I came to Wildcat Bluff County for one reason only: to convince hunky Mr. July from the Wildcat Bluff Fire Rescue annual calendar to be the face—and body—of my new online dating service. Easy, right? I had no idea he’d be so difficult. Or that he’d end up being my new landlord… He might think he has the upper hand, but I don’t give up so easily.

Kemp Lander, a.k.a. Mr. July, says he wants nothing to do with my app or with me. And he seems particularly annoyed to discover I wasn’t exactly honest in my rental agreement. I’m nowhere near the full-fledged cowgirl I claimed to be. But I can learn, and sometimes a girl has to fudge the rules a little to get what she needs. And I definitely need this cowboy…

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.

(Is it just me or does that cover model just give off Bruce Willis in a cowboy hat vibe?)

Title:  Cowboy Fire
Series:  Smokin’ Hot Cowboys #8
Author:  Kim Redford
Genre:  Modern Western Romance
Published:  May 25, 2021
Publisher:  Sourcebooks Casablanca
My Rating:  4 stars

Cowboy Fire is the eighth title in the Smokin’ Hot Cowboys series, and it was a fun, entertaining story.  I enjoy Ms. Reford’s writing which was smooth and engaging but I’m afraid that Violet let me down a bit with those lies that came back to bite hard.  You cannot claim to be a cowgirl and not know the first thing about how to do any of the many chores around a ranching operation… at all.  She had her agenda in tracking down Mr. July and convincing him to be the face of her dating app.  Unfortunately, Kemp wants nothing to do with her scheme or her lies – he’s too busy trying to figure out who is attacking his ranch to give her what she desperately wants.  But then, there is that chemistry between them that will implode at some point.

I had a good time in Cowboy Fire, met up with some familiar faces, got to watch the perfect love story between an unlikely bovine couple, and a puzzle to put together in discovering who is out to get Kemp and his ranch.  The chemistry between Violet and Kemp was off the charts, but given the timeframe of the story the insta-love on Violet’s part wasn’t as believable for me as it can be, but that’s my reaction your’s might be different.

In all, Kemp and Violet, along with some unique friends gave me an entertaining story, a few chuckles, and a perfect happy ending.  Hard to ask for more than that.

*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.*

Available in print or for your favorite e-reader