A Son for the Texas Cowboy

The Texas Wolf Brothers #1

by Sinclair Jayne

Can she tempt him to take a second chance?

As the oldest brother, pro bull rider Axel Wolf has always worn the yoke of family responsibility. Seven years ago when he was at the top of his career, he gave it all up to return home to Last Stand, Texas, to raise his youngest brother and take over the reins of their massive cattle ranch. But his career wasn’t the only thing he left behind. A chance meeting with the woman he never stopped loving, Cruz, blows apart his work-only life, and he starts to want more than just his ranch. Axel’s never backed down from a challenge, but this is one risk, the cowboy’s not sure he can take.

Former barrel racer and now single mom Cruz Lopez excels at staring down obstacles and winning. A newly certified physician’s assistant, she’s determined to build her career and create a new life for herself and her son in Texas just as long as it’s far from one sexier than sin Last Stand cowboy, who once nearly derailed her dreams and goals. Only it’s not. Luckily it’s temporary, and Cruz is confident she can avoid Axel for a month except a horrific accident throws them together when they both stop to help. Axel was her first and only love, and now she’s struggling to remember all the reasons he’s wrong when he feels so right. He told her once he never wanted a family. So why is he inviting them both on picnics and teaching her son to ride and rope?

Axel is her past, but she’s starting to hope for a future with him. Can she trust him when it’s not just her heart at risk this time?

Genres: Romance, Westerns, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Second Chance, Second Chance Romance, Amazon

264 pages, Paperback

First published May 2, 2019

About the author

Sinclair has loved reading romance novels since she discovered Barbara Cartland historical romances when she was in sixth grade. By seventh grade, she was haunting the library shelves looking to fall in love over and over again with the heroes born from the imaginations of her favorite authors. After teaching writing classes and workshops to adults and teens for many years in Seattle and Portland, she returned to her first love of reading romances and became an editor for Tule Publishing last year. Sinclair lives in Oregon’s wine country where she and her family own a small vineyard of Pinot Noir and where she dreams of being able to write at a desk like Jane Austen instead of in parking lots waiting for her kids to finish one of their 12,000 extracurricular activities.

Reviews

[Elaine - Splashes Into Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating 4.5/5*

This second chance romance starts with two dramatic events - the first is a couple breaking up and the second is a horrific accident where the couple meet again eight years later!

Axel Wolf was a bull rider and his girlfriend was barrel racer Cruz Lopez. On the evening he planned to propose to her, she ended their relationship and left their home town of Last Stand. Eight years later she returns to Last Stand, to work in the hospital bringing with her her son. There are surprises galore as this story unfolds, not everything is quite as you'd assume and both main characters have tragedies in their past. Will love find a way to bring them together again?

This story really has such fantastically developed characters and is a moving family drama which I thoroughly enjoyed reading. The plot has plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing and it is a brilliant start to a new series. I can't wait to read more about the Wolf brothers and have no hesitation in highly recommending this book!

I requested and was gifted a copy of this book via NetGalley and this is my honest review after choosing to read it.

[Leena Aluru · Rating 3 out of 5]

It had all the right ingredients to make a decent romance and then, pooof ....no strong plot resulting in multiple repetitions and making a mountain off a non issue. By,I'm still interested in reading August 's and Ander's HEA.

Recommended: meh 🤷‍♂️

[patrick Lorelli · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a little difficult for me. Cruz Lopez a barrel racer all of a sudden decides to break up with the bull rider she was seeing Axel Wolf. Axel is shocked because he had a ring in his pocket to propose to her, instead, she breaks up and walks away. Eight years later she has finished her nursing degree and has become a physician assistant. One of the places to work is in Texas and the town where he is from. She does not want to go there but goes and because of an accident immediately runs into him. She tries to stay away from him but he continues to find her and wants to know what he did for he loved her and still is in love with her. She speaks of him not wanting a family yet he left to raise his brother and take over the family ranch. Throughout most of the book, I thought her boy was his until you get to the end so the title seemed confusing to me. She also kept going back to something he said eight years ago but why would he say that and then want to marry her and want a family with her. These were all confusing to me and made for what at times was a good story confusing. This is probably me but that is what I took out of it or I would have given it more stars. I received this book from Netgalley.com I gave it 3 stars Follow us at www.1rad-readerreviews.com

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story!

