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Broken Hearted Cowboy: A Steamy Cowboy Romance About Risk and Redemption
He bet everything on a longshot.
Love won’t be another risk he’s willing to take.
Harrison learned the hard way that trust is expensive. After a brutal betrayal cost him more than money, he swore off love, commitment, and anything that could leave him exposed again. These days, he puts his faith in horses -- not people -- and even that’s a gamble.
When his longshot horse needs a miracle, the answer comes with a price tag. Nicole is a sought-after trainer with a reputation for turning written-off horses into winners ... and she knows exactly what her time is worth. Harrison cusses every check he writes … right up until he starts seeing results.
As the horse improves, so does the tension between them.
Nicole is all confidence, curves, and quiet authority. She is immune to Harrison’s charm and uninterested in his money. Harrison can’t decide what unsettles him how easily she takes control in the barn, or how impossible it is to stop wanting her out of it. The attraction is instant, undeniable, and completely off-limits.
Neither of them is looking for love. They want release. Control. A distraction that ends when the race is over.
But longshots don’t win by playing it safe ... and some risks demand more than money.
Broken Hearted Cowboy is a steamy small-town romance about betrayal, ambition, and the dangerous temptation of falling for the one person you promised yourself you wouldn’t.
Includes open-door heat, sharp banter, and a guaranteed happily-ever-after.
Instant attraction • Guarded cowboy hero • Confident professional heroine • Forced proximity • High-heat romance • Longshot gamble
Broken Hearted Cowboy is part of a multi-author series about those who have sworn off love. They're not looking for love, but sometimes love finds them. Each steamy tale may be read as a stand-alone. Binge read the entire collection.
Love won’t be another risk he’s willing to take.
Harrison learned the hard way that trust is expensive. After a brutal betrayal cost him more than money, he swore off love, commitment, and anything that could leave him exposed again. These days, he puts his faith in horses -- not people -- and even that’s a gamble.
When his longshot horse needs a miracle, the answer comes with a price tag. Nicole is a sought-after trainer with a reputation for turning written-off horses into winners ... and she knows exactly what her time is worth. Harrison cusses every check he writes … right up until he starts seeing results.
As the horse improves, so does the tension between them.
Nicole is all confidence, curves, and quiet authority. She is immune to Harrison’s charm and uninterested in his money. Harrison can’t decide what unsettles him how easily she takes control in the barn, or how impossible it is to stop wanting her out of it. The attraction is instant, undeniable, and completely off-limits.
Neither of them is looking for love. They want release. Control. A distraction that ends when the race is over.
But longshots don’t win by playing it safe ... and some risks demand more than money.
Broken Hearted Cowboy is a steamy small-town romance about betrayal, ambition, and the dangerous temptation of falling for the one person you promised yourself you wouldn’t.
Includes open-door heat, sharp banter, and a guaranteed happily-ever-after.
Instant attraction • Guarded cowboy hero • Confident professional heroine • Forced proximity • High-heat romance • Longshot gamble
Broken Hearted Cowboy is part of a multi-author series about those who have sworn off love. They're not looking for love, but sometimes love finds them. Each steamy tale may be read as a stand-alone. Binge read the entire collection.
98 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 7, 2026
About the author
Opal Nicks
55 books31 followersOpal’s steamy stories frequently feature independent, strong-willed females who find themselves surprisingly swept away by alpha males who pursue them with vigor and passion. Ultimately, they can’t resist the sweet satisfaction and protection these men offer. Who could?
On Writing
Opal doesn’t like being restricted to what form her stories take. She breaks rules and bends things a bit to keep the tale the way the characters want it told.
In her writing, Opal Nicks explores many different facets of relationships. She hopes to captivate you with the nuances of love. Whether through a budding early relationship or a tension-filled reunion, she gracefully conveys the power and complexity of love-speak.
Her characters often possess an unbridled energy that gives them strength to take risks and traverse peril—all for love.
On Writing
Opal doesn’t like being restricted to what form her stories take. She breaks rules and bends things a bit to keep the tale the way the characters want it told.
In her writing, Opal Nicks explores many different facets of relationships. She hopes to captivate you with the nuances of love. Whether through a budding early relationship or a tension-filled reunion, she gracefully conveys the power and complexity of love-speak.
Her characters often possess an unbridled energy that gives them strength to take risks and traverse peril—all for love.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
June 21, 2026
Nicole and Harrison
BROKEN HEARTED COWBOY is part of the multi-authored Not Looking For Love Series. It's a short and steamy, instalove with a slow-burn vibe, close-proximity, curvy girl gets her cowboy romance. Nicole is a curvy horse trainer. Harrison is a hunky cowboy who owns a race horse after his ex left him. He is still suffering from a broken heart and trust issues after it. He ends up hiring Nicole to work with his horse and ends up falling for her in the process. Will he take a chance again? I loved this couple and also the parallels between Harrison and Red Ledger. The couple had great chemistry and the ending was so happy. I loved it.
