The Cowboy

Julia Justiss

May 2021 · The McAllister Brothers Book 2 · Tule Publishing

About this ebook

He’s not looking for anything serious…

When his older brother asks him to move back to Whiskey River to help run the family ranch, former Marine Grant McAllister feels obligated to agree. After spending two years recovering from battle injuries, coming home finally feels right. Relishing being back on the land, Grant decides to refurbish the family’s old hunting cabin as his new home. When the artisan designer he hires turns out to be a beautiful, intriguing woman, he hopes to mix business with a little pleasure.

She needs to remain uninvolved…

After the death of her Marine husband, a pregnant Abby Rogers moved to Whiskey River to be closer to her husband’s family and escape her controlling mother. Reinventing herself as a designer, she now focuses on her business and mothering her young daughter. She has no time for relationships—no matter how tempting she finds her handsome new client. But when her wealthy mother threatens to sue for custody of her daughter, Grant’s shocking offer forces her to listen to her heart.

Ratings and reviews

Second of the McAllister brothers found a love worth working for. Grant saw Abby and fell in love with her, her daughter Katie, and her creative furnishings. Abby was so deep in her grief that she almost missed a second chance at happiness. I loved the fact that Abby was strong enough to go against her family to prove she could survive on her own. She just did not see that in herself. Grant was so attentive to her and Katie that it tugged at my heart. The time they spent together had me smiling, tearing up, and swooning. I enjoyed this story and recommend it. I look forward to the next in the series. I received an ARC and this is my unsolicited review.

The Cowboy by Julia Justiss, book two in her McAllister Brothers series, was an enjoyable, sweet, heartwarming tale of ranch and small town life. When his big brother asks former Marine Grant McAllister to move back to Whiskey River to help with running the family ranch, he feels obligated to agree. Grant has spent the past two years recovering from battle injuries, so coming home just feels right. Glad to be back on the family’s ranch land, Grant decides to renovate the family’s old hunting cabin to become his new home. When Grant discovers the designer he hires to help with the cabin is a beautiful and fascinating woman, he hopes that maybe they can mix a little pleasure in with their business. A pregnant Abby Rogers moved to Whiskey River after the death of her Marine husband, wanting to be closer to her husband’s family and far from her controlling mother. Needing a career to support herself and her baby, Abby became a designer; often creating her own pieces. Too busy running her business and mothering her young daughter, she has no time for a new relationship; even if her handsome, new client is tempting. Abby uses that as an excuse as she fears losing another loved one. Working together, Abby and Grant discover a magnetic attraction along with the sizzle of off the charts chemistry. Grant is even good with Abby’s daughter, thinking of activities the three of them can do. When her wealthy mother threatens to sue for custody of Abby’s daughter, Grant steps up, offering a way to diffuse the situation. Abby will need to decide whether to listen to her heart and trust Grant to love her. Ms. Justiss wrote a sweet, heartwarming tale of ranch and small town life filled with strong magnetism, sizzling chemistry, wonderful dialogue, and endearing characters giving Grant and Abby a chance at love. I highly recommend The Cowboy to other readers. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

Sweet and clean, I found that this Western romance jerked at my heartstrings as I identified with Abby's loss and insecurities. Having lived under a harsh deluge of verbal abuse in her formative years, Abby's self-worth dropped to an all-time low when she received the news that her husband had died in combat. Fortunately, instead of turning to her own parents, she relocates to Whiskey River where she is enfolded into the arms of her late husband's family. Having vowed never to risk a meaningful relationship again, Abby finds herself hard-pressed to avoid falling for the ex-Marine Grant McAllister. However, her little girl does not help her cause and as Grant comes to care for both mother and daughter, he realizes that if he wants to win their hearts, he will have to woo them carefully. With the Rogers family and Grant at her back, Abby flourishes but overcoming her inner vow takes much more courage than she thought possible. I received a copy of this charming romance as a gift and this is my honest and voluntary review.