This is a slow burn romance and an enjoyable read with strong well developed main characters, It was well written and also made me sad at times because of the struggles, loss and hardship both Aren and Carol faced.
It made me smile to see that eventually Aren was accepted and started making friends and finding love.
I recommend. 4.5 stars.


I received an ARC copy from Bold Strokes Book Publishing via NetGalley for my honest review.

4 Stars.

This is a debut novel by Nance Sparks and I'm looking forward to further release's by her. She's one to look out for in the next few years I think.
Cowgirl, a romance and drama book, was such a good read, quite emotional in parts but written so very well. I found this difficult to put down at points as it had me gripped with both character's past histories and how they've grown as women.

Aren Jacobs doesn't trust anyone. Struggling with her devesting alteration with her foster family which has left her scarred inside and out, she's left unemployed and all too happy to isolate herself from the world. When a serve storm threatens the small time she calls home, Aren goes out and saves Carol Matthew's life.

Carol doesn't have anyone to turn to and the storm leaves her with no home and grief-stricken. She takes refuge with the woman who saved her, the only option she really has, but there's something about Aren that makes her feel safe despite all the rumors been told about Aren around town, about the events that lead up to Aren returning home to visit her foster family many years ago.

Aren doesn't expect to fall for Carol. One thing is sharing her home, but sharing her heart is different,.

Cowgirl is a solid read, with good likable characters with a tad bit of romance.
I was given a copy for an honest review.

DNF @ 32%

Not for me, I'm afraid. While Aren was a compelling character and I was excited about the rural setting, I found the conversations repetitious and inorganic, and I didn't connect at all with Carol. After the third chapter organized solely around Carol explaining to Aren that she was alone was followed by Carol reflecting on that same conversation in the next chapter, I threw in the towel. My interest in Aren's backstory couldn't drive me through slow pacing and overexplaining prose. Hoping this is exactly the cozy F/F someone is looking for, but it wasn't for me.

Cowgirl is a romance/drama. While Carol is visiting her aunt and uncle a tragedy occurs. Their home is destroyed and Carol is left to figure out the family wishes. She is taken in by Aren who owns the farm across the way. Aren was a veterinarian but eye damage and her own tragedy has her living and working on a farm. She is shunned by most of the people in town. But Aren offers Carol a place to heal and get back on her feet.

This is a slow burn romance as Aren doesn't want to start something if Carol is going to leave. Carol is full of questions about Aren's past and why she continues to stay on the farm. Author Nance Sparks writes beautifully about living simplistically on the land. The majority of the book is spent on the two main characters and they each have rich back stories. As someone who lives in the west and because of the title I was surprised the book takes place in the Michigan. Aren does have two milk cows but this isn't a cattle ranch type book.

Overall I liked the book but the two leads endure a lot of tragedy. I did like they way the author lets Aren slowly open up and change throughout the story. Carol was more of an open book. I saw Sparks talk briefly on a webinar about her next book which will be set in Alaska. I will look forward to reading it. Thank you NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books, Inc. for an ARC ebook in exchange for an honest review.

I fell in love with Cowgirl by Nance Sparks. This is the author’s debut novel, and I’m very impressed with her writing. In fact, I see myself adding a new name to my list of favorite authors.

This is a story that contains a fair bit of angst. Aren Jacobs has lived through trauma that has left her visibly and emotionally scarred to the point she now lives almost like a hermit on a farm the locals believe is cursed. When she saves Carol’s life after a wild storm, she allows Carol to stay with her until she can find a place to live, and the two women slowly become friends. There is a spark between them that could lead to more, but that means sharing wounds from the past, especially for Aren.

Cowgirl is definitely a character driven tale, and the two main characters are developed perfectly for the roles they have in the story. Aren is especially well suited for this plot, and her actions fit with her past trauma.
It is the setting that really made the story special to me. The author set this novel on a farm near a tiny town in Michigan, and something about her descriptions of this place really touched me. I kept thinking, ‘This sounds and feels like home.’ I really connected with this novel. I meant to read this book over a couple of days. I started the story about midday, and couldn’t put it down. I ended up staying awake reading half the night until I finished the book.

This is a wonderful story with very special characters, a realistic setting and an angst filled but beautiful tale. I recommend this book to everyone. I will also be looking for more from this author.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.

