RELEASE BLITZ - REVIEW: THE COWBOY MEETS HIS MATCH by SARAH MAYBERRY

The Cowboy Meets His Match
The 79th Cooper Mountain Rodeo #1

By Sarah Mayberry
Releasing August 21, 2018
Tule Publishing

Contemporary Romance

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Blurb

He plays by the rules, she’s not afraid to break them. Now these two strong-willed army captains will prove that opposites attract . . .

All Cassidy Jane Cooper wants is to fulfill her dream to compete in pro rodeo. CJ knows she’s going to have to work harder and smarter than everyone else to prove herself in the traditionally all-male saddle bronc competition. That means she shouldn’t look twice at handsome, charming cowboy, Jesse Carmody. She needs to focus on the competition, not one of her competitors. If only he wasn’t so damn hot…

Jesse Carmody thinks he’s seen it all–until CJ’s arrival throws him for a loop. She’s tough, sexy, and challenging. Jesse quickly realizes he wants to know a whole lot more about this intriguing woman. When CJ faces ugly opposition from others on the circuit, Jesse is there to offer a friendly hand–and more, if she wants it.

Between her trials in the arena and fighting to get the other riders to respect her, CJ knows getting involved with Jesse is the last thing she should do. But she can’t seem to keep away. Which leaves her with a choice–the man of her heart, or the career of her dreams? Or can she have them both?

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In The Cowboy Meets his Match (79th Cooper Mountain Rodeo #1) by Sarah Mayberry, Cassidy Jane 'CJ' Cooper has made it to the big league, but the men she'll be competing against in saddle bronc aren't happy she'll be up against them. Too bad she isn't going to let any of their non-sense get to her. Luckily, she has Jesse Carmody on her side and determined to show her that not all cowboys on the tour think her competing is a bad idea. Will CJ give Jesse a chance or is happy ever after not in the cards for the pair?

This story was a marvellous start for this series due to the wonderful main characters and the obstacles they face to be together; and the compelling dialogue that drew me in from the very beginning, as CJ is definitely going to have a fight on her hands when it comes to the misogynistic men on the tour. However, it was from the moment the hero and heroine come face-to-face for the first time where this story really takes off, as Jesse is a good guy in believing that CJ deserves the opportunity to prove herself. Will his standing up for her be good for him or bad?

As for the dialogue, it was entertaining due to the main characters back stories and everything these two go through on their journey to happy ever after, as the heroine is a fighter and determined to prove herself. No way will she run scared and quit just because some of the men are afraid she's better than them. Really, she's resilient, courageous and I liked how she handles everything the jerks who want her gone do. Will she prove she has what it takes to be on the tour? While the hero, he's a good guy and I loved the way he supported the heroine because she needs all the support she can get since her dad doesn't exactly approve of her doing what she does. I also liked how the heroine helps him to finally heal from his past since he shouldn't have so much weight on his shoulders. Really, what happened in the past wasn't his fault. 

Overall, Ms. Mayberry has delivered a really good read in this book where the chemistry between this couple was strong; the romance was delightful and had me loving these two together; and the ending had me loving that the heroine never gave up on the hero, even when he gave her reason to by what he does. I would recommend The Cowboy Meets his Match by Sarah Mayberry, if you enjoy the mysterious strangers trope, the friends to lovers trope or books by authors Heidi Rice, Jeannie Watt, Joan Kilby and Sinclair Jayne.

Excerpt

And then the world went dark.

For a moment there was nothing but silence as they both absorbed the shock.

“Must be the fuse,” CJ said, and he almost smiled at the matter-of-fact acceptance in her tone.

Did anything faze this woman?

“Yeah, Casey mentioned they’d been having problems with the electrics. Should be some fuses in one of the top cupboards,” he said.

He took a step forward—and found himself hard up against a warm, firm body as CJ evidently did the same thing. His hands came up instinctively to steady her, one landing on the flare of her hip, the other on her waist.

They both went very still. Beneath his hands, she felt warm and strong. He breathed in the smell of fresh soap and clean hair and felt himself harden into full, painful arousal. The need to kiss her, touch her, taste her was almost undeniable—but if anything was going to happen between them, it had to be CJ’s call. She was his guest, she’d had a shitty day, and she had good reasons for keeping her distance. He wasn’t going to add himself to her list of problems.

