Unbroken Cowboy

Gold Valley #5

by Maisey Yates

Gold Valley Sexy, ruig, onbeteugeld... de knapste cowboys vind je in Gold Valley, Oregon! Deel 5Als stierenrijder kan Dane Parker wel tegen een stootje - totdat die ene stier hem goed te grazen nam. Tot zijn grote ergernis is hij nu al maanden uit de running om te herstellen van zijn verwondingen. En hoe lief ze het ook bedoelt, hij zit er totaal niet op te wachten dat zijn goede vriendin Bea hem als een van haar gewonde zwerfdieren behandelt - óf dat hij zich ineens zo tot haar aangetrokken voelt! Toch kan hij niet weigeren als ze zijn hulp vraagt bij het opzetten van een opvanghuis voor wilde dieren. Alleen blijkt het nog een hele klus om een beetje afstand van haar te houden...

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Westerns, Contemporary Romance, Friends To Lovers, Harlequin, Audiobook

333 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 30, 2019

About the author

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Maisey Yates lives in rural Oregon with her three children and her husband, whose chiseled jaw and arresting features continue to make her swoon. She feels the epic trek she takes several times a day from her office to her coffee maker is a true example of her pioneer spirit. In 2009, at the age of twenty-three Maisey sold her first book.

Since then it’s been a whirlwind of sexy alpha males and happily ever afters, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. Maisey divides her writing time between dark, passionate category romances set just about everywhere on earth and light sexy contemporary romances set practically in her back yard.

She believes that she clearly has the best job in the world.

Reviews

[♥Rachel♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve been waiting for Beatrix and Dane’s story for quite some time. Bea’s been present as a secondary character in the prior books; a woman who seemed happy to blend into the background, but her unrequited crush and longing for Dane came through in the short number of pages she turned up on. It was clear that Dane didn’t see Bea as anything but a friend, a little sister type of girl.

Dane’s back in Gold Valley after he’s injured badly in a rodeo accident, and he’s not happy about how long it’s taking to heal. Bad tempered and feeling useless he agrees to help Bea with a project. Of course, you can guess what happens when they start spending all kinds of time together. Dane finally sees Bea as a vibrant woman, and the revelation is a jolt! The lightbulb comes on and suddenly Bea is irresistible. He doesn’t resist, at least not for long!

I was worried Dane would crush poor innocent Bea’s heart, especially since he’s had a steady stream of “buckle-bunnies” in the past to warm his bed as a star bronc rider on the rodeo scene, but Dane was a total sweetheart. Well, if you ignored the bad-tempered brooding, which I couldn’t blame him for. I wouldn’t be in the best mood if I was in pain and was worried about healing time, too.

It was Bea who made things a bit angsty, struggling with the reality of their relationship, and a future. I was happy that Bea wasn’t the wallflower she’d sort of been (or at least let everyone think she was) in the previous books. I enjoyed seeing her make steps to take hold of the life she wanted, and finally speak her mind.

Unbroken Cowboy was fun and steamy in parts, but also gets serious with characters that feel real with normal flaws and insecurities, making Dane and Bea’s journey to a HEA a pleasure to read!

A copy was kindly provided by HQN via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Esther · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC provide by NetGalley and Harlequin for an honest review. Thank you.

Bea is a sweet and kind hearted. She loves animals and all God's creatures, doing all she can to recue those little critters in need. Bea is taking a long look at her life lately wondering if some changes need to be made as she feels there is more to her life. She lives on property that her family use to own but now belongs to her ex sister-in-law (they are friends). Bea has also been in love with her friends brother, Dane for a long time. But she's always know he only sees her as a little sister. But things take a turn when Dane is injured, he's part of the rodeo circuit and is champion bull rider. Dane's sister asks Bea if she would look after him as he was badly injured and will have a long recovery.

Dane is not the happiest cowboy now that his future is in question. His injures put in a very dependent position and he hates that. He always saw Bea as sweet and a little quirky with her love of all animals, but knows she has a good heart. As Bea cares for him, he begins to see her in a new light. Spending time with her, talking and discussing things he starts realizing that things are evolving with them as well as his feelings.

I almost always love Maisey Yates books, but this one wasn't her best. I found I couldn't connect with the heroine and Dane was pretty grumpy for a lot of the book. I found their relationship was pretty slow moving and towards the end it seem rushed and unsatisfactory in its conclusion. So this was more of an average read for me, which isn't the norm for this author.

[Angela (Angel's Book Nook) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unbroken Cowboy is book five in the Gold Valley by Maisey Yates and Narrated by Suzanne Elise Freeman.

Bea is sweet, kind hearted, and loves animals and all creatures. She is taking a look at her life and making changes. She’s also had a crush on her sister-in-laws’s brother, Dane for a long time, but she knows that he and everyone sees her as a child. I couldn’t connect to our heroine Bea. Her sweet and innocent thing is well and good, but it got on my nerves and eventually felt to child like. I never felt like she grew up. Never felt like she was taking life by the hands and living it. She stayed safe in her bubble, her little cabin.

Dane is a rodeo bull rider who finds himself injured and his future in question. His injures put him in a dependent position and he hates it. He’s a very grumpy man. As for Bea he’s always seen her as the sweet innocent little sister. The time he spends with her during his recovers has him seeing her in a new light. I liked Dane well enough. Yes, he's grumpy for a lot of the book, but I get it and understand he’s got to come to terms with his injuries and that the rodeo life is over and thing figure out what to do.

