Cowboy and Candy Hearts: A Small Town Friends to Lovers Surprise Pregnancy Cowboy Romance

by Kes Winter

One reckless night with her cowboy best friend leads to forever in this sizzling friends-to-lovers, surprise pregnancy, small-town romance.

I've got one rule about men: the hotter they are, the worse they are for me.

So when Luke Brennan walks into the dive bar where I work—all chiseled jawline, cool cowboy swagger, and temptation wrapped in Wranglers—I swear I'll keep my distance. A guy that gorgeous? He's trouble I don't need.

Then my dad hires him as our new bouncer.

Now we're spending every shift together in a tiny bar that suddenly feels way too small. And Luke isn't just devastatingly handsome. He's hardworking, funny, and way too good with his hands.

So what if my heart races when he's near? So what if he invites me to his family's ranch to teach me to ride? We're just friends, no matter how many late night conversations and stolen glances we share.

Until one scorching night where the tension between us finally snaps.

Where his control breaks and he can’t keep his hands off of me. Where we don't even make it out of his truck before we go up in flames.

One night that leaves me staring at two pink lines on a pregnancy test.

Can I trust that the hottest cowboy I've ever met won't be the one who breaks my heart? Or is Luke Brennan the exception to every rule I've ever made?

106 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 9, 2026

About the author

Kes Winter loves creating steamy, emotional, high-tension love stories featuring obsessive heroes and strong heroines. She runs on coffee, sugar, and an overactive imagination.

In the rare moments she’s not writing, she’s usually staying up until the middle of the night reading a book or hiding from the California sun like a vampire.

Keep up with my latest releases and get fun behind-the-scenes glimpses and goodies by joining my newsletter! It's always on the last page of my books or on my website: keswinter dot com.

Reviews

[cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went into this one completely blind and didn’t realize it was a novella until I was already reading. Once I adjusted my expectations for the shorter format, the pacing made more sense.

What I liked most was the foundation of friendship between the main characters.🩷🩷 Their connection grows through working together and actually talking, not just instant attraction. Luke was a standout for me. He’s respectful, steady, and attentive without being pushy or over the top. He doesn’t over-sexualize every moment with Maddie, and I really appreciated that they built comfort first before crossing the line.

The emotional turn and confessions happen pretty fast, but that’s expected in a novella. Everything is compressed, including the tension, the realizations, and the decisions, and if you go in knowing that, it works. 😌 I especially loved how supportive Luke is when things become uncertain. He responds with reassurance and encouragement instead of distance, and that added a lot of heart to the story. (We love a supportive man 🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️)

The small-town setting gives it a cozy, close-knit feel, and the banter keeps things lively. The spice is definitely there, but it’s tied to emotion and chemistry rather than just shock value.

Overall, this was a solid four-star read for me. I wanted a little more breathing room for the emotional buildup, but it was sweet, steamy, and tender. It’s a quick read that still manages to feel sincere and satisfying. 🫶🏼🫶🏼

-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-favorite quotes-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-

”There's something really attractive about competence.”

“Madison." He says my name like it belongs to him, and it basically does now.”

“A man who's adored by animals is the greenest of green flags.”

-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-

things to know about the book ↓

🩷 friends→lovers
🩷 surprise pregnancy
🩷 workplace romance (bartender/bouncer)
🩷 he falls first
🩷 single POV (hers)

A huge thank you to BookSirens and Kes Winter for allowing me to read this arc. These are all my honest opinions in this review.

spice rating:【 🔥🔥 】
swearing: yes

⸻⸻⸻

・❥・⁀➷ pre-read

First valentine book of the year 🤭🤭🩷🩷

[Morally_Gray_Nola · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cowboy and Candy Hearts is the kind of two-hour read that leaves you thinking about what your life would be like if you met someone as amazing as this mmc. The reason you’re doing that is because the author, Kes Winter, did such a good job making him feel ‘real’. In fact, Kes made all the characters feel real, likable—the storyline was great, as well. Good Stuff!

*** Recommended ***

MMC:
✨Luke
FMC:
✨Maddie
HEA/Cliffhanger:
✨HEA
Series:
✨Book 1
Epilogue:
🌗yes
Tropes:
👉 romance
👉 small town cowboy romance
👉black cat fmc x golden retriever mmc
👉friends to lovers
👉he falls first
👉accidental pregnancy
👉witty banter
Triggers:
💥18+
💥sex
💥profanity
Burn Speed:
✨medium
Spice Level:
✨🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
✨MF.

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

[Cat J.F · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a sweet read for Valentine’s day! Luke is 100% a great book boyfriend🥹 I’d recommend this as a read in one sitting sort of vibes! Very cute and perfect amount of spice
surprise pregnancy
workplace romance
he falls first
friends to lovers.

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

[Micaela Bieber · Rating 5 out of 5]

enjoy small-town romance with heat, humor, and emotional stakes will likely find this one satisfying. It’s a short read that focuses on character chemistry and emotional payoff, ideal for fans of friends-to-lovers stories with cowboy heroes.

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

[CJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super cute holiday read. Really felt the been burned so many times I’m done vibes. Glad she got her happy and hilarious that it was the whole package but I mean she did say her lady bits be suggesting to volunteer as tribute! And I totally love a ‘confident’ in the bedroom cinnamon roll! Makes them even more drool worthy! Even though it was a quick little read I was super digging the progression. Not rushed at first and tension building. A bit disappointed when the truth came out and it flew to completion for me but still immensely enjoyed. And shout out to pops for peeping game silently and clearing the chess board! Would recommend and also especially good for a sweet palette cleanser! Happy Upcoming Kisses Day folks!!.

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

[Lori Porter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is absolutely perfect! Luke is such a great character, he’s sweet, broody, protective and intense. Truly a perfect combination of traits in this book. Madison is a daddy’s girl, she works as a bartender at her dad’s bar and she’s sworn off love for good. But…when she sees Luke for the first time, all bets are off. She decides they’re just going to be friends so she won’t get hurt. He has other ideas and proceeds to blow all her preconceived ideas out of the water. These two create the most heartwarming Valentine’s Day romance. Luke is steady even when they get a shocking surprise. Madison can’t believe her luck in finding a guy like Luke but he’s been waiting for her to catch up and fall in love with him like he is with her. I received an ARC of this book and am happily leaving my review.

[Tanja Glavnik · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Kes Winter had me with Emily and Garrett in Tangled by Moonlight, so reading about Emily's best friend Maddie? Sign me up!

Also, karma is a bish. I jokingly told a friend of mine online this sounded like the syrupy things I usually avoid in books, but the author's writing is so dang good I'll read it.

The book made me cry. Multiple times.

10/10 I will be rereading this on Valentine's because I want a Luke in my life but I'm like Madison - the guys like Luke feel more unrealistic than Aragorn son of Arathorn from actual fantasy at this point.

The main characters are wonderfully and realistically written and this is beautiful.

Absolutely recommend.

[M · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC review courtesy of the Author and BookSirens

Cowboy and Candy Hearts is a perfect slice-of-life Valentines read!

Maddie is a barteander in her dad's bar, and she is very adamant, that this Valentines Day, she will choose herself and be smarter. And then... Luke walks in to the bar and with his sea-glass eyes, makes it very hard to keep Maddie's promise to herself.

This is a frients to lovers romance, the relationship is rich and makes you hope for a love like this one.

*Please note this story has a pregnancy trope*

[Kristal Harrold · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Kes winters for allowing me to read this as an arc.. release date will be February 9, 2026!
once I received it I was hesitant to read due to an “accidental pregnancy” being apart of the story but I’m glad I did. This story played out so beautifully that I made me think of my own personal experiences with quick love, early relationship pregnancy, and living life HEA!
I teared up a little with the little secret exposed during the epilogue.
so stinking sweet.
I recommend this one if you want a cute, sappy, quick read!

[Jessica M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my heart! If you are looking for a quick sweet wholesome Valentine’s Day read this book is for you! It had me laughing and “awing” all throughout!
Luke is a cinnamon roll MMC and will make your heart melt with his kindness and how patient he is with Madison proving not all men are all the same!

This book definitely gives you the warm and fuzzies with a perfect amount of spice that doesn’t take away from the book.

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

[C · Rating 4 out of 5]

I grabbed this book before I realized who the author was and that I had read a related book that is a different genre.

As soon as I saw the town's name was Tower, I was like, I've been here before!

The book is written and in the mfc's voice. She spends time self sabotaging out of fear but the mmc is not shaken easily.

I must say that the mmcs of both books I read are....woooooweeee!

This is a short, enjoyable book.

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

[Indie · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved it !! love Maddie and Luke.. this is their story... a fun fast paced friends to lovers rom/com drama shorter story... Maddie has sworn off hot men.. all hot men... then, Luke comes in and gets hired as the bouncer in her dad's bar.. now, they work together every night... become friends... until, ... and then... he's been trying to teach her that all men are not the same.. he's been patient... he's been in love with her since he first saw her... this is so good !!!.

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

[Joanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

She has her heart on lockdown. When she first sees Luke she needs to remind herself of that. They end up becoming friends. Unknown to her he wants more and is trying to find out how to make that happen. I really enjoyed their story and characters. We all need someone like Luke.

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

[Sandy C · Rating 5 out of 5]

This short story is deliciously sweet, just the right amount of sweetness for me.
The more I see/know Luke, I understand, Maddie, why it's impossible to resist the irresistible Luke.
Such a wonderful feeling to be liked by someone wholly and to like them back.

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

[Sissy Satterfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maddie & Luke
I loved this amazing, wonderful romance, just in time for Valentine's Day. Reading Maddie and Luke's story, had me remembering my own youth. This fantastic story had me smiling and cheering them on. I Love a good HEA, and this story gave me one! I Highly Recommend! No Spoilers from me!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Bec A · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fantastic sweet and charming read featuring hardened bartender Madison and sweet bouncer Luke. Valentines night sees our love story begin and with luck, a HEA!.

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

[The Book Ssirren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awwww this was such a sweet and steamy novella. I loved Maddie and Luke. He’s hot, she didn’t want a broken heart, so she tries to start away until her dad hires him 🤦🏽‍♀️. But these two came together so beautifully. I laughed and awwwed throughout.

[M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short, romantic and sweet.

Instead of unnecessary drama, we get growth, vulnerability, and a cowboy with an MBA and a bartender wanna be artist who proves that love isn’t about running when life gets messy… it’s about staying.

[Shortaf · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25⭐

Damn it, Kes does it again.

Quick read with a great romance, funny and light-hearted.
Kes always comes up with dreamy guys that get my stakes too high!!🙃
I really think i need a cowboy in my life! 🤠😌

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Super cute!! Light hearted, cozy short story. Definitely will continue to read anything this author publishes.