Her Renegade Cowboy by Lora Leigh-Review,Excerpt & Giveaway

Her Renegade Cowboy (Moving Violations 3) by Lora Leigh-Review, Excerpt & Giveaway

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Chapters Indigo / Google Play /

ABOUT THE BOOK:Release Date September 28, 2021.

He will risk his life…

The oh-so-proper school teacher, Lily Donovan has learned, the hard way, that men are not to be trusted. Period. Until Levi Roberts, the new cowboy working at her cousin’s ranch, tempts her carefully-built resolve and awakens an all-consuming passion she thought lay dormant. But when she discovers his deadly secret, and her own secrets come to light, Lily unwittingly joins the lethal cat and mouse race between Levi and the man he’s been hunting for weeks.

To save her heart…

Former Ranger Levi Roberts has seen his fair share of deadly trouble during his years as a tough-as-nails operative. The ultimate expert in undercover investigations, he’s been tasked to find a man with a dangerous agenda in town. Routine work has been boring…until he runs into Lily, the prickly school teacher who tempts him like no other. Getting under her skin has been deliciously satisfying for his red-hot desire, but when Lily lands in the hands of the very man he’s been investigating, Levi will have to fight with every ounce of his heart and soul to save her—and to heal the heart he broke.

••••••

REVIEW. HER RENEGADE COWBOY is the third instalment in Lora Leigh’s contemporary, adult MOVING VIOLATONS erotic, romance series. This is former US Ranger turned US Marshal Levi Roberts, and grade school teacher Lily Donovan’s story line. HER RENEGADE COWBOY can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

Told from third person perspective HER RENEGADE COWBOY follows Levi Roberts as he goes undercover in an effort to protect our story line heroine. Two years earlier Lily’s life imploded leaving her a shell of her former self but her past has escaped, and has targeted Lily in the process. Enter US Marshal Levi Roberts, and the man with whom Lily will fall in love. As Levi’s relationship with Lily takes on a more personal tone, Levi struggles between head and heart knowing his duty is to first protect the woman with whom he is falling in love. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Levi and Lily, and the potential fall-out as Lily’s past comes seeking revenge, and Levi’s secrets may destroy Lily’s new found ability to trust and love.

Lily Donovan suffered at the hands of a man who used his power and trust to destroy those under his control. Lily is stubborn, feisty, sometimes immature and has refused protective custody, and in this, our heroine is often TSTL (too stupid to live), placing herself in the direct line of fire, including trying to save the people she loves. Meeting Levi Roberts meant a possible second chance at a future but Levi’s secrets are one more betrayal that Lily is unable to control. Levi’s latest assignment is to protect Lily Donovan from the threat that is headed her way but Levi never expected to fall in love, placing his heart in danger of losing everything if something happens to our story line heroine.

The relationship between Lily and Levi is predicated upon a lie of omission. Levi is working as a ranch hand in an effort to get up close and personal with our story line heroine but Levi never expected the visceral attraction between himself and Lily, an attraction that may place our couple in the direct line of fire. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and passionate.

The secondary and supporting characters include Jacob Donovan and Sallie
Hamblen (Strong Silent Cowboy 2),Lily’s sister Shay, Justice Culpepper, and college professor Graham Brisbee. There are some antagonistic feelings towards Justice, Rancor and Pride Culpepper, and I am hoping the author has some plans for a future story line or series for the three brothers.

HER RENEGADE COWBOY is a story of power and control, secrets and lies, betrayal, obsession, protection and love. The fast paced, character driven premise is engaging, entertaining and intriguing; the characters are feisty, stubborn and determined; the romance is provocative and spicy.

