Cowgirls Don't Cry

Red Dirt Royalty #1

by Silver James

The wealthiest of enemies may seduce the ranch right out from under her!

Cassidy Morgan wasn't raised a crybaby. So when her father dies and leaves the family ranch vulnerable to takeover by an Okie gazillionaire with a grudge, she doesn't shed a tear — she fights back.

But Chance Barron, the son of said gazillionaire, is a too-sexy adversary. In fact, it isn't until Cassidy falls head over heels for the sexy cowboy-hat-wearing attorney that she even finds out he's the enemy. Now she needs a plucky plan to save her birthright. But Chance has another trick up his sleeve, putting family loyalties — and passion — to the ultimate test.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Harlequin, Contemporary

192 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2015

About the author

Silver James likes walks on the wild side and coffee. Okay. She LOVES coffee. Warning: Her Muse, Iffy, runs with scissors. A cowgirl at heart, she’s also been an Army officer’s wife and mom, and has worked in the legal field, fire service, and law enforcement. Now retired from the real world, she lives in Oklahoma and spends her days writing with the assistance of her two Newfoundland dogs, the cat who rules them all, and the myriad characters living in her imagination. She writes dark paranormal thrillers, time travel romance, and sexy contemporary romance. If you want to know more about Silver or her books, visit her at www.silverjames.com

Reviews

[Liza · Rating 4 out of 5]

***4.5 out of 5 stars***

I was lucky enough to get a review copy from Harlequin through NetGalley. I've been a fan of Silver James for years and was super excited to get a chance to read her very first Harlequin Desire early.

Let me just say that Ms. James had me crying within the first chapter and had me laughing very soon after. I loved Cassidy Morgan from the very beginning. She is a strong, feisty and spunky character. Cassidy and Chance actually meet for the first time in Chicago, right as she discovers her father has passed away. Chance Barron is son of the mega-gazillionaire Cyrus Barron and is really put between a rock and a hard place when dealing with Cassie thanks to his father's vendetta against Cassidy's father.

I really loved Chance. I think he should have been honest with Cassie a bit sooner, but knew his heart was really in the right place, so I gave him a pass. I loved the chemistry between Chance and Cassie from the very beginning. I really felt like Chance helped Cassie finally see how strong she really was. I felt her strength from the beginning, but her determination and grit really didn't come out until after she met Chance.

Cowgirls Don't Cry is the first book in the Red Dirt Royalty series and I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the stories in this series. I'm hoping with all my heart that Cyrus Barron gets his in each and every story, as he is the perfect villain you love to hate. Well done Ms. James.

[Alima Livzletlivz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Silver James is another first time author for me, and Cowgirls Don’ t Cry sure caught my attention. An emotional ride into the cowboy country, one sassy and tenacious cowgirl lassoing a rich cowboy turned attorney, was one hot bumpy gallop into the romantic sunset.

Cassidy Morgan is reeling under the death of her father, a father she had not seen for a year, a father that she believed was disappointed in her choice of life, and a father who lover her death and wanted to give her a legacy to move forward. And that very legacy is now threatened for foreclosure by an avenging gazillionaire, with an old debt to be settled with her father. Chance meeting with Chance Barron, has Cassidy losing her heart before she comes to know his true identity and Cassidy has only herself to rely on to take care of mess.

As the son of the said gazillionaire, and attorney, Chance Barron sees Cassidy by chance and is enthralled by her. He falls hard and fast and furious for Cassidy. But when the nasty reality of what his father wants to accomplish hits him, he refuses to heed his father’s warnings and betray the woman he has fallen in love with. But can he withstand the onslaught of his father’s rage and loss?

This is one fast paced ride as the courageous and smart Cassidy thinks outside the box to solve her problems, and a sexy and super smart attorney making sure he paves the way for the love of his life to win the war. Chance is one imperfect guy who is torn between the father and his ladylove, loyalty and love, right and wrong, and is smart enough to make the right decision when the time came. Cassidy is just an amazing firecracker of a cowgirl who never calls it quits and makes her father proud by taking care of the ones that matter in life and saving the ranch.

A definite great read and a definite encore of Silver James in my future reading list.

Received an ARC from Harlequin Desire via Netgalley for an honest review.

