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Mountain Country Cowboy
Second-Chance Daddy When he's offered a job at Hunter's Hideaway, single dad Cash Herrera immediately accepts. It means the former bad boy can start over and gain custody of his son, Joey. Still, small-town folk have long memories--especially Cash's pretty childhood nemesis. Rio Hunter is now a lovely, courageous woman...and Cash's new boss. Past betrayal makes them both wary, and Rio's secret promise will soon take her away from Hunter Ridge. Yet working with Cash and teaching Joey about her beloved horses draw her closer to both. Can she create a loving family with the man who's claiming her future?
- GenresLove InspiredHarlequin
368 pages, Paperback
Published September 19, 2017
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47 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
March 15, 2024
I did not like this book as much as the other books in the series.
June 20, 2022
This is a Clean Cowboy Romance, and this is the 5th book in the Hearts of Hunter Ridge series. I found the characters to be ok, but I was not super connected to any of the characters. I found this book slow to really get going. I did not find this book to be a bad read, but it just was not a standout read for me.
September 22, 2017
Blissful sigh. This Princess and Cowboy have me all twitterpated. Toe-curling and infuriating all wrapped up in a bushel full of emotion. I wanted to knock heads and hug-smother them in turn. Rio because she's so quick to judge and gnarly stubborn. Cash because he thinks Rio deserves someone better than him and he's gnarly stubborn too. Gah! You don't get much better than Cash for hero material though! Except Rio won't trust her gut and believe in him...at first. Okay, so she might have some history that leads her to be wary but still...Gah! (you might say this is a gah-licious read!) I do so love being antsy over characters' behaviour in a story.
Both hero and heroine have been wounded in their pasts and they carry those scars into a burgeoning new relationship. It's awkward and painful and sweet and poignant. And even though their faith sustains them, it doesn't mean they are always in tune with the promptings of the Spirit. Sometimes they are just plain o' deer-in-the-headlights stuck when it comes to seeking inspiration.
Kaye takes a heart wrenching look at ways we try to bargain with God. I think if we're honest, we all have tried to manipulate outcomes by promising God something in order to get something. Even if it is for a greater good, it's still trying to bend God to our will. But oh, it is so hard to trust that He is sovereign. To bend our will to His when we don't have the advantage of seeing the bigger picture.
Heartwarming and inspirational with a whole lot of toe curls along the way.
Both hero and heroine have been wounded in their pasts and they carry those scars into a burgeoning new relationship. It's awkward and painful and sweet and poignant. And even though their faith sustains them, it doesn't mean they are always in tune with the promptings of the Spirit. Sometimes they are just plain o' deer-in-the-headlights stuck when it comes to seeking inspiration.
Kaye takes a heart wrenching look at ways we try to bargain with God. I think if we're honest, we all have tried to manipulate outcomes by promising God something in order to get something. Even if it is for a greater good, it's still trying to bend God to our will. But oh, it is so hard to trust that He is sovereign. To bend our will to His when we don't have the advantage of seeing the bigger picture.
Heartwarming and inspirational with a whole lot of toe curls along the way.
August 27, 2023
Five books in, and I still can't say that I've read *ONE* book in this multi-series-plus-extras saga that has really wowwwwed me. And that's a real shame.
This particular Glynna Kaye offering should've been called "Arizona's Weird-arse Names". Because we have Cashton, who is the son of Hodgson, with the nephew Kaysen, and the brother in law Hayden. Is there a written law in the South that all males must have ridiculous names ending in the 'in' sound?! What is that? Asking for all Northerners. Because I miss the days of 'Mike' and 'Paul' and 'Wayne' and 'Frank', I really do, a this point. I once read a book where the hero was 'Powers Knight'. My husband teased me mercilessly for that. Glynna's running a close second to 'Powers Knight', lemme tell ya.
I didn't expect to like this one, from the start. Bratty boy from girl's past shows back up to be her one true luvvvvv isn't really fun to work thru, in most cases. I gave it a star for surprising me. It wasn't as painful and chuck-worthy as I was expecting.
But with a name like 'Hererra', I kind of expected Glynna to write a Mexican/Central American hero... alas, she apparently was so hung up on finding weird names (I kid you no - Cashton Hererra?!?!?!?!!) that she went generic white with him, yet again. At least, she chose a cover with another generic white guy. Why bother with that last name, then?!?!
