A Cowboy's Return

The McGavin Brothers #3

by Vicki Lewis Thompson

Sometimes first love deserves a second chance…

Former Air Force pilot Ryker McGavin would rather face enemy fire than fly April Harris to Kalispell, Montana. Eleven years ago she broke his heart, and the wound still aches. But when her sister goes into labor two weeks early, he’s the only one who can get her there in time. And he will, even if it kills him. Then the starboard engine conks out.

Ryker has returned to Eagles Nest looking hotter than ever and rocking a tribal armband. April’s far from immune, especially after he saves her life, proving he’s every inch the hero she claimed she didn’t want. But he’s a soldier and she’s a pacifist. They were doomed from the beginning. Unfortunately, her traitorous body doesn’t agree. It’s crying yes even as her brain is screaming no.

If they surrender to temptation, will they be trapped forever in no man’s land?

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Westerns, Novella, Western Romance, Amazon

174 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 7, 2017

About the author

New York Times and USA Today bestseller Vicki Lewis Thompson believes love makes the world go around and laughter makes the trip worth taking. The recipient of RWA’s Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award and the author of more than ninety books, Vicki pioneered a new kind of romance hero with Nerd in Shining Armor. Following the success of her nerd stories, Vicki launched a boisterous paranormal series featuring a matchmaking witch and wizard, an ADD dragon named George, and a black cat inspired by her own precocious feline, Eve.

Reviews

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series gets better and better. A new genre for me and I'm loving it. I loved the chemistry between Ryker and April. It was a lovely HEA. 5☆

[Rukhsar (rukhsandbooks) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truth be told, I’m at a loss of words to describe how much I loved this book. That being said, I must share my thoughts because this book is a must read especially if you’re a fan of romance.

I think A Cowboy’s Return is my new favourite book by Vicki Lewis Thompson. I came across one of her books when I was in high school and have since read over 20 of her many many novels. I have also been fortunate enough to work with her to consult on her book covers. It all really started with a simple tweet, and then she mailed me a gift card one Christmas to buy books, and now we email each other regularly.

I’ve always loved the way Thompson writes her characters. Every character is well thought out, every character has a purpose. This played a tremendous role in making this story such a great read. Every page was well thought out, every action, every word was explicitly chosen to add to the story.

This book felt as though Thompson had truly put her heart and soul into it. Although the book is a romance and is a great escape into a fantasy world where cowboys rock our worlds, this book also has a such a powerful message. The message is delivered through such subtlety and directly through the characters and their personality that you can’t help but fall in love with their love story.

I stayed up all night reading this book because I just had to know the happy ending would be a justified one and not just an ending accounted for by lust (after all a McGavin Cowboy is involved and that could have totally been a possibility).

Find some “inner peas” for a few hours and lose yourself in this book.

I was fortunate enough to receive an Advanced Readers Copy of A Cowboy’s Return in exchange for an honest review.

[Trully Sunee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ryker McGavin is nothing like I imagined. He is better. It is easy to look at him but hard to get along with him because he has to have things his way and doesn't seem very open to the kind and gentle things in life like his previous girlfriend from 11 years old, April Harris, or so she thinks.

Ryker is nervous about seeing April again, especially since it has been over a decade since he saw her and the last time he saw her she delivered some very disappointing news. He isn't sure what to say to her now but she needs him and he wants to be there to make sure she gets to her sister's place safe and sound and he will be the pilot to fly her there.

April isn't sure who will fly her to see her first niece or nephew and has an idea she might just get what she least expects, one from her past who broke her heart. And that one person is her pilot and looking quite different than he did in their high school days. She can't communicate nor look at him for long due to old bitterness and memories surfacing that she doesn't want to face.

Ryker decides if he can just be April's friend it would be nice as he wants to be able to console her and let her know everything between them is fine. He never meant to hurt her but duty calls and he answered. He is done with the world he was in and just a little curious as to what brings April back to stay in Eagle's Nest. As they spiral downward due to an engine issue from the air, life starts becoming more precious and as the hours roll on, there is much to be thankful for and not just the new life coming in the world. Uncertainty and fate are definitely at play and what will these two do with such short time in each other's presence. Can they be friends? Can they bear to be around each other and get along without Ryker putting his foot in his mouth?

This story is a lot of fun and could really relate to April's family a lot! Ryker and April are opposites in almost all ways imaginable and loved getting to read about someone with the healthy eating and love for humanity who is comfortable in their own skin. April is my favorite character and Ryker is such an imposing force wanting to make peace although April thinks he only means to continue war. This read is one that makes me think Ryker is just as intriguing to read about as his brothers. It's a good thing it takes a while to get the right parts for the one engine that went kaplunk while they were in air. It's time for more luck as the flight isn't just in the air, there is a journey that has hearts soaring as reaches for her crystals of protection and Ryker for his lucky cowboy that. Good for all adults wanting to read about a blast from the past coming back for a chance encounter. I got this five star book in exchange for an honest review. Reviewing this author's books are easy since the author maintains the same high quality of detail in every single book she writes. Haven't seen most authors I've read be able to do that, although it is not an easy task.