Reading Order and previous reviews

One Tough Cowboy
Strong, Silent Cowboy

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

Exclusive excerpt provided by St. Martin’s Publishing Group

Chapter One
The song “Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)” popped into Lily Donovan’s head as she leaned over the rail fence, her gaze fastened on a perfect male ass, hugged by a pair of Wranglers. From there she couldn’t help but lift her gaze higher, from the narrow waist to a wide, strong back and equally powerful shoulders that flexed against a tight T-shirt. The wide brim of his hat cast a shadow on his neck, hiding any glimpse of his hair. He’d yet to turn around, but did that really matter? The view was perfect from where she stood.
“Yee-haw. Am I right?” Her companion snickered from beside her. “Who’s the new talent?”
Lily cast a sidelong glance at her sister, Shay, who happened to be admiring the same view.
Lily stifled a grin. “I don’t know, but he sure knows how to wear a pair of jeans.”
And she’d noticed over the years that most men hadn’t acquired that talent. Or the backside to carry it off.
“I’m more interested in what he looks like without them,” Shay remarked, more teasingly than serious.
“Of course you are.” Lily resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Cowboys, no matter how good looking, were not usually her sister’s thing.
“You saw him first, though, so I’m giving you dibs.” Shay waved graciously, her perfectly manicured ruby-red nails glinting in the sunlight.
Lily gave in to the urge to roll her eyes. “Gee, thanks. That’s awfully generous of you,”
“Oh, I know.” Shay was always so magnanimous. “You can owe me later.”
“And I’m sure you’ll remind me of it regularly.” Lily couldn’t help but laugh at the thought.
“You know I will,” Shay remarked. “But you need a man more than I do. You have to get back in the saddle, girlie.”
Shay’s intentions were good, but Lily had her reasons for staying single for so long. She admired. Flirted every once in a while. Ogled on occasion. But for the past year Lily had been a strictly “look but not touch” sort of a woman.
Hypotheticals were comfortable. She could talk a good game, and it was safe to banter about a guy’s ass with Shay when his back was turned to her and she wasn’t required to engage in conversation. This was better. Safer. And safe distances like this were likely to be the norm for a while longer.
As if he’d heard them, the cowboy in question turned in their direction. Though the hat shaded his face, the sparkle of honey-gold eyes stood out from the shadows. His gaze locked with Lily’s and held it for the briefest moment.
“Wow!” Shay exclaimed a little too loud. “The front side is just as damn good as the backside!”
“Shay!” Lily hissed. “Shhh. He’s looking right at us.”
“He’s looking right at you,” Shay corrected her. “You might want to offer him a tissue so he can wipe the drool from his mouth.”
Lily scoffed, but she didn’t look away. Strong jawline, high cheekbones, a nose that was just imperfect enough to ground his good looks, and those eyes. They practically glowed. He continued to stare, his gaze unwavering. Lily tried to look away, but his eyes captivated her.
“No one stands around here, girls. You know that.” Lily’s cousin Jacob’s voice boomed from the group of men setting up the cattle chute, breaking the spell. “Fence leaners get put to work, so you’d better get moving or get down here and get dirty.”
He was teasing, but Lily wanted to kick Jacob in the shin for drawing attention to them. It was his ranch, after all, and it wasn’t the first time she and Shay had been given a hard time. They weren’t there to hang around and get dirty, though. They were picking up Jacob’s wife, Sallie, for a shopping trip in Sacramento.
“Sorry, Jacob!” Shay called back. “We’re supervising. But we probably should stay. There’s not a single woman out there to make sure you’re doing it right!”
Jacob grinned and shook his head. He was a good sport. They really did harass him on a regular basis. But they’d been doing it since they were kids, and neither she nor Shay could find a good reason to stop doing it now.
“Aren’t you going to Target or the mall or something?” Jacob swept his hands at them as though to shoo them away. “Maybe you should go make a shopping list.”
“You don’t make a shopping list for Target,” Lily quipped. “Target tells you what you need when you get there.”
She reached a fist up and Shay bumped her knuckles against Lily’s. From the corner of her eye, she kept her attention on the mysterious cowboy and found him watching her again. For the past year, that sort of attention had made her a little anxious. This time, however, it gave her a bit of a thrill.
“Lily, will you please control your sister?” Jacob said with mock exasperation.
“You know she’s uncontrollable,” Lily reminded him with a laugh.
“Boy, you’ve got that right.”
He gave them a wave in parting and headed back to the chute. Lily stepped down from the fence.
“Are you sure you want to go shopping today? Looks like everything you need is right here. Might not be a bad idea to get down and dirty if you know what I mean,” Shay suggested as she followed.
“You’re hilarious.” Lily jabbed at Shay with her elbow.
“Oh, I know.” Shay could always be counted on to be modest.

From Her Renegade Cowboy by Lora Leigh. Copyright © 2021 by the author and reprinted by permission of St. Martin’s Publishing Group.

#1 New York Times bestseller Lora Leigh is the author of the Navy SEALS, the Breeds, the Elite Ops, the Callahans, the Bound Hearts, and the Nauti series.

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Lora Leigh’s publisher (St. Martin’s Press)  is graciously offering a paper copy of HER RENEGADE COWBOY to ONE lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.