As for Dane and Bea’s relationship it felt more like a high school relationship with all the occurred moments and realizing that the girl is a women etc… *A little rant/side not: The author calls Bea a girl a lot instead of a women. That one word, girl, frustrates me. A grown women, is a women, not a girl. If you understand what I’m trying to say. The girl word only works for kids in my opinion. Now, moving on the relationship was just too teen like. It was slow moving and then at the end it felt rushed and unsatisfying.

I’ve enjoyed the previous four books and I was looking forward to Dane finally seeing Bea as a women, but unfortunately this one was not what I wanted. It just lacked the adult vibe for me.

Narration: Suzanne Elise Freeman continues to narrate for the Golden Valley series and she did a fabulous job again. I really enjoy her narration and voices for the characters.

Rated: 2 Stars
Narration: 4 Stars

[Wendy'sThoughts · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 When Fantasy Becomes Reality Stars
* * *1/2 Spoiler Free
Maisey Yates has taken the awakening of two people from their years'-long assumptions of just who they are.

Beatrix Leighton has always been the caring one...the one to look out for those she saw who needed her...the critters and wounded animals. She was someone who didn't want attention; she hides and stayed in the background. She was seen as a "little sister" to the older brother of her sister in law. Bea fell hard all those years ago. It was easy to love a man she wasn't around...he could be seen as the perfect cowboy/bull rider. As long as he was on the circuit, Bea never had to challenge her deep wishes for this man...the perfect fantasy.

Dane Parker knew who he was...he conquered bulls and rode them like a champion. He had the muscles, the determination, and focus to make those 8 seconds work to his advantage...At least he did until he was taken down by a serious injury which sends him home to heal. It also causes Dane to doubt his rodeo future.

It is Dane's sister knows this healing process will need someone to assist Dane and Bea is the perfect person to do it. Only Dane doesn't want any help but sucks it up because he knows he needs it. He sees Bea as his sister's little bestie...never thinking of her as an actual woman.

Until he does...

This is a story which takes a long look at how we can get locked into our assumptions of how we have categorized people. Having an idealized vision of Dane, a fantasy which was safe to hold on to...was something Bea had to let go of. Here he was, needing her even though it took months for him to realize the depth of his feelings. Dane had to let go of the idea Bea was this little sister...and when he did, all her beauty, strength and heat drew him to her.

This is part of a series and I was able to read without reading all the others before it.

A gifted copy was provided by HQN Books via NetGalley for an honest review.

For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways

[Stacee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve been waiting for Bea’s book since this series started and it didn’t disappoint.

Bea has been on the my favorites for a while. I love her happiness and her caring. She loves with her whole self and I really enjoyed getting to see someone take care of her. Dane was gruff and literally broken and Bea just crashed into his life. Their chemistry is off the charts, but the button pushing is even better.

Plot wise, it’s sort of all over the place. There are a lot of sweet moments and arguing and the progression of their relationship felt natural. I especially loved that he was all in before she was. There is a bit of push and pull, but the angsty times don’t last long and the epilogue is perfect.

Overall, it was well worth the wait for Bea’s story. Now I can’t wait for Jamie and Gabe.

**Huge thanks to HQN Books for providing the arc free of charge**

[Aou · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too long for me and "all quiet on the western front"...

[Leane · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was good. That's it. I'm not a prude, I'm just not into books with detailed sex that drags on.
After reading my second Gold Valley book I realize Maisey Yates is not for me.

[Jewlsbookblog · Rating 4 out of 5]

Both Bea and Dane surprised me! I knew there was more to Bea then meets the eye, but she was such a wallflower in previous books, I simply wasn’t expecting somebody so frustratingly stubborn! I underestimated Bea just as much as everyone else, minus Dane.

As for Dane, he was such a grump due to his rodeo accident that I didn’t think he could be as charming and thoughtful as he was. I was rather shocked when he stepped up to the plate and acted quite maturely when things turned serious with Bea.

Needless to say, I was happily surprised by the turn of events in their relationship! The matter of fact approach Bea took with Dane to make him wake up and smell the coffee was diabolically simple and I adored the smaller, intimate moments the two shared as they learned new facets of one another.

Now the cast of characters were interesting and plentiful, doing their fair share of helping Bea and Dane realize what was in front of them, but nobody stole the show as much as Evan, Bea’s Cheerio raiding, underwear stealing raccoon! I couldn’t ask for anything better then nature’s own version of a cute and furry masked bandit!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Juliana Philippa · Rating 4 out of 5]

He made her feel ... It was like all these little pieces of herself that had seemed scattershot had suddenly joined together. Her wildness and her femininity, her desire to care, and her need to be cared for.

Summary. Beatrix has had a crush on Dane for over a decade. His sister used to be married to her brother, but that marriage fell apart when the brother cheated and basically showed his true asshole colors. Dane is 9 years older and for a long time, has been more myth than reality for Bea. He's been on the rodeo circuit, so not in town that much, and while she has a great deal of admiration for him and all that he's accomplished, he's also been a safe person to fantasize about because there was never any chance of something happening between them. He has always seen her as basically a younger sister, and she can't get up the courage to try and challenge that view he has.

