Resonance

Cowgirls Do It Better #3

by Lila Dawes

Volume Resonance coming 2026!

Genres: Friends To Lovers, Cowboy Romance, Westerns, Found Family, Small Town Romance, Romance, Contemporary Romance

340 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 4, 2026

About the author

Lila is a thirtysomething writer living in Derbyshire, England with her *cough* parents *cough*, elderly tortoiseshell cat and perpetually dying bonsai tree, Benny.

She has been writing since she was a teenager but the penny didn't drop until last year, she's a little slow sometimes...

It’s Only Love is her debut novel and the first in the Citrus Pines series.

Lila is a huge fan of the romance reading and writing community so why not say hello, she can be found on Instagram, Facebook, Goodreads and website: www.liladawesauthor.com

Reviews

[Danielle (tbr to epilogue) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pure perfection!
Just like with Redemption Lila grabbed my heart in the first chapter and did not let go until the end (and will probably still have a hold on me for the foreseeable future)

I absolutely loved how they build the foundation of their friendship and love for each other over the years and how Lila took us along for the ride.

Leo is just as perfect as I expected him to be, I mean who doesn’t love a cowboy who loved to read romance books and I loved that there were lots of references to some of my favorite books.

And ‘tough girl’ Maddy, she has been through a lot and I could totally understand why she was not a fan of love like Leo is.
Their journey was beautiful and I loved every second of it.

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐
i am so in love with this ranch and the whole crew 😭
i am a sucker for friends to lovers, so you bet your ass i drank this book up and enjoyed every minute of it 💖

Leo and Maddie's relationship is so human, they both are such smart asses when they want but family is family and when tough times come they drop everything to be there 🥺
getting the backdrop for the first two books broke my heart in half and pieced it back together at the end of the book ❤️‍🩹

now that it's ended, looking back, i feel like i've read a lifetime without barely noticing, can't wait for the next one 🫣

thank you lila for giving me the chance to read this early, i'll be patiently waiting for the next one 🙏🏼💗

[Danielle - my.happy.chapter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to receive an arc of Resonance and yall it was sooooo good 🥰 I absolutely loved Maddy and Leo and being back at Redemption Ranch. Thank you Lila for having me on your team and for writing the best books!

𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲:
🧡 best friends to lovers
🧡 small town romance
🧡 found family
🧡 slow burn
🧡 firefighter fmc + bull rider mmc

[Mik B · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ⭐️ 2.5 🌶️
ARC copy.
This was fillled with angst! It just kept going and going.
Maddy and Leo had great chemistry as side characters for the first two books so I was really excited for this.
Friends to lovers is very low on my list of favourite tropes. I don't know why. Usually coz it's filled with I dunno they loved me ya know?
But this was wonderful and I love how beautoful Lila deals with death in her stories. It is done with such care and brings a tear to my eye everytime I read her books.

Thank you for the ARC Lila I will absolutely be finishing this series because I neeeeeed to know Tilly's story!

