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Saltwater Cowboys #1

Saltwater Cowboy

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When a mysterious woman washes up in Cape Corral, a wild horse sanctuary off North Carolina's coast, law enforcement officer Levi Sutherland is determined to figure out if she's connected with the crimes recently plaguing the island. The problem is, she can't remember anything . . .

354 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2020

895 people are currently reading
413 people want to read

About the author

Christy Barritt

340 books1,675 followers
Christy Barritt is an author, freelance writer and speaker who lives in Virginia. She’s married to her Prince Charming, a man who thinks she’s hilarious—but only when she’s not trying to be. Christy’s a self-proclaimed klutz, an avid music lover who’s known for spontaneously bursting into song, and a road trip aficionado. She’s only won one contest in her life—and her prize was kissing a pig (okay, okay… actually she did win the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Suspense and Mystery also). Her current claim to fame is showing off her mother, who looks just like former First Lady Barbara Bush
When she’s not working or spending time with her family, she enjoys singing, playing the guitar, and exploring small, unsuspecting towns where people have no idea how accident prone she is.

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5 stars
1,065 (62%)
4 stars
464 (27%)
3 stars
154 (8%)
2 stars
24 (1%)
1 star
6 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 180 reviews
Profile Image for JaneReads.
982 reviews130 followers
August 20, 2024
I absolutely loved the setting of this story. An island with wild horses roaming free, yes, please. The story opens with Dani being shot and left for dead. She is found but now has amnesia, can they figure out who shot her and why? Will she regain her memories? The mystery kept me invested and guessing what would happen. I did enjoy meeting the various island residents and was intrigued by the mystery, but I wasn't rooting for the romance. It felt too rushed based on the situation with Dani not having any memories. There were a few side characters that I'd like to spend more time with and see the romance I suspect will happen or not.
Profile Image for Marylin.
1,309 reviews44 followers
September 7, 2020
Oh my, another new series by Christy Barritt! My heart is so glad!
This is one that is fun because it has horses, cowboys, and an island. OH, and of course, it also has suspense! What book of Christy Barritt doesn’t have suspense?
This story is a bit different because it deals with the main character who has amnesia. Dani doesn’t know who she is, why she almost drowned, or why she was shot. Can cowboy police Officer Levi help her remember before it’s too late and someone keeps her from remembering, forever?
This story is full of strange things happening on this little island of Cape Corral. How are all these things related? Or are they really related and is Dani part of the bad stuff happening?
One thing I do know is I don’t think I’d enjoy having amnesia. It must really be a struggle to not know anything about your life. WOW!
Christy Barritt’s books never go the way I think they’ll go. I often think I’ve figured it out and then BAM something comes up that I never saw coming. This book is exactly that way!
I love this book! We as readers, don’t know who really has done it until the end. Try as I might, I’m always shaking my head and thinking, “why didn’t I guess that?”
If you LOVE “who-done-it” stories with mystery, suspense, action, and a bit of relationship tension plus romance mixed in, you will love this book!
Christy Barritt is an author who knows how to keep you reading and reading and reading until you’ve realized you’re done and waiting for the next book to be released. She spins her tales with so many twists and turns it will keep you hooked until the very end!
I was captured from the very first line, and I know you will be too. Now I want to know if there will be any other adventures on this sweet little island. I’m ready for more!
I was given this book by the author which did not influence my review in any way, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Rebekah Morris.
Author 119 books269 followers
September 26, 2020
I picked this book up because I thought it sounded interesting, but wasn’t sure if I’d actually enjoy it or not. However, after reading the first two chapters (they are short chapters) I wanted to know what was going on, so I kept reading.
The story was exciting, but not so much so that I HAD to read it all in one sitting (which was good because I didn’t have time to do that).
I liked Levi right from the start. And I wanted to help Dani find out who she was. The setting was very interesting and made me want to go visit Cape Corral for myself. And a restaurant on the back porch of someone’s house? How different.
The mystery was puzzling, but there were holes in one guy’s story that one one seemed to catch, and I was very confused by the fact that no one seemed to know that one person had been murdered and hadn’t just died when at the end of the book someone confessed to killing that person. There also seemed to be some loose ends that weren’t all tied up, so I’m guessing there’s another book. However, this one didn’t leave you hanging too much. Unless you thought about things.

