Broken Heart Country

by Maeve Marlowe

Trouble is never done with me.

For once, it’s not even my own, but that doesn’t stop me from having to flee my home city in the middle of the night to find somewhere no one will think to look for me.

Gracie Anne’s Second Chance Ranch.

In the middle of nowhere in Utah, it seems to be just the place. The kind old owner is in need of some bookkeeping expertise and she likes to pay in cash. The only thing that keeps it from being perfect is the stubborn ass of a cowboy, Wes Dawson.

He walks around like he owns the place and won’t stop asking what it is I’m running from.

I told myself I wasn’t here to make friends, but the longer I stay, the more I discover I’m far from the only person on the ranch with a secret…

Kindle Edition

Expected publication February 19, 2026

Reviews

[Jonna · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ARC read✨

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

First off I wanna thank the author for the ARC for this book, I read it in 2 days because it had me gripped! 😩🫣

What’s it about?
-Evie does the books for a restaurant in Reno, and one night working late she overhears a murder in her boss’s office. She packs her bag and goes on the run and ends up at the Second Chance ranch in Utah as their new bookkeeper where she butts heads with the grumpy cowboy Wes 🤠 who is suspicious of her from the start

I thought the writing was great and it really had me immersed in the story and could just picture myself at the ranch. Loved the found family and all the side characters.
Both the main characters were messy and real which made this at times quite an emotional read.

I loved Evie’s sass, she didn’t take any shit from Wes from the start and was giving it back a 💯! At the same time my heart broke for her, she’s been through so much and was kinda fucked up in the head cause of it and can’t blame her for it either 🥺
Wes was the right amount of grumpy and the patience and understanding he showed Evie was really sweet. They were just perfect for each other 🧡

The spice was 🤌🏻 😮‍💨
it was just the right amount and things got pretty kinky at times 🥵 so I’d check your triggers (BDSM themes)

The book also has other heavy themes like mentions of both mental & physical domestic violence, mentions of attempted sexual assault and suicidal thoughts

Tropes:
🌻grumpy x grumpy
🌻found family
🌻forced proximity
🌻both MC’s in their late 30’s
🌻enemies to lovers

Some of my fave quotes:

“You may walk around like you own this place, but you don’t. I don’t answer to you, and I learned a long time ago that if you’re going to make it, you don’t let people walk all over you. Especially men like you who think it’s a woman’s job to do every little menial bullshit task they think is beneath them. So it’ll be a cold day in hell before I make you a pot of coffee.”

“I am not a religious man, but you are going to be some kind of test. I can feel it.”

“You. Are. Mine,” he rasped. “We only say it when we fuck, but I want it all the time. Not just your body. I want your anger and all the hidden pieces you haven’t let me touch yet. I think someone made you afraid you could never have that, and if you give me a name, Evie, I will make tomorrow his last day on earth for what he did to you. I do want you. I’ve wanted you since the moment you told me to make my own fucking coffee.”

[Amanda M · Rating 5 out of 5]

An exhilarating unputdownable page turner. I was immediately drawn into the story from the first few pages. The characters are incredible. And the narrative is so, so damn good. I loved the dynamics of this, how everything built up and that surprise turn of events toward the ending. One other thing that I liked was that this author balanced the heavy and the lightness of things. I think this really helped formulate a solid foundation for this book. And of course the banter, romance and spice, I thought was done very well. An excellent story. I thoroughly enjoyed every bit of this.


Some of my favorite lines:
"Well, come on then, cowboy. The floorboards are waiting."

"The darker things get in your head, baby, the darker you need the things we do to be in order to escape them."

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Evie is on the run and settles at Second Chance Ranch and meets cowboy Wes. Evie is strong and independent, doesn't take anything from anyone, especially the grumpy cowboy. Their chemistry and banter was fun. Wes was determined to figure out what she was running from. Together they grew to trust and love each other.

[Jennifer Rodriguez · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Her tongue did things that could only be learned in hell."

🌶🌶 Evie is running from her past and Wes is grumpy cowboy just trying to save her from herself. So stuck in her way of just getting by and not letting anyone get close enough to see all her scars. This is found family and finding that its ok to have those scars because scars heal.