Rio is supposed to be a total tomboy, spending all of her time with horses, but mostly in this book she was 'every-other-Glynna-character', stiff and lady-like, giving speeches to youth groups, yearning NOT to be with horses and in college, instead, not doing much of *anything* tomboy-ish. At all. EVER. In this book. ((((((sigh.)))))))
Glynna doesn't write unique heroines, she has a one-size-fits-all. And her go-to is a savvy business woman whose wrapped up in some business restoration/reclamation. In this one, Rio (horse girl/tomboy?) is talking about/putting work into upgrading the hotel/ranch/resort to fit the needs of the new 'glamping' visitor mindset. Which means she's picking out 100-count thread sheets instead of being a tomboy. Oh. Ugh. And it wouldn't be so bad if the LAST FOUR HEROINES that I've read out of Kaye weren't the exact. same. thing.
There's the obligatory kid underfoot, who of course has a crisis moment bringing them together, the not-present other parent who caused untold grief, the huge amazingly fake and welcoming clan that welcomes single parent and child with no reservations, even if they have a history with his family and violence and know he's done time for assault, hello.
She also has a problem, because she writes that the ranch is 'recovering from that economic downturn several years ago'. The book is written in 2018, and the economic crash was 2008, so... we're talking a DECADE of recovery, here?!? Seriously?
The love scenes in this are eye-roll-worthy, too. ((Should say, 'more of the same'. It's par for Glynna.)) On pg 158, Cashton has to make a whole speech about how beautiful and special Rio is before giving her a first kiss. But worse? Rio's response is 'ENCORE! ENCORE!!' WHAT. IS. THAT?!! Who on earth does that?! Pg 213, Cashton says he's 'not one for making speeches' (HA! See pg 158!)... but oh, hey, ALL OF PAGE 212 is him making a big 'luvvv' speech at Rio. GAHHHHHH!!
And what are the chances the ex-wife he can't find from HUNDREDS OF MILES AWAY ends up within spitting distance of them in a remote high country location in Arizona? Only the devising of an author works THAT out. And it's obviously too ironic.
But what *REALLY* peeved the ever-lovin' heck out of me was the blatant misuse of scripture. Pg 33 Glynna tells us we're 'not to judge others'... a blanket statement that - if applied the way she applies it? Causes scripture to contradict - after all, John 7:24 has Messiah saying, "Judge righteous Judgment". How can you do that if you're to 'judge not'?
See, there's PROBLEMS with the theology in Kaye's books. The 'Judge not' was meant for UNBELIEVERS... because they're already under judgment, we aren't to judge them. But if someone professes to be a Believer, then we're to 'Judge righteous judgment' and hold them accountable to faith/growth. It's *NOT* a one-size-fits-all, hello...!! Pg 123, Rio is angry that Cashton 'judged' her for making a deal with God. HELLO, HE'S SUPPOSED TO!!!
And Cashton claims to be a believer, so all thru the book, Rio saying, 'Judge not', 'Judge not'...? DOESN'T FLY. It's annoying and unbiblical in an 'inspirational' book.
Another verse Glynna misuses the hell out of is 'All things work to the good for them that love Him and are called according to His purpose'. She seems to WRITE the latter part of it, but not UNDERSTAND the latter part. If it's not God's purpose? It just might not work to the good, hello!!! This smacks of 'prosperity gospel', a favorite of mainstream churchianity.
Then there's the oh-so-wonderful ending. Because all of these business-minded heroines all have to have careers, of course. They can't make parenting their full-time job, you know. Summer has to not only head the co-op but be on the town council, Tori has to have a store of her own, and OBVIOUSLY Rio has to be a victim counselor... short-changing their children by dividing their attentions with something outside of the family. I don't believe in it. You can work, or you can be a parent, but you try to do both, and someone suffers, and 99.9999999% of the time, it's the children. This is WHY the world is the way that it is.
I'm not fond of the thinking - on *ANY* level, here.
I'll finish the books I have, but... Kaye's series is going away.
This particular Glynna Kaye offering should've been called "Arizona's Weird-arse Names". Because we have Cashton, who is the son of Hodgson, with the nephew Kaysen, and the brother in law Hayden. Is there a written law in the South that all males must have ridiculous names ending in the 'in' sound?! What is that? Asking for all Northerners. Because I miss the days of 'Mike' and 'Paul' and 'Wayne' and 'Frank', I really do, a this point. I once read a book where the hero was 'Powers Knight'. My husband teased me mercilessly for that. Glynna's running a close second to 'Powers Knight', lemme tell ya.
