This was a new author for me and I hadn’t read any of the other books in the series. However, I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. Luke and Lily were both wonderful characters and I enjoyed watching them as they came together.
Tough Luck Cowboy by A.J. Pine
Series: Crossroads Ranch #2
Genres: Western Romance
About the Book:

The only girl he ever wanted was the one he could never have.

What’s the saying, bad luck comes in threes? If so, Lily Green is due for something good. First, her divorce is finalized—on her birthday, no less. Then the first job she lands for her catering company turns out to be for her ex-husband’s wedding. To top it off, she’s stuck working the event with Luke Everett, the sexy-as-hell best man who’s never been able to stand her. When can a girl catch a break?

For years, Luke has kept his feelings for Lily safely hidden. Hitting on his best friend’s ex-wife would definitely break the cowboy code of honor. But ever since an injury sidelined his rodeo riding, the two of them keep getting thrown together. It’s only a matter of time until his true feelings come to light. When that happens, it will either be the biggest mistake of his life, or a sign that his luck is about to change.

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I received this book for free from in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Tough Luck Cowboy is one of those romances where the biggest obstacle isn’t a lack of chemistry. It’s two people who have spent so long protecting their hearts that neither one knows how to let someone else in.

Luke has spent years carrying around feelings he never acted on, and now the woman he once thought he wanted is suddenly back in his life. Watching him slowly realize that maybe the future he’d imagined wasn’t the one he actually needed was one of my favorite parts of the story. Beneath the gruff cowboy exterior is a man who isn’t used to being vulnerable, which made his emotional journey feel all the more rewarding.

Lily is starting over after her divorce and trying to build the catering business she’s always wanted. I admired her determination, even when she questioned herself. Agreeing to cater her ex-husband’s wedding certainly isn’t something I could have done, but it showed just how committed she was to making her new business succeed. She has every reason to play it safe, yet Luke has a way of pulling her out of the comfortable walls she’s built around herself.

I really enjoyed the push and pull between Luke and Lily. They spend so much time convincing themselves they’re completely wrong for each other when, in reality, they’re far more alike than either wants to admit. Their chemistry was obvious from the beginning, but I appreciated that the relationship wasn’t built on attraction alone. They both had to learn how to trust, communicate, and stop hiding behind old hurts before they could move forward together.

One thing I continue to enjoy about this series is the Everett family. The moments between Luke and his brothers added humor and warmth to the story while also showing how much they care about both the ranch and the winery they’re working so hard to build. Those family interactions made the town and its people feel like somewhere I’d happily spend more time.

If you enjoy cowboy romances with emotional depth, characters who have to work for their happily ever after, and plenty of family dynamics woven throughout the story, this one is definitely worth picking up.