Evangeline Goes West

by Julia DeBarrioz

Bored out of her mind with the burbs and her abusive husband, former-farmgirl Eva packs up her paints and heads for the wilds of Wyoming. Hiding out at her friend’s guest ranch, she’s determined to find her old self that she lost somewhere along the way. What she doesn’t count on finding is Chase McCoy, a handsome young cowboy whose cavalier smile works like a balm for her weary soul. But Eva has resolved she is not looking for a man again. Especially not a cocky cowpoke who is nearly a decade her junior—even if he is six-feet-plus of work-honed muscle and his Wranglers fit like a gift to women everywhere.

However, Chase is more than he seems. A tragic past made him a man before his time, and determined to prove he’s exactly what she’s been missing in her life, he sets his Stetson in her direction. If life has taught him anything, it’s that you have to work hard for what you want and fight for a woman worth keeping. Maybe Eva is stubborn as a Missouri mule, but he knows he’s up to the task of changing her mind.

Just when Eva thinks she’s outrun her demons, she finds a little something in her Jeep that contains big secrets. It seems her ex isn’t ready to let her go, and he’s willing to do anything to keep her quiet. Lie, cheat, steal—and possibly even kill. Maybe Evangeline’s never fought back before, but her newfound family is more than willing, and Jared Wassler just might find he messed with the wrong bull.

188 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 20, 2020

About the author

Long ago, a fortune teller read Julia's palm and told her, “You’d better write this all down.” Julia has been writing, writing, writing, ever since. Somewhere along the line she earned a degree in fine art and traveled the world. Now she lives on a farm in Missouri with her darling husband, two criminal conures, one stubborn bulldog, one bad bunny, and possibly too many chickens.

But really, is there such a thing as too many chickens?

Reviews

[Julia DeBarrioz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I might be biased, but I had a blast writing this one!

P.S. Of course 30 isn't old. 😂 XD Howeeeever... I think we can all admit 30 ain't 20. And that's ok. But as a woman in my mid-thirties, truly living my best life, in good spirits and the best shape I've been in since I was 13, I am still tired and fed up 3/7 days of the week. I imagined pairing that with years of abuse, starting one's life completely over from scratch, and coming from a toxic environment where the big 3-0 is considered a sentence you can only defer with yoga and Botox – and you have Evangeline's mindset in the beginning of the book. She does win the handsome cowboy in the end though, AND ride off into the sunset, so I hope that demonstrates in of itself that 30, in fact, is just the start of a great new adventure.

I knew the F bombs would be off-putting to some people, which is why I included that little disclaimer there at the end of the blurb, but the story honestly didn't feel right without them. Maybe it's a generational thing, but that is how Evangeline's voice came through as she told me her story. There is some method to the madness–you might notice that towards the parts of the book where she is feeling more happy and secure, her potty mouth does damper a little bit. LOL. If I offended you, I'm sorry, and if not, you're my kinda f*****g people. :)

[Emily Pennington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eva is a character that a reader can admire. Having struggled with an abusive husband, she has had enough and goes to Wyoming to stay at the guest ranch of a friend where she can re-evaluate things and get her life in order. There she met a younger sexy cowboy, Chase McCoy, and despite his being perfect for her in almost every way, she fought against falling in love with him. Fortunately for her, Chase knows what he wants and what she needs, and he won’t give up on her. Can his persistence win her heart?

When Eva’s ex comes back into her life to do her harm, the jerk won’t be prepared for the courage and strength Eva shows and her new family of protectors. Grab your copy and watch it all unfold and see if Eva and Chase get to that HEA they were drifting toward before all the drama exploded!

[Julie Embleton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leaving behind an abusive marriage, Evangeline flees West, the remains of her life packed into her aged jeep. Before she reaches her destination, engine trouble leaves her stranded in bear country. Alone in the dark, help arrives in the handsome form of cowboy Chase McCoy.

I was delighted to be an ARC reader on this latest release from by DeBarrioz. Beautifully written with well-rounded, believable characters, this romance packs plenty of thrills, laughs and steam. With great dialogue, and just the right balance of description, it was easy to fall into this read and find myself smack-bang in the wilds of Wyoming.

