Rough Ride with the Grumpy Cowboy

by Ivy Starck

My best friend's older brother isn't just hot, he's a rodeo legend… and he just gave me a bucking night to remember.

Zane Morgan is six feet of rough, rodeo-built sin.

All muscle, mood, and maddening silence.
Ex-rodeo legend. Iron Stallion Ranch boss.
And still furious over what happened five years ago.

But I’m not the sweet, starry-eyed girl he remembers.
Not after what I’ve been through.
I came back to Wrangler Creek to disappear—
From the cameras. The chaos. The people who want to hurt me.

Zane tells me to stay away. His hands say otherwise.
Then he claims me against the barn wall and makes me forget my own name.
And when he touches me…the world fades to just us.

It started with one forbidden night.
Raw. Reckless. Unprotected.
Now I’ve got a secret growing inside me—and he doesn’t even know he put it there.

And when the truth comes out… it could ruin everything.



Rough Ride with the Grumpy COWBOY is the first sizzling standalone in Wrangler The BAD BOYS of Iron Stallion Ranch—a brand-new series full of steamy secrets, second chances, and dangerously addictive cowboys.

Genres: Westerns, Contemporary, Second Chance

348 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 3, 2025

About the author

Ivy Starck is an author of dark and steamy contemporary romance novels. She loves to write about sexy, rough around the edges bad boys and the women that love them. Her books are filled with a whole lot of intrigue, exciting plot lines, spicy scenes and suspenseful stories that will keep you reading until late into the night.

Ivy lives on the beautiful west coast of Canada with her husband, son and Boston Terrier. When she’s not plotting her next steamy love story, she enjoys spending time walking the lush green forest trails for a good dose of forest therapy with her fur baby in tow.

Reviews

[Abbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book made me feel every emotion I cant believe what Avas family put her through and I would have never guessed who the stalker was

I felt sorry for Zane because her gut reaction is to always run and he's always left behind with no explanation from her

[Aleksandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grumpy cowboy + forbidden heat = one wild ride!

If you love broody, emotionally constipated cowboys and second-chance steam, Rough Ride with the Grumpy COWBOY delivers the goods—and then some. Zane Morgan is all growl and grit, and when his best friend's little sister returns to Wrangler Creek with baggage (and a secret), sparks fly faster than a rodeo bull out the gate.

This story is steamy, emotional, and full of the kind of tension that makes you yell at the characters to just kiss already. The barn wall scene? Whew. It delivered. I appreciated the heroine’s strength—she’s been through it but still stands tall, sass intact.

The drama was juicy, the setting gave cozy small-town-meets-sizzling-ranch vibes, and Zane? Total grump-meets-softie dreamboat. One star off only because I could’ve used a little more emotional unpacking near the end, but overall? Loved it.

Spicy, angsty, and totally unputdownable. Saddle up—Zane is worth the ride.

[Kris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was heartfelt, heartwrenching, heartbreaking and so emotional.

Zane had his reasons to hate Noa. She thought he had reasons too. Too bad, they were both wrong, but I was so happy when everything came to light.
Noa (Miss Diva to Zane) had an atrocious upbringing and I was so happy when he had her back. They deserved much more than what they got, that’s for sure.

I laughed, I (almost) cried, I got angry, and my heart broke through this story. I devoured this, and I was so happy that they got their eventual HEA. Mind you, this is one that I would love to see a sneak peek into their future, cos I just want to see all sorts of goodness for them!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[A Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was wow! I couldn't put it down once I started reading it. The story was great. The characters were so well written! You went through a lot of emotions while reading this book. The excitement from the beginning to the devastation, tears, then to the anticipation then to happiness. All of the characters struggled with their past, but with each other around they were able to find something wonderful at the end. This book was amazing! Ivy Starck did not disappoint at all! I will definitely be reading this book again!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Amy Hutchins · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a great story about no matter what happens and the distance that takes place love is always there. I was so happy that Ava decided to reconcile things and continue to show up to Zane, even though he continually pushed her away in the beginning. Ella, her best friend and Lou, pretty much her other best friend really stood behind Ava and cared about her well being. I was so happy when Ava and Zane finally talked. It was obvious how much they loved each other and that they were meant to be together. I wanted to smack both of them at times.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Debdutch · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Rough Ride with the Grumpy Cowboy” by Ivy Starck

-This second chance story begins with a shocking prologue from five years earlier. I received a free copy and am voluntarily sharing my honest thoughts.

Grumpy and depressed Zane meets his match in Ava, his sister’s best friend, back in town with secrets. Sparks, steam, and barn-wall tension make this romance unforgettable. The emotional highs and lows hit hard, wrapped in cozy small-town charm.

A wild, satisfying ride with heart, heat, and a cowboy worth falling for.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun and sweet second chance romance. Zane and Ava have both been through some major stuff. They are both strong and stubborn but together they are the perfect team. I loved their second chance with the funny, sweet, and steamy moments. I also enjoyed the mystery and drama that followed them. A great story that sucks you in and makes you root for them.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Dolly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a huge fan of second chance romances. Especially when it ends with a fire HEA.
Ava and Zane had amazing chemistry. The spice was fabulous and it was a story that really kept me interested.
This is defintely a must read especially because... hot cowboys. Do we need another reason?
Looking forward to reading more from this author.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jacqueline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zane is her BFF's older brother that she has had a crush on forever. Zane is finally seeing her as and adult rather than his little sisters friend. When tragedy strikes, they are ripped apart. Five years later they reconnect and sparks fly. This is a sweet, fast paced, second chance romance with steam, danger from a stalker and lots of feels.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved Ava and Zane in this romance book and it's even the start to a new series by Ivy. If you are not reading this romance book you will regret, it because it is FANTASTIC. My husband laughed and said I hardly moved from the couch the entire time I was reading this book, and he is correct it is a page turning hard to put down romance read.

[Narelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zane and Ava have known each other for years and have history together. They are reunited when she returns to Zane's family ranch for some time out. A steamy second chance read with brother's best friend, age gap, grumpy/sunshine and much more inside.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Rogère Buivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok that book was 🥵🥵
The beginning was amazing and shocking all at once !
The story was purely hot !! 🔥🔥 I was on edge, more than hot, gripping my kindle as if my life depended on it!!
Let me be clear, I regret not having popcorn to read some scenes.
I’m so ready to dig into her other books !!!

[Amy M · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay Quick Read

It was okay. Not too much charcter development. It wasn't terrible and it wasn't awesome. I liked it. There was more they could have done with the charcters. It was a good quick read that was about what I was expecting.

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s sweet Grumpy Cowboy second chance romance and this time he will not get her run away.
Nice,relaxing weekend read.
Good storyline and characters have spicy vibes.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Antonia 𓆉 · Rating 3 out of 5]

it felt like it was trying way too hard to be the chestnut springs series…it felt a bit rushed in some places and I just couldn’t get on board with it? it was still an enjoyable read but I probably wouldn’t recommend it as a must read

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Morgan family is everything!

Ava and Zane are precious. I can’t wait to see how the rest of the family find the love of their lives. Wrangler Creek is the best setting for all of their love story.

[Cynthia Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

A tender story about two people who never forgot how much they loved each other. Lots of twists and turns!

[Anai Padilla · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very steamy! Ava makes it hard to root for her with her inability to emotionally try at all. Glad it all worked out in the end.

[Jason Burkett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Quick Read!

Gripping love story easy to read you can’t put down. Flowed without any thought or effort and the imagery kept me interested.