Hi guys! We have B.A. Tortuga stopping by today with her upcoming release Whiskey to Wine, we have a brilliant guest post and a great excerpt so check out the post and enjoy! ❤ ~Pixie~
Whiskey to Wine
(Dreamspun Desire 78 / Leaning N Ranch 03)
by
B.A. Tortuga
Love is hitting the slopes, and the competition is fierce.
It’s Gay Ski Week in Aspen, and blind sculptor Bleu Bridey and his ex-fiancé, Dan, are at the Leaning N Ranch to unveil Bleu’s latest commission.
Former Olympic snowboarder Ryan Shields is there too… and he’s Bleu’s true love who got away. Seeing Bleu again, Ryan remembers how they couldn’t get enough of each other in college.
Too bad it looks like Bleu is with Dan now, because Ryan would love to remind Bleu how good they were together, in and out of the sheets.
Between Ski Week parties, a bunch of exes, a private ski lesson, and one terrible accident that leaves Bleu stranded and Ryan in rescue mode, it’ll be a wonder if these two manage to survive, much less find a few seconds alone to remember how much love they have to keep them warm even in the worst of storms.
Hi guys, we have Leta Blake & Indra Vaughn with their new release Cowboy Seeks Husband, we have a great excerpt and a brilliant giveaway so check out the post and enter the giveaway! ❤ ~Pixie~
Cowboy Seeks Husband
by
Leta Blake & Indra Vaughn
Walker Reed’s Louisiana cattle ranch is in debt after costly repairs from hurricane damage. To get the money, his family schemes to make Walker the star of a new bachelor reality series: Queer Seeks Spouse. How hard can it be to fake interest in a dozen handsome men for a few weeks in exchange for enough money to solve all of their problems?
Roan Carmichael never got his Masters degree after his mother was diagnosed with cancer. With medical bills piling up, and a costly experimental treatment available, Roan signs on to be a suitor on Queer Seeks Spouse. While he hates having to leave his sick mother long enough to win the cash for her treatment, he’s willing to do whatever it takes.
Can two men who are just in it for the money fake their way into real and lasting love?
Cowboy Seeks Husband, the latest book by Vespertine authors Leta Blake and Indra Vaughn, features a cowboy, a hipster, opposites attract, steamy scenes, and heart tugging moments that will leave you wanting more.
Blurb: Aspiring orchestra conductor Marshall is exhausted after months of auditions without a single job offer. Marshall’s friend Terry recommends a change of scenery and points Marshall in the direction of a dude ranch run by former bull rider Indigo Santana. Marshall is understandably skeptical, but his friend is convincing, and Marshall needs a break, so he agrees to go.
Indigo captures Marshall’s attention but leaves him confused. Indigo’s confidence is shot after an injury ended his rodeo career, and he walks with a slight limp. He hasn’t been anywhere near a bull since he was hurt, and he’s not the most accommodating host. After all, the only reason he keeps guests is because his family ranch is all but bankrupt.
Marshall’s attraction doesn’t go unanswered, which leaves him with a huge dilemma. He’s torn between the possibility of love, something he’s searched for all his life, and the career he’s worked toward for as long as he can remember, which is miles away. From his side of the fence, Indigo doesn’t see how the ranch could ever be enough.
Review: A Courageous Ride is the third book in Andrew Grey’s cowboy/western series, The Bullriders. Any fans of cowboy romances will love this book. I recommend reading books 1 and 2 if you haven’t already because there are a few well developed characters that pop up from the previous books. I love this series for the simplicity of the story, leaving plenty of room for the characters to develop and fall in love in a way that seems to be more organic than quickly falling into bed and bam, they’re in love. Although, in saying that, the men in these stories also have enough baggage that there isn’t a dull moment.
I think, though, that this book is my favorite in the series, I think because there seems to be a lot more at stake in this one than the previous books. Although the over arching theme of the series continues to be moving on and learning how to let love in. it’s really a beautiful thing.
This story takes place on a different ranch than books 1 and 2, a dude ranch that also happens to be a working ranch that is run by Indigo Santana. The Princess Bride and Santana went through my head, especially at the point where Indigo himself talks about the character Inigo Montoya in The Princess Bride.
Indigo is an ex rodeo rider who has was forced to retire after he was severely injured. Now he works his guts out trying to keep his family ranch above water, which is why he has set up the dude ranch part of his business. He is your typical gruff cowboy with a heart of gold, but unlike the previous books, he is a cowboy who isn’t exactly in the closet, but he certainly doesn’t advertise himself either. However, he hides his goodness because his confidence took a real blow when he got the career ending injury, so he likes to act like a grumpy bear and he hasn’t even been near a bull since the accident. In fact, if he wants his guests to meet a bull riding champion, he invites his friend and neighbor, Dante Rivers, over (yep, that’s the guy from book one).
Marshall is a mentally and physically exhausted when we first meet him at the start of the book. He has been going to countless auditions to become an orchestral conductor. However, he is not having much luck. So of course he isn’t at his best, and it is his friend Terry that convinces Marshall to go to a new dude ranch he knows about instead of going back to his difficult parents in New York. Marshall goes to the ranch and quickly finds himself feeling better and within a short time he is starts to be able to access his career options carefully. Even though his controlling mother finds a way to disrupt him. In between all that, he finds a deep connection with Indigo, which brings in a whole lot more complications.
