What do you think?
Rate this book
Dirty Cowboy
He’s all boots and brooding. She’s all heels and city sass. What could go wrong?
Emma Silver
I need a ring. Not forever—just long enough to lock in the promotion I’ve worked my whole life for.
Enter Eric grumpy cowboy, my brothers’ best friend… and the man I’ve loved since I was old enough to ride bareback.
To him, I’ve always been off-limits.
But now he needs a fiancée to save his family’s ranch.
I need a fake fiancé to save my career.
The plan is simple. The timeline is short.
And the rules are No falling in love.
Too bad I’ve never been great at following rules—especially when it comes to the cowboy who doesn’t even know he already has my heart.
Eric Waters
Emma Silver is trouble in a sundress.
Smart, relentless, ten years too young, and my best friend’s little sister.
She’s also my only shot at saving the land my grandfather built.
One fake engagement, and I get to keep the ranch. But nothing about Emma feels fake—not the way she smiles, not the way she challenges me, and definitely not the way she kisses me like I’m the only man who’s ever mattered.
I’ve lived my life by a code.
But for her?
I’d break every damn rule.
Originally published in 2014 as Layers Crossed, this novel has been entirely rewritten with a brand-new plot and characters. Dirty Cowboy is a complete transformation—and can be enjoyed as a standalone novel.
Emma Silver
I need a ring. Not forever—just long enough to lock in the promotion I’ve worked my whole life for.
Enter Eric grumpy cowboy, my brothers’ best friend… and the man I’ve loved since I was old enough to ride bareback.
To him, I’ve always been off-limits.
But now he needs a fiancée to save his family’s ranch.
I need a fake fiancé to save my career.
The plan is simple. The timeline is short.
And the rules are No falling in love.
Too bad I’ve never been great at following rules—especially when it comes to the cowboy who doesn’t even know he already has my heart.
Eric Waters
Emma Silver is trouble in a sundress.
Smart, relentless, ten years too young, and my best friend’s little sister.
She’s also my only shot at saving the land my grandfather built.
One fake engagement, and I get to keep the ranch. But nothing about Emma feels fake—not the way she smiles, not the way she challenges me, and definitely not the way she kisses me like I’m the only man who’s ever mattered.
I’ve lived my life by a code.
But for her?
I’d break every damn rule.
Originally published in 2014 as Layers Crossed, this novel has been entirely rewritten with a brand-new plot and characters. Dirty Cowboy is a complete transformation—and can be enjoyed as a standalone novel.
320 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 1, 2025
36 people are currently reading
78 people want to read
About the author
Lacey Silks
90 books755 followersUSA Today Bestselling Author Lacey Silks writes seat-gripping romantic suspense with heat and spice. She’s married to most of her characters and tortures her husband with quirky book roles. Lacey’s two kids and her dog Kygo fill her time with homework questions and sweet licks all over her face (the dog not the kids).
When she’s not writing seat-gripping and heart-throbbing stories, Lacey enjoys camping and skiing with her family. She’s an early bird by nature and drinks coffee instead of water, because that’s how her busy billionaire heroes do it.
Lacey’s flawed and relatable characters fill the pages with laughter, snark and tears. She judges men by the size of their feet, loves sexy lingerie, and can’t live without her “boost juice”: coffee.
To be notified of new releases and promotions, sign up for her newsletter → http://smarturl.it/Laceymail
Follow her on Amazon → http://smarturl.it/SilksAMZN
Follow her on BookBub → http://smarturl.it/SilksBB
Follow her on TikTok → https://laceysilks.com/l/1880640
Like her Facebook page
→ http://smarturl.it/LaceySilksFB
When she’s not writing seat-gripping and heart-throbbing stories, Lacey enjoys camping and skiing with her family. She’s an early bird by nature and drinks coffee instead of water, because that’s how her busy billionaire heroes do it.
Lacey’s flawed and relatable characters fill the pages with laughter, snark and tears. She judges men by the size of their feet, loves sexy lingerie, and can’t live without her “boost juice”: coffee.
To be notified of new releases and promotions, sign up for her newsletter → http://smarturl.it/Laceymail
Follow her on Amazon → http://smarturl.it/SilksAMZN
Follow her on BookBub → http://smarturl.it/SilksBB
Follow her on TikTok → https://laceysilks.com/l/1880640
Like her Facebook page
→ http://smarturl.it/LaceySilksFB
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
January 2, 2026
Worst book I’ve ever read but it was such a laugh so one star
May 4, 2025
I edited this book for Ms. Silks, and sometimes I found myself laughing out loud. Descriptions are clear and evocative, and I love the characters. They are relatable, and the banter between Emma and Eric is often quite amusing.
