REVIEW: How to Kiss a Cowboy (Cowboys of Decker Ranch #2) by Joanne Kennedy

Suze Carlyle has lived in her mother's shadow all her life, with her still in mourning father making sure that Suze can never live up to her champion barrel racer mother. No matter how hard she tries to live up to that shadow, her father doesn't see her for who she is.

Handsome bronc rider, Brady Caine lives for the trill and the buckle bunnies who follow him around like puppy dogs in search of a bone. Suze knows she can never live up to that image, but Brady still admires her for her talent and determination. When things go from hot to cold after a steamy night in the sack, Suze knew that Brady was just out for the fun and not the long term. 

At a meeting with some clothing sponsors, Brady suggests that the new female face for the company should be Suze, he is more than shocked to see that they took his suggestion to heart. During a photo shoot everything goes wrong and Suze ends up seriously injured and Brady is to blame. Brady needs to make up for the wrong that he has done Suze, so he appoints himself her slave. Suze however wants nothing to do with the man that most likely has ended her barrel racing career and is putting her income in dire straits. Brady doesn't take no for an answer as he throws himself into helping Suze in any way he can while the pair fall hard for one another. 

Brady will not give up until Suze sees the truly talented and good woman she is, trying to undo the harm her own father has done to her psyche. Brady also attempts to get Suze's dad to wake up from his haze and see the beautiful daughter in front of his eyes. When Suze finds her life has been a bit of a sham, Brody is there to help her through. 

How To Kiss A Cowboy by Joanne Kennedy is a heartwarming romance that takes two people who share a love and brings them together despite the differences surrounding their lives. I love how Brady take control of a bad situation and shows Suze that she can have faith in him. He shows her he isn't just that fly by night cowboy out for fun. How To Kiss A Cowboy is a wonderful read that tugs at the heart strings. Very enjoyable!

~KIMBERLY~ 

Cowboy 12 Pack: Twelve-Novel Boxed Set by Cynthia D'Alba, Paige Tyler, Becky McGraw, Elle James, Sable Hunter, Donna Michaels, Sabrina York, Beth Williamson, Lexi Post, Cora Seton , Randi Alexander , Shoshanna Evers

A COWBOY'S SEDUCTION 

 Award-Winning Author Cynthia D'Alba - Sparks fly when an exhausted cowboy, on a forced tropical vacation, meets an uptight accountant in a bikini. As the seduction game begins, two weeks never looked so short.

SADIE AND HER COWBOY 

 USA Today Bestselling Author Paige Tyler 

 A beautiful ranch owner hires an infamous gunslinger to protect her against a ruthless cattle baron, but risks losing everything when she falls for the sexy hired gun

THE BILLIONAIRE HUSBAND TEST

 NYT & USA Today Bestselling Author Elle James

 Skeptical billionaire takes a risk on a friend's dating service and finds the cowgirl of his dreams, only he has to convince her he's her perfect match.

HER UNIFORM COWBOY

  Donna Michaels

 Texas Guardsman never planned his attraction to a curvy, military-hating Pennsylvanian, or saddling her with his stress issues. Will the town’s newest resident support him, or abandon him like others in his past?

I AM NOT YOUR MELODY

  NYT & USA Today Bestselling Author Shoshanna Evers 

 The baddest cowboy in Bear Creek Saddle partners with a sassy new bartender to save the family business. His rules: Don’t kill her. Don’t kiss her. And don’t fall in love.

CHASE AND SEDUCTION

  USA Today Bestselling Author Randi Alexander 

 Country music superstar Chase Tanner is determined to seduce screenplay writer Reno Linden. She risks the plunge into Chase’s arms, but will their attraction survive the glitz and stress of fame?

THE COWBOY WINS A BRIDE 

 NYT & USA Today Bestselling Author Cora Seton

Jamie Lassiter just made the bet of his life—He’s got six weeks to prove to Claire Cruz he’s the man for her, or pay for her round-the-world trip.

THE HARDER THEY FALL

NYT & USA Today Bestselling Author Beth Williamson

Cowboy Hank Beltane has no idea what's in store for him when he tries to seduce the stubborn, beautiful and sexy as hell rodeo owner TJ Maguire.

