Fun, Wild Western with a hint of romance
598617
I have read ALL of Karen Witemeyer's books but from the time I read Tailor Made Bride I was hooked on this authors writing. A Worthy Pursuit has been just as wonderful and fun to read. I think that this author uses the same format for her books but she does change up the plot and historical content

 I still find myself starting her books and not wanting to put them down. When I read the last page I am sad and left with I want more and looking for when her next book comes out.

A Worthy Pursuit was a fun, wild, cute, suspenseful western wild frontier themed book. Usually with her books there is a lesson to be learned. In this book it is a lesson about learning to trust and love and overcome fears. These are clean books with cute and fun romance. If you like cute Christian Fiction with a well developed storyline check her books out.
4763699
Kaki Warner's Heartbreak Creek (a "Runaway Brides" novel) did telegraph some of its "surprises"; obviously I won't go into details so as to avoid potential spoilers. I also found Ed's initial naivete and foolishness off-putting.

That said, I warmed to the characters as the tale progressed. There's decent chemistry between Declan and Ed eventually, and the kids are a fun rowdy lot. It's enjoyable to watch Ed start adjusting to her new life, and although there are few true surprises, the plot unfolds nicely with some decent tension and danger. It's obvious that there are more tales to tell in this town, although I would have liked at least a little more immediate closure to some of Pru's tale; it felt artificially truncated, probably to leave room for another book.

The dilapidated mining town is an interesting setting, particularly with some of the side characters who get involved in altering the town's future. I'm looking forward to reading more about the two women Pru and Ed befriended on their way into town, in particular.

All in all this is a fun little read with some good emotional scenes, just a touch of sweet sex, and great family hijinks.

[NOTE: review book provided by publisher]
1555289
"Sometimes you've got to get a machete and hack your way through the kudzu to make your own path in life."

ONE TEXAS COWBOY TOO MANY by Carolyn Brown is a sexy romp returning fans of the series back to Burnt Boot, Texas where the Gallagher/Brennan family feud has escalated into territories previously unimagined. This installment is the story of good girl schoolteacher Leah Brennan and green-eyed, tattooed, long-haired, mouth-watering rancher Rhett O'Donnell.

Leah and Rhett shined as our hero and heroine. Rhett roared into the small western town on his cycle sporting a set of impressive steer horns on its handlebars. You'd better believe that there's a story behind those horns... but don't expect to hear it until after you've survived a third date with its dangerous, hot rider.

Leah had been crushing on Tanner Gallagher for as long as she could remember. Being a Brennan, a Gallagher was off-limits to her. But, as the two families' feud literally explodes into uncharted territory, Leah finds herself on Tanner's radar just as she starts questioning her attraction to him in light of the raw chemistry that's sparking between her and another forbidden guy, Rhett. Mavis, her grandmother and the matriarch of the Brennan's, isn't budging on her strict refusal to consider Rhett as a possible beau for Leah. No one expects Leah to buck Mavis' rules, but that's exactly what Leah does creating a mini-feud within the Brennan's.

Rhett's and Leah's romance is a sure-fire standout alternating between sweet and hot. Even though the title implies a love triangle, there's no real competition once Rhett and Leah set their eyes on each other. Their romance is self-contained within this book. However, this series is best read in order as the feud's wonkiness would not play well as a standalone.

Supporting characters included favorite characters from the previous books. It's an added treat to catch up with them.

This series is lighthearted and whimsical. It's a fun read and not meant to be taken seriously. You can expect an action-packed, fast-paced, sexy tale with a generous dose of laugh-out-loud silliness. There's a plethora of drama - but not in the romance dept - the theatricals are concentrated between the wonky feuding families. I would recommend this series to anyone who enjoys highly entertaining sassy romances featuring sex-on-a-stick cowboys.

My full review will be posted at Reading Between The Wines Book Club. Please check it out there.

4 Wine Glasses!
659445
A great historical romance with lots of action, adventure, suspense and of course, romance.  The story line was unique; few books have an indian perspective for this time period.  I also liked that the adventures happened on a wagon train heading to California.  The author created strong characters for both the "good guys" and the "bad guys", and for all the supporting characters for the story; making you care about what happened to each one.  All of the problems that occured during this adventure seemed feasible for the time period and for being on a wagon train; it read almost as a true story from the old west.  Ms Nelson is a talented author and one I will be reading more of and following.

I received this book for free but voluntarily reviewed.
4660690
A solidly done western, blended with a coming-of-age story.  The tale revolves around a ranch run by a strongman who dies early on, leaving his wife and young cow-puncher (the main character) to try and hold things together.  Things get complicated quickly, with quasi-utopian homesteaders moving in, another ranch hand becoming increasingly dangerous and deadly, and secrets of the ranch bubbling to the surface.  A lot of character drama, decent amounts of action.  A fun read all around.
2252955
Heads up on this western story.  Yup, it's got train robbers, ruffians, bad beer, and a wise-arse horse.  It also deals with the Earp brothers and Doc Holliday.  This novel is a definite comedy and a really fun read.  As I got into this story, I started visualizing it as an entertaining movie.  At first I felt this may be similar to the Indiana Jones stories.  But here, the hero-to-be is Ace Lone Wolf, a half-Apache gunslinger who is always surrounded with trouble.  When he's just about to be hanged for a murder he did not commit, a beautiful English noblewoman, Victoria, comes to his rescue.  Her massive manservant breaks Ace out of jail ... literally!  Ace owes her, so he leads them on a search for Victoria's father who disappeared on his archaeology search for the lost Temple of Totec.  Definitely, this is a very entertaining story, which won't end here.  Want a laugh?  Read it.
1112636
Young Maggie Porter returns to the Rocking P Ranch to discover her father's health failing and the cowboys ready to walk off the job just at cattle-drive time.  Even Alex Bright, the head ranch hand Maggie secretly loves, can't or won't convince the workers to stay on. In desperation, Maggie assembles a team of cowgirls from the town's women to help her drive her father's cattle to market. At stake is the ranch itself, for the bank waits to foreclose. But can cowgirls really do a cowboy's job, and will the striking ranch hands let them?

Davis's skilled writing carries the reader into romance and adventure in the Wild West. This is escapist reading at its finest. Distinctive characters, descriptions that leave the taste of trail dust in your mouth, and a comfortable-but-not slaggard pace make Cowgirl Trail fun to read.

I recommend Cowgirl Trail by Susan Page Davis to adult readers who enjoy western historical romance. This is one of six novels written by Susan Page Davis, Vickie McDonough, and Darlene Franklin, which can be read alone or as part of the Texas Trails series.
Review by Janalyn Voigt, author of [...].

*My thanks to the author and publisher for a complimentary copy of this book, provided for purposes of review.
334567
The final book in Lori Austin's Once Upon a Time in the West series, The Lone Warrior is set against the back drop of the post Civil War frontier. Readers who are looking for a gritty romance with a Western theme will find just what they are looking for in this book. Austin is adept at drawing out the emotions of both her characters and her readers. With a hero, who might be a little on the crazy side, a courageous heroine who will stop at nothing to find her child and more twists and turns than a crooked road, this is a great final book in the trilogy.

What I liked:

Now, I will be the first to tell you that I love a tortured hero. One who has a lot to overcome and doubts about himself that are hard to explain even to himself, but I wasn't sure I would enjoy a hero that was perhaps a bit unhinged. The White Ghost, Luke had some serious issues when readers first meet him. He once lived with the Cheyenne and now become a recluse. I wasn't sure if Austin could pull this off, but I'm happy to report she did a fantastic job with this character. Taking him slowly from being a bit on the mental side to becoming the man he knows he wants to be. It kind of reminded me of the relationship between Quigley and Nora in Tom Selleck's movie, Quigley Down Under. I love that aspect of this one. It just goes to show that love often heals more than just a broken heart.

Rose had a lot of heart. She is searching for her daughter who was taken by the Cheyenne during a raid. Though she realizes that she needs help, when she doesn't get it, she doesn't give up. I liked that tenacious attitude in her character. Often courage isn't about not being afraid, it's about how you channel that fear, and I think Austin did a great job of showing that with Rose. I liked the fact that even though she missed Lily and she needed to get her back, she still took time for herself and her relationship with Luke. They both gave something to each other that the other needed desperately. Rose needed to feel like a woman who was cherished and loved. She was a great character.

Austin really knows how to wring the emotion from the characters and from the reader. She doesn't skimp or hold back when it comes to describing the tragedies and the horrific circumstances that her characters have to face, but she also doesn't beat around the bush when how they are feeling. These are strong, passionate characters who were living on frontier in desperate times. I liked the fact that Austin makes the dramatic moments count just as much as the romantic ones.

Personally, I just a good Western. I watched a million of them with my dad growing up. Read a ton of books that were really meant for a male audience because their weren't that many Western's written for women at that time and when I a book or a series set in the right time period that understands what a woman wants to read about... I'm hooked. This was a great end to the trilogy!

What I didn't like:

I did feel like the end was a little rushed, but that sometimes happens in a book with a lot of action. The pace could have been a bit slower to let the reader savor the ending more, but that didn't really take too much away from this very well written book.