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Strong, Silent Cowboy by Lora Leigh & Veronica Chadwick-Review

Strong, Silent Cowboy (Moving Violations 2) by Lora Leigh & Veronica Chadwick-Review & Excerpt

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Chapters Indigo / Google Play

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date March 9, 2021

He Will Do Anything…

Sallie Hamblen had three incredibly hot, sexy nights with Jacob Donovan, an undercover CIA agent, before he disappeared, leaving her broken hearted and forever yearning for the man she lost. Years later, Jacob doesn’t know that the beauty he’s about to seduce in a small town bar is the woman he held in his arms all those years ago… and that she’s on the run from her past.

To Keep Her Safe…

Former CIA agent turned cowboy, Jacob Donovan wants nothing more than a simple life. Just the ranch and occasionally someone warm and sweet in his bed. Until Sallie comes back into his life and all of a sudden he wants to be in her bed every night…all night. When he discovers that her life is in danger, he swears he’ll protect her. Even when secrets are revealed that threaten everything between them, he will lay everything on the line to keep her in his arms.

••••••

REVIEW:STRONG, SILENT COWBOY is the second instalment in the contemporary, adult, MOVING VIOLATONS erotic, romantic suspense series co-authored by Lora Leigh, and the late Veronica Chadwick. This is former CIA agent turned rancher Jacob Donovan, and feed-store manager Sallie Hamblen’s story line. STRONG, SILENT COWBOY can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Sallie and Jacob) STRONG, SILENT COWBOY follows the second chance romance between former CIA agent turned rancher Jacob Donovan, and office manager Sallie Hamblen. Six years earlier, a then eighteen year old Kyra Bannon, spent a glorious weekend in Switzerland with a man she knew as Jake Rossiter, a man with whom she quickly fell in love, but also a man who disappeared without a trace. Fast forward to present day wherein, Kyra, now known as Sallie Hamblen has been on the run since the demise of her short lived marriage to another man, a marriage she believes now places her in the direct line of fire. Finding Jake Rossiter, aka Jacob Donovan, living in the small town of Deer Haven, California was more than a coincidence that Sallie refused to ignore but said man had no idea who Sallie was, or his history with the woman that would call to his heart. Keeping her distance for close to three years, Sallie caved and spent another night with our story line hero.An overwhelming sense of déjà vu, and a need to protect our story line heroine, pulled Jacob Donovan back into the world he could no longer remember but a world that threatened everyone he loved. What ensues is the rebuilding romance and relationship between Sallie and Jacob, and the potential fall-out as their mutual pasts demand payment in blood.

Jacob Donovan is no longer working for the CIA. A life threatening incident almost destroyed his life, and took the memories of the time he spent with our story line heroine. Sallie Hamblen struggles with the heart breaking memories of her weekend with the man she would never forget, memories of which Jacob could no longer remember. Unable to let go of the grief and pain, Sallie continues to push our hero out of her life until threats to her life force her to run in the opposite direction.

The relationship between Jacob and Sallie is a rekindling romance; a second chance relationship between two people torn apart by secrets and lies, and a government agency determined to keep those secrets hidden deep undercover. Sallie battles between head and heart believing Jacob walked away without looking back; and Jacob’s sense of something missing is about to come full-circle when his memories return. The $ex scenes are erotic and intense, as per Lora Leigh’s style of writing.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful and energetic secondary and supporting characters including Sallie’s step father Rance Dougal; Jacob’s grandmother Mary Ann Donovan; ranch manager John Grange; former military or FBI agents turned ranchers Justice, Rancor, and Pride Culpepper; Sallie’s friends Lily and Shay; and office assistant Tara Danner. Here’s hoping Lora has plans for the Culpepper siblings.

STRONG, SILENT COWBOY is a story of betrayal, secrets, forgiveness and love. There are a number of issues with the way the story, and history has been presented, including a three year gap where apparently Sallie and Jacob never once crossed paths in a town where everybody knows your name. There is also a bit of disconnect between events, as though the editing removed some important information. I also found issue with the purpose of Justice Culpepper’s attitude with our story line heroine but perhaps it had everything to do with the who, how and why of Sallie’s appearance in Deer Haven, California. The character driven premise is intriguing; the romance is provocative; the characters are energetic, strong minded, charismatic and wounded.