THE REAL MCCOY

NYT & USA Today Bestselling Author Sabrina York - At a wild, girls-only weekend at a rowdy “stud” ranch, she meets the gruff, dominant man of her dreams. It’s too bad the sexy stripper is only a pretend cowboy…or is he?

BADASS

Amazon Bestselling Author Sable Hunter

Isaac McCoy - Badass Isaac McCoy, as at home on a Harley as he is on a horse, is in love with the preacher's daughter— the angel of Kerr County—and that will never do.

COWBOYS NEVER FOLD

Award-Winning Author Lexi Post

When a cowboy honors a promise by working at a nudist resort, he discovers that to win the sexy owner's heart he must go all-in, which could mean baring more than his soul.

CUPID'S COWBOY

 Amazon Bestselling Author Becky McGraw

 Struggling country singer is struck by cupids arrow when delivering a breakup singing telegram on Valentine's Day to a beautiful music exec who could make all his dreams come true.

Ok so I have to admit, I find it very hard to review an anthology. Going into each individual story would take up so much space, I am sure I'd lose the reader. I will however admit that The Cowboy 12 Pack is one powerfully exciting read. These 12 amazing authors come together with the best of the best and draw the reader in. There is something for everyone in this compilation and they are all very memorable reads. I like how through the Cowboy 12 Pack, I have found new go-to authors and look forward to reading their back lists as well as future reads. Give the Cowboy 12 Pack a try, you will not be sorry!

~KIMBERLY~

REVIEW: Ace's Wild (Hell's Eight #7) by Sarah McCarty

Ever since the bristly complicated, school teacher, Petunia Wayfield arrives in Simple, Texas, Hell's Eight Brother and local card hustler, Ace Parker is constantly on a bed of nails when dealing with Petunia. She brings out the best and the worst in the handsome cowboy, but due to his lascivious yearnings, he tosses aside any inclinations towards the pretty Petunia. 

Petunia claims she is only in town long enough to save the money she needs to open up her school in California so she can teach, but she lingers because she has developed some deep seeded feelings for the brooding cowboy, Ace. Ace knows that Petunia is out of his league, and when he offers her the deal of a lifetime to take the money and run, Petunia, or Pet and Ace calls her, doesn't know if she truly can leave town. 

Sarah McCarty's Ace's Wild is the seventh installment of the Hell's Eight series. A series I have loved since its inception, I was not overly impressed with this one. After such a strong and emotional story like Caden's Vow, I was expecting more. The story itself was well written and I truly enjoyed when Petunia truly see the man that Ace has hidden from her. Petunia and Ace are strong and interesting characters and their resolution is a fine one. 

~KIMBERLY~

REVIEW: Wagon Train Cinderella by Shirley Kennedy

Taken in by the Whitaker family when she was left on their doorstep as a babe, Callie has grown up the outsider in the family. Never quite a real member, the Whitakers used her to perform all the tasks to menial for their true children, in other words, Callie is basically their servant, and is constantly picked on by her step sisters, who do nothing while Callie does it all. 

Now on a treacherous journey by wagon train to California, Callie sees the world like she never has before, and thanks to the dependable and handsome, Luke McGraw she begins to come out of the dark cloud her life has been to see the possibilities before her.

Luke McGraw has been a loner for sometime. Once he has done his job with the wagon train, he intends to return to his simple life in the wilderness. Watching Callie being mistreated by her entire family just sticks in his craw, and he sets out to give Callie the confidence she has sorely been lacking in her life. When Luke discovers that Callie hasn't even been afforded basic reading skills, his friends help her to learn to read. 

During this journey so much happens to change the lives of everyone involved. This journey is a tough one as well as enlightening. It's as dangerous as it is majestic, and watching the personal journeys that Luke and Callie take is a wonder in of itself.