These guys have a long and winding road ahead of them but I particularly found it very easy to relate to Marshall. Although Indigo is a pretty damn awesome character who I only just wanted to give a warm hug!
As usual John Solo has done a fantastic narration, giving each character their own individual voice, which conveys the emotions and assaulting the ear with all the feels you could possibly want. I love to hear Solo’s narration on any book I get on audio and I am rarely disappointed.
Blurb:Simon “Frizz” Frizzell sneaks away to the rodeo on weekends, and it’s not until after he wins a buckle that he tells his parents about his bull-riding. He knows they won’t approve of his choice of sport, but his parents own a Christian bookstore, and he couldn’t possibly tell them the whole truth: He’s gay. And so are some of his rodeo friends, like Dante and Ryan, and Jacky – a young man he wishes could have been more than a one-night stand. When Simon sets his sights on his dreams, he finds work with Dante and Ryan, and bumps into Jacky on the job.
Jacky Douglas is a rodeo fanatic, plain and simple. He loves the ride, and he loves the cowboys. He fell hard for Frizz when they met, and theirs was a one-night stand made in heaven. When they meet again, Jacky thinks it’s a stroke of luck. Frizz takes some convincing, but once he’s on board, they begin a relationship. The fledgling romance faces a challenge when news of it travels all the way to the one place Frizz doesn’t want it to go: his parents’ bookstore.
Review: A Daring Ride is the second book in Andrew Grey’s cowboy/western series, The Bullriders. Any fans of cowboy romances will love this book. I recommend reading book 1 first if you haven’t already because the couple from the first book, Dante and Ryan, do feature quite heavily in this instalment. I love this series for the simplicity of the story, leaving plenty of room for the characters to develop and fall in love in a way that seems to be more organic than quickly falling into bed and bam, they’re in love. Although, in saying that, the men in these stories also have enough baggage that there isn’t a dull moment.
This second book is the story of Jacky Douglas and Simon Frizell, aka Frizz. Jacky is a rodeo fanatic and best friend to Ryan from book 1, which is mostly the reason why Ryan and Dante pop up so often. He loves the everything about the rodeo, including the hot men. Jacky is out and proud and when he meets bull rider, Frizz, he definitely likes what he sees. Jacky isn’t exactly what I would call a free spirit, but he knows what he wants and he isn’t afraid of what people think.
Frizz on the other hand, constantly worries about what people thinks. He has two major secrets in his life. One, that he is a bull rider and competes in rodeos on the weekends. Two, that he’s gay. He is terrified he will lose his family and friends if they ever find out. Yet when he meets Jacky properly, he finds himself on a journey of self-discovery. He feels he can’t have Jacky, then he feels he can on do a one-night stand, then this loops around to Jacky deserving a lot better than that. The main plot of this book is Frizz coming to terms with himself, allowing himself to fall in love and basically taking life by the horns and holding on (pun fully intended).
As usual John Solo has done a fantastic narration, giving each character their own individual voice, which conveys the emotions and assaulting the ear with all the feels you could possibly want. I love to hear Solo’s narration on any book I get on audio and I am rarely disappointed.
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (27th February 2018)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖💖 5 Hearts
Blurb: Dante Rivers just lost the rodeo by two 100ths of a point; he’s frustrated as hell, needs to get laid, and he knows just where to go. That night, he meets Ryan Abbott and catches his eye – Ryan watched the rodeo and is still riding high on the rush. The chemistry between them ignites, but Dante, unable to deal with complications, leaves while Ryan’s asleep.
Ryan figures he’ll never see Dante again, but they’re fatefully reunited when Dante’s grandfather, Hy, hires Ryan to help straighten out some old investments. The attraction between Ryan and Dante still sizzles. Sex slowly turns to more, but obstacles abound: Hy’s failing health, Dante’s homophobic sponsor, an attack on Ryan, and Dante’s own struggle with his identity. Any one thing would be enough to separate them permanently…unless they both decide to hang on for the wild ride.
Review: I love a good cowboy book and throw in the fact that it’s written by Andrew Grey and I’m sold. I love the rugged sexiness of a strong cowboy with a heart of gold as much as the next person. For those into that type of thing then you’ll probably enjoy this book.
The book begins with the high adrenaline scene of cowboy Dante Rivers doing his final ride on the back of a bucking bull in the rodeo finals. He heartbreakingly loses first place by the narrowest of margins (to someone who is a bit of dick, if you ask me, and I guess you have in a way). So to vent his pent up frustration he meets a guy in a bar for a hot and heavy one night stand.
Dante never thought that he would meet Ryan Abbott again. In fact, Ryan, who thought about Dante long after their one-night stand, never expects to get a phone call that would bring him back into Ryan’s orbit again. Ryan is an investment guru who is hired by Dante’s grandfather, Hy to help fix up some old investments. The attraction is sizzling hot but being a cowboy story, the guys have to deal with coming out of the closet and homophobia – because, you know, no cowboy can be gay, right? Dante’s grandfather is also ill, which is another stress in his life. Hy is an old rascal and such a lovable character, his character is wonderfully reflected in Dante, showing the strong link between the two after Hy had raised his grandson from a young age.