[Kim Ruiz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second chances

A really good story about second chances and letting go of the past to find your future. Great characters and supporting characters and a good storyline

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was mostly a disappointing read for me, not at all what I thought it was going to be. Add to that a h who we’re told is tough when really she’s anything but. Didn’t really like any of the characters, the MCs were both weak and kept letting each other walk away without saying anything they were continually thinking! Even the story about the “son” was lame, we’re lead to believe he’s Axel’s only to suddenly be hit with some other weird, twisted story!

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay read

Good storyline that wasn’t as predictable as I thought. Some mystery around both main characters that does get explained. Was an okay read. Felt there was too much back and forward with the relationship.

[Coco.V]

🎁 FREE on Amazon today (2/12/2020)! 🎁

[Vanessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a dramedy with sex scenes with too much imagery.

[bex · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 star

Interesting, complicated characters. Some of their changes felt a bit rushed and compressed but other than that it worked. Character driven.

[Mandi Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my cup of tea.

Not my favorite type of story. I just hated her from go. The lack of communication between the two had me questioning why the were together.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was okay.

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Son for the Texas Cowboy by Sinclair Jayne
She doesn’t want to forgive. He never forgot
As the oldest brother, Axel Wolf has always worn the yoke of responsibility. Eight years ago when he was on top of the pro bull riding leaderboard, he walked away to return to Last Stand, Texas, to raise his youngest brother and take over the reins of their massive cattle ranch. But his career wasn’t the only thing he left behind.
Former barrel racer Cruz Lopez excels at staring down any challenge and winning. She finished nursing school and a physician assistant program on her own. Now debating between two excellent job offers in Texas, Cruz gives into impulse and decides to drive through Last Stand, thinking it will give her closure. Instead fate intervenes and reinserts Axel into her life, and the secret she’s kept is busted wide open.
Axel’s determined to seize his second chance with Cruz but their clash of wills only makes them both burn hotter.
This is Cruz Lopez and Axel Wolf's story.
She didn’t smile or run to him like she usually did. Her jet-black hair tumbled down her back. She fiddled with a hunk of it, straightened her shoulders and marched toward him.
“What’s up?” He stopped. Usually he’d drop his ropes and his duffel so that he could hold her. Kiss her. But she didn’t look like she wanted that right now, although he had no idea why. He hadn’t seen her since she’d gone to the AEBR orientation and welcome weekend with him three weeks ago.
Her normally bronzed skin looked pale, and she looked thinner, her high cheekbones a little hollow.
“I want to break up.
Standing on top of the chute, looking down at the muscular back of the two-ton animal gunning to toss him boots over head into the dirt, Axel Wolf was on top of the world.
Today was going to be a great day. And not just because he was going to kill his ride on Texas Trouble. Every bull rider had to believe that, or they wouldn’t climb on. Bull riding required discipline, commitment, physicality and a belief that you were going to ride the full eight, even though the odds were stacked against it.
Axel didn’t count the odds. Today he was on top of the leaderboard, and unless he fell off—which he wouldn’t—he’d win. But that wasn’t why today would be epic. Today was his last appearance at a Texas Pro Rodeo event. He’d punched his ticket to the American Extreme Bull Riders tour—top tier in the world—and was joining up next week. It didn’t get much better than that, and even though it was nearly the end of the season, there was still plenty of time to make a mark and earn some serious money to help send his youngest brother to college.
The AEBR tour wasn’t the best thing that was happening to him today. Nope. Not by a long shot.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book."
A Son for the Texas Cowboy by Sinclair Jayne is a 3 star book.
Sinclair's Books with Tule:
Wrecked
Sons of San Clemente
Broken
Sons of San Clemente
Seducing the Bachelor
Bachelor Auction Returns
The Wilder Brothers
Want Me, Cowboy
The 78th Copper Mountain Rodeo
The Wilder Brothers
The Christmas Challenge
The Wilder Brothers
A Country Love Song
Smoky Mountain Knights
Burning Both Ends
Hot Aussie Knights
Kane
American Extreme Bull Riders Tour
Halloween at the Graff
Holiday at the Graff
Valentine’s at the Graff
Holiday at the Graff
Cowboy Come Home
The 79th Copper Mountain Rodeo
A Son for the Texas Cowboy
The Texas Wolf Brothers

[Marsha Keeper Bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed at Keeper Bookshelf

A SON FOR THE TEXAS COWBOY is the first story in Sinclair Jayne’s The Texas Wolf Brothers series set in the newest large fictional town series/line from Tule Publishing – if you’ve loved (and continue to love) Marietta, Montana then you’re going to become just as addicted to Last Stand, Texas.