Not unless she wanted him to.

The moment seemed to stretch and stretch. He felt her inhale, felt the muscles of her torso move subtly beneath his hands. He was so hard it physically hurt, but there was a weird kind of pleasure in the pain and it hit him that he hadn’t wanted anyone this badly for years. The realization made his hands curl into her flesh, but somehow he managed to limit himself to the small gesture and cling to his self-control.

A shudder rippled through her, as though she’d just won or lost a fiercely fought battle within herself.

“Fuck it,” she said, and then she kissed him.

Praise for Sarah Mayberry

"It must be said that Sarah Mayberry is one of Australia's most talented writers." - AusRom Today

"... confident and clever, funny and touching, and wonderfully done." - USA Today 

"Sarah Mayberry plays readers' emotions like a maestro conductor, showcasing her character's strength, determination and grit..." - Heroes and Heartbreakers

Author Bio

Sarah Mayberry is the award-winning, best selling author of more than 30 novels. She was born in Melbourne, Australia, and is the middle of three children. Sarah picked up a love of romance novels from both her grandmothers and has always wanted to be a writer. In line with this ambition, she completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in Professional Writing and Literature. It took her ten years and multiple attempts before her first book was accepted. During that time, Sarah worked in magazine publishing and the television industry, contributing to the internationally known Australian serial drama “Neighbours” and co-creating teen drama series “Karaoke High”. Sarah currently splits her time between writing for television and writing novels. She lives in Melbourne by the bay with her husband and a small, furry Cavoodle called Max. When she isn’t writing, she loves reading, cooking, going to the movies and buying shoes.

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SPOTLIGHT & GIVEAWAY: LET ME by CECY ROBSON

Enter to Win a Cecy Robson Prize Pack, including: Two T-shirts and swag from Cecy’s SHATTERED PAST series (Once Pure and Once Kissed RITA® 2016 Finalists), magnets and pins from both her SHATTERED PAST and award-wining WEIRD GIRLS series, WEIRD GIRLS water bottle, and signed paperback of A CURSED EMBRACE

 

 

Let Me
The O’Brien Family Book Two

By: Cecy Robson

Releasing April 19, 2016
Self-Published

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Review Posted at Harlequin Junkie

 

In Let Me (O’Brien Family #2) by Cecy Robson, a traumatic experience as a kid torments Finn O’Brien. So, as an MMA fighter, he contests the sport for one reason and one reason only — to help keep the demons of his past at bay. But when he snaps and hurts someone for taunting him, Finn is forced into speaking with a psychologist. However, the therapist isn’t the one that can help. Instead, spending time with Sol Marieles is what works to keep him from losing control again.  Read More



BLURB:

Once he was broken beyond repair. Now this MMA contender is fighting to be a better man—for her. RT Book Reviews proclaims that the O’Brien Family series from award-winning author Cecy Robson “has the hottest brothers ever!” And in Let Me, it is Finn’s turn to discover how love can heal the deepest wounds.
 

A mixed martial arts star on the rise, Finn O’Brien dismantles his opponents with brutal precision. And yet beneath his fierce persona, Finn is raw from a trauma he’s buried for years . . . until the day his deep-rooted rage erupts and lands him in court-mandated therapy. Finn’s not one to bare his soul, but if talking it out means meeting beautiful women like Sol Marieles, he’ll give it a shot.
 

 Sol is working toward her master’s degree in psychology, and already she feels like she’s in over her head. With an important internship on the line and a scary family situation demanding her attention, the last thing Sol needs is Finn around to distract her. The man is ripped and seriously sexy yet it’s his troubled side that warns her to keep her distance. But their attraction is intense, and he clearly has the heat to see how far and fast their passion takes them.
 

 Alone, Finn and Sol have been fighting to find happiness in their lives. Together, there’s no stopping them as they face their greatest challenges—not in the ring, but in their hearts.

