Solid Gold Cowboy (Gold Valley) – book review

Solid Gold Cowboy
by Maisey Yates
Release Date:  June 1, 2020
Publisher: HQN Books
Book #11.5 in the Gold Valley series
Number of Pages: 60
Kindle Edition
Source:  Amazon Pre-Order
Contemporary Romance M/F
Ages 18 and up
Read 6/18/21

He’s witnessed all of Gold Valley’s happy-ever-afters—is it finally time for this cowboy to claim his own?

As owner of Gold Valley’s bar, Laz Jenkins has had a ringside seat to all of the town’s drama. He’s poured drinks for, and given advice to, almost every cowboy in town—he knows everyone’s secrets. But no one realizes he’s hiding a secret of his own. Laz has been in love, for years, with his best friend, Jordan. Which means he’s definitely not going to her wedding. But when Jordan shows up in his bar in her wedding dress, very much not married, suddenly all bets are off.

Jordan appreciates the irony that she, a woman with insomnia, almost sleepwalked into a marriage she didn’t want. But this runaway bride is facing the fact that she needs a new place to stay, and fast. When Laz offers support, and his house to sleep at, she agrees. Except suddenly she’s not thinking of Laz as a friend, but as someone much more intense…and irresistible! He’s always been totally off-limits, but is their chemistry fierce enough to burn through every one of their reservations?

This is a super quick read. It’s only 60 pages, but those pages are packed with emotion.

If you’ve been reading this series, you know Laz. The trusty bartender at the local watering hole. Always there to give advice to the men in Gold Valley who are destroying their love lives. But that’s about all we know about Laz…until now.

Jordan has been coming to Laz’s bar for years. Her visits are after hours, but very innocent. She has insomnia and he’s there late closing things up. In that time, they strike up a special bond, a deep friendship. In fact, they both refer to the other as their best friend. And they both have much more romantic feelings for the other, but neither are about to admit that. In fact, Jordan has had a boyfriend/fiancé this whole time. But can she go through with the wedding? Laz has always considered himself a lone wolf, no having the temperament to have anyone else in his life on a regular basis. But can he handle watching Jordan marry someone else?

You would, at first, think Jordan is possibly not the best person in the world for stringing her fiancé along while having feelings for someone else. Yet, within this very short story, the author really helps the reader to understand and sympathize with Jordan. She’s actually not doing anything wrong. It’s not that her fiancé or his family are terrible, but they’re also not great.

Although this story is a novella within a longer series, it can very easily be read as a standalone. I’d highly recommend it if you’re looking for a quick read with a guaranteed HEA. It gave me all the feels.

5 stars