For the last 8 months, they've been living in close proximity to one another while he's been recovering from an extremely horrific rodeo accident. He's been grumpy and stubborn and all-around super unhappy about his situation, but Bea, being the sweet, caring person she is, has been there supporting him, taking care of him, etc.—like she does with all the wounded animals she comes across. Thanks to one of said animals—Evan, the raccoon—Dane's eyes are opened to how very unsisterly Dane feels towards Bea when he sees her one day in a soaked, and essentially transparent, dress. Because it turns out that Bea is actually a woman and not a young girl anymore. And turns out she has an amazing body. And turns out that she's aware of the same tension that he is. And turns out that maybe this sweet woman, who is always taking care of everyone else, needs some taking care of herself and he's the one to do it.

For her part, Bea knows this can never be anything serious, and she sets herself up from the beginning to not be disappointed and not get attached. They both have abandonment issues that complicate their relationship and play into the fears they have about each other and about their relationship. Dane feels like his life is completely being turned upside down by Bea and all that she's opened his eyes up to—and he likes it. But Bea feels like everything is happening way too fast, and after spending so much time hiding in the shadows, is she ready to put herself out there and risk everything on a man who's always been a wanderer, known for playing the field, and who only noticed her once he got stuck in his hometown for months on end?

She didn't know what to do with that. With this man looking at her like she had some kind of power. Like he needed something from her. She had always kept her head down low, and tried not to get hurt. At least, after that last time. That last pain. That rejection that had wounded her so mortally. She knew how to hide. She knew how to put her head down and protect herself. She didn't know what to do with this gruff, strong cowboy who had been the center of her fantasies for so long. She didn't know what to do with him asking her to save him.

Review. I really enjoyed this book. It's my first by Maisey Yates and I will definitely be checking out others, including the previous books in the series. I'm really looking forward to the next book, which features Jamie and Gabe.

I really liked both Bea and Dane. They could have been caricatures or stereotypes, but Yates gave them added depth that I really appreciated—especially Bea. It's easy to make wallflower types seem the same, but Beatrix was an interesting mix of strength and vulnerability. She's more comfortable in the shadows, not sharing too much of herself or putting herself out there a lot, but although she does struggle with insecurity and fears, there's actually a lot of strength to her. She's quiet about it, but she's determined, and when she wants something she goes after it. She doesn't let others get in her way, even if it's her family or her horrible parents who basically made her feel unloved and unwanted her whole life. She keeps people at a distance, but it's really interesting the way this is portrayed and why she acts the way she does.

Dane wasn't as interesting for me, and although I really, really liked him, I think it's because his transformation felt a little too sudden for me. Not the fact that his eyes are opened to Bea—I get that; people can occupy a specific place in your life and it takes a small but significant thing to jolt you awake and realize that there are all these other possibilities. But the transformation of his priorities, how he felt about and was dealing with his life, his feelings towards her and relationships—don't get me wrong, it was all wonderful and dreamy (especially that last part), but I think it lacked some development and depth. It seemed to happen with the flick of a switch almost, as soon as they got together, and I had a bit of trouble with that. I wish we had seen more of how their relationship slowly seeped into him and changed how he saw things and acted. Had it been more gradual, it would have felt more authentic to me.

In the end, the main struggle for their relationship are the hangups they both have from earlier things that have happened in their lives, and while Yates tries to make it equal between the two of them, I really think it was Bea that was holding things up and wish the focus had been there, rather than trying to balance it between the two of them. Her fears are completely understandable, given her history and how she is used to interacting with the world, how she thinks she brings value and how she believes people perceive her, so in that sense, Yates really did a fantastic job both of making that believable and a core part of her, and depicting it so well.

And in the end, that was what scared her. That he didn't need her, and that she might need him.

Overall. A super sweet romance. There's not very much angst, which I always appreciate, and the main drivers are the two characters and their relationship development (which is also where most of the landmines lie). Although this is part of a series and the couples from previous books feature pretty heavily, I read it as a stand-alone and was able to fully enjoy it. I thought the pairing of Dane and Beatrix was well done and found both of them very sympathetic, and I was cheering them on the whole way through. There was just a little something lacking that prevented it from having a higher rating, but I would definitely recommend it and am glad I read it.

*This review is of an ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Some changes and/or edits may be made to the final published version.

[Aly · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Beatrix Leighton was a friend to all living things. She cared for creatures large and small, domestic and wild, both in her job at Gold Valley Veterinary Clinic and in her everyday life".

Beatrix lives in a cabin in the woods. It's not that she doesn't like people. It's just that she prefer quietude, and she always felt like an outsider in her family, who expected her to be different and she didn't want to be someone else. People misjuge her as a sweet and naive girl, but they'd be surprised to know that the twenty-something woman is stubborn and determined. If you try to tell her that she's wrong, she'll just smile at you and do what she wants. But she spend most of her life trying to blend in the background. For the past eight months, Bea welcomed into her little house an injured bull rider to nurse him back to health. At least, she's trying, but he's not the easiest patient. He also happen to be the man she have a crush on for all of her life.

"She had a special place in her heart for Dane. She always had. From the first moment she'd met him. She'd known him for so many years now it had settled into being part of who she was. She loved him. And it was as much a part of her as her love for nature, animals and pie".