[Mika Haley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my god I have been waiting for this book since i read Redemption!!! Maddy and Leo… god they were perfect. I cried so many fucking times reading this book. Going through their whole friendship and all the trauma really took me the fuck out and also had me so emotionally invested that every time one of them did something it made me feel just as heartbroken. Like Melissa… girl you can go fuck right the hell off. And I can’t lie part of me is kinda upset with Leo that he even got with her in the first place after Maddy told her what she did to her and how she felt.. but whatever I guess it doesn’t matter.
The fact that he was the only boy who didn’t laugh at her and wrestled with her and didn’t treat her like she was a fragile doll 🥹
He would fucking sneak over to the ranch for YEARS after his mom banned him from going over there and climb the house to sneak into her window even if it was just to see her for 10 minutes. Ughhhhhhh swoon!!!!
I loved that she wished she would have her first kiss and fate made it be Leo. It was always them.
The fact this man was such a romantic and loved it in all forms whether it was books, movies, or reality… fuck that was so attractive. Like he was in a whole ass book club.
How he was with her after both parents passed. Especially her mom. Oh my god his chapter after it happened absolutely killed me. He was so gutted seeing her in so much pain.
How he felt when she had her accident and how he took care of her. He literally skipped out on his dreams twice because he couldn’t fathom leaving her. And then when he actually was going the third time he begged her to tell him to stay 😭
When I tell y’all this man was just perfection.
And then Maddy. Oh my god I just want to hug her. She went through more than any kid should have to. Even though i knew all of it was coming from Kat’s book it still devastated me.
She is such a tough ass, spitfire, of a softie. She was so afraid of losing Leo that it held her back for so long. They both knew after that first kiss that it was them. They looked for that spark in every other person but could never find it.
When he had his accident.. the way she reacted had me in shambles. “We have a future to plan” oh my god. And the whole love confession scene was just perfection. You could tell that man has read many a romance novel in his time. Shit was just beautiful.
I loved when she would get jealous af because I was right there with her because hello no one is supposed to take you or your attention away from me idgaf if we’re “just friends”
When she went crazy and snapped on Tori in the bathroom i was like fuck she’s so unbelievably in love with him. I cried so much. Like she saw him grow from a boy to a man and everything in between. And she had a fundamental part in shaping who he became.
I don’t think I’ll ever be over them. I want a whole series of just them and their life. I love them so fucking much.

Also I really thought we would eventually get a cute little age gap romance with Tilly and Maxamillion, but now that we know him and Tori have a kid and are living together idk if I see that happening anymore and I can’t lie it honestly makes me a little sad.

[Chance (temporary.escaper) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25⭐️
I liked reading their story in chronological order instead of having random flashbacks. It felt like growing up with them. Unfortunately, the characters kept pissing me off 😂
I love this series, but this book missed the mark for me. For some reason I wasn’t really convinced of their chemistry and relationship. You’re told several times that they have amazing chemistry, but I didn’t feel like I felt that through the words- just told. I feel like the general flow of their story just went in a direction that didn’t interest me as much as other friends to lovers mini tropes. That being said, I did think it was a cute story and her writing style is quick and keeps you interested.

[Nyleah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m obsessed with this series. It’s not remotely talked about enough!
This was the most perfect friends to lovers, slow burn. And my god, the YEARNING?! Are you kidding me?? Leo was the most green flag man, I’ll be thinking about him for forever.

[Charlotte Linthicum · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one was the one I wanted from the first book. Obsessed! I love love!!

[Hayley Peckham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ouff… I really thought I was prepared for this. If you’ve read Redemption Book 1 in this series, then you KNOW. And somehow, even when you know exactly what’s coming it still hits you so hard that you’re lying awake at 2am staring at the ceiling and sobbing into the darkness. 😭

Lila takes us on this absolutely heartbreaking, beautiful journey through their friendship and my gawd…the emotional rollercoaster these two put me through. The YEARNING. The longing. Every single time you think…okay…this is it… this is finally their moment…something happens and your heart gets shattered all over again.

And I loved these two SO MUCH. Like my heart physically hurts thinking about them. 🥹 Leo might genuinely be my new favourite. This sweet, tender, beautiful man… UGH. He is perfection. They are perfection.

I don’t think I’ve ever wanted two characters to get their HEA quite as desperately as I wanted it for these two. They deserved every single bit of happiness after everything they went through.

But Lila…. That ending?!!! What the heck are you doing to me 😭 I need the next book asap!!!!!

Thank you Lila for the advanced copy to read!

[Taylor Halbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️ I AM OBSESSED WITH THEM… I am not usually a fan of friends to lovers because most of the time they’re literal idiots who are the only people on the planet who don’t know they’re in love with each other… DESPITE THAT LEO AND MADDY LITERATELY WERE THAT EXACT DESCRIPTION… I am obsessed I loved them and their friendship.

I also literally had a dream that my husband and I were in this exact situation because of this book

[Romance_book_obsessed · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m really sad about this one. I didn’t enjoy the slow pacing and the past storyline being longer than the present.

