a swoon-worthy cowboy makes for a great read
350505
Alexis arrives in Montana to work as an on-site nurse at a cowboy camp for the summer after being dumped by her fianc a mere two weeks before her wedding.  She fears her fianc left her because she not only leads a boring life, but is a boring person.  She decides she will use her time in Montana to create a new persona  Lexi  and ensure her ex is well informed of all the adventurous activities she will undertake in an effort to lure him back into her life.

Gunnar is a reliable, dependable, and single cowboy at the ranch who has every hope for tomorrow.  Although he is Mr. July on their calendar, and is never short on invites from the pretty women who vacation there, he is not interested in being anyones one-night stand.  He looks forward to one day building his own business on nearby land, and maybe even settling down and having a family if the right woman ever comes along.

While Lexi enlists Gunnar to help her get her ex back, Gunnar sees through her charade and begins to fall for her.  Before she quite realizes what has happened, Lexi discovers that she has fallen for Gunnar as well.  Since she lives on the east coast, and Gunnar is firmly rooted in Montana, both realize an ongoing relationship would be difficult, but both seem to be considering how it might work. Unfortunately, before they can communicate their growing feelings for each other, Gunnar returns to the ranch to find Lexi gone  an emergency at home meant she packed up and left without even saying goodbye.

I have to admit that Lexis character drove me absolutely crazy and I greatly disliked her for at least the first half of this book.  This was in direct contrast to Gunnar who was absolutely swoon-worthy.  Eventually it was clear that Lexi needed to be written the way she was in order for the story to develop and conclude as it did, so I settled into tolerating her.  However, overall I found I enjoyed the book - there was humor, heart, and drama all wrapped up in an engaging story.

Thank you to the author and publisher for providing me with an ARC, from which this review is based, in exchange for an honest review.
1399626
Emily Young is living her dream of becoming a country star. She is on tour and gaining popularity. Cooper Townsend is her old friend and hometown boy that comes to visit her at a show. And underlying crushes, sexual tension, and chemistry cannot be contained.

Cooper is charming, handsome, and known for being a good guy. He has longed to find his own soul mate and has had his heart broken. Emily has been his friend for a long time and has crushed on him too, but she has her own big dreams. She is sweet, spunky, and talented. She is an up-and-comer and ready to live her country star dreams. She does not really have time for distractions. And Coop is a rancher in their tiny hometown of Bell Buckle that she hightailed out of.

They find themselves anticipating, waiting, and going different directions. But they can't stop the way they make each other feel.

Will getting one dream ruin her chances of achieving the other one?

And if they did not have enough challenges, Emily starts getting threats. Cooper wants to protect her and brings in reinforcements from McKay-Taggart security team to try to get to the bottom of it and keep her safe.

This fast-paced novella has danger, suspense, mystery, steam, and sweetness. It is insta-lovey and there is not much relationship development, but they did have history and knew each other as friends first. The couple is totally likable and have good chemistry and rapport. And their personal backgrounds are well developed. I enjoyed getting more with all of the characters from the series, and I liked her bodyguard, Wade. I really enjoyed the epilogue that seemed to help tie up the series and left me smiling.
915146
So since I love country music, this was obviously a book I was going to read and fall in love with.  I wasn't quite prepared for how much I fell in love with it.  Every part had me either swooning or cheering. I loved how the author would tie in a particular country song into the chapter ,whether it be by dancing to it or just singing it.
Lucky and Katie had a whirlwind romance until something happened.. Decisions were made that I didn't with but it worked out in the end. I loved every minute of their love.  I loved how determined Lucky was to make it and bring Katie along as well.  Things didn't quite go as planned but he was able to make a name for himself. I seriously want to read this book over and over.  It has the sweet factor that makes your teeth hurt.  Besides Lucky and Katie, you somehow managed to fall in love with all the secondary characters as well or at least I did.  This book was such a joy to read. Lucky and Katie are wonderful character who share the ups and downs throughout their beautiful romance.  Part of me wants to find a country singer, so that he can sing me songs each night and make me fall in love with him.

Review by Amy
2611948
RUNAWAY COWBOY has everything youd want in a cowboy novella except one thingmore!

The story centers on lost love and family responsibility. Both Clay and Jen have families that take up much of their time but the dynamics of both are very different. They are young and inexperienced in lifes trials so when family tragedy strikes Clay, he does what many people do when faced with insurmountable odds, run. The premise makes for an emotional story full of promise and hope.

