#Review ~ Home at Chestnut Creek by Laura Drake ~ @PBRWriter @ReadForeverPub @GrandCentralPub

My Review:

Laura Drake became a must-read author for me with her very first book. Ms. Drake has such a talent with completely breaking my heart and then putting it back together by the end of the book. This lady has a supreme talent with stories that have me laughing, crying and feeling all the emotions right along with the characters. Home at Chestnut Creek is a fabulous example of Laura Drake's incredible talent. 

Nevada Sweet is a rough and tough lady that is used to taking care of herself and not looking for help from anyone. She just doesn't know how exactly to allow friends to get close and she is always ready to run. Of course, there is a big reason and a lot going on in her life that has made her this way. Nevada could easily rub anyone the wrong way but she has a heart under that rough exterior that a few people have had a chance to see. I don't want to tell you too much about Nevada's past. Let's just say it wasn't a good life and she has a good reason to be a tad bit jumpy. 

Joseph "Fishing Eagle" King is one of those good guys that is just too great to be true but is. He's a true friend, a great employee, and has been through a lot in his life. He is dealing with issues in his past that he is not proud of. He is determined to marry someone from his Navajo community to full fill a promise to his grandmother. 

Nevada and Fish don't start off on exactly the best of terms. Fish learns quickly that Nevada wants to stand on her own two feet and doesn't want to accept help from anyone and she sure doesn't want any charity or lasting friendships. However the more time they spend together the more they start to grow close. Neither of them is looking for a relationship and they both try to fight their attraction. I truly enjoyed watching these two get to know each other and form a deeper connection then either planned on. They might have a happily ever after if they can work through some issues together and get past the danger in Nevada's past.

This is the second book in the Chestnut Creek Series. Home at Chestnut Creek stands on its own just fine so no worries if you have not had a chance to read The Last True Cowboy. I have had the pleasure of reading The Last True Cowboy and I was so excited to see how things were going for Carly and Austin. It was nice to catch up and to see these two and the baby. 

Carly really is a true friend to Nevada and Nevada finds herself valuing the friendships she is making in Unforgiven. That makes her fear the danger from her past even more. If her past catches up with her she fears it will hurt her friends. I won't tell you any more on that but I will tell you that there is a lot of suspense in this book and drama. You are going to want to read this fabulous story for yourself. So hurry go grab your copy now and devour it like I did. 

I can't wait to see what Ms. Drake might have in store for us next. Whatever it is I know I will be anxiously awaiting her next story. 

I was given the opportunity to read this incredible book and it has been my great pleasure to share my thoughts with you. 

You may find more of my reviews on Laura Drake's work here: https://reviewsbycacb.blogspot.com/search?q=laura+drake&max-results=20&by-date=true

Amazon Buy Link: https://amzn.to/30joW95

About Home at Chestnut Creek:

First rule of life on the run: never get attached. Nevada Sweet knows that better than anyone-it's just too dangerous to stay put. And until now, she's never wanted to. But she gets more than she bargained for when she walks into the Chestnut Creek Café looking for a job. Despite the protective wall she's built, her coworker Joseph has her imagining a life she isn't yet convinced she deserves...

While Unforgiven, New Mexico has always been home, Joseph "Fishing Eagle" King still feels like an outsider-no matter how much he tries to give back to his Navajo community. Beneath Nevada's biting wit, he glimpses a similar vulnerability. Against all odds, Joseph finds himself falling for her, and it's clear she's not as unaffected as she pretends. When her past finally catches up with her, she'll have to decide whether to keep running, or fight for what's hers.

Amazon Buy Link: https://amzn.to/30joW95

#Review ~ The Last True Cowboy By Laura Drake ~ @PBRWriter @ReadForeverPub @GrandCentralPub

My Review of The Last True Cowboy:

Laura Drake became a must-read author for me from her very first book. Ms. Drake has an incredible gift with stories that are so emotional and really reach out to touch my heart. I could not wait to read this book once I had my hands on it. I found a comfy spot, grabbed my Kleenex box and settled in for a fabulous story. Ms. Drake didn't let me down, The Last True Cowboy is another shining example of her remarkable talent.

Carly Beauchamp is that sweet girl next door that found her true love in first grade. Carly is an independent, smart business lady that loves her family with her whole heart. I found my connection with Carly right away. She's one of the characters that I know I would love to enjoy a glass of tea with at Chestnut Creek Cafe and just catch up.

