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Cowboy Brothers of Hart's Ridge Ranch #1

Her Cowboy's Reluctant Heart

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He’s a man of honor and commitment. She’s never met a man she could trust. Will her secrets ruin their only chance at love?

As the oldest of the Hart brothers, Jacob is the serious one, the reliable and steady hand everyone depends on at the family’s thriving Wyoming horse ranch. He’s never questioned his life’s purpose or his choices, even though it's meant living without love or romance.

Elizabeth Grayson hasn’t had a family for a long time, unless you count a controlling ex-husband she’s eager to put behind her. Hopping on a bus from Chicago to a rural mountain town in Wyoming seems like just the place for Elizabeth to disappear and start over. Desperate for a new life, the last thing she wants is to make another mistake with a man who seems too good to be true.

Yet Jacob Hart is different. He’s honorable and kind, strong and protective, and the soft-spoken cowboy is far too handsome for her peace of mind. He also seems as reluctant to believe in love as she is, although fate—and more than one well-meaning matchmaker in town—seem to have other ideas.

With both their guarded hearts at risk of breaking, will Jacob and Elizabeth stand together when their hard-won trust is threatened, or will they each retreat to the familiar safety of being alone?
The Cowboy Brothers of Hart’s Ridge Ranch is a sweet contemporary western romance series with clean and Christian stories about the blessings of family and the power of love.

200 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 8, 2022

100 people are currently reading
48 people want to read

About the author

Faith Landon

12 books26 followers

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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
Profile Image for Ash Juillet.
660 reviews6 followers
November 17, 2022
This was absolutely heartwarming. I love a good, clean cowboy romance! I love a smutty one too, but I'm not complaining. Both Jacob and Elizabeth were well-written and felt real. The romance between them was done well too; although the dramatic reveal could have been a bit angstier with some shouting and more tears, this was still a wonderful book to read.

I would recommend this book to people interested in surly cowboys, instant love, and heartwarming family moments.

Thank you, Booksprout, for an ARC of this book.
Profile Image for Katy.
272 reviews3 followers
December 16, 2022
Ever needed to escape? Elizabeth had let far too much time pass under the persuasive control of Troy, believing that he cared about her. The only one since her parents had died. She let him lead her into a marriage and then distanced her from all but a few of the friends she had. Sound familiar? A tale too prevalent, even today.
Elizabeth had enough! She’d wasted too many years under Troy’s thumb, trying the please him and she had almost lost herself. Never again. The divorce had been final for several months and now she was revisiting old memories, a small town in Wyoming where she could start again. As she stepped off the bus struggling with her heavy bag, a good-looking cowboy in faded jeans, plaid shirt and battered straw hat, took her bag from her. No, she didn’t want or need anyone taking over for her again. All she needed were directions to the house where she had rented a room.
Jacob was the oldest of the Hart brothers and had years ago decided he wasn’t the marrying kind but when he saw Elizabeth climbing down off the bus something about her grabbed his attention. As he took her bag from her, he had only wanted to help. After such a prickly start, he was a bit worried he might not get the chance to make a better impression.
Elizabeth was finally on her own, making her own decisions, she’d quickly gotten a job working as a waitress for the local café. Alanna the owner told her everybody makes mistakes and was patient with Elizabeth. Then the good-looking cowboy, from the bus stop, came into the diner while she was dealing with a grumpy truck driver. The truck driver was furious, when she slipped and dumped his food, some even landing on him. It was Jacob who stepped in and prevented the man from tearing a strip off her.
And so, it began…
Taking their time to get to know each other, little by little Elizabeth was becoming comfortable with Jacob and his rather large family. Even learning how to ride a horse. But some problems you can’t run away from; they find you. And when you aren’t totally honest with people, will they ever give you a chance to explain?
For the first time in his life, Jacob thought he’d found someone his could build a life with, he knew she didn’t want to talk about her past, but he had been blindsided when that past came storming in.
So many characters, were part and parcel of Jacob and Elizabeth’s story. It felt like a seat by the fire with friends who wanted to share their stories and hear yours. Jacob is hardworking, caring, and stubborn, he’d always put family and the ranch, his family had built, first and foremost in his life. But there was something about Elizabeth that just drew him in; in spite of the fact that he knows she is holding secrets close. Elizabeth had found her feet when she left Chicago, but she still needed to regain the confidence in herself she had lost. She was afraid that if Jacob knew the truth about her, he might see her as broken. For me Elizabeth’s secret had a very predictable outcome, and I would have appreciated more of twist in the outcome and solution. I found the story to be a gentle romance that demonstrated strong feelings without steamier scenes. It was easy to imagine the town and its people in the story and I enjoyed the time I spent in Greenville and we even got a HEA .
Profile Image for Elizabeth.
745 reviews9 followers
December 7, 2022
Faith Landon brings us a sweet story of love, new beginnings, and learning to love and trust again in ‘Her Cowboy’s Reluctant Heart’. Jacob Hart is the strong, quiet, honorable type of hero that makes me swoon. His humble leadership and love for the Hart Ridge Ranch and with his family makes him a person to trust and like. Even as a boy, Jacob knew the ranch was where he wanted to live his life. Nowhere else held any temptation for him. He is well respected by the community and family. Elizabeth Grayson is scared and scarred as steps off the bus in Greenville, WY home of the Heart Ridge Ranch. She is running from something, but it’s her business and she’d rather not share. She wants to move on from her past mistakes and make a clean start. She chooses Wyoming from her warm memories of vacations with her parents when she was young.