I was bored while these two constantly hurt each other and denied their feelings. This is why friends to lovers will never be my favorite trope.

It wasn’t until 70% that the story was in the present then it was a quick finish. I wanted more present storyline. I don’t think I’ll be picking up the next in the series.

[Casey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was incredible ! I feel like I grew up alongside them. It was so fun to watch the fall in love throughout their lives!!! This series can do no wrong

[Mayville | Tourbiez Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars✨
2 Spice🌶️

Wow, what a story!
The angst, the slow burn, and the build-up of Leo and Maddy's relationship over the years were all written beautifully. And it was also great to see Bert and his mischievous antics again. Resonance is one book that will teach you about friendship, trust, healing, and family. A must-read for fans who fancy the small-town and friends-to-lovers trope.

Resonance is the third book in the Cowgrils Do It Better Series, which delves into themes like grief, emotional resilience, family dynamics, and the courage to test friendship boundaries.
The story chronicles Leo Valkner and Maddy Cartwright's journey from childhood to adulthood as they navigate their goals and personal objectives while simultaneously grappling with their intense, developing love for one another.

This book's magic lies in its authenticity, depicting love not as a fairytale but as a journey with twists, setbacks, and growth. Maddy and Leo embody the fragility and resilience with understated grace. Their chemistry transcends words; a long look or a quick touch may convey a great deal about the emotions they find difficult to express. The painful nature of their developing connection is mirrored by the pacing, which at times feels bittersweetly slow.

Resonance isn’t merely about romantic love, ambition, sacrifice, and healing. It’s about the journey of self-discovery, missed chances, and the enduring hope that love, however imperfect, can be transformative and grow stronger with time.

What to Expect:
🔥Best friends to lovers
🤠Bull rider MMC
🔥Firefighter (and cowgirl...) FMC
🤠Small town
🔥Slow burn
🤠Bison antics #westanbert
🔥Steamy
🤠Semi-coming of age

Receiving a complimentary Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book was an honour, and I'm presenting my candid opinion based on my own experience. I am eternally grateful to Lila Dawes for entrusting me with the opportunity to read this book beforehand.

[erikaemiliabooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Resonance (Cowgirls Do It Better, #3) by Lila Dawes

I don’t think I was emotionally prepared for how much I would love Maddy and Leo’s story. This was the kind of slow burn that takes its time, lets the friendship and history between two people really breathe, and somehow makes every little moment feel incredibly important.

Maddy and Leo have known each other since childhood, and their relationship is everything I love in a friends-to-lovers romance. Their bond feels genuine, deeply rooted, and so easy to believe in. Leo is an absolute sweetheart—protective, patient, supportive, and basically the definition of a green-flag hero. Watching him care for Maddy while giving her the time and space she needed completely melted me.

And Maddy… my heart hurt for her. She has been through so much loss, and her fear of loving and losing someone again made so much sense. I loved seeing her slowly lower those walls and allow herself to hope for something more. Their journey had plenty of angst and longing, but it also had so much tenderness, humor, and warmth.

The found-family and small-town atmosphere added another layer that I really enjoyed, and I loved all the little moments that made the characters feel like real people with years of history between them. The chemistry was there, but it never overshadowed the emotional connection—which made the payoff so much sweeter.

This book made me laugh, ache, swoon, and occasionally want to shake these two and tell them to TALK. 😂 But ultimately, Maddy and Leo’s story was absolutely worth the wait.

A beautiful, heartfelt romance about friendship, healing, trust, and finding your way back to the person who has been beside you all along. Definitely one for the slow-burn romance lovers. ❤️‍🔥

Thank you so much to Lila Dawes for the opportunity to read an ARC of Resonance. I absolutely loved getting to experience Maddy and Leo’s story early!