Austin Davis has been on the rodeo circuit and done well forever. He loves Carly with all his heart but he always thinks he's going to give it one more year and then start his life with Carly as a married couple. Austin is one of those truly good ole boys that love the thrill of the ride and the action going with the rodeo crowd. He really is a sweetheart with a heart of gold. I found a connection with Austin right away too. I don't think it's possible to not love this loyal cowboy that loves his girl, his family, friends, and animals. 

Austin and Carly have been together forever. It's a given that one day they'll be married. Until the day never comes and Carly is fed up. She sets out on an adventure to figure out just what to do with her life if she isn't going to marry Austin. She has an adventure and that leads to another adventure. She hits the road with a friend's food truck that follows the rodeo circuit. 

Austin and Carly certainly have a story to tell and it is one amazing story. It's packed full of emotions, drama, secrets that are revealed, and a first love that has stood the test the time but that time may be up now. There is wonderful family support behind Carly and Austin. I love when the family is involved in the storyline. It tends to add so much more to the background story and always helps me get a better glips into the characters. On top of that, the family and friends in this book are just phenomenal. There is a good dose of humor that had me laughing out loud. At other times I was reaching for the Kleenex box to wipe at the tears for both Austin and Carly. These two have a lot to work through if they are going to get that happily ever after that they have wanted forever.

If you are a fellow Laura Drake fan you must grab this book now! You are going to love just as much as I did. If you are a fellow fan of cowboy stories and haven't tried Ms. Drake's work yet, give this one a try. I think you'll fall in love with her work just as quickly as I did. 

This is the first book in the Chestnut Creek series. I can't wait to see what wonderful stories Ms. Drake will have in store for us lucky readers with the next books in this series. I have no doubt they will be fabulous and absolutely must reads!

I was given the opportunity to read this fantastic story and it has been my great pleasure to share my thoughts with you. 

You may find more of my reviews on Laura Drake's work https://goo.gl/FA6HfK

Amazon Buy Link https://amzn.to/2SzVwA1

Blurb for The Last True Cowboy:

This cowboy's got one last chance to prove himself.

Carly Beauchamp has loved cowboy Austin Davis since first grade. Ask anyone in their dusty, backwater New Mexico town of Unforgiven, and they'll say "Carly and Austin" the way some say "big trucks and country boys." But after years of waiting for a wedding ring, Carly's done with being a rodeo widow . . .

Austin never meant to put his career on the circuit before Carly. She's always been his future, his one and only. But now that she's moved on, he's beginning to see where he went wrong, and he'll do anything to win her back. The only thing is, Carly's suddenly acting differently, and she's definitely hiding a secret-one that will test the depth of their love and open up a whole new world of possibilities.

Amazon Buy Link https://amzn.to/2SzVwA1

#Sale #Review #Cowboy ~ The Sweet Spot By Laura Drake ~ @PBRWriter

The Sweet Spot

Sweet on a Cowboy Book 1

By Laura Drake

ON SALE for a LIMITED time! Grab your copy now!

BLURB: 

A Love as Big as Texas . . . 

Charla Rae Denny was the perfect wife with a perfect life, content to keep the home fires burning while her husband, JB, competed as a champion bull rider. Then their son died in a tragic accident-and everything fell apart. Divorced and saddled with a hill of bills and a failing ranch, Charla must now cowboy up to put her life back together.

James "JB" Denny doesn't stay where he isn't welcome. So when Charla shut him out of her grieving heart-and their home-a year ago, he took comfort where he could find it. Now after seeing beautiful Charla again, he wants it all back. She can't work the ranch alone, and deep in his heart he knows he can be the man she needs. But after so much history and heartbreak, can JB convince Charla to take a risk and give their love a second chance?

Amazon Buy Link

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My Review: 

The Sweet Spot grabbed my attention from the beginning and held on to it all the way through to the end. Laura Drake has written a book with characters that are so compelling and charismatic that I could not stop turning pages. This is such a wonderful story full of strong emotion that deals with the pain of loss, the joy of finding a second chance at love, family, and friends. This story really tugged at my heart. With the loss of their son, the loss of their marriage, her father's illness & and finding their way back to each, there is a lot of drama and excitement that kept my interest. 

Charla Rae Denny's life completely fell apart and she just didn't know how to go on with life after the death of her son. Life continued but not in any way she was use to. She found herself in charge of everything from her Dad's health problems to the animals on the ranch. I don't want to give out to much of the story but one of my very favorite scenes is when Charla has to help one of the cows give birth to her calf. I admired her for the courage it took to stick it out and get that calf born alive. Charla has a lot more strength than even she knew she had. To me I think this was the turning point for Charla. Having helped with the birth process of a calf myself I know what she was going through. I think I also bonded a little more with Charla at this point.