Click HERE for Sandy’s review of book one ONE TOUGH COWBOY

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

Excerpt provided by MacMillan Publishers

 

Jake.It had been three years. Three long, lonely, heart-broken years since he’d disappeared one snowy afternoon in Sweden.

Three years, two of which had been spent running, terrified, certain that death lurked around every corner. Now, relocated to another state, another town, another name, and the past was staring at her as though she had never existed before this moment.

“Jacob, I’d like you to meet the new manager for Dillerman’s Feed and Supply, Sallie Hamblen. Sallie, one of our most eligible ranchers, Jacob Donovan…”

Who made the introduction, she had no clue. All she knew was the man who stood in front of her, hand extended, one of those distant little curves to his lips that people gave someone they didn’t know and weren’t certain they wanted to know.

She fought to swallow, to speak. What came out of her mouth was polite enough.

“Nice to meet you.” The sound was strangled to her ears. Too rough.

She barely allowed her hand to touch his before pulling back from him. If he saw it as rude, then so be it. She couldn’t make herself do more, give more. Not now. Not with this man.

He didn’t know who she was.

The three years had been hard ones, but the stress and worry hadn’t yet marked her features. She was the same woman he’d spent three days in a bed with, three days marking her soul in ways she still hadn’t recovered from, in ways her heart couldn’t forget.

But his name was different as well.

“Where you from, Miss Hamblen?” His tone didn’t show disinterest, but there was zero familiarity.

He didn’t remember her.

The pain, the humiliation was almost overwhelming. It burned through her mind, into her chest, and struck at her heart. She’d found him after three years of searching, only to learn his name hadn’t actually been Jake Rossiter as he’d claimed, but Jacob Donovan. He was a rancher rather than attached to an embassy. But she recognized him. She’d seen him the moment he entered the room, just as he’d seen her. Their eyes had met, and then he’d turned away as though he hadn’t spent three days making her scream with pleasure. That he hadn’t disappeared from her life as though he had never truly existed.

“Miss Hamblen, are you okay?” her new assistant Tara queried in concern.

Was she okay? She was dying inside. Okay was not an option.

“I think I’m just tired.” Sallie turned to the other woman, fighting to hide her desperation to escape. “And it’s rather warm in here. I believe I’ll return to my hotel if you don’t mind, Tara.”

She ignored Jacob. She had no choice. Pain was ripping at her chest, tears threatened to fill her eyes. Oh now, wasn’t this just wonderful? She’d spent three years agonizing over him, two years of that time she’d spent running for her life. And now, he was here, staring at her, watching her curiously, but he didn’t know her. She’d mattered so little that he didn’t even remember her.

“I can take you back. Let me get my bag.” The other woman rushed off before Sallie could tell her that was okay, she’d make her own way back.

“It was nice to meet you, Mr. Donovan.” She barely forced the words past her lips. “If you’ll excuse me.”

“Of course.” A polite smile, a narrowing of his eyes, but he didn’t say anything more and allowed her to turn and walk away from him.

She pressed a hand to her stomach, wondering if it were possible to hold back the emotions tearing through her now.

This wasn’t what she’d expected to find in the small town of Deer Haven. A place to hide. Time to give her stepfather to figure out who was stalking her and why. That was all she’d hoped for when he’d deposited her in her hotel two weeks ago. Stanley Dillerman had arrived the next day and given her the manager’s position at his feed and ranching supply store, and Sallie had fought to just get through each day until she found her balance here.

Found her balance.

Yeah, that wasn’t happening now. There wasn’t a chance.

Because Jacob Donovan was here. And the weekend she’d spent with him was still a brutal, pain-filled reminder of everything she’d lost since. Everything. Especially the man and the dreams she’d once allowed herself to believe in.

chapter one

Three Years Later

Some men should be outlawed for the sake of all women worldwide. Especially tall, dark-haired, dark-eyed cowboys like Jacob Donovan.

And some women should know better than to allow themselves around them.

Most especially a woman who knew he couldn’t be trusted. One who knew exactly how dangerous he could be to her heart and to the defenses she’d built around it.

She was insane to be here, knowing he would be as well. He’d hurt her once already, and she was tempting fate, giving him a second chance to do what he’d done to her the first time around.

And she couldn’t help herself.

For three years she’d managed to stay away from him, no matter the temptation or her need. She hadn’t even meant enough to him to remember her. But she’d never been able to forget him.

His face drew the eye, commanded attention, and warned a woman she was dealing with a true alpha male.