The characters are well-defined and real with great supporting characters in Jens family. Each one is drawn worthy of their own book which only adds to the tale, not overpowering it. No easy task in a novella.

As I stated before, the only thing missing is more story. I wanted to know more about Clay and Jen during their time apart and when they were together.  A wonderful read!
61990
Kelly Hampton spent a miserable six months married to a cowboy and has only a wonderful son to remind her of it. When handsome cowboy Pete Crawford walks into her dress shop, she assumes he's only looking for his sister--until he kisses her. Kelly doesn't want a man and certainly wouldn't even consider a cowboy, but Pete is trying to head off ex-girlfriend Sheila who won't give up. What can it hurt to pretend to be his girlfriend--except her heart. Pete thinks he's got it made--a woman who won't try to trap him into marriage--until he starts to think about family himself. He had thought he was least likely to wed, but can he persuade Kelly that he's changed?
Author Judy Christenberry has written another heart-warming tale of cowboys who love animals, children, and the women who change their lives. Kelly, in particular, is an attractive heroine with her unwillingness to put up with Pete's bad habits and fierce independent streak. Christenberry delivers another page-turning read in this tale of two people who are absolutely certain that they will never fall in love again--and just can't help what happens.
1485730
The last thing Leda is looking for is a man in her life.  Been there, done that, has the baby to prove it.  Young and single, Leda's determined to take care of her daughter on her own, and so far, she's managing well.  But when an old dog keeps wandering over to the neighbor's property, she has little choice but to get to know the handsome cowboy next door.

The Verdict:  I have to say that this story surprised me.  I think I went in expecting something more standard, but Leda is certainly not your typical country romance heroine, and while Eric might want to be her white knight, she's more than capable of handling things on her own.  It was certainly a welcome departure from the typical stories I read.

At twenty-one, Leda has found herself trying to raise her infant daughter on her own.  Thinking she was making a smart, pretty responsible decision, she fell head over heels for an older, stable man who wasn't nearly as committed as she thought he was.  Now on her own, she's determined to give her daughter a wonderful life without any help or interference from the man who didn't bother to stick around.

Eric isn't looking for a relationship, either.  But he's amused by and fascinated with Leda immediately upon meeting her.  She's unlike anyone he's ever met, and he's certainly attracted to her, but she's got more baggage than he bargained for.  A former bull rider, Eric's now an agent, used to getting the best options for his clients.  And when he realizes Leda's not only lacking in moral support from her ex but also financial support, he wants to step up and help.  That, of course, is when these two start becoming more involved than either of them intended.

While I never fully warmed to Leda, she was definitely one of the more interesting characters I've met in a story.  She's spunky, capable, and  even though she's got some self-confidence issues as a result of her previous relationship  stronger than you'd expect.  She's also managing rather well on her own, having worked out a good place to live, loyal friends, and a way to make her own way in the world.  Eric is a good deal older than she is, though not enough that it's scandalous.  And almost as soon as he realizes that she has no help from the ex, he wants to step in and fix it.  However, Leda's not looking for someone to magically make things better, and it's not just because she's stubborn.  She's actually doing just fine, even if things are a bit harder than they should be, and she'd rather forget her ex even exists than allow him into her daughter's life.

Their relationship starts out just as unconventional as the characters are, and without any contrived angst or unnecessary drama, they're a lot of fun.  Leda's constantly throwing out ridiculous phrases in an effort to keep her language clean around her daughter, and I think I was just as amused as Eric was by her approach to things.  Instead of the desperate, destitute, exhausted single mother one might expect, Leda finds joy in motherhood and making the best of what others would find an unfortunate situation.

The romance is instant attraction coupled with a subtle build of trust, and Leda's insecurities get in the way for a while, but the wait is both entertaining and well worth it.  Their fun banter and often opposing headstrong ways makes for an interesting dynamic that makes their eventual romance seem more genuine that what I normally find in books.  All in all, The Cowboy Next Door, is a great read, with characters that defy the tired old standard and deliver the kind of happily ever after you can imagine happening in real life.

