Review: My Cowboy Heart by Z.A. Maxfield

Title: My Cowboy Heart by Z.A. Maxfield
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: InterMix
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic, M/M, Romance
Length: 266 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

J-Bar ranch foreman Malloy pretty much keeps to himself—slinking around the edges of everybody else like an old coyote, doing his job and staying private. That is until Crispin Carrasco shows up.

Lean, muscular, and with a motor mouth that won’t quit, Crispin sparks something in Malloy—something the foreman didn’t know was there. But how does a lone coyote approach the warmth of a fire? And more important, what would happen if that fire burned?

The Review:

Z.A. Maxfield’s My Cowboy Heart is a delightfully engaging love story between two unlikely men.

Complete opposites and coming from two very different backgrounds, Malloy and Crispin Carrasco are two cowboys who are surprised by the attraction between them. Malloy has always dated women so he is completely surprised by his reaction to out and proud Crispin. He is drawn to Crispin right from their first meeting and they quickly form an easy friendship. But a very unexpected kiss between them some raises disquieting questions for Malloy about his sexuality and their relationship takes a very unexpected turn.

Malloy is the quintessential strong, silent type. He cares deeply about Eddie and Jim, the other two full time ranch hands and he is devoted to his foster family but he finds it difficult to express his emotions. Instead, Malloy demonstrates his love through his actions and he takes his responsibilities as ranch foreman very seriously.

Crispin is the anti-thesis to Malloy. He is self-confident with an out-going personality. Crispin is comfortable in his skin and his sexuality. But his sweet exterior hides a backbone of steel and he stands up for himself when he needs to. And as we soon discover, Crispin carries wounds from his past that are not quite as healed as he thought.

The romance between Crispin and Malloy is sweet, sexy and angst free. The chemistry between them is palpable and there is plenty of sexual tension as Crispin and Malloy explore their burgeoning relationship. They also share a deeply emotional connection that only grows stronger when their future is threatened by a heartbreaking chain of events.

Crispin’s arrival shakes up the status quo, not just for Malloy, but for Eddie and Jim as well. Both men are hiding secrets of their own and Malloy is stunned to discover how little he knows about the ranch hands. An unexpected tragedy makes it clear that it is time to tackle an escalating problem head on and this story arc will be further explored in My Heartache Cowboy which is due to be released in January 2014.

My Cowboy Heart by Z.A. Maxfield is a beautiful romance and moving story of self discovery as Malloy unexpectedly finds love with Crispin Carrasco. It is also a heartwarming novel about family and friendship. A warm and emotional read that I absolutely loved and highly recommend.