As the summary states, this is a fake engagement trope. Emma has had a crush on Eric, friend of her older brothers, for as long as she can remember. Eric has always seen her as a “little sister,” but that’s not the case anymore. Emma's overbearing older brothers, Julian and Tristan, decide she needs to get away from her father, who's in the late stages of cancer. Death is imminent, and they feel Emma is too emotionally involved. First of all, what? Nevertheless, they convince Eric to join their deception to get her out of town. They exaggerate an issue having to do with when Eric and his sister were kidnapped almost 30 years ago, telling Emma that Eric needs help locating the man who kidnapped them. He doesn't. He knows exactly where John Huntz is.
Eric doesn't like lying to Emma, but he needs to have a pretend fiancée to inherit the family farm, and he decides having her to himself will allow him to convince her to play the part. At the same time, Emma is frustrated that her brothers refuse to give her any "real" cases at Silver Securities. If she were engaged, she would become a partner. So, they agree to move forward with the scheme. Of course, Emma has secret plans to make Eric fall in love with her because she's been in love with him since the moment she met him (in elementary school).
One of the requirements of Eric’s grandfather is that they need to announce their engagement at the town harvest celebration. I loved this description of the festival: “The Big Barn glows under the soft shimmer of string lights, casting a golden haze over the wooden beams and hay bales lining the walls. The scent of apple pie and freshly cut straw drifts through the air, wrapping around me in a blanket of home. Sunflowers sit in oversized mason jars, their bright faces turned toward the warm glow. Ribbons in deep autumn colors sway gently with the breeze slipping through the open barn doors, as if the night itself is celebrating with us.”
And the similarities between Emma and Eric cracked me up. When Emma sees Eric walking past her office: “I lurch to my feet, ready to investigate, but my damn rug betrays me. My foot catches, my balance evaporates, and I slam into the wall like a human cartoon. My cheek presses against the glass as I watch him stop outside the conference room.” When Erice receives an early morning phone call: “One second, I’m blissfully dead to the world, and the next, I’m flailing, nearly rolling onto the floor in a mess of tangled blankets and misplaced dignity.”
Emma has some great moments, like when she sees Eric shirtless: “My gaze drops to his bare chest again, and my brain collapses in on itself like a dying star.” And when confronted by her nemesis, the woman who wants Eric for herself, Emma does something that literally had me laughing out loud: “And in one glorious, unfiltered moment, I vomit all over her designer cowboy boots.”
There are some really poignant parts too. Emma, thinking she has finally broken through Eric’s defenses (he’s afraid of betraying the trust of her brothers), is thrilled that he’s finally giving her the kind of attention she desires. But then, he discovers she’s a virgin, and “Before I can respond, he snatches my jeans off the hay bale and starts dressing me like I’m a doll he needs to put away. His hands are careful but quick, zipping me up and fastening my buttons like it’s some kind of damage control.” This was heartbreaking. And yet, Emma doesn’t give up so easily. She’s determined.
I had some problems with the explanations for how things worked in the story (i.e. legal issues, Caroline, Eric's indebtedness to Huntz). Unfortunately, I can’t go into details because I don’t want to ruin the story for anyone. Some of the questions I had were relatively unimportant (because they don’t affect the overall plot, and honestly, sometimes I can be dragged into tangents), but there are some loose ends—which I’m told will be addressed in the next book, featuring Misty and Blake.
Ultimately, I recommend this book. Emma’s fantasizing about Eric for all of these years, which was tangentially relayed in other books in the series, is finally realized. In this book, we learn much more about Emma and about Eric, and I like what I learned. I'm looking forward to reading more about Eric's (and now Emma's) hometown, Lords Valley, PA., and the people who live there.
As the summary states, this is a fake engagement trope. Emma has had a crush on Eric, friend of her older brothers, for as long as she can remember. Eric has always seen her as a “little sister,” but that’s not the case anymore. Emma's overbearing older brothers, Julian and Tristan, decide she needs to get away from her father, who's in the late stages of cancer. Death is imminent, and they feel Emma is too emotionally involved. First of all, what? Nevertheless, they convince Eric to join their deception to get her out of town. They exaggerate an issue having to do with when Eric and his sister were kidnapped almost 30 years ago, telling Emma that Eric needs help locating the man who kidnapped them. He doesn't. He knows exactly where John Huntz is.