The two quickly realize there is a connection between them and as Jacob is not the type to play games, he is open with his feelings. Elizabeth is as well, although there is something in her past she is hiding. As their relationship grows, she knows she must explain everything to Jacob, however, she continually evades and makes excuses to herself not to. You know that’s not going to end well. And the reveal is done in spectacular fashion. When I was frustrated with Elizabeth’s lack of faith in Jacob to tell him the truth, I realized she was wounded in spirit and afraid. After several years in an abusive relationship, it is difficult to learn to trust others and yourself again. Her inner dialogue speaks to her turmoil with moving on verses staying mired in the negative chatter in her head. Although I would have liked to see Elizabeth stand up for herself sooner, it didn’t take away from the story and I was happy to see her finally believe in herself. I was a bit surprised by Jacob’s reaction though.

I was captivated by Jacob and Elizabeth from the beginning and felt happiness, humor, angst, and heartwarming love of friends and family. I really enjoyed the tempo of the story and the several teases into the lives of Jacobs’ brothers and future books. I am looking forward to reading each one! I read the prequel to this book ‘Her Cowboy’s Hopeful Heart’, and I suggest reading it as well. It takes place 20 years before this book and sets up the family and the ranch beautifully. I received an arc of this book through Booksprout, and this is my honest and voluntary review.
Profile Image for Soleil Reader.
192 reviews3 followers
January 9, 2023
I totally loved this book, I can’t wait for #2!!! There are twists and turns. It’s clean and I loved all the characters! I needed some fresh air and it was the perfect book for that!


Elisabeth, in her late 20’s, left Chicago and an ex abusive husband for the only place she could think of: Wyoming. She used to spend her vacations with her parents there as a child but they tragically died in a car accident when she was 19. That’s when she fell for controlling and mean Troy, the son of some of her parents’ friends. He made her believe that she was nothing without him for years. When she finally finds the strength to divorce, he doesn’t take it well so she has to fly.She arrives in Greenville, Wyoming, with only one suitcase and her poor self estim. She’s immediately employed as a waitress at the local diner.

Jacob Harts is a 36 years old rancher, eternal bachelor, committed to his family ranch. When he sees this young lost lady, he does what every gentleman would do in the area: he tries to help her. But she rejects him; she seems scarred, wary and fierce. He’s attracted to the young woman but will she ever let her guard down?



This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
3,544 reviews40 followers
November 29, 2022
Though this is the first book in the series about the Hart brothers, this reader would highly recommend reading the prequel, Her Cowboy’s Hopeful Heart, in which one is introduced to the entire family about twenty years prior to this book. That way the enjoyment of the story will be greater.
This book belongs to the oldest sibling, Jacob. His love for the ranch began at a young age and now at thirty six, he and his family have made it a successful one. He’s been hurt before and now all he does is live for the ranch. That is until a petite woman walks out of a Greyhound bus and has him enchanted.
Elizabeth Grayson has left Chicago after a nasty divorce. Going to Wyoming because it’s the place she remembers as a child that made her happy seems like the right choice.
The attraction is mutual, but Elizabeth has secrets and when the past follows her, will it be too late for Elizabeth and Jacob to find their HEA?
This was a sweet, clean romance and a good start for the series.
I was entrusted a copy of this book. The opinions expressed are solely my own.
2,447 reviews12 followers
December 12, 2022
Elizabeth Grayson was through with her life back in Chicago thanks to her controlling, mentally, and emotionally abusive ex-husband so she packed a bag and boarded a bus for Wyoming to start a new life. She had gotten a furnished apartment, and she found a job at the local diner the day after arrival. Soon she was dating Jacob Hart, one of the most eligible bachelor's in the area, but she did not to tell him about her failed marriage. They had an instant attraction that the entire community was soon talking about. She knew that she had to tell him about her ex, because she was lying to him by omission. She was afraid, he would break up with her for ever being involved with a man like her ex-husband. A poignant story of dealing with the loss of your parents right after high school, then falling pray to an abusive relationship.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Maria Leeper.
Author 5 books4 followers
December 5, 2022
In the first book Faith introduced us to a hardworking Wyoming family filled with love and acceptance going through a tragic time. In this, the second book, she shows us the boys who became men where hard-work and family still mean something. When a Chicago lady fled to their hometown the Hart family embraces her as one of their own and sparks fly. Can she find a home and real love or will her past and pride get in the way of true love?Her imagery was spot on I could see the Wyoming sunsets and the stary sky through her writing. This book made me put it down in frustration at one point; however, when I picked it back up the story was redeemed. I would recommend this book to all who love clean romance. Keep up the good work Faith. I look forward to hearing about the rest of the family.
Profile Image for Donise.
1,293 reviews3 followers
December 19, 2022
I felt sorry for the heroine in this book. After divorcing an abusive husband, she escapes to a town from her past looking to rediscover her happiness. She is also trying to find her strength and sense of self that have been lost to her. She captures the hero's interest upon her arrival to town on the bus. She continues to intrigue him with each interaction they have when he visits where she works at the diner. They begin to date and grow closer, but she still keeps her past to herself looking for the right time to share it. Read to see what happens when her past comes knocking and see if she will be able to keep her new future.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Connie.
1,670 reviews6 followers
December 21, 2022
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Booksprout and I am voluntarily reviewing it.

This was a wonderful start to a series. This author is new to me and she seems to be fairly new to writing as well. You would not know it from this story though. I look forward to the remaining Hart brothers stories!

The characters and plot were wonderful and flowed nicely. This was a sweet, clean romance that just carried me away from the day's troubles into another world.

I highly recommend this story to anyone who first loves cowboys (really what woman doesn't!). Second a second chance at romance for a character who was mentally and verbally abused before. Third, a sweet, clean romance.
1,442 reviews27 followers
November 22, 2022
Her Cowboy's Reluctant Heart - This was such an interesting story but I gave up mid way through chapter 25. I do not believe Jacob would have responded as he did. He would have pursued the truth, not thrown in the towel. He saw her extreme reaction and fear. Elizabeth could have said ex and everything would have been fine. This garbage about lying by omission is ridiculous as are E's thoughts but she is damaged. The relationship was too new to have covered all the past. As defective as she is, telling about her parents was pretty major so she was learning to share and trust. Anyway, I lost interest and do not care what they do now. 2*
4,922 reviews30 followers
December 12, 2022
Elizabeth left Chicago after her divorce from her controlling ex Troy and ends up in a small town in Wyoming working in the towns diner. When she meets older cowboy Jacob she is attracted to him and his sweet way of making her feel safe and cherished as they begin dating. Just as things were going great her ex shows up at a barn dance and ruined everything she ever wanted and Jacob walked away because she never told him about her marriage and then divorce. Can Elizabeth and Jacob repair their relationship and move forward?.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
379 reviews6 followers
December 14, 2022
Elizabeth moves to Wyoming to start over after her divorce. She is timid and fearful of men. She meets Jacob who runs a large ranch with his numerous siblings. He is kind and considerate. He seems too good to be true – is he? Jacob really likes Elizabeth. At 36, he is too old to play games. But she has been hurt by a man in the past. Can she put her trust in another man?

This was a very enjoyable story, and I look forward to reading about the other five young men of the Hart family.

Good spiritual principles were displayed.

I received a free copy of this book from the author. My review is voluntary and unbiased.
1,371 reviews11 followers
December 18, 2022
Elizabeth has moved to a new town to start again after her divorce from her controlling husband is finalised.
Jacob is the oldest of his brothers, he decided years ago that he would never marry, but when he sees Elizabeth getting of a bus in town, he is instantly attracted to her.
Could she be the one to change his mind.
They start to get to know each other and become more comfortable wirh each other. But Elizabeth is keeping secrets, afraid that Jacob will think her broken.
Can they have a HEA in the end.

I enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
449 reviews5 followers
December 27, 2022
I enjoyed reading this clean romance.
I found the characters relatable and the story realistic.
My heart wept for Elizabeth as she tried to move on from an abusive marriage and overcome the shame she felt for "allowing" it to happen.
I loved how honorable & patient Jacob was as he sensed her insecurities and that she had secrets. He was willing to give her all the time she needed until she was ready to confide in him.
The side characters were interesting and I hope there are more books telling their stories.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
31 reviews
December 8, 2022
Cowboy’s Reluctant Heart

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The characters were well developed and you felt like you could be part of their lives. Elizabeth and Jacob are in different places in life, but they quickly become involved and deep feelings emerge. There are issues and secrets that become known, forcing them to reflect on their lives and each other. In the end, they must decide what they truly want and if they’re willing to fight for it. I received an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
130 reviews
June 4, 2025
a good thriller book

I loved the way Elizabeth, was finally brave enough to leave the abuse she had gotten from her x-husband. Then became her self in a small town, found family that she didn’t have in Chicago, and love that she thought she was not good enough for.
Then comes a good looking cowboy that it was love at first site. But her x husband ended that.
At the end of the book has you loving Elizabeth more for she becomes the strong person this small town has showed her who she was, but being her family and loving her.
181 reviews
December 20, 2022
Her second chance

Elizabeth needed to get out of Chicago to begin a new life. Little did she know that she would a handsome cowboy that would steal her heart. But then something happened that for a couple of days that turned her world upside down. You will have to read this story to find out how she found her happy ever after.

Mary G
7 reviews
August 30, 2023
Beautiful story!

The story was heart warming. I was able meet his whole family and ea


this heart warming story introduced all of the characters and their personalities. It sweet that the main characters had respect for each other and shared their love. I highly recommended this book to everyone. Thank you. Keep on writing!
318 reviews7 followers
November 30, 2022
These two are meant for each other! Just love a happy ending! Great story line, but I feel that he jumped to a conclusion way to fast when it was so early in their relationship.

Thanks to the author for providing this book for my honest review!
7,154 reviews33 followers
December 13, 2022
A great start to this series Cowboy Brothers of Hart's Ridge Ranch. The story flows well, easy to follow. The characters are likeable and have great chemistry. This is a new author for me and I am looking forward to read the next book.

I am voluntarily leaving a review.
34 reviews
January 9, 2023
Second chances

Elizabeth leaves Chicago after her divorce to start over, she m.eets Jacob and they start spending time together, situations come up that pushes them apart you will enjoy the book
148 reviews
April 7, 2023
Loved it!

This is my first time reading anything by Faith Landon and I thoroughly enjoyed this book. If you're interested in entertaining characters, interesting storylines and clean romance then this is a book for you.
66 reviews1 follower
August 27, 2024
Great Series/ A Must Read!

All of the books in this Series are great reads. One even had me crying. If you love cowboys and romance, these books are for you. I know I will be looking for more of Faith Landon's books to read, as she writes from the heart.
Profile Image for Alice.
2,861 reviews
April 19, 2025
Chapter 21. Ex husband showing up at barn dance totally illogical!
Chapter 22. info about exhusband's behavior revealed.
Conclusion is an impossible configuration of impossible. BUT this is fiction and I liked the hero.
231 reviews
January 31, 2024
Good story of perfect matches

I liked this story as it told of how someone learned to be strong and make a life she knew she had found someone new who was meant for her.
Profile Image for Jenni Bearden.
360 reviews13 followers
July 4, 2025
This had a solid premise behind it, but the execution missed a lot. I liked the little town, and mostly liked the characters. But it wasn’t at all believable why she kept the secrets that she did, which brought the whole thing down like a house of cards. It’s a shame, it could’ve been so much better. Two stars.
2,380 reviews13 followers
March 21, 2024
Her Cowboys Reluctant Heart

I really liked this story.the easy falling in love by Jacob for Elizabeth. She arrived in oin the small town of Greenville , Wyoming in a greyhound bus. Jacob was standing there near a restaurant when she arrived. Her suitcase was so heavy,he just stepped up and took care of it for her. This was only the beginning. You will enjoy this wonderful story. They had few bumps along the way.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews

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