Hard Loving Cowboy

Crossroads Ranch #3

by A.J. Pine

This cowboy's handsome, sexy, and definitely off limits . . .

Walker Everett spends his days at the Crossroads Ranch wrangling cattle-and steering clear of anything that would complicate his already too-complicated life. Until Violet Chastain, the ranch's newest employee, asks him to pretend to be her boyfriend for her parents' anniversary party. She's the most beautiful woman he's ever met and needs his help. How can he refuse?

Violet isn't about to fall for a brooding bad-boy cowboy, no matter how sizzling their chemistry. But she also never expected Walker to go along with the charade. Before long, he's charming her parents at their weekly dinners and kissing her way more than necessary. Spending so much time together tests the limits of their "just friends" relationship, but what happens when their game of pretend becomes all too real?

Includes the bonus story Rocky Mountain Cowboy by Sara Richardson!

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Westerns, Contemporary Romance, Small Town Romance, Adult, Cowboy Romance

480 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 26, 2019

About the author

A teen librarian by day and a romance writer by night, A.J. Pine can’t seem to escape the world of fiction, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. She’s the author of the If Only series (Entangled Embrace), the Only You series (Berkley/Intermix), the Kingston Ale House series (Entangled Select), and the Crossroads Ranch series (Forever Romance). When she finds that 25th hour in the day, she might indulge in a tiny bit of TV where she nourishes her undying love of vampires, superheroes, and a certain high-functioning sociopath detective. She hails from the far off galaxy of the Chicago suburbs.

Reviews

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

How do you face the every day struggling with an addiction when your addiction is your family's livelihood. That is the difficult topic Pine tackles in Hard Loving Cowboy while penning a beautiful friendship with amazing chemistry that turns into so much more.

You ever read one of those books where you want to yell at the characters to just talk to each other...I did feel that way with Walker's secrets.

Hard Loving Cowboy provides that happy, feel good vibe while taking on a difficult topic of addiction all the while building a strong friendship to romance, Rocky Mountain Cowboy by Sara Richardson!

The book also includes a great second romance that includes heartache and coming back from a life altering accident and forgiving yourself to live.

I received this ARC copy of Hard Loving Cowboy from Forever (Grand Central Publishing). This is my honest and voluntary review. Hard Loving Cowboy is set for publication March 26, 2019.

My Rating: 4 stars
Written by: A.J. Pine
Series: Crossroads Ranch
Sequence in Series: Book 4
Mass Market Paperback: 480 pages
Publisher: Forever
Publication Date: March 26, 2019
ISBN-10: 1538727110
ISBN-13: 978-1538727119
Genre: Western Romance

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Hard-Loving-Co...
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hard...
Itunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/hard...

[1-Click Addict Support Group · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I had a favourite…

We’re not supposed to name favorites I know but, honestly, I’d been waiting for Walker’s story for what seemed like forever. He drowned his pain in a bottle, many of them, not seeing another way. With his brothers and the ranch, though the lifeline he desperately needed was at hand. He needed every ounce of courage and strength he had to move forward and love was not in the plan…

I simply loved Walker and Violet together. Loved their inability to just say no to each other – they just couldn’t do it. The way they adored their family and gave as much love and support to them as they received in return. I wish I’d learned more French in high school, because the fire their flirty conversations stoked with each foreign word, burned and burned… Their seductive dance sung brightly between dramatic scenes that touched my heart and ensured nothing was a given.

Missteps, mis-communication and a need to dig deep into realizing what they really needed to be happy meant an ending that was just perfection. I will be re-reading this series again because I’m not ready to leave Crossroads Ranch quite yet. Maybe their aunt could find her one? That would be awesome, Ms. Pine! ~Diane, 5 stars

[Stacee · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a new to me author and I liked the premise of it.

I really liked Violet and Walker. They had great chemistry and banter. The flirting was fantastic. I really liked his brothers and her parents and i just might go back to read the other books because of the characters.

Plot wise, I’m not sure. I get the reasons why Walker didn’t want to talk about being an alcoholic with Violet, but it was also quite stupid. There wasn’t any talk of his being in recovery. And okay, sure, maybe people succeed without meetings and support, in this particular set up, it left me in a constant state of waiting for the shoe to drop.

This was mostly a fluffy story, but there are things that aren’t even hinted at in the synopsis and that always makes for a bit of a let down. Almost like it’s a bait and switch, as I’m not sure I would have requested it knowing about the dark parts and complications.

Overall, it was the characters that kept me interested and an epilogue that really delivered.

FYI: talks of alcoholism, harm while intoxicated, and child abuse

**Huge thanks to Forever for providing the arc free of charge**

[book bruin · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Walker's story really surprised me with how heartfelt and emotional it was. It was such an honest and unflinching story about finding your way, facing your demons, and loving and fighting for yourself. This is the 3rd book in the Crossroads Ranch series, but can be enjoyed as a standalone. Previous characters do appear though and our hero is introduced earlier in the series.

