Cowboy Spell by Josie Malone commences as hassled single mother Elinor races to the community center in muddy work clothes. The children have been talking to Sean Killian, vetting his skills as a farrier and checking his potential as a stepfather. Sean appears to suit, while Elinor is exactly the down-to-earth sort of woman he needs. Jake and Lynn sneak outside during the spring equinox and cast a spell carefully designed to attract the right person to their family. The adults' interaction commences well but being concerned that there will not be enough kissing to seal the deal, the children cast more spells. The extent of the abuse from her former husband is slowly unraveled as Elinor struggles to trust a new partner.

Cowboy Spell by Josie Malone is written from a unique and refreshing point of view. I really liked the way the narrative was motivated by young Jake’s understandable desire for a complete family unit. I also loved the setting, which was a small horse farm, that allowed the feel-good romance to be enriched by the star character’s fondness for animals. My heart was thrilled by the serious side of the plot as the children’s emotional hurt was unveiled. The chemistry between Sean and Elinor was satisfying and promised great things for the future. I thoroughly enjoyed the way both adults' and children’s emotional needs were considered and celebrated at each stage of the story. Cowboy Spell by Josie Malone successfully combined second chance romance with real-life concerns and should be enjoyed by a wide variety of readers.

Cowboy Spell is the second in the Liberty Valley Love Series by Josie Malone. We meet two bright and extremely intelligent children, Lynn and Jake Talbot. Elinor Talbot, their mother, is the owner of a pony farm, and since her divorce six years earlier, she has worked the farm alone, except for the help of her children. She often feels as if her children forget she is the adult, and they prove to be quite a handful. Since her ex-husband has no love lost for the children, they come up with the idea to cast a spell, asking for the perfect dad – with a whole list of attributes they are looking for. Sean Killian is looking for someone to share his life and love for horses. He gets more than he wished for and has his hands full with scheming youngsters and a scared mother who he figures is meant for him; he just has to get her to trust him.

Josie Malone writes contemporary romance novels against the backdrop of Liberty Valley and the pony and horse farms in the region. Josie's love for horses and ponies is evident, and she succeeds in taking the reader on an adventure and making shoveling horse manure seem romantic. Cowboy Spell is easy to read but addresses real issues that are relevant and important. These themes include domestic abuse and parents who put their careers before their families and children. She encourages wholesome and healthy relationships and impresses the importance of appreciating animals and nature and not abusing our power over it. The book is spicy with sexual situations and is meant for a more mature audience; it is recommendable for adult reading.