A Violet Ridge Novel: Book 3
Publication Date: July 29, 2025
To catch a thief
Or to capture a heart?
Denver detective Jase Virtue has one return to his hometown of Violet Ridge, catch an escaped bank robber, go back to Denver. Staying at Cassie O’Neal’s farm isn’t part of the plan. But the single mom and her two young children need protection—even if she is the robber’s half sister and suspected accomplice. Bonding with the O’Neals, and a sweet little hen, has Jase wondering if he can truly trust Cassie. Because she makes him long for the home and happily-ever-after he never thought he deserved.
From Harlequin  Wholesome stories of love, compassion and belonging.
Book 1:Â The Triplets’ Holiday Miracle
Book 2:Â Saving the Rancher
Book 3:Â A Family for the Cowboy Cop
Book 4:Â The Cowboy’s Christmas Match
I’ve been a fan of the world that Tanya Agler has created in Violet Ridge, Colorado, first with her Rodeo Stars of Violet Ridge series and now her Violet Ridge spinoff. So when the request to review A Family for the Cowboy Cop, the third book in the Violet Ridge series, came through my inbox, I couldn’t wait to start reading.
A Family for the Cowboy Cop follows Jase and Cassie. Jase is a detective in Denver, assigned to a case that takes him back to his hometown of Violet Ridge. It happens that he’s searching for Cassie’s half-brother, who has escaped from jail, and the police believe Cassie is his accomplice. I won’t rehash the blurb of the book, but ultimately, Jase needs to find Cassie’s brother and clear her of any wrongdoing as well as come to terms with the growing feelings they have for each other. Throw in a secondary plot dealing with Jase’s family and why he’s been steering clear of town for most of his adult life, and I ended up reading a well-rounded story.
Let’s start with Cassie. I found her almost too good to be true. Everyone in Violet Ridge likes her, and she volunteers at the local senior center. She takes in abandoned pets to find them new homes, runs a farm pretty much single-handedly, and has a farm stand that people flock to in order to get her amazing baked goods. And she’s the perfect single mother to two young kids. I suppose her one flaw is that she’s too trusting. While I would love to have a friend like her, I was exhausted for her. I wish Cassie were less flawless to make her a more dynamic and realistic character, which could have added more depth and conflict to the story.
Jase, on the other hand, has several flaws. He has been harboring a secret from his family, which has kept him isolated from them. He tends to think the worst of people, but that probably mainly stems from his job as a detective on the police force. He’s also one of the good guys, dedicated to those he cares about and to his career. Jase is a more developed and realistic character. Throughout the book, I was rooting for him to solve the mystery and get his act together when it came to his family and Cassie.
While I enjoyed the story, I also got quite frustrated with it. I wanted more conflict. What little conflict there was in the book was resolved too easily. I understand that this is a Harlequin and not part of the Intrigue line, so the mystery aspect wasn’t the primary focus, but it was an integral part of the plot, and I wanted a less rushed resolution. However, given that the focus is primarily on the relationship between Jase and Cassie, which was well-developed and what kept me turning the pages.
Jase and Cassie are a good pairing, and their romance made me smile and sucked me into the story. I definitely recommend this book and series to fans of small-town romances.
I enjoyed A Family for the Cowboy Cop and loved returning to Violet Ridge, revisiting old friends, and meeting new ones. 
Tanya Agler fell in love with romance novels when her grandmother brought one home from work. After years of reading happily ever afters, she decided to write a sweet contemporary romance with the support of her wonderful husband, four children, and her lovable Basset Hound. A graduate of the University of Georgia, she loves Cary Grant movies, walking, reading, and all things chocolate. Follow her on Facebook at Author Tanya Agler and sign up for her newsletter.