Sun-bronzed and savagely hewn, that face didn’t betray any emotion that he didn’t willingly allow it to show, nor did the whisky brown of his gaze. Thick brown hair framed his face carelessly, falling just a little long and tempting a woman to run her fingers through it. It was warm, slightly coarse, and she’d once loved the feel and weight of it against her fingers, her breasts, between her thighs …

Broad shoulders and obviously tight abs were covered with a black cotton shirt that did nothing to hide the fact that he was truly built. Long, powerful legs were encased in denim, a wide belt cinching hips a woman would love to wrap her legs around. She’d definitely loved wrapping her legs around them.

And he wore cowboy boots.

What was it about cowboy boots that made a man look so damned sexy?

And he was sexy as hell.

The fact that he was the most desirable male in the bar wasn’t debatable.

Why didn’t he recognize her?

It had been more than a few years, and her looks had changed. In ways, everything about her, who and what she had been and was now, was completely different. She wasn’t the eighteen-year-old he’d charmed on a cold winter’s night in a foreign land. But he wasn’t the twenty-five-year-old man she’d so been fascinated with anymore either. He’d known her as Kyra, not Sallie. The man who had bound a part of her with his kiss, his touch, and three days and nights of the most incredible passion a woman could ever know, and he’d forgotten all about her when he’d left her.

Sallie drew in a long, slow breath and forced her attention from the man leaning relaxed against the bar as he talked to another rancher.

His friend was an irritant. Pride Culpepper had done everything but offer her his brothers’ ranch if she’d just go to dinner with him. The oldest brother, Justice, had actually offered the ranch, then grinned and took it back.

Lifting her beer, she took another sip of the warming drink and barely held back a grimace.

She wasn’t particularly fond of beer, or of bars. So why the hell had she allowed herself to be convinced to come to this one again? She could have just hung around the house, washed clothes, painted her nails. Or something. Instead, she was hiding in the corner of a rowdy, country music bar filled with men on the make and women pretending they weren’t there for the same thing.

Even her friends, as much as she liked them and enjoyed their company, were consumed with the search for that perfect man. And what made them think this was the place to find him, she wasn’t certain.

She had known Jacob would be there, though. He was often there with his friends. He rarely danced, never brought in a lover or chose a lover from the bar. He drank a few beers, chatted with friends, sometimes flirted with the women who came up to him, then left alone. Just as Sallie did.

She should have left when she realized he lived in the area. She should have definitely left when it was apparent he didn’t recognize her. Sallie Hamblen was nothing to the rancher who lived in Deer Haven, California, all his life. But for a moment in time, long, long ago, she’d believed she could mean something him.

She’d been introduced to him as Kyra Bannon, he’d been introduced to her as Jake Rossiter. And for one incredible weekend, she’d lived a young woman’s most passionate dream.

Her lips quirked at that thought. And like most dreams, it had been over far too quickly. He’d disappeared with a promise to return in a few hours. A promise he’d broken. He’d never returned. No one had known who he was when she asked, and her life had gone on.

Or had it?

Her gaze moved over the dance floor from where she sat in the shadowed corner, wondering if she could possibly escape while her friends were occupied. She should have never agreed to meet them. Not again. Not knowing that he’d be there, and the sight of him would torment her with memories better left forgotten.

Copyright © 2021 by Lora Leigh and Veronica Chadwick

 


 

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One Tough Cowboy (Moving Violations #1) by Lora Leigh and Veronica Chadwick-Review, Excerpt & Giveaway

ONE TOUGH COWBOY (Moving Violations #1) by Lora Leigh and Veronica Chadwick-Review, Excerpt & Giveaway

ONE TOUGH COWBOY
Moving Violations #1
by Lora Leigh
Genre: adult,contemporary,erotic,romance,
Release Date: January 29, 2019

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Chapters Indigo / Google Play

About the book: Release Date January 29,2019

LAW AND ORDER.
For as long as Samantha can remember, Hunter—a man as strong as steel, with a heart of gold—has been her hero. It came as no surprise to Samantha when she found out that the ranch-hardened cowboy who always protected her from bullies went on to become the town’s sheriff. What does surprise her is how incredibly hot he still is. And how much she still wants him…

PRIDE AND PASSION

And, lo and behold, Hunter still has feelings for Samantha. The long-smoldering heat of their innocent flirtation has grown into a full-raging fire. But when tragedy strikes, and their small-town community is shattered, Hunter vows to do everything he can to keep his childhood sweetheart safe. But can Samantha trust that Hunter has her best interests at heart…and that, after all these years, his love is true?