I didn't expect to like this one, from the start. Bratty boy from girl's past shows back up to be her one true luvvvvv isn't really fun to work thru, in most cases. I gave it a star for surprising me. It wasn't as painful and chuck-worthy as I was expecting.
But with a name like 'Hererra', I kind of expected Glynna to write a Mexican/Central American hero... alas, she apparently was so hung up on finding weird names (I kid you no - Cashton Hererra?!?!?!?!!) that she went generic white with him, yet again. At least, she chose a cover with another generic white guy. Why bother with that last name, then?!?!
Rio is supposed to be a total tomboy, spending all of her time with horses, but mostly in this book she was 'every-other-Glynna-character', stiff and lady-like, giving speeches to youth groups, yearning NOT to be with horses and in college, instead, not doing much of *anything* tomboy-ish. At all. EVER. In this book. ((((((sigh.)))))))
Glynna doesn't write unique heroines, she has a one-size-fits-all. And her go-to is a savvy business woman whose wrapped up in some business restoration/reclamation. In this one, Rio (horse girl/tomboy?) is talking about/putting work into upgrading the hotel/ranch/resort to fit the needs of the new 'glamping' visitor mindset. Which means she's picking out 100-count thread sheets instead of being a tomboy. Oh. Ugh. And it wouldn't be so bad if the LAST FOUR HEROINES that I've read out of Kaye weren't the exact. same. thing.
There's the obligatory kid underfoot, who of course has a crisis moment bringing them together, the not-present other parent who caused untold grief, the huge amazingly fake and welcoming clan that welcomes single parent and child with no reservations, even if they have a history with his family and violence and know he's done time for assault, hello.
She also has a problem, because she writes that the ranch is 'recovering from that economic downturn several years ago'. The book is written in 2018, and the economic crash was 2008, so... we're talking a DECADE of recovery, here?!? Seriously?
The love scenes in this are eye-roll-worthy, too. ((Should say, 'more of the same'. It's par for Glynna.)) On pg 158, Cashton has to make a whole speech about how beautiful and special Rio is before giving her a first kiss. But worse? Rio's response is 'ENCORE! ENCORE!!' WHAT. IS. THAT?!! Who on earth does that?! Pg 213, Cashton says he's 'not one for making speeches' (HA! See pg 158!)... but oh, hey, ALL OF PAGE 212 is him making a big 'luvvv' speech at Rio. GAHHHHHH!!
And what are the chances the ex-wife he can't find from HUNDREDS OF MILES AWAY ends up within spitting distance of them in a remote high country location in Arizona? Only the devising of an author works THAT out. And it's obviously too ironic.
But what *REALLY* peeved the ever-lovin' heck out of me was the blatant misuse of scripture. Pg 33 Glynna tells us we're 'not to judge others'... a blanket statement that - if applied the way she applies it? Causes scripture to contradict - after all, John 7:24 has Messiah saying, "Judge righteous Judgment". How can you do that if you're to 'judge not'?
See, there's PROBLEMS with the theology in Kaye's books. The 'Judge not' was meant for UNBELIEVERS... because they're already under judgment, we aren't to judge them. But if someone professes to be a Believer, then we're to 'Judge righteous judgment' and hold them accountable to faith/growth. It's *NOT* a one-size-fits-all, hello...!! Pg 123, Rio is angry that Cashton 'judged' her for making a deal with God. HELLO, HE'S SUPPOSED TO!!!
And Cashton claims to be a believer, so all thru the book, Rio saying, 'Judge not', 'Judge not'...? DOESN'T FLY. It's annoying and unbiblical in an 'inspirational' book.
Another verse Glynna misuses the hell out of is 'All things work to the good for them that love Him and are called according to His purpose'. She seems to WRITE the latter part of it, but not UNDERSTAND the latter part. If it's not God's purpose? It just might not work to the good, hello!!! This smacks of 'prosperity gospel', a favorite of mainstream churchianity.
Then there's the oh-so-wonderful ending. Because all of these business-minded heroines all have to have careers, of course. They can't make parenting their full-time job, you know. Summer has to not only head the co-op but be on the town council, Tori has to have a store of her own, and OBVIOUSLY Rio has to be a victim counselor... short-changing their children by dividing their attentions with something outside of the family. I don't believe in it. You can work, or you can be a parent, but you try to do both, and someone suffers, and 99.9999999% of the time, it's the children. This is WHY the world is the way that it is.
I'm not fond of the thinking - on *ANY* level, here.
I'll finish the books I have, but... Kaye's series is going away.