[Christine Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to review it and I honestly recommend it.

Overall Rating: 3.5 (sXe)

Quick & Dirty summary: Ryker McGavin has been back from serving his country for a few weeks and so far has been lucky to avoid his high school sweetheart April Harris. But when April needs a flight up Kalispell to see her sister, Ryker is determined to get the awkwardness out of the way. So what that she broke his heart? April has always had a thing for Ryker, but even though he’s back for good, she knows that they are too different to be together long term. He’s a war hero and she’s a vegetarian pacifist. How could they possibly make it work?

Beginning this book I was very excited. I have always wondered how two people who approach the world in fundamentally different ways make it work. To me, this book is premised upon a very real problem: what do you need to have in common, if anything, to make love work?

As I progressed through the book, I totally fell in love with Ryker. Although I probably have more in common with April, I found her to be a little bit distasteful. She’s too involved in her own worldview to allow people their differences.

That being said, by the end of the book, I loved Ryker and April together. I was really rooting for them, and I’m so glad this story ends in a happily ever after. I have to admit, though, that April is a little hard for me to take. I know a few pacifists and all of them admire our U.S. Veterans. It’s not that April doesn’t, it’s just that she didn’t seem to have a lot of empathy, and that’s weird to me because all of the pacifists I know are very empathetic people. But, I will admit, that on a rational level (so not dependent on my personal experience) I understand her reasoning and motivations.

In the end, I really enjoyed the book. If Ryker were a real person, I’d be ALL OVER HIM! He is the quintessential cowboy, as all the McGavin men are, and he is the real star of this book. If you need a sweet new book boyfriend, then look no further!

Is it worth buying? (Kindle $0.99 Special Price)
Yes! It’s very sweet and you should get it RIGHT NOW because of the special price for release week. At a buck this book is well-worth getting a small instead of a large Frappuccino at Starbucks!

Something else you might enjoy:
It’s not really the same storyline, but I enjoy how these two characters challenge each other about politics and personal beliefs. Kristen Ashley’s Kaleidoscope has two characters who make it work despite their differences.

[Quinn Fforde · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this McGavin series very much, and I have been looking forward to Ryker's story since he was first mentioned. It starts a little slowly while he and April try to figure out how they should relate to each other now, but we get all these little glimpses of what a good man Ryker truly is.
I got a little frustrated with April because she knew how special Ryker was, but she wanted him to be different. But what could he do differently and be a better person? Not much! He has always been kind and respectful and upstanding, and now he has learned to be more flexible and eat tofu, too. The guy is very nearly perfect. How can you change that?
Many romance novels center around how the guy needs to change in order to be the man he needs to be (for obvious reasons). In some, both characters need to change and grow to make the relationship work. There are not very many stories where the woman is the one who needs to change with very little change from the man in a way that doesn't make the woman weak and completely annoying. This is one of the rare stories where he stays mostly the same, she makes some major changes, and everyone is stronger for it in the end. That must be very difficult to pull off, but VLT does it very well.
I don't want to put any spoilers in, but I loved the last chapter so much! I cried three times -- unheard of for me. Everything comes together so beautifully at the end. Considering how much they had been through, they needed a particularly moving resolution. They got it, and I loved it.

[Yvonne Cruz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the 3rd in Ms Thompson’s series of the McGavin Brothers. True to the author’s form, it’s one you will love.
The story centers around Ryker, the oldest brother, an ex-Air Force pilot , new owner of a charter company, and the ex of April Harris. April is on the other side of the spectrum. She is a pacifist, who was against Ryker’s determination to enlist, and whose heart she crushed ,when he was about to leave to serve his country.
They meet again and the chemistry is still there , as are the conflicts of their beliefs. It appears that they are opposites, and that they will only be able to remain friends. But life and God have a different plan.
It’s a story that will make you laugh. Your heart will be squeezed with sympathy and sorrow, you will want t cry( or just plain cry as I did) and at the end smile and be happy because somehow they reach a HEA.
The author reminds us, as well, of the sacrifices the men and women who enlist , endure for our freedom. And, that sacrifice also extends to their families. So, thank you to any of you related to the enlisted.
I was gifted this copy. The opinions expressed are solely my own.

