cowboy. I was a vet tech for 14 years so something like this is normally right up my alley! The author even got several veterinary procedures and terminology correct…which is a huge pet peeve of mine. She also correctly described the stress and workload of becoming a veterinarian. All of these things I thoroughly appreciate!

But there was just something missing. The writing seems a little juvenile and mundane. I loved the Christian influence throughout this book and how each character talked about their relationship with God. Overall this was a really sweet story and the characters were very likeable, but it just didn’t hit right. I still enjoyed this but it was a very meh experience.

#healmyheart #cowboyromance #books

[chelseabrookelikesbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heal My Heart is a beautifully written grumpy sunshine romance set on a Montana ranch that feels instantly comforting. Callee, a vet student trying to outrun burnout, finds herself working for Cade…the broody, closed off cowboy who’s far softer than he wants anyone to see.

Their connection builds slowly and naturally, with just enough tension to keep you turning the pages. What I loved most is how thoughtfully this book handles healing. Both characters are dealing with their own scars, and instead of “fixing” each other, they learn to open up and let someone in again.

The ranch setting, the animals, and the found family add so much charm without taking away from the emotional core of the story. Cade melting for Callee? Perfection.

A heartfelt, tender slow burn that hits all the right notes. I’m already excited for the next book in Big Sky Mountain Series!

[Kelsey Hauff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not for me

I really struggle with staying in the story with this book. Like I felt like it was 500 pages when it’s really like 350. I kinda got the ick from how the MMCs sister and our FMC were like literally the same person. I kinda felt like she was just replacing the lost sister. Idk and I felt like the 3rd act break up was kinda silly for me.
Personal opinion but when you have all of this tension and build up and have a small spicy scene in the middle when they kinda fool around but you don’t actually give us the inside scoop of the couples first time is infuriating. Again my personal opinion.

[Candice Oh · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars but closer to 5 than 4 (good reads really needs 1/2 stars). I read this on vacation in the Georgia mountains and it was absolutely perfect! I loved the main characters and their chemistry! To top it off the main characters both had strong Christian faiths that really helped them grow and heal throughout the book which I loved! Great side characters too! I haven’t read any cowboy romances before so it was fun learning about ranching and living around horses in the mountains (takes place in Montana)- the authors descriptions were awesome! Great back stories and emotional development of the main characters & the perfect amount of spice 😜 highly recommend ❤️

[kailesbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

[4.25] thank you Konnor for the early copy, I know my review is late, but I hope first month’s release went well! *All thoughts are my own*

This debut was absolutely phenomenal and read like some of my favorite cowboy romances. I loved the tension between Callee and Cade, and the will-they-won’t-they had me yelling at them to kiss on so many occasions!

The conflict felt realistic and the way they communicated was great. Callee’s character reminded me a lot of myself and she definitely made me tear up a time or two. And Cade? That man’s character growth was immaculate and I was so proud of him by the end of the book!!!

The spice is a bit more subtle, with a couple extracurriculars detailed, but mainly fades to black, but I feel like you could really feel the connection between the MC’s regardless. There is talk of past traumas and loss of loved ones, so read with caution. Both MC’s are also very faith-forward, so if that’s not something you’re into, maybe skip this sweet cowboy, but otherwise Heal My Heart was a wonderful read and I could NOT put it down.

I’d highly recommend this book to anyone who loves small town, cowboy romances with a hurt/healing theme and so much family love!

[Rosa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cowboy romance
Grumpy/sunshine
Slowburn
Boss x employee
Slowburn


One thing i discovered this year is that I love cowboy romances, so when I saw the arc sign ups, I just had to apply! If you love grumpy/sunshine, strong independent Fmc that doesn’t let anyone disrespect her then you will like this. There was several lovely moments in this novel that made you feel giddy over Cade, how much he tried not to let another person in, in fear of losing another loved one. Overall this was a cute bossxemployee cowboy romance with lovable side characters and allowing yourself to love without your fear which leads to pushing everyone away. The only thing that may come off as a bit disappointing was how much Callee was compared to Cade’s sister. I really loved the side characters and the humor they brought along the angsty parts.

The spice level on this would be 3 🌶️ for certain scenes

Also I really love how it ended that made me wonder, what will be next!(no spoilers here!) Thank you to the author Konnor Manning for giving me the chance to read this arc!

[Anna Page · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're looking for a sweet cowboy romance for the fall season, this is perfect! The way that he is so protective of her and instantly wants to take care of her? Yes please. Their story felt natural and and never rushed which as perfect for their characters.
They are so easy to love and root for. It's the first in the series and I can't wait for more books for the other characters.

Read this when you're in the mood for...
- grumpy/sunshine
- cowboy
- she's a vet for the ranch
- forced proximity

I would recommend!

[Lark _thebookchamber · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book. That’s it. That’s the review.

