Walnut Grove Cowboy

by J.R. Gale

He was right in front of me, and yet a single lie made him a lifetime away."

Is it better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all?

Rachel Collins seems to have the perfect life, that is, until she realizes her husband, Dr. Jack Brooklyn, is a master of control and rage. After escaping his powerful grasp, Rachel sheds her identity and vanishes into the remote silence of Walnut Grove Lake, seeking anonymity and safety.

Her solitude is shattered by Weston Brooks.

Wounded by his own past, the rugged cowboy is the one man Rachel shouldn't trust, yet his protective presence is irresistible. Their immediate attraction forces her to risk the fragile life she fought for.

But Jack is still out there, hunting for his lost wife. He won't let her run again, no matter what the cost.

Rachel must fight not just for her life, but for the life of the only man who truly protected her.

219 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 17, 2026

About the author

J.R. Gale writes swoon-worthy romance laced with high-stakes danger. As the founder of J.R. Gale Books, she is dedicated to crafting stories where the heart is always at risk—both from love and the shadows of the past.

Jadelyn’s journey with the written word began in the eighth grade, thanks to a life-changing English teacher who opened the door to the world of creative storytelling. By her junior year of high school, she had already penned four books, a musical, and a screenplay, fully embracing her "writing nerd" status. Over the years, her portfolio has spanned everything from science fiction to medical research, giving her a unique edge in building complex, high-tension plots.

Today, Jadelyn is living her dream as a stay-at-home mom. She balances her days between playing peek-a-boo and navigating her characters through life-or-death situations. Her debut novel, Walnut Grove Cowboy, arrives February 17, 2026.

Follow her on TikTok and Instagram at J.R.Galebooks

Thank you for visiting and being a part of this adventure.

Reviews

[Kelsie Anderson]

I received an advanced reader copy of this book and am leaving this review voluntarily.

Walnut Grove Cowboy is such a darling YA debut. I genuinely enjoyed watching our FMC grow throughout the story, her journey felt authentic and heartfelt. The book tackles some heavier topics, and I really appreciated how thoughtfully and carefully they were handled.

✨ Tropes:
• Small town
• Cowboy romance
• “Who did this to you?”
• Hidden secrets
• Dual timeline

If you love emotional small-town stories with a touch of suspense, this one definitely delivers. I especially enjoyed the underlying mystery element woven throughout the plot, it kept me turning pages.

That said, I did find myself wanting just a little more. There were moments where some details felt unnecessary, and other spots where I wished we could’ve gone deeper into the characters’ thoughts and emotions. The romance leaned a bit rushed for my personal taste. I would have loved a slower build and more tension before the payoff.

Overall, though, this was a strong debut with heart, growth, and intrigue. I’ll absolutely be watching to see what this author writes next 🤠💛

Thank you JR Gale for the ARC

[Madeline Berry]

As a debut novel, I truly think this deserves 5 stars! I loved all of the characters (minus Jack lol). The tension buildup had me on edge for a good while too, making it hard to put the book down! Thanks to the author for choosing me to be a part of her ARC team! Excited to see what other stories she comes up with in the future!

[Hannah Piper]

I received an ARC of this book by the lovely author and although I enjoyed the overall plot of the book, I do have some critiques. The story idea itself is a fantastic idea and I loved the premise, however I wish more time had been taken to really dive deep into each relationship, especially Rachel and Weston’s. I feel their relationship started and progressed very quickly. The writing style wasn’t always my favorite but that is something that is developed over time and is also just my personal opinion. I’ll lastly say that I loved that there wasn’t any spice and as a Christian myself I loved the part where Rachel prayed at the end. It was a good reminder to me to be still and thank God for the amazing life He has given me!
Overall it’s a fun and short read and a good refreshing pallet cleanser from my heavy fantasy novels!

[Jessica]

This was a cute, quick read. I enjoyed the overall concept of the book and the suspense factor, but I do think it could have used some more pages and a little more opportunity to build the story. There was a heavy focus on the “before” storyline rather that the “now” storyline felt a bit neglected and then rushed with the new love interest. Not a bad debut, though!

[Katie]

I received this book as an ARC from the author.

Thank you so much, Jadelyn, for the ARC of this book, and congratulations on your debut novel!
I want to start by saying I truly think Jadelyn is a talented writer, and I can see some great books coming from her in the future.

With that said, this book had so much potential, but it just missed the mark for me. I felt the plot was good, but I felt the writing kind of changed up midway through the book. I also had a hard time with the way the MMC spoke in this book…some of his sayings truly threw me off and kind of took me out of the story. I know this is a book that does not use curse words and whatnot, but I feel other words could have been used in place of what was used.

