One Tough Cowboy
A Novel
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4.2 • 13 Ratings
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- $12.99
Publisher Description
First in a brand-new series from #1 New York Times bestselling author Lora Leigh and Veronica Chadwick about one man’s pursuit of justice—and unbridled desire.
LAW AND ORDER.
For as long as Samantha can remember, Hunter—a man as strong as steel, with a heart of gold—has been her hero. It came as no surprise to Samantha when she found out that the ranch-hardened cowboy who always protected her from bullies went on to become the town’s sheriff. What does surprise her is how incredibly hot he still is. And how much she still wants him…
PRIDE AND PASSION
And, lo and behold, Hunter still has feelings for Samantha. The long-smoldering heat of their innocent flirtation has grown into a full-raging fire. But when tragedy strikes, and their small-town community is shattered, Hunter vows to do everything he can to keep his childhood sweetheart safe. But can Samantha trust that Hunter has her best interests at heart…and that, after all these years, his love is true?
“Leigh’s books can scorch the ink off the page.”—RT Book Reviews
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Despite lots of explicit sex and police work, there isn't much to enliven this overstuffed erotic romance from Leigh (the Elite Ops series) and Chadwick (Rude Awakening). Detroit cop Samantha Jolene Ryder never planned to come back to her small home town of Deerhaven, Calif., but she heads back after several years away when her aunt is murdered. Sexy sheriff Hunter Steele, already investigating three suspicious deaths and short on trusted deputies, welcomes Sam's help in looking for her aunt's killer. Sam plans to go back to Detroit after the investigation and tries to ignore Hunter's sultry kisses and steamy innuendo, but he isn't keeping his distance. Sam wavers between the appeal of their toe-curling romps and her fear of getting hurt, all the while trying to uncover the secrets that led to her aunt's death. She's also fiercely independent, resents any hint of patronizing, and often misreads Hunter's intentions; meanwhile, he repeatedly pushes her boundaries and ignores her objections to a degree that may put off consent-focused readers. There are small-town relationships and rivalries to unravel, but this disappointing contemporary never fully comes together.
Customer Reviews
This book is scorching hot!
When Hunter and Sam were young, she would follow him around and cause trouble, but her family moved away before anything developed between them. Years later the death of Sam's aunt brings her back to the sleepy little town, to find out that Hunter is now the Sheriff. Hunter can't believe that his little "pixie pest" has grown up to be a beautiful woman who is a cop in Detroit. It doesn't take long before the chemistry between them lands them in bed together. With Hunter and Sam investigating the 3 specious deaths in their sleepy little town will they be safe?
Holy crap is this book scorching hot! Plus the mystery of the 3 deaths had me on the edge of my seat and turning the pages. But the title confused me ... the cowboy part. Sure Hunter inherited his uncle's ranch ... but through the whole book, he only went there once. There were hired cowboys that actually ran the ranch because Hunter was the Sheriff. Anyway ... I can't wait for Jacob's book coming next!
I received an ARC courtesy of St. Marten's Press through NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.
3.5 stars-entertaining but a few inconsistencies.
3.5 stars-ONE TOUGH COWBOY is the first instalment in the contemporary, adult, erotic, romantic suspense series MOVING VIOLATIONS co-authored by Lora Leigh and Veronica Chadwick. This is Deerhaven, California Sheriff Hunter Steele, and Detroit police officer Samantha Ryder’s story line.
NOTE: ONE TOUGH COWBOY contains scenes of sexual violence that may be triggers for more sensitive readers.
Told from dual third person perspectives (Samantha and Hunter) ONE TOUGH COWBOY follows the building relationship between Deerhaven, California Sheriff Hunter Steele, and Detroit police officer Samantha Ryder. Samantha Ryder left Deerhaven close to ten years earlier but never expected to come back to bury her beloved aunt Dottie, a woman who’s death mystifies our story line heroine. Sheriff Hunter Steele suspects the three recent deaths in Deerhaven are connected, although each death has been ruled accidental or by natural causes. Reconnecting with Samantha Ryder stirs something deep within our story line hero, something Hunter is hoping to pursue, as he tries to convince Samantha to move back to town. As Samantha and Hunter begin to dig a little deeper into the strange happenings and mysterious deaths of three elderly but tight-knit friends, our couple will be targeted for what they know, and who they are. What ensues is the rekindling friendship and building relationship between Sam and Hunter, and the potential fall-out as our couple discover the truth about what has been happening in Deerhaven, California.
Samantha Ryder has a successful career in the Detroit Police Department but sins from the past followed our heroine to Deerhaven California, sins that demand retribution and vengeance in more ways than one. Hunter Steele has been burned in the past but rekindling his friendship with Samantha meant the possibility of a happily ever after –once the danger in town has been put to rest.
The relationship between Sam and Hunter is one of mutual attraction; a palpable sexual energy that does not go unnoticed by the people of Deerhaven, some of the people who are willing to destroy our story line couple. The $ex scenes are numerous, intimate, erotic and intense but I dislike the use of a certain four-letter word…and $ex while on stake-out seems a little bit risky under the circumstances ;)
The world building focuses on the small town of Deerhaven California: the people, the gossip, the power and control. We are introduced to several law –enforcement types including a few CHiP officers, and Jacob Donovan, a man who may or may not be former Special Forces; and the local politicians who are desperate to keep secret their illegal activities.
ONE TOUGH COWBOY is a story of betrayal, greed, power and control. There are a few disconnected plot-points and inconsistencies that need to be addressed- I doubt we will see anything resolved in forthcoming story lines; and the cowboy premise is limited. The premise is entertaining; the romance is passionate; the characters are charismatic and