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Lonely Heroes #3

Cowboy Shep

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an alternate cover edition can be found here

Shepard Smokey Colson -

When a man I revere and his wife are killed in a freak auto accident in Greece, something feels off about the accident. He’d been my savior when I was at my lowest, and if it hadn’t been for Saber, I’d have likely not lived to see the sunrise the day after being dishonorably discharged from the Army. That great man put me on the path toward a new life and saved my old one in the process.

My sense of honor and gratitude push me to go to Georgia to offer support to his son, Parker Howzer, and any assistance I can to help him through his grief. What will it take to repay my debt to Saber? I didn’t anticipate it might take my heart.

Parker Buckley Howzer -

With one phone call, I’m an orphan again, but this time, there is no one to love me through the pain. On top of that, someone is looking for something belonging to my parents that they believe I possess. How can I find it when I don’t even know what to look for?

I didn’t expect Shepard Colson to burst onto the scene like an avenging angel from heaven. He somehow knows I’m in danger and vows to keep me safe, but at what cost to both of us? Whether I’m ready or not, my life as an unknown chef is about to change, but I didn’t anticipate just how much.

426 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 9, 2018

115 people are currently reading
62 people want to read

About the author

Sam E. Kraemer

90 books229 followers
I grew up in the rural Midwest before moving to the East Coast with a dashing young man who swept me off my feet, and we've now settled in the desert of Nevada. I write M/M contemporary romance, subgenres: sweet low angst, age-gap, cowboys, mysteries, and military/mercenary to name a few. I am a firm believer in "Love is Love" regardless of how it presents itself, and I'm a staunch ally of the LGBTQIA+ community.

I have a loving, supportive family, and I feel blessed by the universe and thankful every day for all I have been given. I’m old enough to know how to have fun, but too old to care what others think about my definition of a good time. In my heart and soul, I believe I hit the cosmic jackpot. Cheers!

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5 stars
160 (56%)
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93 (32%)
3 stars
24 (8%)
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5 (1%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
Profile Image for Jacquie Stewart.
2,667 reviews73 followers
June 1, 2021
3.5
I'm having difficulty with articulating my thoughts on this one.
Shep and Parker were great characters with a slightly antagonistic relationship, as sometimes Shep didn't treat Parker as an equal. Shep seemed to fall in love from nowhere to me.
I enjoyed the investigation into what happened to Parker's parents a lot. It was a real page turner but it was a struggle to keep a hold of plot threads at times.
There was a moment where I did a literal face palm towards the end. For a security guy, Shep did make basic mistakes.
All in all, a good story
Profile Image for revieweswithracqs.
1,873 reviews9 followers
January 26, 2023
It was ok

I've read books in this series and thought that I would enjoy them as well, but I was just not feeling it. It
Profile Image for Xanthe.
2,557 reviews49 followers
June 5, 2021
*4.5*
Cowboy Shep is the third book in the Lonely Heroes series from Sam Kraemer, expanding the group of men in the group getting their HEA's.
Shep hears about the death of a man who made a huge difference in his life when he was dishonourably discharged from the army and travels to pay his respects but ends up protecting and fighting for the man's son, Parker. Parker's life was changed forever the day Wesley and Doreen Howzer adopted him but now he's alone again. He goes to the army base to deal with their things and make arrangements but something is way off with the way he is dealt with by certain officers and then there is the home invasion that destroys pretty much everything in the home. Shep is the man he leans on for support and then is whisked away while they work to try and solve the mystery behind his parents death, all the while being insanely attracted to Shep but has now learned not to trust that people will hang around.
Wow, this story really starts with a bang and keeps the hits coming. The love and sense of family from Parker's memories of his adoptive parents are heartwarming but the mystery, false claims and investigations have your mind spinning as details slowly come to light as to what, who, how and why everything is happening. Secrets come out and they learn that you can't trust anyone except family, blood and found, even in the Army. It's definitely a story that you have to pay attention to in order to keep track of everything going on but it's a great plot that keeps you thinking all the way through, and then there's the attraction between Shep and Parker. Shep becomes so protective pretty much immediately and Parker innately knows that he can trust the other man when it comes to helping with his father's death but isn't too sure about his heart. It's sweet reading as Shep tries to prove himself but also becomes his own worst enemy, so sure of his own feelings but knowing that Parker's safety is paramount. We have Shep's family involved as they stay at their ranch in Texas, a really friendly, loving group of people who welcome Parker straight away. Then we have Gabby, Nemo and the rest of the team from GEA-A, working alongside them to help get the facts and uncover the truth.
Everything in this story works so well together. We flow between investigation to relationships and back again, with lighthearted moments between friends and intense moments of anger and love to balance it out. Definitely a recommended read for me and I'm really hoping for stories for several other men in the group still to come.
164 reviews
June 14, 2021
A Romantic Thrillride

