Review - The Convict & the Cattleman

The Convict and the Cattleman by Allison Merritt

Genre: Historical Romance

Blurb: His love is the key to her release.

Sentenced to seven years of servitude in the penal colony of New South Wales, Bridgit Madden is thrust into a world unlike anything she's known, dangers she never imagined and enemies with their own interests at heart. Certain that the conviction has ruined her chances of ever having a real family, she is fearful of her future.

Despite his reluctance to take in a convict, Jonah Andrus, a grazier and pioneer cattleman, needs a servant to care for his orphaned niece. When presented with Bridgit, who is far too beautiful and distracting, he initially tries to refuse. However, with a busy cattle station to oversee, he needs help right away.

Upon her first meeting with Jonah's niece, Bridgit immediately falls in love with the girl and becomes entwined the mystery surrounding her birth. As she gets to know her employer better, Bridgit makes it her mission to remind him that family is priceless. When it seems as though she might have found the place she truly belongs, their love is threatened by lies and deceit, and both of them might lose everything they hold dear for a second time.

~~~~~~MY REVIEW~~~~~

The Convict and the Cattleman by Allison Merritt
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I generally prefer my historicals to be Regency era but every now and again I try something new. This is also a new location for me, Wales in the 1800s is an interesting location. I was really interested in the penal colony angle, seemed like something different. I was really interested in the historical bits of this book, might have to do a little research on penal colonies now, cause I am curious.

I really liked the whole story, it is a quiet sweet sort of romance. No big bangs or whistles, just a couple of people who are attracted to each other and fall in love. Not as much passion as I usually like but definitely warms you up. The side stories with the baby and the theft are interesting and help keep the pace moving right along.

If you are looking for a quick sweet read this is the book for you. Really great storytelling and engaging characters. I just wish there were a touch more heat.

*Disclosure - I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts, opinions and ratings are my own.

View all my reviews

Spotlight & Giveaway - SOMEBODY TO LOVE by Lori Wilde (Cupid, Texas #3)

Somebody To Love

A Cupid Texas Novel

By: Lori Wilde

Releasing Dec 31st, 2013

Blurb

New York Times bestselling author Lori Wilde invites you back to Cupid, Texas, where love is only a heartbeat away . . .

Sexy cowboy-scholar Jericho Chance always knows exactly what he wants and how to get it. And after sauntering back home to Cupid, he’s shocked to discover that he wants Zoe McCleary. After years from home, he takes one new look at his bubbly best friend, with her lightning smarts and luscious body, and it hits him like a bolt: she’s his somebody to love and he’s not leaving town again without her.

Settling down always seemed like a time waster to Zoe, a man magnet with a trail of broken hearts behind her. She’s not meant to settle down—but how can she resist someone as persuasive as Jericho? There’s no way they can ignore the explosive chemistry seething between them . . . even if it means risking their friendship...

Buy Links  

Spotlight & Giveaway - Silver River Romeo by Amelia Rose

Silver River Romeo

by Amelia Rose

About The Book:

Silver River Romeo

Genre: Contemporary Western Romance

Publisher:Gold Crown

Release Date: June 7, 2013

Buy: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon Ca

Book Description:

Customer Reviews. "I really liked it and highly recommend it if you like a modern day cowboy romance " Gatorfan "I'm a cowboy from Fort Worth, Texas. This book was a hit with me, so much so that my wife plans to read it next at my recommendation" Z.Armstrong Cole McKenna has been a rancher at Silver River since he was old enough to walk. He doesn’t mind the scars and bruises, but he’s starting to hate the feeling of being tied down, especially when the neighboring ranch is put up for sale. Raven Branch has always called to him and when a pretty young woman from the city arrives to take over he is determined not to let her ruin his favorite piece of land. Soon he has to wonder though. Is he keeping an eye on the ranch...or the woman?  

Excerpt:

Cover Reveal Blitz - Claiming Ana by Brynna Curry

Claiming Ana

Brynna Curry

A Triple Star Ranch Novel

“I’ll take you, turn you, until I’m the sun that warms you, the moon that calls to you at night.” – Howl Raven

ISBN: 9781616502874

Release date: Feb. 3, 2014

Series: Triple Star Ranch, #1

Blurb: Where there's smoke, there's fire…and passion that won't be denied.

