The Sheriff and the Cowgirl
by Debra Holt
Release Date: September 21, 2021
Publisher: Tule Publishing
Book #4 in the Tremaynes of Texas series
Number of pages: 173
Kindle
Source: ARC from publisher
Contemporary Romance/Western
Ages 14 and Up
CW: sexual harassment
It’s never easy to make it in a man’s world, and cowgirl Tori Tremayne has chased the same dream most of her life—producing a champion bucking bull on the pro rodeo circuit. With her prize bull Maximus, she’s so close to winning top prize in the finals this year she can taste it. She can’t afford any distractions, especially not the tall, dark and swoony sheriff she’s admired all her life.
Sheriff Gray Dalton has been in love with Tori since they were kids. He doesn’t want to change Tori or derail her goals, but he does want to combine their dreams—build a life and family with her while she continues to pursue her career and passion. Gray knows he has to shake Tori up so that he can step out of the friend zone she’s so determined to keep him in.
Can Gray prove to Tori that with him she can have it all—career, love and a family?
While I couldn’t seem to pass on any of the books in this series, I am glad it is over. There is so much that I enjoyed about the series, but also just as much that frustrated and even annoyed me. The first couple of chapters were gut wrenching and I really felt the connection Gray and Tori had. But Tori quickly became too selfish for me to feel bad for her plight.
Time after time Gray proved his loyalty and affection to Tori. Time after time she acted as if she was naïve to what was happening, or even outright turned him away. But every time Gray tried to move on with his life, to put her behind him, she would get sad and despondent and miss him like crazy. I got this the first time it happened. It opened Tori’s eyes to how much she took Gray for granted and she realized she needed to open her mind and heart to what they could have together. Yet she still kept wanting him to give her everything he always had while never giving up anything herself.
I adore Gray. He is a wonderful friend and sheriff. Anyone would be lucky to have him in their corner. And patience! The man is nearly a saint. But I even started getting frustrated with him because of how he never really stood up for what he wanted and needed from Tori. Even when he would try to confront her and explain his feelings, he would still add a caveat; “I’m not pointing fingers” or “you’re just not ready”. Always giving Tori an out so she didn’t have to take responsibility for treating him poorly.
So many times Tori used her work as an excuse, saying she shouldn’t have to let her dreams go. Gray never asked her to give up her dreams. He’s just asking for her attention and a commitment. But Tori is too self-centered to even do that.
It all comes down to me finding this book to be repetitive. On top of that, I didn’t really like one of the main characters which made it difficult to engage with the story.
2 stars
**I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely**
All In Good Time 