Book Review: Cowgirl at Heart by Christine Lynxwiler

Book Description from Goodreads:


Welcome to the Ozarks, the setting of award-winning author Christine Lynxwiler’s latest breath-taking romance, where the lives of a timid dog whisperer and an out-for-revenge reporter collide. Elyse McCord, the biological daughter of a modern-day Bonnie and Clyde, turns into a mighty warrior when a dog’s well-being is at stake. Finding herself in the sights of a pistol-wielding maniac whose been mistreating his dog, she’s suddenly swept to safety by Andrew Stone, a widower bent on hunting down his wife’s killers. Is there any future for an outlaw’s daughter and a Texas ranger’s son?


My Thoughts:


This book is #2 in the McCord Sister Romance Series by Christine Lynxwiler. I picked it up at the store not realizing it was the second in a series. So, be sure and read the first book, The Reluctant Cowgirl (The McCord Sisters, Book 1), prior to reading this one. :-)


I really liked this book. Christine has a very down-to-earth voice in her writing that makes you feel like you are sitting in the same room with the characters. She also adds an element of mystery and suspense to the book which makes the storyline more dimensional rather than just a romance between two people. The main character, Elyse, has some fears she is confronted with throughout the story. I enjoyed reading her struggles and the creative ways that she attempts at conquering and overcoming those fears. By the end of this book, she had made considerable strides in beating the fears that had become obstacles in her life. The author promotes hope that we can overcome the things we struggle with, yet doesn't make you believe it is an overnight quick-fix. We all know nothing is ever really fixed overnight or with the snap of our fingers. I also really liked how the author gave Elyse challenges that were outside the box to face her fears. Sometimes we need to try something new or different in our approach to "fix our issues."


This book has multiple story lines going on throughout. Elyse's storyline is prominent, but the author takes you on journeys with her two sisters as well. Because I started with the second book in the series, one sister's storyline is continued from the first book. I thought that was a really neat idea because often times I read a series and the additional books may make mention of the original characters, but never really "complete" their stories. In this book, the sister's story from the first book is continued and perhaps completed and the sister's story from the third book, Cowgirls Don't Cry (The McCord Sisters, Book 3) is begun. I'll be getting the first and third books in this series to read very soon! A definite recommended read!


You can get your own copy of this book here. Cowgirl at Heart (The McCord Sisters, Book 2)