JB Denny tried to reach out to his wife, Charla after they loss their son, it just didn't work. What I loved about JB is after he found his heart still belonged to Charla he didn't give up. He looked for ways back into her heart. JB may have done some things he's not proud of but he knows he has to earn the trust of his wife back in order to make it work. I just love a cowboy that goes after the girl he loves!

Another aspect that I really liked about this book is that both Charla and JB found friends that were able to support them and guide them along the way. I got a kick out of Charla's friend Bella. Bella is a city girl that has moved to the county, and this city girl adds some really humorous moments to the story.

If you enjoy a good second chance at love story I think you will enjoy this book, however you very well may want to grab that box of Kleenex. I really enjoyed Laura Drake's writing style and I look forward to reading more of her work. I can't wait to see what story she has in store next. 

I received an advanced reading copy of this book to read in order to share my opinion with you. It has been my pleasure to share my thoughts with you on this touching story. 

Amazon Buy Link

More of my reviews on Laura's books may be found here

#Review - Days Made of Glass by Laura Drake

Are you looking for the perfect book to really touch your heart? Do you enjoy women's literature stories with strong heroines that are slightly broken but a lot tougher than life gives them credit for? I have a perfect book for you then. Hurry, grab a copy Made of Glass by Laura Drake, don't forget the Kleenex box and settle in for a wonderful read.
Laura Drake became a favorite author of mine with my very first taste of her work. This lady can write a story to make you cry, smile, and all the emotions in between and leave you with that wonderful feeling at the end. OK, it might also leave you wanting to read more of her work because she is just that awesome!

Harlie Cooper is the awesome big sister that will do anything and everything to keep her little sister Angel safe. They have been through so many horrible tragedies  in their young lives. My heart really went out to these two and I found an instant connection that me pulling for Harlie and cheering her on.

I think some of my favorite scenes in this book are when Harlie is going through Bull Fighting school. She is the lone girl in a world filled with testosterone in overdose. I had to admire her for her strength to fight on even when she was ready to give. She is so use to not having any family or friends to depend on that it's a new thing for her watching everyone bond.

I don't want to tell you too much because I want you to grab Days Made of Glass for yourself and enjoy the whole story as you go. I will tell you that the aspect of being made of glass and that we are breakable really hit home with me. I read this fabulous story at a really rough time in my life and Laura Drake's story honestly helped me to cope with a very trying ordeal and even helped me to find the strength to keep going, to keep trying, and to keep the hope that everything would be better. 

Overall I don't know if this review can possibly do this wonderful book justice. It's an incredible story with characters that broke my heart and made me smile. It is a classic example of Laura Drake's work written to touch your heart and soul in the style that only she can create. 

I was given the opportunity to read this fabulous book so that I may share my thoughts with you. As always it has been my great pleasure to share my thoughts with you on Days Made of Glass. 

You may find more of my reviews on Laura Drake's books here. 

Amazon Buy Link

GETTING LUCKY By Stacy Finz RELAPSE IN PARADISE By Roxanne Smith TWELVE NIGHTS By Sharon Struth

 GETTING LUCKY 

By Stacy Finz

RELAPSE IN PARADISE
By  Roxanne Smith

 TWELVE NIGHTS
By Sharon Struth 

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GETTING LUCKY By Stacy Finz

In Nugget, California, a tiny town tucked into the Sierra Nevada mountains, luck is what you make it, and love is never far behind…

From his humble beginnings in Nugget, Lucky Rodriguez has become a champion on the rodeo circuit, truly living up to his name in every regard. But when he returns home, he gets something success can’t buy: a daughter he never knew he had. And the girl’s mother, an old friend he has hasn’t thought about since, now touches his heart like no buckle bunny ever could.

Tawny Wade hasn’t always had luck on her side. She fell for a boy she couldn’t have, lost her parents too young, and now her daughter needs a transplant she can’t provide. But if Lucky is a stem cell match, all that could change. The trouble is, Lucky’s got a past in Nugget that makes him off-limits as anything more than a donor for her daughter. And yet, Tawny’s never stopped loving the man who now holds her family’s fate in his cowboy-callused hands…

“Finz is a unique new voice. Nugget, California is a charming small town filled with inventive characters and sweet romance.” –Jill Shalvis, New York Times bestselling author of the Lucky Harbor Series

“Tender and touching, Stacy Finz writes romance with heart.” –Marina Adair, #1 National bestselling author of Summer in Napa

Release Date: October 10, 2015
Publisher: Lyrical Shine
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Format: Ebook/Paperback

Getting Lucky Book Links:

Amazon | B&N | kobo | Google Play | Goodreads

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Meet the Author:

Stacy Finz is an award-winning journalist. After more than seventeen years covering notorious serial killers, naked-tractor-driving farmers, fanatical foodies, aging rock stars and weird Western towns for the San Francisco Chronicle, she figured she finally had enough material to launch a career writing fiction. In 2012 she won the Daphne du Maurier Award for unpublished single-title mystery/suspense. She lives in Berkeley, California with her husband.

