Falling for a Smart Cowboy

Book: Falling for a Smart Cowboy

Series: Vargas Ranch, Book 4

Author: Karen Baney

Genre: Contemporary Christian Cowboy Romance

Release Date: June 25, 2024

She’s on a mission to bring orphaned children hope. He wants off his family’s ranch for good.
Will they survive his shocking family secrets?

Devon Vargas longs to be more than just a cowboy. After finishing his teaching degree, he plans to leave his family’s guest ranch for good. Between his growing affection for the new children’s program director and a huge family secret revealed, he second guesses everything about his life.

Raina Crawford lost her parents at a young age. Through the grace of God, she survived life in the foster system. She desperately wants to bring children the life-changing faith that gave her hope. The job at Vargas Ranch was supposed to be a steppingstone. Except she’s losing her heart to the smart, ambitious cowboy bent on leaving his family’s ranch—and her—behind.

Will Raina finally find the family she’s always wanted? Will family secrets unravel his new dreams? Will those same secrets tear them apart?

Karen Baney’s Falling for a Smart Cowboy invites us to saddle up for a heartwarming journey through love, faith, and a sprinkle of humor. Set against the rugged backdrop of a guest ranch, we meet Devon Vargas, a cowboy with dreams that reach far beyond the rolling hills of his family's land, and Raina Crawford, a spirited woman on a mission to light the way for orphaned children.

Raina’s tenacity and grit shine as she navigates the rocky terrain of her past in the foster system. Baney crafts characters who feel like lifelong friends, making it easy to root for Raina as she pours her heart into her work and fervent prayers. The way faith gallops through the story is beautifully woven, serving as a gentle reminder of the strength found in believing.

Devon brings an extra layer of depth to the tale, caught between his desire to ride off into the sunset and his growing affection for Raina. His internal struggles echo our own battles with trusting God’s plan, and Baney handles this theme with the grace of a seasoned wrangler. Watching Raina guide Devon toward hope and the meaning of family brought a smile to my face, with their playful banter striking just the right chord amid the weight of their challenges.

One of my favorite aspects was how the Vargas family gathers around the table at every meal, reciting, “We do not deviate from the Lord’s plan.” They reinforced their moment-by-moment faith and was reminded every day to remain faithful to the Lord and His ways. It’s a wonderful takeaway.

This book reminds us that healing comes from faith, forgiveness, and leaning on one another. As Devon and Raina face shocking family secrets and the shadows of their pasts, their journey is filled with both tension and tenderness. In her moments of struggle, Raina reflects on the truth: “She really ought to be grateful for all God has given her instead of wallowing.”

With vivid descriptions of the ranch and its wide-open spaces, I felt like I was right there alongside Devon and Raina, riding the emotional rollercoaster of their lives. Their experiences are both refreshing and real, making me root for their happy ending and the hope they discover together.

So, if you’re looking for a story that beautifully intertwines faith, family, and a dash of cowboy charm, I highly recommend Falling for a Smart Cowboy. Will we, like Devon and Raina, trust God with every aspect of own personal stories?

I received an ebook and audiobook of Falling for a Smart Cowboy via the author and Celebrate Lit Publicity Group. I am not required to write a positive review in any way or for any reason. My honest and unbiased opinions expressed in this book review are my own. My review focuses on the story’s content ensuring transparency and reliability.

Karen Baney is passionate about writing stories full of flawed characters. She enjoys weaving together stories of second chances, redemption, and overcoming personal trials. As a transplant to Arizona, she loves researching the state’s history and finding ways to seamlessly incorporate real history and real settings into her novels. In addition to writing and speaking, Karen works as a Software Development Manager for a Christian ministry.

Her faith plays an important role both in her life and in her writing. Karen and her husband, Jim, make their home in Gilbert, Arizona, with their two dogs, Bella and Daisy. Both Jim and Karen are active at Rock Point Church in Queen Creek, Arizona.

Big Family Drama

I love writing big family drama in my novels! It provides such great material for the relationship between characters.

Part of this comes from my family’s drama. My mom was the youngest of eight kids, making my extended family huge. I remember going to the Independence Day family reunions as a kid. It was both fun and a little intimidating. Most of my cousins were adults by the time I was a tweener. So, my siblings and I tended to hangout with my “oops!” cousin since we were only a few years apart.

And boy, did we have drama! There was the aunt who seemed to be offended and left early year. Someone always ended up injured, but only once do I remember an ambulance showing up. There were cliques and turf wars and so much more.

As an adult, though I’ve rarely been able to fly clear across the country to see my extended family, the drama of my husband’s big family serves as inspiration too. He is the oldest of five kids. My first introduction to his large family was at his sister’s wedding. I had no idea what I was getting into. We’d only been dating for about six weeks. Everyone kept pushing me to join the family photos, and I kept trying to gracefully get out of the pictures. I didn’t want him to regret having me in the pictures if we broke up. In the end, my hubby and I outlasted that marriage.

In Falling for a Smart Cowboy, I introduce a new character to the series, Raina Crawford. She was orphaned as a young girl and has longed for a forever family, even into adulthood. Devon Vargas, the fourth out of five sons, learns a family secret that makes him want to avoid his large family. I loved writing this juxtaposition between Raina and Devon over family relationships. It helps each of them see a new perspective. It was also fun writing new friendships for Raina—even if all the friendships tied to Devon’s family. My experience with both my family and being a newbie to my husband’s family provided inspiration for both Raina’s and Devon’s characters.

If you like big family drama, the Vargas Ranch Series provides it in spades. Enjoy!

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