Heart Like a Cowboy

Cowboy Brothers in Arms #1

by Delores Fossen

He’s Emerald Creek’s hottest cowboy—and the one man she shouldn’t want

On the surface, Egan Donnelly is hometown hero material—top gun, commanding an elite fighter training squadron and ranching royalty. Inside, he feels like a fraud, convinced he’s responsible for his best friend’s death. At least he won't let himself succumb to the heat between him and Jack’s widow, Alana. But now that she’s making regular trips to his ranch to care for his dad, that vow is getting harder to keep.

Alana Davidson isn’t just grieving her husband’s loss, she’s feeling betrayed over his secret infidelity. Wanting Egan makes things even more complicated. As a nutritionist, she can help Egan’s dad recover from his health scare, but it’s not so easy to get her own heart back on track. Because despite shared guilt and family pressure, she’s falling fast, and Egan is right there with her…

Genres: Romance, Westerns, Contemporary, Fiction, Western Romance, Contemporary Romance

384 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published November 28, 2023

About the author

Thank you for finding me on Goodreads!

Want to know more about me? Well, here it is in a nutshell:

I’m a USA Today bestselling author, and I’ve sold over 100 novels. Yes, 100! Needless to say, I write a lot. I’ve had the honor of receiving the Booksellers' Best Award for romantic suspense, the Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award, and I was a finalist for the Rita. My books have been featured in Vogue, Woman’s Day and Woman’s World. I’ve also had nearly a hundred short stories and articles published in national magazines. I love hearing from readers, and you can contact me through my webpage at: www.deloresfossen.com.

Reviews

[Chris C - A Midlife Wife · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good combo of military and cowboy. Great plot!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There’s just something about a good cowboy romance especially when it also blends in the veteran or military officer aspect. This book offers a great tie-in with both aspects.

A strong, steamy, muscular cowboy is our leading man, and I can totally get down with that! This author knows how to write and create such a dreamy specimen.

I love the connection between the two main characters. The plot was realistic, and she totally brought it to life on the pages.

One of the great things about this cowboy romance is the locale, and when you have an author who can describe in detail a picture-perfect setting, it truly enhances the entire story.

Secondary characters were awesome as well, and I can see where there’s definitely going to be another story spun off of this one with a single brother and his steamy character.

Overall, Heart Like a Cowboy is a wonderful read with a sweet romance, hot cowboys, and a happily ever after we love.

* I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
* full review - https://amidlifewife.com/heart-like-a...

["Avonna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Check out all my reviews at: https://www.avonnalovesgenres.com

HEART LIKE A COWBOY (Cowboy Brothers in Arms Book #1) by Delores Fossen is an emotional start to the new Cowboy Brothers in Arms series set in smalltown Emerald Creek, Texas. The Donnelly’s live on a generational ranch with all four siblings serving in the military on active duty. This story introduces the entire family and features the romance of the eldest brother, Lt. Col. Egan Donnelly.

Air Force Lt. Col. Egan Donnelly is both a hometown Top Gun hero and commander of an elite fighter training squadron and the eldest sibling in a ranching family. When his father has a massive heart attack, Egan takes a month’s leave to run the ranch and try to figure out how he will go forward. When his father returns home to recuperate, Egan comes face to face with the nutritionist working on his case. It is the sister of his ex-wife and the widow of his best friend, Jack, who he hoped to avoid. Egan has carried the guilt for Jack’s death from an IED when he was visiting him for three years.

Alana Davidson is the nutritionist helping Egan’s dad and while everyone still considers her Jack’s grieving widow, she is ready to move on from her grief. She had an argument with her husband right before he died overseas when she discovered he had cheated on their marriage. She is determined to tell Egan she feels just as responsible. Despite smalltown gossip and family interference Alan and Egan begin to discover they are ready to move on and stand together.

There are a lot of obstacles, twists, and surprises on the road to romance for Egan and Alana. I loved both fully developed characters because they communicated and did not play games. They also stood together when faced with smalltown gossip and the emotional adversity that Jack’s mother put them through. All the secondary characters added to the realism of the story and believable life situations. There are sexually explicit scenes in this romance, but they were not gratuitous. The introduction of the other siblings was entertaining, and I am looking forward to their stories in the future.