Wagon Train Cinderella by Shirley Kennedy is so appropriately named. While Callie is certainly Cinderella-like, her Prince Charming, Luke is a bit more gruff than the average prince. Callie's family are awful to her, but the full reasons are a bit unclear. The journey contains mush dissension between the families and  its leaders. The tension sometimes outweighing the story. I did enjoy the story line between Luke and Callie very much and found this story to be entertaining. 

~KIMBERLY~ 

REVIEW: HARD TARGET (The Campbells of Creek Bend Book 3) by BARB HAN

She was on a much needed vacation in Mexico when she was kidnapped by a dangerous group of men who had no reservations about hurting a woman. When the very determined Emily Baker escapes from her captors and stows away on a ship headed for Texas, she's not out of the woods yet.

Border patrol agent, Reed Campbell, is hard pressed to turn  in this woman who obviously has been through a harrowing experience before he discovered her stowed away on a ship surrounded by illegal guns. Seeing the battered and bruised Emily, Reed's protective instincts emerge, and when he discovers that she is still in imminent danger, her decides that come Hell or high water, he will get her though whatever comes at them.

While Reed has a family that will do practically anything for him, Emily's upbringing leaves her wary of relationships and trust. She keeps everyone at a distance and is completely engulfed in her job and seeing how Reed acts, especially around the Campbells, has the independent beauty yearning for that which she has never had, a family. Reed has also had his heartbreak when the woman he thought he loved and vice-versa, ends up having an affair with a colleague and the leaves him flat when he needs her most.

Pursuing a relationship in the midst of danger is never ideal, and when bullets keep flying back and forth, but both Reed and Emily find no one understands the inner turmoil they both face, but each other. Until Reed, his brothers and the authorities apprehend the man responsible for Emily's strife, nothing will ever be settled and safe for the pair to move on.

HARD TARGET by BARB HAN, the final book in the Campbells of Creek Bend series is not only an emotional roller coaster from beginning to end, but it is an action-packed thriller. Barb Han brings together, two characters, so different from one another, but they are perfection. Reed has always had his family to fall back on. They have nurtured him and kept him well loved and safe. Emily has only had herself and that niggling feeling inside of her head that she can never have what Reed and the Campbells have, makes her rethink the entire direction of her life. Seeing the Campbells and their significant others care for an outsider in need, makes HARD TARGET such a draw for me. I love this book and the entire series. HARD TARGET by BARB HAN is well written and absorbing. It's a definite A+ for me. I highly recommend HARD TARGET!

~KIMBERLY~

RELEASE SPECIAL, REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: AGAINST THE SKY (The Brodies of Alaska Book 2) by KAT MARTIN

The Perils of Research--Our Road Trip to Alaska

I can’t speak for other authors, but having written more than sixty books, including AGAINST THE SKY, out the end of January, I’m always looking for new story ideas.  Which is why, when the opportunity arose to travel for a month to Alaska in a small pickup camper--I said yes.

With a contract for three new AGAINST novels at Kensington, I needed ideas.  A trip to Alaska seemed the perfect opportunity to find new plots and develop interesting characters--though the journey wasn’t my first experience with the vast beauty and rugged conditions of Alaska.

MIDNIGHT SUN was the result of my first trip some years back.  AGAINST THE WILD, Dylan Brodie’s story, was the first of my three new Alaska books.

In AGAINST THE SKY, the second book in the trilogy, out January 27^th, Nick Brodie, a former Anchorage homicide detective, has a serious case of burnout.

Nick wants a new life, something that doesn't include violence and death.  Unfortunately when his neighbor, twelve-year-old Jimmy Evans, comes to him beaten and battered, claiming his father was murdered, Nick has no choice but to help him.

To make matters worse, Nick has a lady friend visiting from San Francisco.  Samantha Hollis, owner of the Perfect Pup pet grooming parlor, isn't cut out for the harsh life in Alaska.  Unwillingly swept into Jimmy's problems, she finds herself on a wild ride with Nick that leads them into passion and incredible danger.

The first kernal of an idea for AGAINST THE SKY arose when we were in Anchorage.  Something about the Russian mob? I thought.  And how about a woman who can’t deal with Alaska at all? 

As the novel took form, we traveled to Valdez, which became the setting for Nick’s brother, Rafe’s, story, AGAINST THE TIDE, which comes out the end of May.