I also wish we got a point of view from our MMC. This book was only told from the POV of the FMC, and every other chapter was pretty much a flashback and then to the current time.

Since I mentioned the flashbacks, I will say that I wish these flashbacks of Rachel and her past with Jack were explained/shown at the beginning of the book vs a flashback every other chapter. I feel this would have helped to see Weston and Rachel grow as a couple together while she also heals and moves forward from her past.

I will say I really did enjoy the suspense aspect in this book. While we know who the villain is, I was surprised by the twist that happened, and I would love to see more of that character and the other female character in this book with their own story.

Thank you again J.R Gale for the ARC in return of my honest review

[Kell 5wordsorlessbooks]

Oh my heart! What an emotional debut.

This story follows Rachel, a heroine whose journey is anything but easy. After escaping a marriage built on control and fear, she disappears to Walnut Grove Lake in search of safety and anonymity, and my gosh, you feel every ounce of what she’s been through. The book tackles some very heavy themes, and the emotional weight of Rachel’s experiences truly stays with you.

Told through present-day chapters woven with flashbacks, the story slowly reveals Rachel’s past with her ex-husband Jack (who is, without question, an absolute piece of work), helping us understand exactly how she ended up rebuilding her life in this quiet lakeside town.

Enter Weston: the rugged cowboy with a gentle heart. Loyal, protective, a little obsessed in the best way, and yes, a man who says “darlin’.” Their relationship leans toward instalove, which I personally didn’t mind, but some readers may wish for a slower build given Rachel’s complex history. Still, Weston brings warmth, safety, and softness to a story that carries such emotional intensity.

My only real wish? That the book had been longer so we could spend even more time exploring Rachel and Weston’s relationship beyond the looming shadow of Jack.

Heart-wrenching, hopeful, and deeply emotional. Hold onto your hearts (and cowboy hats!) with this one. You’re in for quite the ride.

Thank you to the author for an early copy. All opinions are my own.

[Hailee Reads]

Definitely read trigger warnings. The cover may be super cutesy, but it does contain very heavy themes of domestic violence.
That being said, I loved this book.
To me, this reminded me of a mix of safe Haven and sleeping with the enemy.
I liked the shifting perspective between the past and what happened and the now of living after those effects. I was absolutely devastated at times and excited at others. The first bit is definitely more story building and did take me a little bit longer to get through but about halfway through I picked up the book again and then I literally couldn't stop until I was finished regardless of the time and the fact that I'd have to be up early with my kids lol

[Madison]

this was such a good book, i read it in less than 24 hours !! i loved the way that romance and suspense were woven together in this story. i liked the flashbacks it was very entertaining to read the past and the present together. as some aspects of the book may have been a little bit predictable- the ending was not !! i appreciate a good plot twist and i feel like that is sometimes hard to do with romance and she did it so well!! i also appreciate all of the precious moments between the FMC and MMC. can’t wait to continue reading her books !!

[Rachel Edgar-Overly]

I read this a bit ago and absolutely sped through it. J.R. Gale’s dual timeline does a great job of building the suspense and keeps you on the edge of your seat, or, like me, reading until 2:00 am. The protagonist seems to have the opposite of trust issues, despite her trauma, but who’s to say I wouldn’t be the same if I ran into a sexy cowboy in a beautiful lake town?

Overall, a fun, easy read.

[Melody Farnsworth]

Great debut

I don't normally read romance novels now that I'm an old lady, but I saw this author on a Facebook post. I have read both of her books now! They are sweet and charming, with just enough drama to keep me engaged. So, thank you for the trip back to my youthful love of romance. I'll be watching....

[Sarah Neese]

This was such a sweet and suspenseful read. If you enjoy no spice stories, this is definitely worth a read! Everyone needs a cowboy who calls them Darlin’.

[Vicky]

What a beautiful debut. My favorite part was definitely the New York flashbacks. They were so detailed and vivid. I’m always a sucker for a good cowboy romance, and Weston completely won me over. I also really loved the insta-love. I can’t wait for J.R. Gale’s next book.

[Courtney]

Okay. Had abuse in the story, which isn’t something I typically read books about

[Aly Nicole]

So sweet!!!

This is one of those stories that just sucks you in and makes you feel at home. Every girl needs a Weston in their life!

[olivia]

Great Book

Great book! Beautiful love story coming from a tragic past. Wonderfully written and very wholesome. Will be reading more by this author!