[Bri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maddy and Leo… what a ride that was. 🥹 Childhood best friends who spend way too long trying to deny their feelings for each other. The yearning was off the charts, but the patience of that man… 😮‍💨

Leo is the ultimate Golden Retriever MMC. He is patient, caring, protective, and just completely gone for Maddy. 🥹 The way he looks out for her and her whole family, especially alongside everything they’ve been through, was honestly one of my favourite parts of their story. He doesn’t just love Maddy; he cares about the people she loves too, and I absolutely adored that about him.

There were definitely moments where I wanted to shake some sense into both of them. 😂 They spend so much time dancing around what they both clearly feel, and I was sitting there thinking PLEASE JUST TALK TO EACH OTHER. But honestly, that frustration only happened because I was so invested in them. I cared about their relationship, their friendship, and what would happen to them if they finally crossed that line.

I think that’s what made their story work so well for me. They have so much history together, and you can really feel that underneath everything. They aren’t strangers falling in love—they already know each other, they already trust each other, and they’ve been such an important part of each other’s lives for years. Watching those feelings slowly shift from friendship into something neither of them could keep ignoring was just so good.

And Leo’s yearning?! Absolutely criminal. 😮‍💨 The way that man loved Maddy, waited for her, supported her and never stopped showing up for her had me completely gone.

There was so much heart in this story, and I loved getting to watch Maddy and Leo find their way to each other. 🥹🫶🏻

Thank you so much for the ARC, Lila. I absolutely loved getting to experience Maddy and Leo’s story. 📚🍑

[Piper Brintnall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, this is a slow burn book. At first, I did not like the flashbacks, but I was glad that the flashbacks were in chronological order and not interspersed amongst present day happenings. That being said, I thought some of the flashbacks went on for too long. I am not as concerned about what happened in the past. I want to know what is happening now. I do appreciate some flashbacks to help set the tone and give character development, but also I want the present day storyline to move along.

Once again, I say, please get therapy. Maddie is in need of so much therapy. It isn’t even funny. Her dad really needed to be in therapy and his lack of taking care of himself really screwed up and over his daughters. But I digress. Maddie’s look on life is one of those in a book where I think “does somebody really think like this?” I understand Maddie, wanting to protect herself, after watching her father, completely fall apart, following the death of his wife, and her accident, and her sisters accident,. But I challenged her to think about that the people in her life, such as her sisters can also be taken away from her. That it isn’t just a marriage that can break you down if something were to happen.

I kind of wanted to smack Leo for giving up on opportunities twice for this family. He definitely wins an award for sacrificing so much in his life. And I appreciate him continuing to give Maddie space to grow and become her own person while loving her from a distance. But also, sir. Come on.

I don’t love a best friend to lovers trope. I often and very frustrated by the lack of communication and the lack of awareness of the other person. Often times, if these two best friends would just communicate with each other, all of this could be avoided.

This was a nice continuation of the series and I am looking forward to the next book. This was a solid three star read.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW

Resonance by @liladawesromance

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️

@liladawesromance is once again proving that cowgirls really do it better!! With the story of Maddy and Leo, the childhood best friends, in the slowest of burns that makes your heart absolutely sing.

Maddy and Leo are absolutely the couple that are meant to be. As children they were best friends, always there for one another, always on each others side. The sort of friendship that everyone should have at some point in their life and despite fleeting moments and a couple of kisses they never made it to couple status.

@liladawesromance has written their story chronologically, so it really feels like you are living every moment with them. I loved that, rather than just memories, it’s like we are with them from the very beginning and it makes the angst, pining and tension even more of a slow burn.

I spent the whole time just wishing one of them would make the move!!! Hoping that at some point, they would stop thinking worst case scenario and think best instead. How their friends and family didn’t scream at them I don’t know, because I was through the pages.

Both Maddy and Leo are absolutely fab characters. I adored both of them. I want to be their friends, I want to be in their group, I want to be in their world. Both are kind, both are funny, both are sweet. There are no red flags here, they are good people that you absolutely want the best for - they deserve it!!

