Cowboy Watch by Petie McCarty (Watchers #1) | Review & Excerpt
Some hometowns are full of memories. Others are full of secrets. In Riverside, West Virginia, Kellen Brand is about to discover they're often one and the same.
Returning to your hometown isn't always easy, especially when you've spent years trying to forget it. In Cowboy Watch, the first book in Petie McCarty's Watchers series, Kellen Brand inherits a rundown West Virginia farm she has no intention of keeping. Unfortunately, selling it proves considerably more complicated than she expected.
Between a handsome cowboy with secrets of his own, a mysterious Watcher seeking redemption, and someone determined to make Kellen's homecoming miserable, there's far more happening in Riverside than meets the eye.
I'm joining Goddess Fish Promotions today for the Cowboy Watch review tour, and I'm excited to share my thoughts on this blend of small-town mystery, romantic suspense, and paranormal intrigue. There's also a reader giveaway farther down the post!
Book Details for Cowboy Watch by Petie McCarty
Cowboy Watch By Petie McCarty
Series: The Watchers, Book 1
Published by Amazon Digital Services on 03/30/2013
Genres: Paranormal Romance, Romantic Suspense
Formats: eBook, Paperback
Pages: 357
The Watchers are coming . . .
Fallen angels cast out of heaven by the archangel Michael for coercing with Satan to gain control. Some of these conspirators—duped late in the game by Satan’s lies—doubled back to seek redemption for their unwitting betrayal. Offered parole in exchange for penance, these Watchers are given the toughest bodyguard missions with little leeway for success.One last chance.These are their stories . . .
Cowboy Watch:
Someone—or something—wants Kellen out of town . . .Kellen Brand’s inheritance comes as a monumental shock—a rundown farm in West Virginia she doesn’t want and one paroled Watcher all her own. Kellen’s eccentric mother had believed the Watchers to be fallen angels who sought penance by guarding chosen individuals who had lost their way. Seriously? A Watcher?Only her mother . . .
Since Kellen vows no sane woman would choose to live in Riverside, she’s on a mission to dump the old farm fast and to the first buyer who comes along. Unfortunately for her, the only buyer is a resort developer, spurned by a townful of objectors and one handsome cowboy—her neighbor, Luke Thornton. Luke must block Kellen’s farm sale or risk exposure of his own family’s secrets. He can ill afford his immediate and compelling attraction to his new neighbor.
Someone is watching Kellen, but not who she thinks. Someone deadly and intent on scaring her out of town. Or worse. Luke has a hellish choice to make—step in and rescue Kellen from her threats, or to protect his family, stand by and watch . . .
I received a complimentary copy of this book for review. All opinions and thoughts shared here are entirely my own.
This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
Reader Resources
Reader Info at a Glance
| Best For | Readers who enjoy small-town romantic suspense, mysterious family secrets, protective cowboys, and a touch of the paranormal. |
| Pacing | Steady at first, with mounting tension and increasingly dangerous twists. |
| Romance | Strong chemistry between two initially clashing personalities, with trust developing alongside the suspense. |
| Series Reading | Book 1 of The Watchers. Each book follows a different couple and can be read independently. |
| Overall Feel | Mysterious, romantic, suspenseful, emotionally layered, with a supernatural twist. |
| Rating | ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ (4.5/5) |
Curious about this book's earlier feature?
You can also explore my
original Cowboy Watch spotlight.
Quick Take: A compelling blend of small-town secrets, romantic chemistry, and paranormal intrigue, with an unexpectedly heartfelt journey of healing and second chances.
Things to Know:
- Paranormal Elements: Fallen angels and Watchers add a supernatural dimension to an otherwise grounded small-town romantic suspense.
- Danger and Suspense: Threats, stalking, and potentially deadly situations create tension throughout the story.
- Series Background: Originally published as part of The Mystery Angel Romances, these books have been rewritten, retitled, and rebranded as the edgier The Watchers series. Each book features a different couple and can be read independently.
There's plenty of mystery and danger in Cowboy Watch, but what stayed with me was something a little more personal: watching Kellen discover that returning home doesn't necessarily mean returning to the past.
My Thoughts
One of the things I enjoyed most about Cowboy Watch was how much Petie McCarty packed into this small West Virginia town. Riverside may look like an ordinary community, but there's certainly nothing ordinary about the secrets its residents are keeping. Just when I thought Kellen had enough to deal with, another complication appeared, and the tension kept building.
Kellen's return to Riverside is about much more than inheriting a rundown farm. She has some painful memories of her hometown, and she's determined to sell the property and leave as quickly as possible. I particularly liked watching those old memories gradually make room for new, happier ones. Her changing feelings about Riverside give the story an emotional layer that I wasn't necessarily expecting from a romantic suspense novel.