But Dane is seven years older than her and always been clueless about her feelings for him and seeing her more as another sister. There's also the fact that being stuck indoors for more than half a year made him grumpy and he doesn't follow doctor's orders. In denial about his future, Dane doesn't accept his limitations, even if they're temporary, and feels like a prisoner in his own body.

Due to the fact that the way Dane see Bea is so far away from what she feels and from romantic feelings, I had to be patient before seeing the potential between them. After a scene that finally changed his vision about her, they still danced around each other. And for the first-third of the book, I found Dane's attitude a bit infuriating, but it was all worth it because once he open his eyes and his heart, he became an admirable and reliable man and that made him attractive to me. And I like that even if he first thought of her in a sisterly way, he never treated her like she wasn't mature and he was one of the only person who really saw her as the capable woman she is.

"But Bea was not anyone else. Bea was her own sort of creature. Strong and stubborn, all wrapped in sunshine. Sometimes all that light hurt his eyes. But she just shined him on, cheerfully going about his care and keeping.
When she wasn't lecturing him."

I cannot end this review without talking about Evan, the part wild, part domestic mischievous raccoon who play havoc with Bea's house😛.

[Anna's Herding Cats · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed for herding cats & burning soup. (posting to blog 4/30/19)
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2IbYx9e

Well these two were a handful.

The Gist: A devastating rodeo accident has left Dane's body and future in shambles. It's also put him in Bea's reach...finally. She's had a crush on him for decades and is dealing with her own bit of uncertainty about the future and trying to figure out what to do next. Bonus if it includes Dane.

So yes. Serious. These two were a handful. A. Hand. Full. lol

Dane is surly all-kinds-of-pissed-off cowboy. He's gone from being in top shape and champion bull rider to barely being able to stand on his own and he's not handling that well. Knowing that the life he's built for himself is over in an instant and his body is wrecked. So I got his growly self. I also loved seeing him slowly coming back and figuring things out. He's got a good heart and giving soul under all that assholeishness.

And Bea. She's generous, caring, a rescuer of all creatures. She's rather innocent but has a fierceness to her as well. I liked that she was finally standing up for herself and making changes she wanted to make. Taking some risks instead of doing what was expected.

Their romance was fairly slow since he's damn oblivious but I loved them together. An unlikely duo, maybe. But they also shared many similar hurts, were underestimated/stereotyped by the people they love, and have a fire in them even if it's a bit stifled. So they were rather fantastic together, really. And things do steam up nicely. Woo!

With some life changes and past drama creeping in it was a lively read. Lordy be! I liked how some of it was handled. I thought some needed a smidge more time to be worked on. Especially after a meltdown on the heroine's part later on.

But, overall, Unbroken Cowboy, was a fantastic read. I liked seeing these two carve out new lives for themselves. Taking risks, shedding expectations, finding a way to better themselves and their lives. There were some ugly moments and some heartbreaking ones along the way but in the end was worth it to see these two find their life's passions and their happily ever after.

[Amanda D. · Rating 1 out of 5]

First off, the hero uses ableist language. Just a heads up.

Also, if you aren't familiar with the series, you are going to be absolutely lost with all the family and friend relations.

As far as the romance goes, both the hero and heroine felt incredibly juvenile and the major, climactic fight at the end made zero sense to me. Not even a troublesome, adorable raccoon named Evan could save this one.

[Teresa (Reads_Romance) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was a little apprehensive about this book going in. I’m always a little leery when the heroine has been in love with the hero basically her whole life. And Beatrix HAS been in love with Dane her whole life. Now he is recovering from a bull riding accident and she helping to nurse him back to health.

What sold me on this story was the distinction between a longtime crush and real love. Bea is self-aware about her infatuation, she realizes she didn’t really know Dane, and didn’t have any expectations about a real future for them until he was interested in her as well. I thought Bea and Dean’s transition from family friends to lovers was pretty seamless and made sense.

Maisey Yates writes the most romantic prose. I think I highlighted half of this book because I just kept swooning over her poetic and passionate words. I felt like the story had an almost fantastical element, in the best way, because of the location, a secluded cabin, and the gorgeous writing.

Dane’s abrupt change of heart was just that… abrupt. I didn’t really believe his priorities had/could change that fast. Luckily, I love the way he loved Bea so I will forgive him. But it did keep me from giving this book five stars.

While this book does stand alone, I was really glad I read GOOD TIME COWBOY first. Lindy was a big part of this book and many of the events that were resolved in this story happened in GOOD TIME COWBOY.

Overall, this was another lovely and emotional escape read. I can’t get enough Maisey Yates in my life!

**I received an ARC of this book in order to provide an honest review**

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[Tina Loves To Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a Cowboy Romance, and this is the 5th book in the Gold Valley series. I have to say I have been waiting for Bea and Dane's love story. They have been secondary characters in a several of the other books. I have to say I have always loved Bea's character, and I know that she would be a fun character to learn more about. I loved how much she loves animals, and she still has that raccoon that she saved in a earlier book. Now, that little raccoon likes to steal her underwear and made me laugh so hard during several parts of this book. Dane's character is everything I felt he would be, and he fits so well with Bea.