July 28, 2018
3.5 stars: Though this got off to a slow start for me, I came to care about the characters. Joey was a nice addition to the well-worn romance plot of two people not wanting to love each other because of ascribing characteristics from past relationships onto their current love interest. I also really liked the Hunter family's closeness as well as their commitment to keeping their hideaway true to their original intent while being willing to make some changes that fit that vision--even in the fact of possibly alienating a potential revenue source.
Rio's commitment to helping domestic violence victims with an interest in prevention (trying to get those involved in dangerous dating relationships to see the truth before it goes too far) is admirable, but at times she seems very single-minded about it and doesn't want to consider that it might not be her calling from God. Or that she could have that plus other things as well.
Lorilee's willingness to give up her son confuses me. Maybe she truly does believe he will be better off with Cash. Maybe she's still just looking out for herself and her own happiness. I was sorry it took an injury to Joey to get both Lorilee and Cash to talk.
Rio's commitment to helping domestic violence victims with an interest in prevention (trying to get those involved in dangerous dating relationships to see the truth before it goes too far) is admirable, but at times she seems very single-minded about it and doesn't want to consider that it might not be her calling from God. Or that she could have that plus other things as well.
Lorilee's willingness to give up her son confuses me. Maybe she truly does believe he will be better off with Cash. Maybe she's still just looking out for herself and her own happiness. I was sorry it took an injury to Joey to get both Lorilee and Cash to talk.
October 1, 2017
Cash has got a past he'd rather leave behind. Going back to Hunter's Hideaway will bring that past front and center, but it's also a chance to have a job that will allow him to win custody of his son Joey. Worth it.
Rio loves Hunter's Hideaway and her family, but she made a promise and she intends to keep it. College awaits her after this summer at the Hideaway, but it's so hard to leave her job in the hands of the handsome cowboy she'd known as a child.
Despite everything they do to avoid it, sparks seem to fly every time Cash and Rio are together. Sometimes the sparks of a disagreement, but often the sparks of a budding romance. Can they overcome all the obstacles in their path including a co-worker who is intent on keeping them apart? Will Rio let go of her promise long enough to see another perspective? Will Cash finally belong to the Hunter family in the way he longed for as a child? Glynna Kaye has crafted a wonderful story of sweet romance and second chances in the beautiful setting of the Arizona mountains. Visit Hunter Ridge once again and lose yourself in the story of little sister Rio and Cash, the new horse foreman. Sweet reading!
Rio loves Hunter's Hideaway and her family, but she made a promise and she intends to keep it. College awaits her after this summer at the Hideaway, but it's so hard to leave her job in the hands of the handsome cowboy she'd known as a child.
Despite everything they do to avoid it, sparks seem to fly every time Cash and Rio are together. Sometimes the sparks of a disagreement, but often the sparks of a budding romance. Can they overcome all the obstacles in their path including a co-worker who is intent on keeping them apart? Will Rio let go of her promise long enough to see another perspective? Will Cash finally belong to the Hunter family in the way he longed for as a child? Glynna Kaye has crafted a wonderful story of sweet romance and second chances in the beautiful setting of the Arizona mountains. Visit Hunter Ridge once again and lose yourself in the story of little sister Rio and Cash, the new horse foreman. Sweet reading!
April 17, 2018
Very good, When he's offered a job at Hunter's Hideaway, single dad Cash Herrera immediately accepts. It means the former bad boy can start over and gain custody of his son, Joey. Still, small-town folk have long memories—especially Cash's pretty childhood nemesis. Rio Hunter is now a lovely, courageous woman…and Cash's new boss. Past betrayal makes them both wary, and Rio's secret promise will soon take her away from Hunter Ridge. Yet working with Cash and teaching Joey about her beloved horses draw her closer to both. Can she create a loving family with the man who's claiming her future?
October 30, 2017
Mountain Country Cowboy a Hearts of Hunter Ridge series by Glynna Kaye. Cash Herrera was a tough teenager. He comes to Hunter's Hideaway to work on the ranch. His son, Joey, had just come to live with him. His ex and her new husband didn't want him. Joey gets hurt from one of the horses while there. Rio Hunter is home for the summer. Rio and Cash new each other growing up. They work together on the ranch. They have to overcome past history. It wasn't one of the best books I've read.
August 21, 2017
must be good I read it in 2 nights
October 16, 2025
Good read, didn’t check before I started if it was part of a series but now know that it holds up well as a stand alone.
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October 2, 2017Miniseries: Hearts of Hunter Ridge
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October 2, 2017Miniseries: Hearts of Hunter Ridge
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