The best book to end summer with. Despite, grief, loss and fear featuring, it still makes you smile throughout. It’s a book of sunshine and joy and absolutely reminds you that if it’s meant to be, it will be and the meaning of true friendship.

[kevork_1989 · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25⭐️

I read the first two books in Lila Dawes’ Cowgirls Do It Better series last year, so after a full year waiting for Resonance, what did I do? Finished it in one sitting.

Just like the first two books, this was such an easy read to get lost in. Lila writes incredibly lovable characters with genuine flaws, insecurities and trauma that make them feel real. Revelry is still my favourite of the series, but I really enjoyed this one.

From the little bits we got of Leo and Madi in the previous books, I was excited to finally get their story. I wasn’t expecting the book to take us all the way back to when they first met as kids and follow them through their teenage and adult years. At first, I wasn’t completely sold because I just wanted to see them together in the present. But the further I got, the more invested I became. Seeing their full history gave so much more weight to their connection. One thing I didn’t love, is the bit of spice when they were 17. Not really into reading about teenagers sexual activity. That should have been a fade to black.

My biggest gripe overall though was that they really did take too damn long to stop pining over each other. There was a lot of dating and sleeping with other people simply because neither of them would admit what was painfully obvious. Leo was great, and Madi had some very real trauma that explained a lot of the walls she kept putting up. Lila handled their history and emotional baggage really well and made the journey feel worthwhile.

Revelry still holds the top spot for me, but Resonance was another really enjoyable addition to the series.

[Amisha Bandodkar]

𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐊 𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖

𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐛𝐲 𝐋𝐢𝐥𝐚 𝐃𝐚𝐰𝐞𝐬
𝟒 🌟

I knew I was going to love this book the moment I started it. I’m not the biggest friends-to-lovers girlie, but when it’s done right, I LOVE it—and this was done sooooo right. 😭🤌🏻✨ I’ve been waiting for Maddy & Leo’s story for a while, especially after all the little teases we got of them in books 1 & 2.

I loved their story so much because there’s such a healthy amount of tension, vulnerability, and emotional depth between them. They’ll fight each other one minute and then be ready to stand up for each other the next. That push and pull between them? SO good.

And Leo… my boy. 🥹 The way he treats Maddy—with care, love, respect, and the kind of vulnerability she needs—while being her biggest support system had me craving a Leo of my own so badly. Because this man knows exactly when to be soft and when he needs to flip that switch and take control. 😈🥵 You know what I mean. 🤭

And Maddy, my girl, has been through SO much. Everything she’s had to take on, the losses, the grief—it changes a person. Watching her carry all of that while still trying to figure out what she wants was heartbreaking. And honestly, both of them denying what was between them was just delaying the inevitable. 😂

But I loved watching them finally choose each other. They had to face that very real fear of losing one another and, instead of running from it, they chose to fight for themselves, for each other, and for their love. ❤️‍🩹✨

Maddy & Leo, you were worth the wait. 🥹💕

[catiesbooksandthings · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved Leo and Maddy! They were pure perfection!

I am not usually a big friends to lovers fan, but this one was so good and definitely pulled at the heart strings. Lila had me hooked from the first chapter! I loved how she started out with how they meet as kids and each chapter was a new "chapter" in their lives as these two grew up together. The foundation that was built of their friendship was incredible and Lila had me hooked and I couldn't turn the pages fast enough!

Leo is the definition of book boyfriend. He is this rough and tough cowboy, bull rider, but his love and tenderness with Maddy so freaking good! He also new when to give her tough love and I just loved their chemistry and dynamic! Don't get me wrong, there were times that I wanted to shake them both and yell, JUST TELL EACH OTHER HOW YOU FEEL, but in the end they got their HEA and I loved every second of it!

Sweet Tough Girl Maddy, oh how my heart breaks for you! Lila sure put Maddy and her family through the ringer in this one, but the way that Leo stepped up and help get her through some of the toughest times in her life really had me swooning hard for this man!