Bottom Line:

I loved this one. If you are looking for a romance with some grit and some tenacious characters who have a lot of obstacles to overcome this one is for you. I thought Austin did a fantastic job with setting but it was mostly a character driven book. And these characters were remarkable.
3696639
This story was a delightful romp through Wild West Arizona and silver mines. The heroine, Ellie Moore, is desperate to find work and stumbles into a job with the Pinkerton Agency. The job seems like a perfect place for her to use her theatrical talents...the only problem is that the experienced agent who is supposed to go with her bails.

Ellie either has to go home (not an option since she doesn't have a home) or bumble through on her own. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and the quandaries Ellie was placed in. She desperately wants to succeed, but it's a trying set of circumstances.

The book has moments of humor, times of suspense, and a sweet love story, all set in 1880s Arizona.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and plan to read more by this author.
1899468
Plot Summary:  Seamstress Rachel Bailey is Reidsville's most sought-after single woman, but she politely rebuffs all comers and lives in isolation by choice.  Sheriff Wyatt Cooper has been secretly keeping an eye on Rachel for over a year now, but the death of a prominent business man reveals many secrets that involve both Wyatt and Rachel.  Namely, that the two must marry in order to retain control over the precious railroad track that keeps Reidsville connected to Denver.  When the terms of the inheritance are revealed, Rachel's past comes in person to haunt her, and she'll need more than Wyatt's protection in name only.

This was a surprisingly complex and multi-layered story that had a compelling romance at its core.  I honestly wasn't prepared for just how good this book was going to be.  I guess you could say I underestimated it, based on the cover and the fact that it's a western romance.  I know, shame on me!  Still, I'm extremely pleased that I had a chance to read this one, and sample some of Jo Goodman's writing.  I'll be back for a second helping.

What usually holds me back from giving a top rating is the lack of some element.  Maybe I'll like one of the lead characters, but not both, or maybe the plot is too slow or clumsy, or  maybe the romance is as passionless as a porno.  This novel delivers 100 percent on every count.  Rachel and Wyatt are interesting people who are revealed slowly, bit by bit.  Their love affair is a journey that I savored at every step, and silently thanked Ms. Goodman for not rushing things along.  The plot was lively and full of surprises.  The passion ran deep, not just between Rachel and Wyatt, but also when the entire community of Reidsville bonded together when their collective livelihood was threatened.