The child of a gypsy and fey, small-town veterinarian Dr. Anastasia Brannon has always hidden her magic for fear of ridicule. A red-hot encounter with the new PI in town makes their attraction impossible to deny. Throwing caution to the wind, she indulges her desires but keeps her secrets close.

A man with a shady past and secrets of his own, Howl Raven uses his feral talents and tracking skills to make a living, doing his best to lay low and hide the curse that haunts him every month. So far, so good…until an uncontrollable shift outside the full moon leaves him the victim of a werewolf hunter.

When she finds the enigmatic investigator wounded in the woods near her cabin during a storm, Ana provides medical care on instinct. She may be the only one who can banish the wolf from Howl’s blood, but at what cost?

Full-length Excerpt (Steamy)

Giveaway! - Fake Fiance, Real Revenge by Roxanne Snopek (Entangled Bliss)

Fake Fiance, Real Revenge

Roxanne Snopek

Blurb:

Real-estate tycoon Mitchell Granger has a problem. In order to secure a lucrative deal with an eccentric client, he told the teeny white lie that he was engaged…and now he needs to prove it. Even worse? The only name that came to mind was Sabrina Becker, the girl he was never good enough for growing up, and who still lives near his family ranch.

Sabrina doesn’t mind posing as Mitch’s fake fiancée—no, she doesn’t mind at all. One, she’ll make him pay with new construction for her business. And two, Sabrina’s got a plan to exact revenge on her first love, the boy who left her and Three River Ranch behind. She’ll pretend so well, he’ll fall in love with her…and then he’ll get a taste of what true heartbreak feels like.

But as Mitch sheds his corporate skin and picks up his dusty jeans and cowboy hat, will both his and Sabrina’s grand plans get derailed by love?

Author bio

Roxanne Snopek is the author of ten books, more than 150 articles, and has had short fiction published in several anthologies. She is currently serving as Vice-President of the Romance Writers of America Greater Vancouver Chapter. She and her family live in the Pacific Northwest, where she’s at work on more love stories for Entangled Publishing.

 Roxanne Snopek has been writing professionally for more than two decades and is the author of eight books, more than 150 articles, and has had short fiction published in several anthologies. Her non-fiction has appeared in a wide variety of publications, from The Vancouver Sun and Reader’s Digest to newsletters for Duke, Cornell and Tufts Universities. She's done corporate copywriting on topics ranging from pet food for Iams/Eukanuba, to employee profiles for VersaCold to air-conditioner maintenance for Home Depot.

In 2006, her first novel Targets of Affection was published by Cormorant Books, under the name RGWillems. When her editor asked for more, she happily wrote the second and third in the series, certain she was on her way to fame and fortune. Then the economy fell apart, her editor stopped taking her calls and Roxanne realized it wasn't going to be that easy.

After some wallowing and navel-gazing, she found Romance Writers of America, one of the largest professional writers' organizations in the world, and began to seriously study the craft of fiction writing. Roxanne is currently Vice-President of the Greater Vancouver Chapter of the Romance Writers of America. They voted her in, so they can’t complain.

In her spare time, Roxanne is also the human resource manager for a veterinary hospital. She and her family live in the Pacific Northwest, where she’s always at work on the next book.

On a personal note:

Take a look my blog*, in which I open up a tiny window into the uncharted landscape that is My Brain, while dancing between the boundaries of Too Much Information and Oops, Now I Need a Pen Name. Mostly it's just Real Life, family, art, writing, yoga and why some mornings, you just shouldn't talk.

*or don't. Really, it's up to you.

WebsiteTwitterFacebook

Buy Links

Fake Fiance, Real Revenge:  AmazonB&NiBookstore

His Reluctant Rancher: Amazon

Three River Ranch: Amazon

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Guest Blog & Giveaway - Love and Music in Texas Nikki Lynn Barrett

Spotlight - Robin's Nest Tour - Melissa Stevens

Love Me Some Cowboy featuring Lisa Mondello

Love Me Some Cowboy
Lisa Mondello, Jean Brashear, Day LeClaire, Ginger Chambers, Barbara McMahon

Genre: Contemporary Romantic Suspense

ISBN: 978-1-939925-03-9

Book Description:

Who can resist a tough, rugged cowboy?  Not these feisty, determined women! 

Five full-length novels at a steal of a price!

In Nothing But Trouble by USAToday Bestselling Author Lisa Mondello, city girl Melanie Summers must spend an  entire month alone in the Wyoming wilderness with sexy rodeo cowboy, Stoney Buxton, without getting into trouble.  Possible?   Not a chance in the world! 

USAToday Bestselling Author Jean Brashear adds Lone Star flavor with Texas Secrets.  Boone Gallagher returns to the only home he's ever known only to find it's been willed to a sexy stranger who's intent on leaving.  He must keep her there for thirty days or it will be lost to them both. 

Love romantic reunion stories?  Then much-loved Harlequin author Barbara McMahon has the perfect book for you!  Crazy About a Cowboy brings you Sam and Lisa Haller, who divorced for all the wrong reasons.  Now Sam wants his ex-wife back for all the right ones. 

Once Upon a Cowboy by Day Leclaire, author of the wildly popular Dante's Legacy series, introduces Cami, a lovable, greenhorn spitfire determined to become a cowboy, despite the objections of her sexy rancher boss. 

And last, but far from least, beloved Dell and Harlequin author Ginger Chambers offers a heartwarming treat with Love, Texas, in which Cassie Edwards returns to the hometown she'd forsaken to negotiate the sale of land belonging to the Taylor family. Hard-working rancher Will Taylor, once her girlhood crush, is all man now and fighting hard to save his heritage. When attraction flares, will true love triumph?

Excerpt for Nothing But Trouble : Book 1 of Love Me Some Cowboy-

His jaw tightened. Yes, there was something definitely wrong here. And money had nothing to do with it. It had everything to do with this beauty standing in front of him, who was clueless about what she was getting her pretty little hide into. "No," he replied tersely.

"Mr. Buxton, I need your help."

"Tourist season is in full swing. I'm sure you'll have no trouble finding someone else."

He turned his back to her and began walking along the fence toward the barn, almost forgetting... Abruptly, he glanced up and saw the charred remains of the barn. The place where all his troubles had started just one year ago. It hadn't taken but a second for him to hear her boots digging into the dusty gravel behind him, jarring him from his thoughts.

"Then I'll do it myself," she said to his back.

His whole body stiffened. He angled back to read her face, to see if she was just being a spoiled rotten rich kid, trying to get her way, or if she was actually serious. Seeing her head held high and her arms crossed in front of her, he realized she was dead serious.

And dead she'd be if she stepped one boot into those mountains alone.

"You'll do no such thing."

Frustration flaring, he lifted his dusty hat and forced his fingers through the thick crop of black hair before returning the hat to his head.

"You just don't get it, do you? You're not asking me to take you on a theme park ride where you'll get to see the wonders of the world at a nice safe distance. This is God's country. The creatures that live up there don't know civilization, and you are no better than them. You could--probably will--get killed if you go out there alone." His lips twitched, taking a good long appraising look at the woman in front of him. "You might even chip a nail on that pretty hand of yours."

Links to the first chapter for each of the other books in the anthology

http://jeanbrashear.com/texas-tales/texas-secrets/texas-secrets-excerpt/

http://www.barbaramcmahon.com/excerpt-crazy-about-a-cowboy.php

http://www.dayleclaire.com/excerpt-once-upon-a-cowboy

http://gingerchambers.wordpress.com/love-texas/

What Readers Are Saying About These Authors:

"Emotional depth and situations that tore at my heart. This is exactly what I want from a romance." (about Ginger Chambers, Love, Texas)

"I can never get enough of Day Leclaire's novels. It's all about the characters, and these are especially lovable, funny, and heartwarming ... not to mention sexy. I really identified with Cami's act-first, think-later personality. Adorable!" (about Day Leclaire, Once Upon a Cowboy)

"A great story about second chances at love. A hunky cowboy and a feisty cowgirl and a cute little boy to round off this romance." (about Barbara McMahon, Crazy About a Cowboy)

"I really enjoyed this, er, literary foreplay. I knew that when these two finally made love, they wouldn't just be going through the motions—there were going to be some fireworks....Jean Brashear is a terrific discovery for me." (about Jean Brashear, Texas Secrets)

" Loved this book so much I didn't put it down till I was finished. Highly recommended for a very good read. “ (about Lisa Mondello, Nothing But Trouble)

http://www.facebook.com/onfirefiction

@onfirefiction

A new Divine book...oh hot Damn!!!

