The Cowboy's Forbidden Crush

Wild Texas Hearts #0.5

by Deborah Garland

Professor
Vet
Cowboy

I’m the toughest veterinarian professor and don't get many females in my classes. The rules are clear about professor/student relationships.

They're forbidden.

Until a stunning, tough-as-nails city girl, who can deworm a cow like a puppy with a cold has me losing my mind.

I don't need to be tempted by a goddamn twenty-something in skin-tight jeans with a smart mouth.

A mouth I want to do the dirtiest things to.

I don’t do relationships and she's got plans that don't include me. But when we're stuck on the ranch treating a sick horse and there's only one bed, I do what I do best. I make her mine.

There’s only so much a man can take.
And I never cared for rules anyway. The Cowboy’s Forbidden Crush is part of the Wild Texas Heart Cowboy Series but can be read as a standalone. No cheating. No cliffhanger. HEA Guaranteed. Grab the whole The Cowboy’s Forbidden Crush The Cowboy’s Last Song The Cowboy’s Accidental Wife The Cowboy’s Second Chance The Cowboy’s Christmas Bride Follow Deborah for updates about new releases!

Genres: Romance, Audiobook, Contemporary Romance, Westerns, Contemporary, Novella, Fiction

153 pages, Paperback

Published February 10, 2021

About the author

Deborah Garland is a top 45 Amazon Bestselling and a 4x Award-Winning author of emotional, funny, and steamy romances!

She loves pugs, Friday night Cosmos, and that feeling when she publishes a new romance novel.

She lives on the beautiful North Shore of Long Island and in the summer, she escapes to Maine with her very patient husband.

She eats cheap mac and cheese with expensive red wine, her heroes are ALWAYS over six feet tall, and they fall hard, HARD for the girl.

Visit her website --> https://www.deborahgarlandauthor.com/... to join her newsletter and browse her little love stories.

New Releases are always featured, but all books can be read as standalones. Don’t be afraid to jump in. The water’s fine 😊

Reviews

[Jenn (The Book Refuge) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just... I don't know what this was...

2.5 stars
3 on the spice scale

[QuinnReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Covering Plenty of Forbidden Ground



I love how this starts with Dr. Walker Rhodes, DVM spelling out his crush on the nearly minted doctor, Emmaline "Emma" Phillips. Their mutual attraction may be forbidden, but it sure is hot!

Dr. Walker Rhodes rivaled the gods on Olympus. I’d never seen a more beautiful man. In Texas, that was an accomplishment.
-- Emmaline "Emma" Rose Phillips

This turned out to be a really good palate cleanser. The chemistry was sparking, the angst was mild, the dirty deeds were sizzling, and the setups for the rest of the series were pretty much lined up. I liked getting to know Walker and those he cared about, and I'm looking forward to more of these characters.

I received an author's copy of the audio book that I listened to alongside reading my book. The narrators are Jack Calihan and Isabelle Turner. I've enjoyed listening to Jack several times, and this was no exception. As for Isabelle, it was the first time I think I've listened to her, and I liked her.

Story: 4 stars
Narration: 4 stars
Listening Speed: 1.5x

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stars: 4
Length: Novella
POV: Dual
Series: Wild Texas Hearts Book 1 (Stand Alone but Connected)
Ending: HEA
Re-read? No

”Once she passed the classroom door, she wasn’t my student and I could make a move on her. Just you wait, Emmaline. I’m gonna rock your world.”

I thought this book was pretty good. I didn’t really feel like a student/teacher romance and that’s probably because it starts out like 10 minutes before Emma is no longer his student. The beginning was a little rough for me because Mason was such a bachelor and player. Plus his mind was only on one and done-ing Emma. I know I always complain about those heros but they just ruin stories for me sometimes. He slowly turns and realizes that he’s super into Emma but unfortunately she becomes his intern and he can’t act on his feelings again.

I thought the plot was fairly interesting it it was cool learning about some of the large animal veterinary things. It also introduced the other men that are going to be in this series. I liked enough to continue on with the next book.

[Emma Carter · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was definitely…a book. In all seriousness, I have just finished binging Yellowstone and I’m trying to recapture the feeling seeing Rip on my screen does. Unfortunately this book was just simply not it. This book wants you to know it is not like other girls and misygony isn’t as bad as long as you’re hot.

The FMC has just graduated Vet school and surprise, surprise her hot, sexy cowboy professor wants to bang her the moment the diploma is in her hand. Forgotten condoms and a weird twist of fate aside, she’s now his intern and once again they are forced into keeping up the facade that they don’t want to bang each other’s brains out.