The plot line is fairly simple, but it is all heart and emotion. I don’t want to go too much into it because I feel there would be too much spoiler.
For me the narration by John Solo was the icing on the cake. I’ve always enjoyed Solo’s work. He has a fantastic grittiness to his voice that especially suits the voice of a rough and ready cowboy. I especially enjoyed the voice that he gave Dante, although Ryan’s voice was also pretty damn good.
Blurb: Reyes Caldero keeps his past buried deep and his emotions buried deeper. But what he doesn’t say he always makes up for with his actions. When the hot chef he once saved from an abusive ex turns up at Clean Slate Ranch, the quiet cowboy is happy to act on their sizzling chemistry, even if he’s not ready to share his secrets—or his heart.
Miles Arlington needs to get the hell out of San Francisco, and heading north for a job near Clean Slate Ranch seems like just the thing. It doesn’t hurt that his secret crush slash onetime rescuer happens to work at the ranch. Miles has never been one for the outdoors, but the superhot Reyes has him ready to saddle up.
Reyes is happy to keep things casual, even though his heart has other ideas. And when Miles is forced to confront his past again, Reyes and Miles will have to put all their trust in each other if they want any chance at building a future together.
Review: A sweet romance about Reyes and Miles. These two men have tragic pasts they are both trying to deal with. Reyes is an ex firefighter that had something bad happen on the job. While Miles is trying to get away from his crazy ex.
Despite the way they met, Reyes saves Miles they both have a mutual attraction to each other. What I liked most was these two took things slow. They got to know one another and were there for the other when they needed it most.
Sweet, tender and romantic are words that come to mind with these two. For all the drama they have been put through they eventually are ready to saddle up for a new relationship with each other.
Hi guys! We have B.A. Tortuga stopping by today with her upcoming release Stetsons and Stakeouts, we have a brilliant guest post and a great exclusive excerpt so check out the post and enjoy! ❤ ~Pixie~
Stetsons and Stakeouts
by
B.A. Tortuga
Gianni Cesare is a DEA agent and rancher—who also happens to be a millionaire heir to an Italian count. Running a multiagency sting out of his East Texas ranch means he needs a new foreman… preferably someone a little wet behind the ears who won’t ask too many questions.
Gianni’s Aunt Jerilyn hires Bonner Fannin, a roughstock rider with zero ranch experience and a sister who’s pregnant with a violent biker’s twins. If that’s not bad enough, Bonner is pretending he and his sister are married to protect her and to help get him the job.
Gianni didn’t think Bonner was the marrying type during their torrid beach affair years ago, but he’s not sure if he has time to explore that thought now, as overrun as his ranch is with drug cartels, macho government agents, and local cops. Looks like Bonner and Gianni are both in over their heads, and they may have to band together during this adventure to swim rather than sink.
Once upon a time, Trey Williamson and Ap McIntosh had quite the whirlwind romance—but that was before family tragedy left them the guardians of five kids. Their lives have changed quite a bit over the last six years, but Ap is still on the rodeo circuit, doing what he does best in an attempt to feed all those extra mouths.
That leaves Trey back on the ranch, isolated and overworked as the kids’ sole caregiver. Something has to give, and when Ap comes home, they’re reminded how hot they burned once upon a time. But is it a love that can withstand wrangling over time, money, and the future? They have to decide what kind of family they want to be… and whether what they share can stand the test of time.
Review:I’m fast becoming a fan of BA Tortuga, particularly her cowboy/western novels. Because seriously, a story about a hot but flawed cowboy is just wonderful. Tortuga, for the most part, does justice to a story with at least one cute kid in addition to the cowboys. I love it! (I think my favorite is still Two Cowboys and A Baby).
I have to admit, when I first read the blurb to this book I was left in two minds about how much I wanted to read it. I’m not sure if I was too sick and didn’t concentrate when I read it, or if the blurb to the book is genuinely too busy packing too much information in. Nonetheless, in the end, I really enjoyed this story. It is sweet, charming and has a heck of a lot of heart. Both MCs are relatable guys and for me it was impossible not to feel bad for Trey and get a bit annoyed at Ap for missing too much.
So that means I better actually tell you a bit about the story.
Trey Williamson and Ap MacIntosh met years ago when Trey’s sister and Ap’s brother got married and then proceeded to have five kids. They are both quite young – in their late twenties – and so six years ago when tragedy struck and Trey and Ap became the guardians to their nephews and nieces they were just at the start of their own adult lives. Trey had been saving to go to college and Ap had been on the road competing rodeos since he was approximately sixteen. While their siblings had been alive the two men had shared a couple of special moments but could never explore a serious relationship once they became the guardians to the kids. Trey stayed behind on the small ranch looking after the kids day in and day out, while Ap stayed on the rodeo circuit making money to raise the kids. In fact, Ap leaves very little money for himself, leaving it all for the kids.
However, after six years Trey is burning out. Six kids between the ages of six (I think) and sixteen takes a lot of energy and he has basically been a single parent the entire time. So Ap has to come back and be more than the uncle who rings up while on the circuit and go back to visit for special occasions. Ap learns some important home truths as he finds out just what Trey sacrificed to raise the kids and work his exhausting schedule. And so years after they had started to explore an intimate relationship, they are finally together under the same roof and no longer just passing ships in the night.
