SPOTLIGHT & GIVEAWAY: HIS KIND OF COWGIRL by KAREN ROCK

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His Kind of Cowgirl

By: Karen Rock

Releasing March 1, 2016
Harlequin: Heartwarming

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BLURB:

Would he still love her…if he knew? 

Tanner Hayes smashed Claire's life to pieces when he chose the rodeo over her ten years ago. And now he'd wrecked her truck! Fantastic. She'd lost her husband, the family ranch was mired in debt, her father was recuperating from a stroke and her son was being bullied. Why not throw a reckless bull rider into the mix?
 

All she'd wanted was a safe, stable life. But with Tanner back in town—and staying on her ranch—nothing was safe, or under control. Not the feelings she'd fought so hard to forget. Not the son she was determined to protect. And certainly not her long-held secret…

 

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Everything happened at once and in slow motion.

A crushing jolt shuddered through the truck. Her wheels skidded sideways. She smacked against the window when her pickup rolled down an embankment, as if punched by something large and lethal. Glass rained deadly sharp. The earth tumbled around her, her truck in spin cycle. When a massive tree loomed, the Chevy slammed into it then stilled.

Winded and stunned, she hung upside-down in her lap belt, blood, metallic and warm, on her tongue, a rushing sound whistling in her ears. Her heartbeat changed and grew slow and rolling in darkness. Something hurt, a long way away. Then nothing.

“Ma’am. Ma’am. Are you all right?” A man’s voice shouted, rousing her. She tried turning her head but pain held it in place. When she opened her mouth, silent panic flew out.

“Hold on. I’m getting you out of there.”

Acrid smoke pierced her consciousness. She closed her eyes against the billowing grit.

This wasn’t happening. It was a dream. No. A nightmare.

A tugging motion jerked her right and left, followed by a ripping sound. Large hands halted her sudden fall.

“Got you.”

Her rescuer cradled her against his chest, his breaths heaving beneath her ear. After carrying her some distance, he lowered her slowly to the ground. Grass scraped against her stinging cheeks and she opened her eyes.

“What?” she croaked, then swiped at the trickle leaking from her mouth. A man wearing a cowboy hat hunched over her, his features blurred.

“You’ve been in an accident. We have. Our trucks collided in the intersection.”

“My truck!” She bolted upright and clutched the swirling ground.

An arm snaked around her back and eased her down. “I called the dispatcher. The fire department’s on the way.”

A wail sounded in the distance and Claire wanted to shriek with it.

Her special day. Her anniversary. Ruined. No. Demolished by this…this…

She squinted upward and focused. A dark swirl of hair brushed across the tall man’s forehead; a light scar zigzagged down his square jaw. Recognition zapped through her.

It couldn’t be…

“Tanner?”

“Hello, Claire.” His mouth went up, just a fraction—the same ready-for-anything smile that had once undone her.

She closed her eyes, heart thudding. Ten years since she’d vowed never to see him again…and now here he stood, two for two in wrecking her life.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

  Karen Rock is an award-winning YA and adult contemporary romance author. She holds a master's degree in English and was an ELA instructor before becoming a full-time writer. Currently she writes for Harlequin Blaze and Harlequin Heartwarming. Her novel, A LEAGUE OF HER OWN, won the 2015 National Excellence in Romance Fiction award in contemporary romance series and the 2015 Bookseller's Best award for contemporary romance, long.

Author Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads

 

Thanks so much for hosting me and His Kind of Cowgirl on Book Magic! Creating compelling characters is my first priority when I begin planning a novel. They breathe life into the story and are the reason readers want to keep turning pages. My rodeo champion hero had ADHD as a child and struggled in school. This back story is similar to many people I know who have a learning disability that makes it hard to do well in a classroom, but who can excel in another environment, as Tanner does with Rodeo. On a personal note, I was nearly flunked a grade for my ADHD and couldn’t focus long enough to learn to read until fourth grade! Lack of attention is something I’ve learned to compensate for, and I drew inspiration from that when I created Tanner’s character.

 

Claire, my single-mother hero, struggles with raising her son on her own. She thinks about how her late husband was the enforcer and how she had always caved when it came to discipline. Now she has to do it all on her own, which is a struggle that women face today. My sister was a single mother before she met her husband, and many of the challenges my sister worked through wound up in the book (shhhh- don’t tell her that!)She definitely was the inspiration for Claire and I hope, someday, that she finds the same HEA J

 

I’m so glad I got to meet everyone! If you’d like to learn more about me and my upcoming books, please stop by my website at http://www.karenrock.com.

 

 

 

 

 

REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: STONE COLD COWBOY by JENNIFER RYAN

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Stone Cold Cowboy
Montana Men #4

By: Jennifer Ryan

Releasing February 23, 2016
Avon

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In Stone Cold Cowboy (Montana Men #4) by Jennifer Ryan, when Sadie set out to save her brother from making another horrible decision in his life, she never expected him to allow a madman to terrorize her and then leave her for dead, but it's exactly what happened. Worse yet, she's not certain she'd do anything differently, if she somehow managed to survive. He and her father are the only family she has left, and with her dad taking a turn for the worse with his illness, she's determined to save her brother. Yet, when she can't save herself, how is she supposed to save her brother, especially when he's gotten involved with a nasty group of men that will kill her without hesitation, if she interferes in their business. 

Chasing after the men that have stolen a lot of cattle from his family's ranch, Rory McKendrick never expected to find the woman he's been obsessing over from afar, tied to a tree, stripped down to her underwear and left for dead. Choosing to save her life over getting back the cattle is easy, but there's more to it than that, especially when she insists that she'll pay him back every last dime for the cattle her brother has stolen. Rory doesn't need her money, but he's determined to let her do whatever it takes. If only to keep an eye on her as well as keep her safe, especially when she makes the hardest decision of her life, which will more than likely put her life in even more danger than it already is.

What a powerful, emotional and captivating read Ms. Ryan has penned that no doubt is one of the best stories I've read this year, and that's saying something because I've read almost fifty books already. I loved the way it started, even if I cried for what Sadie had to go through, but just knowing someone would come to her rescue made the tearful journey worth it.

Everything about this book drew me in, and kept me quickly flipping the pages. The character's back stories, their emotions and reactions, the perfect blend of teasing and intense dialogue, it made me more and more determined to learn what Sadie and Rory had to go through to finally achieve their happy ever after. Because if any hero and heroine deserved one, it was definitely this couple.

As for the dialogue, I loved the interactions between Rory and Sadie. He has every reason to want to protect her after being the one to find her. That in itself couldn't have been easy, especially since he'd like to get to know her better. Then there's the choices Sadie has to make that aren't easy for her. She's been protecting her brother for so long, and it seems she doesn't know how to stop, because she's afraid of losing him.

I really liked both Sadie and Rory, as well as the secondary characters, especially Rory's family. They're very close, and will do anything to help each other. Knowing how much Rory likes Sadie, it brings them together even more. Besides, with Sadie in Rory's life, it seems likely that he'll be the first to deliver on what their grandfather wants for them -- love, marriage and a family of his own.

Sadie is strong and brave. She's had to deal with so much over the years, always bailing her brother out of trouble whenever he's managed to get himself in it. Dealing with her brother, and the fact that she's going to lose her father in the near future to his illness starts to take its toll on her. And as the story progressed, it made me feel more and more sorry for her to be in the situation she's found herself in. Why should she keep helping her brother when she knows he'll never do what she suggests? Is she naïve in believing that he may change because she wants him to? Possibly, but at the same time, I could understand why she wanted to save him because he's her family. 

While with Rory, there was so much to like about him. At first, he seems very intimidating, but the more I read, the more I discovered him to be the complete opposite. He's kind, considerate, tenacious in wanting to keep Sadie safe, even if it means he has to betray her trust to get her brother. He's also very hard-working and the glue that keeps his family together. As the oldest, he's put his life on hold to care for his brothers, but not anymore. Not now that he has a shot at happiness with Sadie, and that's what I liked most about him. That he was willing to take a chance, despite the fact that -- at times -- he almost ruined things between them with worrying about their future. 

Hot sex scenes illustrated the strong chemistry that was there from the moment Rory rescued her. Neither are certain that they're ready for a relationship when there's so much uncertainty surrounding them at first, especially with the danger to Sadie's life. Still, there's no denying their growing feelings, especially when the unexpected happens, and Sadie needs to put herself first for a change. No longer can she afford to help her brother when he doesn't want to help himself.

Overall, Ms. Ryan has impressed me with this fourth book in her Montana Men series where I laughed and cried, but most of all was pleased by how the story ended with the epilogue. Indeed, it had me cheering for this couple when their big secret was revealed to those they're close with. I would recommend Stone Cold Cowboy by Jennifer Ryan, if you enjoy romantic suspense, or a story where the main characters go through a lot and definitely deserve their happy ever after.   