I love road trips, just heading out with no particular destination, simply rolling along, encountering whatever life throws your way.  Dealing with flat tires and engine trouble can be exasperating, but there is the also the reward of meeting new people from all different walks of life.

If you love history, you might wind up in a place like Dawson City, way off the grid, the original destination for Klondike gold miners at the end of the nineteen century.  A lot of the buildings are still there, still being used, and the streets are still paved in dirt!  It’s a town right out of the wild West, a place that attracted authors like Robert Service and Jack London.

People often ask where I get the ideas for my stories and I can tell you that a five-thousand mile driving trip on a two-lane road is stuffed with fodder for books.  Whether you’re an author or a reader, it wonderful to open yourself up to new adventures, new places, and new people. 

In the meantime, I hope you’ll watch for Nick Brodie and Samantha Hollis in AGAINST THE SKY.

Very best wishes and happy reading, Kat    

REVIEW

Ex- Ranger and retired police detective, Nick Brodie, doesn't know the meaning of the word vacation, until his brother sends him on a very needed one to Las Vegas. His hometown of Anchorage, Alaska is truly a beautiful place, but Nick also knows the seedy side from his line of work, and getting away for a while is just what he needs.

Marketing phenom, Samantha Harris is in Vegas to research more venues for the Pet Salon business. Returning to her hotel room, she is accosted in the hallway by a very drunken man, but before the drunk can do any lasting harm, Samantha is saved by possibly the most handsome man she has ever set eyes on, Nick Brodie. 

Neither Nick nor Samantha thought they would would meet someone who sparks such interest and passion. Only problem is, Samantha lives in San Francisco and Nick in Alaska, and we all know how difficult long distance relationships can be. So after a perfectly wonderful time with a steamy sexual escapade, Samantha and Nick return to their perspective lives, but still having the other in their thoughts. Several weeks after their time together, Samantha discovers she is in a situation she never expected, and when Nick invites her to Alaska so they can get to know each other better, Samantha struggles with how she is going to apprise Nick of the situation.

Once together in stunning Alaksa, both Nick and Samantha get thrown into a criminal case that can have some serious repercussions and dealings with the dangerous Russian mob, murder, kidnapping and child prostitution. When Samantha sees the true Nick Brodie, she finds a good and caring man, but also a dangerous foe to have when someone attempts to hurt those he cares about. As much as her feelings have grown for Nick, she knows that Alaska is not the place for her. Nick also realizes that Samantha doesn't belong in the wilds of Alaska and maybe not even with a man like him, but it doesn't make him feel any better after falling for Samantha, hook, line and sinker, even if he can't admit it to himself.

Is it possible for Nick and his friends to get to the bottom of the criminal activity wreaking havoc on his domain? Will Samantha have the courage to go back to her life after all is said and done, continuing on with her life? All that and so much more is discovered in AGAINST THE SKY by KAT MARTIN. Don't miss it.

AGAINST THE SKY by KAT MARTIN has taken a spot as one of my favorite books in the Brodies of Alaska series, and is predecessor, the Raines of Wind Canyon. Nick Brodie is a formidable alpha hero. He is a gentleman when he needs to be and force to be reckoned with when push comes to shove. For having so much on her plate, Samantha keeps her head on straight, even when faced with soaring bullets. This story is action packed and well written and emotionally charged and it all comes together with perfection only Kat Martin can create.  Along with her main hero and heroine we quickly become attached to, the intriguing cast of secondary characters cement their own spot in this story where the readers ends up caring as much for them as for Nick and Samantha. I couldn't put AGAINST THE SKY down once I began. A thriller and a love story wrapped up into its own convenient little package that will stay with me. 

~KIMBERLY~ 

AGAINST THE SKY

By Kat Martin

Release date: 1/27/15

BACK COVER COPY:

ALASKA. In America’s last wilderness there is no limits to what a man can do.

For detective Nick Brodie, that means keeping the perps off the streets of Anchorage 24/7. Nick has never backed down from danger, but after the horrors he’s seen, he’s definitely in need of a break.

