"Back In The Saddle"

Ruth Logan Herne

The prodigal is coming home.
It’s been a long time since Colt Stafford shrugged off his cowboy legacy for shiny Manhattan loafers and a promising career on Wall Street. But when stock market manipulations leave him financially strapped, the oldest son of legendary rancher Sam Stafford decides to return to the sprawling Double S ranch in Gray’s Glen, Washington. He’s broke, but not broken, and it’s time to check in with his ailing father, and get his legs back under him by climbing into the saddle again.
He doesn’t expect to come home to a stranger pointing a loaded gun at his chest— a tough yet beautiful woman that Sam hired as the house manager. Colt senses there’s more to Angelina Morales than meets the eye and he’s determined to find out what she’s hiding…and why.
Colt’s return brings new challenges. Younger brother Nick has been Sam’s right-hand man at the ranch for years and isn’t thrilled at having Colt insert himself into Double S affairs. And the ranch’s contentious relationship with the citizens of Gray’s Glen asks all the Stafford men to examine their hearts about what it truly means to be a neighbor. And as Wall Street recovers, will Colt succumb to the call of the financial district’s wealth and power—or finally the courage to stay in the saddle for good?

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I kinda' have a thing for westerns and for cowboys, so I was excited to get to review this book.  This was my first time reading Ruth Logan Herne's work and it won't be my last.  From the beginning I was drawn to the characters and their stories.  She made me feel like I was part of the family.  

A well-written story of faith, family, redemption and forgiveness. Oh!  And you can't forget romance!  This book has me impatiently waiting for the next one!

Read more about the book here.

I RECEIVED THIS COMPLIMENTARY BOOK FROM LITFUSE FOR REVIEW PURPOSES. 

 

 

"With This Ring?"

 Karen Witemeyer, Mary Connealy, Regina Jennings, Melissa Jagears

Sometimes Love is Found in the Most Unexpected Places!

Love isn't always a fairy tale, and it doesn't always go as planned. Sometimes the best stories, though, are the ones that are the most unexpected. Join Karen Witemeyer, Mary Connealy, Regina Jennings, and Melissa Jagears for novellas that celebrate the power of love to triumph . . . even when circumstances go awry!

The Husband ManeuverWhen ranch foreman Daniel Barrett seems ready to leave her life forever, Marietta Hawkins decides to grab the reins on their relationship. But to have any hope of maneuvering him into a proposal, she has to act fast or risk losing him completely.

Her Dearly UnintendedJosiah Huckabee just wanted to make sure Katie Ellen Watson was safe, but when the only bridge to her farm is washed out, the two find themselves alone. Alone, that is, until a menacing stranger appears. Maybe by pretending to be newlyweds, they'll save their reputations--but can pretending to be in love turn into the real thing?

Runaway BrideHired to help Carrie Halsey escape from a dangerous man intent on making her his wife, Big John Conroy never expected the job to interrupt his solitary Texas Ranger life. But now that he's promised to keep Carrie safe, he discovers he may just want to make a few more promises.

Engaging the CompetitionHarrison Gray and tomboy Charlotte Andrews have been rivals for years. With Charlotte intended for someone else, it seems they'll never settle their differences until an accident changes things completely. When Charlotte breaks Harrison's glasses--without which he's nearly blind--she must help with his teaching position, and working together forces these former adversaries to reconsider everything.

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"With This Ring?" is such a great collection of novella's!   Each has it's own unique twists and turns to it as well as a beautiful and somewhat expected ending.  Expected because of the title, but the events leading up to the inevitable result, was anything but expected!  

While three out of the four of these start out very similar, they are anything but that!  The authors may have had similar ideas, but each one's talents reveal their individual creativity. 

Mary Connealy's was a pleasure to read because she brought in former characters from previous books.  Unfortunately, I haven't been able to read all of her previous books, so it was a little confusing at times just who everyone was.  (from the Kincaid Bride series)

I enjoyed each of these novella's and will for sure read them again!  I do believe that Melissa Jagears story was simply beautiful.  Charlotte loved Harrison even if he was practically blind.  That is true love.  Loving others strengths and imperfections. 

A couple of these authors I have never read before, but I'm glad that I was able to!  Each of these authors are very talented in their writing!  I hope that they do another novella collection together!  

This is a romantic western fiction book, but I recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading contemporary Christian romance.

I RECEIVED THIS COMPLIMENTARY BOOK FROM BETHANY HOUSE PUBLISHERS FOR REVIEW PURPOSES.

 

"Kissed By A Cowboy"

Debra Clopton

Cassidy was looking for a home and a place to belong . . . not for a cowboy to steal her heart.
Having lived through her parents’ endless string of “matrimonial bliss gone wrong,” Cassidy Starr knows when the odds are not in her favor. Divorced and humiliated, her faith on rocky ground, Cassidy is through with love. She’s been bucked off that horse far too many times. Instead, she returns to Wishing Springs, Texas, and the rundown farm she’s inherited from her great aunt Roxie. She’ll reopen the strawberry farm and a bed & breakfast and follow in her aunt’s footsteps, remaining forever-independent, happy . . . and single.
Rancher Jarrod Monahan’s hands are full running the ranch, looking after his ailing grandfather, and chasing down a group of rustlers on the loose. He’s pushed his longing for a family to the bottom of his list of priorities. Besides, he was in love once but ran scared and lost his shot at happiness. But suddenly, the biggest regret of his life has moved in next door with a wounded heart, determined to become a spinster . . . and that’s a challenge that Jarrod can’t pass up.
Jarrod sets his mind to breaking down the walls around Cassidy’s stubborn heart. How can he show her that a cowboy’s kiss lasts forever? For the good folks of Wishing Springs, falling in love has never been so much fun to witness.