[Diana Tidlund · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn't wait to read Silver James book "Cowgirls Don't Cry" and I couldn't put it down till I read each and every page. It was as wonderful as the song by Brooks & Dunn and Reba by the same name. Outstanding. It captivated my interest from beginning to end. I couldn't wait to see what developed between Cassidy and Chance. I loved watching the romance evolve but I also loved watching them evolve as well. Her realizing that her place was where she though she didn't want to be (back at the ranch) and him realizing he needed to do what was right and stand up to that controlling b@st@rd that was his father. (I've never hated a man as much as I hated him and he was just a fictional character but Silver James wrote him so well he seemed real enough to cause me to hate him and wish he got what he deserved. He didn't get it the way I wanted him to but I'm hoping that when Ms. James revisits these characters in books that feature secondary characters from this that he will and it won't be pretty. ( At least that's my wish. ) I can't wait to see what caused Cord's reaction to Mr. Davis either, you can feel a history there and it's killing me. Did he get involved with his child, sibling, secretary? theres something there I just know it! and if not there should be!) and I wanna have closure on Sweet old Uncle Boots and nice Nadine.
So I'll be waiting with baited breath for Silver James to come out with another Red Dirt Royalty book and hopefully she'll revisit Cass and Chance and Boots and Nadine when we find out what's up with Cord?!!
So go out, read ,Cowgirls Don't Cry and get brought up to date with the characters and join me in anticipating the next Red Dirt Royalty by Silver James cause I have a feeling if you read it you will be as captivated by her storytelling and characters as I am. MUST READ!!!

[Hsiau Wei · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cassidy just lost her father who she had not seen and barely make it to his deathbed. Her father wanted her to have the ranch which are saddle with debts. Foreclosure from the creditor is looming. She wanted to protect the ranch from the action. She met Chance Barron and after spending time with him, both of them falling hard for each other. But Chance is not someone that she thought he is.

This book is a story of honesty in a relationship and I get to see the struggle that Chance have to face especially when he fallen in love with Cassidy. The dilemma and stress of losing her is depicted so well in the story. The setting of the story is great but I love the emotions that the character have makes you feel bad for them especially towards the end of the book. It pull you into their stories. Overall, it is an emotional read for me.

[Jennifer Lyon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the heroine, Cassidy's, unusual solution to the trope of rich rancher bully trying to ruin poor girl for revenge. The hero, Chance, struggled between the family loyalty indoctrinated in him from birth and his emerging conscience triggered by Cassidy. Overall it's a fun read!

[Melody Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to come later.

[Maura · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Cassidy Morgan's father dies, she heads home to take care of affairs and learns that her father left a significant amount of debt behind. She also finds that her attempts to take care of that are being stonewalled, but she doesn't know why. Cyrus Barron, who is determined to see the Morgan name destroyed, orders his son Chance to file the foreclosure notice and do everything he legally can to see Cassidy and the ranch destroyed. But Chance learns that this isn't so easy for him - he's intrigued and fascinated by Cassidy and his loyalties are torn because of it. Cassidy doesn't know of his real identity and his role in her troubles. As he begins to fall in love with her though, he knows that he'll lose her forever when she finds out.

So I'm kind of torn with this one. In one respect, I really liked Cassidy, who was confident and determined. Her relationship with Boots was great. Also, her struggle with the guilt over not being there for her father is one could identify with - to what degree do you want to be there for your family versus being out on your own? I did find it ironic that the cowgirl in a book titled, Cowgirls Don't Cry, spends a significant amount of time in the book crying. She's also surprisingly trusting for someone so cynical, with how she accepts Chance into her life without even knowing what he does for a living. I would have been MUCH more suspicious of him. Chance was really disappointing. The man must be in his 30's and he's doing completely dishonest and dishonorable things on his father's orders. It's as though the man doesn't have a conscience at all... Sure he's supposed to grow and learn to stand up to his father, but his reluctance to do so in all these years and in the face of destroying a completely innocent woman just astounded me and made him look like a complete coward. I think I needed a bit more explanation for why Chance was willing to do his father's dirty work...just a bit more buy in. Without it I found it extremely difficult to respect Chance as a hero. The romance was just okay. There are two sex scenes and the first one felt too casual, as though there wasn't enough emotion...probably because both characters were looking at it as a casual hookup. The second was much better (even though they didn't actually have sex). I am intrigued by Cord's story and may look into next book in the series.

