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The Unexpected Cowboy
A small-town cowboy romance filled with heat, heart, and hard-won love.
Francina Brown came to Sunset Springs, Texas, for a wedding and the holidays—not to fall for a cowboy with a dangerous smile and a habit of saying exactly what she’s trying not to hear.
Travis Garland came home to Texas to rebuild his life, take a job at Stanley Ranch, and finally put distance between himself and the Windgate name—a family legacy rooted in cruelty, entitlement, and violence. Love wasn’t part of the plan.
Then Francina walked into the ranch kitchen.
She’s brilliant, guarded, and heading back to New York. He’s steady, relentless, and determined to prove that sometimes the right man shows up where you least expect him. Travis gives himself six days to make her fall in love—but neither of them expects how fast attraction turns into something deeper… and how dangerous it becomes when old enemies refuse to let the past stay buried.
As Francina becomes entangled in a brutal investigation involving missing and murdered women, the line between professional duty and personal risk disappears. When the Windgate brothers escalate from sabotage to terror, love is no longer just an emotional gamble—it’s a matter of survival.
The Unexpected Cowboy is a powerful blend of contemporary romance and romantic suspense, exploring race, trust, family, and what it means to choose love when walking away feels safer.
💔🔥 Tropes you’ll Small-town cowboy romanceHe-falls-firstForced proximityInterracial romanceFound familyRomantic suspenseStrong, professional heroineProtective heroFor readers who love emotionally grounded romances with high stakes, unforgettable chemistry, and a happily-ever-after that’s truly earned.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“I did NOT expect this book to hit me the way it did. Travis Garland is officially one of my favorite book boyfriends.”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“Francina Brown is the kind of heroine we don’t get enough of—brilliant, flawed, fierce, and human. Her voice felt real.”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“This was way more than a romance. The suspense had me on edge, and the emotional payoff was incredible.”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“The way this book handled race, family trauma, and love without being preachy was masterful.”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
‘Six days to make you fall in love with me’—I was DONE after that line.”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“I came for the cowboy romance, stayed for the found family vibes and strong female friendships.”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“The Stanley Ranch universe just keeps getting better. I love how characters from previous books weave into this story.
Francina Brown came to Sunset Springs, Texas, for a wedding and the holidays—not to fall for a cowboy with a dangerous smile and a habit of saying exactly what she’s trying not to hear.
Travis Garland came home to Texas to rebuild his life, take a job at Stanley Ranch, and finally put distance between himself and the Windgate name—a family legacy rooted in cruelty, entitlement, and violence. Love wasn’t part of the plan.
Then Francina walked into the ranch kitchen.
She’s brilliant, guarded, and heading back to New York. He’s steady, relentless, and determined to prove that sometimes the right man shows up where you least expect him. Travis gives himself six days to make her fall in love—but neither of them expects how fast attraction turns into something deeper… and how dangerous it becomes when old enemies refuse to let the past stay buried.
As Francina becomes entangled in a brutal investigation involving missing and murdered women, the line between professional duty and personal risk disappears. When the Windgate brothers escalate from sabotage to terror, love is no longer just an emotional gamble—it’s a matter of survival.
The Unexpected Cowboy is a powerful blend of contemporary romance and romantic suspense, exploring race, trust, family, and what it means to choose love when walking away feels safer.
💔🔥 Tropes you’ll Small-town cowboy romanceHe-falls-firstForced proximityInterracial romanceFound familyRomantic suspenseStrong, professional heroineProtective heroFor readers who love emotionally grounded romances with high stakes, unforgettable chemistry, and a happily-ever-after that’s truly earned.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“I did NOT expect this book to hit me the way it did. Travis Garland is officially one of my favorite book boyfriends.”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“Francina Brown is the kind of heroine we don’t get enough of—brilliant, flawed, fierce, and human. Her voice felt real.”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“This was way more than a romance. The suspense had me on edge, and the emotional payoff was incredible.”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“The way this book handled race, family trauma, and love without being preachy was masterful.”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
‘Six days to make you fall in love with me’—I was DONE after that line.”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“I came for the cowboy romance, stayed for the found family vibes and strong female friendships.”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“The Stanley Ranch universe just keeps getting better. I love how characters from previous books weave into this story.