OVERALL RATING:

  

BLURB:

The last thing rancher Rory Kendrick expects to find when he’s searching for his missing cattle is a genuine damsel in distress. After rushing to help, he can’t help wanting to do anything he can for this lovely but damaged woman. But even his kind deed won’t get Sadie to tell him who’s responsible for hurting her.

 

Sadie is trying to hold onto her family, and her life. With an ill father who’s refusing treatment and a younger brother who has fallen in with a dangerous crowd, she’s beginning to feel like she can’t save anyone, least of all herself. When her brother owes money to the wrong people, Sadie tries to pay off his debts, but she doesn’t have the cash. The one person who might be able to help her out is the last person she wants to involve in her family drama, but Rory won’t take no for an answer.

Rory is all about family, but sometimes you’ve got to let go. If you can’t save them, save yourself. Sadie’s been dealt a bad hand she refuses to fold. Because he loves her, he’ll do anything to keep her safe and give her the happy life she deserves, even betray her trust to take down her brother.

 

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         “I really want to kiss you right now.”

Her gaze dipped to his mouth. If he wanted to kiss her, she needed to kiss him. She slid her hand up his shoulder to the back of his neck and pulled him in. She stared into his eyes and saw a hunger there that matched her own. She’d never felt this overwhelming urge to be close to someone, let alone a man, but something about Rory drew her in and made her want to stay.

“Did you change your mind, or are you just trying to kill me?”

His deep voice resonated through her. She pressed her lips to his, thinking it just a test. A way to see if they fit, connected on a deeper level than the pull she already felt toward him.

The second her lips touched his, fire lit through her system. She pulled back surprised that such a simple thing could spark such deep and overwhelming need. The same fire she felt flashed in his golden-green eyes.

“Once wasn’t enough.” This time, Rory pulled her back and kissed her, wrapping her in his strong arms.

 

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jennifer Ryan is the New York Times & USA Today bestselling author of The Hunted Series and The McBrides Series. She writes romantic suspense and contemporary small-town romances featuring strong men and equally resilient women. Her stories are filled with love, family, friendship, and the happily-ever-after we all hope to find.

Jennifer lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and three children. When she isn’t writing a book, she’s reading one. Her obsession with both is often revealed in the state of her home and in how late dinner is to the table. When she finally leaves those fictional worlds, you’ll find her in the garden, playing in the dirt and daydreaming about people who live only in her head, until she puts them on paper.

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REVIEW: COMPROMISED by EMMY CURTIS

Compromised
Alpha Ops #5

By: Emmy Curtis

Releasing March 1, 2016
Forever Yours

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In Compromised (Alpha Ops #5) by Emmy Curtis, it's been a year since Simon Tennant has seen his ex-fiancé, Sadie Walker. When he spies her kissing another man while on a mission to protect the Russian Finance Minister, he turns into an ugly green-eyed monster of jealousy. Knowing he shouldn't reveal his presence to her, he does anyway and is surprised by what he discovers. She's different than he remembers, and he's determined to find out why, especially when he begins to suspect the worst of her.     

Sadie Walker believes that the man she's tricked into dating her is part of an anarchist group planning to do something bad. The only way to figure out their plans is to make the group believe she's willing to betray the company she supposedly works for to gain their trust. But the deeper she digs, the more dangerous things become, especially when she learns of their plans. Yet, that's not her only problem. It seems her ex is determined to drive her crazy in more ways than one, and is willing to do anything to discover the secret he believes she's hiding.

Having not read the previous books of this series, I was pleased to discover that this story could be read as a stand-alone, and the way it began with the prologue definitely sets the fast-pace of the story. Immediately drawing me into the story with a well-descripted introduction into this couple's relationship and why it fell apart, even though they loved each other so much. Moreover, their relationship alone had me wanting to keep reading and see how things would work out. Could Simon manage to convince Sadie to give him a second chance?Would they be able to trust each other again with all the secrets they're keeping? Can they solve the mystery of their assigned cases before it's too late?  

As for the dialogue, it was intense due to the couple's history and the operations they've both been tasked with as part of their jobs. When they come face-to-face again for the first time since their break-up, there's a lot of hostility from the heroine's side, which made me really intrigued to discover the reason why. As Simon seemed to be the most genuine man when it came to his feelings for her, and yet, she suspects differently; believing that he may, of been using her.