Plot: As with the first two installments, you’ll find tons of action along with your romance presented to you in well-written form
Feels: Heart-pounding suspense, the sparks were palpable for Parker and Shep right off the bat, heartbreak
Drama: A good dose of military/political conspiracy and intrigue
Heat: 3/5 - more feels in this one
Characters: Parker isn’t your typical “dude in distress”, though he obviously never watched a procedural or B-horror movie in his life lol; Shep and Parker are just so adorable! Love seeing the full cast of characters make a return to help
Pacing: Smooth and action-packed
Length: Shorter than the first two, but it’s what raised the level of this one - a complete story without any extra drama lurking
Ending: HEA for the couple with a side of “justice” served
Extra note: Something I’ve noticed since Ranger Hank, is that the writing style seems to simulate a [TV] series screenplay, which is what really makes this series enjoyable for me. If Sam E. Kraemer ever writes regular mystery/suspense/thriller under a pseudonym, I need to know!
Profile Image for Joanne Mccorkell.
1,650 reviews14 followers
May 27, 2021
As this series goes on each book gets better and better. I didnt think there could be an improvement on Gabe, but I was wrong.

The overall story intrigued me. Ive read a few military stories, but this one made me pay attention more.

As for the characters, I love how Shep and his family fall in love easily and hard for their One. We could see immediately how Shep felt for Parker. However, he didnt really take into consideration the type of person that raised Parker. He saw him as a sweet and gentle soul, and while I agree, Saber would have trained his son as well as he trained his men. Afterall, if something ever happened to him alone, he would expect Parker to protect Doreen.

Parker however, went through something so tragic and heartbreaking, that when Shep tried to coddle him, he allowed it. He so rarely stood up to Shep, face to face. As things were being kept from him, it literally created more danger.

I sooooooooooo want a book for Rafe.
Profile Image for Aethena Drake.
1,189 reviews3 followers
March 4, 2024
I enjoy Sam E. Kramer's books because the characters are always fascinating, and the plots are engaging. This book was a nice addition to the Lonely Heroes series with a slightly faster paced plot than the previous two books.

I did get a little frustrated with the author's tendency to over-explain some things, which slows down the story sometimes. This is particularly awkward during a character's internal dialogue. I can overlook this quirk when I am listening because the story has so many interesting twists, but the writer in me keeps shouting, " A little less descriptive dialogue would streamline the pacing." Anyway...

The narration by Michael Ferraiuolo was nicely done. He does a lovely job of animating the characters and creating tension during the action scenes.

Overall, it was an enjoyable listen, and I look forward to the next audio book.
Profile Image for Missy.
210 reviews6 followers
June 3, 2021
5 Stars


Cowboy Shep is an outstanding book. Sam E. Kraemer has done it once again. This book will leave you speechless and on the edge of your seat. Once I started reading this book, I couldn't stop. The way Shep and Parker find love was wonderful to read about.


When Parker finds out that his parents were in a car accident, he feels all alone. But once Shep and Parker meet it is intense with sparks.  The romance that builds between these two was so powerful. The chemistry was there when they first saw each other.

I could easily imagine myself hanging out with both Shep and Parker. Cowboy Shep was so well written, and was easy to read. This book is written from a dual POV, which I enjoy.

***Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure. A review wasn’t a requirement. ***
765 reviews2 followers
May 11, 2022
Good story line.

I haven't read this series for an while. Not realizing another book had been published. Good story. I was able to follow it pretty well. I remembered She from previous story lines so I wasn't to thrown off of feeling like I was missing something. The story line was good. Loved the Shep was from Texas and his parents were cattle owners and accepting of him. Parker was a fun character. Being adopted by a military family. The heritage that his parents taught him was fantastic. He relied on it a lot during his grieving time. Very independent and sassy but end up caring for Shep was a great transformation to see. These two bounced off each other perfectly. Good story.
Profile Image for Janet Hunt.
3,538 reviews46 followers
May 28, 2021
Wow! In my opinion this was the best one yet in the Lonely Heroes series! Shep and Parker were perfect for each other! Parker’s parents, a revered colonel in the Army, dies while on vacation and Shep feels strongly that he needs to help Parker, their son. They have an instant attraction. The mystery that is tied up in the story line was fantastic!! I military dramas and this one was sooo good. The romance between Shep and Parker was brilliant! I loved everything about this story, sooo freaking good!!! The story was really well written, highly recommend! I’m voluntarily reviewing from an advanced copy I received.
Profile Image for Amos24601.
1,289 reviews43 followers
June 3, 2021
Shep finds out a man he really respects has died in a accident, along with his wife. Shep feels the need to pay his respects and meets their son, Parker. Their attraction is instant. What follows is mystery, action and intrigue. Shep is protecting Parker from people who didn’t like what his father was up to.

