The Maverick Cowboy

A Sweet Contemporary Western Romance

By: Stephanie Faris

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

A guarded cowboy hero. A small-town ranch romance that could heal them both.

Joshua Ludington learned the hard way that trust can be shattered in a single moment. After the woman he loved betrayed him, he retreated to his family ranch—and vowed to keep his heart firmly off-limits.

Then Lucie Cooper drives through the gates.

Lucie is only at Cupid Ridge Inn for a job. The dude ranch needs an interim chef, and she’s determined to prove herself, impress the guests, and keep everything professional. Falling for a guarded cowboy was never part of the plan.

But Joshua isn’t just handsome—he’s steady, kind, and quietly broken in a way that pulls at Lucie’s heart. And Lucie isn’t just sunshine and enthusiasm—she’s warmth, laughter, and hope wrapped in flour-dusted determination.

Joshua wants to believe again.

Lucie wants to be someone he can rely on.

Yet Lucie has a problem she can’t ignore—she’s terrible at keeping secrets. And working for the Ludington family means discretion matters more than ever.

As feelings deepen and expectations collide, Lucie must decide whether honesty will bring them closer…or cost her the one man she never meant to fall for.

Because some hearts aren’t broken beyond repair.

They’re just waiting for the right kind of love.

Tropes:
🤠 Guarded Cowboy Hero
🌾 Small-Town Ranch Romance
🍽️ Sunshine Chef Heroine
🐎 Dude Ranch Setting
💔 Wounded-Heart Hero
💖 Slow-Burn Sweet Romance
🤍 Trust-Building Love Story
🔐 Secrets & Emotional Walls
🌻 Healing Through Love
🏡 Found Family & Community

The Cupid Ridge Dude Ranch series is a sweet, clean contemporary western romance series filled with swoon-worthy cowboys in a small-town setting.

Originally published under the name Macie St. James