REVIEW: The Cowboy of Valentine Valley by Emma Cane

In The Cowboy of Valentine Valley (Valentine Valley #3) by Emma Cane, Cowboy Josh Thalberg’s life has taken a turn for the better. His hobby of tooling handcrafted leatherwork pieces is becoming a full-time job, thanks to the sales in local Valentine Valley shops and the interest of one upscale shop in Aspen. But it’s the photos taken to promote his handmade leather purses that has women chasing after Josh night and day. As his fan club grows daily, the woman he really wants to take notice of him, Whitney Winslow, is more difficult to impress. Or so Josh thinks. Can he convince her that his intentions are true and that he can make Valentine Valley the perfect place for a world traveler like herself?

‘His parents had always told him he’d know the right woman when he met her, and now he knew. Whitney was the only woman for him, but he suspected she’d take some convincing.’

Whitney Winslow grew up with emotionally distant parents who thought money could replace real affection. After a rebellious phase, she decided to change her life and prove she could put her business degree to good use, creating Leather and Lace, an upscale lingerie shop.Whitney has set her sights on opening a shop in Valentine Valley, although she’s met some opposition from locals. The one man who has had her back the entire time is local hottie, cowboy Josh Thalberg. She’s hired him to make one-of-a-kind leather collars for her shop and is trying to keep it strictly business. But her traitorous body isn’t getting the hint. Josh sets out to court Whitney and no matter how hard she tries, she can’t turn herself away from the man who’s slowly stealing her heart.

‘The two of them should have nothing in common–but it didn’t seem to matter where her libido was concerned.

The Cowboy of Valentine Valley is one of those sweet, fun contemporary romances that just makes me feel happy and sigh contentedly.

Book three in this series is mainly about Josh and Whitney. Two people who are from very different worlds, but who really want the same thing out of life: love, happiness and security. Josh has had all three of these attributes while growing up in his rowdy, close-knit Colorado family and wants to share that with a special woman. Whitney on the other hand, has never had a close family relationship and isn’t sure what to think of Josh and his fellow Valentine Valley friends & family. I enjoyed how Whitney was taken by surprise that she liked the closeness of being in a small town. She thought it might feel intrusive at first but grew to love having others look out for her for the first time in her life. Gotta love that about small towns…

Whitney and Josh’s relationship was a slow burn, but was full of tender, cute moments that made it well worth the wait. The running joke about when and where they would have their first big date together was comical. And I thought Josh’s notion of “courting” Whitney was not old fashioned, but smart. She was used to just going out casually on dates, never having a true relationship, and this was a way for Josh to build something lasting with Whitney. Very tricky, but effective! 😉 The local townspeople were wonderful as well. They added an extra something special to an already interesting storyline. Especially “the widows”. Their scheming to help along romances and benefit the town was charming and truly funny.

I think fans of contemporary romance with a down-home feel will enjoy The Cowboy of Valentine Valley. You can read this as a standalone or feel free to check out the rest of this welcoming series.

Book Info:

Published January 28th 2014 by Avon | Valentine Valley #3

Welcome to Valentine Valley, where the cowboys have many talents and love is waiting around every corner . . .

Ever since a heated late-night kiss—that absolutely should not have happened—cowboy Josh Thalberg makes former Hollywood bad girl Whitney Winslow’s pulse beat faster. But when she decides to use his gorgeous leatherwork in her new upscale lingerie shop, Leather & Lace, she’s determined to keep their relationship strictly professional . . . even if she wants so much more.

Josh has never met a challenge he isn’t up for. Which is probably why he allowed Whitney to persuade him to take the sexy publicity photo that went viral—and now has every woman in America knocking down his door . . . every woman except the one he can’t get out of his head.

But how to convince a reformed bad girl that some rules are worth breaking?