As I said, I really adored this story. There was a lot of emotion and while I felt a bit of resentment at Ap for never trying to be more than the bread winner and the cool uncle who drops in every now and again, I really did like Ap and liked how his character matured.
Blurb: Everything’s bigger in Texas, including weddings. And misunderstandings.
Colorado wedding planner Mason O’Reilly lands a major contract: a 200-guest wedding at the Leanin’ N Ranch, where his friends Ford and Stoney are working to provide a safe space for LGBT events. The Wright/Preston ceremony is a destination wedding, and as the grooms are from Texas, everything is done over the phone and email. There’s no way that could lead to trouble, right? Oops.
Oil tycoon Noah Wright isn’t happy about the impending disaster, but he admires Mason’s quick thinking and grace under pressure. And that’s not all he likes about the out-and-proud wedding planner. Even though Mason’s interested in Noah, his Mr. Right can’t possibly be a rancher from Dallas.
Review: Finding Mr Wright is the second book in BA Tortuga’s series, Leaning N Ranch. It is not entirely necessary to have read or heard the audio of book 1 (Commitment Ranch), but I’ll admit that I went and tracked it down after finishing this audio. Before Dreamspun Desires, I had a little knowledge of BA Tortuga’s books, but within Dreamspun Desire’s found that I enjoy and look forward to reading Tortuga’s work, especially if there are cowboys involved!
Noah Wright is the titular Mr Wright. He’s a Texan oil tycoon, but he is not some old crusty, bombastic guy. He is a loving brother, family man on top of being a brilliant businessman. He is the contact for the wedding that is to take place at the Leaning N Ranch in Colorado. I’m not going to go into any detail because what happens within the first couple chapters is pivotal to the rest of the plot and how Noah interacts with his love interest for the book, the wedding planner Mason O’Reilly. And I’m not going to spoil the whole thing.
The narration of this audio was done by Robbie Nelson. This is the first time I’ve heard Nelson’s narration, but I did like what I heard. He had the right tone, and accent, to ensure that I was engrossed by the story. I have to say that it took me a bit to get on board with the accents used on some of the Colorado native minor characters on the ranch. However, on the whole I was happy and most importantly the characters were just wonderful in his voice.
Series: Turquoise, New Mexico 01 / Dreamspun Desires 53
Author: BA Tortuga
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery, Suspense, Western
Length: Novel (232 pages)
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating:♥♥♥♥ 3.5 Hearts
Blurb:Once upon a time, a prince lived in a magical kingdom called Turquoise, New Mexico.
Well, really, TJ is a small-town police chief. Every Friday he holds court in the diner with the local holy roller, the art colonists, and the horsey people. But the Benes, who own the rodeo company, keep to themselves. TJ knows, because he was once hot and heavy with the oldest Bene son. When Wacey Bene gets trampled by a remuda and comes home to heal, he’s none too happy to run into TJ, or his two little boys and their momma. The story might end there—if it wasn’t for some pesky bastard trying to kill Wacey.
The law steps in, and the townsfolk are cross about somebody messing with one of their own. But once the bad guy is put away, can TJ and Wacey make their place in this wild and eccentric town a permanent one?
Review: I’m fast becoming a fan of BA Tortuga, particularly her cowboy/western novels. Because seriously, if it’s not a firefighter, cop, military man, then a story about a hot but flawed cowboy is just wonderful. Tortuga also usually does justice to a story with at least one cute kid as well (I think my favorite is still Two Cowboys and A Baby). So basically, if you like any of these things, you’ll at least enjoy the book, because despite my opinions I did enjoy the story overall.
Cowboy in the Crosshairs is the first book a new series called Turquoise, New Mexico. The story is about cowboy Wacey Bene. He’s been away from his family’s ranch on the rodeo circuit for ten years after having his heart broken when he was barely out of high school. The boy that broke his heart was TJ. He is now the police chief, but ten years before he was a confused young man who was scared of coming out of the closet and somewhere along the way in the past ten years also decided that he needed to marry a woman so he could have a family. TJ now has two cute little boys and an ex-wife he is good friends with, despite divorcing because he finally was able to come out of the closet to her. These guys need to get over past hurts, as well as TJ needing to help Wacey avoid being injured or killed by some mystery person.
I’ve got some really mixed feelings about this book. I liked the main plot points and as already stated, I enjoy Tortuga’s writing. The characters are good and for the most the story is well-paced.
My issue with this book comes down to the fact that I feel that the story was too glossy – as in it didn’t feel like there was a lot of detail in the main plot points. Furthermore, I also had an issue with how these guys treated each other with disdain at first, and to some extent some miscommunication. It was like they were still a couple of children. They were foolish young men ten years before and had a lot of growing up to do before they could truly be together. Also, it felt like the mystery of who was out to get Wacey was kind shoved in for a bit more drama. I suppose in this sense at least we know the guys do grow up in the end and get their HEA.
Regardless of my feelings of the plot, I do look forward to more stories in the series.
Blurb: Opposites who go together like country and rock ’n’ roll.
Long before he was a superstar, Remy Sean had a secret crush on Jed Riley. But Jed sees Remy as a spoiled pop rocker and an extension of his father’s control. Still, Jed is willing to let Remy hide from the press on his ranch—but only as a way to get his father out of his life and business for good.