BROKEN HEARTED COWBOY is part of the multi-authored Not Looking For Love Series. It's a short and steamy, instalove with a slow-burn vibe, close-proximity, curvy girl gets her cowboy romance. Nicole is a curvy horse trainer. Harrison is a hunky cowboy who owns a race horse after his ex left him. He is still suffering from a broken heart and trust issues after it. He ends up hiring Nicole to work with his horse and ends up falling for her in the process. Will he take a chance again? I loved this couple and also the parallels between Harrison and Red Ledger. The couple had great chemistry and the ending was so happy. I loved it.
February 9, 2026
She rebuilt the horse. He rebuilt his heart. Neither meant to fall.
After a brutal betrayal, Harrison is done trusting people. Left with a high-strung colt and a wrecked sense of peace, he isn't looking for second chances. What he needs is a trainer who can turn the mess into a win. Nicole doesn’t promise easy fixes, but she shows up with quiet strength and a way of seeing what others miss. She’s there for the horse, but Harrison quickly becomes harder to ignore.
Their connection sparks from the start. They keep things professional, but that line blurs fast. As Nicole earns Red Ledger’s trust, Harrison finds himself wanting to trust her too. Every look says more than it should. Every moment gets harder to walk away from. They’re not looking for love, but it finds them anyway.
One stormy night changes everything. What started as control becomes something real neither of them saw coming. As Red Ledger finds his stride, so do they. Trust doesn't come easy, and it sure doesn’t come fast, but when it sticks, it holds.
Harrison and Nicole begin with walls up and eyes on their own goals. He learns that trusting again isn’t weakness, and she finds strength in choosing more than just control. What builds between them is slow, earned, and undeniable. It’s not flashy. It’s real.
A steamy, emotionally grounded, small town, instant attraction, forced proximity cowboy romance featuring a guarded rancher, a confident horse trainer, and a longshot colt no one believed in. Exploring trust, restraint, vulnerability, healing, resilience, and the risk of connection after betrayal. It’s about learning to trust again, finding strength in softness, and choosing love when it’s easier to walk away.
The Elevator Pitch: A guarded cowboy and a fiercely capable horse trainer are forced to work together when a troubled racehorse becomes their shared focus. What begins as professional tension builds into a steamy connection layered with trust, restraint, and emotional risk. It delivers high heat, quiet intensity, and a grounded romance where healing comes through patience, not promises.
After a brutal betrayal, Harrison is done trusting people. Left with a high-strung colt and a wrecked sense of peace, he isn't looking for second chances. What he needs is a trainer who can turn the mess into a win. Nicole doesn’t promise easy fixes, but she shows up with quiet strength and a way of seeing what others miss. She’s there for the horse, but Harrison quickly becomes harder to ignore.
Their connection sparks from the start. They keep things professional, but that line blurs fast. As Nicole earns Red Ledger’s trust, Harrison finds himself wanting to trust her too. Every look says more than it should. Every moment gets harder to walk away from. They’re not looking for love, but it finds them anyway.
One stormy night changes everything. What started as control becomes something real neither of them saw coming. As Red Ledger finds his stride, so do they. Trust doesn't come easy, and it sure doesn’t come fast, but when it sticks, it holds.
Harrison and Nicole begin with walls up and eyes on their own goals. He learns that trusting again isn’t weakness, and she finds strength in choosing more than just control. What builds between them is slow, earned, and undeniable. It’s not flashy. It’s real.
A steamy, emotionally grounded, small town, instant attraction, forced proximity cowboy romance featuring a guarded rancher, a confident horse trainer, and a longshot colt no one believed in. Exploring trust, restraint, vulnerability, healing, resilience, and the risk of connection after betrayal. It’s about learning to trust again, finding strength in softness, and choosing love when it’s easier to walk away.
The Elevator Pitch: A guarded cowboy and a fiercely capable horse trainer are forced to work together when a troubled racehorse becomes their shared focus. What begins as professional tension builds into a steamy connection layered with trust, restraint, and emotional risk. It delivers high heat, quiet intensity, and a grounded romance where healing comes through patience, not promises.
March 16, 2026
3/5 stars
I enjoyed it but it was so short to get the story a bit more elaborated. but I liked it
I enjoyed it but it was so short to get the story a bit more elaborated. but I liked it
February 7, 2026
Trust is earned, not forced....
..a decision made, not pushed.
Nicole quietly replaces fear, hurt and heartbreak with trust, confidence and love.
This is an achingly beautiful journey of acceptance, hope and redemption for Red Ledger, Nicole and Harrison. I read this on Kindle Unlimited.
..a decision made, not pushed.
Nicole quietly replaces fear, hurt and heartbreak with trust, confidence and love.