Eric doesn't like lying to Emma, but he needs to have a pretend fiancée to inherit the family farm, and he decides having her to himself will allow him to convince her to play the part. At the same time, Emma is frustrated that her brothers refuse to give her any "real" cases at Silver Securities. If she were engaged, she would become a partner. So, they agree to move forward with the scheme. Of course, Emma has secret plans to make Eric fall in love with her because she's been in love with him since the moment she met him (in elementary school).
One of the requirements of Eric’s grandfather is that they need to announce their engagement at the town harvest celebration. I loved this description of the festival: “The Big Barn glows under the soft shimmer of string lights, casting a golden haze over the wooden beams and hay bales lining the walls. The scent of apple pie and freshly cut straw drifts through the air, wrapping around me in a blanket of home. Sunflowers sit in oversized mason jars, their bright faces turned toward the warm glow. Ribbons in deep autumn colors sway gently with the breeze slipping through the open barn doors, as if the night itself is celebrating with us.”
And the similarities between Emma and Eric cracked me up. When Emma sees Eric walking past her office: “I lurch to my feet, ready to investigate, but my damn rug betrays me. My foot catches, my balance evaporates, and I slam into the wall like a human cartoon. My cheek presses against the glass as I watch him stop outside the conference room.” When Erice receives an early morning phone call: “One second, I’m blissfully dead to the world, and the next, I’m flailing, nearly rolling onto the floor in a mess of tangled blankets and misplaced dignity.”
Emma has some great moments, like when she sees Eric shirtless: “My gaze drops to his bare chest again, and my brain collapses in on itself like a dying star.” And when confronted by her nemesis, the woman who wants Eric for herself, Emma does something that literally had me laughing out loud: “And in one glorious, unfiltered moment, I vomit all over her designer cowboy boots.”
There are some really poignant parts too. Emma, thinking she has finally broken through Eric’s defenses (he’s afraid of betraying the trust of her brothers), is thrilled that he’s finally giving her the kind of attention she desires. But then, he discovers she’s a virgin, and “Before I can respond, he snatches my jeans off the hay bale and starts dressing me like I’m a doll he needs to put away. His hands are careful but quick, zipping me up and fastening my buttons like it’s some kind of damage control.” This was heartbreaking. And yet, Emma doesn’t give up so easily. She’s determined.
I had some problems with the explanations for how things worked in the story (i.e. legal issues, Caroline, Eric's indebtedness to Huntz). Unfortunately, I can’t go into details because I don’t want to ruin the story for anyone. Some of the questions I had were relatively unimportant (because they don’t affect the overall plot, and honestly, sometimes I can be dragged into tangents), but there are some loose ends—which I’m told will be addressed in the next book, featuring Misty and Blake.
Ultimately, I recommend this book. Emma’s fantasizing about Eric for all of these years, which was tangentially relayed in other books in the series, is finally realized. In this book, we learn much more about Emma and about Eric, and I like what I learned. I'm looking forward to reading more about Eric's (and now Emma's) hometown, Lords Valley, PA., and the people who live there.
May 11, 2025
Lacey Silks brings us the story of Emma and Eric. This is the first book in the Dirty Deeds series. In order for each to get what they want; they must first pretend that they are engaged. She wants to be taken seriously and be a partner in her family's business while he wants to save his ranch. The problem: She has loved him since she was young, and he sees her as his best friend's little sister. Will pretending lead to something more? Or will all the lies and deceit catch up to them and pull them apart?
Lacey Silks brings us a story of two people who start their "engagement" with lies. Both Emma and Eric are lying to each other and to those around them. They think that they will get to the end game without any harm. But being near each other and having to keep up with the pretense may be too close for comfort. Emma is sassy and forward while Eric is more reserved since he seems to keep everything inside. I enjoyed their banter as she tries to see how far she can push him, and he is trying to see her as his best friend's sister. I look forward to seeing what happens next.
I have received and read an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I would like to thank the author for this privilege.
Lacey Silks brings us a story of two people who start their "engagement" with lies. Both Emma and Eric are lying to each other and to those around them. They think that they will get to the end game without any harm. But being near each other and having to keep up with the pretense may be too close for comfort. Emma is sassy and forward while Eric is more reserved since he seems to keep everything inside. I enjoyed their banter as she tries to see how far she can push him, and he is trying to see her as his best friend's sister. I look forward to seeing what happens next.
I have received and read an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I would like to thank the author for this privilege.
