Beth

I came to Coyote Creek Ranch for a fresh start, one I desperately need.
My husband is dead; he can’t hurt me anymore. For the first time in years, I’m not looking over my shoulder.
I’m finally safe, and I’m not going to let anyone jeopardise that.
Especially not rugged, sexy AF cowboy Cole Donovan.
He watches me like he knows there’s something I’m hiding, like he wants to kiss it all better, but letting this cowboy in could be a one-way ticket to disaster. Or it could be the most satisfying thing I’ve ever done…

Cole

I’ve spent my life fixing problems, and right now, the ranch’s financial mess is the biggest one of all.
My focus should be on that, not the new bookkeeper.
I don’t need any distractions—but Beth Tasker is one I can’t seem to shake. She’s closed off, skittish as anything, and it bugs the hell out of me. The more I try to keep my distance, the harder it gets to resist the pull between us.
There’s something about her that draws me in, something I can’t fight.
Or maybe it’s just that I don’t really want to.

Titles in the Coyote Creek Ranch series include: Ride Me Cowboy ~ Kiss Me Cowboy ~

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

Title:  Ride Me Cowboy
Series:  Coyote Creek Ranch #1
Author:  Clare Connelly
Published:  June 30, 2025
My Rating:  4.5 stars

Ride Me Cowboy begins the Coyote Creek Ranch series with Beth’s and Cole’s intense, slow-burning romance. First off, I will give a trigger warning here, for there is domestic violence mentioned, off-page, in this story. While everything mentioned is in the past tense as Beth is now healing from the abuse caused by her deceased husband, it’s still emotional to read about, and should this be a trigger for you…I simply want you to be aware.

What a heartbreaking, emotional introduction to this new world. Cole’s new, temporary bookkeeper isn’t anything close to what he expected. More like a shy colt ready to bolt at the slightest misstep, Beth is a mystery from the very first moment they met. Beth has left New York City behind, at least for a few months, while she escapes memories of her marriage and learns how to be free, to be the self she lost once again. Yet, everything about this place, especially this man, scares her, and it’s going to be an uphill battle to healing, to finding peace once more.

I loved everything about this story, these characters, especially knowing that there are many stories yet to be told about this family, and the extended family yet to come. Beth and Cole are each hiding behind walls, for different reasons, watching them slowly inch their way into each other’s lives, to open up (as much as they can) to the possibilities, to the healing, was a wonderful experience. There are definitely steamy moments, lots of tender ones as well. Filled with laughter, family, and acceptance, Ride Me Cowboy by Clare Connelly was everything I needed in a modern western romance. Admittedly, there were moments when I longed to be able to reach into the story and give both Cole and Beth a stern talking to, but their story unfolded as it needed to. Which turned out to be just perfect for them. If you love a well-written, emotional, satisfying romance, then this is a perfect fit for you.

I read this title through my Kindle Unlimited subscription.

This title is available at Amazon (affiliate link)