The Murphys of Meadow Valley, Book 3
From the publisher:
A washed-up country music cowboy on the run, a songwriter without a song, and a double-booked ranch guesthouse with both their names on it… What could possibly go wrong?
Ash Murphy sneaks home to the family ranch to escape the scandal that follows his successful country music career everywhere. He plans to rest up, get in his fair share of work on the ranch, connect with the new horses his brothers have taken in, and lay low for as long as it takes for the newest tabloid interest to blow over. Except when he arrives, his brother’s guest house isn’t empty; its current occupant is none other than Willow Morgan, country singer on the rise, hoping to finally finish the last song on her sophomore album―the one her label says must be a hit. But her small problem with writer’s block is nothing compared to her large problem: Ash Murphy broke her heart once before, and if she’s not careful, he just might do it again.
I have read many of Pine’s cowboy romances but somehow missed this series until this third entry. This book spotlights country music sensation Ash Murphy, whose high-profile divorce forces him to seek refuge in his hometown. Ash has been on the road for a few years but seeks solace with his family. When he finally gets home late in the night, he retreats to his brother’s guest house, where he unexpectedly finds his former flame and rising country star Willow Morgan already in residence.
Morgan is hiding out herself, fighting her sophomore slump. Her first album was a hit, but she is having a hard time finishing her second album, especially because her producers are expecting a hit song, like that’s easy. She makes Ash sleep on the couch and wonders how she will protect her heart. Four years earlier, she was humiliated and heartbroken when Ash left her to marry a beautiful tennis star from the UK, and she hasn’t seen him since.
Ash’s manager proposes a strategic collaboration – a duet that could salvage Ash’s reputation while boosting Willow’s career. As they navigate close quarters and creative partnership, their old feelings begin to resurface. Then Ash admits that every song he has written since their breakup has been about Willow, and she starts letting her heart thaw towards the cowboy.
While Pine’s previous series delivered compelling narratives, this new one fell short of my expectations. The character development lacks depth, and certain plot elements strain credibility. Although the premise holds promise, the execution doesn’t quite hit the right notes. It was fairly obvious that this was part of a series, and maybe if I had read the first two books, I would feel differently. Not my favorite.
The Murphys of Meadow Valley Series:
2/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
THE COWBOY OF MY DREAMS by A. J. Pine. Sourcebooks Casablanca (February 11, 2025). ISBN: 978-1728253817. 352p.
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