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You will be swept away in Debra Clopton's latest work, "Kissed By A Cowboy".  I have been able to read the previous books in this series and from the beginning, Jarrod was my favorite and I couldn't wait to read his story.  

The Monahan brother's are definitely swoon-worthy and full of charm, but I believe that Jarrod has special cowboy, charming powers that he uses on Cassidy - who refuses to be give in to them.  Well, at least she tries to refuse.

Filled with romance, wit, swoon-worthy cowboys and down home charm, this book is a delight!  As well as all of the fun stuff this book contains, it also focuses on letting go of past mistakes, forgiveness and opening up your heart for God's blessings.  

You will not be disappointed by reading "Kissed By A Cowboy".  While this is book three in the series, it's easily a stand alone novel.

Read more about the book here.

I RECEIVED THIS COMPLIMENTARY BOOK FROM LITFUSE FOR REVIEW PURPOSES. 

 

"At Love's Bidding"

Regina Jennings

She sells priceless antiques. He sells livestock by the pound. Is he really the man to make a bid for her heart?
After helping her grandfather at their Boston auction house, Miranda Wimplegate discovers she’s accidentally sold a powerful family’s prized portrait to an anonymous bidder. Desperate to appease the people who could ruin them forever, they track it to the Missouri Ozarks and make an outlandish offer to buy the local auction house and all its holdings before the painting can move again.
Upon crossing the country, however, Miranda and her grandfather discover their new auction house doesn’t deal in fine antiques, but in livestock. And its frustratingly handsome manager, Wyatt Ballentine, is annoyed to discover his fussy new bosses don’t know a thing about the business he’s single-handedly kept afloat. Faced with more heads of cattle than they can count–but no mysterious painting–Miranda and Wyatt form an unlikely but charged partnership to try and prevent a bad situation from getting worse.

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This historical fiction book is filled with humor, romance and mystery, this book just about covers it all.  

Most of the characters were likable except Cousin Cornelius.  I couldn't stand him.  

I loved how Regina wasn't too good to visit with the other classes in society.  She took the time to teach them about the Bible and tried to help educate them.  That takes a lot of confidence.  Which is why I was confused when her family didn't think she had confidence.  From page one she seemed to have a strong personality, but within the next few pages it seemed to change.

All in all this was an enjoyable read and liked reading from a new author.

Read more about the book here.

I RECEIVED THIS COMPLIMENTARY BOOK FROM LITFUSE FOR REVIEW PURPOSES.

 

 "Counting On A Cowboy"

Debra Clopton

After losing everything she held dear, Abby never wants to love again. But a certain cowboy may just spur her to wonder if love might be worth the risk.

Running from a past that haunts her, Abby Knightly is drawn to the cozy town of Wishing Springs, Texas. Maybe this small town could offer hope and healing and a future for Abby . . . if she’s brave enough to reach out and take it by the reins.

Bo Monahan isn’t interested in the new romantic destination his little town has become—or the women who might be looking at him like he’s their next Mr. Right. Between taking care of his Pops and his growing stirrup business, he isn’t looking for serious romantic commitments. But when the infant son he never knew about shows up at his doorstep, his world is turned upside down.

This confirmed bachelor might not think he needs a wife, but he sure needs help. Even Abby can see that, and despite her best efforts to keep her distance, she can’t help but be drawn to this new father-son duo. As Abby throws herself into helping Bo navigate fatherhood, hope sparks between them, revealing that maybe, just maybe, they can navigate their dark pasts and emerge together into a future as bright as the Texas sun itself.

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I really enjoyed book one, but book two was kind of a let down for me.  Book two started off very similar to book one and that was discouraging.  Bo was funny and a cut-up in the first book and not so much in this one, almost as if he were two different people.  

The fact that everyone was o.k. with Bo's indiscretion bothered me.  Sure he knew better, and knew that he'd done wrong, but that obviously didn't mean anything. 

Abby, however, made this book enjoyable for me.  I can't imagine going through what she did yet, after some time, she kept going.  Abby was always willing to help others and was a true nurturer.  

I also like Pebble.  I like how she has strong standards and sticks to them.  She doesn't give into wrong to make people happy or to please them, nor does she try to shove her standards down other peoples throats.  She is right in not giving into Rand and condoning his drinking problems.   

"Counting On A Cowboy" reminds us of the importance of forgiveness and letting go.  

Read more about the book here.

I RECEIVED THIS COMPLIMENTARY BOOK FROM LITFUSE FOR REVIEW PURPOSES.

 

"Sweet Mountain Rancher"

Loree Lough

HE CAN SAY NO TO EVERYONE BUT HER...

Nate Marshall used to be a yes-man... until being so agreeable cost him dearly. But Eden Quinn has a way of getting him to reconsider his "just say no" policy. Which is how a bunch of troubled teens end up at his ranch for the weekend. Nate can't help but be attracted to the woman who keeps them in line.

This cowboy knows Eden's no damsel in distress, yet hers isn't a one-woman job. If she must do everything on her own, how can he help her... let alone get her to fall for him?

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This was my first book by Loree Lough and I really enjoyed it.  Nate is a perfect gentleman and Eden is a wonderful person!  

"Sweet Mountain Rancher" is an enjoyable read and has great morals throughout the book.  I especially love that Eden has dedicated her life to helping troubled teen boys.  She is wonderful at it and is very inspiring!

A very easy read that will stick with you long after you put the book down!

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I RECEIVED THIS COMPLIMENTARY E-BOOK FROM PRIME TOURS FOR REVIEW PURPOSES.