In Hard Loving Cowboy, we watch both our heroine and hero struggle with the responsibilities of life and triggers they face day to day. Sometimes they stumble and other times they rise. Both Walker and Violet are broken people when we meet them. Their introduction is less than conventional, but it allows them both to drop the masks and be happier versions of themselves without the stress of reality. Even with their omissions, they are both seen in a way neither has ever experienced before. Pine tackled several difficult subjects beautifully in this book, showing not only the harsh realities and lasting effects, but also the emotional toll carried by loved ones. It was raw and honest and really struck a chord with me.

I loved the chemistry between broody Walker and steamroller Violet. The build up between them was fantastic as they tried to fight the connection growing between them. They pushed and challenged each other, while being supportive and understanding. Walker's weekly dinner date with Violet's family was so sweet and tender. It was such a contrast to the person he felt trapped as in Oak Bluff. What I appreciated most about the story though was that even after everything is laid out on the table, both Violet and Walker knew that they needed to be whole before trying to build any future between them. They still chased their dreams and loved themselves as much as each other. So many times, a magic bullet comes at the end of the story to tie everything into a nice and pretty bow. Pine still gave us the pretty bow, but in a realistic and more meaningful way.

This was a great way to end this series and I loved the little tidbits about Cash, Jack, and Luke's futures. A novella further down the line to check in with the everyone would be awesome and hey, doesn't Jenna need her own HEA? ;) We're not leaving the Crossroads Ranch world just yet though, and the preview of My One and Only Cowboy at the end shows us that we're headed to Meadow Valley with Sam Callahan next. I can't wait!

*I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this book*

[A.J. Pine]

I'm so excited for you all to read Violet and Walker's story! While it's sad to say goodbye to the Everett brothers and Oak Bluff, this isn't the last we'll hear from them. I'm pretty sure they'll make cameo in book three of my upcoming Meadow Valley series...especially since JENNA will finally get her happily ever after in Meadow Valley book three!

xoxo

Thanks for reading!

[Aly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two months ago, Walker Everett finally hit rock bottom. After his brother picked him up at the county jail and pleaded with him to get help, he entered an inpatient program. Now that he's sober, Walker have an added challenge in his siblings new venture : they're transforming their place into a winery business and Walker is helping with the construction part. He's working in the morning sun when a tornado who speak French named Violet Chastain enter his life, asking him to pretend to be her boyfriend, to get rid of her two-faced now ex-boyfriend. Not the best way to start a job interview for the wine expert position she came to applied to, right ? That doesn't stop Violet, who gave up her music education to help her parents at home with her mom's MS (Multiple sclerosis) and who need the money. But accepting Walker's help place them in a situation where they lie to her parents and pretend to be a couple. But it seems that even when they don't have to pretend, they can't keep their hands off each other. The problem is, love have no part in Walker's plan, at least, not right now, not while he's still adjusting to his new life and learning to know who he is if not the "brother who couldn't get his shit together" anymore. And he's not ready to tell her the truth, when being with her makes him feel like a new man and doesn't make him remember his past mistakes.


"Any other place, at any other time, Teach, I'd have broken every goddamn rule for you."

"They sat like that for a while longer, in the warmest, safest hug Violet had felt in a long time."


Hard Loving Cowboy is book 3 in the excellent series Crossroads Ranch, about the Everett brothers who lost their mom when they were kids and had to live with a violent father and raised by their young aunt. I enjoyed the journey to the brother's reconciliation because they weren't close at the beginning. When we first met Walker in book 1 and saw him get worse in book 2, I wasn't a fan of his character. I recognized a lost soul but it made me worry for his HEA. At the beginning of this book, it took me two minutes to fall in love with him. He was serious on getting back on the right track and emancipated from his demons showed a charming and trusworthy guy. As for the heroine, she's someone I would like to be friend with. She never complain, she's full of energy and she's there for you when you need it. I especially liked her car's games :p In fact, there were so many scenes that I liked in this book. Violet and Walker's romance was funny, sweet and touching and they were perfect together, not because they saved each other, but because they uplift each other.

[Leigh Kramer · Rating 1 out of 5]

CW: alcoholism, recovery

Every once in a while, I’ll read a book and think, “they really should have had a social worker vet this first.” While I’ve really enjoyed Pine’s books previously, including the first book in this series (I sadly haven’t had a chance to read the second one yet), Hard Loving Cowboy included concerning messages about addiction and recovery. The romance as presented shouldn’t have happened in this timeframe. I was too worried Walker would relapse to be able to enjoy the story.

Walker is fresh out of rehab for alcoholism when the book begins. He’s doing carpentry projects on the family’s vineyard, which will be opening later in the year. Regardless of not having anything for sale yet, his family hasn’t come up with a game plan for him working at the winery, which isn’t the best course of action. Thrown into the mix is the new sommelier Violet. They both have legitimate reasons for not dating each other and oh I wish they’d stuck to those reasons.