Used to being admired and fawned over, Remy keenly feels the sting of Jed’s dismissal. Can he make Jed see him as more than a pain in the ass? Or is Jed too tangled up in his ranch to see past his old hurt?
Jed doesn’t believe someone desired by so many fans could want him, a simple cowboy. But Remy is determined to change Jed’s mind and steal his heart….
Review: Reading the blurb of Rocking the Cowboy I wasn’t sure what to expect. I’ve read a handful Skylar M Cates books before – some I enjoyed and one I couldn’t finish, so that isn’t much help. I love a good cowboy story, so I was definitely keen to give it a go. While this wasn’t the greatest book I’ve ever read, I really did enjoy this one. The romance was wonderful, the characters were relatable, the story was a lot of fun and most importantly the MCs had great chemistry.
The plot of the story is quite simple and for the most part the blurb has more than enough detail before we enter spoiler territory. I don’t want to give too many spoilers, so I’ll keep my summary to a minimum.
Rockstar Remy Sean has gone through a horrifying experience on stage where he almost got trapped by stampeding fans who broke through barriers to get onto stage. His agent, who personally is not the best man and is ruthless in business, decides that Remy should go spend time at the family ranch which is ran by his son, Jed Riley. The problem is, Jed does not get along with his father at all.
Although a little hesitant, Remy does look forward to this opportunity to heal from his mostly psychological scars. Years ago, when he had been sixteen, he had spent the summer at the ranch. Back when things were a lot better for the Riley family. This had been when Remy first met Jed, but he was certain that over the years he had a bad case of hero worship for Jed.
Jed makes a deal with his father for Remy to stay at the ranch in exchange for his father’s compliance. Jed will do anything to make his mother and sister happy and he has zero time for his a-hole father. What Jed didn’t expect, despite a bumpy start, was that he would have a true connection to Remy.
Fans of cowboy stories will not be disappointed, and if you like yourself a bit of a celebrity falling for an ordinary guy type of story then you’re in luck here too. Overall, really fun and enjoyable, a great way to unwind and pass a few hours.
Blurb: Rob runs to Crooked Tree determined to find a safe place for his nephews. A family for them is the final thing on his list, and then he can vanish completely. Falling for a local paramedic along the way is a disaster in Rob’s otherwise perfect plans.
Paramedic Aaron, the middle of five brothers, would like someone to love. A great believer in fate he is convinced though, that one day he’ll find someone. He just never thought it would be a man in so much pain, or that children would be part of the package.
Rob is ready to leave. Aaron wants him to stay. Their love has an expiry date, and it’s tearing them apart. Can they find a way to save what they have?
Review: Each book in the Montana collection features a new romantic couple. To enjoy the overall story arc and crossover characters, I would recommend reading the series in sequential order.
With his sister dead, Rob was left alone to raise his two nephews. Two nephews he didn’t know and wasn’t too sure about. He had a big secret that he was keeping and needed to take the children to the one place that might just be safe for them. He just had not expect to meet Aaron. What a bad time to meet someone that could pull his heart.
Rob had not expected to meet the man who had helped him rescue a family from an accident. However here on the Crooked Tree ranch, there stood the sexy man that called to him. He had many questions and wanted many things from the man, but well if you want to know more your just going to have to read the book.
With so much time being passed since reading the previous books I was a bit lost on the anger that Justin had when Rob showed up with the kids. I also was quite surprised at the reason they went there in the first place. This book had a lot of pain in it and I really find that I didn’t care for it as much. It made the book seem to drag on a bit longer then it should have. However the story is told with quite a bit of heart and it made the story better than I had expected.
The characters didn’t seem to have the right chemistry that I would have thought they would have. It seemed to flare hotter than I had expected also at times. It took most of the book before I actually felt connected to our two main characters. There is also the attitude that the kids gave and it felt more than what was actually told about. I would have guessed more physical pain then mental on the kids, but who knows.
Overall the story just seemed to drag on longer than I would have liked. It didn’t have the right speed going for it in my opinion. I was a little bored and that is never a good thing. However the story did end with a smile and a happy ending. It was not my favorite book but was still a good read. I would definitely recommend this.
Hi guys, we have R.J. Scott stopping by today with her new release Second Chance Ranch, We have a great excerpt, a fantastic $10 Amazon GC giveaway and Lisa’s review so check out the post and enter that giveaway! ❤ ~Pixie~
Second Chance Ranch
(Montana 05)
by
R.J. Scott
Rob arrives at Crooked Tree determined to find a safe place for his niece and nephew. A family for them is the final thing on his list, and then he can vanish completely. Falling for a local paramedic along the way, is a disaster in Rob’s otherwise perfect plans.
Paramedic Aaron, the middle of five brothers, would like someone to love. A great believer in fate he is convinced though, that one day he’ll find someone. He just never thought it would be a man in so much pain, or that children would be part of the package.
Rob is ready to leave. Aaron wants him to stay. Their love has an expiry date, and it’s tearing them apart. Can they find a way to save what they have?
