"Her Washed-Up Cowboy" by Hattie Wade
It's Review Day! Today we have a super sweet novella that will keep you swooning from the first page till the last. If you love short stories portraying a grumpy cowboy that is actually a sweetheart, rodeo, horses, country music and small town romance with a dash of forbidden love then “Her Washed-Up Cowboy” by Hattie Wade is definitely for you!
I received an ARC copy of this book but all opinions here are my own.
You can also check my Goodreads version. Please feel free to Contact Me if you have any reading recommendations, general comments, or suggestions. Thank you for the support!
Steph 📖
"Her Washed-Up Cowboy" by Hattie Wade
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Tropes: Grumpy x Sunshine, Cowboy x Pastor’s daughter, Small-Town Romance, neighbors to lovers, friends to lovers, forbidden romance
Genres: Clean romance, Contemporary Romance, Sweet Romance
WARNINGS!
There are no major warnings applicable! There are a lot of swoony moments, a couple of kisses and brief mentions of past injury (not described).
Notes:
This is a standalone novella available on Kindle and paperback. Even though it portrays the female lead as a pastor’s daughter, that is not the main focus of the story but it does contain a few mentions of prayer and God.
*** The author's beliefs do not represent my own. Please note the disclaimer included in my Blog Guidelines***
Summary
Penelope Montgomery arrives back home from college for the summer, with a secret up her sleeve.
Philip Heath LaHaye is still the leading topic of town gossip, even though it's been nine years since his last eight-second ride.
When Penelope and Philip cross paths, she quickly discovers one thing is for sure ... this man is quite the grump. But can she blame him? With all he's endured?
It may just be the way she was raised, but she vows to give him a chance.
After all, prickly pears are sweet inside.
Review
“Her Washed-Up Cowboy” by Hattie Wade is a short, sweet, and inspiring novella that offers a delightful escape into a quaint small town world where love blooms unexpectedly and dreams and second chances become true. It is a perfect feel-good novel to read before bed, between breaks or on the weekend to relax.
The story revolves around Penelope Montgomery, a college student that returns to her hometown for the summer with a secret goal in mind. But her plans take an unexpected turn when she crosses paths with none other than Phillip Heath LaHaye, the town’s former rodeo star who also happens to be her teenage crush. At first glance, Philip appears to be the quintessential grump, but that is only a mask that conceals the scars of his past. It's Penelope's upbringing, filled with faith, kindness and empathy, that leads her to extend an olive branch to Philip, giving him the chance he so desperately needs and bringing to life the phrase “even prickly pears are sweet inside”.
I love how they gradually understand each other as they spend more time together without any expectations other than supporting each other, each of their interactions filled with sizzling chemistry and funny banter which sweetly leads to a budding romance. There are so many swoony moments that I lost count of them, and I enjoyed the vividly portrayed small-town charm that immerses you in the idyllic yet gossip-filled community that plays a significant role in their story.
Favorite Quotes:
“[...] he’s definitely not just a washed-up cowboy, so who is he exactly? I guess that I’m about to find out.” - Penelope
“Faith, I know it hasn’t been very long. But I... I want you to know that I don’t just date around. God brought you into my life when, little did I know, I needed you the most. This isn’t a summer fling for m, and I want you to know that,”” -Phillip
“[...] my heart has made this much clear: my heart belongs to Heath.”- Penelope
“She ain’t my little darlin’ no more, sir. She’s my angel.”- Phillip
Once again, Hattie’s storytelling prowess shines through, making you connect with the characters from the very first moment they’re introduced, you can feel their struggles, their pain, their love, and you find yourself cheering them on at every step of the way. The graceful way she weaves Phillip’s story with Penelope’s makes you feel as if you're watching a movie that you don't want to end. And each chapter's title being a country song is such a great touch that helps you get into the setting, you should definitely listen to them when you’re reading! I also love that Penelope's summer project, becomes the unforeseen binding character that serves as the perfect background for the misunderstood Washed-Up Cowboy’s love story.
I know that in every story with the epilogue there’s this sense of “they lived happily ever after” but, if you're like me who when falls in love with a story could easily keep on reading about all the little things and their biggest accomplishments, there’s nothing like reading the last word of the last chapter with a sigh, the kind of sigh that comes with aweing after reaching the end knowing what a journey it was. And this book was one of them.
Hattie Wade's "Her Washed-Up Cowboy" is a heartwarming, charming and enjoyable read for fans of sweet, small-town romances. It reinforces the idea that love can heal even the most wounded hearts and reminds us that, just like prickly pears, people can reveal their sweetness with the right care and understanding.
About the Author
Hattie Wade, a North Texas native that loves to write faith-filled yet passionate romance novels, as she recognizes the best love stories are written by God. Hattie has an incredibly supportive husband she calls, “the saint” and one sweet son. She’s also a fan of country music, personality tests, and sweet tea! You can read more about her at:
https://hattiewadeauthor.wixsite.com/hattie-wade---author
https://www.instagram.com/hattiewadeauthor/
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