•••••••••

REVIEW: ONE TOUGH COWBOY is the first instalment in the contemporary, adult, erotic, romantic suspense series MOVING VIOLATIONS co-authored by Lora Leigh and Veronica Chadwick. This is Deerhaven, California Sheriff Hunter Steele, and Detroit police officer Samantha Ryder’s story line.

NOTE: ONE TOUGH COWBOY contains scenes of sexual violence that may be triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Samantha and Hunter) ONE TOUGH COWBOY follows the building relationship between Deerhaven, California Sheriff Hunter Steele, and Detroit police officer Samantha Ryder. Samantha Ryder left Deerhaven close to ten years earlier but never expected to come back to bury her beloved aunt Dottie, a woman who’s death mystifies our story line heroine. Sheriff Hunter Steele suspects the three recent deaths in Deerhaven are connected, although each death has been ruled accidental or by natural causes. Reconnecting with Samantha Ryder stirs something deep within our story line hero, something Hunter is hoping to pursue, as he tries to convince Samantha to move back to town. As Samantha and Hunter begin to dig a little deeper into the strange happenings and mysterious deaths of three elderly but tight-knit friends, our couple will be targeted for what they know, and who they are. What ensues is the rekindling friendship and building relationship between Sam and Hunter, and the potential fall-out as our couple discover the truth about what has been happening in Deerhaven, California.

Samantha Ryder has a successful career in the Detroit Police Department but sins from the past followed our heroine to Deerhaven California, sins that demand retribution and vengeance in more ways than one. Hunter Steele has been burned in the past but rekindling his friendship with Samantha meant the possibility of a happily ever after –once the danger in town has been put to rest.

The relationship between Sam and Hunter is one of mutual attraction; a palpable sexual energy that does not go unnoticed by the people of Deerhaven, some of the people who are willing to destroy our story line couple. The $ex scenes are numerous, intimate, erotic and intense but I dislike the use of a certain four-letter word…and $ex while on stake-out seems a little bit risky under the circumstances 😉

The world building focuses on the small town of Deerhaven California: the people, the gossip, the power and control. We are introduced to several law –enforcement types including a few CHiP officers, and Jacob Donovan, a man who may or may not be former Special Forces; and the local politicians who are desperate to keep secret their illegal activities.

ONE TOUGH COWBOY is a story of betrayal, greed, power and control. There are a few disconnected plot-points and inconsistencies that need to be addressed- I doubt we will see anything resolved in forthcoming story lines; and the cowboy premise is limited. The premise is entertaining; the romance is passionate; the characters are charismatic and energetic.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

He hadn’t changed much. He seemed bigger, his shoulders broader. His signature thick, black hair was cut in a shorter style. As he got closer, Samantha noticed his face had changed quite a bit. Any boyish softness he’d once had was all gone and had been replaced with hard planes and angles, except for his full, well-defined lips. There were fine laugh lines fanning out from the corners of his steel gray eyes. Those eyes were more intense, hard. The easy laughter that lit them when he was younger seemed to be gone.
“Ms. Bell.” He nodded in greeting to the diminutive lady.
“Good of you to come by, Sheriff. Little Samantha is handlin’ all this by herself.” She winked and patted his arm. “She could use a little help, I’m thinkin’.”
Samantha wanted to walk away. She also wanted to throw her arms around Hunter and hold on for dear life. Not just because he still made her heart pound, but because he was a part of her life she thought she’d lost. She wanted to hold on to a stable, warm part of her past where she was happy and safe. Seeing him again brought those memories and emotions all rushing back. “Hey, Sam.” The smooth, deep bass of his voice was
quiet and soothing.
“Hey, Hunter.” His name left her lips with more com- posure than she felt.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t make it to the funeral, but I wanted to come by to extend my condolences, and to see how you’re doin’.” He stepped closer and rubbed her bare