Hi guys, we have R.J. Scott stopping by today with her new release Second Chance Ranch, We have a great excerpt and a fantastic $10 Amazon GC giveaway so check out the post and enter that giveaway! ❤ ~Pixie~
Second Chance Ranch
(Montana 05)
by
R.J. Scott
Rob arrives at Crooked Tree determined to find a safe place for his niece and nephew. A family for them is the final thing on his list, and then he can vanish completely. Falling for a local paramedic along the way, is a disaster in Rob’s otherwise perfect plans.
Paramedic Aaron, the middle of five brothers, would like someone to love. A great believer in fate he is convinced though, that one day he’ll find someone. He just never thought it would be a man in so much pain, or that children would be part of the package.
Rob is ready to leave. Aaron wants him to stay. Their love has an expiry date, and it’s tearing them apart. Can they find a way to save what they have?
Publisher: Love Lane Books Limited (December 7, 2016)
Heat Level: Low
Heart Rating:♥♥♥♥♥ 5 Hearts
Blurb: An actor in the closet, a sheriff in love, and memories that won’t stay hidden.
Jordan Darby is known as the King of Christmas. The star of eight made-for-TV Christmas movies, the leading man who always gets his girl. Filming at Crooked Tree Ranch in Montana, in the ice and snow, Jordan is fighting to make a go of his new company and dealing with fears of exposure over one huge secret. After all, who the hell would buy into him being a romantic straight lead if rumors about him being gay were proven to be true?
Sheriff Ryan Carter is advising on the new movie being made at Crooked Tree. He hoped this would be one day of work and nothing more. Until, that is, he meets the hero. But while Jordan is sexy, he’s also very much stuck in the closet—everything that Ryan doesn’t need in his life. And then lust becomes part of the equation, and Ryan’s quiet life is thrown into turmoil.
Their story unfolds against the chaos that overtakes the ranch, with Adam regaining memories that terrify him and make him look at Justin differently, and Justin leaving the ranch to make things right. Only through trusting in love and friendship can Justin and Adam learn to look to the future instead of letting the past destroy everything. But will they ever see clearly enough to do that?
Review: Each book in the Montana Series collection features a different romantic couple. To enjoy the overall story arc and crossover characters, I would recommend reading the series in sequential order.
This book is not just about our romantic couple but also has important events related to two of the other couples that are in love. I have always loved how ranchers name their ranches, it is always so unique. This story is based at the Crooked Tree Ranch, and I suppose you will just have to read the previous books for that reason, but it is fairly understood. I have always loved a good Christmas story and the way this author writes them makes it even better for me. You have action, hot sex, a little bit of danger, suspense and so much more going on in them. The only thing that I am not a fan of is the jumping from one perspective to the next.
You know when you meet someone for the first time, you look at them and make an assumption about them, well let’s just say that was Ryan. Ryan is a sexy sheriff who is going to be doing security on the ranch while a film company is there. He takes one look at Jordan and assumes the man is a drunk and an ass. Comes back to bite him in the ass, because he also notices Jordan is one hell of a sexy man. Too bad Jordan doesn’t plan on coming out to his fans that he is gay, for our sexy sheriff is already out. It turns into a sweet romance with very little problems, well except for the out part.
Then there is all the other characters in the story, that is where the angst comes from. Justin was a killer for the government, sent in to kill Jamie, who just so happens to be Adam his best friend. Adam has no memories, but his dreams are showing him what has happened with a little bit of help. And for him Justin is in the middle of it. And that is just a part of the angst in this book. I love the secondary characters and am very glad there was no sexy time with some of them.
Let’s just say that it isn’t really all that Christmas themed in a sense but it works out pretty good. Not all that much drama well except for the, well you will just have to read that. Jordan’s sexy twin Micah and Micah’s girl friend were a great add in as well. This whole story just rocked for me and I enjoyed reading it.
I can’t wait for the next book that comes out and I would definitely recommend this story.
Blurb: One burned and broken man finds his way home. Can he find peace in the arms of a man easy to love?
Justin made the ultimate sacrifice for his country, battling domestic terrorism, never the man he really was, using hate to avenge the death of his best friend. The friend he’d killed.
What he doesn’t count on is getting shot, and if he’s going to die he wants it to be on Crooked Tree soil. Home.
Sam is as much a part of Crooked Tree as any of the families, and the offer to buy into the ranch is a dream come true. But falling for a hidden, secretive, injured man isn’t the way to keep his head in the game.
Review: This story is part of a series and must be read in order.
Justin, sixteen and badly burned had been told that his best friend Adam had been murdered by the men that had hurt him. He wanted revenge, he wanted to cause them just as much pain as they had caused him, and he wanted them to die. He was given that chance by someone in the government. Offered a job that would help rid the world of domestic terrorism but also a chance to kill those who had killed Adam. It had all been a lie.
Sam’s family had disowned him when he was younger for being gay. They kicked him out and forced him to survive on his own. Now his grandmother had passed, leaving him a quarter of a million dollars to keep the family face. He just has to show up for her funeral and be done with it. However Sam has other plans, he wants to buy into the Crooked Tree Ranch with his friends. On a little ride to gain perspective he finds a badly injured man on the property. One look at him, and Sam had made the decision to help him. He just had no idea that the man he helped was Adam’s best friend, Ethan’s brother and Marc’s son… Justin. A young man who had disappeared when Adam had so many years before; a man that had been thought to be dead for so long, and now he’s back and he says someone will come to kill him for his past deeds.