The ending was very satisfying and I felt the military parts were well written with an actual understanding of military life.

There is a definite info dump in the first chapter or so, recalling past events and letting us knows all the players from previous books. Once you get through that, this is a story worth reading.
Profile Image for Ali.
2,100 reviews18 followers
June 4, 2021

I am really enjoying this series. Shepherd is just trying to do the right thing by a mentor of his but finds himself unable to walk away when he realizes something is up. Parker is trying to deal with his parents’ deaths while someone is trying to ruin his father’s reputation and destroy everything they cared about. I really liked these guys and I loved that Parker didn’t just do what Shep told him to, even if it put him in danger. I was glad that once the conflict was over they were able to find a common ground and happiness together. I look forward to seeing who’s story is next.

I received a copy of this book and am giving an honest review
Profile Image for Audrey Pott.
680 reviews1 follower
June 4, 2021
Shep and Parker’s story, heartwarming. This is a great series each book gets better and better, realistic, complex characters, I was consumed by this story, danger and intrigue, great family, humour, conflicting views and love at first sight. This storyline reached deep in to my soul that stayed with me long after the last sigh, the last laughter and the last tear.

I voluntarily reviewed an arc of this book for my honest opinions of which I’m under no obligation to do so. I absolutely recommend this book.
3,021 reviews46 followers
June 4, 2021
One spoon full of mystery with my romance? Yes please!!
Seeing Shep fall for the son of the man who really had saved his is perfect. Parker is at a loss as to what happened to his parents and why he is now in danger. Shep is determined to keep Parker safe. At first because of his loyalty to Parker's dad, but that soon changes as Shep realizes his feelings for Parker have grown.
Sparks fly between these two and I was captivated right from the get go.
I really enjoyed Cowboy Shep and can't wait for the next book in this series.
Profile Image for Sarah Mitcham.
1,296 reviews8 followers
June 6, 2021
Tragic Events Bring Them Together.

MM romance, mystery, military, easy to read , page-turner with twists and threats of danger. Shepard and Parker had only met once before many years ago but when there is a sudden tragic event, Shepard feels the need to contact Parker immediately and help him through the days ahead. It soon becomes clear that Parker is in danger and Shep and his friends/colleagues must find out who is after him and why. Brilliant story with great characters. HEA.
427 reviews5 followers
May 4, 2024
Poor Parker

I feel so bad that Parker lost the most loving parents due to them having honor and integrity. It never ceases to amaze me that some people abuse what power they have in the most heinous ways. Shep is an amazing man with a fantastic family. I loved that he immediately took Parker under his wing and did everything he could to protect him. They definitely built a quick connection, but it was so strong. I am glad they made it through the evil that was thrust I to their laps.
140 reviews
May 20, 2018
A little mystery with my romance, thank you

Things I like in a book are all present here. Good writing style, realistic dialogue, a twisty mystery (bonus) and the technical ability to create a worthwhile read. This series builds on the characters and continues to get better with each book. These 4 stars are hard won, I don't hand them out just by having the guts to publish a book. They are earned because it's a good book.
2,035 reviews25 followers
May 30, 2021
What a great book! The Lonely Hearts series keeps getting better and better and Shep and Parker are great together. It's a very emotional book and at the same time, it's very action-packed with some intense moments. All the characters great, the book has a great flow to it, sweet, romantic, funny and I enjoyed it. Shep is trying to help Parker find out why someone would harm his parents and with the help of the team, they get the job done. I'm looking forward to the next book in this series.
10 reviews
June 4, 2021
Cowboy Shep was the first book I've knowingly read by this author. It is in the middle of a series, but the other stories were so tidied up that while we met them, not having read their stories (yet!) didn't hinder this one. The unique tie between these characters only enhances the chemistry and interactions between the two characters. The plot is intriguing, the characters likable and engaging, and I can't wait to read more of the Sam's books.
Profile Image for E.B. Slayer.
Author 3 books24 followers
June 16, 2021
It’s decent.