Robbed of her family’s legacy, Gwen Henderson blindly sets out to win it back. In Divine she finds employment until she rejoins the rodeo circuit for one more winning year. What she doesn't foresee is getting tangled up with two cowboys who have her yearning for life in Divine when her dreams are in Colorado.

Rolling like a tumbleweed through life, Julián Alvarez takes the chance to be with Gwen, knowing she can’t stay permanently and his heart may be in ruins when she leaves.

Resigned to loneliness, Chris Potter believes his faults and lack of finesse may mean he’ll spend life looking out for others but never knowing love—until the day he sets eyes on a feisty cowgirl named Gwen.

Can she trade her dreams of life in Colorado for love in Divine, Texas—and is she even capable of leaving the two cowboys who have stolen her heart?

Erotic Cowboy Ménage a Trois Romance, M/F/M, public exhibition, bondage, spanking, sex toys, HEA]

~MY REVIEW~

Tangled in Divine by Heather Rainier
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh boy!!! Reader beware, this one is a marathon not a sprint!! Many Erotica books are quick little reads, not this one!! It was triple the length of a standard erotic romance and trust me you get the bang for your buck!!

I remember Gwen from past Divine books and loved her! She has such sass and wit!! And I am all about an independent lady who speaks her mind! I loved her attitude and could see her easily falling for her men!!

I am only just getting to reading the Lusty series, so I was not familiar with Julian's back story. It didn't really make much difference because this book brings you up to scratch! I loved how steadfast and sincere he was. And who can resist a man with a plan to steal his ladies heart! He was also wonderful at advising his best friend in how to proceed with the relationship!

Chris is a great big teddy bear and definitely "woobie" material! I am all about a gentle giant who can let loose in the bedroom! I also adored his being retaught how to act with a lady!

The whole dynamic was wonderful to read! I was rooting for them all the way! Speaking of roots, holy bedroom hotness!! Ms Rainier definitely pushed the stereotype big men have very big...um...keep it clean...feet! Yowza!!It makes a girl beg the question how much is too much? Oh so yummy!! There were some touches of BDSM with spankings, ropes and blindfolds, oh my! But not too heavy!

With every new book you get to visit with your favorite folks in Divine! It is like you live there! In my mind I do! The author does a great job of drawing you in and making you salivate for more books in the series! Such a tease giving you hints and tastes of future pairings! Love it!!!

I highly recommend this series, but I advise starting at the beginning! If you start here there is just so much you will be missing!

View all my reviews

Steamy Free Reads 4/29

MAKE SURE YOU GRAB ALL TEN!!!

FMB Author Promotions ~ Review & Giveaway for The Marine Cowboy by Heather Long

Title: The Marine Cowboy

Series: Always a Marine #7

Author: Heather Long

Genre: Erotic Romance, Contemporary Romance, Western Romance, Military Romance

Publisher: Decadent Publishing

Format: Ebook

Length: 44 pages / 14000 words

Buy Links: All Romance eBooks | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookstrand | Decadent Publishing | Diesel | iBooks | Kobo  |

Book Description:

Turning down a billet at Mike’s Place in Dallas, Sergeant A.J. Turner left Iraq for Freewill, Wyoming with one goal in mind—to forget the last five years. Trading his MARPATS for jeans and his cover for a cowboy hat, he plans to work his ranch and pray the green grass, tall trees, and sweet mountains can wash away the taste of the desert.

The last thing he expected was a reminder of a promise made to his buddies: one night to help them all start again.

Sheri Vaughn quit her corporate job, sold her house and moved to Freewill on a whim. Six months after her divorce, she’s hardly ready to put her toe in the dating waters again. One bottle of wine later, however, she signs up for Madame Eve’s exclusive 1Night Stand service and lists a very particular set of qualities she wants in a man; he must be honorable, courageous, forthright, single, have served as Marine, but be a cowboy at heart. If she wants to dream, at least she can dream big.

But when local hero A.J. Turner arrives home, Madame Eve comes through, and Sheri has to find the courage to make her dream a reality…

Can one night, even a night arranged by Madame Eve, fulfill both a promise and a dream?

My Review - 

The Marine Cowboy by Heather Long
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a 1Night Stand story so I already know three things about it, it will be a nice quick read, it will have a interesting story and the characters will be engaging!It is always a pleasure to read one of these stories!

Another sexy marine 1Night Stand story! I really enjoy this series and the thought the author puts into the story. This is a sweet story of two people coming together in a unique way, even though they probably would have gotten around to each other eventually!

Don't get me wrong there is plenty of steam here but a quality story as well. The story works up to the heat but once it starts it is hot and heavy.

Can not wait for more!! So glad to have found this author and plan to check out her other work. I only hope her other works are longer because she has such a wonderful writing style.

View all my reviews

Also be sure to check out the rest of the Always a Marine series!

Once Her Man, Always Her Man

Retreat Hell! She Just Got Here

Tell It To The Marine

Proud To Serve Her

Her Marine

No Regrets, No Surrender

Merry Christmas Marine,
Semper Fi & Good Night

The Marine Cowboy

The Two and The Proud

A Marine and A Gentleman

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot

Combat Barbie

Excerpt:

“What branch did he serve in again?” She glanced at the waitress curiously. Bea was born, married, gave birth to her children and buried her husband in Freewill. The town fixture wasn’t going anywhere. She also took Sheri under her wing from the day she arrived, treating her like an old friend—or a daughter.

“Marines, honey. That young man is definitely one of Freewill’s proudest.” She winked and went back to work.

A Marine. A tremor raced over her belly and her stomach seemed to bottom out.

The message waiting in her email this morning from Madame Eve made so much more sense. Biting her lip, she strained to look down the street. She wished she’d paid closer attention to him when he walked in, but she only got one good look at his face when he turned and caught her staring.

Her cheeks heated at the memory. The man was gorgeous and wore his masculinity like a second skin. He’d caught her attention the moment he entered the café. She hadn’t missed the corded muscle in his arms, tense and well defined even as he drank a cup of coffee.

But his smile.

Her heart squeezed. The polite smile creasing his rugged face turned him from a looker into a full-blown heartthrob. Her body hummed in reaction. To a smile.

Wow. He just got home. Dial down the hormones. 

About the Author:

Heather Long lives in Texas with her family and their menagerie of animals. As a child, Heather skipped picture books and enjoyed the Harlequin romance novels by Penny Jordan and Nora Roberts that her grandmother read to her. Heather believes that laughter is as important to life as breathing and that the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy and Santa Claus are very real. In the meanwhile, she is hard at work on her next novel.

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For more information about Decadent Publishing authors, books, and their submissions guidelines, visit www.decadentpublishing.com.

Decadent Publishing is current accepting submissions in all sub-genres of romance, including their ongoing series'.

Tour Schedule:

April 9th- Literal Hotties Naughty Book Reviews (Review/Giveaway)

April 9th- Queen of the Night Reviews (Review/Giveaway)

April 10th- My Reading Obsession (Review/Giveaway)

April 10th- The Many Muses of MaryLynn (Review/Giveaway)
April 11th- Books Amour (Author Interview/Giveaway)

April 12th- Stitch Read Cook (Review/Giveaway)

April 16th- Harlie's Books (Review/Giveaway)

April 16th- Sapphyria's Steamy Book Reviews (Review/Giveaway)

April 16th- Words of Wisdom from The Scarf Princess (Review/Giveaway)

April 16th- Beach Bum Reads (Review/Giveaway)

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