I recommend this first heartfelt book in the Cowboy Brothers in Arms series. Dolores Fossen is one of my favorite go-to cowboy romance authors and she never disappoints.

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

HEART LIKE A COWBOY is the first book in the Cowboy Brothers in Arms series by Delores Fossen. The series is set in small town Emerald Creek, Texas where the Donnelly’s live on a family ranch with all four siblings serving in the military. This story introduces all the siblings, but this is Lt. Col. Egan Donnelly's story, the eldest. Egan is home because his dad had a massive heart attack and he wants to make sure he and the ranch are taken care of. Egan is a commander of an elite fighter training squadron and a hometown hero, but is stationed the closest to home, so he takes a month off to run the ranch and get things in place moving forward. His father's doctor got a nutritionist to work with his father and those who cook for him and when Egan comes home, he comes face to face with Alana, the widow of his best friend, Jack, and sister of his ex-wife. Egan has felt guilty for Jack’s death from an IED because he was visiting him to talk over some problems. Alana is the grieving widow who is keeping secrets. She and Jack had an argument when she found out he was cheating on her, and he went to talk to Jack about it. She is determined to tell Egan that she is the one responsible. When Jack's mother plans a huge ceremony to honor the real hometown hero and starts badmouthing Egan, they have a hard time not spilling the beans about the affair. As they spend more time together, Alana and Egan begin to develop feelings for one another and realize that maybe they might be better together.

I enjoyed this sweet romance with likable characters, a small town, gossips, and even a nasty, overprotective mom. The plot was very realistic and relatable. Although I didn't like Jack's mother initially, she was just a momma bear protecting her son's reputation. One thing I like about Delores Fossen's writing is the descriptive writing. I felt like I was there in Emerald Creek, Texas. I liked the feeling of loyalty Egan had even if it ended up being misplaced. I enjoyed seeing Egan and Alana realize that they had feelings for one another, and trying to figure out if it was possible to be together because of their past relationships. With lots of drama and angst, this wasn't easy to do. The secondary characters were also likable and I look forward to reading about the rest of the Donnelly's stories in future books. If you like a good, clean cowboy romance, than I recommend you pick up Heart Like a Cowboy.

[Katherine Hayward Pérez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Settling an Old Score, His Brand of Justice and Safeguarding the Surrogate are other books I’ve reviewed by Delores Fossen. I was really pleased when Heart Like a Cowboy was offered for a blog tour. Delores Fossen is a go-to author for me and the characters and their backstory are well developed. I enjoyed Egan and Alana’s story.

Thanks to Delores Fossen for my eARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.

4 stars

[Trisha · Rating 2 out of 5]

The plot was cute and a quick read but for a romance book i was hoping for better written intimate scenes. A little cheesy and immature language around anything "steamy." Not my cup of tea but I did appreciate a good story around complex grief.

[Kate Vale · Rating 4 out of 5]

First in the Cowboy Brothers in Arms series, in which Lt. Col. Egan Donnelly has to decide if he's going to remain in the Air Force or go home to take care of the ranch after his father has a heart attack. Also on his mind is his late friend's widow, who has forced him to think in terms of things relating to how he should and should not help her get over her grief. After all, it's been 3 years since the man died.

Complicating things is what he finally learns about his best friend--too late to have learned about it from him and what's going to happen to Alana when she's confronted by confirmation of the news she'd learned shortly before his death. Mercy! And if that's not enough, the man's mother is determined to force everyone to attend a special celebration of his life, even if it means she's denying what she also knows or may be forced to confront.

Great beginning to a series with lots of promise.

[Christina · Rating 2 out of 5]

[ BLOG TOUR ] [ RATING: 2.5 stars ] Unfortunately, this story didn’t work for me. I liked Alana and Egan as the main characters, the ranch, the humor Egan’s siblings brought, and the military aspects. But there was too much drama, nosiness, and confusion for my liking and I couldn’t shake for most of the story, which outweighed the parts I did like.