It’s recommended those in recovery to avoid relationships the first year. Recovery is a long road and the newly sober person needs to process what led them to this point, learn new coping skills, and figure out how to love themselves before they can try to love someone else. They also need to make sure they’re able to pick a healthy partner and not repeat bad patterns from the past. If people are not aware of this, then perhaps they’ll be able to roll along with the premise and root for this couple.

While I think Walker and Violet are ultimately good for one another, I don’t believe they’re good for each other under the circumstances in which they meet. They should not have gotten involved when they did. Walker needed to be focused on his recovery, not what Violet thought about him, especially because he refused to tell her he was in recovery.

Because he chose, again and again, to not disclose his alcoholism, Violet jeopardized his recovery in ways big and small. That’s not fair to him or to her. It takes most of the book before she basically ends up figuring it out on her own. Frankly, he owed her the truth from the beginning, whether or not they were going to have a fake relationship. I was gobsmacked no one in the family ever referenced his alcoholism around Violet, particularly because she’s now part of a family business and because if an alcoholic is going to work at a winery, there better be a plan in place in how everyone will support their sobriety.

This is all the more important because aside from going to rehab, Walker wasn’t doing the work. He should have been in AA and he should have been in therapy. At least one, if not both. What was in place to prevent him from relapsing? He consistently avoided phone calls from family and friends. I get that he felt like they were judging him and not trusting his sobriety but that’s part of doing the work. That’s part of regaining their trust. He’s still mad at the sheriff for arresting him and pressing charges, even though it likely saved his life. He saved a picture of himself from that night so he can see tangible proof of what his alcoholism means so he clearly understands that on some level but not enough. Especially because he keeps a bottle of whiskey at his place so he can test himself by not drinking every night. This is a recipe for disaster!

Additionally, Violet deserved the chance to decide for herself whether she wanted to date someone in recovery and what that would mean. Should she stop drinking herself? Is Walker even emotionally healthy enough to be in a relationship? (Spoiler alert: he isn’t.)

Walker continually thinks about how he doesn’t know who is anymore, which is true of people who struggle with addiction. They are different people when they are sober and their lives have to look different in order to maintain sobriety. So if he doesn’t know who he is, then how can he realistically start something healthy with Violet?

And all this doesn’t even touch Violet’s relationship with her parents and how she goes behind her mother’s back to contact an estranged family member ostensibly for her mother’s medical care due to Multiple Sclerosis. I couldn’t really understand the family dynamics, nor why she felt so insistent about going to Paris to discover her roots. Let’s talk about her roots. She’s biracial(French-Sengalese mother, white father) but aside from mentioning her skin color and the fact that she and her mother were the only People of Color at her parents’ anniversary party (which felt impossible to me), there’s no lived experience in the book. If white authors want to depict characters who are People Of Color, by all means they should but they need to put in the time and effort. This wasn’t bad representation per se but it wasn’t fully developed.

I wish Walker and Violet had worked through their issues and circled back around to one another a year later. I would have been curious to see how things developed for them then and I would no longer have feared Walker’s relapse was around every corner.

There’s a novella by Sara Richardson at the end of this that I ended up DNFing. The gender stereotypes and men complaining about buying tampons for their women were just too much to deal with.

CW: alcoholism, recovery, references to past child abuse and parental neglect, infidelity (Violet's previous boyfriend)

Disclosure: I received an advanced copy from Forever Romance in exchange for an honest review.

[Laura · Rating 1 out of 5]

***ARC Provided by NetGalley***

I wanted to like this, I really, really did. But, unfortunately, it just wasn't a title that connected with me. This title focuses on the youngest brother, Walker and, I haven't liked him all that much in the other 2 books, so I was not sure how this was going to work for me.

Unfortunately, it didn't work for me at all. I didn't like him, and I thought the "meet cute" was obnoxious and didn't make me want to know what was going to happen next.

DNF at 14%

[Robin Loves Reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is Walker's story! In the Crossroads Ranch series, the first two Everett brothers have found love. I have been eagerly awaiting Walker's story because of the fact that he has spent his last years in the bottom of a bottle. For a love story for Walker to work he would have to make huge strides. Readers will not be disappointed.

When asked by his family's ranch and vineyard's new employee, Violet Chastain, ask him to pretend to be her boyfriend when around her parents, he finds this to be a great challenge. For starters, his life is barely on track and he has been sober, thanks to rehab, for just two months. He has enough on his plate with that and with keeping his family's businesses going strong. To further complicate things, Walker really, really likes Violet but this is the worst possible time for him to become involved in a relationship.

Violet just ended a relationship, for starters. Furthermore, she is very concerned about her parents, particularly her mother. She has put her life on hold due to her loyalty to them. When she says that she and Walker are dating, she sees their joy and decides to keep up the ruse. What she must now do is to fight the very real attraction she has to Walker. The question proves to be just how long can they deny their undeniable chemistry.