Once, years ago, Axel and Cruz were a couple in love, even if the words were barely said. Each had a dream of the future, and each had a major problem communicating what parts of those dreams were – mainly, each other permanently. Cruz made the decision to break off their romance. Just “I’m done” and gone. Axel’s plans for that day were far different but he let the woman he loved go. That didn’t mean that he would forget her or stop loving her, just that he didn’t fight her decision. Shortly after their break-up, Axel’s world changed as well and his career dreams were put aside to return home to tend to his younger brothers and the struggling family ranch. Seven years later fate would step in and reunite them through a town tragedy. They might have a second chance but only if two stubborn people can finally really talk to each other instead of making decisions “for the best” about the other’s life.

Axel is the perfect image of the stoic cowboy, one who feels emotions deeply but never, ever let them show. My heart broke for Axel as he is a far more complex man than we first see. On the surface he is tough, stubborn, a man who believes in doing the right thing – and silent, so silent about the things that matter to him. Underneath that is such pain, sorrow, and guilt, unnecessary guilt that your heart will ache for him. It took me longer to warm up to Cruz. I liked her but I never loved the character for her reasons never seemed enough for the decisions she made and continued to make for herself and Axel. It became enough that she was Axel’s “one” and I was content with that.

A SON FOR THE TEXAS COWBOY is an engaging, emotional beginning to a series that already has me hook and needing to know more. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for the next story in this series, A BRIDE FOR THE TEXAS COWBOY.

*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.*

[Bette Stanek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably closer to 3.5 bumped to 4 Stars. Anyway, Axel and Cruz are characters you can immediately connect with. They toured the rodeo circuit together, sort of, at least enough to have a two-year relationship. Axel is enough older than Cruz that, even though she was on his radar, he had to wait until she was 19 before he showed his interest in her. After two years, he was committed enough that he was ready to propose before she left the circuit to pursue med school. He never got the chance. Through miscommunication (isn't' that always the issue?) and neither one of them wanting to confront the other, they break up at Cruz's insistence. Axel isn't a talker, he's more of a doer; Cruz needs the words. Hence, miscommunication. Fast forward seven years. Cruz has a son and she's suddenly in Last Stand, TX, Axel's home turf. She's only there temporarily. She's hoping she won't run into Axel by some stroke of luck. Yeah, well, that doesn't work out so well. Within minutes of hitting the city limits, there's a horrific accident and she comes face-to-face with Axel. Even though life moved on, there has never been someone else for either one of them in the seven years since they last saw one another. Cruz's son is the right age to be Axel's, but is he? Cruz isn't sharing any information and speculation runs rampant for a while. Either way, this is their second chance...if they're brave enough to take it. This is a fast-paced story with engaging characters and enough action to hold your interest throughout the entire book.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Son for the Texas Cowboy by Sinclair Jayne is an emotional intense romance. Another Last Stand Texas story with a man whose life is now almost like a ghost town with so many losses haunting him. Axel has remade his life, giving up his pro bull riding days to raise a younger brother and run the family ranch. Years later unexpectantly former love, Cruz, reenters his life with her young son, Diego. Their meeting again in Last Stand is the most dramatic I ever remember reading; at the scene of a freak tragic accident.

Solid story with characters who have overcome some major obstacles in life. I appreciated how the story did not fall into the predictable secret child trope that often is used in romances when a child is involved in the story. Also, it is quite unpredictable, in that Axel’s family’s story is revealed slowly as the story unfolds. What a tragedy that is.

While not being from Texas myself, I still loved the references of how to becme a true Texan. In the world of stories, I always thought I wanted to relocate to Marietta, Montana someday. My first choice has changed. Now I can stay in the South, relocating to Last Stand, Texas instead.