[Books and Spoons · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew when I was getting into this book, that Beatrix Leighton, aka Bea, was a character that would leave a mark in my heart. From the very first when she was introduced, I was drawn into her like a kindred spirit, in an oddly strong way. Dane Parker, on the other hand, was the headstrong, bull riding, womanizing daredevil, who didn't deserve the devotion Bea had for him. This was my preconceived notion of protagonists even before opening the book, and boy did the author manage to pull the rug under me and my assumptions.
Absolutely in awe of this story that dealt with some real and serious issues, from parental conflicts and family drama to abandonment issues and trying to please the parents, trying to earn the attention and love, as they did not feel that they were worth anything on their own. These questions are dealt with thoroughly, and in a matter that made me stop and think and re-evaluate, as I was reading the book. And I love when that happens!
Bea and Dane, there was this fragile adoration that was growing in between them, and the author captures the nuances of falling for your soulmate in such delicate detail, it honestly took my breath away. There are so many deep emotions, moments when your heart cracks open, and when your soul recognizes their mate, or when the physical attraction first dawns on him -- Bea and Dane's tale is such a beautifully written love story, even the conflicts they face felt so real, true, painful, and raw.
In general, I cringe when in a romance novel the woman is the virgin and man is 'well experienced', to put it nicely, it just seems like so yesteryears. But in this story, Bea's virginity is such a part of who she is and how she grew up, it works, and when I got over my previously mentioned preconceived notions, that wasn't an issue to me, in this case, after all.
In Unbroken Cowboy, the feels are deep and real. There are passion and lust, great banter and laughs, but mostly there are heartfelt, intense questions about life, future possibilities, following your dreams, and daring to open your heart, your soul, and your life to your another person, taking steps out of your comfort zone, and trusting the other is there to cheer you on, even to catch you if so needed. All these life's a-ha moments are delivered wrapped into this vastly entertaining and touching tale, and I could not help but love every moment of it.
A delightful and tender love story, a story about life, family, and learning to appreciate the path you have to take to find your place in the world. A story that captured my mind and heart, made me smile and sigh, think and ponder... just like literature is supposed to
~ Five Spoons!

[Andrea Guy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings about this book. For the most part, even with the sex between Beatrix and Dane that doesn't happen until halfway through the book, this is a sweet read. Bea is adorable, until she has sex with Dane.



Allow me to explain. She's a poor little rich girl with a lot of issues because of family stuff. (To say anymore would be a spoiler) She's crushed on Dane and is a 24 year old virgin as a result.



REALLY! WTF!



This is a trope I'm getting sick of.



Pine....pine...pine over one guy...never knowing or getting involved with anyone...because that one crush has just spoiled you for the whole world.



Uh...NO!



I can deal with the virginity thing if this were a Christian based novel..but nope..not that.



And Dane is a rodeo rider who got pretty messed up..and Bea is taking care of him because he's quasi- family. Her brother was married to his sister.....



Is your head spinning yet?



Dane has spent his life working to be something and to make something to prove that he's important to his dad, who he hasn't seen since he was 13.



There's a lot of Daddy issues in this book, did I mention that?



Dane is also pretty grumpy, but his situation warrants it really. He's in pain and he's fighting with himself over what he can actually do now that his career may be over.



But the two get together and things should be happy happy joy joy. Right?



No that's not how romance works..there must be conflict.



Only the conflict made me want to beat Bea with a stick or a crowbar or drop an anvil on her head.



These two characters both had a pity party theme about them that drove me a little bit nuts at times. Bea was sweet though, and I loved that she was a caring animal lover. I adored Evan, the panty thieving, Cheerio eating raccoon. Even Dane, grumpy though he was, wasn't as bad boy as he might seem.



It was a good enough read, but definitely not something that stood out for me.

[Autumn Miller ~ autumnbookreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

*I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*

I loved this book! It was fast paced, constantly had my attention, and I did not want to put it down for the life of me. The love story was absolutely beautiful and moved me. It was one of my favorite books by this author actually.

Dane- I routed for Dane so much. I wanted nothing more than for him to heal both physically and emotionally and just be happy. I loved the progression of his character, not only throughout this book, but throughout this whole series. He went from being this playboy that would flirt with anything, to this sweetheart that wanted nothing more than Bea.

Bea- I went into this book wanting someone to love Bea the way she deserves to be loved. She is one of the sweetest people on the planet and her character just melted my heart. I completely understood how protective people were of her because her heart just seemed so easy to break because it was so open. I am so happy that Dane and her ended up together. They were the two unlikeliest of people to be matched yet they fit so perfectly for each other.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I have been waiting for their story for a long time and it lived up to all of my expectations and then some! I can’t wait for the next book!

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maisey-Yates romances breed like bunnies. Yet another one on the recent horizon, fifth in the Gold Valley series, Unbroken Cowboy, features two of my favourite sequel-bait characters from previous books, animal-loving Bea(trix) Leighton, and bull-trampled rodeo star-no-more, Dane Parker. Because, like Betty Neels, I read and review every Yates romance, my review will always be tainted by my mood, whether Yates’s brand of theme and ethos work for me “in the moment,” or not. When they’re published as close together as Yates seems to produce them, I tend to feel less well-disposed. When a whiley-while goes by, then I’m eager to immerse myself in her world. If my introduction to Yates had been Unbroken Cowboy, I’d have been all in with enthusiasm and praise. As it’s one of many and followed by the recently reviewed, Need Me, Cowboy, I read it more for because she’s Yates and I read’em all. No surprises here. In “yatesian” fashion, hero Dane and heroine Bea experience personal transformation, in this case, as the title suggests, from brokenness to wholeness. The glue that brings their resurrection about is the mystical power of love.

