Welcome to Bent, Wyoming, where a family feud explodes into peril and passion. 

Resident bad boy and saloon owner Grady Carson knows his brother is not a murderer, and he’ll do anything to prove it.

But partnering with Laurel Delaney? Worst idea ever.

The beautiful by-the-book cop challenges him like no other. Bad family blood—and a killer at large—makes their attraction unthinkable.

Dangerous. Reckless. How can they solve a crime to prevent a family war and then let forbidden love ignite it anew?

Titles in the Carsons & Delaneys series include:  Wyoming Cowboy Justice ~ Wyoming Cowboy Protection ~ Wyoming Cowboy Ransom ~

Connection to the Carsons & Delaneys Universe.  Those series include:  Carsons & Delaneys ~ Carsons & Delaneys: Battle Tested ~ Bent County Protectors ~ Hope Town Secrets ~

To be fair, almost any title that is set in Wyoming (some are neighboring small towns) has at least a mention of characters in other series.  If you’re curious, check out Nicole Helm’s page on her official website to see which of her characters appear in which books.  It’s a fascinating road map.

This story may contain language, violence, and/or sexual situations intended for an adult 18+ audience.

Title:  Wyoming Cowboy Justice
Series:  Carsons & Delaneys #1 (connection to the Carsons & Delaneys world)
Author:  Nicole Helm
Published:  October 1, 2018
Publisher:  Harlequin Intrigue
My Rating:  4.5 stars

There is little that intrigues me more or gets my curiosity engaged than a feud between families that goes on for generations. And that is exactly what we’ll encounter in Wyoming Cowboy Justice, the opening title in the Carsons & Delaneys series, as the backdrop to every story in this series – a feud between the Carson family and the Delaney family that has gone on for over a hundred years. Now that’s a long time to hold a grudge, ya know?

The tensions between Grady and Laurel are very real, but not necessarily rooted in their families continuing the feud. Neither really holds firm to the need to see the other family as the tarred-and-feathered, totally bad guy, like the rest seem to do. There is an edge to their banter, an underlying attraction that is left unsaid but felt… right up until Grady’s half-brother is accused of being near the scene of a murder, and then things begin to change for this couple. As a deputy, Laurel has to investigate, like a big brother, Grady has to protect his younger brother – together, reluctantly, they’ll track down the truth. And maybe fall in love, shatter the feud, and discover the true bad guys. But not before each is injured in the quest for the truth, and each faces some hard truths about the others. Family matters, but loving the one person who is right for you matters more.

I was so caught up in Grady’s and Laurel’s story that I didn’t even notice the time passing… and I can’t say that about every story I read. Wyoming Cowboy Justice kept my attention, gave me very few clues about who the ones at fault were, and built a world through conversations, emotions, and descriptions that I can’t wait to get lost in once more. The tensions between the Carsons and the Delaneys can be easily felt, and so can some cracks in those tensions as well. Grady and Laurel sizzle with sexual tension throughout this story, yet the main focus is the murder mystery, the second focus is the feud between families in a very small town… and then the electrifying steam between a couple falling in love. Everything about this story felt natural and believable. I felt at home in Bent, Wyoming, and liked people on both sides of the feud that has taken over an entire town for a very, very long time.  Their story is well-written, emotional, full of danger and passion, and overall, a great opening to the series.

I own a Kindle Edition of this title.

If you enjoy this author’s work, please visit our Nicole Helm page for other titles (reviewed here) that you might have missed over time.  On that author page, I also have a link to a page on Ms. Helm’s website that lists the other series in which a particular character has appeared… a huge help, since her worlds are often intertwined in some fashion, especially if I want to go back and read a series that I somehow missed.

#Finishing The Series Challenge 2026 ~ #TBR 26 in ’26 Challenge ~ #Beat the Backlist 2026 ~

This title is available at Amazon