I have read all three stories in this series prior to this one and this one definitely is my favorite. Walker has come a long way. He has not had it easy as he lost his mother while young and had an abusive father. His brothers have been patient with him but he finally was forced to face his problem with drinking. I do like how his sobriety was handled. All the while, Walker deserved love. In spades. Violet was indeed perfect for him, but his baggage was real. The conflict was real.

With the time it took for Walker to deal with his addiction, a very genuine relationship was built with Violet. One other thing I enjoyed about this book was Violet's selfless attitude when it came to her family, and that brought another sensitive issue to the fore.

A.J. Pine has quickly become a favorite author of mine with these books. They are wonderful love stories, but with a strong sense of family. This affecting story will be with me for a while to come.

Hard Loving Cowboy is the last book in the Crossroads Ranch series. The previous stores are Second Chance Cowboy, Saved by the Cowboy and Tough Luck Cowboy. Each story in this series can be read as a standalone.

Many thanks to Forever and to NetGalley for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Brooke — brooklynnnnereads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hard Loving Cowboy
3.5 stars

TW: Alcoholism, Physical and Verbal Abuse, Illness (Muscular Sclerosis), Grief

This was not the small town country romance that I expected but at the same time, it was beyond my expectations.

Sometimes in romance novels I find that the main characters can be a little 'too perfect'. I liked the realness of the imperfections in this novel. These are NOT perfect characters and therefore they are more relatable.

Not only did I love the two main characters in this story, I loved the relationship between them. The depth, the humour, and the chemistry.

Additionally, this novel had such a charming cast of characters (that are familiar if you have read the rest of the series). As much as there is a blood related family, there is also a sense of 'found family'.

Without a doubt this was an enjoyable read that I couldn't put down.

----------------------------------------------

Rocky Mountain Cowboy
3 stars

As much as I really liked these characters and this story, I wish it was longer. I know it's a novella included as an addition to this book but I think I would have liked this story so much more if it had been written as a full length novel.

Due to the shorter page count, I felt like everything was understandably somewhat rushed and fast paced. I could have done with more development in the relationship and the story.

This was still a good read but novellas are not really my cup of tea. I prefer a full length novel that is given the ability to truly develop at a better pace.

***Thank you to the publisher for supplying me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review***

[Bookgasms Book Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

My goodness, I’ve so enjoyed this fantastic Crossroads Ranch series! And while I absolutely loved Jack and Luke’s stories, I was really looking forward to Hard Loving Cowboy and Walker’s story.

And what a story it is! In this final book, we finally see the true connection and “family” between these wonderful men and the women that love them.

And we finally see just what Walker’s made of—the grit and gumption. What really makes him tick. And I couldn’t help but root for him to finally realize who he is and where he is and how much his family wants to be a part of his life.

And Violet. She’s a force to be reckoned with. She’s smart, fun, sexy and is quickly falling for Walker’s charms. And he’s falling fast too.

I loved the romance and friendship that bloomed between Walker and Violet—they’re truly perfect for each other.

And I absolutely loved my time spent on the Crossroads ranch. I loved the story of this family and am so excited to see what’s next in the new series! ~ Missy, 5 stars

[Jacqueline Francis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story. It was another great cowboy romance with characters who have depth, problems, passion, and more. It was a nice change to read about characters with some very real, very serious issues, and yet still coming out with finding love. If you want a fun, get away from real life book, this pick probably is not for you.

I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Irene · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

[Donna Repsher · Rating 4 out of 5]

As usual, I'm reading my first book by this author and, as usual, it's the third or fourth book in this series (there was a book #1.5), so I was fairly clueless when it came what happened in the previous novels, but the author did a fairly good job of filling in some of the gaps, and it worked just fine for this reader as a standalone novel. I was able to discern that all the novels in this series relate to the brothers who now own and operate Crossroads Ranch, located in the Napa Valley, and who are in the process of growing a vineyard and building a tasting room which will feature and be stocked with their own home-grown vintage wines. Just a word of warning though--there are certainly a number of triggers within, relating to alcoholism, child abuse, cheating, etc., but all are deftly handled, and helped me give this novel 4.5 stars.


The one brother who is involved in the building of the tasting room, but who won't be partaking of those wines, is Walker Everett, the youngest brother, and when we first meet him, he's barely conscious, thoroughly drunk, is a bloody mess, has a broken and bloody nose, two black eyes, has fallen through a tap room window, and is in the process of being arrested for being drunk and disorderly--and he's no stranger to those charges. When Walker and his brothers lost their mother to cancer more than a decade earlier, their father was devastated and turned to alcohol to dull his pain. Unfortunately, alcohol also turned him into an abusive monster, with Jack, the oldest of the Everett brothers, who did his best to take the beatings and abuse to protect his younger siblings. When Walker turned 18, his father sent him a bottle of bourbon, and drinking the entire bottle in one sitting helped Walker become an alcoholic, just like his father, the man he hated most in the world. He's spent the last 10 years drunk. In lieu of formal charges, Walker is given an alternative--pay to replace the window and spend the next 2 months in a rehab facility, and he agrees to do both.