308 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 31, 2025
About the author
Kimberly Smith
175 books34 followersLibrarian Note: There are more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 7, 2026
Love Is Waiting
Francina has been hurt by the love game. Yet sometimes we can sabotage our own HEA. Travis is a decent, kind & respectful cowboy. He has had his moments of being judged unfairly, just like Francina. However , she can't look past her own situation. Travis is determined to show her he's different & wants forever. They have chemistry now for the hard part of can they both trust the process. There will be a few bumps in the road, but with open hearts & and minds, they will get to their HEA. It was a good read with a bit of mystery. Enjoy.
Francina has been hurt by the love game. Yet sometimes we can sabotage our own HEA. Travis is a decent, kind & respectful cowboy. He has had his moments of being judged unfairly, just like Francina. However , she can't look past her own situation. Travis is determined to show her he's different & wants forever. They have chemistry now for the hard part of can they both trust the process. There will be a few bumps in the road, but with open hearts & and minds, they will get to their HEA. It was a good read with a bit of mystery. Enjoy.
February 10, 2026
WHAT A GREAT STORY!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Just wow! What a great story! The twists and turns this book took were so unexpected! I really enjoyed it! The two MCs were such an interesting couple, and their journey to love is so organic and crazy believable even though the timeframe it happens in is short, but you feel like they’ve been building up to it for months because the author wrote it in such a way it unfolds that you literally forget time and space, and it such an amazing and wonderful surprise! What an awesome book!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Just wow! What a great story! The twists and turns this book took were so unexpected! I really enjoyed it! The two MCs were such an interesting couple, and their journey to love is so organic and crazy believable even though the timeframe it happens in is short, but you feel like they’ve been building up to it for months because the author wrote it in such a way it unfolds that you literally forget time and space, and it such an amazing and wonderful surprise! What an awesome book!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
January 25, 2026
Travis and Francina
A page turner full of twists and turns you don’t expect
This was not your normal man meets woman and fall in love.
It is filled with some suspense and family loyalty and support
Kimberly weaved a story you can’t put down until the end
And it is an exciting ending
Great job as always Kimberely
I highly recommend this book
A page turner full of twists and turns you don’t expect
This was not your normal man meets woman and fall in love.
It is filled with some suspense and family loyalty and support
Kimberly weaved a story you can’t put down until the end
And it is an exciting ending
Great job as always Kimberely
I highly recommend this book
March 20, 2026
Great Story!
This story was enjoyable. Easy to read. I liked Travis from the start. Cool and calm. Francine was funny with her fast responses, short and quick NY style. Reminded me of home. I liked the way everyone came together as a family, blood or chosen to help others in need or in danger. I read this in one day. Can't wait to read another one of her books.
This story was enjoyable. Easy to read. I liked Travis from the start. Cool and calm. Francine was funny with her fast responses, short and quick NY style. Reminded me of home. I liked the way everyone came together as a family, blood or chosen to help others in need or in danger. I read this in one day. Can't wait to read another one of her books.
January 4, 2026
Love and redemption
I fairly quick read, but a great one! I love story that unfolds in a unique way along with intrigued, deceit, and murder. But love is the overwhelming theme! What a great ride! Loved it!
I fairly quick read, but a great one! I love story that unfolds in a unique way along with intrigued, deceit, and murder. But love is the overwhelming theme! What a great ride! Loved it!
January 5, 2026
Not just this story.
You have to read the whole series to get the gist of it. The whole series is phenomenal. If this is the end,well it ended with a bang. If not, continue writing so I can keep reading. Loved it.
You have to read the whole series to get the gist of it. The whole series is phenomenal. If this is the end,well it ended with a bang. If not, continue writing so I can keep reading. Loved it.
January 7, 2026
This book was awesome!
The new characters, the love story. I truly enjoyed this book and will probably read it again.
Thanks
Maybe Gordon can have a love story, or Travis and Francine can give Grace some grandbabies. Lol just a suggestion.
The new characters, the love story. I truly enjoyed this book and will probably read it again.
Thanks
Maybe Gordon can have a love story, or Travis and Francine can give Grace some grandbabies. Lol just a suggestion.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews