REVIEW: A Cowgirl on His Doorstep by Anna J. Stewart

A Cowgirl on His Doorstep by Anna J. Stewart  is the third book in The Blackwell Belles series. Each book is written by a different author. They can be read as standalones, but I feel that readers would benefit from reading the series in order, as each sister demands an item from their past that is linked to the next book.

Iris Blackwell has always felt like the invisible sister, the one that no one saw unless they needed something. When an accident broke up the Blackwell Belles trick riding act, Iris took off. Now, ten years later, she has a job she loves, traveling around and rehabbing trailers. Her job leads her to the Holloway ranch, where she meets Shane.

Shane has always felt like he was the invisible son, the one who wasn’t important because he was second-in-line to inherit the ranch. Like Iris, he took off, only to return to raise his two nephews and niece, and to run the ranch, after his brother’s tragic accident. When he finds out Iris will be on the ranch to rehab his father’s trailer, he’s not thrilled. But as he sees what Iris can do, his opinion of her rises. And the more time they spend together, the more he wants her to stay. Iris feels like she’s not the type to stick around, and when an unexpected and unwanted visit from her mother, grandmother, and great uncle happens, will she take off for good?

I had previously read book one of the series, and I didn’t care for it. One of the main reasons was that I had found Flora, the mother, to be self-centered and obnoxious. I was pleasantly pleased that while Flora does have several scenes in this book, it was nowhere as much as she was featured in the first book. While she’s also still a bit self-centered, she’s not as irritating as she was in the book, either. I haven’t read the second book, but there seems to be growth in her character from book one to this one, which I enjoyed seeing.

Shane and Iris had felt underappreciated in their families, so they understood where each other was coming from and were able to help each other out when it came to their parents. I liked them as a couple, and liked how great both of them were with the children, who were clearly still struggling with their grief. They never sugarcoat what happened, but instead try to help the children deal with the new reality they face without their parents.

As with the previous books, Iris’s mother, grandmother, and great uncle show up to try to reunite the sisters, and to ask for something that the sister from the previous book asked for. I liked that their appearances didn’t overshadow the budding romance between Shane and Iris.

A Cowgirl on His Doorstep is the story of two people who have always had to be independent coming together and learning that it’s ok to lean on someone else. Their path to love is filled with an array of emotions, including sadness and happiness, and it’s worth the journey.

Book Info:

Publication: September 24, 2024 | Harlequin Heartwarming | The Blackwell Belles #3

Cowboy Shane Holloway tackles every challenge with rugged determination. But managing his father’s struggling ranch while raising his brother’s three orphaned children is running his wounded heart ragged. When trick-rider-turned-renovator Iris Blackwell shows up to work on his father’s ancient trailer, he discovers two important things — she’s as warm and bright as a Texas sunset, and she’s an unwanted distraction. Until her fun-loving spirit and genuine care start to heal his little family. Can their love entice the vagabond cowgirl and her rescued border collie, Cosmo, to stay?