I love this small town and this world that Lila has created! Leo and Maddy have taken the top spot for me in this series but I am excited to see who is next and what Lila has up her sleeve!

Read if you like:
-Best Friends to Lovers
-Bull rider MMC
-Firefighter FMC
-Small town
-Slow burn
-Bison antics

Thank you Lila Dawes for the ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts and review!

[Sara Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this whole series, but Resonance is my favorite so far!

Maddy and Leo’s story time line jumps between their childhood and today. Watching them meet on the playground and grow together as best friends and found family was so nostalgic. I loved the way this story was written!

Both adrenaline junkies, the two share several scary and heartbreaking moments that bring them closer together. Surviving everything from grief, injuries and heartbreak as a team, somehow they keep missing the right time to become more than friends- for DECADES. There were so many times while reading this book I wanted to yell at them!

Leo is the ultimate book boyfriend… a man that has childhood trauma that made him stronger and more resilient, and he’s also an incredibly tall, muscular and thoughtful bull rider. Drool.

Maddy is the piece of his life that keeps him grounded. She’s tough, strong, and determined. Maddy is a firefighter, she works on the ranch, and is fiercely loyal to her sisters. I love a strong, smart FMC that only melts for her soulmate and Leo is her perfect match.

This whole series is written in a way that makes you feel alllll of the things. Maddy and her sisters have experienced so much grief and have bonded and grown into smart, capable women and Leo is their clown, rock and ride or die. The found family trope is always one of my favorites, but Resonance is truly special.

5 stars, zero regrets, I loved this book!

[Reading Romance with Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ARC Review✨
“Resonance” by Lila Dawes
Rating: 4.5⭐️
Spice: 3.75🌶️

A book with a bull rider who’s in a romance book club and who has been in love with his best friend for years? Sign me up!

Ever since Redemption, I’ve been excited for Maddy and Leo. It’s been a while since I’ve read a good friends to lovers story, and I read Resonance in a day, so that should give you a hint of how consumed I was in this book. While this is definitely a slow burn, Leo and Maddy’s connection is so deep and palpable, plus there’s so much history between them that their relationship was bound to grow into something more intimate eventually. Leo’s sweet cinnamon roll side was something that I wasn’t expecting and was such a great surprise. It was also so fun to see the other Cartwright sisters, Gertie, Tate, and Jack, and see how they’ve evolved. I’ve been desperately hoping for it since Revelry, but please let Daisy and Duke’s book be next!🤞🏼🤞🏼

Thank you to Lila Dawes for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.

Why You’ll Love It:
🤠 Best Friends to Lovers
🔥 Bull Rider MMC
🤠 Firefighter/Cowgirl FMC
🔥 Small Town
🤠 Slow Burn
🔥 Bison Antics
🤠 Steamy
🔥 Semi-Coming of Age

[Carolynn (reedinchapters) · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is rare for a book to completely pull me in to the point where I read it cover-to-cover in a single sitting, but Resonance did exactly that. After waiting for Leo and Maddy’s story since book one, the payoff was everything I hoped for and more.

What makes their dynamic work so well is the depth of their history. The narrative weave between their past and present day gives every interaction real emotional weight. You truly understand why they are the way they are with each other, making their modern-day connection feel earned, grounded, and intensely deeply felt. Both Leo and Maddy are fantastic, standout characters on their own, but together, their chemistry is unmatched.

Beyond the romance, what continues to make the Cowgirls Do It Better series a total standout is the core dynamic between the leads. Lila Dawes excels at writing exceptionally smart, capable, independent women and the men who unconditionally support them, uplift their ambitions, and back their dreams without hesitation. Watching that level of mutual respect and partnership unfold on the page is easily my favorite part of this universe.

If you have been following the series, Resonance is an absolute home run that delivers on every bit of built-up anticipation. If you haven't started the series yet, now is the perfect time to binge it.

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cried so much in this book that it was hard to breathe. Leo is EVERYTHING. That man read romance books and loved love. He was a tough bull rider who dropped everything, even his dreams, to help the Cartwrights. His mind, emotions, words, and actions. Le Sigh. Swoon. Worthy.