An ARC of the book was given to me by the publisher through Net Galley which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Marcie Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

“A Son for the Texas Cowboy” by Sinclair Jayne is book one of her Texas Wolf Brothers series. It is also part of the Last Stand Texas multi-author miniseries.

Axel Wolf, pro bull rider, thought everything was going his way. He was joining the American Extreme Bull Riders tour and about to propose to his girl, Cruz Lopez. Then, Cruz leaves him and he has to return home to Last Stand amidst tragedy and to raise his brother.
Back then, Cruz wanted to be a doctor, but now, seven years later, she’s moving to Last Stand for a temporary job at the hospital along with her son, Diego. She foolishly believes she won’t run into Axel, but coming upon an accident when she arrives, he’s one of the first people she sees.

Axel is protective of the people he loves and gives them what they need while putting himself last.
Cruz is independent and needs to put Diego before the desire of her heart.
Axel and Cruz are better together than apart, it just takes them a while to find their way there.

“A Son for the Texas Cowboy” is chock full of sexual tension and the characters richly written. Not only is there a reference to previous titles in the Last Stand series, Ms. Jayne cleverly gives a shout-out to one of her own books in the America Extreme Bull Riders Tour miniseries.

[Karen Roma · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Son for the Texas Cowboy is a wonderful start to Sinclair Jayne’s brand new series, The Texas Wolf Brothers. Axel Wolf is perfectly portrayed in his role as the head of the Wolf clan and has sacrificed for the welfare of his siblings and the family homestead. Axel is strong, determined and passionate when it comes to getting what he wants and memories of what could have been with the girl he left behind, stir feelings he simply can’t deny. Cruz Lopez is equally determined. But she’s also wary of the man who claimed to want his freedom and took her heart when he left her behind. Feisty, independent and a single mum, Cruz has more than just her own heart to protect this time around.

A Son for the Texas Cowboy is a wonderful second chance romance, and a fabulous Cowboy story with all the angst, drama and passion needed to capture the true romantic’s heart. I thoroughly enjoyed this first in the series, and look forward to what the author has in store for the remaining Wolf siblings.

[Sandi Ramirez · Rating 5 out of 5]

We headed back to Last Stand, Texas and met one of the sexy Wolf brothers. If you have not read any of the Last Stand books you are cool each book is read as a stand alone. Last Stand, TX is a fictional town in the Texas Hill country. What I have really enjoyed about this new series of books from Tule Publishing is the inter-linking of theme from different authors throughout each of the inaugural books in this series. This is Axel Wolf and Cruz Lopez's story. A great second chance romance with horses, wine, and yes cute kid. Cruz and Axel split up years ago but like true love you never stop loving your first & true love. Who is that little 7 year old boy who is with Cruz? We get to know August Wolf in as well ( can't wait to know more about him and Cat) and we also hear a bit about Minna the town matriarch. Last Stand is quickly becoming my second favorite fictional town. It's easily the Texas equal to Montana's Marietta. I invite you to fall in love with Last Stand too.

[Laura D · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a story about second chances.Cruz was a barrel racer who was young and in love with Axel. She wanted to go to school and become a doctor. He wanted to be a pro bull rider. Neither of them wanted to settle down, although Axel made her think about just that. She decides to leave him so he can follow his dreams. It was the hardest thing she has ever had to do. Axel was on top of the pro bull riding leader boardand he had to return to Last Stand, Texas, to raise his youngest brother after the death of his father. Now it is 8 years later and Axel runs the family cattle ranch. Cruz finds herself back in Last Stand as a single mother. What are the odds she will run into her cowboy? 100% He can't believe she is back and that she had a child with another man so soon after she left him behind for her career. Despite the anger the attraction is still there. But will it be enough for a second chance? Good read.

[Linda Rorex · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book in the Texas Wolf Brothers series by Sinclair Jayne. Axel Wolf left his career as a champion bull rider to help take care of his family's ranch at Last Stand, Texas. Cruz Lopez is a single mom and former barrel racer who became a certified physician's assistant driven to rebuild her career and raise her seven-year old son Diego. Cruz returns to Last Stand after leaving her first love Axel behind to attend college and have her son. Cruz's plans become complicated when she bumps into Axel. Despite their shared history and still having lingering affection for each other, Cruz is doubtful to trust Axel, especially when her heart and her son's future is on the line. I really enjoyed this wonderful small town western romance novel.