The novel opens with Dane’s literal brokenness. Dane was trampled by a bull, sustaining injuries so grievous, they put him in a wheelchair. He physio-ed his way to walking with a limp, but his injuries are permanent and he’ll likely never see the bull ring again. His bodily “brokenness,” however, is a reflection of his broken spirit. When we meet Bea, she appears the stronger. Bea has loved Dane forever, living under the shelter of his little-sister affection for years. She knows she’s never been in Dane’s radar as a woman and plans to take her love-secret to the grave. For the time being however, as Dane is “stuck” in the big house on the property where Bea has her cabin, she is his annoyed-to-his-surly-‘tude caregiver: “She never lost her cool or brought harm to any being. But she was close, very close, to administering grievous bodily injury to one extremely irritating cowboy who was — no doubt about it — the worst patient she had ever tended to in her life.” Dane’s retort to her ministrations tells us all we need to know about Bea: ” ‘Your problem is that you’ve never met a stray you didn’t like.’ ” Bea works at the local vet clinic and, from the vantage of her hermetic cabin, takes in injured and abandoned wild animals (Evan, her raccoon, figures prominently and provides much-needed comic effect to this angsty romance).

Bea and Dane’s contrast between where they are in life seems, at first, to be in Bea’s favour, her strong sense of purpose and place in the world and Dane’s loss of purpose, his success and fame in the ring. But as Bea coaxes Dane back to life, slowly and surely and beautifully, by giving him an old dog to walk and care for for example, chinks appear in Bea’s armor as Dane dons a new one. As is Yates’s wont, deleterious parental figures are at the heart of her hero’s and heroine’s inner woundedness. And her usual reversal happens: love is the crux, focus, blessing and frightening new state that sends hero and heroine into a tailspin of crisis emotions and erratic behaviour. When Bea and Dane become lovers, Bea is empowered by her new-found sense of identity as a lover, woman, sexual being. But when Dane the fantasy becomes the flesh-and-blook man who wants commitment and connection, Bea’s insecurities and fears come to the foreground. Dane, on the other hand, is renewed by his new-found ability to care, slow down and just be with another person in place of chasing the crowd’s applause and approval. Yates’s courtship dance is always fraught, with a back-and-forth movement between approaching the other and/or running away from.

It’s a dance that Bea and Dane trip to, limp in, and finally take beautiful, smooth, long strides. Their HEA is lovely. The journey, however (sorry about all the mixing of metaphors) bogs down. There’s a point in the narrative where Bea and Dane become Yates’s mouthpieces for her view (and I’m sympathetic to it, hence, why I keep reading her) of love as a means of personal resurrection by admitting love, care, and need are what we’re made of: what are necessary to give and ask for if we’re to live a complete, full, and fulfilling life. At a certain point, Yates’s theme is the strongest voice in the narrative. It broke my concentration and immersion in Dane and Bea’s journey. With Miss Austen, we concur that Unbroken Cowboy offers “real comfort,” Emma, but didn’t rock our world.

Maisey Yates’s Unbroken Cowboy is published by HQN Books. It was released on April 23rd and may be found at your preferred vendor. I received an e-ARC from HQN Books, via Netgalley.

[Maria Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unbroken Cowboy by Maisey Yates is another entertaining and sexy romance set in Gold Valley, Oregon.

Beatrix Leighton grew up in a wealthy household but felt more at home with animals than her family. Taking care of injured strays became a lifelong habit, so much so that she lives in a small cottage off of her former sister-in-law Lindy’s successful winery where she’s created a sanctuary of sorts for animals needing a home while she works at a local vet clinic and takes online courses. She’s also become a de-facto caretaker for Lindy’s brother Dane. The minor inconvenience to that is the crush she’s had on Dane since she was a teenager.

Dane Parker is still recovering from a bull riding accident that left him with multiple injuries and in chronic pain. He lives in the big house on his sister’s winery and still dreams of getting back onto the rodeo circuit. But having just progressed from a wheelchair to walking again it’s a daily struggle to keep moving. That Beatrix has adopted him like one of her strays hasn’t escaped him. She sees past his facade and challenges him not to be afraid to admit his weakness. But he’s never seen her as anything other than a pseudo younger sister – until he catches her in an amusing incident involving a raccoon and stolen underwear, and realizes that she’s a very grown up and attractive woman. After several months of self imposed celibacy, the emotional awareness that sparks between them leads to a secret affair, one that Beatrix may have longed for in her secret heart but never expected to become a reality. But with both of them harboring emotional baggage and reasons not to commit, can they find their way to a forever happy ending?

For more of this review please visit Harlequin Junkie: https://harlequinjunkie.com/review-un...

A copy of this story was provided by the publisher for review.

[Carma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Broken. Bea and Dane are two broken souls fighting their way through life trying to find where they fit in. They have known each other for years, Dane’s sister Lindy was married to Bea’s brother Damien, but have never been as close as they are right now.

