Rock Steady Cowboy

by Lexi Post

A contemporary cowboy romance where she's sworn off love and he's done waiting for it to find him.

He's looking for a future. She's still running from the past.

Kit Ford is ready for a fresh start when she takes the job as manager of the shooting range at Rocky Road Ranch. With a scarred face, missing fingers, and a career as a biathlete ended by a jealous woman, she's not looking for love. When a handsome cowboy is assigned to show her around town, she makes one thing friendship only.

Nash Goodman wants what he's never had—a family. But every time he gets close to a woman, he ends up friend-zoned. When Kit shuts him down before he even tries, it's the final straw. Done with small-town possibilities, Nash ignores his attraction to her and takes his chances with an online matchmaking service for cowboys.

Kit told herself she didn't want more. But the longer she's around Nash, the harder it becomes to believe her own rules. She wants him—in her bed, in her life, in ways she swore she'd never risk.

Now she has to keep hiding behind walls she built to survive, or fight for the man she's about to lose to someone ready to give him everything.

Warm, witty, and undeniably steamy—Rocksteady Cowboy is a small-town cowboy romance for readers who love scarred heroines, patient heroes, and the moment when "just friends" stops being enough.

Perfect for readers who
– Scarred heroines reclaiming their lives
– Cowboys ready for commitment and family
– Friends-to-lovers with simmering tension
– Small-town ranch romance with heat and heart

237 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 5, 2026

About the author

Lexi Post is a New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of romance inspired by the classics. She spent years in higher education taking and teaching courses about the classical literature she loved. From Edgar Allan Poe's short story “The Masque of the Red Death” to Tolstoy’s War and Peace, she's read, studied, and taught wonderful classics.

But Lexi's first love is romance novels. In an effort to marry her two first loves, she started writing romance inspired by the classics and found she loved it. From hot paranormals to sizzling cowboys to hunks from out of this world, Lexi provides a sensuous experience with a “whole lotta story.”

Lexi is living her own happily ever after with her husband and her cat in Florida. She makes her own ice cream every weekend, loves bright colors, and you will never see her without a hat.

To sign up for Lexi's updates go to http://bit.ly/LexiUpdate

Reviews

[Quinn Fforde]

Kit has been trying to find a new life with meaning. Her brother suggests a job at Rocky Road Ranch that uses her shooting skills, and he introduces her to Nash, the cowboy who will help her get settled in. Kit has not been used to welcoming people, and she is prickly at first. But Nash is a genuinely kind person who wins her over. Because of Kit's background, she makes sure to friend-zone him quickly, but Nash is falling in love with her. There is no way she is going to be able to resist him, but it is going to take a different kind of new life than she expected. I loved these characters and their genuine connection. I also enjoyed Nash's way with animals and the use of the hawk in the story.

[Joan Somers]

Last in the series of Rocky Road Ranch, it brings together an unlikely pair—a cowboy who is looking for a soul mate and an Olympic biathlon who is looking to escape her past and wants to be left alone. Nash is such a great guy who is leery about love because it’s always been one-sided. Kit has physical and emotional scars that make it difficult for anyone to get close to her.

Characters are well-written and I really felt the anguish of Kit and hopelessness for Nash. Rural life is laid back in Four Peaks. I enjoyed how connected the people are to the environment and to each other. My favorite person was Aunt Dottie who has a bad rep as a small-town gossip and matchmaker.

I received a free copy of the book and I’m leaving this review voluntarily.

[Fanosse23]

I haven’t read many contemporary cowboy stories lately, but since I enjoy this author’s historical romances, I decided to give this one a try—and I may have discovered a new favorite genre. The author does an incredible job developing the characters and their emotions, drawing me right into the heart of Rocky Road Ranch.

Kit Ford and Nash Goodman are at completely different points in their lives and have conflicting plans for the future—until fate starts to shift those plans. Kit’s past is filled with pain: a difficult childhood and a promising career as a biathlete cut short by a jealous competitor. She carries both inner and outer scars and isn’t searching for love. The handsome cowboy tasked with showing her around town might be charming, kind, and undeniably attractive, but Kit makes it clear she only wants friendship.

Nash, on the other hand, is the classic good guy—loyal, patient, and the kind of friend we all wish we had. He dreams of a family and a woman to love and cherish. From the start, he feels a spark with Kit, but after repeated rejections, he buries his feelings and turns to an online matchmaking service made for cowboys.

Their journey to love is anything but smooth. I wanted to kick Kit a time or two, but by the end, realized her life experiences made her unwilling to take a chance on love, but she had a sense of loyalty, and strength, and she knew he had something special with Nash. Nash’s unwavering patience and warmth, along with his charming “cowboy rules,” make him an unforgettable hero.