I basically read this series out of order, which I do not recommend so I was missing just a bit. However I can tell you that as soon as I finish this review I am going to go read the first book in this series and go from there. Every once in a while there is an author who leaves you with a tale that will not only captivate you but keep you begging for more. R.J. Scott is that such author for me.
I normally do not read stories about cowboys because they just don’t give me that thrill, but this one has excitement, adventure, danger, death and forgiveness in it. Not to mention all of the action and hot touches. I hadn’t bothered reading the blurb with this, which was why I just ended up reading this book first. Now that I know I was definitely missing something, I can’t wait to start this series from the beginning.
It isn’t your normal romance story, but an action pack, suspense filled, danger story that has a love burning deep inside of it. Now normally one would pick the tender hearted of the bunch to be a favorite, but Justin is the one I chose. He was badly burned, had been raped and beaten, built a tough skin to go after those who had hurt him and his friend, did what he thought was right, and with a broken heart and soul at that, only to turn around his life in the end. There is just something that pulls at your heart strings with his story and makes you want to just hold him tight.
This story is fully developed, fast paced, action packed perfection in my eyes. I absolutely loved this book and can’t wait to start the others in this series.
This is one book that I would definitely recommend.
Blurb: A man without memories, and the cop who never gave up hope.
When he wakes up in the hospital, the victim of a brutal beating, John Doe has no memories of who he is or who hurt him. The cops can find nothing to identify him and he can’t remember anything to help… except the name Ethan and one recurring place from his dreams. Two words and they’re not much, but it’s a start: Crooked Tree.
Detective Ethan Allens has never stopped searching for the two boys who vanished. When a report lands on Ethan’s desk that may give new leads, he jumps at the chance to follow them up. The man he finds isn’t his brother, but it’s someone who could maybe help him discover what happened twelve years ago.
What neither man can know is that facing the very real demons of the past could destroy any kind of future they may have together.
Review:Adam and Justin had disappeared over fifteen years ago, but Adam has no memory of it. He has no clue who he is, where he is from or his past at all. Ethan is Justin’s brother and had left to be a cop after the boys disappeared. His father thought they were dead and wanted to grieve. However on a tip, Ethan went to a hospital out of state to see if the John Doe that was found was one of the boys. He had loved Adam when they were young and missed him. He missed his brother and wished he was home. The man he found was not his brother but the man he loved.
Adam had no memory of the past and feared he would never know. He didn’t know the man who had come for him but he felt the connection. He just wished they knew if Justin was alive and how to find him. However it would seem trouble has found them.
I thought what I felt when I read the last book in this series, that it pulled at my heart strings but this one goes even further than that. It was like my heart was being torn out with Adam and Ethan’s feelings of loss in a way, but also in the fact that at least one had been found. This story was very captivating and I absolutely loved it.
The way this author had Adam with amnesia was brilliant. It was so authentic in the way she wrote it that my mind was blasted with it. I love how, even though it is a romance story, the romance is not what the story is focus on. You have two young men that had been in love when they were just teens and something tragic happened and they didn’t get their happy ending. Then fifteen years later they are brought back together. It is a very emotional story and I can’t wait to read the next book again.
Blurb:When a cowboy meets the guy from the city, he can’t know how much things will change.
On the spur of the moment, with his life collapsing around him, Jay Sullivan answers an ad for a business manager with an expertise in marketing, on a dude ranch in Montana.
With his sister, Ashley, niece, Kirsten and nephew, Josh, in tow, he moves lock stock and barrel from New York to Montana to start a new life on Crooked Tree Ranch.
Foreman and part owner of the ranch, ex rodeo star Nathaniel ‘Nate’ Todd has been running the dude ranch, for five years ever since his mentor Marcus Allen became ill.
His brothers convince him that he needs to get an expert in to help the business grow. He knows things have to change and but when the new guy turns up, with a troubled family in tow – he just isn’t prepared for how much.
Review:This is the 2nd edition, there is an additional chapter and the story has been re-edited.
Adam and Justin had disappeared over fifteen years ago, but Adam has no memory of it. He has no clue who he is, where he is from or his past at all. Ethan is Justin’s brother and had left to be a cop after the boys disappeared. His father thought they were dead and wanted to grieve. However on a tip, Ethan went to a hospital out of state to see if the John Doe that was found was one of the boys. He had loved Adam when they were young and missed him. He missed his brother and wished he was home. The man he found was not his brother but the man he loved.
Adam had no memory of the past and feared he would never know. He didn’t know the man who had come for him but he felt the connection. He just wished they knew if Justin was alive and how to find him. However it would seem trouble has found them.
I thought what I felt when I read the last book in this series, that it pulled at my heart strings but this one goes even further than that. It was like my heart was being torn out with Adam and Ethan’s feelings of loss in a way, but also in the fact that at least one had been found. This story was very captivating and I absolutely loved it.
The way this author had Adam with amnesia was brilliant. It was so authentic in the way she wrote it that my mind was blasted with it. I love how, even though it is a romance story, the romance is not what the story is focus on. You have two young men that had been in love when they were just teens and something tragic happened and they didn’t get their happy ending. Then fifteen years later they are brought back together. It is a very emotional story and I can’t wait to read the next book again.