8 months ago Dane was injured when a bull used his body as a step class. He has been fighting his way back to “normal” life and being looked after by Beatrix is par for the course. She’s never met a injured animal she hasn’t felt the need to rescue. Bea has been in his life for more than a decade and he can’t imagine his life without her in it. But recently those brotherly feelings have shifted into something feeling more hopeful for the man he wants to become.

Beatrix has loved Dane for the better part of her life. He is the unattainable dream guy, strong, driven, caring but he feels only sisterly love for her. Feeling like they have finally reached a pinnacle in their relationship she lays it all out on the line. Will Dane react in a positive way or push her even further into the friend zone? Can two broken souls come together to form an unbroken whole?

Add in a menagerie of animals, including Evan the Raccoon and Joe the old dog companion, and you have the perfect depiction of how I saw Bea’s life in my mind’s eye. Evan is a sneaky little jerk and Joe will pull at your elderly dog heartstrings. I love when animals are included in my stories as I form an immediate bond to them as well as the humans.

Ms. Yates brings more Gold Valley favorites to life before our eyes in such seamless fashion that we feel transported into the pages instead of reading from the outside. My only slight hiccup was the book dragging a little for me at the beginning. I strongly feel that this was because I had a fairly good sense on who these characters were already so it felt a little repeated. A small hiccup I can certainly get over easily and still say this was a 5 star read. I read an reviewed an advance reader copy without obligation. Next up in Gold Valley is Jamie Dodge and Gabe Dalton. I’ve been looking forward to their sparks for quite a while.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to publisher and Maisey Yates for giving me a copy of this book to review.

Beatrix Leighton had a crush on Dane Parker since she was sixteen years old, and now Dane has come back to Gold Valley after a bull riding injury has left him wonder if he could ever ride again… And Bea who is person who can never see an injured animal or the man she cares for, she has to help them recovery from their injuries. Even a racoon named Evan. Dare is a stubborn rodeo guy who thinks that he can heal on his own, but Bea has something to say about that and she enlist his help to get her Animal Sanctuary up and running while she fulfills a long-time dream of becoming a Vet Tech.

While helping each other, they can’t stop the emotion and attraction to one another from taking them to a place Bea had only dreamed of, and Dane had not even thought about. They started out as just having fun, but then there passion turns into something neither of them can deal with…Love, and what that means because they each don’t know what love really is. Can they find it together or will their pasts lead them apart.

I enjoyed this book, the 5th book in Maisey’s Gold Valley series. The story started out a little bit slower for me than first 4 books, but there was a lot of background from both their pasts that the reader has to find out going forward to their present and their future. It kept me turning the page. It was a warm read on cold rainy days. I look forward to reading the next book in the series about Jamie and Gabe…

[Adria's Musings · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally posted on Adria's Musings and Reviews

* A copy of this book was and provided by the publisher via NetGalley for the purpose of an honest review. All conclusions are my own responsibility and I was not compensated for this review.

The Story in 4 Sentences or Less: After a bull riding injury keeps him close to home, Dane Parker is struggling to find a life outside of bullriding and he doesn’t want to have to deal with family friend Beatrix Leighton. Bea has been in love with Dane for years but to her frustration he’s only seen her as another sister, until she gets him to help her start her animal sanctuary and sparks fly.





Like It? Hate it? Love it? Why? Dane and Bea had a fair amount of issues individually and add in an attraction years in the making and well things get a little complicated, and frustrating.

I loved Dane, prickly, surly, bitter cowboy that he is, all he could see was bull riding, that was his whole world, his identity is wrapped up in this career that has come to a screeching halt and yeah, I got why he was so angry. If anyone needed some TLC it’s this guy but getting past all that grr isn’t easy. By the end though, Dane had found a new purpose and a real reason for living so all in all he had a really great character growth.


I had a little trouble with Bea though. Innocence doesn’t really work for me in a contemporary romance but she was impossible not to like. She’s an animal person (yay) and is a kind and caring. I could really understand her determination to step out on her own and make her own way with her life. She definitely has a saint’s patience with Dane which is a huge plus cause with all his surliness he could try anyone’s patience!

There’s a bit of drama involved in the plot of Unbroken Cowboy that livens things up a bit but it isn’t overdone. I enjoyed the added conflict to give Dane some perspective and Bea another reason to fight. I think some of the conflict was resolved too quickly for my tastes but overall, I enjoyed this book. It’s hard not to, Maisey Yates writes some good ones I tell you. I know I need to really buckle down and catch up on the ones I’ve missed along the way but it’s easy to pick up any book and follow along.

Click It or Skip It? Click It. There’s always something to love about this author.

[Misty (Reds Romance Reviews) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dane Parker was on top of the bull riding world, then in the blink of an eye an injury took it all away, and left him darn near helpless. He can't stand the fact that he has to depend on others to do the most basic things, he is too independent to just give up and let someone else do his work. But every time he tries to get something done on the ranch, a certain beautiful someone puts a stop to it!

Beatrix Leighton has longed to have Dane Parker's full attention since she was a teen, but unfortunately for her, he has never given her a second glance. Most of the time when he is around he treats her like one of his sisters, instead of someone he might like to date. And that annoys her to no end. Just once she would like to really catch his eye, maybe even have him flirt back... these days though all he does is grumble at her... and test her patience!

