The Devil in the Saddle by Julia London – Review & Giveaway

 

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Description:
No one cheats on a Prince and gets away with it. And Hallie–Texas socialite, would-be ballerina, and the only daughter of Cimarron County’s renowned Prince family–is ready to give her two-timing fianc� a piece of her mind. But fate plants hot, sexy ranch hand and ex-Army Ranger Rafael Fontana quite literally in her way. Her childhood friend is all grown up. He’s sexy, he’s handsome, and suddenly, after all these years, Hallie is taking notice.

Rafe has been in love with Hallie since they were kids, but he was always the help–and she was glamorous and popular, seemingly off-limits to a lowly cowboy. But now he’s back at Three Rivers Ranch to help his family and Hallie is there too–and she needs his support. Of course, Rafe agrees, but soon long-buried feelings boil to the surface, and the desire between them is hot and palpable and undeniable. Rafe realizes he wants Hallie for keeps… he just has to convince her to give true love another shot.

 

 

Review:

The Devil in the Saddle by Julia London is the 2^nd book in her Princes of Texas series.  Hallie Prince, our heroine, is a socialite daughter of the renowned Prince family, who in the first book lost their patriarch and the family has been living in hard times due the father’s gambling debts.   Hallie recently broke off her engagement to her cheating ex fiancée, and has been totally in disarray, even drinking, which is not her norm.  But when her best friend since childhood returns home, she immediately begins to perk up.

Rafe Fontana, our hero and an ex army ranger, returns to of Cimarron County and the Three Rivers Ranch, where his father helps run the Prince ranch. He runs into Hallie, who happily embraces Rafe, but he has a secret he will never tell her…he has always been in love with her.  Rafe is a gorgeous hunk, with a smile that would melt anyone; but Hallie has always looked at him just as a friend.  But now that she has broken off her engagement, she has begun to look at Rafe in a different light.  Rafe enjoys being with Hallie, but plans to leave for a new business in Chicago; as he cannot stay near her, knowing that he loves her, and feels he is beneath her.

Hallie was a bit spoiled early on, but she was also a riot, especially when she puts on Instagram pictures of her destroying her wedding invitations, gown, shoes, etc. It becomes a very popular site, and also brings back her ex trying to win her back.  But once cheated on, Hallie will never take him back.  Hallie is determined to find herself, and along the way she totally changes, and embarks on possibility resuming her ballerina dance lessons to start her own business in training children.  When she starts to feel the strong attraction to Rafe, they will both eventually succumb to their feelings, but she doesn’t understand why Rafe pulls away.

What follows was a sweet, heartwarming, fun romance between two people destined to live other lives.  Hallie and Rafe were a great couple, and their chemistry was hot.  Throughout the story though, we didn’t see any chance for them to find a way to stay together, but fate always wins.  Rafe was a wonderful hero, always there for Hallie, even if he felt she deserved better.  It was great to see Hallie begin to change and discover what she has been missing is right in front of her.  Will the two find a way to stay together?

The Devil in the Saddle  (why that title??) was a perfect small town romance that Julia London does so well.  I suggest you read this series, and start with the first book, The Charmer in Chaps. 

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

Berkley Romance is graciously offering a paper copy of THE DEVIL IN THE SADDLE to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.

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