The “Gold Valley” saga continues and keeps this series alive and full of joy for readers. When you are reacquainted with some recurring characters, part of the fun is putting a name with a face. In THE TRUE COWBOY OF SUNSET RIDGE, we meet yet another member of the Daniels extended family. This was a family forged out of mutual tragedy - the deaths of their parents in a plane crash. The groups of siblings and cousins managed to create a new family structure with the oldest taking charge of the youngest.

In THE TRUE COWBOY OF SUNSET RIDGE Maisey Yates treats us to Colt Daniels’ story. Colt has left the rodeo circuit. Near-death experiences were getting too close to deal with and so he retreats to Gold Valley, busy fixing up a ranch while maintaining an isolated life.

Colt meets Mallory as a chance encounter with a sexy stranger. They hookup for one delicious night - no names, no numbers, no promises. Both head their own way. Unfortunately, that path wasn’t as divergent as they had expected and truly hoped for. Mallory’s brother Griffin is married to Colt’s cousin Iris. Ah the twisted hand of fate.

Maisey Yates has a delightful sense of humor. She loves to inject just the right amount of angst into her stories and there is no denying the tension between Colt and Mallory. It just makes you want to cheer them on.

Mallory hasn’t had a pleasant experience with love, making trust difficult. She feels as though she invested in useless stock with her cheating ex. Moving close to her brother is the first step from divorcing herself from an unrewarding relationship that sucked the life and self-esteem from this young woman. As a midwife, she is hoping to kickstart her career and her life.

Colt enjoys his time with women. No relationship, no commitment, no emotional investment. But with Mallory he is experiencing something very odd for him. Sure, they enjoyed a mutually satisfying hookup. They are determined to put that in the past so that they can manage their new lives independently. The fact remains that in a small town they will inevitably be thrown together, especially as members of a large extended family.

THE TRUE COWBOY OF SUNSET RIDGE is book number fourteen in the “Gold Valley” series. As usual, Maisey Yates has quite a few surprises up her sleeve. Always keep in mind that Maisey Yates is primarily a romantic. Happy endings are her forte. Colt and Mallory are prime examples of the fabulous characters that this skilled author creates. Once again, I’m tempted to say they are two of my favorites, but each story in this series stars some immemorable folk.