As good as the storytelling is here, no western would be complete without the usual accoutrements.  That means horses and trains, lawmen and robbers, men that are hard as nails, and women with hearts of gold.  I expect these things and more in a good western, but the strength of this particular story is that Ms. Goodman pushes beyond the stereotypes and infuses her characters with real souls, and then forces them into the messy thick of life.
4850310
Defiant Love is a very readable and entertaining Romantic Western with an imaginative plot and great pace.  Despite the fact that I'm not normally a big fan of either Romances or Westerns, I found myself enjoying the story. I expect fans of these genres will thoroughly enjoy the talent of this new author, and I join them in looking forward to her next books.
3377160
This was a super fun action-packed western story. I'm really glad I picked this up. I've never been a huge fan of Westerns but something about this story intrigued me and I wasn't disappointed. There were strong characters with good character development, there was a good plot with some twists I didn't see coming, and there was a lot of adventure. I found it really awesome that the author used real legends and even some real people (not the main characters) to enhance the story. Retribution rails comes out soon and I can't wait to see what happens next! I am pretty sure the next one is a companion novel in which some of the characters from this book are seen in the new one. Doesn't lessen my excitement though!
4703064
This book has a nice ebb and flow to the story. It starts off fun and fast-paced as Jordan and her sister Kerri head back home to Harland County, Texas. When they were kids the sisters used to chase around the McCall brothers, Cole and Conor. And let me tell you they are some big and sexy cowboys. Though when we meet Cole he is kind of a grumpy pants and I wasn't sure if I was going to make it with him. But I held on, made it through the first big blow up when Jordan earned her stripes with me. And then I started to dig him.
But Jordan? That is one feisty chick and I loved her. She didn't mince words and she didn't cower when the big nasty cowboy started beating his chest a la King Kong. I loved that she turned into such a melty pile of goo when she first saw him but she didn't hesitate to give him a hard time. It was refreshing to see a strong woman being unafraid to shine.
Donna Michaels did a good job of giving these characters such a rich and complex history. They were friends, sort of siblings and theyd both held onto an unrequited love for a decade. But now they're both all grownup and battled-scarred by death. Despite the heat between them they're not ready, or are they?
The second half of Her Fated Cowboy is deliciously steamy and you won't be disappointed. Its detailed but not graphicbut not.
There were times I thought it dragged a little but then things would get crazy or romantic or funny and it was all but forgotten. Overall I enjoyed Her Fated Cowboy.
2503173
The Dead Sheriff is fun with both guns blazing. Its a fast paced supernatural western with some great dialogue and interesting characters that leaves you wanting more. You get a new spin on the western vigilante hero/sidekick tale and some dastardly wild west villains topped with a smattering of supernatural happenings to shake things up. Looks to be the start of a great series!
2049330
If you are in want of a sweet, tender and at times steamy western romance, I would really give this a buy. This is the first book I have picked up by Jo Goodman, but definitely not my last.
If you've seen any of my other recommendations, you will know it's quite difficult to receive a 4 star rating from me, especially in the historical romance genre. That is because I usually dislike the rather cliche, shallow characters and silly, contrived story lines. This book would appear to be another cliche- from the cover (which honestly, I wish they would change) to the common blurb of the rancher seeking a mail order bride and receiving a woman he does not believe could fit well with the required role. However, I'm so glad I decided to leave my cynical self behind and give this book a shot anyways.
I think what makes this book so nice, and sets it apart from all the other, often "cheap" feeling books of this genre, are the characters. Your heroine is strong willed and has strong convictions, but isn't too stubborn as to not let some things go or not realize when she had been foolish. Thus, you don't get the annoying "misunderstanding-that-could-have-been-cleared-by-three-exchanged-sentences-but-instead-drags-on-throughout-the-entire-book".
The hero is strong and masculine, but also incredibly tender and compassionate. He was probably my very favorite part of the book, as he puts all those silly, over-confident alpha males to shame. He says things that will just make you smile from the sweetness or from the heartache. He does things that are very considerate. He's of the caliber of male characters such as We The Living's Andrei- he is both very caring and attentive, but still a strong, pride-filled and powerful male character.
The romance aspect of this book is as beautifully crafted as the characters themselves. There's no insta-love. Instead, you receive a very realistic development of a relationship, which tenderly unfolds into love. It doesn't feel rushed, and so it is ultimately satisfying to read. Both hero and heroine keep much of themselves and their pasts hidden from each other, and regard their growing closeness with trepidation, which makes for an interesting pacing. I especially appreciated how we eventually get to learn of the hero's dark past the same time the heroine does. It made different aspects of his personality and the things he had said up to that point suddenly make more sense, and you could discover them in a new light, just as the heroine does. I have to commend the author for not "feeding her readers the romance with a spoon", and allowing for the dialogue to do much of the work, instead of writing pages upon pages on what each character feels at any given moment. You get to deduce the emotional setting yourself as a reader, and it was a refreshing change.
The action sequence I could have done without, but it didn't bother me as much as it does in other books, as it did feel somewhat realistic and wasn't too far gone from the actual main story-line.
I also like how the author was not tempted to dwell on characters from the book that had previously been the mains of other books. They get few tiny references, even though one of them has quite a role in this one. The book constantly kept the focus where it needed to be, instead of going every which way with side characters (a big pet peeve of mine). There are nice side characters, each given a somewhat developed personality, but they never take up more spotlight than they should (I wish other authors, such as Kaki Warner, would heed this).

To summarize, I really enjoyed the book and how sweet, tender and realistic it was (while still allowing for some escapism in the more steamy scenes). I debated giving it 5 stars. I didn't, only because it took me longer to read than I thought it would. For some reason, this wasn't a book I was glued to and couldn't put down. Very enjoyable, but not one that consumes you completely. For that reason, it gets a solid 4 stars from me. I would definitely recommend it, and intend reading more from this author!
3714071
Spirited Away by Mary Billiter is a wild west ghost story, set in present times. What a fun adventure it is! Billiter has a very descriptive writing style that allows you to see what she sees for her characters. These characters are a little sassy, a little sexy and so much fun to get to know.

This story is the fourth book in the Resort Romances series. However, this book, just like the first three, can be read as a stand-alone. This story takes place at a hotel that seems to be haunted by a cowboy ghost. Which is likely since the hotel is located in Wyoming. Reese is the new general manager at the hotel and she really doesnt believe in ghosts, so when things start happening to her, she needs a little help. Who better to help, then the local police office, specifically an officer named, Cody. Cody comes to Reeses rescue more than once but their attraction is not instant, which I really liked. These two are naturally made for each other but they take their time.

This book is well worth the read if you like a little mystery with your super sexy romance.
2140334
Saddled Bearback is another enjoyable read by Becca Fanning. It starts with action, with intense imagery there is never a dull moment.  The story builds organically with cute romantic moments between Jamie and Jesse, and just the right amount of clues throughout. It is tied up with a HEA; though for Jamie and Jesse it felt inferred, rather than instant gratification.  I would like to read more about their relationship.  Also, I hope to read about Tyler, Kyle, and Ryan in stories of their own.

This is a voluntary review of an advanced copy.