Unbroken Cowboy joins an unlikely pairing together that not only struggles to find common ground, but also to find the courage to admit that they might just be perfect for one another. Watching these two battle at every turn was quite entertaining, Dane is not a man to be told what to do, but Beatrix wasn't having any of that, and she gave him a run for his money. This was such a fun story to read, it had moments that had me laughing and smiling, and moments that touched my heart and had my toes curling! I loved this new addition to the Gold Valley series, and having the opportunity to meet this pairing, they had me giggling and swooning the whole way! Highly recommend!!

I requested an advanced copy of this title from the publisher, and I am voluntarily leaving my honest opinion.

[Janet Rodman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unbroken Cowboy
Maisey Yates
Dane Parker is injured while riding a bull and goes to his sister’s Winery to recuperate. He is grouchy and surly and in a lot of pain. Beatrix Leighton has been in love with Dane since she was little, but he never noticed her. Bea’s brother was Dane’s ex manager and his sister’s ex- husband, so he never really “saw her”. He thought of her as a young girl, not a woman until one day at the lake when he saw her in a wet sun dress. Soon he began to look at her differently.
Besides being injured and wanting to go back to the rodeo, Dane has abandonment issues with his father leaving them when he was younger. He went into bull riding to prove something to his father. He was good at what he did, was on TV and made a lot of money. Bea also had parental issues of abandonment. As a result, she usually blended into the background and preferred the company of animals to people. Bea makes it her mission to take care of Dane. He doesn’t really want her help. Bea realizes this and to give him purpose, has him help her set up her animal sanctuary. As they spend more time together, both begin to heal, Dane physically and emotionally and Bea emotionally as well as developing self- worth.
This story tugs at your heart strings as we go through two people trying to find their place in the world and happiness. As we read, we are on the journey of self- worth for both characters. Along the way, they both provide support and encouragement for each other. This was the first book in this series that I read. I look forward to going back and reading the other books in this series.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maisey Yates continues to reel me in with her sweet, sexy cowboys! All of the books in this series has had me crushing hard but Bea and Dane have my heart!
After a potentially career ending injury, Dane is determined to get back on his feet and back to the rodeo. It would be so easy for him to lock himself away while pushing his body too hard too fast. And that's exactly what he would do if not for Bea.
Bea is sweet and caring. She spends all of her time taking care of animals. She has been quietly in love with Dane for years and is sure he will never see as more than a little sister figure. After his injury, Dane's sister asked her to help care for him.
I loved watching these two grow as they became closer and I couldn't get enough! Their story had me turning the pages as fast as I could. I highly recommend not just this book but the others in this series as well! I cannot wait to see what Yates brings us next with this series.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

After having read the previous books in the Gold Valley series and waiting for Bea and Dane’s story, I have to admit that it was very anticlimactic for me. While I realize that Bea is sweet and unassuming, caring for her woodland creatures and making a cozy nest for herself in her cabin, I never actually thought of her as childish and immature. But many of her actions seemed petty and young. And while Bea crushed on Dane for years, it was a little girl’s crush. Any physical feelings she felt for Dane developed a hot minute before they had sex.
While I wasn’t infatuated with Dane, I didn’t hate him either. But for him not to realize that Bea was crushing on him for years...that’s ridiculous. There’s self absorbed, which he never really came off as being when he was a secondary character, and then there’s just plain clueless.
Overall, this couple just didn’t wow me like I thought they would. I felt strangely let down, not by the writing or plot, as all the elements of a Maisey Yates were presents...but by my own expectations.
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC, whch I am reviewing voluntarily.

[Rose Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

H31,h24
Few weeks back I tried to read 7th book of a series without knowing about other characters.... Needless to say it was a disaster!
But this one was gooood.
Beatrix,the heroine is just like the Beatrix of hathway family by Lisa kleypas....she takes care of all kind of animals.... She is kind of an odd one among her family.
Our hero,is Bea's older brother's first wife's brother.... She used to crush on him....he didn't see her as a 'woman' until he saw her almost naked....lol.....then she went out to seduce him....poor guy he didn't even stand a chance
Enjoyed it

[Catherine Wright (Cat's Guilty Pleasure) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bea and Dane's story was so emotional. I had a hard time not crying anytime Bea talked about her past and how she felt. Then Dane's past was just as heartbreaking. These two together definitley didn't make any sense but then again they did. I loved this story from the beginning and was sad to see it end. I have loved every book in this series, but this one by far is my favorite. I can't wait for thr next one.

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally Bea and Dane get their book.

Dane is mad at that he can’t just heal overnight. After months of everyone, Bea especially, to take care of him he is ready to go back to work. But he can’t ride yet and the only other offer is from his brother in law. Bea sees how frustrated Dane is getting and getting him to agree to take a job at Get Out of Dodge is no easy feat. Knowing he needs more then the small jobs Wyatt will let him do, she asks him to help her get the chicken coupe by her cabin ready for the rescue chickens she is getting.

Although Bea has had a crush on Dane for years, he sees her as a little sister. With a raccoon’s help she might finally get him to see her as the woman she has become, even if she has given up on them ever having anything more than a fling.

This book was worth the wait. It was really cool to see quite little Bea finally come into her own. And the ending? Well that was just perfect for who Bea is. Loved that almost as much as Evan the sneaky little raccoon.

[Romane | Bookylicious · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too fast and too slow at the same time