 

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            The heavy door to the lobby opens with a loud smack, drawing attention to those waiting to be seen. The counseling center is private and held in high regard. The majority of our clients come from money, but a few of our therapists work pro bono, counseling those from working class backgrounds similar to mine. Some are like Loretta, suffering from eating disorders and mild anxiety issues. But the majority are severely damaged individuals with suicidal tendencies. I catch sight of one of our more heartbreaking cases sitting in the corner beside his father. Poor kid, he can’t be more than fifteen. And there he waits with his wrists bandaged down to his elbows.

I want to walk over and give him and his dad a hug. Both look like they could use one. Those people on the street who offer free hugs to strangers? I’m one of them. I always have been.

Today though, I refrain, staying focused on Loretta. “Good job,” I tell her, knowing how hard she’s trying. “I’ll see you next week.”

“Sol?”

I turn my head. I know that voice. Loretta doesn’t bother with a goodbye, leaving me instead with a “Mm, yummy” when she sees who called to me.

“Yummy”. Yes, that about sums up Finn.

Finn O’Brien, damn. You know those cute guys . . . those really hot kind of cute guys? Finn blows them away. I’m not typically attracted to redheads, but I make the exception for Finn. Oh, and Jamie from Outlander.

Finn has the whole bad boy thing going on, tats crawling along his muscular arms, hair buzzed on the sides and short on top. A modern Mohawk, it think that’s what it’s called. Oh, and don’t get me started on that dimple on his right cheek that appears when he grins, just like he’s doing now.

“Hi, Finn,” I say. His brother is with him, the one that looks the most like him. He’s older by a few years, handsome, polished, perfect. Well, if you like that sort of thing. Me? Did I mention how sexy Finn is?

His light blue eyes sparkle as I pass Zorina, the poor girl trapped in her own world following a brutal assault on the train. She pretends to play instruments that aren’t there, reality slipping so far from her grasp, it’s almost out of her reach.

I tilt my head in the direction of Finn’s brother because by now it’s obvious I’m gawking at Finn. “You’re Seamus, right?” I ask.

“No, I’m Declan,” he answers in a deep voice.

Oh, right. The district attorney. “Sorry. I know that Finn has a few brothers,” I offer. I should be impressed seeing how Declan has made quite a name for himself in the political arena, and I am. But Finn is who lures my attention and keeps it, despite my best efforts to appear more relaxed. “What are you doing here?” I ask.

He shrugs. “Waiting for you.”

Declan sighs, moving away from us and reaching for his phone. I grin even though I’m sure Finn is feeding me a line. The last time I saw him was at my cousin Sofia’s wedding. I’d brought my friend Alex as my date and Finn, well, he showed up with some girl with big breasts and very little clothes. And funny enough, I still had a hard time keeping my eyes off him.

“Really?” I ask.

“Yeah. Really,” he answers, leaning back on his heels and making a show of checking me out. “Don’t forget, you still owe me a kiss.”

 

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Cecy Robson is a new adult and contemporary author of the Shattered Past series, the O’Brien Family novels and upcoming Carolina Beach novels, as well as the award-winning author of the Weird Girls urban fantasy romance series. A 2016 double nominated RITA^®finalist for Once Pure and Once Kissed, Cecy is a recovering Jersey girl living in the South who enjoys carbs way too much, and exercise way too little. Gifted and cursed with an overactive imagination, you can typically find her on her laptop silencing the yappy characters in her head by telling their stories.

Author Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: SNOWFLAKE BAY by DONNA KAUFFMAN

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Snowflake Bay
The Brides of Blueberry Cove #2

By: Donna Kauffman

Releasing September 29, 2015
Zebra

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As her brother's best friend, Ben Campbell was once a huge part of Fiona McCrae's life. But when she moved to New York to pursue her career, they rarely saw each other. Now though, she's moved back for good and it's hard to ignore the handsome man he's become, or forget the silly crush she had on him for years. A crush that still seems as strong as it was when she was younger. Yet, she knows there's no hope for a relationship with him, especially when he saw her as nothing more than her brother's annoying little sister. So, why would he feel any different now that they're older?

I always enjoy books that encompass the brothers best friend trope, and Ms. Kauffman has penned a really good story. That was fast-paced from the beginning, as Fiona thinks up rules in case she ever decides to write a bridesmaid guide book.