[Carol Cassada · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cassidy Morgan is a former rodeo champ turned city girl, who returns homes following the death of her father to help her uncle Boots save the family ranch. Meanwhile, handsome businessman/billionaire Chance Barron comes to town under orders from his father to get Cassidy’s ranch. Chance befriends Cassidy, who’s unaware of his true identity. As she struggles to find a way to come up with the money to keep her father’s ranch, Chance finds himself falling for her and putting himself in an awkward situation. Will Cassidy stay with Chance when she learns his true motives? Will Chance choose Cassidy or his father? Those are the questions in Cowgirls Don’t Cry.


I loved Cassidy and Chance’s characters. Cassidy is someone who portrays herself as strong, although at times in the book when it looks like her plans for the ranch are going to fail she wants to break down, yet she doesn’t because she remembers her father’s motto “Cowgirls don’t cry.”

Chance at times, he comes across as arrogant, but towards the middle of the book I warmed up to him. I loved his relationship with Cassidy, but I didn’t like how he was lying to her and there were moments where I just wanted him to admit the truth. I liked the turmoil he faced with choosing between helping Cassidy or obeying his father’s orders.

The author does a good job of setting the western feeling in the book. Everything from the small town setting to the scenery to the townsfolk makes you want to be transported there. Boots is one of my favorite characters; I love the scenes with him and his dog. I liked how he was a father figure to Cassidy and gave her advice about Chance.

The ending was well done and I liked how the author wrapped it up with every character getting what they deserved. There was also a hint of a sequel revolving around one of Chance’s brothers, which I’ll be reading next.

I love a good western/cowboy romance and Cowgirls Don’t Cry has become one of my favorites.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first Silver James book and i am happy to say that i enjoyed it immensely. Initially like almost any book i read the blurb first attracted me. This series is about 4 brothers and Chance is the subject of this book. Even though the brothers seem pretty alpha so far they have pretty much let their father tell them what to do. Chance meets Cassidy at the airport in Chicago. Little do they know their chance encounter will lead to a whole lot more. Chance is kind of a playboy skirt chaser until he lays eyes on Cassidy. The more time they spends together the more Chance is torn about secrets he has and loyalty. He met Cassidy right when her her father passed away and she is torn up with guilt because she feels she always let her father down. Now there's a real possibility she might lose her father's ranch to a old enemy of his. Chance knows exactly what's going on but doesn't tell Cassidy until it's to late. This a great story about love, finding yourself, standing up for what's right and loyalty and forgiveness. Such a awesome story. Both the main characters have to struggle with what to do and making the right decision. Fun, exciting and emotional is how i would describe this story. Seems i might have found a new author to read and a new series. A win, win!

[Josianne Haag · Rating 4 out of 5]

Won in Goodreads Giveaways.

I loved the character of Cass. It was great to see a female lead take control of her situation and not rely on other people to fix things for her. So many times, the girl will rely on the guy to come up with a solution for their problem, but Cass wanted to be the one to save her own ranch.

The whole revenge plot of Cyrus Baron seemed way over the top. I imagined him as one of those villains who sits around in the shadows, tapping his fingers together as he plots world domination. When Cass started to worry about the cops not letting her into Oklahoma I heard warning bells go off in my head. It sounded so shady when she said that Cyrus Baron controlled a lot of the police force.

I found it very realistic that Chance didn't do anything to help her for the longest time besides putting off the foreclosure. It was a legitimately tough decision for him to abandon his family when he had been raised knowing that they come before everything.

It was a fast, light hearted read.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

After the death of her father Cassidy is left to take care of her fathers ranch but the debt left to her is hard to deal with. She will do anything and everything to fix the problems caused. Meanwhile Chance's father who has a vendetta against Cassidy's father is willing to take her and her fathers ranch down without a care. After spending some times with Cassidy, Chance's view on helping his father vendetta has changed. He had managed to unwillingly fall for this sassy girl and now faced with the dilemma of telling her who he really is and reveal he is part of her troubles.