They fail spectacularly. There’s miscommunication and an almost reunion at an airport. The sex scenes are nothing to write home about and if I had to read him compare her 🐱 to a flower one more time….needless to say I wasn’t a fan. Off to find a better cowboy to ride off into the sunset with 🤠

[Auj · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got this as a freebie from Amazon. I wanted to read contemporary because I needed a break from all the historical fiction I was consuming. The relationship isn't forbidden per se but there was an element of forbidden to it---people could have definitely disapproved.

The story starts out with Emmaline finishing her final exam for Walker's class of Large Animal Medicine & Surgery. They've both secretly had crushes on each other since they met when Emmaline entered his classroom as his student. Now that Emmaline is done with veterinarian school, they want to start a fling to have sex.

However, Emmaline's plan to do an internship at Darnelle in Kentucky falls through and she interns with Walker for the summer.

I just realized: I wonder where the rest of the graduates went to intern? Why were none of them in town? Did Walker not usually have an intern to take over the summer?

The author seemed to know what she was talking about regarding the horses, the "barns", the practice, etc., so I wonder if she was familiar with the subject beforehand or just researched?

What bugged me about the story the most is that even though the author pretended that Emmaline & Walker knew each other well, the truth was they didn't. To be honest, I don't know much about my professors, so once their teacher-student relationship ended, they didn't learn much more about each other besides sexually. I would have liked more talking (about things other than the work), more getting to know each other.

I know that in most romance novels the characters don't really have detailed conversations about their past like two people who were trying to get to know each other in real life would, but still at least some effort could be made!!

Also, part of me still feels like she should have taken the opportunity at Darnelle. And they should have just gotten rid of Gus beforehand. Just because one girl was raped, doesn't necessarily mean the next one would. Darnelle seemed to have a lot more stuff for her to do than there in Wild Heart.

Does Walker really need another partner? I mean I'm sure it can't hurt, but then there's less money for him (though I guess if they're living together it's okay), but it never crossed his mind to get another partner until the question was where should Emmaline work & it just seemed like a convenient place to put her so they could be together.

[Sienasummerrreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emmaline Phillips is off-limits. Dr Walker Rhodes is the bachelor of the town who is a local horse veterinarian and professor teaching that has two rules no affairs with students and no relationships or commitments. But there is something about Emmaline that makes him want to cross lines he shouldn’t. Walker is waiting for the day she is no longer his student. But what happens on the final day of class before graduation, Emmaline leaves her number for Professor Walker. Temptation has never been so sweet.

I loved this! Made me smile listening to the book. Walker is rugged, protective, handsome and such a gentleman. The way that man threw her over his shoulder I swooned. Emma was fantastic as well, smart beautiful and had a backbone in working in a tough industry. She knew what she wanted and I was here cheering for her to get it! I loved the storyline and characters we met throughout excited to dive into the next books.
It was fast-paced but I didn’t mind as I loved their chemistry and flirty behaviour.
I will say I just wanted more Walker and Emma.
Loved the audiobook narration by Isabella and Jack. These both play the characters very well.

If you love:

🔹Small Town
🔹Forbidden
🔹Professor Student
🔹Horse Veterinarian
🔹Intern
🔹Fantastic Chemistry

Genre/Type: Romance 18+
APK: Audiobook
Audiobook Length: 4hrs 5mins
Narrators: Jack Calihan and Isabella Turner - Dual
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Series or Stand Alone: Book One In The Wild Texas Hearts Series
Tropes or Themes: Small Town, Forbidden, Age Gap, Professor / Student, Workplace, FMC Intern, MMC Professor and Veterinarian, Cowboy, College, Horse Ranch, Chemistry, Protective MMC, Jealousy, Cursing, Sexual Content and Intimate Spice
Mentions: Sexual Assault
Check Triggers ⚠️ 💫

All Round Romance Reader 
Sienasummerrreads 💕📚
TikTok | Instagram | Goodreads | StoryGraph | Everand | Amazon | Audible Reviews 💫

[MN Book Lady · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book could also be titled how to not avoid the hot cowboy.

Walker is a professor at a local college for veterinarians and has never been tempted by a student before. That is until Emmaline took his class. And he’s counting down the days until she’s no longer his student. Especially because she feels the same and makes the first move.

Only to find Emma’s his new intern the next day, halting any other plans the two have for a relationship. And it works fine for all of a day. So when Emma’s dad gets her a job at her dream location, will she choose Walker or her future?

Walker and Emma get their happy ending in this standalone book in a series.

I do appreciate that Walker recognized how much harder it would be for Emma to be taken seriously as a woman and didn’t the stigma of sleeping her way to the top as well. I wonder how well it went getting a complaint into the farm Emma wanted to work at after she learned what happened there to women.

[RyRy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve read almost all of the books in this series. And in those books, Walker and Emma were already together. And just their chemistry and how they acted, I knew I wanted to read their story. And it did not disappoint!!! I was so in love with Walker. He’s my new BBF (Book boyfriend)

Emma is a veterinary student in Wild heart Texas. She’s been crushing on her Professor since she started his class. Now that she graduated, she leaves him her number on her final exam. All she wants is to be a vet for Big animals, not for apartment poodles (there’s absolutely nothing wrong with poodles in my opinion) in Chicago where she from

Walker is a vet and a professor on the side. All semester he’s been tortured by how much he wants his student. So he makes a plan, on graduation day, he’ll make his move. She must know that he’s not a serious boyfriend type person. All he wants is for her to succeed, and help animals.

They get their HEA!!! 💕💕💕
Dual POV
Sick horses 😭😭😭
She falls first, he falls harder

[Terri Zumbrook · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first book in this series has already got me looking for more. THE COWBOY’S FORBIDDEN CRUSH is toe curling romantic from the first page. Deborah Garland wastes no time letting us feel the smoking hot chemistry between Walker and Emmaline in this story about the older man who is a professor waiting patiently for his talented student to graduate so he can finally let her know he noticed her ... a lot. I really liked how an emphasis in the story was on his character as a professional.

So their wait is over only to have another wrench thrown into things. While and Walker and Emmaline were navigating their relationship, we are introduced to a number of characters that will figure in subsequent stories. This was all done subtly and worked well in the overall story.

This is a really good book and a series I am looking forward to reading more.

I received an advance copy of this book. This is my voluntary review.

[Debbie Caswell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book in the Wild Texas Hearts series and if this is any indication this is going to be fun series to read You have a little bit of everything alpha male check forbidden love check cowboys check and student teacher relationship as I said a little bit of everything making this a true fun read

Dr. Walker Rhodes is not only a working horse vet but is also a professor teaching the subject at uni and he has two hard and fast rules no affairs with his students and no relationships ever The only problem is that one look at his student Emmaline Phillips and he is in serious trouble but he knows he can hang on until she is no longer his student then he will make his move Then a wrench is thrown in the works when she becomes his intern but hey that isn't the same as a student so he makes his move The only thing is has he spends more time with her he is thinking about that other rule no relationships and it is on very shaky ground Will they end up together You will have to read to see

[Trish · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a prequel to the Wild Texas Hearts series. I loved this strong. It hot, steamy, and well written. It’s an age gap, professor/student romance. I am very much looking forward to the rest of the stories. You'll get an introduction to the guys that will get stories since they're all from Wild Heart, TX and friends of Walkers. Jamie is the next man to fall.

Walker has had a thing for Emma since she walked through the door of his classroom. He has no idea how she feels but knows that as long as she's a student he can't ask her out. On the last day of class, he finds out Emma's interest in him so he plans to make a move on her until he finds she's going to be his intern. Can they keep their hands of each other? Will Walker change his mind about relationships? Will Emma stay in Wild Heart?

[Korkoi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Patience Reals Rewards -
This is a story about a flaming hot, sexy, dominant alpha professor, who embarks on a forbidden secret relationship with his subordinate. Deborah Garland ensured it would be for your true enjoyment. I couldn’t put it down until I finished reading it. I will definitely recommend this book to anyone who is looking for something juicy to sink their teeth into and aren’t sure what they should read. Trust me, you will love it.

I received a copy of this ARC and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Walker is not a man for relationship, he normally just gets what he wants and moves on. Walker is a veterinary medical school professor (and he has his own veterinary practice too) and Emmaline is one of his students, and he has resisted the temptation of having her, but now she is about to graduate he thinks he can make his move, but what if he decides he wants to keep her? I loved this older man (somewhere in his forties) and younger woman (in her twenties) romance, both were easy to love, and had some nice chemistry going.

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

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read.

This is the start to a new series and I thought it was interesting, flowed well and had good characters. The connection and chemistry between Walker and Emma was very evident and I hope we will see more of them in the rest of the series because I liked them a couple and want to see how their relationship grows. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series and finding out why Jamie said no all those years ago.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and then got my own copy.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok so I’m giving it 3 stars because this one was entertaining… however it ends super abruptly and I feel like there was a TON of missing information between the last chapter and the next to last chapter…. It was very smutty but had a cute little storyline, I was here for it…. The author could have gone places with this book if she would have chosen to pursue a full novel instead of a novella length short story. I’m giving it 3 stars for potential and entertaining factor but it probably should have 1.5 or 2 just because of the (lack of) ending.

Seriously though, the wrap up was a conundrum. There could have been so many more chapters in this book. The writing was fluid for the most part. It was a decent story but she could have toned down a bit on the spice. I mean it wasn’t over the top or anything but it was “in-your-face” from page one. I thoroughly enjoyed it up until the ending.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Falling hard

Walker told himself he would never get married, but then came Emma. He tried to fight the pull to her but it just didn't work but would he be able to convince her to stay in Texas rather than let Okinawa for her dream job in Tennessee.

I really enjoyed this story and the spiciness in this book was a 3 out of 5. Looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

[Samantha Soccorso · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cowboys, Professors and Lovers

Cowboys, Professors and Lovers! Oh, my had Deborah Garland has done it again with another well written book. If you like cowboys, horses and star-crossed lovers this is the book for you to pick up. The first book in the series will have you gearing up for the next book release coming soon!!!!!

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Emma was a vet student and had a crush on her professor (the feeling was very mutual). She took a chance on the last day of his class and they got together. Eventually she got an internship and met some great people, including a sweet little girl. I liked the way the story wrapped up and hinted at all the good things to come in this series. I recommend starting this series

[Cathylynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an older teacher younger student story. Emma is a wonderful character strong and smart. Walker is great he is an alpha cowboy but does not want a relationship he just wanted to have Emma and get her out of his system. This is start of a new series and it is wonderful. Steamy cowboy books are really entertaining. The story kept my interest and it kept me engaged. I really loved this book. Emma and Walker are wonderful together. Great book.

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

[Shell Ballenger · Rating 2 out of 5]

Type of read: Commuter Read.

What made me pick it up: A stuff your earbuds day find.

Overall rating: It's not good, but it's not the worst thing I've read. It also helped distract me while scheduling social media posts for work. For a free book during Stuff Your Earbuds Day, I won't be immediately deleting it, but I definitely won't be recommending it either.

[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice & Steamy
Their mutual attraction is a slow burn and this professor has been patient but will it pay off? He's all-in with a tryst and Emmaline is career-driven so it's a perfect arrangement to her. Insta-love doesn't make it easy for either of them and this wild ride of emotions was an interesting story and a good foundation for the series. I received a free copy and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[BusyM3 · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing start to this new series Wild Texas Heart series. This is the story of Walker and Emmaline and their journey to their happily ever after. Their chemistry is sizzling. The story pulls you in from the beginning and holds you there till the end. I couldn't put this book down, I can't wait to read the next book. This book will definitely warm you up on a cold night. I recommend this book.

I am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Niki · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an emotional read about Walker and Emma, He is her professor so he keeps his hands to himself, until she is no longer a student of his. Once she graduates all bets are off until she becomes his new intern. Can they work together and keep their hands to themselves?

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

[belle · Rating 1 out of 5]

golly gee this is the worst book i’ve ever read. it reeks of republican.

(started this in dublin heuston station while eating pizza from sbarro at 11am and finished it on the bus ride back from belfast multiple weeks later.) (it was free on the kindle app.)

[Haz · Rating 5 out of 5]

He likes to be in charge and take the lead and he's also sexy and and hot dominant professor so when young innocent Emmaline walks into class he know he would be stepping over boundaries to make her he's. The teacher vs the student in this forbidden hot romance, can't wait for the author next book

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

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great start to a new series. This is an enjoyable professor/student taboo age gap romance. This has a wide range of emotion. Walker and Emmaline have sizzling chemistry. Very enjoyable prequel, I am very excited to the rest of this series.

[Coco.V]

🎁 FREE on Amazon & on Apple iBook today (2/19/2021)!🎁

[ciin_leest · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book! This is the first book in the series and you'll get to meet the characters from the next books as well, and I can't wait to read their books. 

In this book we follow Emmaline and Walker. Emmaline is almost graduating vet school and Walker is a professor on that school. And they both can't wait 'till she is graduated! When that time is there they  waste no time at all and it was hot! 🥵 I loved that it took some time for them to figure everything out. But when thet realized how they really felt about each other, it was so lovely to read about.

Thank you The Author Agency for this ARC to read. 

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

So totally awesome. Loved the characters and their journey together. Steamy hot chemistry and passion between characters. Read cover to cover.

[Karen Zornek fitzcharles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Page turner for sure..This was an awesome read. I couldn't put it down. Thank you for writing this book so we can enjoy it. Please read and review your books