After sobering up, and returning home, Walker is still taking it one day at a time, using hard physical labor as a deterrent, but testing himself every night with a bottle and a shot glass, and so far, he's been able to resist the temptation they pose to his sobriety. As someone who lives with a recovering alcoholic, what the author missed here was a program, like Alcoholics Anonymous, with regular meetings to attend, and a sponsor to help Walker along with his recovery. The fact is that most alcoholics who try to stay sober alone after drying out, fail to do so, time and time again.

It's in the midst of working on building the tap room that a young woman suddenly appears, dropped off by her ex-lover, because she's applying for a job at the winery to be their sommelier. She just learned that her former employer/lover, is already married and a father, so no sooner is she dropped off at Crossroads Winery, when she spots Walker, rushes to him and she lays a major kiss on him. He has no idea who she but doesn't object to their kiss, and Violet begs him to play along. That kiss, and Walker's appreciation of the beautiful young woman, becomes the start of an on again/off again friendship/relationship at the winery. We learn that her name is Violet, and she tries and succeeds at convincing Walker to also be her pretend boyfriend in front of her parents--both of whom run a restaurant in Santa Barbara, about 90 minutes away by car, which is where Violet gained her knowledge of wines. Violet's mom has multiple sclerosis, and the family can't afford to have her treated locally with an experimental treatment protocol, but since her mother is also French, she can receive treatment there, and Violet is working multiple jobs to earn the money to get her mother back to Paris.

One of the things they suggest to those who complete rehab is to avoid romantic relationships and anything stress-related during your first year of sobriety. That's a tough job for someone like Walker, who's building and working at a winery, all while trying to hide his alcohol addiction from Violet, with whom he shares some extraordinary sexual chemistry, and dealing with the demons of his mother's death and the memories of his father's drunken rages. He knows his brothers are watching and waiting for him to fail, and so he avoids people, including his family, as he struggles alone with maintaining his own sobriety, and his relationship with Violet is one in which he is repeatedly exposed to situations where a glass of wine or champagne is offered.

Both Walker and Violet are extremely likable as is the depth of their attraction to one another, the complicated situations they each must face, Walker's own personal demons, and the dreams these two characters want to fulfill, all play a part in this very well-written novel, which, at its heart, is about kindness, forgiveness, acceptance, and the redeeming power of love. While I would have preferred a longer lead up to the abrupt HEA ending, this is a moving novel, with memorable characters, dealing with tough subjects, and I highly recommend it.

I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this novel. The opinions expressed are my own.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I read the synopsis I knew I was in! If it has a Broody Cowboy sign me up. A fake relationship, even better. What I didn't know was why Walker was trying to not complicate his life, and this added an element I'm usually not too big a fan of. That being said, I think A.J. Pine did a wonderful job of portraying a difficult issue many people struggle. There were ups, downs, and in-betweens that made the story realistic. Plus, it all just had you rooting for Walker and Violet the whole way through!

Walker is really held back by dysfunctional family stuff from his youth and his own mistakes in early adulthood, but his brothers and aunt are a good support system. I loved seeing the small and caring interactions they shared. Plus, his and Jenna and her chicken Lucy are too funny!

Violet is just a caring little ball of awesomeness! I like how there is a point in the story where they bring up that she is a person of color and it's just real, and not this dramatic thing. She's smart, successful, and loyal to her family! She goes after what she wants, and I admire that about her.

Overall, this was a fun cowboy romance. I really need to read the first books in the series now. I want to learn how the brothers' childhood affect them in different ways. I love characters with a past that get their well-deserved happy ending.

Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for giving me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Avid Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hard Loving Cowboy (Crossroads Ranch #3) by A.J. Pine
3 stars
M/F Romance
Triggers: Addiction
I was given this book for an honest review by Wicked Reads.

This is Walker's story. He has struggled with alcoholism for as long as he can remember. With a less than ideal childhood and a family who won't quit, Walker only has one option: go to rehab and make it stick.

Walker's life is one where he measures himself against his brothers. Walker sees what they have and he's not sure if he's jealous or if he never wants that. He's somewhat rough and tough, a little gruff and a lot crass. But, he loves where it counts. I liked how his character developed, but it felt that it was so focused on his addiction that his character had a hard time growing in other areas. I wanted more from his character.

Then there is Violet. She's trying to find a way to pay for her mom's healthcare treatment. She seems incredibly naive in this book. She's smart and funny at times, but then she has these moments where I'm not sure if it's the same character. Her reaction to Walker is somewhat juvenile and despite their wanting each other, with the way we meet Violet, it doesn't seem like a good idea.

Overall, these characters fell flat for me. They seemed more YA and juvenile than grown adults trying to make it work. Also, so much of the story was about Walker's issues. I would have loved to see him interact more with the ranch and his family.

[Tanja ~ KT Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

YES!! Hard Loving Cowboy by AJ Pine is OUT TODAY!!! I loved everything about this book. The pages turned themselves and I was left grinning from ear to ear. 5⭐️ read!




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[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved Hard Loving Cowboy. The story of the youngest in the Everett Family trying to fight his way to existence among not only with himself but trying to prove himself to his family and the woman who all of a sudden is taking up everything in his life.

I loved Walker vulnerability with his addiction to alcohol and how it has played such a huge role in his life. He may not have been that open with those around him but seeing him work through the demons of his past in order to find his future with Violet was gutwrenching at times.

This was the first book in the series that I read and I definitely will be going back to read the rest of the books in the series. The Everett Boys got me right where it counts, in the heart.

[Heather 123 · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF 18%

I just couldn't get into this book. The story of how Walker and Violet met was cute, but honestly I found it incredibly immature and irresponsible especially given she knew she was at the place where she was supposed to have a job interview.

Walker having a job at the winery just didn't fit with his back story especially being straight out of recovery. I could see having him work at the ranch if he needed a job but then having nothing to do with the winery. But having an alcoholic at a winery, especially one so new to recovery with no support system (where was AA?) just doesn't work.

** ARC received from Netgalley **

[Seema Rao · Rating 3 out of 5]

Readable ~ Sexy ~ Sweet

tl; dr: Grumpy cowboy vineyard own falls for hot, smart colleague

The story involves a recovering alcoholic whose family is getting into the wine business and his hot new employee, the multi-racial Violet. The book is well-written, particularly the male protagonist and the sex scenes. It's worth noting this book has insta-love, fake boyfriend, and pretending not to be dating/ dating. In general a solid romance novel. My only real criticism is that the author didn't give enough setting. This book takes place in a lovely part of California, the SLO valley. I wished she had a little more about where the story took place.

3.5

Scale 1-5:
Sexy Times: 3
Strong Woman: 3
Stupid Man: 4
Playa Player: 2
Quality Dialogue: 2
Quality Text: 2
Tropes: Fake-Boyfriend, Insta-love

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Seema Rao Write : Instagram| Blog| Twitter|

[Latifa Morrisette · Rating 5 out of 5]

When one drunken night goes too far and a brother that has had enough, Walker knows that he has hit rock bottom. Now he has to just survive sobriety. When Violet literally steam rolls her way into his life he just goes with it. What started as a fake relationship turns to more, he has to navigate his way through foreign territory. I loved this book. Walker and Violet are polar opposites but somehow they make it work. A.J. Pine did a phenomenal job with this book and I'm ready for more.

[Estelle]

This series has been such a delight for me.

Loved the dialogue in this book!!!! The tension!!! There was just so much joy and great moments with the whole crew... perfect ending to a great series.

[MONICA PEREZ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading about the Everett Bros! I’m sad to have read the last book in the series. Guess I’ll have to read them again.

[Judy Churchill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I waited for this one to be released. After reading the first two books in the series I had to see how Walker figured his life out. It was good because I knew all the characters and I love that.

[Lisarenee · Rating 4 out of 5]

**** 3 1/2 Stars ***
>>>>> My Synopsis(Review follows:) <<<<
Walker Everett has spent years drowning his pain and sorrow at the bottom of a bottle. When he finally hits rock bottom he decides to enter rehab, and turn his life around at his brother's request. It's not been easy for the cowboy, but he's been taking it day by day, one sober step at a time. When Violet enters his life, there's something about the warm and intriguing young woman he just can't seem to resist--even though he knows he should. Perhaps it's the way she looks at him, not as a person who's struggled with addiction, but as someone who she could possibly like. But if he tells her his deep dark secret would that change?

Violet Chastain is an impulsive, passionate, and beautiful young woman who enters Walker's life in a whirlwind. After finding out her boyfriend is married, she breaks up with him on the way to a job interview and, in order to pay him back for all the feelings of rage, jealousy, and betrayal that have been boiling up inside her during their ninety-four minute drive, she kisses the first man she sees--Walker.

Walker finds himself at a Crossroads. There's something about Violet that makes him to want more. Inspires him to want to be a better man. The question is can he be?

>>>>> My Review: <<<<
This is the third book in the Crossroads Ranch series. I rather like the theme the author picked for this series--Crossroads. After reading 'Hard Loving Cowboy' I'm curious as to what crossroads Walker's other brothers faced. Additionally, I like the sense of family you get as you read and I'm dying to know what role Walker played in the previous books. This story can definitely be read as a standalone and you won't feel lost, but you'll probably be left wondering about the previous stories.

Walker has a need to find and/or reinvent himself after so many years of drinking. While his main job is working on the family ranch, he makes beautiful furniture which he sells here and there. He also has a hand in the family winery which to me seems like a bad combination. Once Walker wanted more for himself, now he needs to figure out if those those goals and ambitions have changed or if they remain the same. He also has to prove to himself he can stay sober because if he can't do that, then nothing will change. His attraction to Violet only complicates matters.

Violet was a music major until her mother got sick, and she put her career plans on hold to help her family out. To her family is everything, and she likes the close knit group of Walker's. She was only going to apply for a part time position with the winery, but when she finds out about her boss' marital status she quits faster than you can say cheese, and she finds she needs something a little more permanent. Luckily, she finds full time work. and them some. in San Luis Obispo.

I believe things going on in your life can affect how much you like a book at any given moment. It could be something that happened to you in your past or present, it could be something that happened to someone else, or it could be something you experienced while reading a book or watching a movie that tugged at your heartstrings and touched you emotionally. For me it was watching the latest version of 'A Star is Born'. 'A It was a very sad movie and I kept feeling like a giant rain cloud was hanging over this couple, and I kept worrying that Walker would give in to his addiction. Silly, I know, because this is a bona fide romance, but that movie kept lingering in the back of my head. You see, Walker has a drinking problem and I kept fearing he'd go back to his self destructive ways. When he meets Violet, he's only been sober for 2 months. Pair that with the fact that as the book progresses she seems to be the one thing that inspires him to remain sober, and that is not healthy. It's not until close to three hundred pages into the book that Walker states, "If I'm sober for you or my brothers or Jenna, then what does that mean when none of you are around? If I'm not doing it for me, then I'll drink the first chance I get when I know I won't be caught." That was when I let out a huge sigh of relief, and was able to finally let myself truly enjoy the story.

Personally, I wish the author had started this story further into Walker's rehabilitation, but maybe Ms Pine wanted to clearly make a point. Life has a tendency to happen on its own terms, at it's own pace, in its own time, and sometimes things happen when it's most inconvenient. Perhaps the author wanted to stress the fact Walker had to realize he was the only one who could fix things. That he had to want recovery or it might never stick. Let's face it recovering from an addiction such as alcohol is not easy. A person has to choose not to let alcohol control them and has to choose not to drink it by learning how to manage it. Anyone who can kick this addiction or any other has my utmost respect, and I'd love to ask the author why he or she decided to start this story in the early stages of Walker's recovery. It seems a strange choice.

Overall, I gave this one 3 1/2 out of 5 roses. I liked the story, loved the couple, and adored both their families. There were some twists, hurdles, a lot of sweet moments that made my heart go pitter-patter, and a happy ending. Yay! I so wish I'd read this one before seeing 'A Star is Born'. I know I would have enjoyed it even more. On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one earned a STEAM rating--too hot for a fan, but you still have a handle on things. You should use extreme caution when reading a book with this rating in public. People may inquire as to why you looked flustered and flushed.

[Bette Hansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Walker's story in this third book of the Crossroads Ranch series. While each of these stories can be read standalone, i think they are much more enjoyable if read in order. Understanding the family dynamics as the three brothers work together to save the family ranch builds throughout each of the books. Walker has always been the troubled brother of the three seemingly going down the same alcoholic path as the father. With the strength, love, and support of his brothers Walker is working to turn his life around Will he be able to slay his demons? Will his new friendship with a ranch employee be his salvation or his downfall?? You want to read his story and find out. I highly recommend it.

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

A great ending to this series! I loved this whole series so much and am sad to see it end.
Walker has always been a hot mess and Pine lifted him up and gave him room to work through his very heavy baggage. His friendship and the subsequent relationship was lovely to experience. I appreciated that he had to buckle down and work through his issues and that he showed his family how capable he truly was.

*copy provided by publisher

[Sandy S · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

RELEASE DATE:March 26, 2019

This cowboy's handsome, sexy, and definitely off limits . . .

Walker Everett spends his days at the Crossroads Ranch wrangling cattle-and steering clear of anything that would complicate his already too-complicated life. Until Violet Chastain, the ranch's newest employee, asks him to pretend to be her boyfriend for her parents' anniversary party. She's the most beautiful woman he's ever met and needs his help. How can he refuse?

Violet isn't about to fall for a brooding bad-boy cowboy, no matter how sizzling their chemistry. But she also never expected Walker to go along with the charade. Before long, he's charming her parents at their weekly dinners and kissing her way more than necessary. Spending so much time together tests the limits of their "just friends" relationship, but what happens when their game of pretend becomes all too real?

••••••••••

REVIEW: HARD LOVING COWBOY is the third instalment in AJ Pine’s contemporary, adult CROSSROADS RANCH romance series. This is twenty-five year olds, rancher and wood worker Walker Everett, and sommelier Violet Chastain’s story line. HARD LOVING COWBOY can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed when necessary.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Violet and Walker) HARD LOVING COWBOY follows the building relationship between twenty-five year olds, rancher and wood worker Walker Everett, and sommelier Violet Chastain. Violet is the new sommelier at Crossroads Ranch new Crossroads Winery, a position that brings her face to face with brooding and secretive Walker Everett, a man struggling with demons from his past.But a case of mistaken belief forces our couple into a fake relationship, a relationship that will turn into something more.What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Violet and Walker, and the fall-out as Walker’s past continues to haunt and control his present.