Visit Stacy  website | Twitter | facebook

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RELAPSE IN PARADISE By  Roxanne Smith

She likes Hawaii, but she just might love Boston…

Still stinging from her recent divorce, Emily Buzzly heads to majestic Hawaii to soothe her wounds. But once she arrives on Oahu, Emily discovers that a man she assumes is a beach bum is in fact her personal tour guide, hired by her sister. With his long hair and tattoos, Boston Rondibett is everything Emily detests—despite his sun-kissed surfer body. And with her straight-laced, executive persona, Emily is everything Boston rebels against. But both have a lot to learn about making snap judgments…

As it turns out, Boston’s real job, the one he truly cares about, is running his soup kitchen and homeless shelter. Embarrassed by her assumptions, rather than lazy beach days, Emily soon finds herself feeding the hungry, and even involved in the search for an AWOL soldier. And to Boston’s surprise, she’s loving every minute of it—and he’s loving seeing her loosen her chignon and be the admirable, beautiful woman she is. As each works through the challenges of the past, these two very different people just might find their hearts are on the very same page…

Release Date: October 10, 2015
Publisher: Lyrical Shine
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Format: Ebook

Relapse in Paradise Book links:

Amazon | B&N | kobo | google play | Goodreads

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Meet the Author:

Men Like This, is my debut novel, the first story in a series of three I’ve decided to call Long Shot Romance–long odds and stubborn hearts make love a thing to fight for. I’ve always loved characters who surprise me and make me laugh, with just a tad of the dramatic tossed in, and I hope that’s something I’ve been able to do for my readers. So much of what inspires me comes from the unexpected; the fork in the road you might trip over. Life takes funny turns and there’s not much you can do but hang on.

Most of us pick up a pen with the understanding that the odds are against us. It’s a dream. I decided in my early twenties to take writing seriously and try. With trying came falling flat on my face more times than I can count, but there’s always something to be gained from effort, and I took that and ran with it like I was a wide receiver gunning for the end zone at the bottom of the fourth on Superbowl Sunday. Lots of revising, rewriting, and tears between then and now, and a whole stack of friends and family at my back.

I’m a mom and wife before I’m an author, which is just as well. You can’t leave the little people behind once you’ve ascended to greatness. Remember where you came from. My kids are my two favorite people. They’re weird and hilarious. They’re at that age where they’re forming into something unique and apart from everyone else. They’re developing self. It’s probably one of the most rewarding things I’ve experienced as a parent so far, right up there with teaching them bathroom independence. A teen parent twice over, I’ve done just as much growing as they have in the last decade, and I’ve done it with the perfect partner–married 11 years and still arguing over who gets to drive the hypothetical Corvette.

Visit Roxanne website | Facebook | Twitter

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 TWELVE NIGHTS By Sharon Struth 

True love waits forever…

For Erik Lindholm, it’s been a long climb to the top of his company. Now, as president he has the power to bring his vision to life and speed his company in bold new directions. If that means a complete staff overhaul, so be it. If that means firing the woman who left his heart in tatters fifteen years earlier, it’s a business decision, not personal…

Beryl Foster is highly competent and respected by everyone at the office. But rumors of a big shake-up are rampant and—surprisingly, scarily—Beryl’s job as CFO is on the line. Fifteen years ago she made a decision to put her career before everything else. It was also the last time she and Erik shared a life together. Every Christmas is a reminder. This one could be a second chance…

“Struth has a gift for layering stories within stories while keeping them all connected.” —Library Journal

“Struth is an author to watch!” —Laura Drake, author of RITA-award winner The Sweet Spot

“Sharon Struth writes a good story about love and loss. She knows her characters and has a path she wants them to take.” —Eye on Romance

Release Date: October 10, 2015
Publisher: Lyrical Shine
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Format: Ebook

Twelve Nights Book Links:

Amazon | B&N | kobo | goodreads

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Meet the Author:

Sharon Struth writes from her home in Bethel, Connecticut where she lives with her husband and two daughters. She’s a graduate of Marist College and was raised in Poughkeepsie, NY.