***This review was originally written for The Romance Reviews.  FicCentral received this book from The Romance Reviews for free in exchange for an honest review.
505734
If you like your cowboys tough on the outside and tender on the inside, you'll love Colton Hart in CJ Carmichael's American Romance, Rodeo Cowboy. With her well-honed romance writing skill, it is no wonder Ms Carmichael could weave heart-wrenching sentiment into a rough and tumble rodeo story. Living in a wrangling town herself, she also captures the essence of this lifestyle and shares it with her readers through the depth of her characters. It's not too late to find out if Colton 'cowboys up' to his responsibilities in time to win the most valuable prize of his life - the heart of Leah Stockton.
1489267
A beautiful story of a cowboy, Kane, who is all alpha male yet has a vulnerable and insecure side who meets Ginger, a seemly self-confident lawyer.  I have no way to describe the romance as anything other than my subject line sweet, hot, steamy romance.  There is no danger or suspense but just a great romance of the bad boy alpha male who for years was wild but changed and wanted a different life.  Ginger was so busy with her father and son that she closed herself off for years from a relationship.  A very good read!
4561540
This was a wonderful story!  I really identified with Jennifer's predicament - doing a job with every intention of helping all while the client considers her the enemy - but she handles it with compassion and patience.  Stetson is still reeling from his father's death, but once he figures out Jennifer isn't the heartless banker he thinks she is, the story really takes off.  I loved the scene on the porch with her ex!  The love scenes aren't as ... ahem ... "detailed" as they are in some other books, so that's either good or bad depending on one's preferences. Definitely not for the under-18 crowd, either way.  Stetson is without a doubt one hot cowboy, and Jennifer is his perfectly sweet and smart match. Can't wait to read more in this series!
4682217
Make Me Yours
By: Vanessa Vale

 Review by Kristie K

A Hollywood starlet meets her match with not one, but two gorgeous cowboys who want more than just a ride on the range

Vanessa Vale takes us back to Bridgewater, and Hawks Landing guest ranch where Hollywood starlet Lacey Leesworth runs to escape the tabloid fodder her life has become.  As the star of a hugely popular tv show, Lacey doesnt know privacy or peace.  When things explode after returning from a trip to Asia, she has to get away.  Landing at a guest ranch in Montana, under an assumed name, Lacey isn't sure what to expectbut when not one, but TWO devastatingly gorgeous cowboys show up on her cabins doorstep, shes pretty sure she wants to follow THEM.

When Colt and Micah walk up to the honeymoon cabin at Hawks Landing guest ranch, they expect to see a happily married newlywed couple.  What they find instead is a gorgeous brunette, with curves for days, and a chemistry that has them determined to keep her and make her theirs.  As they work their way into her bed, and her heart, the two men learn some shocking secrets about the woman of their dreams.  The question is if they can overcome these obstacles and take her for their own.

Vanessa Vale has done it again!  A quick and dirty ride on the range turns into a wild claiming of the woman of their dreams in this new tale in the Bridgewater series.  As with all her books, this one is filled with witty banter, un-fettered lust, and two sexy cowboys determined to take whats theirs.  It was easy to fall for the charm of Colt and Micah, and Lacey evoked sympathy, warmth, and kinship.  I adored the storyline, though I do think there were places it seemed a bit more rushed, especially toward the end.  I wanted more of the characters, but thenwhen don't I?!  All in all, Make Me Yours is another win in my books.

Kristie K.
3321033
It all started with a broken heart, a burned out star and the blue skies of Montana. Brylee is still stinging after being stood-up at the alter. Her heart is covered in scar tissue and she has no desire to try to make it better. Her work has become everything in her life. She avoids friends, works long hours, and hardly rides anymore.  She takes on some comfort lessons and is caught red handed by one Zane Sutton, movie star and ex rodeo cowboy. There is much blushing, some testy words and perhaps a bit of lusty feelings between the two. Brylee finds herself on uncomfortable ground. Zane Sutton, the super sexy, movie star,  divorced, ex rodeo cowboy has moved to the dilapidated ranch he and his brother bought. He's looking for some time away from Hollywood and all the glamor. He wants some time with his horse and the great blue sky in this country. While out looking at his land he see's something strange. His neighbor is on his property and she's. What ??? He finds the fun in this new woman, she is feisty, beautiful and treats him like a man not a star.  She feels something she hasn't felt in a long while, interest. The two of them make for an exciting fun read, they are not the sweet predictable pairing, these two have scars to wrangle through. There are also adorable animals, troubled teens and nosey good intentioned neighbors.  I loved this addition to the series Ms. Miller never fails to leave me wanting more.
763519
Reviewed by JoAnne
Book provided by the publisher for review
Review originally posted at Romancing the Book

This is book two in the Sweet on a Cowboy series but to me it is more a connected story. JB and his wife Charla who were front and center in book one, The Sweet Spot, which I read and loved were mentioned here but only had a small part in this story that was more in passing.

 Nothing Sweeter had some hurting characters  Aubrey known as Bree had a raw deal in her past and while we know about it through the story as the details are revealed to us a little at a time, Max, her boss and partner in Total Bull, doesnt have a clue. Max is struggling to keep his High Heather Ranch solvent and his gay brother, Wyatt, has left his lover behind in Boston to do his part since they both inherited the ranch from their dad.  Wyatts boyfriend, Juan, is mentioned throughout even though he is not with them in Colorado. There are many layers to each of the characters and its interesting to not only watch their relationships evolve and change but also how their interactions amongst themselves do. There is family and friends, ranch hands,  cowboys, horses, laughter and tears, failures and successes, along with romance and love, hot and steamy loving and many twists and turns to the storyline.

The descriptions of the ranch, the house, the rodeos and the training made me feel that I was there. Maxs housekeeper, Tia Nita, has pearls of wisdom for all and its interesting to see how she brings out Brees caring side. Fire Ant, the bull, had unusual characteristics but was willing to show everyone what he was made of when he was put to his paces and entered in competitions.  The chemistry between Max and Bree was combustible but they both tended to hold back .  There is an unexpected but hoped for happily ever after and some closure but an epilogue would have tied up all the loose ends.

There was an excerpt of book three in the series, Sweet on You, that I look forward to reading along with other books Drake pens in the future.

Favorite Quote:  It had been a long time  a really long time, since a man showed concern for her safety.  Shed never equated chivalry with sexy, but out here, under the stars, it turned her downright sinful.
4708168
Wrangler by Dani Wyatt is a very sexy cowboy romance with a sweet yet very alpha hero, Chad Butler, who after years of remaining celibate, finds himself completely wanting to end his dry streak when he lays eyes on the beautiful Rachel Sweeting.

Insta-love at its best, Ms. Wyatt creates such charming hero who is crazy possessive and won't let the woman that he knows is meant to be his slip through his fingers. Rachel can't quite believe Chad would be interested in but once she opens herself to Chad and he soothes her fears, the heat between these two definitely picks up.

I definitely enjoyed this story. All its tender moments and its hot and heavy ones. Wrangler is one story you don't want to miss.
3101046
I was delighted by the characters and setting in Montana Rescue. A handsome bull rider, Nick, part of a large family returns home, temporarily, to manage the family orchard business while his father and new stepmother take a long-needed vacation. Before even taking up his duties, he reconnects with the girl of his teenage dreams, Harper, now widowed, who has also returned home after years away, and is helping her younger sister out with her business of providing the bucking bull stock to the Montana Pro Rodeo circuit (where Nick competes.) What follows is the story of how their relationship evolves and how they come to terms with their pasts.

It is a sexy, contemporary romance with two strong characters that totally melt when dealing with each other. It is also a story of healing and forgiveness  forgiving oneself and moving on. The setting in Montana was of interest to me. Ive never been there but it sounds lovely and wild. Also, I enjoyed seeing this side of the workings of rodeo  that was a little different angle than Ive seen before. This is the second book in a series about the large Wilde family but it stands on its own  you wouldnt have to read the first book, Montana Cherries (although I liked it, too) to enjoy this one.

I received a free, advance copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my unbiased review.
4286821
I received a copy of this from Entangled Publishing, in exchange of an honest review

Finally we get Cowboy's book. And his heroine being a librarian surprises me. Ever since I read Rules of Protection, I wanted to know what kind of woman Cowboy will fall for. And I have to agree Anna Webber is perfect for him.

Anna Webber is the quintessential orthodox librarian. Old-fashioned, Blouse buttoned upto the neck, red flaming hair in a bun, she is the epitome of prim and proper. And it takes Cowboy to bring out the wildcat in her. She just moved to a small town in Texas to spend time with her friend Bobby Jo, before she hightails it out of there and disappears forever.

For Anna relationships are a total no-no. She knows what it is like to burn and she is not interested in romance, especially with a ladies man like Cowboy. And since her life is danger, there is no point in staying. Since her move to Texas, fires are popping up around her and with Cowboy suspecting her, she has no reason to want to be with him. Even if he is hot as hell, makes her burn and shes had a crush on him for almost 10 years.

Cowboy can be charming when he needs to be, but when it comes to the uptight and proper Anna, he has no such luck. His kisses may make her tremble, but the woman has a will of steel. And Cowboy has no resources to fight it. Not unless he puts his all and then some into her and their relationship.