 

The dialogue was compelling, and I loved the playful banter between Ben and Fiona, which is there from the start. Yet, becomes even more so, once they overcome one of the obstacles in their growing relationship. Where Fiona admits how much she despised the nickname he used to call her when they were younger, and still has a habit of using in the present. 

I really liked both the main characters. Yet, I found Logan -- Fiona’s brother -- annoying at times. I felt he needed to stop interfering. Fiona and Ben were adults, and could fixed things between them on their own when they were good and ready. Fiona is strong and brave when she confronts Ben over the nickname he gave her and the fact that it hurt her feelings. It helps them both immensely, and gives them a chance to leave the past in the past, if Fiona can find it in her heart to give Ben the opportunity to prove that he’s not interested in her out of pity, but because he is genuinely attracted to her. She’s also very determined to make her sister’s wedding the best she can, which helps take her mind off a family member that suffers a serious medical matter that has all her and her siblings really worried. No way is she going to have them cancel the wedding when it may just help said family member to a speedy recovery since he’s a big part of the ceremony for the bride.

 

While Ben, he’s hard-working and determined to make things right with Fiona. Especially by helping her get through the difficult time she goes through with her family, and the moment I liked best was when they were talking on the phone to each other while she was trying on wedding dresses. That was a really funny scene in this book, and it showed just how far they’d come in their growing relationship. Ben is also very benevolent by taking over for his father at the family business, now that his father is unable to run it anymore with his own health issues.  

Overall, Ms. Kauffman has penned a wonderful Christmas romance in this second book of her Brides of Blueberry Cove series where hot sex scenes steam up the pages, and do justice to their intense chemistry, which is there from the very beginning. As for the ending, I really enjoyed it. The way Fiona handles Ben’s ex was perfect, and had me smiling, because it made Ben realize how much the heroine had come to mean to him. I would recommend this story, if you love the brother’s best friend trope.

Overall Rating:

 

BLURB:

There’s no place like seaside Blueberry Cove, Maine, at Christmas—and there’s nothing like a wedding, the warmth of the holidays, and an old crush, to create the perfect new start…

Interior designer Fiona McCrae has left fast-paced Manhattan to move back home to peaceful Blueberry Cove. But she’s barely arrived before she’s hooked into planning her big sister Hannah’s Christmas wedding—in less than seven weeks. The last thing she needs is for her first love, Ben Campbell, to return to neighboring Snowflake Bay…

As kids, Fiona was the bratty little sister Ben mercilessly teased—while pining after Hannah. But Fi never once thought of Ben like a brother. And that hasn’t changed. Except Fi is all grown up. Will Ben notice her now? More importantly, with her life in a jumble, should he? Or might the romance of the occasion, the spirit of the season, and the gifts of time ignite a long-held flame for many Christmases to come…

Something old might just become something new…

 

 

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Big hands gripped her shoulders again and turned her back around. Then she felt rough, thick fingers gently tug at the scarf until her face was completely uncovered, or at least most of it was. Curls still clung to her eyelashes and errant wool fibers remained plastered to her Chapsticked lips.

She finally looked up at him. What the hell. She couldn’t possibly be more mortified around him now than she had been during pretty much every waking, breathing moment of her adolescence, could she?

Any latent, exceedingly selfish hopes she might have harbored that time and age had been unkind to him were extinguished with that one simple glance. He was … beautiful. He’d always been beautiful. Thick, chestnut-brown hair that was forever in need of a trim topped a pair of always twinkling eyes the color of Maine evergreens, and a ready grin set between a strong jaw and sharp cheekbones. Only now, age and time had somehow transformed him into a man who was more rugged, more handsome, more genuinely, heart-grippingly sexy. The kind of sexy a thirteen-year-old couldn’t even begin to appreciate, but the thirty-two-year-old woman standing before him could all too well.