[Erin Ellison · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Well, I think that’s because you were meant for me, baby.”

Evie- Needing to escape and run away from something (I won't spill what) she gets a job at a ranch in the middle of nowhere Utah as their accountant. I loved her. She is so strong and doesn't take crap from anyone. The banter in this between her and Wes is top tier.

Wes- Long time employee and boss that acts like he owns the ranch (but doesn't). Is suspicious of Evie from the start. So their initial meet wasn't exactly pleasant and just kind of got more intense from there.

Ugh this made my heart bleed a bit at certain parts. This gets really heavy and emotional. Their relationship is so real, fragile, and tense. There's so much pain and so many walls. Eventually filled with so much patience and love. How their relationship grew from practically hating each other to protectiveness and love. 😍 This doesn't stagger from the super heavy aspects not only them individually and what they are personally going though but together as well. Dealing with that pain, healing, breaking down those barriers. This will destroy you and make your heart flutter at the same time.

The spice in this was perfection! I loved the whole plot and the mystery involved. Things were timed perfectly for revealing answers to questions I had. The suspense just kept happening too. As soon as something got revealed something else popped up that I totally wasn't expecting! I personally loved the ending. 😍 I'm swooning. I love them ❤️‍🩹

✔️Later in life (later 30s)
✔️Forced proximity
✔️Hate to love
✔️grumpy/ grumpy
✔️he falls first
✔️Steamy

Thank you for my ARC! I'm leaving this review voluntarily.

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set at Gracie Anne’s Second Chance Ranch in the middle of nowhere Utah, this one throws our FMC straight into forced proximity with Wes Dawson, a stubborn, broody cowboy who is just as rough around the edges as the land he works. The grumpy meets grumpy energy works so well, and the slow burn builds exactly the way you want it to. There’s real tension, some genuinely sweet moments, and enough spice to keep things interesting, all wrapped in that dusty western atmosphere.

What I loved most is that the story does not dodge the heavy stuff. Grief, trauma, addiction, and second chances are all handled with care and depth without killing the romance. The found family at the ranch is a highlight, and watching these broken people slowly put themselves back together hit right in the feels.
if you like cowboy romance with emotional weight, a touch of darkness, and a hopeful ending that does not feel cheesy, this one is definitely worth picking up.

[Blitheroo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book SO MUCH!! Wes has to be one of my very favorite MMCs yet, he's strong and steady and loves Evie's brand of crazy. He's the one tough enough to stick around through anything, possessive enough to have a bit of a jealous streak, and badass enough to end a fight.

Evie is so tragically broken, but she owns it. She's overcome so much in her life (she's in her upper 30s!! Yessss!!!) She's smart and competent, hard working, and she's strong enough to face her past and her fears. I love her snark and her spunk, but mostly I just love them as a couple. Their story tugged at my heart in a way that not many manage to do. The emotions were spot on, and the progression of their relationship felt natural. There is PLENTY of spice, but it adds to the story instead of overpowering it.

I feel bad for whatever book I pick up next because there's just no getting over Wes!

[Caitlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

You guys- trust me- if you want a cowboy romance that is MORE, this is it!

We have a sassy, feisty, intelligent FMC who is on the run. A grumpy cowboy with scars of his own.

I absolutely fell in love with Evie, the way she stood up for herself right from the start, the sass, the way she owned her sexuality.

And Wes- our scarred, grumpy cowboy who is actually the sweetest most protective man.

This story had suspense for days, just when you thought everything was good- something new entered. It kept me on my toes and I absolutely loved that.

The chemistry between Wes and Evie was immediate and HOT. Something about that hate fking that just gets ya going.

I was hooked on this one from start to finish!