Samantha Hollis never thought she’d meet anyone like Nick, especially in a place like Las Vegas. But after one reckless, passionate night, she discovers the charismatic stranger is everything she wants in a man. But can he ever be more than a one-night stand?

When Nick invites her to Alaska, Samantha decides to find out, never guessing the depths she’ll discover in him or the tangle of murder, kidnapping, and danger about to engulf them both …

SHORT BLURB:

AGAINST THE SKY is a fish out of water story.  Nick Brodie, an ex-Anchorage cop, is tough as nails, a true man's man, comfortable in the hard life in Alaska.  But Samantha Hollis, owner of a pet grooming parlor in San Francisco likes shopping at Sak's and a day at the spa.   Unwillingly swept into Nick’s problems, Samantha finds herself on a wild ride that leads them in to passion and terrible danger. 

It was fun finding ways to make their relationship work when they seem so very far apart. This one’s very fast paced, but it has a soft heart.  It turned out to be one of my favorites.

KAT’s WEBSITE

www.KatMartin.com

AGAINST THE SKY BOOK TRAILER VIDEO

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxy5mi2cFJM

CONTEST

http://www.katmartin.com/contests/

BUY LINKS

Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/Against-Sky-The-Brodies-Alaska/dp/1420133845/ref=tmm_mmp_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1418677451&sr=8-1

BN

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/against-the-sky-kat-martin/1119437332?ean=9781420133844

Indiebound

http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781420133844

REVIEW QUOTES

“Against the Sky by Kat Martin sizzles enough to melt a polar icecap. She allows these two polar opposite to find that elusive chemistry that the world craves, but their differences present enough of a challenge that one wonders I love can conquer all or not. Kick in the suspense and danger from the Russian mob and voila! Romantic suspense!”

“Wow, the action scenes are so exciting. I never knew what would happen next.”

“The second book in Kat Martin's Brodie's of Alaska series delivers an awesome punch of suspense and romance.”

SOCIAL MEDIA

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GIVEAWAY ALERT!!!

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 KAT MARTIN

REVIEW: Wicked Witches of the West: Rowan's Ascension (Wicked Witches of the West #1) by Beth Williamson

Never is his life had Jesse Nelson seen anything as enthralling as beautiful triplets known as the Murphy sisters, but only one sets his heart beating fast when he meets her, Rowan. Jesse has been drifting from place to place looking for work and when he is sent to the Triad Ranch in search of work, he is in for much more than he bargains for. The Murphy girls come from a powerful line of witches and keeping their powers under wraps has never even occurred to them. The closer they get to their 21st birthday, the more powerful they become but there is something in the shadows just waiting to destroy the bond the sisters have.

These are tough times for the Murphys and the Triad Ranch. Gus Murphy is still recovering from a debilitating accident, leaving his three daughters in charge of the ranch running and work.  Jesse begins working at the ranch and wonders what he's gotten himself into when he sees some of the odd goings-on at the Triad. Rowan feels it too, and aside from her powerful attraction to Jesse, who has been in her dreams since she was a child, darker things are happening that could tear the sisters apart. The only way to rid themselves of the evil lurking, is for the Murphys to unite and stick together and when they find that adding Jesse to the mix can make them even stronger, they must convince him before it's too late.

ROWAN'S ASCENSION, the first in the Wicked Witches of the West series by Beth Williamson is a unique and fascinating take on the wild West with a twist. All the Murphy family wants to do is survive, but the forces that are set against them, make them use their powers when they must. Jesse Nelson had no idea what he stepped into, but once he feels like he belongs on the Triad and with Rowan, he steps up and becomes what is needed. I love Jesse's honesty and his determination to be all he can. Rowan is as captivating as she is strong. She is the glue that holds the Murphys together and she will make the sacrifices that need to be made when the time comes. I love that. Her sisters, Maeve and Talulla have their own distinctive qualities that make me yearn for the the next stories. With her talent for story-telling and her unique insight, author Beth Williamson has created a wonderful tale with ROWAN'S ASCENSION that should not be missed.

~KIMBERLY~