Maddy was such a good FMC too. She was adventurous, brave, a great friend, and a secret softy. The fact that she was a bada°° firefighter, loyal, quick witted, brave through her fears (in the end at least) and a smaller character (finally some A cup representation!) made her my hero.

🫶🏽 Lines:
"What is with you and happily-ever-afters?"
"What's not to love? The journey of the story, the guy getting the girl? Everyone wanted to be happy. Don't you?"

And leave my romance books alone; the world could do with more romance in it. 💯

So you just want me to tell her I love her, knowing she won't say it back and it'll break my heart? That's not very Romance Bookclub.

What do you do when the cause of your hurt is also the cure? And you can't vocalize it to them without risking everything?

Everyone is scared of something. Everyone.

God, I feel like I've been waiting my whole life to just touch you, Maddy. How I really want to touch you.

I'm scared too, terrified. Do you think I could survive this life if I lost you?

I would wait. I'd found my soulmate so I would wait an eternity for her if I needed to.

[Laura (Lauras_Book_Shelf22) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved Leo and Maddy and being back at Redemption Ranch.

I especially loved all the history between these two and getting to see the friendship they had built over the years. There was something so special about seeing just how much they meant to each other, even before they realised there was something more there.

Leo’s heart is just so big, and the things he quietly put aside for Maddy made me fall in love with him even more. He never did any of it for recognition or praise, he was just there when she needed him. And when Maddy finally realised just how much he had done for her…The greenest flag!

I also adored his love of romance books and the fact that he really wanted that forever kind of love. He was such a romantic at heart, and I absolutely loved that side of him!

Maddy is tough, loyal and complicated, and after everything she had been through, I was so glad she had Leo. He was always there to hold her up when she needed him, and I completely understood why she had resisted love for so long.

There were so many laugh-out-loud moments from both Leo and Maddy, especially when they’d have these random thoughts pop into their heads and immediately try to shut them down.

These two were absolutely made for each other, and I loved watching their friendship turn into something more.

Thank you to the author & team for the opportunity to read this arc💕

[Sarah (lou_reads_romance) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars 🌟

Oh my goodness…. I did not want to leave these two!
This story gripped me so hard. Leo is everything and Maddy is perfect for him!
Argh but the angst….how many times did I hold my breath, hoping that finally their time would come…

I so enjoyed their journey together, Ms Dawes has done an amazing job of showing their relationship as it develops, through all their stages of growth. Their ups and downs, their good and bad moments. This is how a friends to lovers should be told. Drawing the reader into their connection from the very start of their friendship. Proving why they are who they are. Leo and Maddy are great characters on their own, but together they’re perfect.

The author portrays Leo’s ‘ big brother’ standing brilliantly, the sibling silliness with feisty Daisy, his close connection with August and their shared love of all things romance, his brotherly care of Tilly. He is so much a part of their family and we learn exactly how much they all mean to each other….they’re a team.

Then we have the best friend moments with Maddy. His easy going acceptance of her daredevil crazy, her reliance on his strength and gentleness. They just get each other and I was totally there for every page!
This series has gripped me and I can’t wait for Daisy next….she’s fiery and I think it’s going to be a doozy!

[Gloria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author Lila Dawes for the ARC opportunity!

Okayyyy… THIS ONE. 😭
The YEARNING. The grief. The history between Maddy & Leo. I was emotional AF.
Best friends to lovers already gets me, but a golden retriever bull rider MMC who has never really forgotten that first kiss from many moons ago?! 🥹
And Maddy our firefighter FMC has spent so much time protecting herself because she’s terrified of what loving someone and losing them could do to her. Watching her navigate that grief while Leo is just… THERE. 😭❤️

That we’ve loved each other for years but have been too afraid to cross that line kind of love? EAT IT UP.

