Texas is a chance to start over….

Jackson Thorpe looks like he has it all—the star of the hottest modern-day western—he’s wealthy and adored by millions. But after the loss of his wife in a horrific accident, he walks away from Hollywood to be close to his widowed sister in Last Stand, Texas, hoping the change will help his young son emotionally heal.

Sought-after horse trainer, Nicole Baylor, is a cowgirl to her core. She loathes the popular Western series and its absurdly handsome star because the show is so fake—it’s even shot in California. Putting on a Stetson does not make a man a cowboy, and she’s had enough of men pretending. But when a worried Jackson asks for help with his son, Nic, though wary, agrees.

Jackson’s uncomfortable taking help from a beautiful cowgirl who clearly doesn’t like him or what he does, but after seeing his son’s progress, he now worries Nic may have lassoed his heart.

Titles in the Home at Last Texas series (set in Last Stand, Texas imprint) include:  Making a Texas Cowboy ~ Destined for the Cowboy ~ The Cowboy Comes Home ~ Christmas with the Cowgirl ~

This is an adult 18+ story that contains language, possible violence, and/or sexual situations geared to an adult audience.

Title:  Making a Texas Cowboy
Series:  Home at Last Texas #1
Author:  Justine Davis
Published:  September 24, 2024
Publisher:  Tule Publishing
My Rating:  4.5 stars

Making a Texas Cowboy begins the Home at Last series, set in one of my favorite fictional small towns, Last Stand, Texas.  It brings together Jackson, an actor who plays a cowboy on his hit television series, and Nicole (Nic), who is actually a cowgirl, horse trainer/horse whisperer, in an almost enemies-to-lovers romance… or at least a very one-sided strong dislike on Nic’s part.  There might be sparks flying between them, but whether those small flames are from attraction or annoyance isn’t always easy to separate.

Jackson’s wife was killed in a car accident a few years ago, and today both Jackson and his son, Jeremy, are still somewhat devastated… Jeremy, more so, as his personality has changed so much since his mother’s death, becoming silent and nothing like the boisterous boy he once was.  Seeing his son’s emotional distress, Jackson decided to walk away from Hollywood to visit his sister, who lives in Last Stand, thinking to give them both a break, a different environment, and perhaps healing as well.  He never expected the small miracle that Nic brought about for his son, even though it’s hard not to notice how she loathes the boy’s father… but if being here, working with Nic, will help his son heal, then Jackson’s not going anywhere.

The funny thing about preconceived ideas is that they are often so incorrect as to be laughable.  Nic was so sure she knew exactly what Jackson was… yet, his obvious love and devotion to his son, his willingness to do anything, even remotely possible, to help Jeremy heal, will slowly begin to change her mind.  And it doesn’t hurt that he’s as attractive as sin, and sets her heart aflutter in a totally unexpected way.  If they can just let down their walls for a bit, let each other in, they might discover that they both love a little boy who’s coming back to life again… and each other.  

I loved Making a Texas Cowboy by Justine Davis so much.  I originally read this one while I was in the hospital for an extended period of time, and figured it’s far past time to get the reviews posted for this series.  Jackson and Nicole are believable, even relatable people.  Each is dealing with what life has tossed at them in their own unique way.  Watching their journey to a happy ending was an enjoyable, emotional, if rocky at times, journey.  I adored Jeremy, and my heart both broke at his pain and rejoiced as he learned that it’s ok to let go of the past while keeping the memory alive.  There is a bit of suspense going on as well, some surprising turns that I didn’t see coming quite as clearly as I should have, but I loved that aspect of this story as well.  Being surprised by a story is not a bad thing.  🙂

If you’ve read other stories set in the Last Stand, Texas world, then you might recognize some familiar faces as the members of the Highwater and Rafferty families do have a definite part in this new series… now secondary characters, yet it’s always fun for me to run into folks from previous series and imagine/get an update on their lives now.

Making a Texas Cowboy is well-written (I always expect that from this author) and full of all the emotions you could possibly imagine.  If you love starting a new series, based in a fiction world that’s not only familiar but comforting in a way, with a couple that deserve their happily ever after ending, then you’d love this one.

I own a Kindle edition of this story.

If you enjoyed this story, please visit our Last Stand, Texas page with many more series set in this small Texas town.  (Think Marietta, Montana world, but set in Texas. If you enjoy either of them, then you’d enjoy the other as well.)

This title is available at Amazon (affiliate link)