The Cowgirl's Forever Love

THE COWGIRL’ FOREVER LOVE is the first instalment in Vivian Arend’s contemporary, adult THE COLEMANS OF HEART FALLS romance series-a spin off from the author’s HEART FALLS series. This is veterinarian Josiah Ryder, and Lisa Coleman’s story line. Josiah and Lisa have been secondary and supporting characters throughout the Heart Falls series.

Told from several third person perspectives including Josiah and Lisa THE COWGIRL’S FOREVER LOVE follows several paths including Lisa Coleman as she struggles with a direction in life. Staying in Heart Falls, Alberta while her sister Tamara awaits the birth of her baby, Lisa finds herself attracted to local veterinarian Josiah Ryder, a man who is more than aware of Lisa’s temporary time in the quiet, little town. Making his move Josiah Ryder will begin a slow seduction of our story line heroine, a seduction meant to lead to their own happily ever after. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Josiah and Lisa, and the potential fall-out as Lisa’s time in Heart Falls comes to a close.

Meanwhile, the Coleman family will quickly come to terms with their father’s past and the chaos that is about to ensue. As the daughters of a man who had distanced himself from his children, a surprise revelation will bring the tight knit family closer in the wake a stranger’s presence and the information she reveals.

Lisa Coleman is restless. Having successfully helped merge the Coleman family ranches, Lisa’s direction in life has come to a stop. With the impending birth of her sister’s baby, Lisa begins a bucket list of the things she wants to experience, and the places she wants to visit. Josiah Ryder is always busy and struggles to find time for himself but wanting Lisa Coleman means taking the initiative. When Lisa and local rancher Sonora Fallen uncover an illegal puppy mill, Josiah finds himself in for the long haul with the woman that calls to his heart.

The relationship between Josiah and Lisa is one of immediate attraction; a relationship that has been slowly developing throughout the Heart Falls series. Lisa has no plans to remain in Heart Falls, Albert but Josiah is determined to prove to Lisa that she has found her home with our story line hero. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate, without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful secondary and supporting characters including Lisa’s sisters Karen, and Tamara (Caleb Stone), and their father George Coleman; veterinarian students Finn Marlette and Zach Sorenson; ranch hand Ashton Stewart; firefighter Brad Ford and paramedic Julia Blushing. Karen and Finn’s second chance story line is next in The Cowgirl’s Secret Love.

THE COWGIRL’S FOREVER LOVE is a story of family, friendship, romance and love. The premise is engaging and entertaining; the romance is sweet, passionate and seductive; the characters are familiar, friendly, fun and energetic. My only issue is the cover which, for all intents and purposes, does not truly represent the story line premise-the guitar is more of a prop for our story line heroine. Yes, I am that cover snob who struggles with the visual imagery when it does not meet expectations of the story within.

Well let me start with I love love love this series. I love the town of Heart Falls and the cast of characters that makes up the town. Josiah and Lisa just may be my favourite couple so far (a hard choice to make). Josiah is the town vet, a man who though self-made and strong on the outside hides a number of vulnerabilities from his past, however, this is no broody hero as he sees the joy in life too. He doesn’t plan to be involved with Lisa at first as he is not interested in temporary anymore. Lisa is in town to help her very pregnant sister and has “plans” to go see the world once the baby is here. Lisa has always been the helper in the family the one everyone relies on and she feels she should do something for herself for a change. The attraction is there and two people who didn’t know they needed each other find that, while the best laid plans can often go awry, they can also lead to the greatest joy. Josiah decides to show Lisa all the fun and joy of staying in Hearts Fall and building a life with him. Fun, funny, hot and sweet, I loved this book and can’t recommend it enough.