Eva is a feisty, sweary and distrustful gal, mentally and physically bruised from her ex-husband and his slime bag of a boss. I loved her from the start. Despite her trauma, she takes no shit and certainly doesn’t require a hunk of man to sweep her off her feet. Buuut, that what Chase does. And Eva does her best to ignore how he stirs emotions she doesn’t (yet kind of does) want to feel—especially as he’s 9 years her junior.

Chase is perfect book boyfriend material with his quiet, caring, but take no nonsense nature, although his nicely detailed physique might help too. (Cold shower, anyone?) Eva doesn’t have the monopoly on a nasty ex, and as DeBarrioz weaves Chase’s backstory in, his character takes on a new depth which adds nicely to the story.

Set in rugged bear country, the backdrop adds to this story’s charm. Horses, mountains, stunning dusks and dawns; DeBarrrioz slips it all in and within a few chapters I wanted to be there myself, cosied up in one of the cabins.

Almost a book of two halves, the first brings the 'will they, won’t they' fun between Chase and Eva, but then the heinous ex turns up and the plot swings to bring a new kind of drama with lots of twists and turns.

If you’re looking for a capable female, a delightful best friend, a rugged love interest, fabulous scenery steamy sex and a nice twist of action flung in to make a fast-paced, easy to read, hard to put down book, then this is for you. Five stars without a doubt.

[Madhur Mehta · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book through and through. The romance is beautiful. I especially enjoyed how the writer was able to commendably handle the abuse part of Evangline’s life. Chase was just out of this world. This is a hard to put down story.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[M.S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn’t surprised at all that I loved this book as I’ve loved everything else this author has written. But this story was so different from her others, and just as fantastic. Eva is relatable in her struggle to escape a life she’s realized isn’t what she wants. When she flees to Wyoming to stay with a friend, she finds more than she bargained for in the form of untamable nature, a past she can’t run from, and a dangerously sexy cowboy. I was hooked from the first half-dozen F-bombs, then double hooked by the younger yet totally dreamy Chase McCoy, then a complete goner when their love story turned into a nightmare as Eva’s ex reappears for one last unbelievable, suspenseful chase to their HEA. I saw it coming and I didn’t in that the final clash was inevitable, yet it unfolded in surprising ways. If you’re looking for a read that has it all – the timeless struggle to find the life you’re meant for, heart-melting romance, and edge-of-your-seat action – look no further.

[Susan Hutchinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Go west, young Lady, go west!

Julia Debarrioz delivers a satisfying tale of a woman, Evangeline (Eva) who has had enough of her abusive husband and sets off for Wyoming to see her best friend. Enter Chase, a gorgeous cowpoke 10 years her Junior who just happens to work for said best friend. Bitter from her past experiences and just a tad bit sour about her own self-worth, Eva tries to resist him and manages to be successful at it for a while, at least. Somewhat predictably (it is a romance after all and what’s a little romance without a tad of danger), her past comes back to haunt her. Unlike other romances, the resolution to all her problems is a bit unusual yet very satisfying. Debarrioz develops the tension between the 2 main characters well and flows through the story without a hitch. I highly recommend the book.

[Jamice Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a good book to read. I liked everything about Eva, except the part where she thought 30 was old. Thirty is not old. 😂 Chase made me swoon, I loved his character so much and ugh the slow burn romance between him and Eva was everything. There was a little bit of crazy action drama that came out of the blue that I wasn’t expecting but it played well so I was more than happy with it. I was kind of sad though to finish the story because I didn’t want to leave the characters, I’m greedy and wanted more.

[Vonn Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very cute story!! I enjoyed reading Evangeline Goes West by Julia DeBarrioz.

Evangeline and Chase were perfect together! I loved the buildup to their happy ending and all the action in between.

I’ll have to check out other books by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ebook arc copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Levia · Rating 5 out of 5]

The majority of the book focuses on Evangeline and the mentality she's overcoming after leaving her abusive marriage. It's heartbreaking, heart healing, and gives an accurate look at how people can genuinely believe they did something to deserve the treatment they received from someone they trusted and loved. It is a hard book to read because of this. There is also about a ten year legal age gap between Evangeline and the love interest (he's younger). I don't like how Evangeline constantly puts down her age but at the same time I'm 32, jaded, tired, and completely get it. Absolutely recommend as long as the abuse isn't going to trigger a reader. I was given this book at no cost and all opinions are completely my own.

[Dawn Schlicher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book! Wonderful characters that I could relate to. Not your typical romance. Some steamy parts. I highly recommend this book to anyone that loves romance.

[Kaila · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was a cute and fluffy story... some parts were darker and i liked that also. it felt realistic and kept me on my toes.. i enjoyed these two and it made me smile. very good

[Isis Ray-sisco · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this story. I liked Evangeline. I liked that she finally opened her eyes to what was going on. There were things that she was clueless to but she removed herself from a bad situation. I liked the relationships she had with her best friend and her hubby. I also enjoyed the relationship between her and Chase. I found it kind of comical that she denied her feelings for him because of their age difference (she even refers to herself as a cougar...but that wasn’t true). Their chemistry was hot and they brought the best out in each other. I would recommend this book to others who enjoy quick and easy romance reads. I have not read this author before but I will be looking for more of her books in the future.

[Ash · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm really torn on how to review this book.

First, the beginning chapter is so loaded with cursing and especially f**k, that I questioned if the author actually knew how to write. It's one thing to use cursing to "build out personality", but it's another to rely on it entirely without actually building out the character through action.

Second, the character development all around is heavy-handed. To a degree, we expect that from ChickLit Romance, but this was more than I care for. Every other descriptor for our handsome hero was "young man" as if the reader would forget for a second that this whole book is an age gap romance. Combined with the constant cursing, this emphasized the feeling that this wasn't well edited. And since when is 29-30 yrs old? The woes of aging from the heroine were hard to believe.

Lastly, I struggle with how domestic abuse was handled. I wish it was tied up with more real life helpful tips just in case someone reading this is being triggered or going through this. Otherwise it leaves a weird message to victimized women that if they just drive off with their hidden inheritance, a handsome stranger will probably show up to save them.

I really wanted to like this and it has so much potential, but it's just too heavy-handed, cheesy, and unpolished. Thank you NetGalley and author for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Jayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this author’s writing. It just hits a spot that works for me. She has great characters, strong females with guts and sharp mouths, and storylines which are compelling to read. The artwork is gorgeous too. This author is a triple-threat and I definitely recommend you check out her work.

Evangeline Goes West is a lovely, classic cowboy romance story, set in the sweeping foothills of Wyoming and filled with a lot of local or well-researched knowledge of ranch lifestyle. I’m not going to rehash the story – read the blurb – but it is convincing and immersive, as we root for Eva and her younger cowboy love interest. At 28, Eva thinks she is too old for the mature-beyond-his-20-years cowboy, but the chemistry between them sizzles as their slow-burn romance eventually explodes into something warm and sensual.

At times I did feel like Methuselah as there were a lot of references to Eva’s hang-ups about her age, but there needed to be as that is the prime reason she keeps resisting the charms of Chase, who really was the ultimate wrangler hero. There’s even a “lariat-around-the-waist-and-pulling-her-in” scene.

Is it original? Well, not really. The story is as old as the mountains, but the way Debarrioz tells it, in her unique voice, makes it fresh, and there’s an exciting finish as Eva’s horrid past finally catches up with her. (The domestic violence aspect is handled well, and isn’t unduly graphic.)

There are bears, there’s a rodeo, there’s a tricky horse who our heroine identifies with and befriends, there are great side characters and villainous bad guys. It is fantastic entertainment which I read in three evenings. Yeee-haw!

[Eros Lovess rosethebookgriot · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and the way Eva rediscovers herself after she’s had enough of her abusive husband. She packs what’ s important to her and head West as a way to find her old self. Only, what she finds is love. Try as she might, Chase is here to show her that age doesn’t matter. I liked this aspect of the story because the age gap is not in the way we usually sees. She is older than him. 10 years older and guess what, it does not dim their love and I love it.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Daniellewyatt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Strong female lead, pretty funny modern romance
I read this book in one sitting, at work 😁 . I really liked it, the characters were real and relatable and the story was interesting. The pace of the story was good and it didn't feel rushed at all.
**SPOILER ALERT**
This book contains language, sex, religion talk, - it hits all the high notes 😅.

When Evangeline leaves her abusive husband and heads to Wyoming to hide at a friend's b&b dude ranch, she feels like a doormat, she's actually a pretty strong female character. She meets one of the wranglers, who is a couple years younger than her, Chase, and they start to have this relationship. She's gun-shy having just escaped an abusive marriage and thinks he's too young and he is just to cute. Good book boyfriend. Then the ex-husband shows up and starts acting like a jerk and gets his comeuppance in a spectacular fashion. Really good story, would definitely buy another book from this author.I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in one sitting, at work 😁 . I really liked it, the characters were real and relatable and the story was interesting. The pace of the story was good and it didn't feel rushed at all.
**SPOILER ALERT**
When Evangeline leaves her abusive husband and heads to Wyoming to hide at a friends b&b dude ranch, she meets one of the wranglers, who is a couple years younger than her and they start this relationship. She's gun shy and thinks he's too young and he is just to cute. Then the ex-husband shows up and starts acting like a jerk and gets his comeuppance in a spectacular fashion. Really good story, would definitely buy another book from this author.I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Energy Rae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let’s start with how fantastic this cover is! I’m a huge fan of Julia, so I knew the story was going to match the cover perfectly, in content and quality. Eva is truly something special. She’s a bit broken from an abusive ex-husband, but she’s still got a feisty spark. She’s incredibly funny with a heck of a foul mouth, and I absolutely adored her.

“I didn’t take my eyes off him because I am a cautious modern woman, and definitely not because he was handsome...”

Funny, right? Then throw in the handsome Chase, who could be our next book boyfriend because he’s pretty close to perfect, and I say pretty close because of all the hunting trophies which aren’t my cup of tea. Between the cussing, romance, sexy times, some intense moments, and the hilarity, this book checks so many boxes. It was an addicting read from start to finish.

[Cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

A country girl returns to her roots...

I really enjoyed this tale by Julia DeBarrioz. It's got heart and soul all the way through it.
The character's dialogue touches on subjects that are often stepped around or ignored completely in modern romances.
The choices we make and how other people's reactions can cause us to doubt our decisions, even though we know they were the right ones to make at the time.
I fell in love with Eva and Chase, and the family of people and horses on the ranch.
This is a fantastic, snuggle up and read, tale.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Judy Gittleson Hendrickson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eva arrives in Wyoming to stay with a friend on her ranch, leaving an abusive ex in the big city and not telling anyone where she went. Chase works on the ranch and sets his destiny on Eva immediately. Romance slowly progresses because of her recent background but fires up soon after. Suspense hits hard when her ex shows up and brings backup. Fate luckily takes a hand with a local bear. The ending is perfect with a future in a spot they love.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Florence Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolute treat!

This book’s got everything! Witty writing, lovable characters and a lovingly depicted Wyoming setting. I fell in love with Evangeline and her smart mouth on page one and with Chase as soon as he came out of his truck with his cowboy hat and boots!
I can’t imagine anyone not enjoying this 5-star romance. Well done, Julia!

[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this new to me author does a 5 star job when it comes to the romantic, adventurous and comedy elements. This story is very entertaining and enticing, so it's definitely not boring. It was just too traumatic, with language a bit crude for my taste. I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review

[MKM · Rating 5 out of 5]

So glad I bought this book. The voice of Evangeline is refreshing in the world of romance. She’s real. Cynical, funny, and most importantly wise. The author does a fantastic job of immersing the reader in beautiful Wyoming too—something I didn’t mind one bit! I will be moving on to Ms. DeBarrioz’s other books now.

[Glenna Redcliffe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly, I like anything by Julia Debarrioz and she did not disappoint with Evangeline Goes West. If you like a strong female protagonist you'll enjoy reading her work. Evangeline is gutsy and vulnerable at the same time. And well... there's a "naughty" chapter in there that I'll admit I read twice. Ha!

[Stephanie B. Whitfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love love love this book! Not only did the cover make me want to read it, but once I started I couldn’t stop! It’s sassy and full of love and adventure.

[Beverly Laude · Rating 4 out of 5]

Evangeline is fed up with living in the suburbs with her abusive husband, Jared. One day, she decides that she has had enough. She winds up at the guest ranch owned by her friend, Sierra, with just her personal belongings and her artist tools.

When Eva meets a young ranch hand, Chase McCoy, she starts to have feelings that she hasn't had in a long time. Only one problem: Chase is young, way too young for Eva. Their friendship soon blossoms into something more and Eva realizes that even though Chase is young, he has troubles of his own.

Eva soon discovers that her husband was mixed up in some not so legal things and finds that her life is in danger. Unfortunately, Chase is caught in the middle. As they try to avoid injury or death at the hands of Jared and his boss, will they be able to survive? Or, will one or both of them perish?

The book was well written, but I did have a few problems with it. First of all, the main character had a very foul mouth. In just the first chapter, the f-bomb was dropped so many times that I almost quit reading. This trend continued throughout the book and I found it tiresome and unnecessary. Also, there were several very steamy sex scenes, which I really wasn't expecting.

Another thing that I found annoying was the fact that the author kept talking about Eva as being old, when she was only 30. I realize that she was almost a decade older than Chase, but 30 is definitely not old!

All in all, if you enjoy a well-written romantic suspense with a strong, independent and feisty heroine, along with a true sexy cowboy, you will probably enjoy this book. I was given the chance to read this book through Booksprout and chose to review it.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Evangeline, almost 30, packs up her car and drives cross country to her old high school best friend she hasn’t spoken to in years to escape her abusive husband, Jared. The first person she meets is Chase, a gorgeous and kind man who works at her best friend Sierra’s and her hubby Trev’s lodge. Evangeline is attracted to Chase straight away, but hesitates on acting on her feelings because she’s just left a relationship, they don’t quite agree on some things, and he’s only 20!
I really liked this story. Our heroine has no illusions about herself and is brutally honest when it comes to how her life panned out the way it did. Her relationship with Chase is enjoyable to watch unfold and Sierra and Trev are supportive friends, which she is going to need after her husband makes a reappearance.
I highly recommend this book to people who enjoy a good romance but have some hard hitting topics included.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Michelle Blake · Rating 4 out of 5]

Evangeline is an unhappy 'burbs wife with a abusive, miserable husband. She has decided she has had enough and plans her exit. She leaves everything behind, but her inheritance from her grandmother she hid from her husband and left divorce papers on the table. She told no one, not even her family where she was going.

Evangeline leaves for the mountains of Wyoming to fix her relationship with her best friend. While in Wyoming, Evangeline finds her art groove and resumes doing art and trying not to have feelings for the hot hunk of man that is 9 years her junior.

As life continues, unfortunately, her ex finds her and is looking for some evidence he hid in her Jeep, which she has found and realized he is in deep trouble. Will she suceed in removing him from her life or will the ex jeopardize her future???

[Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Evangeline Goes West by Julia DeBarrioz is a delightful surprise of a book. I was expecting a sweet romance, instead of complicated and thrilling novel. From the first chapter filled with F-bombs, I knew this was not what I was expecting. This book has a well developed story line and characters. I was rooting for Evangeline, Eva, from the first page, and Chase is a strong, intelligent, and kind man, despite him being 10 years younger than Eva. Everything is wrapped up with a thrilling and action packed ending. I can not wait to read more books by this author. I highly recommend this book, you won't be disappointed.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

This book was the perfect rainy day read. There is so much that the author got right---starting with the first sentence. Eva is an awesome character and we sympathize so much with her misfortune of a failed marriage, yet she soldiers on with grit and relatable self-deprecation. She is so deserving of the second chance that she finds in the young, attractive Chase McCoy. My two personal grievances are that 30 is NOT older than dirt, and therefore does not make a cougar of Eva. Secondly, the action became cheap Hollywood about 2/3 of the way. There are lots of cliches, decent dialogue, and a slow enough burn to make this rom-com HOTT.