Rainbow Reflections: http://rainbowreflections.home.blog/

I really enjoyed this story. It was well developed and the to main characters had depth and solid back stories (sometimes I get too bogged down with the histories of characters...I know it's important but I want to see the story develop). The slow burn steaminess was perfectly done and I loved coming back to these characters and this setting. It's definitely a solid romance. and I"m glad I had the chance to read and review.

Great Debut Novel

Aren has had a hard life and that’s a fact! After an altercation with her foster mother left her scared and half blind, she is unemployed and ends up mostly isolating herself on her farm. Carol was visiting her only living relatives when a tree fell on the house during a storm late one night. Luckily for her, Aren was awake and rescued her, but there was no hope for her Aunt and Uncle. Now injured with no place to go, Aren takes her in. She feels safe and cared for, even though there are unpleasant rumors about the reclusive cowgirl. Aren and Carol find themselves getting close and Aren fears losing her heart and her sense of peace. Can she really trust Carol with the secrets of her past and find a bright new future?

I LOVED this book! I am a sucker for cowgirls anyway and this tale was so good! It was really well written with no flaws, a bonus every time. The story was captivating, sweet and interesting. I fell a bit in love with Aren and was totally emotionally invested with this drama. The settings are excellently portrayed and I felt like I was actually there. I could hear the animals, feel the sun on my face, and smell the sweet hay… what a delight! The novel is packed full of all sorts of feels, happy, sad, anger, hope, love, peace and more. I found myself smiling a big, silly grin at times and at other times my eyes were so full of tears I couldn’t see to continue. I read this book three days ago and I am still thinking about it. As soon as I finish the book Im reading now, I will be rereading this fantastic book again!

Few books grab my attention right away like this one did! I appreciate that whenever it happens, how ever rarely. This is one of the best books in this genre I have read in a very long time.

This story is woven carefully and sweetly, this story about a woman, Aren Jacobs, who has had every negative thing thrown at her, and she comes to us still hopeful about humans. This story, which gives us Carol Matthews, a woman lost in the world without another person to call her own, comes to the reader slowly and lovingly.

Aden Jacobs has been through it all: abuse at the hands of her father, physical scars, and scorn from the community brought on by the willful ignorance of an entire town. Susan Matthews loves her aunt and uncle, the only two people she has left in the world, and who are killed in a storm.

Carol's needs are many and basic, and Aren hopes she has what it takes to provide for Carol on every level one can think of.

This is a lovely slow-burn romance, but I didn't want the romance to get there any sooner than it did. Everyone who reads this will be better for having done so.

So very highly recommended!

I was given an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a really nice book from a debut author! I found myself really enjoying it.

This book follows Aren Jacobs and Carol Matthews, both of whom have suffered large losses, and especially Carol who finds herself abandoned on Aren's farm. After Aren takes Carol in do they learn to trust each other and start to heal.

I did enjoy this book. Sparks did a really good job of withholding just the right amount of information to leave you wanting to learn more and more of the backstory into both Aren and Carol's lives (though primarily Aren's) to keep you reading and engaged with the text, while making you open your heart to both characters.

As I've written in some other reviews, I like watching broken people heal. Both in real life and in fiction. So this was a narrative that brought me in and I really did enjoy learning all about these characters and watching them grow together. I also really liked the setup Aren created for herself- I could picture it all so vividly. Sparks is a very descriptive writer, and I liked that.

My main problems with the book are both character points. To me, Aren seems a little too perfect a person. She is closed off true, but that seems her only downfall as a person. And once she opens up completely to Carol, she just seems too selfless. And with Carol, I don't know if I would trust someone I only met once to live with them, That just was a little eyebrow raising to me.

Those problems aside, I really liked the romance once it got going. This book is a slower burn. I don't think they openly discussed their sexualities' with each other until halfway into the book or so. I did really like the buildup and the progression of feelings for each other while healing from past hurts at the same time.

This was a really good debut from Sparks. It's not perfect, but I'm definitely going to be looking out for her books in the future. 4/5

Thank you to Bold Strokes Books and Netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review

I really wanted to like this book. but I could not like anyone, Carol is so unlikable and honestly felt like she was still child and that made me uncomfortable in a way. However, I loved the unfolding of Aren past, it was well executed
very well written book

I really like this book although it was sometimes a little too much for me all the bad stuff that had happened to both MCs. Putting that aside it was even kind of optimistic and upbeat at times. And I really liked the message at the end of the book: you can overcome everything and if you are good people will appreciate it and be good in return.4 1/2 stars

Another new author for me. I think this is the authors debut book but not sure.