Best Friends to Lovers
Firefighter FMC
Bull Rider MMC
Golden Retriever MMC
Small Town
Found Family
Grief + Healing
A First Kiss They Never Forgot
YEARS of yearning

ESPAÑOL🇸🇻:Ay noooo… ESTE LIBRO. 😭
El ANHELO. El duelo. La historia entre Maddy y Leo. Me tuvo toda sentimental.
Mejores amigos a amantes + un bull rider golden retriever que NUNCA olvidó ese primer beso de hace tantos años? 🥹 YA PERDÍ.
Maddy es bombera, fuerte e independiente, pero tiene miedo de amar y algún día perder a esa persona… y perderse ella misma en el dolor. 😭
Y Leo simplemente estando ahí, amándola durante todos esos años… MY HEART. 🥹❤️
Ese amor de siempre has sido tú gets me EVERY TIME.

[Kate Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Goodreads lies... 6⭐ and buckets of tears!

Just when you think Lila Dawes can't top Redemption... And then she writes this?! My poor, battered heart was broken and heeled all over again.

This story is, at its core, a friend's to lover story. A beautiful friendship between Maddy and Leo that becomes this will they/won't they story with lots of miscommunication and slow burn.

But the bit that got me? It wasn't the HOOOOOOOOT spice (damn girl, Leo beats out Jack and Tate, how did you do that?!) and it wasn't the slow burn love story. Nope. It was the realisation Maddy has when she realises that, despite all he grief and all her losses... Leo is the one loss she cannot bare to lose.

I was widowed in 2019. And the memory of Dan still hurts my soul on a level that is hard to describe. But Dan lives on in memories and photos and a thousand fragmented moments that I carry with me... When Maddy has her lightbulb moment, and realises it's better to have loved and lost, than to have never loved at all? Yeah that cut me so deep.

I haven't had a book this year that made me cry that way, in a good way. My first stand out book of 2026 and I wish I could forget it just to read it all over again.

Maddy and Leo, you've stolen my heart, that is for sure.

[Leshay Germany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lila has proven that cowgirls most certainly do it better and when they are also bad*ss firefighters as well, well I’m hooked. This series is such so good and I didn’t want this one to end. I don’t think there could be a more perfect man than Leo Valkner. This man was a walking talking green flag and so in love with his best friend Maddy. I adored their journey and the friendship between them so much, loving how Lila gave us their history as friends up until present time. The slow burn and angst had me seriously ready for them just to have their moment.

Leo was a total romantic at heart and wanted the kind of love he reads about in his romance books (yes he reads all the romance books and watches romcoms). But Maddy was terrified of love and after everything she had been through, I totally got it. During it all Leo was so patient even if at times I wanted to just nudge Maddy a little.

These Cartwright sisters are something special and I loved the “big brother” role that Leo played in all of their lives. I can’t wait for who we are getting next and I just know that Lila is keeping us guessing.

Thank you so much Lila and team for this earc. I adore being apart of your world with these cowgirls.

[Darcy Rodriguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh👏🏼my👏🏼gosh… I’m💀!! I absolutely DE•VOURED this book! Like, couldn’t put it down, forget life’s responsibilities, was completely lost in the story, barely took time to eat, kind of devoured.

This is book 3 in the “Cowgirls Do It Better” series, and is written as an interconnected standalone.
Maddy Cartwright & Leo Valkner are ALL the relationship goals! 🔥🙌🏻❤️. They had been best friends since the age of 8 when he accepted her challenge to wrestle on the playground.

Leo’s father died when he was only 5, so he really took to Maddy’s father, like he was his own. He had dreams of becoming a professional bull rider, and Maddy’s dad was instrumental in helping him.

Maddy suffered a lot of loss - unimaginable loss, and that made her scared to love. Because she was so afraid to love and lose, she decided to live a life of “no strings attached”. All the while, Leo was right there waiting for her to let her guard down enough to allow herself to love him.

So much heartache, so much angst, so much unrequited love happening… you truly have no idea if they’ll ever get their HEA!

1000% recommend!!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️