[Andrea Hendry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gracie Anne second chance Ranch is out in the middle of nowhere. Many people have came to the ranch for a second chance including Evie. Evie has secrets that’s she is running from. She ends up taking a job at the ranch as a bookkeeper. While helping Gracie get her books in order Evie discovers something not right. While working on the ranch she runs into the one and only Wes Dawson. Wes is a grumpy cowboy who thinks he doesn’t need anyone until he meets Evie. She doesn’t cut him no slack. Once Evie secrets start to unravel Wes will do whatever he needs to do to protect her. The chemistry between these two starts immediately. These two will keep you in your toes from the bickering and what Evie calls hate f**king. I absolutely loved this book

[Heather Greer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a strong 4.5 stars for me! I’m a sucker for a cowboy romance and this did not disappoint.
The character’s, the story line and the scenery that I could envision as I read were perfection. I could almost visualize it as if I were there.
The bookkeeper, Evie, that has secrets and is running from her past meets a grumpy ranch hand, Wes. He will soon find out that the woman who annoys him the most is the woman he needs the most in life. He will do whatever it takes to keep her safe and protect her from her past and herself at all costs.
This story is full of banter, ranch life, secrets, some mystery, heartaches, found family and best of all love!

[MaryJaneSpirals · Rating 5 out of 5]

to keep this short because there's just so much I loved about this book and I'm not going to be able to articulate it in a short amount. But seriously one of the best cowboy books I've ever read! 🐎 I love how relatable Evie was (at least to me) This was so nice to have a real book about main characters I hate to say later in life because I'm around the same age (36) And it was so awesome to see Wes not only be just a a regular working man, but also be freaking amazing 🖤🥵🖤 parts of this book had me sobbing and I'm not a big crier but the way it was written and the way it hit just had me in water works.  And don't even get me started on the spicy scenes because hot damn 🌶️!!

[Blair Davison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Broken Heart Country truly lives up to its name: broken hearts finding their way back together in a small-town, country setting. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. It pulled me in early and kept my attention with the natural ebbs and flows of a romance, while also weaving in some darker, more emotional themes. Evie and Wes both come from dark pasts that allow them to twist together beautifully. Their dynamic reminds me so much of Beth and Rip, so if you loved their story you will love Evie's and Wes' more.

If you enjoy heartfelt romance with a touch of grit, this one is definitely worth checking out.

[Manda · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Reader here! I’ve been patiently waiting (who am I kidding, i was impatiently waiting) for this book since I signed up for the ARC. Let me just say… It did not disappoint!! It was so good! I loved the ranch and how meaningful it was. Gracie was a sweetheart and I loved her. Evie and Wes were just so cute! The banter and tension just made me so much more excited for when they got together. The spice was so good!! I loved the community and how much the ranch was a family. Such a good book!

[Carrisa Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am absolutely obsessed with this book. Seeing Evie learn that it is ok to relax and Wes learn that she had a troubled back story. These two go from hating each other to love and it is absolutely an amazing story. Plus the twist was really good and I didn't see it coming but of course Wes did and he was determined to protect the love of his life. Evie getting to face her demons head on and know it is ok to need help was so relatable

[Alexis Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow this was so beautiful to read and really had me emotional while reading. I loved seeing the banter and understanding between these two and I loved seeing Wes bring Evie out of her self and I enjoyed seeing them heal one another. The big betrayals were huge and nerve wrecking. The ending couldn’t have been more perfect

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This books was an amazing book. The story was there. It literally made me feel everything that Evie and Wes were feeling. I felt the angst the lust the longing. Maeve did a phenomenal job and describing everything.

[Alexandria (Ink Stained Sorceress) · Rating 5 out of 5]

A warm thank you to Maeve Marlowe for allowing me to read an ARC of Broken Heart Country. Honestly, I absolutely loved everything about this book. It was full of heart, raw emotion, and just the right amount of spice. It really had everything. I’ve realized that I apparently really love a good cowboy romance based on the few I've read lately!

The writing was so well-done, and Wes and Evie were such fantastic, well-developed characters and their chemistry just felt so genuine. They made the emotional highs and lows feel incredibly real. This story has easily earned a spot on my favorite reads of 2026 list.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this! The suspense of when and how the shoe would drop. The cowboys bringing the spice. I loved the side characters. The author let us fall in hate and love and frustration. We saw wounds heal and hearts open!

[Janice Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book! Loved the Spice it was a perfect amount, which still allowed the plot to shine. Evie and "Rowdy" had the right amount of push and pull.
I highly recommend if you love a good cowboy romance with some spice

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

ill b back w my review

[Anah Grindrod · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review incoming