Sharon’s next release is SHARE THE MOON (Kensington Books/Lyrical Press), Book One in the Blue Moon Lake novel series. Her debut novel, The Hourglass (Etopia Press.) is a finalist in the National Readers’ Choice Awards for “BEST FIRST BOOK.” She also appears in several Chicken Soup for the Soul Books, the anthology A Cup of Comfort for New Mothers, Sasee Magazine and WritersWeekly.com. Her work is represented by Blue Ridge Literary Agency (http://www.blueridgeagency.com/)

Prior to writing full-time, Sharon worked for thirteen years at the headquarters of Waldenbooks/Borders Books. She’s a member of the Romance Writers of America and Treasurer of The Romance Writers of Southern Connecticut and Lower New York (CoLoNY).

Visit Sharon’s website.

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Tour Schedule:

 November 9

Book featured at 3 Partners in Shopping

November 10

Book featured at Kristy Centeno

November 11

Book featured at Romantic Reads and Such

November 12

Book featured at Harmonious Publicity

November 13

Book featured at Queen of the Night Reviews

November 16

Book featured at I’m Shelf-ish

November 17

Book featured at Write and Take Flight

November 18

Getting Lucky, Relapse in Paradise and Twelve Nights Reviewed at Our Families Adventures

November 19

Getting Lucky Reviewed at Written Love Reviews

November 20

Book featured at Authors and Readers Book Corner

November 23

Book featured at Booklover Sue

November 24

Getting Lucky, Relapse in Paradise and Twelve Nights Reviewed at Give a Little Love Book Blog

November 25

Getting Lucky Reviewed at Lisa’s Louisiana Home

Book featured at Crystal’s Chaotic Confessions

November 26

Book featured at Reviews by Crystal

November 27

Book featured at Teatime and Books

Twice in a Blue Moon by Laura Drake ~ REVIEW

Laura Drake is a very talented author that has a way with very emotional story lines. I know when I pick up a Laura Drake book I'm going to experience a gamut of emotions. While reading Twice in a Blue Moon I had tears in my eyes a few times. I laughed out loud a time or two and I was left with that wonderful awe feeling that made my heart swell with happiness. 

Indigo Blue has been through a lot lately. This poor girl found her once in a blue moon love and then lost him. She has lost her love, her confidante, and the guy she could always count on to have the answers. Not only is she grieving she has to deal with starting a new life. She is one strong lady with a lot of spunk. She is also sweet, kind, and has a huge heart. I admired this woman for having the courage and determination to make her new life as a winery owner work, one way or the other.  Her name certainly fits her. It's a very unique name fitting for a unique lady. 

Danovan DiCarlo has suffered a horrible loss and has been dragged through the mud by people he thought cared. Not only is he dealing with a tragic loss, he has to deal with the damage that has been done to his sterling reputation and find a job.  

Indigo and Danovan are just exactly what the other needs. They are the perfect match. She needs someone that knows everything there is to know about wine and is willing to take a chance on a small operation. He needs a job to work his magic with wine that is willing to take on a guy down on his luck. 

I enjoyed watching Indigo learn about the wine business and Danovan teaching her literally from the ground up. I enjoyed watching these two get to know each other while working closely together. Friendship turns into an attraction that is quite hot. There are many obstacles they are going to have to overcome in order to make a romantic relationship work. There are secrets that have to be told, tragedies that have to shared, and dramatic situation or two that they have to work through together. 

Twice in a Blue Moon is a prime example of the writing I quickly came to love and expect from Laura Drake. This lady has a talent with emotional stories that just about break my heart in two before she mends it back together with that awe moment. 

I am always thrilled when I hear that Ms. Drake has a new release. I have been a fan of her work since her debut release. With the end of each book I anxiously anticipate her next release. I can not wait to see what wonderful heartfelt story she comes up with next.

I was given the opportunity to read this great story so that I may share my thoughts with you. As always it has been my great pleasure to share my thoughts with you on Twice in a Blue Moon.

You may read more of my reviews on Laura Drake's work here.

Amazon Buy Links:

  Twice in a Blue Moon

Sweet on You by Laura Drake ~ Sweet on a Cowboy #3 ~ Review

I have had the pleasure of reading all the books in the Sweet on a Cowboy Series. Sweet on You by Laura Drake is the third book in this wonderful series and it's just as awesome as the first two. 

Katya Smith is a healer and loves to help people. She used her amazing talent to help her fellow soldier in Afghanistan until she was horribly injured. She needed to find a way to deal with her panic attacks and PTSD, so she could return to her team. A friend helps her find a job on the PBR circuit. 