It was clean. A few kisses were mentioned at the very end. I think this was supposed to be a Christian book, but I’m not sure. There were a few mentions of prayer and the church, and maybe a Bible verse, but that’s about it.
Profile Image for Kelly Bridgewater.
1,209 reviews61 followers
September 27, 2020
Christy Barritt has decided to move to a new series with Cowboys on the beach. I'm not a big fan of stories with cowboys on the cover, either historical or contemporary. Even though I know a number of people that will grab these stories up in seconds after they see a cowboy on the cover. The suspense was a typical Barritt fashion, but I did see that the suspense was not up to its usual Barritt standard. It felt more like a romance novel, then a suspense novel. Plus, the romance felt extremely rushed and not natural. Overall, it might be the perfect story for some fans, but for me, it didn't quite hit it out of the park for me.
3,948 reviews1,764 followers
July 11, 2021
Wow, I think I might have fallen for the island even more than the cowboy! I become enchanted by Cape Corral and the wild horses from Barritt's stunning descriptions. I can still smell the tang of salt in the air and hear the muffled thud of thundering hooves on the sand. This is definitely my idea of the perfect summer beach read!

So, if you love horses and cowboys (and not necessarily in that order!) and you're looking for a riveting literary escape, look no further, Saltwater Cowboy's got you covered.

A second chance romance / amnesia suspense that kept me in a frenzied page turning state (with the occasional swoon break) right to the breathless, heart-pounding finale!

The amnesia trope can be tricky to pull off without feeling cliche but Barritt really sells it in Dani's story. Love the way this mystery unfolds as pieces of her past are slowly revealed. And Levi can't help but be intrigued -- and not just by her circumstances. :-)

His wife's tragic death has left him with a love/hate relationship with his island home. He loves the wild horses he protects -- along with the rest of the island inhabitants -- but every nook and cranny is filled with haunting memories of all he's lost and he's giving serious consideration to an out-of-state job offer until he's presented with the mystery that is Dani.

Great pacing with some intriguing bad guy POV scenes that amp up the fear factor and make for a compelling suspense. Throw in some toe-curling romance and a band of saltwater cowboys and, well, woohoo, I have a new series addiction!
Profile Image for Aimee .
3,073 reviews298 followers
Read
November 14, 2021
Didn't Love the Ending

This is a light suspense book. The plot had a nice build but there wasn't much build up between Dani and Levi. Some light awareness, mild attraction. Then the plot climax and two weeks later an epilogue of sorts where they share a kiss in a very familiar way. No build up there which was slightly disappointing to me. I wanted to feel more between Dani and Levi. The author could have given me that with one more chapter in resolution after the big climactic ending. I didn't like the two weeks later skip. But if you like your books with minimal romance, this would be a good one. I did like the plot and the setting. The author is clearly setting up characters for future books.
Profile Image for Diane Higgins.
654 reviews12 followers
September 24, 2020
Christy Barritt has done it again! "Saltwater Cowboy" was another great read! This novel was a little different than her previous novels, but it still had suspense and a little romance in it. It had me guessing all the way until the last page. I really didn't know how it was going to end. I definitely recommend this book and all of Christy Barritt's books. I received a complimentary copy from the author for my honest opinion.
Profile Image for Abigail Harris.
Author 51 books260 followers
September 28, 2020
Clean for anyone who enjoys romance... I'm not doing a full review, I just wanted to do a short one since I enjoyed the book and look forward to the next in the series.
Profile Image for Kevin.
804 reviews20 followers
September 18, 2020
A new series from Christy Barritt that is sure to please

Other than wanting to call this book (and series) Saltwater Taffy Boy for no other reason than "taffy" is the word I instinctively follow "saltwater" with -- and I love good saltwater taffy -- SALTWATER COWBOY is a fine start to author Christy Barritt's latest series. There are similarities to her other island-based series, Lantern Beach: The island is somewhat remote even though it's just off the coast of the United States, there are divided thoughts on developing the island and building a hotel. But there are also differences in that the island is home to wild horses and the local law enforcement is there to protect the wildlife in addition to humans. Readers paying attention will maybe figure things out ahead of the reveal (and that's part of the charm of reading a mystery), and Barritt doesn't disappoint in developing characters and building her setting with whom and in which readers get to spend a few hours of their time. Highly recommended!
Profile Image for Laura.
Author 39 books654 followers
October 10, 2020
SALTWATER COWBOY is the start of a new series by Ms. Barritt. I always heard about wild horses on the east coast, but this is the first book I've read about them.

This is a fast paced romantic suspense that is sure to grab your attention while you hang on for the bumpy ride.

Ms Barritt is one of my favorite authors in this genre for good reason,

I was given a copy free. All opinions are my own.


Profile Image for Faith Posten.
314 reviews11 followers
October 18, 2020
What Happened to Me

Normally Cowboy stories aren't my favorite stories, but Christy Barritt is definitely a fantastic author whose books I truly enjoy. This one is no exception. It's a great mystery as well as a sweet Christian romance. Dani, the primary victim and the main character, washed up in Cape Corral, NC, a horse sanctuary. Levi, an officer of the Law, found her and takes her unconscious, to the doctor at the Clinic. Her main problem was a gunshot wound to her shoulder which was meant to kill her. It would heal with time, but her memory was a much bigger problem. The book captured my attention on the first page and never let go until the very end!
910 reviews5 followers
June 22, 2021
Washed up!

When Levi, the head of law enforcement on a North Carolina barrier island, finds a body washed up on the beach of their quiet home, everything becomes sinister and troubling. After the storm the night before, he isn't surprised to find someone washed ashore. On closer look, the woman isn't dead, in spite of being shot and having been in the ocean. He quickly gets her to the medical clinic and after surgery, the doctor proclaims that she was very lucky! The bullet missing organs, bones, and major vessels, were the miracle that saved her life. When she awakens with amnesia, the only clue to her identity is the necklace that spells out "Dani."
For lovers of a healthy dose of suspense with their romance, this is certainly the book for you!
Profile Image for Mary Hake.
Author 4 books413 followers
September 17, 2020
This suspense drama starts out with a bang—literally. One main character is shot and left for dead. Then Levi Sutherland finds a woman’s body washed up on the beach—an injured young woman with amnesia. Who would want to kill her? This kicks off an investigation on the island of Cape Corral, named for the wild horse sanctuary there. The tension holds throughout the novel and keeps ramping up with continued threats and assaults. This exciting new series, with its endearing characters and intriguing setting, should appeal to most mystery readers. It’s not too heavy or scary, but appealing with the whodunit allure and a bit of romance. I received a copy from the author. All opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Ashley.
1,178 reviews45 followers
September 24, 2020
What a great start to a new series. The danger and suspense start right off the bat and barely let up for the rest of the book. I loved that I was able to slowly figure out the mystery as more of the pieces to the puzzle were revealed.

I really liked the island setting of Cape Corral. And while, at first, it might be a bit reminiscent of Barritt's Lantern Beach, it's actually quite different and such a unique place. The residents, the horses, the whole atmosphere really give it so much character and such a strong identity.

I highly recommend Saltwater Cowboy to anyone who's a fan of romantic suspense. I'm excited to visit Cape Corral again in the next book!
Profile Image for EmbGram.
218 reviews
October 3, 2020
Another riveting adventure

Christi Barritt knows how to grip a reader's interest and keep it until the last word is read. Her new Saltwater Cowboy series is off to a great start with this first book! Cape Corral sounds a lot like Chincoteague Island, where I have made many wonderful memories.

There are sinister events taking place on Cape Corral, and it is up to the Forestry Service to put a stop to whatever is going on. A woman washing up onshore with a bullet wound, the body of a man buried in the sand, and a missing colt, what will happen next? Are all of these mysteries related? Read the book to find out!
195 reviews5 followers
November 1, 2020
This is the start of another great series by Christy Barritt, again on an island location! I knew I would be interested in learning more about the unique responsibilities of the saltwater cowboys as I've researched them a little. Levi is a cowboy, responsible for the safety and wel-being of the wild horses on the island, as well as the safety of the residents. A mysterious, injured, beautiful stranger interrupts his daily life and keeps him guessing as to which side of the law she might be on. She doesn't know herself -- as her mind has blocked it all out! Murder, mystery, and amnesia all add up to a thrilling whodunit!
Profile Image for Robin.
Author 3 books28 followers
June 15, 2021
A Good Story

This was a good story - a sweet romance with characters who faced obstacles bravely and kept moving forward. It was clean and leaned toward inspirational with the MCs praying a few times and a few mentions of faith.

While the plot was fairly solid, I felt like there could've been a bit more tension. The woman's life was in danger but I didn't sit on the edge of my seat worrying about it. That's the best explanation I can give for how that seemed to me.

Overall, though, it's a good, cozy story that's easy to read, clean, and inspirational. If that's your jam, give this one a try!
599 reviews5 followers
July 26, 2021
A great clean mystery romance!

Such a great story! I loved reading about the horses & tried to visualize living on sand all of the time. The author kept me interested all through the book, even if she did divide it into way too many chapters. I only caught a couple of repetitive thoughts by the characters. I'm very happy to have read a clean romance as they're the very best romances. The revealing of the "Captain" was a letdown as I'd guessed his identity to be one of a couple of characters. I felt like the mystery wasn't completely solved. Otherwise, it's a really great mystery & romance.
457 reviews17 followers
August 20, 2023
Cape Corral is a quaint island with a wild horse sanctuary that is fairly quiet until a woman washes up on shore shot nearly to death and a body is found buried in the sand. Could these two instances be related? Who is this mystery woman? After Law Enforcement Officer Levi finds the woman on the beach, he is determined to help her figure out who she is and how she came to their quiet island. Dani just wants to get back to her old life. At least she thinks she does, but she still doesn't know who she is. A good book filled with mystery, wild horses, a real estate developer, and a charming cast of characters. Looking forward to the next book in the series.
1 review19 followers
January 5, 2025
I usually love Christy Barritt books, but this one definitely wasn't one of my favorites. I just felt like the characters were stiff or something. I didn't feel any chemistry between the two main characters. It felt a little forced.

Usually, with Christy Barritt's books (like in a series), I feel like she develops the characters so much and the relationship between the two love interests, that you're eventually like "ok, you love each other already! Just kiss and commit already." Haha!!

But this one, I don't know. I just didn't feel it. The story itself was okay, but even that didn't hold my interest as much.
Profile Image for Lexi.
209 reviews19 followers
July 16, 2025
I don't normally enjoy amnesia trope books, but with the mystery and suspense of this story, I was hooked and had to know the ending.

Dani washes up on a remote island and has lost her memories due to her trauma and injuries. Levi is a deputy who is trying to protect his island community and stave off the greedy developers who want to fill the island with tourists - possibly at the expense of the wild horse population that calls the island their home.

Dani must try to remember the events that led up to the day she washed ashore, as Levi tries to keep her safe from whoever tried to kill her.

This book is perfect for a beachy, suspenseful story! It contains beautiful beaches, brave cowboys, wild horses, a murder, and a mystery.

4.5 stars
16 reviews
September 14, 2020
just when you think Christy can't come up with any surprise storylines - she proves you wrong. This has all the things I like it in - cowboys - horses - islands - suspense. This is a little different writing for Christy but she absolutely nailed it. I don't think there is anything she can't make interesting in book form. That's why she is my favorite author. If it's a Christy Barritt book I'm reading it. Curl up with this book and you will not be disappointed. You will enjoy it from start to finish.

Way to go Christy! Can't wait for book #2.

Profile Image for Debbie.
287 reviews13 followers
September 16, 2020
Christy Barritt has created yet another place that I would love to visit - Cape Corral!! In this book, we meet the cowboys of Cape Corral who look after a herd of wild horses and the people who live there. When a woman washes up with a gunshot wound and no memory, Officer Levi Sutherland feels that he must protect her until she regains her memory. What happens next?? You'll have to read and find out!! Come meet the people of Cape Corral and solve a few mysteries along the way. I received an advance copy from the author but all opinions are my own.
1,435 reviews10 followers
September 16, 2020
Saltwater Cowboy by Christy Barritt is book 1 in the new series. I loved this unique novel with its combination of heroic cowboy law enforcement, horses, and danger. This is an excellent start to the series. So many intriguing characters and I can’t wait to hear the stories behind their behavior. I’d you’re looking for a fun read that will also keep you on the edge of your seat throughout— pick up this book! I received a digital copy of this book from the author with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.
Profile Image for Kim.
721 reviews14 followers
September 17, 2020
Here's a great beginning to a new series from prolific author, Christy Barritt. The premise of wild island horse management is new and interesting to me.

Fictional and intriguing Cape Corral makes an idyllic location for the pounding suspense surrounding Dani after she washes ashore. The locals support and protect her while Levi works to find who put her there.

Be prepared for a surprise ending after a few hours of enjoyment.

I received a complimentary copy of the book without obligation. This review is my opinion.
1,048 reviews11 followers
September 21, 2020
New series

Levi is the Law on the barrier island of Cape Corral, known for its herd of wild horses. Dani washes up on the share, barely alive, with no memory and a bullet hole in her shoulder. At first I pictured a tiny dot of an island because cha. 2 describes it as 8000 sq ft & my son's barn is bigger than that. But around cha 13, it is described as an 8000 acre island, which is far more easily visualized. Another good one by the world's most prolific writer. Book 2 is due out in a couple of weeks.
349 reviews11 followers
June 14, 2021
Who am I?

Dani washed up on shore with a bullet in her shoulder. When she was found, she had amnesia. Levi, the Police Chief, started the investigation as to who, what, why & how. Cape Coral is an island off North Carolina where wild horses roam freely. Levi’s sister, Emmy, has an inn on the island where Dani was staying. Big time real estate developers are always looking for a new place to make the next development. Levi developed feelings for Dani even though he knew he shouldn’t. Does Dani get her memory back?
1,659 reviews11 followers
September 17, 2020
Excellent

This book grabs your attention right from the start. Dani has been shot, almost drowned and has amnesia. Who is she? What circumstances brought this about? Levi thinks she is somehow involved in recent island events but is she criminal or victim? What's not to love here - peaceful island, wild horses that are in similar numbers to human inhabitants, cowboys and hints of romance! Loved this.
144 reviews
September 18, 2020
This book, Saltwater Cowboy, is another outstanding first book in a series by Christy Barritt. I love the ability of this author to get your immediate attention to the story and keep the reader excited enough keep reading till the end.
I love how Christy Barritt allows you to get to know the main characters, Dani and Levi, on a very personal level. With a little romance and a lot of action, this book is worth the read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 180 reviews

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