I really loved this short, enjoyable and steamy book. I loved the characters and how everything played out in the book. I loved that Cassidy was a strong character and wasn't the type of person to get her down, when things were headed south she found a way to solve her problems. Overall a great book, I recommend you lovely readers to check out this book.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

See more of my reviews on my blog Thoughts At One In The Morning.

My Thoughts:

Such a charming and sweet book! I thoroughly enjoyed watching the story unfold. The attraction that leads to the truth that leads back to attraction. Cassidy and Chance connect in the sweetest way--you can feel it from the start. And as you near the end, the emotions surge. I even teared up a little bit when Cassidy was talking about her father.

Cowgirls Don't Cry is an honest and real story. I thought it played out perfectly. Cassidy was one of those women you want to strive to be--strong and determined. Her love for the ranch and her father shows throughout. And Chance is nothing short of amazing. How much he cares about Cassidy is easy to see. I'm definitely interested in reading more by Silver James, which will include more in the Red Dirt Royalty series!

My Rating: Very Good

[Jennifer Schultheis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cowgirls Don't Cry is the first book in the Red Dirt Royalty Series and it's amazing. The very first thing that I noticed about this book, was the cover. Very charming, flirty, and it just made me smile. As for the writing inside of the book, well, Silver James hooked me from the very beginning and kept me entertained throughout the whole book. Her characters are strong and memorable. It's not going to matter how many more books I read, I will still remember Cass and her spunky attitude. She is real, smart and the type of woman that I would love to have as a friend. I didn't care for Chance in the beginning, but he grows on you. He had his moments, but he really pulled out all the stops at the end and made my heart melt a little. The secondary characters kept me intrigued and now I am dying to read the second book in this series. Cowgirls Don't Cry is a must read!

[Siobhan Muir · Rating 4 out of 5]

Silver James is one of my go-to authors when I'm feeling down or tired or just want to be entertained. Her prose and storytelling suck me right in no matter what she writes about. I'm not usually a fan of contemporary romance, but Ms. James drags me in and keeps me interested until the very last page. This book, the first in the Red Dirt Royalty series, equally pissed me off and made me cry at the sweetness of the tale. Her hero wasn't very heroic for most of the tale, a quality that bit him in the hindquarters near the end of the book. I still think Cassidy should have made Chance grovel more, but he got his comeuppance and started the problems for his older brother, too. Just you wait for The Cowgirl's Little Secret. :D Good tale and this was my all time favorite line: "She had to be as crazy as a grasshopper sunbathing on a red ant pile." Aw yeah.

[Wendy Keel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed for site: My Book Addiction and More.

What a great book! I picked up COWGIRLS DON'T CRY because the blurb sounded interesting, but honestly wasn't expecting such a great read. The characters are realistic and believable. The setting is great but takes a secondary place to the emotions that run high in this book. I found the story to be a quick, fun read with moments of deep emotion. The characters pull you into their feelings and never quite let go. I loved many of the secondary characters, like Cord, and can't wait to read the next book in the series. Silver James has become one of my top authors! I highly recommend COWGIRLS DON'T CRY to one and all, especially fans of great, quick, emotional reads!

*I got this book off Netgalley for the purpose of a review.*

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

SPOILERY...

First time I've read anything by this author and Cowgirls Don't Cry gave me the character of a heroine I love to read about, one I could get behind and scream ‘you go girl.’ A feisty, funny and capable woman with an inner strength that showed from beginning to end and when a truth is revealed about the hero Chance, she refused to dissolve into a whimpering mess, no, she pulled up her cowgirl pants and ploughed ahead with her plans, determined to save her ranch without the help of the man she had grown to love, a man whose loyalties were divided through much of the book.

Chance was a ditherer. Yeah I get family loyalty but I still wanted to slap him for not standing up and being the man Cass needed a lot sooner than he did, a man she deserved.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cowgirls Don't Cry, they just get back on and ride is the catch phrase of this story where Chance Barron and Cassidy Ann Morgan meet by chance in Chicago and despite the orders from Cyrus Barron to destroy Cassidy; Chance finds the one woman for him back in Oklahoma. If you like a good cowboy love story, with a bad guy, a cattle drive (in modern times) and a group of people willing to pull together to help one another, this is the story for you because Cowgirls Don't Cry, they just get back on and ride.