Heart Like a Cowboy takes place three years after the death of Jack, Egan’s best friend and Alana’s husband. Jack was killed when the vehicle he and Egan were traveling in hit an IED. Tilly, Jack’s mother who is still in denial about his death, wants to plan a celebration of life for Jack and for both Egan and Alana to take part in. But they aren’t completely on board with it as they still blame themselves respectively for Jack’s death.

I liked how the story depicted the various ways people grieve the loss of a loved one. In this case, military families and friends. There were many characters to keep track of that were interconnected and important to the story’s progression. I had to write them down to better remember who’s who and understand fueling the tense atmosphere between everyone.

So we have a good starting point for the conflicts to develop and escalate from. The truth about Jack’s final hours further compounded the characters’ grief, agitated already messy, complicated relationships between some of the characters, and slowly began to unravel secrets.

Egan and Alana have been avoiding each other as much as possible. Not just because of their shared grief but also because of the intense heat growing between them. A powerful lust that led to scorching kisses (that kiss in the rain, though!) and steamy scenes.

I liked Alana and Egan together but sometimes their relationship felt awkward and confusing. The seemingly endless debate of who’s really at fault for Jack’s death got tedious after a time. But I get that they had much to contend with and baggage to unload.

Alana wants to move on and has begun dating again, much to Tilly’s dismay as she wants Alana to essentially remain as her hero son’s wife (note, wife not widow). Egan is trying to make sense of his dad’s new normal post-heart attack while running the family ranch. The town gossip and not-so-subtle matching-making didn’t help things either.

Heart Like a Cowboy is a very tragic, heartbreaking, military/cowboy romance. I wish I could have liked it more, but I do think others will enjoy this story.

CW: grief, off-page heart attack, discussions of past cheatings

Thanks again Canary Street Press, HTP Books, and NetGalley for the e-ARC to read in exchange for an honest review!

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Delores Fossen continues to cement her standing as the queen of Western contemporary romance with her latest novel, Heart Like a Cowboy.

Everybody in Emerald Creek might think that Egan Donnelly is a hero, but the cowboy is riddled with guilt and regret. Egan is convinced that he’s the one responsible for the death of his best friend Jack and not a single day goes by where he isn’t assailed by anguish and sorrow. Egan has already caused enough harm to Jack’s family and he’s adamant that he doesn’t want to cause them any more pain – which is why he is steering clear of his best friend’s widow Alana, even if he’s head over heels in love with her.

Keeping his distance from Alana didn’t use to be a problem. But lately Alana has been making regular trips to the ranch to help Egan’s dad recover after a health scare and keeping her at arm’s length has got a whole lot more difficult. With Alana in such close proximity, Egan is scared that he will end up acting upon his feelings for her. But little does he realize that there might be a whole lot more to Jack and Alana’s marriage than he had previously thought…

Alana isn’t just grieving her husband’s death, but also his secret infidelity. With everything that’s happened in the last couple of years, she knows that she should steer clear of romance – and of Egan Donnelly. However, that’s becoming more and more difficult with each passing day because she has fallen madly in love with him. Is a second chance on the cards for the two of them? Or is their love story simply not meant to be?

Delores Fossen never disappoints and Heart Like a Cowboy is an emotional, passionate and enjoyable contemporary romance that is impossible to put down. A heartfelt, dramatic and witty read about forbidden attraction, illicit desire and falling in love, Heart Like a Cowboy has a fantastic heroine readers will root for and a gorgeous hero they will swoon over.

Delores Fossen’s name on a book cover is a surefire guarantee of top-notch Western romance and she has come up trumps yet again with her latest novel, Heart Like a Cowboy.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[HTP Books]

Small Town & Rural Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Western Romance
Miniseries
Cowboy Brothers in Arms (Book #1)

[Barb Lie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heart Like a Cowboy by Delores Fossen is the first book in her new Cowboy Brothers in Arms. Egan Donnelly, is a top gun and hometown hero; who commands an elite fighter training squadron, and he also helps his father run their ranch. Egan still grieves his best friend, Jack, who died few years ago due to an explosion: Egan still blames himself, as he had asked Jack to visit him.

Alana Davidson, Jack’s widow, still feels betrayed that Jack was cheating on her; also knowing about their argument on the same day that Jack was visiting Egan, and was killed in the explosion.

In present day, Egan learns that his father had a heart attack, he rushes to the hospital, with the family all their waiting for the results. Alana, who is a nutritionist, is assigned to visit Egan’s father daily to make sure he follows what he eats so not to get another attack.

Egan who has seen Alana on rare occasion, always avoids being near her, not him succumb to the heat between him; but now with her daily visits, he finds himself having a hard time being around her, as he does feel the strong attraction. Alana also feels her heart slowly opening up, as her feelings for Egan continues to grow.

To make matters worse, Jack’s mother, Tilly is planning a celebration to honor her deceased son, and tries to bring both Egan and Alana to be a part of the event. She learns quickly that Egan blames himself for inviting Jack to visit him, and an angry Tilly becomes very nasty to him. Alana in defense of Egan, lets Tilly know that she had a bad argument with Jack on the same day, and tells her he was having an affair. Tilly refuses to believe Alana, facing denial and being nasty to both of them. I did not like Tilly at all, as she refused to recognize the truths. She was determined to destroy Egan, as well trying to get Alana to stay away from him.

Things do become difficult with Tilly telling townsfolk lies, but despite some of their guilt, both Alana and Egan give in to the chemistry between them, and together they will find love. The secondary characters were very good, as Audrey (Egan’s father’s wife), who is rarely home, as she is a general in the armed forces. We also get a look at Melinda, who was the woman Jack was having an affair; as she tried to face Tilly with the truth, as well as a son she had from Jack. It was nice to see Egan’s family, brothers and sisters, who were all mostly part of the armed forces.

Heart Like a Cowboy was a very good story, revolving around a sweet romance, family, love and cowboys. Heart Like a Cowboy was very nicely written by Delores Fossen.

Barb
The Reading Cafe

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrific start to the series. Egan is the oldest of four siblings, all choosing to serve in the military rather than remain on the family ranch. When his father suffers a heart attack, Egan takes a month's leave to come home and run the ranch while his dad recovers. Egan doesn't like visiting his hometown because they consider him a hero, and he thinks he's anything but. Egan and his best friend Jack joined the military together. Jack was killed by an IED, and Egan feels responsible.

Jack's widow, Alana, has mixed feelings since his death. She is grieving his loss because she loved him, but she's also angry over his infidelity. She also feels guilty because they argued about that infidelity right before his death.

I enjoyed seeing the relationship develop between Egan and Alana. With Egan home and Alana caring for his dad at the ranch, they are thrown together often. It doesn't take long for them to realize they are attracted to each other. But there are obstacles to their relationship. Alana's mother-in-law, Tilly, believes that Alana will always be "Jack's wife" and expects Alana to play the part of a grieving widow at the upcoming celebration of Jack's wife. Egan used to be married to Alana's sister, making things a bit awkward. Add the rampant gossip in the small town, and both feel the pressure.

I liked that Egan and Alana were honest with each other about their feelings and reservations. That openness prevented misunderstandings and kept the focus on what they wanted. I ached for both when Tilly's grief and mama bear blindness to Jack's faults caused problems for them. I liked how Alana stood up for Egan against Tilly's vitriol. The emotional storm came to a head with an unexpected revelation. I loved how Alana and Egan faced things together, realizing it gave them greater strength. The only question remained: what would happen when Egan's leave was up?

I liked meeting Egan's siblings and look forward to reading their stories.

[Elaine - Splashes Into Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Feeling responsible for Jack, his best friend's demise
Leaves Egan Donnelly with nightmares and lots more besides.
So he's determined to remember to resist
The attraction he feels to Jack's widow - it mustn't exist!

But Alana feels the same way, too,
The attraction is building all the way through.
But she's also feeling torn by her husband dying
As she'd discovered he was having an affair and lying.

Both secretly feel guilty about what happened to Jack
And his Mum's determined to give them no slack.
She believes her son was a hero all the way through
So just what should Alana say or do?

A story of facing the truth, although it is hard to do,
And ensuring you endeavour to live a full life for you.
Though guilt and family pressures may play a part
Life is better when you also follow your heart.

For my complementary copy, I say thank you,
As I share with you this, my honest review.

[NICUnurse Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delores Fossen was a new-to-me author with her previous release, Lawman to the Core, and she hooked me on her writing after reading only one of her books. Unlike the others of hers I’ve read so far, this book is a contemporary romance, and I must say I much prefer her romantic suspense books. I had a more challenging time engaging in the plot and falling for the characters initially. However, once I did, the story became much richer, and the pace, while a bit slower than her romantic suspense, was also enjoyable.

All in all, I was entertained by a well-written romance with heart, a little heat, and enough breadcrumbs to keep me reading and enjoying the story until the end.

NICUnurse’s Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story about the three brothers and one sister of the Donnelly family and how they were always there for each other. All of them were in the military, just different jobs and different branches but this story is about the oldest, Egan. Three years before, Egan's best friend was killed in a roadside blast when Jack had come to see Egan and now Egan felt it was his fault. Because of his dad's health, Egan had to return home to the ranch to take over, at least until his Dad could work again. It was while he was at home that he ran into Jack's widow and was expecting the worse. This is a great story about new beginnings and letting go of the past. The one person that could not let go was Jack's mother and that makes this story a very upsetting tale. Great read

[Belinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Egan and Alana are both grieving. She the lost of her husband years ago and Egan blaming himself for the death of his best friend.

They are both thrown things that try to take them down..

Egans dad is sick and needs Alana's help so she is there all the time.

They both try to fight their attraction!

Alana's MIL is throwing a celebration for her son Jack but when she keeps finding stuff out she lashes out at both of them.

A great page turning read to see what is going to happen next. You get to see how people navigate their grief and try to come out on the happier side.

[Valeri Sullivan (vsulvn29) · Rating 5 out of 5]

So that others may live...to return home with honor

There’s alot to unpack in Emerald Creek, Texas as this first installment proves. When the Donnelly patriarch has a major health crisis, his oldest son has to face his own demons upon his return to town to take the reins of the family ranch...temporarily...or so he tells himself. Haunted by the death of his best friend, and seriously attracted to his widow and his former sister-in-law, Egan’s journey to find peace and happiness is a page turner full of intriguing main and secondary character that promise this series will be a must read!

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hot man in a military uniform and tight denims too.
Texas family pulls together when the patriarch suffers a medical crisis. Egan takes emergency medical leave to care for his father one hour away from his base where he is a Commander for the Fighter Training program.
He is divorced because his wife cheated on him with an artist. He is also dealing with his best friend’s death.
Add on complicated feelings for his best friend’s widow and former sister in law.
Interesting breakdown of family feelings and the relationships and connections.

[Heather · Rating 1 out of 5]

Curse the drama llama angst of this book. You've got a grieving monster in law, your dead husband's mistress, your sister's ex-husband, best friend's widow...

And that's all happening to the MC. It's a telanovela on a ranch...

[Cindy Boesl · Rating 2 out of 5]

Started out pretty good but then about 40% in just got more and more sad! Too much “drama” for my enjoyment of reading. Disappointed I paid money for this book. Definitely not reading the other books in series!

[Dorothy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad story

[Cheriwinkle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Will Damron narrates wonderfully.

[Lucy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The cover is kina annoying. It was a decent beach read with a little more content than what the cover suggests.

[Kari · Rating 4 out of 5]

very sweet cowboy romance. I loved the chemistry between the couple. Would recommend.

[Kimberly · Rating 1 out of 5]

If I could give it zero stars I would. Story was all over the place and felt very choppy.

[Quinn Fforde · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent characters

[PottWab Regional Library]

SM

[Robin Reynolds · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first Delores Fossen, and I liked it. Though it was a little irritating how often characters either mumbled or snarled, and "spelled out", as in instead of "blah blah blah, she said", it's "she spelled out". I'm not sure the author really understands the context of what it means when you use "spelled out".

[Nan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobooks nice fluffy romance

[Maureen Hubley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great books and am reading the 3rd book in the series.

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I can't wait for book 2 of the series and wish I didn't have to wait until April 23, 2024, to get it.