Just kidding! But seriously, I loved this story so so much! You can feel the amount of care and love that went into writing this story and the characters! Callee and Cade’s chemistry is there, although their relationship builds slowly. I loved seeing them build that connection during their time together and while trying to heal their own grievances and hurt. Truly a heartwarming story with a beautiful setting and characters. I can’t wait to see what’s in store for book 2! 🥹

[Chelsea Castelloe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heal My Heart was a slow burn in all the right ways. Cade is a rancher focused on keeping his land running and isn’t looking for sympathy, help, or love. Calle, a vet student with real ranch experience, fits into his life far too easily—and becomes everything Cade didn’t know he needed.
The chemistry builds gradually and feels earned, making the payoff so satisfying. If you love slow-burn romance, emotional healing, and a hot cowboy hero, this book is absolutely for you.

[Kait · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cade and Callee are so fricking CUTE.

This was such an easy read. They had tension for days and I loved Cades protectiveness over Callee. Callee is hardheaded af and Cade is just a total simp for her 🥵

I adored the side characters and loved how often they were in the book. I felt like I knew everyone on a personal level and it made the book a much better read.

- boss x employee
- enemies to friends to lovers
- grumpy mmc
- black cat fmc

[Carlie Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

🤠Grumpy cowboy
🔥 Slow burn
❤️ Enemies-to-lovers

I can’t believe this is Konnor Manning’s debut novel—what a ride!

The chemistry between Callee and Cade is so fun to watch unfold, and the story has just the right mix of heart and humor. And who doesn’t love a grumpy cowboy?

Such a sweet, feel-good read — I can’t wait to see what she writes next!

[Lani Hindman · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wouldn’t consider the book a “slow burn”, more of just kinda slow. By the halfway through the book I really struggled to keep reading and I just started to lose interest with the slow pace. With the MMC & MFC something just feels off and the story is missing something. Their past “hang ups” of why a relationship could never work seem to fall flat and just becomes frustrating.

[Lauren Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book and such an easy read. The story kept my interest from beginning to end, and the characters felt real and relatable. I liked how the author described the scenes in a way that made it easy to picture what was happening. Overall, it was a well-written book that I would recommend to anyone looking for a good read.

[Megan Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this so much. The tension and yearning had me in such a grip! Cade and Callee are explosive together, And their sweet moments had me melting. This was a slow burn with electric chemistry and I could feel it through the pages. Their relationship was so raw and genuine. I need more now!

[Caroline Rhodes · Rating 5 out of 5]

A refreshing read! Cowboy/ farm girl, stubborn boy/ smart girl romance!! This book kept my attention from start to finish. Konnor is a new author- but you would never know this is her first book. I can’t wait for the second book in this series!!!

[Allie Nichols · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a fun read!!!! This was the perfect debut novel - it had me wanting more and looking forward to what's next for Konnor! I'm soooo hoping she keeps writing - I really need to know what happened between Jake & Jill!!!

[Anna DeBruyne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have recently entered my cowboy romance era and when a friend sent me a link to Konnor’s book, I knew I had to read it. I will start by saying that I am blown away that this is her first novel!! I was immediately pulled right in by her mention of NC State (my alma mater, Go Pack 🐺❤️) and by page 75, I was giggling and kicking my feet at the tension between Cade and Callee. The writing set the perfect scene of the ranch and I loved the family/found family that Cade has that is woven throughout the story. There are little hints at who gets the next book and I can’t wait!! Cade had some issues with letting people in after the death of not only his dad, but his sister too and when his mom hired Callee without telling him, and she had lots of similarities to his sister. He struggled knowing that Finley, his sister, and Callee probably would have been best friends. There is some spice in this story but it is not over the top like some can be.

I truly loved everything about this one and you definitely need to add it to your TBR!!

[Karen Harrington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent debut novel. Would think she's an experienced novelist. Cannot wait for the next in the series.

[Ally]

DNF. Couldn’t get past the writing style

[Stephanie Routhier · Rating 5 out of 5]

*I received a copy of this book as an ARC. This review and thoughts are mine alone.*

Rating: 4.5⭐️
Spice: 🌶️


This is a cute fade to black cowboy romance.

Callee is a student in school to become a vet, and she is now also working at the farm that Cade’s family has owned for over a hundred years.

He is a grumpy cowboy who has experienced a lot of loss and feels the weight of the world on his very strong shoulders.

These two circle each other for a bit, until they can no longer deny the tension.

I love them both but also loved Callee’s friends. They were so supportive.

I also really enjoyed the mental health awareness representation here.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a good slow burn. The sexual tension was chef’s kiss! He’s so grumpy but so hot, and the way she knows just how to push his buttons made me smile nonstop.

Both of them carry so much in their hearts. They’re so alike yet so different, both wanting to take care of everyone around them. This book had me smiling, laughing, and even tearing up at times. I also loved her friends and her sister Sophie during those family texts ! Such a heartfelt, feel-good read.