I really liked both characters, although both had moments where they annoyed me. Sadie is strong, brave and tenacious. After witnessing the dangers of Simon's job, she's determined to make a difference in the world, which is why she joined the CIA. And with the assignment she's been tasked to handle, she's willing to do just about anything to complete it. Even if, it means swindling her way into her target's life by becoming his girlfriend. However, with Simon constantly around, it's hard to keep her cover. Because the more he suspects her of doing something wrong that could get her arrested, the harder it becomes to deny his persistence that she tell him what she's up to. Yet, what I liked most, is how she could handle herself. She really proves that she has what it takes to be a good operative.

While Simon, he's confident, tenacious and very protective of Sadie, even though she's a distraction he doesn't need, especially when she's constantly splitting his focus from his assignment. Moreover, his tenaciousness was what I liked most about him because he and Sadie deserved a second chance at happiness, and the only way that was going to happen was for him to win back her trust. However, that wasn't easy because she'd made some wrong assumptions about him revolving around the moment they first met. Then there's Simon's determination to figure out what's really going on with the man he's been assigned to protect and why he needs protecting?

Several hot scenes spiced up the story, and did justice to their intense chemistry, which was there from the beginning, and just kept getting stronger as the story progressed. Sadie isn't sure whether she can give Simon a second chance, but finds it hard to resist him because she's still in love with him just as much as he's still in love with her.

Overall, this was a really good book that has me looking forward to more books in this series. Especially if the secondary character, Garrett, is a hero in an upcoming book, because I really liked him. The epilogue wrapped this story up nicely, as Simon finally proves to Sadie that she' more important than his job. I would recommend Compromised by Emmy Curtis, if you've read the other books in this series, or enjoy strong heroines willing to prove their worth when it comes to a dangerous job. 

OVERALL RATING:

    

BLURB:

It was supposed to be the happiest day of her life. But when her wedding erupts in gunfire, Sadie Walker realizes this is not the life she wants-her fiancé's work with Delta Force will always cast a shadow over their relationship. After leaving the hard-muscled hero at the altar, she thinks she'll never see him again . . . until a chance encounter reveals that he still has a strong grip on her heart.

On a covert assignment overseas, Simon Tennant is shocked when he spots Sadie with another man. Jealousy flares, as does an irresistible urge to keep her protected. Amid a dangerous game of international espionage, he'll have to convince Sadie just how perfect they've always been together. This time, nothing will take precedence over winning her back, no matter the cost to his cover-or his life . . .

 

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“We might not be friends, Sadie. But we are something.”
 

She moved her head so that Simon let go of her chin. “You used to tell me that I was your everything. Your port in a storm. Your sanctuary when you came back from a mission. Did you ever wonder what you were to me? You were the man who always disappeared. The man who was there, but only until your phone rang. I loved you, but you were a ghost to me. Is that the ‘something’ you mean?”

“Sadie.” He looked devastated, and she cursed herself for saying those things. As true as they were, she hadn’t wanted to explore their relationship right then. Nor ever if truth be told.

“But that’s all just history, isn’t it?” she said, trying to sound flip.

He leaned in. She knew he meant to kiss her, and she wanted to move, wanted to slap his face and run. That’s what she should have done.

Instead she allowed her mouth to open slightly as her eyes fluttered closed. Just one kiss. A safe, goodbye kiss…and then all rational thought escaped her.

His tongue touched hers and her senses and nerve endings came alive. He felt like home. A dark, impenetrable, warm and sexy home. Her heartbeat raced and butterflies heralded the coming of spring in her stomach. He still wanted her. She still wanted him. She didn’t care about anything else.

She held his face as she stood and climbed astride his thighs, still kissing him. His hands went to her breasts, running the backs of his hands over the swell above her neckline. And then he found the zipper of the dress, and pulled it down to her waist.

He yanked her toward him and put his mouth around her nipples, through her bra. As he sucked and bit she arched her back, aching for him to make her feel more. And more.

She grabbed his short hair and rammed her mouth against his. She wanted to hurt him, to be hurt by him, to bruise her mouth, so she’d be sure him being here wasn’t some crazy illusion. But mostly so he’d regret lying to her and leaving her.

His dick strained against his cargo pants, and she ground herself against it, moving her hips so that she could feel the whole length of him.