I started on this book instead of the first one. Oops. It’s a decent book and I’m sure the rest of the series is good too. I like Shep as a character because he’s fiercely loyal and protective. I wasn’t too crazy about Parker, but you know what, he’s human. The only reason I’m not giving this 5 stars is more about me than the author. The story is worth reading and I recommend it.
Profile Image for Lori Dunn.
907 reviews24 followers
March 28, 2023
Out of the three books so far this was by far the best. This was very well written and edited. Not too much extra unneeded dialog and explanation. This was part mystery and love story as Shepard Coleson goes to meet the son of a man he greatly admired who was killed. Instant attraction and concern for Parker Howzers safety keeps the two together. Together the unravel the mystery into his father's death while Shep does whatever he needs to keep Parker alive.
5/5 stars
Profile Image for Steven Marshall.
480 reviews2 followers
June 23, 2024
This refers to the audiobook version.
I have enjoyed this series more and more, the more I listen to it. This entry is no exception. Shep and Parker are a great pair. The undertone of the story with the bad behaviour in the military is enough to create indignity for the reader. The mystery of working through the investigation to eventually uncover the conspiracy was paced perfectly with just the right number of twists and turns. Looking forward to the next one.
754 reviews1 follower
May 24, 2021
This book had me sobbing! An author that can make me feel those strong emotions is very good. The characters, intrigue, and the supporting characters are spot on! The storyline deals with the military and that is very very well done from my understanding. I highly recommend this book to other readers of the genre.
1,933 reviews8 followers
June 1, 2021
This is such a fantastic read! A very emotional read with a lot of action and intrigue! Very well written with such great characters! Parker and Shep were perfect together! I loved Shep’s family! All the secondary characters were great! This is a great series but I believe this is the best one so far! I highly recommend reading! Received arc and am voluntarily leaving an honest review
Profile Image for Ida Umphers.
5,601 reviews48 followers
June 4, 2021
This series just gets better and better. The mystery surrounding Parker's parents death and what someone is looking for was well written and made Shep's and Parker's meeting logical and compelling. These two have unbelievable chemistry and work intelligently to solve the mystery despite the grief they both feel.
1,488 reviews4 followers
June 7, 2021
This book is about Shepard and Parker's story and so far it is the best. The plot got me at the edge of my seat the whole time. A wrong to right, a mystery to solve in an ambiance of intrigue and danger was the perfect setting for a romance and two solitaire hearts be together. I enjoyed so much every single page. I can't wait for more on this series!
105 reviews
June 20, 2021
Love and Family

I really enjoyed reading this book and anxiously await the next book in the series.
Shep and Parker have a strange way working a relationship out. Meeting again after so many years. At a very low point for Parker, Shep shows up and becomes his rock and his headache. Good twists and turns.
1,021 reviews10 followers
January 7, 2022
This installment of the Lonely Heroes was fast-paced and exciting. The story flew by quickly, I couldn't put it down. Parker and Shep are a great couple. Shep's family is awesome and I loved Bruno. It was great to see some of the other MC's from the series helping out. Can't wait to jump into the next one!
Profile Image for Skye Blue ☆*~゚ლ(´ڡ`ლ)~*☆.
2,824 reviews28 followers
April 15, 2022
Okay, I was expecting this to be a bit cheesy, but I was pleasantly surprised.

I did want to yell at Parker many times.
How many times were you told not to turn on the phone, use cash no cards, to stay at the ranch. But noooo.
Shep fell quick and hard.
Shep figuring out what happened with Parkers parents kept me interested, even when I was yelling at Parker.
I enjoyed it.
1,043 reviews
October 10, 2023
Hey!!! There are evil guys among the good!!!

Upon meeting Parker the son of Colonel Howzer, Shepard knows Parker’s in danger. The Colonel and his wife’s accidental death in Greece doesn’t make sense. Enjoy the lengths to which Shepard and his friends will go to find the bad guys! It won’t be easy to protect Parker and to strengthen their passionate bond!!!
Profile Image for Jamie Lee Zonneveld.
1,688 reviews51 followers
June 4, 2021
Cowboy Shep is the third book in the Lonely Hero series by Sam E. Kraemer. The story is about Shepard and Parker. I liked their story. It was sexy with some sweet and some mysterie in there. It was very well written.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews

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