Cam Cahill is riding in his last season and has no idea what he is going to do with his life next. Cam is the a one rough and tough, bull riding, handsome cowboy. He is use to handling the pain he has, that is until he meets Katya and her magic fingers. These two do no hitch to start with. They really start off on the wrong foot but as they get to know each other things change. I loved watching these two get to know each other. They each have such an interesting personality that made for entertaining reading. 

In true Laura Drake fashion there is a lot of emotional moments that just plain tore my heart out. Laura Drake has a wonderful talent of making you really feel the story. Katya has a lot of painful moments to go through to learn how to cope with her PTSD issues. My heart just broke for this lovely lady. She has been through so much and has so many things to adjust to. Life back in the states after living through war is tough on her. I think Ms. Drake has done a fabulous job of showing us what our men and women serving their country go through when they return home. Not all their injuries are visible but they are certainly there. 

Cam Cahill has a lot of decision to make about his life and what he really wants. It's not long before he figures out that he really wants Katya to be a part of his future. However he has to convince Katya this is what she wants as well.

I LOVED this book and this series. To be perfectly honest I have LOVED everything I have read by this very talented author. She really does have a way of  really touching my heart and breaking a few pieces. I always end the book with a giant aww and a tear in my eye. 

If you enjoy an great cowboy book with a touching storyline then you really should check out Laura Drake's Sweet on a Cowboy Series. Each book has been fabulous in it's own way. I don't think you will have any problem picking up any of them and reading them as a stand alone. 

I will be impatiently awaiting the release of Laura Drake's next book. I can't wait to see what this talented lady has in store for us lucky readers next. 

I was given the opportunity to read this great book so that I may share my thoughts with you. As always it has been my pleasure to share my thoughts with you on Sweet on You. 

You may read more of my reviews on Laura Drake's work here.....

Amazon Buy Links: 

 Sweet on You

 Nothing Sweeter 

 The Sweet Spot

Southern Sweethearts Blog Tour ~ Laura Drake, Sandra Hill, Marilyn Pappano ~ Giveaway

Sweet on You 

By Laura Drake

BLURB:

A Love as Bold as a Texas Sunset . . .

Ex-army medic Katya Smith has always healed other people's pain. Now she has to deal with her own. Taking a job as an athletic trainer on the Pro Bull Riding circuit seems like the perfect escape from her grief-except Katya doesn't know anything about bulls, and even less about the tough men who ride them. She doesn't expect to fall for the sport, or for one tantalizing cowboy who tumbles her defenses. 

For rodeo champion Cam Cahill, fifteen years of bucking bulls have taken their toll on his body. Before he retires, he wants a final chance at the world title-and he doesn't need some New Age gypsy telling him how to do his job. But when the stunning trainer with the magical hands repairs more than his worn muscles, everything changes. Soon Cam finds himself trying to persuade Katya to forgive her past so she can build a future . . . with him.

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EXCERPT: 

Katya looked around the restaurant. Surrounded by trees outside, the interior was exposed timber and glass, giving The Wild Side the feel of a hunting lodge in the woods. The fieldstone fireplace with its cheery gas log fire and the trophy animal heads on the wall carried out the theme. 
“Well? What do you think?” Cam smiled at her from across the linen-covered table, the dimple in his cheek deepening. 
“That gazelle looks pissed. I think he wants his body back.” The unblinking stare of the animals on the walls gave her the willies, so she kept her eyes on Cam. Well, maybe that wasn’t the only reason. His royal blue Western-cut shirt showed off his washed-blue eyes. The candlelight fractured in them, and she had a hard time looking anywhere else. He’d taken off his hat when he sat down, but it left a mark in his short, hollow-gold hair. She took a sip of her white wine to cool off. God, if he were on the menu, this place would be overrun with women. 
He chuckled, and when the waiter walked over with menus, he held up a hand. “Will you trust me to order?” He gave her a one-sided smile, an eyebrow raised in challenge.
“I guess I’ll trust you that far.” 
Not much farther though. She had no doubt that smile had separated dozens of women from their panties. Don’t forget, you don’t belong here. Why did she have to keep reminding herself of that lately? 
He ordered something called the Hunter’s Feast for Two. When the waiter walked away, Cam turned his attention back to her. “You drive a hard bargain, Ms. Smith. It cost me dearly to get you sitting across the table from me. Are you sure you aren’t a horse trader on the side?”
She snorted. “I should have warned you, it’s in my blood. My great-great grandfather made enough money trading horses to bring his family to America.”
“Literally?” 
Might as well get it out in the open. In spite of the modern push to accept “cultural diversity,” there was still a lot of prejudice against her kind. “I don’t just dress Gypsy, Cam. I am Gypsy.” 
“No kidding?” The touch of his regard settled on her. “I know so little about you. Where did you grow up?”
Well, he’d answered her questions. No harm in answering a few benign ones of his. “In DC. But my summers I spent with my Gypsy family, in Chicago.”
“What was that like?”
“It was heaven. I’m an only child. But in Chicago, my huge extended family took me in every summer and folded me into the clan.” She smiled, seeing Grand’s apartment in her mind. “It was like stepping into another world. Like I lived two different lives.”
“When did you join the army?”
“After nine/eleven. A lot of people joined then.”
“I wouldn’t have guessed you for a soldier, but once I knew it, lots of things made sense. Did you like it?”
“I loved it. In a way, it was like Chicago. Another kind of family. We rely on each other under hard times and stressful circumstances. It forges a strong bond.”
“You miss it.” 
Once again, his eyes made her nervous, seeing too much. “Something happened over there, didn’t it?”
“I miss it.”
The waiter brought their salads, breaking the pull of his gaze. That gaze made her want to talk, to spill her dark story all over the pristine tablecloth, staining everything. 
She lifted her fork. “Tell me about your family. Where are you from?”
They chatted about safe subjects until their meal arrived; a huge platter of unrecognizable meat, without a vegetable in sight. Unless fried potatoes qualified.
He looked it over. “I’m torn. I’m afraid if I tell you what’s here, you won’t eat it, and you’d miss out on some great food. But I don’t want to ambush you either. So you tell me. Do you want to know?”
She picked up her fork, stabbed a deep-fried Rocky Mountain oyster, and popped it in her mouth.
His eyes got big. “Wait, that’s a—” 
“Cow testicle, I know.” She licked her lips. “I have to say, it’s better than sheep, but not as good as camel.” She glanced around for the waiter, then back to him. “Do you think they have hot sauce?”
His eyes got bigger. “I think I’m in love,” he breathed.

