No Fake Dating for a Cowboy is the first book in the Escape to Cowboy Crossing series by Alexa Verde. When their family is threatened, former policewoman Jessie Ashford makes sure their temporary home in a small town is as secure as possible as secure as the wall around her heart. She also has a secret she will die trying to protect. However, when Ronan O’Neill, the local police officer, helps investigate the suspicious events around Jessie and her family, her defenses begin to fall. As Jessie is a woman who has a chip on her shoulder, Ronan is a cop with his heart on his sleeve. Still reeling from the loss of his fiancĂ©e, he wasn’t expecting to be drawn to Jessie. Can Jessie learn to trust Ronan and open her heart one more time? Can Ronan convince her that he is worthy of her love and trust?
From the opening page to the closing chapter, No Fake Dating for a Cowboy has all the charms of a small town with the suspense of a mystery thriller. There is a mixture of love, humor and nail biting excitement. However, there was a bit too much jumping back and forth in time. There was a lot of internal monologue. Too much information that other characters discuss without being revealed by another. Did I miss when particular information was revealed? I did like the characters. They were believable with flaws and yet band together to support one another. I loved the interactions between Jessie and her sisters and Ronan and his brothers. Ms Verde definitely captured sibling relationships and interactions. Overall, the story was good and I am still debating if I will continue the series. If you enjoy a small town romance with suspense, I recommend No Fake Dating for a Cowboy.No Fake Dating for a Cowboy is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook