The Unexpected Cowboy

By: Kimberly Smith

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

A small-town cowboy romance filled with heat, heart, and hard-won love.

Francina Brown came to Sunset Springs, Texas, for a wedding and the holidays—not to fall for a cowboy with a dangerous smile and a habit of saying exactly what she’s trying not to hear.

Travis Garland came home to Texas to rebuild his life, take a job at Stanley Ranch, and finally put distance between himself and the Windgate name—a family legacy rooted in cruelty, entitlement, and violence. Love wasn’t part of the plan.
Then Francina walked into the ranch kitchen.

She’s brilliant, guarded, and heading back to New York. He’s steady, relentless, and determined to prove that sometimes the right man shows up where you least expect him. Travis gives himself six days to make her fall in love—but neither of them expects how fast attraction turns into something deeper… and how dangerous it becomes when old enemies refuse to let the past stay buried.

As Francina becomes entangled in a brutal investigation involving missing and murdered women, the line between professional duty and personal risk disappears. When the Windgate brothers escalate from sabotage to terror, love is no longer just an emotional gamble—it’s a matter of survival.

The Unexpected Cowboy is a powerful blend of contemporary romance and romantic suspense, exploring race, trust, family, and what it means to choose love when walking away feels safer.

💔🔥 Tropes you’ll love:

• Small-town cowboy romance
• He-falls-first
• Forced proximity
• Interracial romance
• Found family
• Romantic suspense
• Strong, professional heroine
• Protective hero

For readers who love emotionally grounded romances with high stakes, unforgettable chemistry, and a happily-ever-after that’s truly earned.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“I did NOT expect this book to hit me the way it did. Travis Garland is officially one of my favorite book boyfriends.”

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“Francina Brown is the kind of heroine we don’t get enough of—brilliant, flawed, fierce, and human. Her voice felt real.”

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“This was way more than a romance. The suspense had me on edge, and the emotional payoff was incredible.”

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“The way this book handled race, family trauma, and love without being preachy was masterful.”

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
‘Six days to make you fall in love with me’—I was DONE after that line.”

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“I came for the cowboy romance, stayed for the found family vibes and strong female friendships.”

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“The Stanley Ranch universe just keeps getting better. I love how characters from previous books weave into this story.”

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“The suspense arc was dark, intense, and handled with care. The payoff was worth every page.”

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“Travis waiting for Francina, supporting her career, loving her without trying to own her—green flag behavior.”

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“This book broke my heart, stressed me out, and then put it all back together again. Highly recommend.”

She's Back!

I was so, so excited to see Ms. Kimberly Smith is back with a new book in the Sunset Springs series!
This tale is filled with lust, crime, racism, kidnapping, action, drama, and a little mystery. So worth the read! Ever book Kimberly Smith writes is gold!

I enjoyed the story. The main characters were great.

Great story! I like that he, Travis, wanted to be loved for who he was not based on color.

I however DID NOT care for the virtual reader.

I do recommend this book!!

Best one yet

I’ve really damn near all her books and this was the best one yet! I was not ready for it to end, I was slightly disappointed we didn’t get to see Eddy/Luke/ Sierra reunion with her in the hospital. I hope the next book focuses on her and Travis. I loved how this little town in Texas are going hard for Black Women and at least even on fiction someone is trying to solve/ find missing Black women and girls!

The story keeps you on the edge

There is nothing to dislike, the story was warm heart felt . Love it!!! Heck it made me want to live there

Suspenseful, twist and turins

Love this it was heartwarming, romantic and very unexpected. I enjoyed the romance and friendship s and family vibe.
I love her stories.