“Stop,” he whispered, out of breath. “Not like this. I don’t want to hurt you.”

“Now you decide you don’t want to hurt me?” she whispered back.

His hand splayed against her throat, dragging his fingers slowly from her chin to her bra. His mouth followed, slow and firm. She wanted to protest, but his tongue snaked a hot trail over her pulse points making her heart race. She’d protest in a minute.

“You’ve changed so much,” he murmured against her throat.

She was about to respond when he found his way under her skirt to her panties. He slipped under them as if he was trained in stealth. Which, come to think of it, he was.

 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Emmy Curtis is an editor and a romance writer. An ex-pat Brit, she quells her homesickness with Cadbury Flakes and Fray Bentos pies. She's lived in London, Paris and New York, and has settled for the time being, in North Carolina. When not writing, Emmy loves to travel with her military husband and take long walks with their Lab. All things considered, her life is chock full of hoot, just a little bit of nanny. And if you get that reference...well, she already considers you kin.

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SPOTLIGHT & GIVEAWAY: HIS SECRETARY'S SURPRISE FIANCE by JOANNE ROCK

 

Enter to Win a Grand prize of Heart of Cooking recipes from authors, Vera Bradley pen, notebook and backlist book by Joanne Rock and a Second Prize - Downloads of two Runaway Bride stories by Catherine Mann & Joanne Rock.

 

His Secretary's Surprise Fiancé
Bayou Billionaires #2

By: Joanne Rock

Releasing March 1^st (Digital), March 8^th (Print)
Harlequin Desire

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Her boss wants her in his office—and as his bride!

Adelaide Thibodeaux grew up with Dempsey Reynaud, and she's worked for him for years. But when the billionaire football coach springs a surprise engagement to keep her from resigning, it's a low blow. Just as she's ready to strike out on her own, she's stuck in a fake relationship with her boss, biding her time…

But soon Adelaide faces a second blow: she's actually falling for the man! Can a relationship founded on a lie become the real deal? Or will they fumble before the end zone—and stay in the friend zone?

 

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“You can’t leave now.” He didn’t have time to hash this out. And he would damn well have his way.

“I’m going after the press conference. I told you I would come back for the pre-season, and now it’s done.” Frowning, she twisted the bracelet round and round on her wrist. “I shouldn’t have returned this year at all, especially if this ends up causing hard feelings between us. But I can send your next assistant all my files.”

How kind. He clamped his mouth shut against the scathing responses that simmered, close to boiling over. He deserved better from her and she knew it.

But if she was going to see him through the press conference, he still had forty minutes to change her mind. Forty minutes to figure out a way to force her hand. A way to make her stay by his side through the season.

All he needed was the right play call.

“In that case, I appreciate the heads-up,” he said, planting his hands on her waist and shuffling her away from the door. “But I’d better get this press conference started now.”

Her eyes widened as he touched her, but she stepped aside, hectic color rising in her cheeks even though they’d always been just friends. He’d protected that friendship because it was special. She was special. He’d never wanted to sacrifice that relationship to something as fickle as attraction even though there’d definitely been moments over the years when he’d been tempted. But logic and reason—and respect for Adelaide—had always won out in the past. Then again, he’d never touched her the way he had today and it was messing with his head. Seeing that awareness on her face now, feeling the answering kick of it in his blood, made him wonder if—

“Of course we need to get to the conference.” She grabbed her earpiece and shoved it into place as she bit her lip. “Let’s go.”

He held the door for her, watching as she hurried up the hallway ahead of him, the subtle sway of her hips making his hands itch for a better feel of her. No doubt about it, she was going to be angry with him. In time, she would see he had her best interests at heart.

But he had the perfect plan to keep her close and the ideal venue—a captive audience full of media members—to execute it. As much as he regretted hurting a friend, he also knew she would understand at a gut level if she knew him half as well as he thought she did.

His game was on the line. And this was for the win.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR: 

Three-time RITA nominee Joanne Rock has never met a romance sub-genre she didn't like. The author of over seventy novels enjoys writing contemporary romance and medieval historicals alike, recently exploring Young Adult romance under a pseudonym. An optimist by nature and perpetual seeker of silver linings, Joanne finds romance–in all its forms-- fits her life outlook perfectly. When she's not writing, Joanne enjoys travel, especially to see her favorite sports teams play with her former sports editor husband and three athletic-minded sons.

 

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