REVIEW: Mail Order Cowboy by Victoria James

Mail Order Cowboy by Victoria James finds widow Hope Roberts inheriting a ranch from her late husband’s grandparents. Between raising her young daughter and running her own business, Hope has little time to fix up a ranch. When the one person who she hired for the ranch suddenly quits, she finds the man she blamed for her husband’s death, Dr. Dean Stanton, stepping up to help.

Dean allowed Hope to think he was to blame for her husband’s death because he promised Brian he would never tell her the truth. But he refuses to watch Hope and Sadie struggle. Despite her protests, he shows up, day after day, to work on repairing the ranch. Having grown up on a successful ranch himself, he knows what needs to be done.

Dean has always liked Hope, and the more time they spent together, Hope realizes that she’s always liked him. But soon it becomes clear that someone is out to not only ruin her ranch, but her business as well. Dean refuses to let that happen and will stop the person, no matter the cost.

Both Hope and Dean have been through a lot, but are determined not to let it get them down. I liked the strength and determination of both characters. I loved Dean’s interactions with Sadie and how quickly the two bonded. Sadie, at times, does come across as older than she was. I had a hard time picturing someone her age saying some of the things she did.

There’s little drama between Hope and Dean. Aside from some kissing, there is also no steam in the story. If you’re looking for a steamy story with some bedroom time, you won’t find it here.

This is the fourth book in the Wishing River series, but it can be read as a standalone. I haven’t read the previous three stories and didn’t feel like I was missing anything at all.

If you enjoy sweet, small-town romances, this would be a book for you. At times I found it to be a little too sweet, with things resolved quickly, I still enjoyed the book overall.

Book Info:

Publication: December 27, 2022 | Entangled: Amara | Wishing River #4

Hope Roberts has a strict No Cowboys Allowed policy. Between raising her daughter, running her business, and trying to settle into her new ranch, Hope has no room for romance—especially when it comes to cowboys. What she needs is someone to help fix her ranch. But the only person to respond to her ad is the one man Hope still blames for her husband’s death…

In Wishing River, Dr. Dean Stanton is pretty much a legend. Cowboy, doctor, heir to his family’s ranching empire—everyone knows and loves him…with the exception of Hope. But Dean doesn’t trust a complete stranger to keep Hope and her daughter safe. And despite their troubled past, he’s still the best cowboy for her job.

Bit by cautious bit, Hope’s little family of two is making room for the man she once thought of as her enemy. Until one day, Dean looks like the perfect exception to her “no cowboys” rule. But he’s been keeping a secret from her that could destroy their newfound family.