He drank her in as if dying of thirst but not touching her with anything more than his heated gaze.
She held out her hand.
He clasped it.
And they caught fire.

Audrey Oakes is in Wildcat Bluff County on a mission. She has a lead on the legendary Hallelujah Ranch bootlegger gold—money that would cover the cost of her grandmother’s life-saving medical treatment—but she hadn’t counted on following it straight into a group of wild horse rustlers. Audrey has no choice but to speed to the closest refuge and hide, only to be confronted by a gun-toting, hot-blooded cowboy.

It might only be a coincidence that Audrey appears on firefighter Cole Murphy’s doorstep just as the rustlers race past his ranch. But Cole isn’t about to let anything, or anyone, distract him from catching the wild mustang thieves—no matter how red-hot his connection to her is. And if she is part of the rustler ring, all the more reason to keep a very close eye on her.

Titles in the Smokin’ Hot Cowboys series include — A Cowboy Firefighter For Christmas – Blazing Hot Cowboy – A Very Cowboy Christmas – Hot For A Cowboy – Cowboy Firefighter Christmas Kiss – Cowboy Firefighter Heat – Smokin’ Hot Cowboy Christmas – Cowboy Fire – Cowboy Heat Wave –

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

Title:  Cowboy Heat Wave
Series:  Smokin’ Hot Cowboys #9
Author:  Kim Redford
Genre:  Modern Western Romance
Published:  December 28, 2021
Publisher:  Sourcebooks Casablanca
My Rating:  3 stars

Cowboy Heat Wave is the ninth title in the Smokin’ Hot Cowboys series.  I’ve read most of this series, and for the most part, have enjoyed these sexy firefighter cowboys.  Yet, I simply could not enjoy or get lost in Cole and Audrey’s story for there was little believable about their romance as I felt no emotions, no depth to their relationships aside from a sexy attraction and mistrust that never seemed to be overcome.

I believe there is an audience who will enjoy Cowboy Heat Wave for there were parts that caught my attention.  Neither could or would even consider trusting the other with the absolute truth, and that mistrust that never was far from view was more obvious to me than deep, lifelong love growing between this couple.  Without the backbone of a believable romance between the main characters, this turned out to be a story that simply wasn’t a favorite of mine… and I’m going to leave it at that.  Any review is simply one reader’s opinion, so I’m calling this one a good book and will let you make up your own mind about Audrey and Cole.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story.  It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

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