Honestly, I think Cowboy can be an ass of the first degree. For a guy who picks women left, right and center, he has no clue how to handle Anna. He offends her more often than not, and makes no excuses or apologies for being a man-whore. For him Anna is a puzzle he wants to solve. Convincing Anna to part with her secrets is akin to putting teeth, but he perseveres.

Although I enjoyed the book thoroughly, Rules of Protection stays my favorite. Playing With Fire did not have as many humorous dialogues as the previous book. But I need to say, when Anna throws a funny liner, youll be laughing your ass of.

I also loved seeing the rest of the gang. Emily is as she was, a total hoot with no filter. She still has no qualms saying what comes to her mind. Jake still has to control her. Jake has become adorable with the birth of his daughter. Bobby Jo is doing well too and her son is adorable. I cant wait for her story.

This book too like its predecessor was unpredictable. Till the end, I had no clue about the actual culprit. One of the things that I love about Alison Bliss is that she knows how to balance romance and suspense. Her books don't make me feel like either of them are in disproportion.

An overall enjoyable book. I cant wait to read more of Blisss books.
4668455
I Was Provided A ARC By The Author
(Possible Spoilers)

Rebecca is in need of a break, of a fresh start. She has recently gone through a break up from a man she was with for six years. She finds herself feeling more relieved than hurt from the breakup. Becca finds herself at the silk stocking inn, devouring a cupcake, not long after seeing the inn splashed across her computer screen. She decides she needs to get back to who she was. This place is a little piece of home, from the clothes, to the food, her surroundings all remind her of a time when she was on her grandfathers ranch. She even has her own cowboy to keep her weekend adventurous, and filled with lots of passion. Jackson, is the tall, dark haired gentlemen, rocking Levi's, boots, and a cowboy hat perfectly. He's who Becca needs to sweeps her off her feet and leave her breathless.

I LOVED Becca & Jackson's book. It was so sweet and sexy, filled with lots of steamy moments and a women getting a second chance at happiness. Over her weekend at the Silk Stocking Inn, she's re-introduced to her love for the country and everything that comes with it. Jackson is another yummy male lead in this series. I love cowboys and Jackson is one I will defiantly remember, with his good looks and dirty talking ways. These two go together perfectly. I just love this mysterious and sexy series. I hope Mocha Latte is not the last in the series. Because I'll be waiting impatiently to dive into more of these books.
4746434
Im coming for you, London Daniels, and there aint nowhere you can hide from me, angel.

This was a quick and easy read with a super alpha cowboy millionaire and a sassy, passionate equestrian heroine. It was an enjoyable story and I breezed right through it in just a few hours, perfect for an easy summer read. Some parts were a little over the top and theres most definitely insta-love here, but if you are willing to overlook that, its really a sweet story. The story is about Canadas sweetheart, London Daniels, as she returns home to her familys farm after a controversial loss at the Athens Olympics. With both her body and her reputation injured she returns home to recover and help her family. Upon returning home she discovers her familys stables have fallen on hard times and they agree to take on the job of boarding the race horses of rich cowboy/tycoon Branson Tucker in order to make ends meet. London is instantly drawn to the handsome, confident stranger, but what she doesnt know is the Branson came to Willow Bay Stables for her and hes not leaving until he has her.

'I am more certain than Ive ever been in my g*****n life that my soul is tethered to hers, and I have yet to taste her.'

Like I said, this book was very much insta-love. In fact, Im pretty sure that Branson showed up to her farm already in love with her, even without having actually laid eyes on her. To some I could see how this would be a very eye-roll moment, but it was actually quite cute and more humorous than stalkerish. I get why London agreed to the first date with him, but I wish that we had gotten to see more of the actual development of their relationship, there were a few multi-week time jumps where they go from just dating to I love you and I would have loved to have seen the in-between, or at least some of it. They were both likeable characters but so much happened so fast that I felt like we didn't get the chance to really know them as well as we could have. What we did get, I really liked, I just wanted a little more.

There was low to no angst in this book, things were pretty much smooth sailing for these two from the get-go. There was some suspense and action towards the end which helped to make thing exciting but there was one twist connected to it that was a little much but I cant really say why because I don't want to spoil anything. All in all though I thought this was a good read and I look forward to reading about Londons siblings in the upcoming books.

Youre my every dream Ive ever laid awake at night wishing for, and your every sin Ive ever wanted to indulge in. Youre my fantasy and my reality every day.