Violet Chastain is on a mission to make enough money to help her mother. With a potential end date to her time at Crossroads Winery getting involved with Walker Everett is all kinds of wrongs. Walker Everett doesn’t do relationships, in fact he struggles with the family he loves and adores but Everett’s history is dark and damaging, and in this, our hero continues to battle memories of the past.

The relationship between Walker and Violet begins as employee and employer but both Walker and Violet’s time at Crossroads Ranch comes with an expiry date, a date neither one has revealed to the other. Walker tries to keep his distance from the woman with whom he will fall in love but one night of fear and anger threatens everything Walker has struggled to overcome. The $ex scenes are passionate and intimate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

All of the previous story line couples and characters play secondary and supporting characters including Walker’s siblings Jack and Ava (Second Chance Cowboy #1), Cash and Olivia (Saved by the Cowboy 1.5), Luke and Lily (Tough Luck Cowboy #2), and Walker’s Aunt Jenna. We are introduced to Violet’s parents Gabriel and Camille Chastain.

The world building continues to focus on the Everett family dynamics; the siblings struggle to move on from the past, a past tainted by abuse, neglect, addiction and loss.

HARD LOVING COWBOY is a story of family, struggle, hope and dreams. The premise is captivating and entertaining: the characters are energetic and charismatic; the romance is seductive. HARD LOVING COWBOY is an emotional and heart breaking story of one man’s struggle to move on from the past, and one woman’s battle to prove said man is worthy of love.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

www.thereadingcafe.com

[Marsha Keeper Bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed at Keeper Bookshelf

HARD LOVING COWBOY is the final story in the Crossroads Ranch series and I’m sad to see these characters go… but have hopes to see them again in cameos in another series (according to the author). If you’ve read the entire series then you know of Walker’s battle with alcoholism, even before he acknowledged that problem and, of course, the brothers’ father was mentally and physically abusive toward them before they were removed from his influence by a family member. I hope that you aren’t starting the series here because you’ll miss some amazing stories and information about this family’s background — but if you are, then be aware that there are possible triggers of former child abuse and alcoholism in Walker’s and Violet’s story.

I found HARD LOVING COWBOY to be a combination of light romance and darker moments. I completely enjoyed this story and was thrilled to see Walker’s recovery and happy future, but to get there he and Violet have to go through some rough waters. I believe to get the full impact of this story you need to experience it firsthand. While I may have some questions, it’s not fair to voice them before other readers get the chance to form their own opinions.

So, simply said, this is a deeply emotional romance with a hero who is facing his sobriety on his own in so many ways, and a heroine who is dealing with not only her own heartache but a family medical situation that she is trying to help resolve. They both have secrets that they aren’t sharing but their chemistry easily moves them from the fake relationship to facing what they each feel for the other. I liked them as a couple and have high hopes for their future. The rest you should read for yourself.

I would not hesitate to recommend any of the stories in the Crossroads Ranch series to readers who like to go a bit deeper into the emotional side, enjoy a good solid romance and loves engaging secondary characters with the hopes that they will get their own story one day.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this redemption story. It wasn't always pretty, especially since Walker was a recovering alcoholic, but it had a great theme and the cast of characters made this one enjoyable.

I really liked Walker once he decides to turn his life around and not turn into a reincarnated version of his dead abusive alcoholic father. He somehow managed to push away the temptation of taking a drink, even though his family owned a vineyard. He showed his strength every day and I had a lot of respect for him. He wasn't always the nicest to Violet since he didn't want her finding out his secret, but he eventually does the right thing, becomes vulnerable and gives her the answers she deserved.

Violet was an interesting character. She was fun, outgoing, a bit of a clutz (at least when wearing those heels), kind, loving, and apparently an incredibly talented singer. And of course, she was French-speaking since her mom was Parisian. I loved that she sacrificed her schooling and career to help her sick mom. I loved that she didn't judge Walker after finding out he was an alcoholic, but instead gave him the strength he needed to continue that path to success. She was genuinely a very nice young lady with a big heart. I kind of wish we had seen Violet's interactions with her family in Paris since that seemed to be such a big deal to her, so that's my only big complaint about the book.

The 'I love you' does seem to happen a big suddenly. I mean I was happy for it and could see them going the distance and truly caring for one another, but it did surprise me.

The epilogue was really sweet and it was wonderful to see the Walker family into the future.

I haven't read any of the previous books in the series, but I don't think it's entirely necessary either. Sure, you won't already have a connection with the other couples, but the book is still easy to follow without having read the previous books. I picked this book up at a library sale and was in the mood for a cowboy book, so I just went with it.