And then there's Luke Thornton. I loved the chemistry between Luke and Kellen! Their personalities clash almost immediately, and neither makes things particularly easy for the other. Luke has his own reasons for wanting Kellen to stay, along with family secrets he'd rather keep hidden. Yet the more danger she encounters, the harder it becomes for him to stand aside. Watching their attraction develop alongside a growing sense of trust was one of my favorite parts of the book.
McCarty also does a nice job of layering the mysteries. There's the question of who's targeting Kellen, the secrets surrounding the farm and its neighbors, and the intriguing presence of the Watchers. The paranormal elements add another dimension without overwhelming the romance or the small-town suspense. I appreciated how the different threads kept giving me something new to think about as the story progressed.
A few developments were somewhat predictable, but that didn't take away from my enjoyment. I was invested in Kellen and Luke, and even when I suspected where something might be heading, I still wanted to see how everything would unfold. With one complication following another, there was rarely a shortage of trouble waiting around the corner.
What ultimately made Cowboy Watch stand out for me was the combination of strong romantic chemistry, layered suspense, and Kellen's personal journey. Beneath the danger and mysterious happenings is a story about letting go of the past, learning to trust, and discovering that home might still have something wonderful to offer.
Final Thoughts
Cowboy Watch is a wonderful choice for readers who enjoy romantic suspense with a touch of the supernatural. Petie McCarty delivers an entertaining mix of danger, small-town secrets, and a romance that's easy to root for. Kellen and Luke make a memorable couple, and their journey gives the story plenty of heart.
I especially appreciate that the emotional side of the story is just as important as the mystery. There's something satisfying about watching a character discover that the place she was so determined to leave behind might hold the very future she needs.
With three books already available in The Watchers series, there's more to explore for readers who enjoy McCarty's blend of romance and suspense. I'm certainly looking forward to seeing what secrets and surprises await in the next installment!
Excerpt from Cowboy Watch
Wondering what happens when two strong-willed personalities cross paths? Here's a little taste of Kellen and Luke's spirited relationship. I think this scene captures their chemistry beautifully!
Stunned, Luke gaped at the old farmhouse. Someone stood on the front porch and peeked in his windows-a red-haired someone. He gave Windsor a poke with his heels, and the horse leaped forward in response. Galloping down the entrance drive, Luke reined in hard at the bottom step and startled his trespasser.
"And you are on my front porch because?" he barked while holding the skittish stallion in place. Windsor had had his head, and he wanted it again.
Kellen's eyes went wide with guilt. "I was just-"
"Snooping?" Windsor sidestepped to the right, forcing Luke to twist around in his saddle to hold eye contact.
She stiffened and her brilliant green eyes flashed with temper. "I was not! You . . .You . . ." She stamped her foot.
"Owner?" he retorted, unwilling to let her off the hook for an instant. Not when he had her good and cornered. Thank God, Windsor kept him so busy he didn't ogle her like a schoolboy.
"No, I was going to say-"
The horse reared and pawed the air, effectively cutting her off. Of course, Luke's little heel nudge and rein tug instigated the ostentatious display. He swiftly turned the horse back around so he could face her.
"So, why are you here? On my front porch. Peeking in my windows."
She gave him a glare fit for the devil. "I was not peeking. I was trying to see if anyone was home."
He waited.
Her eyes narrowed. "I didn't want anything." She hesitated. "I wasn't doing anything."
"Well, if you didn't want anything and you weren't doing anything . . ." He eased the powerful horse right up next to her, though she stood her ground on the bottom step. ". . .then you must need a ride home."
He snatched her off the step before she could answer and counted on the little spitfire having the presence of mind to swing her leg over the horse when Windsor took off. She didn't disappoint him. The stallion streaked for the break in the tree line, and she clung to him like a tick on a coon dog. The feel of her arms around his waist had his heart rate racing like Windsor's rhythmic gait once again. Through the tree break and across her unplowed fields, they galloped.
He should slow his horse on the uneven ground. He really should. But if he did, Kellen would loosen her death grip on him.
The sure-footed stallion galloped across the fields as though he knew right where Luke was headed. He waited to the last possible second to rein in the black horse at Kellen's front steps, then reached around at the same time to slide her off Windsor's back. Once her feet touched the ground with her balance assured, he tapped his heels to the stallion and cantered back across the fields. He didn't dare risk a backward glance and spoil his memory of the ride with another hard glare from the beauty.
Excerpt provided by Petie McCarty and Goddess Fish Promotions. Used with permission.
Meet the Author
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Tour dates: October 1-22, 2026. To see the full schedule of stops, visit the
Goddess Fish Promotions tour page.
Giveaway
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