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About the author:

Laura Drake grew up in the suburbs outside Detroit, though her stories are set in the west.  A tomboy, she's always loved the outdoors and adventure. In 1980 she and her sister packed everything they owned into Pintos and moved to California. There she met and married a motorcycling, bleed-maroon Texas Aggie and her love affair with the West was born. Laura rides motorcycles: Elvis, a 1985 BMW Mystic, and Sting, a 1999 BMW R1100.

In Texas, Laura was introduced to her first rodeo, and fell in love. She's an avid fan of Pro Bull Riding (PBR,) attending any event within driving distance, including two PBR National finals. She is hard at work at her next novel.

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Snow on the Bayou 

By Sandra Hill

BLURB:

THE BAYOU'S BADDEST BAD BOY IS BACK!

Joining the Navy was the second best thing that ever happened to Justin "Cage" LeBlanc, the rebel son of a no-account convict. The first was Emelie Gaudet, the love of his life . . . until he was forced to leave town and swore there would be snow on the bayou before he ever returned. Now, only his mortally ill grandma can bring the injured Navy SEAL back to Terrebone Parrish, where he must face his past-and Emelie, who's even more beautiful than she was all those years ago.

Bourbon Street blues singer Emelie is once bitten, twice shy. When she learns that Justin is back in town, she wants nothing to do with the once wild Cajun teenager who fled with the law on his tail-and broke her heart. But she can't deny the red-hot attraction between them . . . or his efforts to prove he's finally changed his hell-raising ways. Can she trust that this time the bad boy of the bayou will be the best man for her?

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EXCERPT: 

