Can she show him how to be a rancher…

And a family man?

Noah Bodine is paying the price for missing his sister’s wedding by temporarily running his family’s Kansas ranch. But the corporate cowboy is way out of his element. 

Thankfully, neighbor Kate Lancaster is there to help, though the pretty single mom isn’t pleased to spend time with Noah. She still blames Noah for her husband’s death.

That is until Kate’s little boy decides to make Noah his new best friend…and changes both Kate’s and Noah’s meaning of home.

Titles in the Kansas Cowboys series include — The Reluctant Rancher – Last Chance Cowboy – Cowboy on Call – Her Cowboy Sheriff – The Rancher’s Second Chance – Twins Under the Tree – The Cowboy’s Secret Baby – Mistletoe Cowboy – A Cowboy’s Homecoming

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Title:  A Cowboy’s Homecoming
Series:  Kansas Cowboys #9
Author:  Leigh Riker
Genre:  Modern Western Romance
Published:  July 27, 2021
Publisher:  Harlequin Heartwarming
My Rating:  4.5 stars

A Cowboy’s Homecoming is the ninth story in the Kansas Cowboys series, and I’ll confess that I have not read all of the previous books in this series… and the reason for that declaration is the fact that I wasn’t the least bit lost with a story so far into the series.  That said a lot (to me) about the author’s ability to draw the reader into her world and have them want to stay.  And now I believe I need to go back and slowly get caught up on this series because my curiosity to know what came before Noah’s and Kate’s romance is now fully engaged.

I enjoy an enemies-to-lovers romance, especially when there is such intense passion beneath the surface.  Noah and Kate have history but they’ll also begin a healing process that they both badly need in order to move forward… to their own happy ending, well, at least if Kate’s son has his way.  I adored little Teddie, and he ended up being quite the scene-stealer for me during A Cowboy’s Homecoming.

Noah’s reluctant return home from the familiar corporate world will eventually heal wounds that have long held a tight grip on Noah.  This cowboy needs to remember his roots, and being home and tending to the ranch is exactly what he needs – even if he doesn’t see that at first.  As his neighbor, Kate will reluctantly help him with the ranch but it comes at an emotional cost as she does still harbor anger in her belief that Noah caused her husband’s death.  Watching this couple, and one adorable little tyke, heal the past, embrace the present, and become a family was an enjoyable, emotional journey from start to finish.  A Cowboy’s Homecoming turned out to be just what I needed – an emotional story, believable characters, and a new-to-me author to get caught up with her backlist.  If you simply love a really good love story from the heart, then Kate and Noah deliver that and so much more.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own – good, bad, or indifferent. I was not financially compensated for this review and no expectation of a positive review was promised.*

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