This novel is heartfelt, warm, witty, and delightfully steamy. It’s a story about trust, healing, and the courage to open your heart. By the last page, I was completely invested in Kit and Nash’s happily ever after. If you’re looking for a romance that makes you laugh, cry, and swoon in equal measure, this book belongs at the top of your to-read list—I can’t wait to saddle up for my next cowboy story!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Rebecca A. Bamford]

Kit and Nash

Nash has been forever “friend zoned” by all the women in his life and he’s just darn well tired of it. He wants to start a life and a family. He wants to have a wife by his side, but it’s just not working out. In comes Kit. She’s new to the ranch. She’s also damaged from a teammate, sabotaging her gun which exploded in her face and blew off her fingers. She saw her mother growing up, go from one man to the other, and she is not going to be like her mother. Nash is looking for love and a family Kit wants nothing to do with love. but she is up for friends with benefits. however, that is not what Nash is looking for so even though these two are drawn to each other, it takes them a while to come to an understanding and figure out that they both really are in love, and perfect for each other. I love the journey they took to get there. I love aunt Dottie to death! and I can’t wait for the next book. Anything by this author is top-notch. I highly recommend!! always a happily ever after that’s the bonus.

[Stephanie Herron]

Nash is the cowboy everyone on the ranch depends on as he is willing to help out where ever needed. New to the ranch is Kit, who will be leading up the shooting range at the dude ranch. She has a troubled past so doesn't want to get close to anyone. When she needs a place to stay, Nash's Aunt Dottie offers Kit a room at their family home. Reluctantly she agrees. The acceptance and warm personality of Aunt Dottie help Kit see that people are worth the risk. Nash wants a relationship with Kit and they travel a rocky road before they can find the happiness they deserve. Kit's character is a bit hard to like at times but at the end, you can see the steadfast loyalty and determination that she brings to the relationship and the ranch.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Michelle]

These two characters are in completely opposite headspaces. Kit is scarred both emotionally and physically and is determined never to risk herself again not even for love. Nash is the quintessential good guy who’s ready for everything but each time he tries he gets put firmly in the friend zone. Now the two must decide if they have what it takes to accept each other and the future they could have together.
Good story. Definitely not a typical romance. This deals with trauma and healing and taking a risk for the chance at everything. It’s definitely sweet, has some spice to it as well. I loved the depth of the characters they really bring this story to life. Very entertaining!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Marie Bourgery]

Kit is damaged not just from the gun sabotage from her jealous teammate but from her childhood with a neglectful mother. She doesn’t want love and is happy to form a friendship with her new coworker Nash but can’t help the attraction she feels. When they get close she gets scared and hurts him by pushing him away. Nash was a teddy bear cowboy with the way he wanted to find the one to have a family with and cared for a trapped hawk who keeps showing up for him in return. I wanted him to find the love of his life and to shake Kit for not realizing how lucky she was to have his heart. This was a steamy friends to lovers romance.

[Katherine Horvath]

Rock Steady Cowboy: WOW! Fantastic writing and I love the characters! Nash was tired of being put in a friends zone with the women he find attractive. He would love to find a woman that he can settle down with. He is looking for happy ever after. When he met Kit he found a kinred spirit. He had already said she didn't do relationships because of her up bring. Nash enjoys being around the animals. I really enjoyed the story.

[Linda]

I want Nash!
If Kit can't decide, I know when I see a great man I'd want to have!

So romantic!
I love his "cowboy ways!"

This is only my second story by this very talented author and I know I need more of her stories in my life like this one!

This makes me want to learn how to line dance if Nash is my teacher, LOL!

For those who love steam...that's in there too!

This was so good, I've put it on my TBRx2 list!

[Eileen McCall]

I fell in love with Lexi Post’s writing when I first read her cowboys! No one writes better! Nash Good an is definitely one of those wonderful cowboys! Kit came to Four Peaks as a ‘damaged’ woman taking a position at the range. These two find a path to love, but it’s not easy. A fun read that moved right along. Lexi, I still love your cowboys!

[Emily]

"Rock Steady Cowboy" (Rocky Road Ranch Book 5) by Lexi Post was a great read. I loved Nash and Kit's story. This story had romance, passion, cowboys, family, friends, new beginnings, and more. This was a terrific addition to this series. I'm excited to read what happens next. I highly recommend it to all fans of romance, cowboys, and series.

[Kelly]

I enjoyed reading this book. This was a fast read and a great escape. I was quickly pulled into this story and I will be watching for more books by this author.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Norah Warnock]

fest of the series

That was beautiful. Best one yet! I put it down last night to sleep and picked it back up today to finish it up. Great read! I loved the story and the hawk was a perfect addition to this one!!!!