Hi guys, we have R.J. Scott stopping by today with her Montana series, we’re having a quick recap of all the Montana stories so you can brush up before Second Chance Ranch releases. So we have excerpts, Lisa’s reviews of each book and we have a fantastic $10 Amazon GC giveaway so check out the post and enter the giveaway! ❤ ~Pixie~
Crooked Tree Ranch
(Montana 01)
by
R.J. Scott
The Cowboy and the City Slicker.
On the spur of the moment, with his life collapsing around him, Jay Sullivan answers an ad for a business manager with an expertise in marketing, on a dude ranch in Montana.
With his sister, Ashley, niece, Kirsten and nephew, Josh, in tow, he moves lock stock and barrel from New York to Montana to start a new life on Crooked Tree Ranch.
Foreman and part owner of the ranch, ex rodeo star Nathaniel ‘Nate’ Todd has been running the dude ranch, for five years ever since his mentor Marcus Allen became ill.
His brothers convince him that he needs to get an expert in to help the business grow. He knows things have to change and but when the new guy turns up, with a troubled family in tow – he just isn’t prepared for how much
A man without memories, and the cop who never gave up hope.
When he wakes up in the hospital, the victim of a brutal beating, John Doe has no memories of who he is or who hurt him. The cops can find nothing to identify him and he can’t remember anything to help… except the name Ethan and one recurring place from his dreams. Two words, and they’re not much, but it’s a start: Crooked Tree.
Detective Ethan Allens has never stopped searching for the two boys who vanished. When a report lands on Ethan’s desk that may give new leads, he jumps at the chance to follow them up. The man he finds isn’t his brother, but it’s someone who could maybe help him discover what happened twelve years ago.
What neither man can know is that facing the very real demons of the past could destroy any kind of future they may have together.
One burned and broken man finds his way home. Can he find peace in the arms of a man easy to love?
Justin made the ultimate sacrifice for his country, battling domestic terrorism, never the man he really was, using hate to avenge the death of his best friend. The friend he’d killed.
What he doesn’t count on is getting shot, and if he’s going to die he wants it to be on Crooked Tree soil. Home.
Sam is as much a part of Crooked Tree as any of the families, and the offer to buy into the ranch is a dream come true. But falling for a hidden, secretive, injured man isn’t the way to keep his head in the game.
An actor in the closet, a sheriff in love, and memories that won’t stay hidden.
Jordan Darby is known as the King of Christmas. The star of eight made-for-TV Christmas movies, the leading man who always gets his girl. Filming at Crooked Tree Ranch in Montana, in the ice and snow, Jordan is fighting to make a go of his new company and dealing with fears of exposure over one huge secret. After all, who the hell would buy into him being a romantic straight lead if rumors about him being gay were proven to be true?
Sheriff Ryan Carter is advising on the new movie being made at Crooked Tree. He hoped this would be one day of work and nothing more. Until, that is, he meets the hero. But while Jordan is sexy, he’s also very much stuck in the closet—everything that Ryan doesn’t need in his life. And then lust becomes part of the equation, and Ryan’s quiet life is thrown into turmoil.
Their story unfolds against the chaos that overtakes the ranch, with Adam regaining memories that terrify him and make him look at Justin differently, and Justin leaving the ranch to make things right. Only through trusting in love and friendship can Justin and Adam learn to look to the future instead of letting the past destroy everything. But will they ever see clearly enough to do that?
Hi guys, we have R.J. Scott stopping by today with her the cover for her upcoming release Second Chance Ranch, We have a fantastic $10 Amazon GC giveaway so check out the cover and click that giveaway link! ❤ ~Pixie~
Second Chance Ranch
(Montana 05)
by
R.J. Scott
Rob arrives at Crooked Tree determined to find a safe place for his niece and nephew. A family for them is the final thing on his list, and then he can vanish completely. Falling for a local paramedic along the way, is a disaster in Rob’s otherwise perfect plans.
Paramedic Aaron, the middle of five brothers, would like someone to love. A great believer in fate he is convinced though, that one day he’ll find someone. He just never thought it would be a man in so much pain, or that children would be part of the package.
Rob is ready to leave. Aaron wants him to stay. Their love has an expiry date, and it’s tearing them apart. Can they find a way to save what they have?
Release Date: August 28 (wide) – August 30 (Amazon & KU)
RJ’s goal is to write stories with a heart of romance, a troubled road to reach happiness, and most importantly, that hint of a happily ever after.
RJ is the author of the over one hundred novels and discovered romance in books at a very young age. She realized that if there wasn’t romance on the page, she could create it in her head, and is a lifelong writer.
She lives and works out of her home in the beautiful English countryside, spends her spare time reading, watching films, and enjoying time with her family.
The last time she had a week’s break from writing she didn’t like it one little bit and has yet to meet a bottle of wine she couldn’t defeat.
Title: A Courageous Ride
Title: A Daring Ride
Title: A Wild Ride
Title: Saddle Up
Title: Two of a Kind
Title: Finding Mr Wright
Title: Cowboy in the Crosshairs
Title: Rocking the Cowboy
Title: Second Chance Ranch
Title: Snow in Montana
Title: A Cowboy’s Home
Title: The Rancher’s Son
Title:
RJ’s goal is to write stories with a heart of romance, a troubled road to reach happiness, and most importantly, that hint of a happily ever after.
