An unexpected inheritance…

With a surprising cowboy twist

Sarah Hearst thought she’d be welcome in Prospect, Colorado.

After all, she and her sisters inherited their celebrity great-aunt’s beloved—if admittedly run-down—hometown property.

Instead, she’s getting a serious cold shoulder from the entire town.

Sarah’s only ally is Wes Armstrong, her new drop-dead-gorgeous cowboy neighbor.

But Wes has his own plans for her land…and falling for him might be the riskiest prospect of all.

Titles in The Fortunes of Prospect mini-series include — The Cowboy Next Door —♥— Her Cowboy’s Promise —♥—

This is a romance that includes no swearing, no violence, and no sexual content (beyond a few kisses).

Title:  The Cowboy Next Door
Series:  The Fortunes of Prospect #1
Author:  Cheryl Harper
Genre: Contemporary Romance/Modern Western Romance
Published:  February 21, 2023
Publisher:  Harlequin Heartwarming
My Rating:  4.5 stars

The Cowboy Next Door begins The Fortunes of Prospect series with a delightful romance with lots of family history involved… you could say that a beloved, recently deceased great-aunt is very much still involved in all of her family’s lives – especially three great-nieces.  It didn’t take long before I was completely captivated by this story, the (at times quirky) residents of Prospect, or Sarah’s and Wes’ slowing-growing romance.  We’ll meet lots of folks here, but they are easy to keep track of – and I’m guessing that several will have their own stories told one day soon.

At the reading of her great-aunt Sadie’s will, Sarah and her sisters will discover that they’ve inherited a large fishing lodge and property in Sadie’s hometown of Prospect.  It’s where she began her career and where her heart was until she made the choice to move to the big city, a move that was meant to not only help her career but to, unknown to them, watch over and be there for her great-nieces after their mother’s death.  Now, that property, run down as it is, becomes the center of not only Sarah and her sisters’ lives but of importance to the small town of Prospect as well.  As Sarah is soon to discover when she makes the trip to check out the property and make some kind of plan for its future.

I love this type of introduction to a new series.  There are so many little tidbits of information that are important to the overall feel of the series but will probably be more important as the series moves forward.  It’s like we’re being welcomed not only into the characters’ lives but into this small community as well.

I adored Wes and his adopted brothers, as well as his mom and dad.  This is a family that was made, and the love between them all (and the occasional annoyance) is obvious for anyone to see.  Sarah’s decision about the lodge will affect not only her family but Wes’s as well in so many ways.  I loved Sarah and her way of thinking things through and her relationship with her sisters.  She knows what she’s doing within her part of the family business, but can she take that knowledge and bring a falling down, old property back to a new life once again?  Maybe.  But she’s going to need help, and she knows exactly who to go to for that… the man she’s falling in love with.

I also loved that while The Cowboy Next Door is complete in itself, the lodge will continue to be part of the series (almost another character) as decisions are made, and we move forward with that part of the overall story.  I think I’m as excited to know what happens to the lodge as I am to the other characters, who will have their own story told one day.

I had such fun here, and I cannot wait to return.  If you love a well-written, believable romance full of quirky characters, family love, odd inheritances, and a couple who really do fit perfectly together then you’ll want to get started on this series right now.

I own a Kindle edition of this title.

Available in print or for your favorite e-reader