In Clara and the Cowboy, the story’s light romance is made more intriguing by the backdrop of the dangerous frontier. Erica Vetsch’s smooth-flowing prose thrusts readers into the wild adventures of ranching life and all its complexities, as the story unfolds in late 19th-century Idaho. Outlaws. Secrets. Schemes – all combine to make this an enjoyable read.

The characters, while lovable, are annoyingly reluctant to share their feelings. You definitely feel the pointed edge of a love triangle in this book. Despite his perfectly justified feelings, Alec’s deep insecurity cast a shadow over his ruggedly handsome character, making him frustrating at times. Overall, the character’s endearing trait served to amplify the tension, which made the chapters more gripping. The overly-prim Steadman was practically an eyesore in the rustic setting. Clara had a submissive side towards men that sharply contrasted with her usual boldness. The layers of character depth, complete with flaws, made them feel like real people.

Woven into the story is a faith arc that confronts the trials of forgiveness and resolving the past. One of my favorite quotes was: “His past seemed to stalk him—or was he dragging it around himself?” Midway through, the plot twists, and the narrative begins to race with a thrilling momentum. The intrigue and suspicion woven by the secondary characters kept me engrossed and turning pages. I had to see if the faint hints I’d sensed initially were correct. I couldn’t put the book down after the plot thickened in the middle, making the read much quicker than I thought. Anyone looking for a light, yet intriguing, romance featuring cowboys will definitely want to read this story.

I received a complimentary copy from the author but was not required to leave a review. All opinions expressed are my own. Click on the book cover for purchase link.

About the Book

Book: Clara and the Cowboy

Author: Erica Vetsch

Genre: Christian Historical Fiction

Release Date: October 13, 2025

She’s the rancher’s daughter. He’s the reformed outlaw who became her father’s foreman. Love was never part of the plan.

Clara Bainbridge has loved Alec for years, long before she left for finishing school in Boston. And though she is convinced he loves her too, he seems determined to push her away now that she’s back. So when the handsome stranger who protects her during a stagecoach robbery reveals that he is her new neighbor, Clara begins to wonder if accepting his suit might be wiser than waiting for Alec.

Ranch foreman Alec McConnell has worked hard to overcome his criminal past and prove himself worthy of Colonel Bainbridge’s trust. When cattle start disappearing from the Cross B Ranch, Alec’s checkered past makes him the prime suspect. He must catch the real rustlers to clear his name, but his growing feelings for the Colonel’s daughter, Clara, threaten to undo everything he’s built. How can he protect her when his very presence in her life could destroy her reputation?

Final Thoughts from Erica

Did you, like me, grow up watching westerns on tv? I watched often in reruns as the heyday of the TV Western was waning about the time I was born. But I watched Gunsmoke, The Big Valley, Bonanza, Have Gun, Will Travel, The Rifleman, Wagon Train, The Virginian, and more.

And so grew my love of the old west, of cowboys, cattle drives, frontier justices, and rolling tumbleweeds.

I also read westerns. Zane Grey, Louis L’Amour, Abel Shott (Yes, that was the pen name of the man who wrote the series called Solo Strand: The Silver Kid.) I was a firm believer in The Code of the West.

So, when it came time to write my own ‘cowboy book’ I took much inspiration from the screen and the page.

Clara and the Cowboy is the story of Alec and Clara, a cowboy and the ranch owner’s daughter. There’s cattle rustling, gunplay, good vs. evil, a damsel in distress…all the best parts of western classic lore. I had such fun writing it, influenced by those who had written the genre before me.

The setting was chosen (Southwest Idaho) because of a series of books I had read as a teen, written by Glenn Balch, about a ranching family near Nampa, ID. I’ve never been to that part of the US, but I felt as if I had because I read those books (many times!)

As I look back on the hours I spent watching classic westerns on tv and reading western fiction, I’m reminded of the impact they had on my life. How they taught that good and evil exist in the world, and that it takes bravery to stand up and do the right thing. I learned that honor and integrity do not come without cost, and that actions have consequences.

Who would have thought that watching a rerun of The Big Valley would instill a desire to embrace the cowboy culture through my own fiction?

I hope you enjoy reading Clara and the Cowboy, and that perhaps it takes you back to your own childhood of rooting for the man in the white hat to get the girl he loves before the credits roll.