April 23, 2025
Emma's story everything I hoped for, and I couldn't put this book down. As the youngest sibling of much older brothers Emma has become fed up with their over protectiveness. When Eric Waters shows up at Silver Securities with a job, Emma is glad to take on the case in hopes it will lead to her promotion to full partner in the family business. In order to save his ranch Eric Waters asks Emma to pose as his fiancé, and since she has been in love with Eric for years, she jumps at the chance to get closer to him. Unfortunately, two people that Eric thought were finally out of his life will do everything they can to make sure that he and Emma never find happiness. Fascinating characters with engaging and realistic personalities, I loved them. Fast-paced dialog, steamy interactions, surprising twists, suspense, and a happily ever after.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary ARC of this book.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary ARC of this book.
April 4, 2025
i couldn't put this down it was like I needed to know more.
she's reckless but in the same way beautiful she came barging into my life turning it upside down, but it wasn't till now that I realized it was for more than I thought..... yes, that would be our dirty cowboy Eric. though emma has loved him for years secretly, it's not till here where she finds out Eric has done the same.
now there's more to their story than falling for my best friend, little sister. In this story, together, they unravel and concor the other secrets that have originally pushed them together
grab this book and give it a read. You're going to be clamoring for more
she's reckless but in the same way beautiful she came barging into my life turning it upside down, but it wasn't till now that I realized it was for more than I thought..... yes, that would be our dirty cowboy Eric. though emma has loved him for years secretly, it's not till here where she finds out Eric has done the same.
now there's more to their story than falling for my best friend, little sister. In this story, together, they unravel and concor the other secrets that have originally pushed them together
grab this book and give it a read. You're going to be clamoring for more
April 11, 2025
I loved the story, but the Huntz and Caroline stories were lacking. Some things didn't add up for me. I like Emma she is feisty, smart and stubborn. Tristian and Julian are annoying and overbearing. I really wanted Emma to stand up to them and put them in their places. I like Eric he loves his family, but he carries the weight of the world on his shoulders. He wants to take care of all his secrets but he goes about the stupidest way possible. In my opinion the epilogue was the best but it did end on a cliffhanger. I loved what Emma made her brothers do. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced reader's copy.
April 30, 2025
Emma fell for Eric when she was very young, but he's older than her, now she's twenty five and the age gap is better.
Eric realised recently that Emma isn't a little girl anymore but a grown woman, one he can't ignore.
Her brothers are very protective and when her father is really ill they persuade Eric to take her away to his family's ranch, weird or what?
Eric's grandfather's will has a stipulation that he needs to be engaged to get the inheritance to save the ranch, so he thinks this might be a good idea!
Throw in a nasty ex and an old kidnapping and the story continues!
A great start to a series from Lacey.
Eric realised recently that Emma isn't a little girl anymore but a grown woman, one he can't ignore.
Her brothers are very protective and when her father is really ill they persuade Eric to take her away to his family's ranch, weird or what?
Eric's grandfather's will has a stipulation that he needs to be engaged to get the inheritance to save the ranch, so he thinks this might be a good idea!
Throw in a nasty ex and an old kidnapping and the story continues!
A great start to a series from Lacey.
May 4, 2025
I love Lacey's books and this doesn't disappoint.
Emma has been in love with Eric for years but he's her older brothers best friend.
When Eric needs her help at his family ranch of course she will do anything for him, even pretend to be his fiance to save the ranch.
I loved how they get closer and feelings can't be denied but his past is coming back to haunt him. Will Emma be the person to help him or will he push her away.
A must read full of emotion and love but also so much drama and some suspense and ends on a cliffhanger.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.
Emma has been in love with Eric for years but he's her older brothers best friend.
When Eric needs her help at his family ranch of course she will do anything for him, even pretend to be his fiance to save the ranch.
I loved how they get closer and feelings can't be denied but his past is coming back to haunt him. Will Emma be the person to help him or will he push her away.
A must read full of emotion and love but also so much drama and some suspense and ends on a cliffhanger.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.
May 2, 2025
Ms. Silks knows how to entertain her readers!
Silver Securities will help Eric, but only if he helps them with Emma!
Help might just be more than appeasing her!
This fake engagement might just turn into a real wedding!
But, what about their age difference?
I definitely enjoy cowboys, and I enjoy them even more when they're Dirty!
Loved the dialogue.
Loved the steam!
Loved Emma and Eric together!
Another great addition to the series!
Silver Securities will help Eric, but only if he helps them with Emma!