I send my thanks to Silver James, the author and Goodreads First Reads Giveaway for my copy of Cowgirls Don't Cry that I won in the Giveaway.

[B.E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, I admit, I kinda hated the hero at first. But I expected Ms. James to redeem him somehow, and sure enough, she didn't disappoint. I loved this book. A gusty heroine who doesn't give up--even when she has every reason to. A happily-ever-after I expect from any good romance novel. And plenty of angst along the way.

I can't wait for the next Red Dirt Royalty book. And the next. And the next. For however many brothers are in the Barron family and whatever ladies they can find to love them.

[Heather andrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chance he sometimes doesn't know when to keep his mouth shut, "so, either you're really happy to see me or you're cold." She glanced down, and when her gaze met his again, her cheeks were flushed." The chemistry between these two were smokin':
She thumped him on the shoulder. "Put me down, Chance."
"You're the one with your legs wrapped around my waist, darlin'."
Chance is very cordial when it comes to the naughty, "he inhaled sharply and finally managed a complete sentence. "I want to be inside you, darlin', but I don't have a condom." I enjoyed this book I liked Chance.

[Beyond the Pages with Eva K · Rating 5 out of 5]

I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed...and yes, loved reading this romance novel. It was amazing! I could say that I loved it because Cassie and Chance had such great chemistry or because the story showed how love trumps all things, but at the end of the day, it's probably because the underdog won through the power of love. Salute!!!

Rating: 5/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: Adult
Status: M
Chemistry/Intensity: Yes
Conflict/Drama: Yes
Family/Dysfunction: Yes
Series Potential: Yes

A complimentary copy of this title was made available for review in exchange for an honest critique.

[Donna Cummings · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun story! There's Chance, a sexy cowboy lawyer, and Cass, a sassy cowgirl heroine who had me rooting for her on every page. I was so absorbed in this romance set on a horse ranch in Oklahoma, complete with hot, dusty summery weather, I forgot I'm actually surrounded by mountains of snow in wintery New England. I'm definitely looking forward to more stories in this series. The hero has several hunky brothers (I hope Cord's story is next!), and I'm also hoping the heroine's uncle gets to have his HEA too.

[Silver James]

No rating because it's sort of like voting for yourself in a popularity contest in grade school--you want to but it feels REALLY weird. As an author, I always find something I want to change when I read one of my books after publication. I only found one paragraph that I would tweak--and only one sentence in that paragraph. That's a new record. Yes, I still love the characters and story. What kind of writer would I be if I didn't? LOLOL

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book from Goodreads First Reads Giveaway.

This was such a quick, fun, sweet read. Cassie and Chance had me laughing and had such great chemistry together. Chance is swoon worthy. This is first book in the Red Dirt Royalty series. I look forward to what else Silver James has up her sleeve.

[Shea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads. It was a quick read but I really hated Chance (the male love interest). He sat on his butt and did nothing when his dad was screwing up Cassidy's life. But Cassidy was an amazing character. When her life was going to hell in a hand-basket she put on her big girl pants and got stuff done.I wish I was more like her. It was OK.

[Ashlynn Pearce · Rating 5 out of 5]

super sweet and sexy story!

I loved this little book! Cassie is sweet and stubborn and Chance a smooth talker. I wanted to bean Chance on the head a few times but he got it right in the end. Can't wait for the next Red Dirt Royalty book!

[Virginia Madrid · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely heart warming!! I love the story line, the intoxicating cowboy, the hard-headed city-slicking cowgirl, it all comes together to make a wonderful read!! Can't wait to read the next in the series!

[Harlequin Books]

received 4 stars @ RT Book Reviews
Miniseries: Red Dirt Royalty

[Megan Tilley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Won this book from Goodreads! It is such a sweet book and spicy in some areas! I love Cass's character! I also love how all the names start with C! It is a great romance book!

[Linda Klages · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a goodreads win for me. Loved the book - couldn't put it down. Can't wait to read about brother Cord in the next book. My sister couldn't wait to read the extra book given to me. THanks!

[Dottie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun book and just the first in her Red Dirt Royalty series. Can't wait to get the rest. True love does conquer all read this one its a keeper.