This is an achingly beautiful journey of acceptance, hope and redemption for Red Ledger, Nicole and Harrison. I read this on Kindle Unlimited.
February 14, 2026
When you learn to trust again
A moving, low angst quick read all about healing and trust. Harrison has his heart in lockdown after his ex-fiance took advantage of him. Stuck with an young racehorse (Red Ledger 🐎) who also exhibits trust issues, he is out of his depth. Enter Nicole, who has the inner strength and outer patience needed to heal them both. I really enjoyed the mature relationship they shared and it was refreshing that miscommunication wasn’t the troupe of the day. It was fun to get a behind the scenes glimpse of the racing world and I found Nicole to be a great FMC - secure in her abilities while having an open heart.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
A moving, low angst quick read all about healing and trust. Harrison has his heart in lockdown after his ex-fiance took advantage of him. Stuck with an young racehorse (Red Ledger 🐎) who also exhibits trust issues, he is out of his depth. Enter Nicole, who has the inner strength and outer patience needed to heal them both. I really enjoyed the mature relationship they shared and it was refreshing that miscommunication wasn’t the troupe of the day. It was fun to get a behind the scenes glimpse of the racing world and I found Nicole to be a great FMC - secure in her abilities while having an open heart.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Read
February 7, 2026So many things in life involve risk. Each day, thousands of people are challenged in some way to take a leap of faith for a myriad of reasons. It could be a different career path, a relationship, a financial endeavor, or a business partnership.
Specifically, what causes someone to stop looking for romantic love?
Belief. At some point, they stopped believing it was possible.
Some stories start as a spark. This one started as a risk. Broken Hearted Cowboy was born from a simple question: What happens when a man who trusts nothing but instinct is forced to trust someone again?
Harrison is the kind of man who bets big and lives with the consequences. A rancher who is now a reluctant thoroughbred racehorse owner. A man who lost after investing in a relationship with a woman who betrayed him. She stole his reputation and pride, and a great deal of his money too.
She left him in the Oklahoma dust – with a wild two-year-old colt no one believed would ever load into a starting gate.
He’s already paid dearly for trusting the wrong person once. That betrayal was public, expensive, and humiliating enough to teach him a brutal lesson:
Love makes men reckless.
Desire? That’s manageable on his own.
So when this story opens, Harrison isn’t broken in a soft, wistful way. He’s sharp-edged. Controlled. Guarded. And absolutely not looking for love.
Nicole doesn’t heal him. She doesn’t fix him. She challenges him.
A sought-after trainer with a reputation for turning written-off horses into winners, Nicole knows exactly what her expertise is worth. She’s used to powerful men underestimating her, and she doesn’t bend for any of them.
Harrison sees something in the way Nicole can communicate with horses. It’s beyond what any other trainer can do that he’s hired. Hesitant to throw more money on this horse, he takes his first risk on Nicole’s abilities. She makes no guarantees, but somehow, he has a feeling she can make progress and get him out of the hole on his horse – Red Ledger.
When his horse starts responding and the results speak louder than his doubts, his respect for Nicole becomes something else entirely. What starts as reluctant trust turns into obsession – one he didn’t plan for.
This story lives in that dangerous space between control and temptation.
They make rules.
They break them.
Neither of them wants promises.
But longshots don’t win by playing it safe.
And neither do cowboys who’ve sworn off their hearts.
Broken Hearted Cowboy isn’t about gentle healing or slow emotional unraveling. It’s about adults who know better and choose the risk anyway.
It’s heat-forward and messy in the best way. It’s about choosing belief over fear, even when the odds say you shouldn’t.
Sometimes, the biggest gamble isn’t the horse – it’s letting yourself want more.
Specifically, what causes someone to stop looking for romantic love?
Belief. At some point, they stopped believing it was possible.
Some stories start as a spark. This one started as a risk. Broken Hearted Cowboy was born from a simple question: What happens when a man who trusts nothing but instinct is forced to trust someone again?
Harrison is the kind of man who bets big and lives with the consequences. A rancher who is now a reluctant thoroughbred racehorse owner. A man who lost after investing in a relationship with a woman who betrayed him. She stole his reputation and pride, and a great deal of his money too.
She left him in the Oklahoma dust – with a wild two-year-old colt no one believed would ever load into a starting gate.
He’s already paid dearly for trusting the wrong person once. That betrayal was public, expensive, and humiliating enough to teach him a brutal lesson:
Love makes men reckless.
Desire? That’s manageable on his own.
So when this story opens, Harrison isn’t broken in a soft, wistful way. He’s sharp-edged. Controlled. Guarded. And absolutely not looking for love.
Nicole doesn’t heal him. She doesn’t fix him. She challenges him.
A sought-after trainer with a reputation for turning written-off horses into winners, Nicole knows exactly what her expertise is worth. She’s used to powerful men underestimating her, and she doesn’t bend for any of them.