Help might just be more than appeasing her!
This fake engagement might just turn into a real wedding!
But, what about their age difference?
I definitely enjoy cowboys, and I enjoy them even more when they're Dirty!
Loved the dialogue.
Loved the steam!
Loved Emma and Eric together!
Another great addition to the series!
May 3, 2025
Dirty Cowboy is book 1 in the Dirty Deeds series by Lacey Silks, a new to me author 4.5 stars
Emma and Eric have known each other since she was a young girl and had a crush on this much old Eric, who is her brothers best friend. This story has it all…suspense, secrets, age gap, blackmail, fake engagement, sizzling chemistry, banter, over protective brothers, family crisis and more…
I voluntarily read a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Emma and Eric have known each other since she was a young girl and had a crush on this much old Eric, who is her brothers best friend. This story has it all…suspense, secrets, age gap, blackmail, fake engagement, sizzling chemistry, banter, over protective brothers, family crisis and more…
I voluntarily read a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
May 2, 2025
5 DIRTY COWBOY STARS!! Emma and Eric gave us all the feels with some suspense to keep you turning pages. This author always give us great books and this one is no different.
Read
December 31, 2025DNF at 30%. The 16-year age gap was too much for me. He knew her when she was a child and he wasn't. It gave me the ick. This book is not for me.
January 3, 2026
Unfortunately, I felt there could have been a good storyline/plot… but the execution was not there. There was a lack of character development and some of the scenes came out of no where. Poor descriptions throughout the book.
January 3, 2026
Wow! this book filled me wirh anxiety, then heartwarming moments, then sadness, then back to anxiety. it kept me page turning and my mind racing.
would recommend.
would recommend.
January 4, 2026
all over the place, and not in a good way loved them together overall story needed some work. the ending pissed me off 😤
April 5, 2025
Dirty Cowboy: Dirty Deeds Series, Book 1
By: Lacey Silks
📖 Ebook
This is an age gap, Cowboy romance, with a fake engagement and some suspenseful vibes.
Emma Silver is the younger sister fighting to be taken seriously by her older brothers within their large private investigation company. She has the highest case closure rate out of everyone in the company, but they still refuse to put her on bigger cases!😠
Eric is an old friend of the Silver brothers. He needs their help, but they'll only give it if he 'takes Emma off their hands' while their Dad gets life-threatening surgery! They don't think she'd cope with the stress. Although he completely disagrees with their view of her, he actually needs Emma's help more than theirs, so agrees, reluctantly!🤦🏻♀️
Emma has lusted after Eric for years, so although she's reluctant to leave her ill Dad, she agrees to go for a week to start with. She also agrees to the fake engagement to protect his ranch as it will allow her to file for Partnership within their company with the board!💍
I wasn't sold on the obsessed woman as their wasn't enough backstory written about it. Nor the man from Eric & his sisters past kidnap, etc. I felt like that should have been written as a prologue, purhaps, so we knew that story.🤷🏻♀️
I really did enjoy this book, though. The writing is good. The romance was cute, and the steam was well written!🔥 I was glad Emma told her brothers off, but I would've appreciated their Dad telling them to get lost, too.😆
Debbie, 1970, UK
By: Lacey Silks
📖 Ebook
This is an age gap, Cowboy romance, with a fake engagement and some suspenseful vibes.
Emma Silver is the younger sister fighting to be taken seriously by her older brothers within their large private investigation company. She has the highest case closure rate out of everyone in the company, but they still refuse to put her on bigger cases!😠
Eric is an old friend of the Silver brothers. He needs their help, but they'll only give it if he 'takes Emma off their hands' while their Dad gets life-threatening surgery! They don't think she'd cope with the stress. Although he completely disagrees with their view of her, he actually needs Emma's help more than theirs, so agrees, reluctantly!🤦🏻♀️
Emma has lusted after Eric for years, so although she's reluctant to leave her ill Dad, she agrees to go for a week to start with. She also agrees to the fake engagement to protect his ranch as it will allow her to file for Partnership within their company with the board!💍
I wasn't sold on the obsessed woman as their wasn't enough backstory written about it. Nor the man from Eric & his sisters past kidnap, etc. I felt like that should have been written as a prologue, purhaps, so we knew that story.🤷🏻♀️
I really did enjoy this book, though. The writing is good. The romance was cute, and the steam was well written!🔥 I was glad Emma told her brothers off, but I would've appreciated their Dad telling them to get lost, too.😆
Debbie, 1970, UK
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews