Cash by Jessica Peterson (August 22, 2024) Big thanks to @thepurplecouchbookshop for picking yet another winner for our monthly romance book club! I couldn’t attend the in-person discussion this time, but I know it was a good one – because this book gave me so much to swoon about.
When Mollie Luck returns to her tiny Texas hometown for the reading of her estranged father’s will, she’s ready to sell the family ranch, invest in her boutique boot business back in Dallas, and leave Hartsville behind forever. But her inheritance comes with a major catch: she must live and work on the ranch for a full year. Mollie’s plan? Endure it while her lawyer hunts for a loophole.
Cash Rivers, the fiercely loyal foreman, is not impressed. He and his brothers have poured years of sweat into the land, and he believes the ranch should stay in the hands of those who love it. Sparks fly, resentment simmers – and yet – so does attraction. As they’re forced to work together, what starts as tension slowly turns into trust, partnership, and something deeper neither expected.
There are a lot of cowboy romances out there, but Cash is near the top of my list (looking at you, Root Bound by Tarah DeWitt). Peterson leans into familiar tropes (“touch her and die,” “opposites attract,” “city girl meets cowboy”) but refreshes them with layered characters and emotional nuance. Mollie is far tougher than she first appears, and Cash is more emotionally complex than he lets on. Their slow-burn chemistry is scorching, but what really shines is their shared grief, personal growth, and the emotional baggage they help each other unpack, especially around Mollie’s father, who loomed large in both their lives in very different ways.
The family dynamics, the ranch setting, Mollie’s complicated relationship with her mom, and her loyal best friend all add richness to the story. There are a couple of questions about the will/inheritance that I felt were still lingering at the end of the story but perhaps those will be addressed in future books in the series – which I am 100% reading.
🎧 Audiobook Thoughts: Stephen Dexter and Lila Winters absolutely nail this dual narration. The Texas accents feel just right (authentic, not exaggerated) and Lila continues to be a standout favorite of mine. Their voices bring so much warmth and chemistry to the story. (12h 1m)
Book: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
🎧 Audio: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
🔥 Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Book Smart Kate 