Leaning back against the van and spreading his legs so she could fit into the cradle of his hips, Cage realized something in that moment.  He had never stopped loving Emelie.  He kissed the top of her head…she still used that lemon-scented shampoo…then kissed her chin and the knuckles that continued to hold the packet of letters in a death grip.  Pulling a handkerchief out of his back pocket, he used it to wipe the tears off her face and made her blow her nose hard.
Then, he framed her head with trembling fingers that combed into both sides of her hair, and he really kissed her.  With all the love and yearning he’d built up over the years.  Suppressed emotions exploded in him, emotions he hadn’t even known he’d been suppressing, not this late in the game, anyhow.  He was out of control.  
Then, Thank you God, she was out of control, too.  Somewhere along the way she’d dropped the letters to the ground and wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him back with equal fervor.
There was a roaring in his ears, and his mind went blank.  His body zapped into sensory overload with each of her soft caresses to his neck and shoulders, with the arching of her body against his, with the opening of her mouth to his deep kisses.   
At one point his palms had landed on her butt and he raised her against his erection.  Sweet!  Sweet agony!
Women had two surefire weapons when it came to men.  Sex and tears.  Cage was being assaulted by both of them, and he welcomed the attack, even if he would be bullet-ridden in the end.
At this moment, as he feasted on the woman in his arms, there were no jagged splinters of past betrayals, no dark shadows of regret, no questions of what might have been, or could be.  No anger.  Not even a Toby Keith cynical message of “How Do You Like Me Now?” which he had to admit he’d harbored on occasion in the past.  Just the now.  And now was glorious.
MawMaw was probably watching them through the kitchen window, but he didn’t care.  This was the girl he loved and she was back in his arms.  Nothing was going to stop him now.
Except something did.
The slamming of car doors.
“Yoo-hoo!” someone yelled, and it wasn’t Belle and her boys.  It was that Cajun wackjob Tante Lulu, with pink hair that matched a pink t-shirt proclaiming “I May Be Old, But There Are Parts of Me That Still Zing.”  With her grinning niece Charmaine in a hoochie-mama, leopard print cat suit.  Noticing the direction of his stare, Tante Lulu remarked, “I know.  I tol’ her ta be careful.  That get-up’s so tight, folks will see her religion.”
Cage pressed his forehead against Em’s, praying that his hard-on wouldn’t be evident.  Em moaned; she had a few thing to hide, too, like her nipples under the thin silk shirt she wore, tucked into a pair of denims.   “We came to help,” Charmaine said, smacking him on the butt as she passed by, carrying a box overflowing with plastic containers of food.

“Jist in time, by the looks of things,” Tante Lulu remarked.  She was also carrying food.  Looked like one of those lidded cake carriers.  “Best I hurry up with your hope chest, boy.  Guar-an-teed!”

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About the author:

Sandra Hill is a graduate of Penn State and worked for more than 10 years as a features writer and education editor for publications in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Writing about serious issues taught her the merits of seeking the lighter side of even the darkest stories. She is the wife of a stockbroker and the mother of four sons.

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A Love to Call Her Own

by Marilyn Pappano

BLURB: 

It's been two years since Jessy Lawrence lost her husband in Afghanistan, and she's never fully recovered. Drowning her sorrows didn't help, and neither did the job she'd hoped would give her a sense of purpose. Now trying to rebuild her life, she finds solace in her best friends, fellow military wives who understand what it's like to love-and lose-a man in uniform . . . and the memory of one stolen night that makes her dream of a second chance at love. 

Dalton Smith has known more than his fair share of grief. Since his wife's death, he revels in the solitude of his cattle ranch. But try as he might, he can't stop thinking about the stunning redhead and the reckless, passionate night they shared. He wasn't ready before, but Dalton sees now that Jessy is the only woman who can mend his broken heart. So how will he convince her to take a chance on him?

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EXCERPT: 

Dalton thought he was just about free to go when the photographer called the wedding party back for pictures, first in the sanctuary, then outside in the warm sun. He hadn’t had to hold a smile for such a long time that his face muscles were starting to protest when the guy decided ten thousand shots were enough.

Finally he could slip out of his jacket. His cattle’s black and-white coats might keep them warm in winter and cool in summer, but he was about to dissolve into a giant drop of sweat. As the rest of the guests came out of the church to say good-bye to the happy couple, he loosened his tie, then saw Jessy, standing in the shade of an oak, arms folded over her middle, watching him.

God, she’d been watching him all through the reception, and him her. He couldn’t say why he hadn’t approached her, asked her to share a piece of cake, talk with him, dance with him. Then his gut clenched hard, his chest tightening, and he remembered: because he would have spontaneously combusted, and wouldn’t that have been an ugly page in Dane and Carly’s wedding album? From the moment he’d walked into the church and seen her sitting there all beautiful and sexy and focused on him, all he could think was, Is it time? Please, can it be time?

He was surprised God hadn’t struck him down where he stood.

It was stupid, he thought as he walked to her. He was thirty-two years old. He’d been married. He’d had sex with his share of women. Hell, he’d had sex with this woman. But he hadn’t known then what he knew now. Then it had been horniness and loneliness, and any woman who persisted until he was drunk would have satisfied. Now it was . . .

Well, he didn’t know what it was, exactly. Important.

They had something special, a second chance for both of them to make things right, to

make each other right. Something to not screw up.

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About the author:

Known for her intensely emotional stories, Marilyn Pappano is the USA Today bestselling author of nearly eighty books. She has made regular appearances on bestseller lists and has received recognition for her work in the form of numerous awards. Though her husband's Navy career took them across the United States, he and Ms. Pappano now live in Oklahoma high on a hill that overlooks her hometown. They have one son and daughter-in-law, an adorable grandson, and a pack of mischievous dogs.

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