Harrison sees something in the way Nicole can communicate with horses. It’s beyond what any other trainer can do that he’s hired. Hesitant to throw more money on this horse, he takes his first risk on Nicole’s abilities. She makes no guarantees, but somehow, he has a feeling she can make progress and get him out of the hole on his horse – Red Ledger.
When his horse starts responding and the results speak louder than his doubts, his respect for Nicole becomes something else entirely. What starts as reluctant trust turns into obsession – one he didn’t plan for.
This story lives in that dangerous space between control and temptation.
They make rules.
They break them.
Neither of them wants promises.
But longshots don’t win by playing it safe.
And neither do cowboys who’ve sworn off their hearts.
Broken Hearted Cowboy isn’t about gentle healing or slow emotional unraveling. It’s about adults who know better and choose the risk anyway.
It’s heat-forward and messy in the best way. It’s about choosing belief over fear, even when the odds say you shouldn’t.
Sometimes, the biggest gamble isn’t the horse – it’s letting yourself want more.
February 11, 2026
It Takes Love and Support to Succeed -
This was a captivating story filled with highs, lows and a reason to believe in love again, which had me totally hooked from the beginning until the end. The connection between the characters was incredible and grew from the moment they met, all through working together closely, whilst supporting and celebrating each other. The author did a great job making the story come to life on the pages and showing the readers that sometimes second chances and risks do sometimes pay off. I urge you to give this book a chance and you won’t regret it.
I received a free review copy of this book via Booksprout and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
This was a captivating story filled with highs, lows and a reason to believe in love again, which had me totally hooked from the beginning until the end. The connection between the characters was incredible and grew from the moment they met, all through working together closely, whilst supporting and celebrating each other. The author did a great job making the story come to life on the pages and showing the readers that sometimes second chances and risks do sometimes pay off. I urge you to give this book a chance and you won’t regret it.
I received a free review copy of this book via Booksprout and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 10, 2026
This was a wonderful romance that brings horse trainer, Nicole, and broken hearted rancher, Harrison, together. He got burned badly by his ex and is not willing to risk his heart, or finances, again, to love. Ha! Nicole, working with his difficult racing colt, shares her undemanding nature with both horse and man, and he, like Red Ledger, found himself gently pulled into her sphere and unable to resist her open honesty. Trust really bloomed in this romance and it leads to a fab and spicy HEA. Well done!
February 21, 2026
'Broken Hearted Cowboy is a steamy small-town romance about betrayal, ambition, and the dangerous temptation of falling for the one person you promised yourself you wouldn’t.'
The characters drove the storyline and they were so very appealing and complex and complicated and perfectly steamy together. Plot was intriguing and intense and well paced. World building was solidly drawn and impressive. Thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend.
Grab a copy, kick back and enjoy!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The characters drove the storyline and they were so very appealing and complex and complicated and perfectly steamy together. Plot was intriguing and intense and well paced. World building was solidly drawn and impressive. Thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend.
Grab a copy, kick back and enjoy!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 7, 2026
Not Looking For Love Series story of Harrison and Nicole. I love horses and loved how Nicole works with them. That is my all time favorite career to have. I have to say being able to help Harrison too was a bonus that healed him and helped both these characters find true love and happiness together. Now that is a romantic story worth reading.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 28, 2026
In their lives everything is about a trust. Rancher Harrison has been betrayed by his ex fiancé. Will he trust Nicole with his heart. As she builds trust with his colt, she opens also Harrison’s heart.
Beautiful short read in multi-author series Not Looking for Love.
Emotional and vibrant story, amazing characters.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Beautiful short read in multi-author series Not Looking for Love.
Emotional and vibrant story, amazing characters.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 7, 2026
This is a story that combines ranch, racehorses and finding trust again. How Harrison and Nicole find their forever is a must-read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 23, 2026
Loved it, A page turner from the beginning, Harrison and Nicole are both wonderful characters. I enjoyed reading their story, A wonderful addition to the series by different authors,.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 11, 2026
Sweet story
I gave this short story 3 stars because even though I like the story, it felt to me a little cold until the hot scene. I read about the way they express their feelings but I couldn't feel it. Still it was a good read and I enjoy it.
I gave this short story 3 stars because even though I like the story, it felt to me a little cold until the hot scene. I read about the way they express their feelings but I couldn't feel it. Still it was a good read and I enjoy it.
August 17, 2026
Finding Trust
His heart and trust were broken and he has a horse needing special training. She works with horses no one else can. He hires her to work with his and the relationships between horse, trainer and owner begins to develop. I loved the ending.
His heart and trust were broken and he has a horse needing special training. She works with horses no one else can. He hires her to work with his and the relationships between horse, trainer and owner begins to develop. I loved the ending.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews