Cowgirl at Heart

McCord Sisters #2

by Christine Lynxwiler

Welcome to the Ozarks, the setting of award-winning author Christine Lynxwiler’s latest breath-taking romance, where the lives of a timid dog whisperer and an out-for-revenge reporter collide. Elyse McCord, the biological daughter of a modern-day Bonnie and Clyde, turns into a mighty warrior when a dog’s well-being is at stake. Finding herself in the sights of a pistol-wielding maniac whose been mistreating his dog, she’s suddenly swept to safety by Andrew Stone, a widower bent on hunting down his wife’s killers. Is there any future for an outlaw’s daughter and a Texas ranger’s son?

Genres: Romance, Christian, Christian Fiction, Christian Romance, Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Westerns

320 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2010

About the author

Award-winning author and past president of American Christian Romance Writers, Christine Lynxwiler has numerous novels and novellas published with Barbour Publishing. She and her husband, Kevin, along with their two daughters, four horses, and two dogs live in the foothills of the beautiful Ozark Mountains in their home state of Arkansas."

Reviews

[Mae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good read. Keeps your attention. A young lady with some inner conflicts and young guy with some guilt and secrets, and one event that brings their worlds together. God, family, and forgiveness all part of the ingredients as well.

[Halona Skaggs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elyse McCord is a painfully shy dog trainer who finds a dog that has been horribly mistreated. In an effort to rescue him, she is threatened at gun point by the dog owner's ex-con of a brother. To her rescue comes Andrew Stone who just so happens to be staking out the con he suspects killed his wife three years ago. In the fight, the attacker flees leaving Elyse in danger and in need of a protector that Adam, with alterior motives, is willing to be. As the weeks go by, mutal attraction leads to stronger feelings and they both realize that they have to learn how to trust each other with their secrets to be able to have the love that they desire.
I won this book on Goodreads Firs Reads giveaway and I'm glad that I did. Otherwise I never would have given it a chance. I'm not a Christian myself and have found, in the past, that Christian Fiction/Romance books come across as corny and preachy. The characters always find a happily ever after and the author tends to send a message that you will too as long as you take Jesus in your heart. This book was refreshingly different. Andrew and Elyse were not sickenly perfect and I believe that, if they were real, I could be their friend and not feel that they would judge me or make it their mission to convert me. With that being said, this book was very well written and the story kept me interested from the very beginning. I loved how Elyse's sister Crystal and her fiancee were shown to be having serious problems during this book when I'm assuming their story has been told in the first book of the series. Most...ok, probably all of the serial romance books I read, once the book is done, the couple remains "happily ever after" in every other book after it. Which I always thought was a good thing, but after reading "Cowgirl at Heart", found that it just isn't real. In real life, the stories continue and the road is always rocky. I look forward to reading Crystal and Jeremy's book and all the others that come from Ms. Lynxwiler.

[Teresa Snyder · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in A McCord Sister Romance series. There is a third book planned, as well as a series featuring the McCord brothers, according to the information on the authors website. Unfortunately, the third book, as well as the brothers series, was put on hold due to family medical issues, as I understand it. Hopefully, the series will get back on track soon. It's a great series.

Elyse is a VERY shy person who is only comfortable around family and friends, both two and four legged legged, until she meets Andrew. She is also hiding a big family secret about her biological parents.

Andrew is on a mission to find his wife's killer and clear his name. He tracks the prime suspect to the man who threatens Elyse when she try's to save a starving dog. Andrew become Elyse's self proclaimed proctor. Only problem, he hides his real reason for staying close to her. Finding his wife's killer.

This book also continues Jeremy and Crystal's story. After a very rocky start, There story ends, or becomes one, with a sigh. We also learn more about the third sister, Kaleigh, who will be the heroine in book three.

Great book. Great series. Looking forward to the author coming off of a three year hiatus, and picking up where she left off.

[Barbra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hurray! I won this book on "Goodreads" and am excited to get started on it. This book is listed as an inspirational romance. For the most part these are good, clean stories with an inspirational message. Sounds good. Thanks Goodreads and Ms. Lynxwiler.

This was a good read! I enjoyed the way the two main characters come together, but each with a story of their own. Elyse McCord is a shy groomer/trainer of dogs and Andrew Stone is searching out leads to shift the murder of his wife onto the rightful person and away from himself.

The inspirational episodes make the book more meaningful and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good book.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book in the firstreads contest, and I have to admit, when i first got the book, and noticed that it said "A McCord Sister Romance" on the front, I wondered "oh no, did i get one of those really risque romance novels again?" Happily enough though, it turned out to be a really nice love story with a good plot. You fall in love with the main character right away, and can understand why her family feels the need to protect her. Overall, I thought this was a nice light read, and a real "feel good" book.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was a little confused at first as to who was related to whom, but as I got into it, I really enjoyed the book. I would like to read the first McCord Sisters book now. I won this book on First Reads, and I am thankful to be able to say I look forward to the next one in the series. I enjoyed the references to the church and faith in this book. I love a good story, and don't like to be bogged down when the story line strays off track.
I would recommend this book to all of my friends.

[Belva · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. In fact, I think I now need to go back and read the first McComb sister romance. Ms. Lynxwiler has a gift for pulling you into the story so you feel like you are part of the family.

[Tausha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first book from this author and I really liked it. I will be looking for more from her. It was a quick read, a little suspense, a HERO, romance and of course ended happy. Can't beat that.

[Sams reading journal · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book was good, and I liked how it ended. I wasn't a fan of how little the characters were described. We had a name and some background, but not much else! They felt very 2D. I flew through it in a day though.

[Ashley Kilby · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved this book absolutely a good read

[Estelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cheesy but really good read. Books like this are perfect after a few heavy reads.
Enough of a mixture of family/mystery/romance and intrigue.

[Arianna Feliz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was entertained through the whole book.

[Valerie (Val's Vicinity) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one immediately starts out with a bang, featuring an intense rescue scenario--with an unlikely heroine--that instantly pulled me in to the story. As you get to know Elyse, her shy nature makes it all the more amazing that she'd put herself into such an unpredictable situation. I actually really liked her and found her easy to relate to. I also liked her dogs and the work she did with them, and her tips of insight into their behavior were quite interesting. Elyse's painfully shy nature really rang true, and I thought it was pretty cool how she could so easily talk with Andrew right after first meeting him despite the fact that her shyness usually rendered her speechless around strangers!

Andrew has a lot of secrets in his past, which makes him rather intriguing. Initially I didn't quite know what to make of him, though I immediately liked him. I thought his protectiveness of Elyse was sweet, and it was especially unique when they hadn't even put a label on their relationship. Right from the beginning Andrew and Elyse really clicked, and it was fun to see their friendship slowly grow in spite of the fact that they both held secrets that they were reluctant to reveal.

The story is ultimately about Elyse and Andrew with the point of view switching back and forth between them, but there are also small sections that revolve around Elyse's sisters, Kaleigh and Crystal. In all honesty I felt the subplots about Kaleigh and Crystal were a bit unnecessary... in particular, the story revolving around Crystal and her fiance was slightly odd because it didn't completely mesh with the ending of the previous McCord book, which featured Crystal as the main character. Despite this bit of nit-picking, I really did enjoy the story overall. Elyse and Andrew are very strong characters and they easily carry the story on their own, which is perhaps why I thought the subplots weren't necessary.

I also want to mention the cover. It's gorgeous to start with, but after you read the book it gets even better as it ultimately ties into the story in a really awesome way. Bravo to the cover design team! :)

Cowgirl At Heart is the second book in the McCord Sister series, and while you could read it as a standalone if you wanted to, it really is a bit better if you've read the previous book. I believe the series was originally planned to be a trilogy, however the third book seems to have been put on hold indefinitely. (I hope to see it released at some point as the McCord family is a fun one and there are still a lot of stories that could be told.) Despite all that, Cowgirl At Heart does end well and there are no loose ends left hanging. I very much enjoyed the story and I can easily recommend it, especially to those who love dogs or who know what it's like to be shy.

My rating: 4.5 stars

[J R · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a well-written modern day Western romance novel. It has many elements the author applied the right amount of. Learning about a girl touched by the hardship of family, foster care, and adoption was enough to pull me into the second book! It has the perfect mix of suspense and romance. I also enjoyed getting glimpses of the other characters that come to know and love from the previous novel. The McCord family was a ton of fun, and I enjoyed getting to know their story.

[Sheree · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is #2 in the McCord Sister Romance Series by Christine Lynxwiler. I picked it up at the store not realizing it was the second in a series. So, be sure and read the first book, The Reluctant Cowgirl (The McCord Sisters, Book 1), prior to reading this one. :-)


I really liked this book. Christine has a very down-to-earth voice in her writing that makes you feel like you are sitting in the same room with the characters. She also adds an element of mystery and suspense to the book which makes the storyline more dimensional rather than just a romance between two people. The main character, Elyse, has some fears she is confronted with throughout the story. I enjoyed reading her struggles and the creative ways that she attempts at conquering and overcoming those fears. By the end of this book, she had made considerable strides in beating the fears that had become obstacles in her life. The author promotes hope that we can overcome the things we struggle with, yet doesn't make you believe it is an overnight quick-fix. We all know nothing is ever really fixed overnight or with the snap of our fingers. I also really liked how the author gave Elyse challenges that were outside the box to face her fears. Sometimes we need to try something new or different in our approach to "fix our issues."


This book has multiple story lines going on throughout. Elyse's storyline is prominent, but the author takes you on journeys with her two sisters as well. Because I started with the second book in the series, one sister's storyline is continued from the first book. I thought that was a really neat idea because often times I read a series and the additional books may make mention of the original characters, but never really "complete" their stories. In this book, the sister's story from the first book is continued and perhaps completed and the sister's story from the third book, Cowgirls Don't Cry (The McCord Sisters, Book 3) is begun. I'll be getting the first and third books in this series to read very soon! A definite recommended read!

[Tamara Tilley · Rating 3 out of 5]

The second installment in the McCord Sister Romance series, COWGIRL AT HEART, is as enjoyable to read as its characters are complex.

Elyse McCord is the shyest of the McCord clan. Adopted from con-artist parents, Elyse is a play it safe kind of girl. That is until she finds a dog that is being mistreated and throws caution to the wind in order to rescue it. Labeled a dog whisperer by friends and family, Elyse refuses to leave the emaciated yellow lab one more day in the care of its current owner. When the deadbeat owner finds Elyse in the act of taking the dog, he holds her at gunpoint, deadly intentions evident on his mind.

Reporter Andrew Stone has been watching a dilapidated old house closely, knowing the man inside is responsible for his wife’s death. When he sees his suspect pull a gun on a woman and threaten her life, he jumps into action. Posing as a housepainter, Andrew convinces Elyse he was just in the right place at the right time. Putting his life in danger doesn’t faze Andrew, but the effect Elyse has on his heart hits him like a brick wall.

Both Elyse and Andrew try to process their fragile past in view of how they feel about each other. Believing their backgrounds are too shaky to build a future on, they refuse to acknowledge their growing attraction. Andrew decides to stick close to Elyse knowing she is still in danger. And if his suspicions are right, she just might be the next target of the killer he pursues.

COWGIRL AT HEART has all the elements of a good romance: A spunky heroine, a gutsy hero, wounded hearts, and imminent danger. It also allows you to continue to follow the characters from the first installment RELUCTANT COWGIRL. I look forward to the third installment, COWGIRLS DON’T CRY.

[Carly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have a few books by Christine Lynxwiler on my shelf that I have not had a chance to read yet. When I had the opportunity to read her newest book Cowgirl at Heart, I had high hopes for her storytelling abilities. I am very happy to say that I was not the slightest bit disappointed. This story started out strong and had a wonderful mix of romance and suspense that made it very interesting and enjoyable.

One of my favorite things about this book was the setting. The McCord Farm is a very peaceful and tranquil place. It was a place where Elyse could always feel safe from her many fears. But, just like life, evil can invade even the most tranquil places in our lives. When evil invades Elyse’s life, she must learn to face her fears and fight for herself. She does so bravely and is an inspiring character.

Cowgirl at Heart was not just about Elyse and Andrew, her knight in shining armor. It was also about other members of the McCord family. This is a family that I already like a lot because they are very loving and the dynamics are very much like real families.

There is basically nothing I didn’t like about this book. I am so pleasantly surprised by the fact that this book met and exceeded my expectations. This author is new to me, but I will always be looking forward to reading more from her.

[Mummy Cat Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the third book that I have read by author Lynxwiler. Strange because I don't seek her out, it just happens...I promise. This is a Christian book by a Christian author.
I liked this book. It was entertaining but there were some things that I found distracting.
The two main characters are Andrew and Elyse. The book is about their meeting and how they fall in love. However, the book also had several sub-plots that were okay but just distracting. I'm not a large fan of this style.
The two characters are likable. They are both realistically flawed..sort of. Elyse is afraid of everything...everything. It kinda got annoying. Andrew was sooo soo patient with her and helped her to overcome some of her many fears. That was nice of him.
Andrew was kept more of a mystery until later in the book. But mostly he was the tough guy.
I felt the ending was wrapped up a little fast. The bow was tied and made to look pretty too fast. I think the problem was that the before the ending the book really slowed down. It was okay for me, but I think some people will find that part incredibly slow, then the ending comes and the book is over. Kind of unsatisfying.
Overall, I liked this book. I liked the characters. It just wasn't the best book I've ever read, but at 300+ pages, it was entertaining enough.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love it when I find an author that can write clean romance/suspence. Eylse, was adopted at the age of 10 into a loving family on a ranch. She has used 4 legged friends as a therapy for her adapting to her new life. Her biological parents had been con artists and when one went bad with real guns her mom got killed and her dad went to prison. He comes around to protect her after her rescue of a mistreated dog ends up with her being at the wrong end of a gun herself with a mean man...Zeke. Andrew stone then enters her life as her hero and save her and Pal the dog. He doesn't tell her that his job as a house painter was a cover for his following up on his wife's murder 3 years ago and what has brought him to follow Zeke and be in the right place at the right time.
Andrew sticks around at first to see if Zeke comes back after his threat to get even for Eylse's interference. He finds that he is drawn to her in more ways than to protect her. He helps her overcome her inability to talk to strangers and in public by helping her to fight for her to get out of her comfort zone and be a dog trainer. When the truth comes out that Andrew had not told her the truth about his real reason for being there she turns away from him. He comes to her rescue again as her biological father enters the picture as well as Zeke.

[Chelsea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Elyse McCord is a local legend dog-whisperer. When she follows a lead about an abused dog and ends up on the wrong side of a gun, Andrew Stone comes to her rescue. Then it turns out Elyse may have not one, but TWO vile men pursuing her, and Andrew decides to stick around and offer his protection. What neither Elyse nor Andrews realizes though, is their growing feelings for each other.

I enjoyed COWGIRL AT HEART immensely. There was plenty of romance, tension, action, and intrigue to keep my nose stuck in the book all night. It was nice to read about the lives of other McCord sisters Crystal (from THE RELUCTANT COWGIRL) and Kaleigh, as their own stories continue. Lynxwiler creates a thrilling atmosphere with pursuers out to get Elyse, but keeps many tender moments alive throughout. I also like how Lynxwiler's books deal with tough life issues in a manner that makes the story come alive and feel very real. It makes me want to read more, more, more!

Stay tuned for an interview with Christine, coming soon!

[Christine Meunier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elyse McCord is a timid young woman - with reason to be so - who has an incredible gift and compassion for working with dogs, particularly those that have been mistreated. Upon hearing about a starving dog nearby, the young woman takes it upon herself to get some food and water to the dog before calling the authorities.

Unfortunately her plan backfires as she finds herself staring down the barrel of a gun. If she couldn't imagine this happen, she definitely couldn't imagine the fact that help would come so quickly - and in what form.

Andrew Stone has his own reasons for watching the man wielding the gun. But that isn't going to stop him interfering when Zeke gets rough with Elyse. Although incredibly shy around strangers, Elyse finds herself drawn to Andrew and the widowed man finds that he wants to protect the young brunette indefinitely.

As Andrew keeps the circumstances around the death of his wife secret, he comes to question if Elyse will appreciate his secret, or run because of it.

An enjoyable, faith filled read. Great characters.

[Zette · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second book in the McCord Sisters series is a great continuation of the McCord sisters and their journey to finding true happiness and God's plan for spiritual healing in their lives. This is the story of Elyse who was brought into the McCord home after living a life of crime with her parents and then witnessing her mother's death. She has become painfully shy because of her past and has found in Andrew a person that she feels comfortable with. Andrew has a past of his own that he is trying to deal with and the two have to learn to trust each other enough to share their lives fully with each other. I enjoyed both of the main characters and the struggles they had to overcome. I also liked the side stories Christine Lynxwiler added in to both wet our apetite for the next book and add a little depth to this one. I'm looking forward to Kaleigh's story which I assume is next in the series.

*I received this book free from the publisher through Netgalley.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was so excited to win this book from goodreads (I never win anything!). It took me awhile to start it because I was searching for the first McCord Sisters book. For anyone like me that prefers to read series books in order - there is no downside to not reading the first one before this one. When I realized this was a christian romance (while looking for the first one at the bookstore) I was somewhat hesitant to start it. The last thing I want when I get a chance to read for pleasure is to be preached at. This book is not like that at all. It was enjoyable from the first page and one I looked forward to reading before I went to bed each night. Thank you to Ms Lynxwiler for a good story line and to goodreads for giving me the opportunity to read it for free! I will definitely pass it along to other avid readers like me!

[Sierra · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't realized this book was a Christian , until I read the author blurb on the back. I was a little hesitant to read it because sometimes these type of stories can come off as preachy and that's not what I want when I read. However, I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I could tell it was a Christian story but it did not come off as preachy. All in all I enjoyed the story of Elyse and Andrew. They were both likable characters even though I didn't fully connect with them. It was a sweet romance if a little slow at times. I found myself enjoying the side stories more than the main one at times. The mystery of Andrew's past was intriguing and the resolution to the mystery was interesting and unexpected. I give it 3 stars (more like 2.5) because it was a little better than OK.

[Jdtolbert2003yahoo.com · Rating 3 out of 5]

Elyse our main character is brave only once or twice throughout the book. Most of the time she is a timid creature that can barely go outside her own house on her own. She meets her hero quite literally in an attempt to save an abused dog. Her comfort around him grows into love and together they are stronger.

There are other unrelated and unneeded side stories that drift in and out of the main story. It was enjoyable enough if not a little slow.

[Yvonne Powderly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a solid mixture of romance and suspense. The romance is wholesome and fulfilling while the intrigue, mystery and twists in the plot line keep your riveted to the page. This is a book I can recommend to many and diverse ages as it encapsulates family values, ethics, and plain goodness. Elyse McCord, a dog whisperer, goes to the aid of an abused animal only to find herself in a situation. Along comes Andrew Stone to the rescue. Andrew carries emotional baggage of his own after the tragic death of his young wife. Together they end up in developing situations.

[Pam Dick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cowgirl at Heart


I really enjoyed this book. It was a interesting read. I thought that it had enough suspense to keep me interested and yet wasn't too predictable. It was also a good illustration of forgiveness and living with the past. The main character worked through the process of forgiving some of the hurt that she had received when she was young. It drew her closer to God. What a wonderful picture of what Christ did for us.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book in one of the GoodReads giveaways and I am sorry it has taken me so long to get it read and post a review.

I really did like this book and "Christian Fiction" is not one of my favorite genres. But this book was not at all "preachy" and I loved getting to know the characters in the book.

I like to read about flawed characters because none of us is perfect. I felt like I really got to know the characters in this book. It had great character and plot development. I will definitely be reading more books by this author.

[Linnette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I totally enjoyed "Cowgirl at Heart!" It's fresh, light, sweet, dramatic... Christine has a way of writing that draws you into the story but keeps it light enough to not leave you traumatized. Something I am not good at. :D This book reminds me of a contemporary Karen Whitemeyer. Believe me when I say that's a compliment!

I love the hero and heroine and, well, all the characters. I get the feeling there are books before this one and more following. I'd love to read them all! Great job, Christine. This is a favorite book and a must read!

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't sure how I was going to like this book when I won this from Goodreads Firstreads. I had never read any of Christine Lynxwiler's books previously.
I really liked it! Each character was interesting in their own way and each had a special part in the story and how it all came together was great.
I can't wait to read the rest of Christine's work! Thank you Goodreads!!!