[Bonnie Gonzales · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this one, I would give it more than five stars if I could. Second chance romances are my favorite ones and this is right up there with the best of them.
I hated when I would have to walk away from this one and I would be right back to it quick as I could. The writing style felt just right, making me yearn for a HEA for Axel and Cruz, and I cannot wait for the next in the series, I’m hooked.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Don’t miss, it’s a keeper, in my opinion!

[Paula Pugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second chances for romances are so much fun to read because who does not hope for a second chance?
A Son for the Texas Cowboy introduces a new family of ranchers form Last Stand in Axel Wolf. Seven years prior, the love of his life walked away from him. Cruz was young and a lack of communication about their future drove her to leave Axel. Taking a temporary job in Last Stand finds her eye-to-eye with him on her first day there. His misguided decisions could really mess up what could be not only a second chance but the best chance for lasting love.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Garth Mailman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cruz chooses career over love and breaks up with Bull riding Axel choosing to raise their son as a single mother. When she stumbles into his path at the scene of a mass casualty event his brother August despite his injuries immediately thinks he recognizes his nephew. The cover model has a smug smirk on his face.

The book needs a good edit.

Most of the action of this novel may take place on a long-horn cattle ranch but aside from meeting a few horses little attention seems to be paid to the running of the ranch.

In true romance style the couple resolve their differences with a roll in the hay and resolve to live happily ever after.

[Tracy Sylvester · Rating 5 out of 5]

You'll fall in love with Axel Wolf and Cruz Lopez. Axel is a full on cowboy who has fallen for a hardworking girl who cares about taking care of others. Cruz Lopez wants to become a doctor. Both Axel and Cruz met in the circuit of riding, roping and barrel racing. They fell in love but life split them into different areas. After 7 years Cruz comes back to Texas with some friends to intern at a hospital and ends back up in Axel's life. This is a sweet second chance at romance story. True love prevails!

[Delacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I did like this story. It had a great H, Axel, with a load of baggage that the reader slowly finds out as the story progresses. The h Cruz has her share of issues, thought I found her a little harder to relate to, she seemed at times to over react. The supporting characters helped add some humour to the story. Overall, a good cowboy/second chance romance.

*Trigger warning* : Some discussion of suicide and addiction and child death

*I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and this is my voluntary and honest review.

[Team Starlite · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really love reading Cowboy-stories.
And this one didn't disappoint.

In the beginning we have a throwback into the past of Cruz and Axel. After 7 years apart they finally meet each other again. Both their lives changed a lot in the last years, so will there be a hope of a future together?

You get to know the characters really well, so it's not difficult to fall in love with them. From the beginning I was dying for the outcome of their lovestory.
The author also introduced us to the maincharacters of the second book in this series, which I will def. read.

[Jean Katchmar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Axel loved Cruz when they were younger. Then she broke up with him the same night he was going to give her an engagement ring. She walked away from Axel and went to college to become a nurse. Axel continued on the rodeo circuit and finally went home to his family ranch to try to work hard enough to forget Cruz, his forever love. Then Cruz accepts a temp job in Last Stand where Axel lived. She came there with a 7-year-old boy who Axel believes may be his...great book with lots of emotion and suspense. I loved every page!

[Eileen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A love second chance love stories because there is a past between the characters and they need to reconcile things before they can move forward. Axel and Cruz were a couple on the rodeo circuit 7 years ago and he thought they had a future together. When he's about to propose marriage, she wants to break up. Now she's back in her hometown to work a temp job as a PA, and ends up running into her ex during a traffic accident. She has a young son with her so there is a little drama which brings up Axel's past and trauma.
Overall a good story with brothers, a ranch, and romance in the air.

[Flo Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

A relationship made to endure

Axel had had some traumatic things happen to him as a child and young man. These experiences had formed him into a remote brooding man. His only love had left him and he still missed her. Go forward 7 years and Axel unexpectedly meets up with Cruz. Memories come rushing back and now they need to decide whether they can build a future together. An accident occurs that almost breaks their fledgling relationship, but they were able to dig deep and find their happily ever after.