I totally loved this book, I was hooked to this from beginning to end. Once I started it, I couldn’t put it down. I absolutely loved Aren. I think she was an interesting character and enjoyed reading about her. Carol was also a great character, I think they make a great couple. Both are living with so much pain and grief in their lives it is a wonder they survived. It is well-written with some great characters, great secondary characters, and an enjoyable storyline, and the pace was just right.

All-in-all, I totally loved this book and would even say it is a top read for this month. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

Nice story. Bit harsh though killing off Carol's aunt and uncle leaving her with no one. Sad as well the townspeople's attitude to Aren. But I think that is the way of the world. Rumours abound and people believe them. However the story nicely tells the changes in Aren as Carol slowly gets under her skin and brings her back to life.

When Aren was fourteen, she was placed in a new foster home. She thought it was the best home she ever had, but unexpected events dramatically changed the lives of all those that lived there. This change also altered Aren’s career as a veterinarian. She took over a farm and tended to its needs. Carol entered Aren’s life by a rather harrowing circumstance: she needed to be rescued after a tree fell on her house during a tornado. Aren not only opened her home to Carol, but slowly her heart.

Both characters were likable, especially Aren. Her heart was always in the right place even when the townspeople treated her unkindly due to circumstances beyond her control. I enjoyed how the women connected with each other and helped the other heal and take control of their lives. The author did a nice job in showing their growth throughout the story.

The romance was sweet and developed slowly since they were virtually strangers living together. They got to know each other by asking questions. However,when answering Carol’s questions, Aren had to repeatedly relive a traumatic past. Carol’s questions were rather intrusive at times, but she needed peace of mind since the town’s gossip mill portrayed Aren in a rather negative way and not someone she should be living with.

I also enjoyed this author’s detailed descriptive writing such as in taking care of the farm or gathering needed supplies for the aftermath of a tornado.

I’m not sure if this was the author’s debut book, but it was well written and very descriptive. The storyline was engaging, emotional, and heartwarming.

An ARC was given for an honest review.

The title of this book may not be the most appropriate at least in the classic sense that can usually be considered a cowgirl. There are no pasture nor large herds of any kind. But on the other hand it completely defines the personality of the protagonist, Aren, also in the classic sense of the word.

When Carol meets Aren, she is literally terrified by the woman, by everything she has heard regarding the Aren, she is supposedly a murderer who lives in seclusion in a cursed house that the people of the village do not even want to approach. The first time Aren appears in the story she is abused and harassed by a clerk and some children, while she goes shopping in the village. But rumors sometimes have little truth or have a distorted or incomplete one.

What this story has especially is a lot of grief and pain. The two protagonists meet when Aren seems to have overcome so many blows so many times and has finally settled into accepting more or less what comes her way and Carol is at a crossroads without knowing where to go.

And I do not want to go into detail about the past and future events of the protagonists because I think it is worth discovering them.

So the spirit of the west and cowboys is present in the book more in the sense of living and respecting nature that the two women have. Although there are horses and saddles, Stetsons and boots.

A somewhat different story that I really liked

I loved this book! Everything about this book hit me in the feels. The traumatic backstories were devastatingly written. I've never responded to a storyline like this before. I loved the way the writer handled such dramatic scenes with sympathy and realism. Both of the characters were fantastic but I REALLY loved Aren. The environment descriptions allowed for detailed visualizations, immersing me deeper into the book. The last 10% of the book really surprised me because I was sure it would coast into a smooth HEA considering all of the angst and shocks throughout the book. This is a definite recommend! I imagine this will be in my top 5 for the year. I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Aren is closed off she keeps to herself but that’s because the people in town doesn’t want to get to know her and because what happens in her past that stills painful for her.

Carol is visiting her aunt Suzie and uncle Frank she at a crossroad in her life and doesn’t know what her purpose is. When a storm comes into town Carol is recuse from Aren the woman she hears rumors about Carol is devastating when she learns her aunt and uncle didn’t make it they were her rock when her parents died.

When Carol thanks Aren for helping her Aren offer her place stay while she recovers and decide what to do. I love this read because Carol and Aren romance was slow as they each got to know each other and Carol realize despite everything Aren been through she this good person who is unselfish and has a big heart. I love that Aren and Carol both help each other heal and found a love and home with each other.

I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.