She had her reasons for leaving…

When former rodeo star Hayes Matthews returns to Tree Fork Ranch to care for his injured uncle, he’s shocked to find Bailey Logan—his first love—working there. He never understood why she vanished years ago, and now, seeing her, more beautiful than ever, he wants answers. He swears he won’t fall for her again, no matter how strong the pull.

Bailey’s carving out a future as a silversmith, selling her work at rodeos, but when her best friend needs help hiding a prized horse from a bitter ex, Bailey returns to her hometown of Marietta, Montana. Living rent-free in her family’s run-down homestead, she trades labor for boarding space at the neighbor’s ranch—never expecting Hayes to be part of the deal.

Seeing him brings back all the emotions Bailey tried to forget. She ghosted Hayes to chase her dreams, afraid of repeating her mother’s mistakes—giving up everything for love. Now here they are, together during the Copper Mountain Rodeo, and Hayes is more tempting than ever.

Hayes wants the truth. Bailey wants—much to her horror—Hayes.

Titles in the Montana’s Rodeo Cowboys multi-author series include: Unforgettable Cowboy by Jeannie Watt ~ Headstrong Cowboy by Nicole Flockton ~ Rogue Cowboy by Sinclair Jayne ~ Forever Cowboy by Nan Reinhardt ~

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

Title:  Unforgettable Cowboy
Series:  Montana’s Rodeo Cowboys #1
Author:  Jeannie Watt
Published:  September 4, 2025
Publisher:  Tule Publishing
My Rating:  4.5 stars

Unforgettable Cowboy begins the multi-author series, Montana’s Rodeo Cowboys, with Bailey and Hayes, a couple with history, and perhaps a future, if they each get out of their own way to take a few risks for that happiness they deserve.

Hayes is returning to Tree Fork Ranch, his uncle’s spread, just outside of Marietta, Montana, when he learns the man who raised him, his brother, and his foster brother after his parents’ deaths, has a medical emergency.  The last person he expected to run into at the ranch was Bailey, the woman who had left him a decade ago with nothing more than a note, no clue as to why she really ran from him.  Of course, they were both younger, neither really ready to settle down, but she’d left an empty spot that no one else, not even his career on the rodeo circuit, could ever fill.

Bailey is a talented, traveling silversmith, creating jewelry and more, as she follows the rodeo to set up her wares.  Her best friend is facing a divorce from a nasty piece of work who is trying to claim her beloved horse as his…Dakota Sunshine isn’t at all, but that doesn’t stop Chance from trying to hurt Jenna by taking him.  Right now, Bailey is hiding the beautiful palomino on Hayes’ uncle’s ranch, exchanging boarding the horse for part-time ranch work.   Bailey’s younger self had a deep fear of being in a relationship with controlling men, like her mother.  While that fear might have eased, she’s still leery of trusting that Hayes and she have any kind of future.

I enjoyed Unforgettable Cowboy by Jeannie Watt so much.   A return trip to the Marietta, Montana area and the Copper Mountain Rodeo setting is always a treat for me.  As always with this author, we get a well-written, emotional second-chance romance, with characters that feel realistic.  A bit of steam, some danger, and choices to be explained with a possible future ahead if they can set aside the past and reach for the happiness right in front of them.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the author or the author’s team via Booksprout, and I sincerely thank them for their trust. It is my choice to leave a review, giving my personal opinion about this book.*

Do you love anything (any story) that’s even slightly connected to Marietta, Montana?  Yeah, me too.  Be sure to visit our Marietta, Montana pages (this link to where this series is located – there are three pages :)) to catch up on the series that you might have missed over time.  It’s quite an amazing and diverse community, with happily ever after endings guaranteed.

This title is available at Amazon (affiliate link)