His body was as ruggedly appealing as his face, with broad shoulders to match those wide palms, and the kind of muscles roping his arms and biceps that even the green plaid wool jacket he had on over a faded red hoodie did little to hide and everything to enhance. She didn’t dare look lower. Didn’t have to. He’d always been athletic and agile despite his size. Looking at those long legs and perfectly muscled thighs wasn’t necessary. She imagined them anyway, remembering far too many summers spent watching him and Logan from her bedroom window as they played pick-up basketball at the hoop mounted to the front of the carriage house, in nothing more than gym shorts and gleaming, honey-gold skin.

It seemed so unfair, she thought, even as she drank in the sight of him like a woman who’d been in the desert since, well, since the summer of her eighth grade graduation. Which was when he’d left town, and her unrequited love, in the unnoticed and seriously pathetic dust.

“Hello, Ben,” she said, seeing the wisps of wool still clinging to her lips dance briefly in the warm, dry air. She wanted to close her eyes. Hell, she wanted to dig a hole to China. Instead, she forced herself to maintain eye contact. Adult. Mature. Not thirteen. Not stupidly pining for a guy who never once thought of you as anything but his best friend’s annoying, bratty kid sister.

At the moment, however, he looked sincerely happy to see her. That shouldn’t have made her knees knock. Or her thighs clench.

“I didn’t know you were back in town,” he said.

“That makes two of us,” she said, thinking that her heart had to be pounding against her chest so hard, if she looked down, she’d surely see a cartoon version of it pumping out through her coat. Her fireplug red, down-filled coat.

Yeah.

Her karma clearly didn’t include things like having the sexier-than-ever Ben Campbell reenter her life when she had on cute yoga pants and was in some innocent but super suggestive pose that had him immediately wondering why in the hell he’d never noticed her before.

“You, uh …” He made a brief motion toward her mouth, and then that gleaming white grin flashed. “Either you’ve been slimed by your scarf, or you have a very unfortunate fungal issue. Either way—” He reached past her to nimbly snag a napkin from the holder she’d half buried under her satchel. “Here,” he said, offering it to her.

Aaaaand humiliation complete. Forever thirteen. Ah well, what the hell. Might as well own it. She tugged off her gloves with her probably wool-coated teeth, then took the proffered napkin. “Thanks,” she said, and turned to put her gloves on the marble countertop and do the best she could without benefit of a mirror to de-fungi herself. Turning back around, she crumpled the napkin in her hand and gave him a wry smile. “Better?”

“Mostly,” he said.

She went stock-still again when, teasing grin still firmly in place, he stepped closer, bowed his head, and gazed ever-so-intently at her mouth. She had no idea how her legs held her upright as every one of her adolescent fantasies came screaming back to mind, but in a far—far—more adult fashion. Surely, he couldn’t mean to—

He brought his hand up—not to cup her cheek so he could lower his lips to hers—but to pluck away the few remaining fibers that still clung to her lips.

What did it say that the tips of his fingers brushing her lips elicited a far greater response from her body than the last man she’d actually gotten naked with? Nothing positive, she was sure. About her, or about poor, couldn’t-find-an-erogenous-zone-if-it-was- staring-him-in-the-face Charlie. Which, sadly for them both, one rather universally well-known zone had been.

“Now you’re good,” he said, smiling again as he stepped back.

No, not really, she thought. But you sure are. She swallowed against a throat that was suddenly a dry wasteland, while other parts of her were … decidedly not. Oh, so, very, very good.

 

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

USA Today bestselling author of the Cupcake Club Romance series, Donna Kauffman has seen her books reviewed in venues ranging from Kirkus Reviews and Library Journal to Entertainment Weekly and Cosmopolitan. She lives just outside of DC in the lovely Virginia countryside, where she is presently trying to makeover her newly empty nest into something that doesn’t have to accommodate piles of sports equipment falling out of her coat closet (okay, out of every closet...and under every bed....), size 13 cleats and sweaty uniforms cluttering her foyer (and stairwell, and laundry room, and...), and a kitchen that should have come with a traffic light. And a pantry monitor. (Anyone with a clever idea on how to repurpose lacrosse sticks into matching reading lamps, she’s all ears!) When she’s not stripping paint, varnishing an old auction house find, or trying to avoid bodily injury with her latest power tool purchase, she loves to hear from readers!

 

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