one tough cowboy 19
upper arm. “You holdin’ up okay?” His hand, a bit rough and callused from real work, was warm, reassuring.
She crossed her arms over her chest. “I’m okay, Hunter, thank you.” She cleared her throat. “Everyone brought food. The dining room table is overflowing. Help yourself.”
He followed her through the living room to the din- ing room. She turned and almost jumped back. He was standing inches away, looking down at her. His brows furrowed, his gaze sharply assessing her. He smelled in- credible, and he stood so close she could feel the heat from his body.
She opened her mouth to say something but forgot what she wanted to say. She must look completely ignorant gaping up at him like that.
“Are you sure you’re all right?” Sympathy and con- cern shadowed his expression, softening the harsher lines of his face.
“It’s been a long day. I’m fine, really.” She was a bas- ket case, and not just because of her aunt’s death.
Hunter gave her a gentle smile and pulled out a chair. “No doubt. Sit and talk to me for a while. I haven’t seen you in what? Ten years?”
Samantha welcomed the chance to get off her feet and get away from the crowd for a bit. “Yeah, about ten years, I think.”
He pulled out the chair beside her, turned it toward her, and sat, staring at her solemnly. “I’m real sorry about Dottie.”
“Me too.” She looked into his eyes, assessing whether she could or should continue. “I really didn’t get enough time with her. I’ll always regret that.”

20 Lora Leigh and Veronica Chadwick
Hunter shook his head. “Sam, you know Dottie thought the world of you. She knew you loved her and she loved you.”
Had she? Samantha couldn’t help but question the ob- servation. School, her career, and far too many emo- tions had seemed to always get in the way of returning to Deerhaven.
“Yes, I know, but I look around at these people and think of how some of them probably knew her even better than I did, her own niece.” Samantha frowned and gestured toward a blue-haired woman sitting on the couch sobbing, clutching another woman’s hand. “Mrs. Holt is devastated.”
She obviously had not talked to her aunt on the phone enough either, because Dottie had never mentioned the other woman.
A small smile touched Hunter’s far-too-sensual lips as he lowered his head and leaned closer. “Sam, Irene Holt never even met Dottie. She attends any and all fu- nerals and wails and carries on like that at every one of ’em.” Amusement touching his gaze.
Samantha looked at him incredulously until he raised his hand and said, “Hand to God. Every one of ’em.”
“Wow.” No wonder her aunt Dottie had never men- tioned the other woman.
“Yep.” Hunter’s smile broadened. “As for the rest of them, they’re just being neighborly or nosy. Most of ’em still remember your family and you. You were pretty hard to forget . . . Pixie Pest.” His brows lifted playfully. Teasingly.
Samantha narrowed her eyes. “Ugh. That nickname.
I don’t know which is worse, that or Sami Jo.”

one tough cowboy 21
She protested it. Just as she always had. That flare of warmth she felt whenever it passed his lips was still there, though.
“You earned it.”
“Psh, whatever.” She’d actually worked at it at the time.
Hunter chuckled and she nearly sighed. Lord, she’d missed his laugh, his smile, even the way he’d tease her. She’d missed him.
“Aw, you know I was always fond of you, Pixie. You were a great kid, even if you were a pest that was con- stantly following me around and giving my girlfriends hell.”
She had been such a tomboy with wild, young girl fantasies of being swept off her feet by the cutest boy in Deerhaven, or the whole wide world, for that matter. He’d called her his Pixie Pest whenever he’d seen her and tugged at her long, tangled hair.
“I’m not a kid anymore.” She held his gaze and couldn’t imagine how she’d gotten so bold.
Hunter’s gaze traveled over her body, a single black brow arching slowly in acknowledgment. “I’ve noticed. I’m trying really hard to remember what a pain in the ass you used to be.”
Samantha lifted a brow. “I can still be a pain in the ass.”
“I bet you can.” The look in his eyes was making her feel way too hot, way too needy.
She didn’t want to go there. Not now. After Tom No- vak, the very last thing she needed was another relation- ship. Besides all that, she was here to get answers, not to get laid.

22 Lora Leigh and Veronica Chadwick
Clearing her throat again, she changed the subject to the one on which she had to keep her focus. “Hunter, what really happened to Aunt Dottie?”

#1 New York Times bestseller Lora Leigh is the author of the Navy SEALS, the Breeds, the Elite Ops, the Callahans, the Bound Hearts, and the Nauti series.

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Veronica Chadwick started storytelling when she was a little girl. She was first published in 2004. She lives in Tennessee with three cats, a very spoiled Shih Tzu and two grand dogs. When she’s not writing, she’s hanging out with friends, reading or badly playing video games.

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Lora Leigh and Veronica Chadwick’s publisher (St.Martin’s Press) is graciously offering a paper copy of ONE TOUGH COWBOY to ONE lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.

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