[MK · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ryker McGavin is back from serving his country in the Air Force.
He’s flying his ex so she’s in time to meet her
niece or nephew as her sister is ready to give birth.
The only thing is he hasn’t seen April in 11 years.
She was his everything and she broke his heart. It will be tough, but this is important.
The only thing he didn’t anticipate was an engine not working. But he gets them there safe and sound.
Only thing now he’s stuck in Montana. He’s not sure about staying at her parents house but that’s where he ends up. It ends up being two nights. Now he’s torn. He shocked to say the least over her tattoo.
She’s also got something he never expected which makes what there about to do much more fun.
They always had chemistry.
Now back at Eagles Nest he can’t stop thinking
About her.
What happens next at the parade is an eye opener for April. She can’t let one more moment go without telling Ryker what she’s feeling.

Buy the book and see what happens.
It’s moving and so sweet. A heartwarming and heartbreaking book.
Some laugh out moments without.
I wasn’t sure about these two at first.
So stubborn but also so in love.

[Linda J. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I purchased this story as part of a bundle called THE MAGAVIN BROTHERS BOXED SET: Books 1-3.

This is a story like in book 1 of second chances. My favorite of this bundle was number 2 which was 5 stars, book 1 was a 3 star review and this one barely 2.

This story is about opposites attract. Yes, many times, it works, but not in this one for me. She is a vegetarian, he isn't. He went to war and she is a pacifist. The ONLY thing they had in common was sex - heat level 5 out of 5 and described many times.

I didn't feel a connection to this couple at all and couldn't understand what the H saw in her.

No cheating, no cliffhanger, HEA and no romance. When did our h redeem herself, at the 100% in the story - no joke. One crude word used. This is a standalone story. I can't improve on the blurb, just giving you extra tidbits to decide whether this is for you. (ljb)

[Toni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes the hardest thing we can do is accept someone for who they are, even if their values are different from our own. Such is the theme of Vicki Lewis Thompson’s latest McGavin brothers novel. In A Cowboy’s Return, Ryker is home from his time oversees. We’ve caught glimpses of him through his mother and brothers over the last two novels. Now it is our chance to get to know the protector for who he is: a guardian angel. It takes his former high school girlfriend April all book to come to grips with this facet of his personality, but she finally comes around. Most of this book is allowing us, and April, to see Ryker as the honorable man he is. The fact that he gets his long awaited HEA along the way is icing on the cake.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this novel.

[Eileen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ryker and April
Ryker is back after a 11 year absence as he served his country in the Air Force. He is running a small charter airline business and the next flight just happens to be his ex-girlfriend from HS. she broke up with him before he enlisted because she is a pacifist and couldn't get him to change his mind. Years later they still disagree on principle but they are both still attracted to the other.
what happens when you cross a pacifist with a soldier? Strong chemistry and love for one another and a way to work things out. I am glad how things turned out for these two individuals. It was a strong ending and I'm glad to see Ryker did have a few vulnerabilities.
The writing is smooth and the characters were strong. a very good story and I am loving them.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book in the McGavin Brother series. A Cowboys Return has Ryker McGavin the eldest brother home from a stint in the Air Force. After an accident while flying he is left unable to continue his career. Now home he runs a private flying service. Hr has to fly April Harris the woman he loved and who 10 plus years earlier broke up with him to her sister's who is in labor. At the time of the split April was adamant that Ryker not go into the Military. When the two find themselves back together old feelings and hurt arise. This was a great story and we get to watch two unlikely characters see that they are truly made for each other.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would give this a 4.5. This is the third book in the McGavin Brother series. A Cowboys Return has Ryker McGavin the eldest brother home from a stint in the Air Force. After an accident while flying he is left unable to continue his career. Now home he runs a private flying service. He has to fly April Harris the woman he loved and who 10 plus years earlier broke up with him to her sister's who is in labor. At the time of the split April was adamant that Ryker not go into the Military. When the two find themselves back together old feelings and hurt arise. This was a great story and we get to watch two unlikely characters see that they are truly made for each other.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

What would you do if the love of your life was your total opposite? That's the question Ms. Thompson tries to answer in the story of Ryker McGavin and April Harris.
Ryker is an Air Force pilot who's finally home after 11 years. He served with heroism and honor and, as of now, he's back in Eagle's Nest running his own company and making up for lost time with his family. The one person he hasn't seen is the woman who broke his heart.
April had hoped to avoid being around Ryker, but now she needs his help. Years ago, her pacifist heart had to let go of a man who was destined for the military. Now, a simple airplane ride has April spending quality time with the man she has always loved.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is full of angst and heartbreak. I didn't really like April, she broke Ryker's heart and punished him for being himself. Ryker is sweet, romantic, charming, proud and extremely likable. The storyline is engrossing and romantic, but sad. Ryker and April sizzle when they are near each other, but both fight against it because she is convinced that they can't work, and he refuses to be devastated again. Him playing guard for someone who hates who he is is adorable. The end is very abrupt and unexpected, but captivating.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. This is my voluntary and honest opinion of it.

[Marlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Book 3 of a wonderful series. Loving the McGavins through the many events, situations and adventures, has been a joy. Somehow, I missed this book so I went back and picked it up. I’ve now read the entire series and loved each story, especially the second chance characters. This book is one of the most inspirational because it is Ryker who enlisted in the Air Force and that cost him the love of his life. It took eleven years to set aside that heartache when he came back to town. No, he was not immune to April and he felt the burn in his chest all over again. It’s a great love story and an HEA

[Lesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Airman and the Pacifist.
Attraction of opposites and boy are they different but despite the pain of their past, their desire for each other is scorching hot and will not be ignored. This is Ryker and April's story, finally finding love together after eleven years apart. Whilst it is the third book about the McGavin family it can be read as a standalone.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. I was not compensated for my review, and I was not required to write a positive review. The opinion expressed here is my own.

[Nancy Ku · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vicki Lewis Thompson never disappoints ....The McGavin Brothers is a great series...A strong mother who raised her five sons by herself after her husband dies at 24. Ryker is my favorite so far ...but then I fall in love easily.. April is all peace and love and Ryker is all serve and protect...I laughed and cried and really could not figure out how Vicki would work out their problem...I should never have worried. This was a fast read and I highly recommend it and the series. I can't wait for Bryce's story...

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved Ryker McGavin. He was a keeper from the beginning. It was hard to see why April Harris would have ever let him go. This latest addition to the McGavin Brothers was a great read. There were some really great new side characters. The Princesses were a scene stealer and the Easter Egg chickens were also cute. April had to take a very honest internal look at how she had reacted and how she had pictured Ryker before they had their HEA. I think this is the best series that Thompson has written to date. Each book can stand alone but start from the first for the most fun.

[Annette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this, author jump starts this plot without stalling. Both characters are secure in who they have become since their break-up. Ryker is just perfect, he knows what he wants. April is whimsical & not really interested in rekindling an old flame but when fate throws them on a dangerous ride, their connection is so strong that it can't be denied. I laughed & cried, such a great heartfelt love story.

[Linda Elliott · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story about A man and a military career and the love of his life

I like the characters in the story the girl was a little bit too much for me at times. But I like that she was a peace person. They finally made up after he's discharged as he's flying her up to her parents house. They reconnect sparks fly And they decide or she decides it's not going to work. A good book about a good family's and the problems they fall into I'll try to fall in love.

[Kristy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun, sexy, moving tale about Ryker McGavin and the one who got away, April Harris. This book has a bit of everything, the alpha ex-military pilot, the pacifist massage therapist ex, funny family members and animals/pets, a fews tears and witty banter! April was a stitch, and Ryker, ever the gentleman cowboy! I cannot wait to read more about the other McGavin brothers!

[Vickie Raynor · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heartwarming romance where Ryker and April pulled me into their story. I felt the abundance of the small humor as well as the heart tugging tears. It's amazing how well this author can get me so attached and involved in the books she writes. Needless to say, I loved this book and would recommend it to anyone craving a perfect cowboy romance. This book was gifted to me.

[Jane Bonner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Differences

Tyler and Alice had big differences...she is a pacifist and he is a vet. It broke them apart many years ago can it bring them back together now eleven years later. Great book recommend it very highly, all of the books in this series are stand alone, however, I would suggest reading them all.

[Shelly Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great story, worth reading

If you like reading about cowboys you will like this book. It is a great story about overcoming phobias to be better people and overcoming stereotypes to be together.

[Glenda M Lux · Rating 5 out of 5]

The McGavin Brothers

The only disappointment is that there’s only five brothers. Wish there were more to share their stories. Each story is full of romance (eventually), humor, and just good reading. Thank you and “Write On”.
ML

[Linda Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining and enjoyable

Vicki Lewis Thompson brings us characters that we can be entertained by and even relate to. She mixes them with the storyline that is both interesting and entertaining. A fun easy read that I will enjoy revisiting after I work through this series!

[Patti Hopper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful!

Each book of this series has gotten better and better. Sweet romance at its best. Nothing like a strong, sexy cowboy and the woman he loves :) 💜

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story

Sometimes when you think something is set in stone, you can change your mind by looking at it from another angle. Loved this book.

[Denise J. Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another amazing read!

I just love the way Vicki Lewis Thompson writes. Ryker is the stuff dreams are made of!!!! Youza! Make me want to find a cowboy just like him!

[Feija · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really really liked this book!!