Review of The Cowboy

I started reading The Cowboy, a collection of 4 stories by Vonna Harper, PJ Mellor, Nelissa Donovan & Nikki Alton. I truly like cowboys as heroes of romance stories, so this book caught my attention of course. I'm about halfway the first one, Wild Ride by Vonna Harper.

The Blurb: When rancher's daughter Jordan Shore gets one look at champion half-breed bull rider Cougar Lighthorse, she's ready to get him out of those chaps and between her sheets. But when she's thrown from one of her barrel-racing mares, she ends up flat on her back - and exactly where he wants her....

Can't say yet if I like it because it just started, but so far the couple did have sex without exchanging a single kiss. And I'm a big sucker for great (first) kisses. Hope they'll make up for that...

originally posted at September 5, 2009
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I finished The Cowboy, a collection of 4 stories by Vonna Harper, PJ Mellor, Nelissa Donovan & Nikki Alton. I enjoyed this book a lot, read below what I liked about each of the four stories.

'Wild Ride' by Vonna Harper

The Blurb: When rancher’s daughter Jordan Shore gets one look at champion half-breed bull rider Cougar Lighthorse, she’s ready to get him out of those chaps and between her sheets. But when she’s thrown from one of her barrel-racing mares, she ends up flat on her back-and exactly where he wants her...

Yesterday I wrote about this first story: "Can't say yet if I like it because it just started, but so far the couple did have sex without exchanging a single kiss. And I'm a big sucker for great (first) kisses. Hope they'll make up for that..."
Well, they didn't really, although they did kiss shortly after that. But I can't say I found it written about in a particular arousing or captivating way. I just couldn't get excited about the hero or heroine or their relationship. The love scenes also were rather matter-of-factly without giving their feelings a moment's thought, at least not much. So I can't rate this story with more than 3 stars.

'Cowboy in Paradise' by PJ Mellor

The Blurb: Tyler Last has had enough of chasing steer-and women-on the rodeo circuit. It’s about time he changed his ways. That is, until he catches sight of sexy Meg Holder, and all he can think of is wrapping her up with his lasso...

This was a much nicer and lovelier story that concentrated more around the couple, Tyler and Meg, and their attraction. It had a lot of sex scenes, sometimes very short but still nice. And at least this couple liked kissing each other ;-) This story had it all, good and a lot of sex, lovely characters, secrets, believable growing love and last but not least humor. Tyler's horse Jim added a funny touch to the story, it made me laugh out loud a few times. In this case I wouldn't have mind if the story was a bit longer to get to know the characters even better and to read a bit more about their love scenes ;-). I rate this story with 4.5 stars.

'Saddle Sore' by Nelissa Donovan

The Blurb: Stoic Arizona horse rancher Dean McCabe is all business with anyone who gets in his way-and with anyone who interferes with his work. But when sultry conservationist Cassandra Darling comes into town on a mission to save the Mexican Gray Wolf, he discovers there’s nothing better than sleeping with the enemy...

This third story was fabulous. The hero and heroine, Dean and Cassie, were very easy to like and perfect for each other. Their relationship and attraction was well written about, with a good build up. Their love scenes were very, very hot with enough detailed feelings worked in. Their love story is placed in an interesting setting in which Dean and Cassie become each others opponents and which had a good suspense. The secondary characters were put to good use as well. Especially Dean's little brother's, Jake's, role was perfect, while it brought conflict, friendship and jealousy into the story. Although 'Sadle Sore' is a short story (about 90 pages) it reads like it's a novel, with great dialogues and enough background information about the main characters. So this story is near to perfect and I rate it with 5 stars.

'Rodeo Man' by Nikki Alton

The Blurb: L.A. magazine writer Anna Hartley is on assignment in Wyoming when she meets champion rodeo rider Grant Olson. Lean, blond, rugged, and sexy as hell, he’s enough to make a city girl trade in her high heels for a wild ride in the saddle, Western style...

Last but not least, Anna and Grant's story is a great read as well. Anna has the worst day in her life: she loses her job and her boyfriend and her car breaks down on a deserted road. But than sexy Grant comes to her rescue. He leaves without them exchanging names, let alone phonenumbers, but than she sees him again at the rodeo, as one of the riders! And of course they hit it off. Grant brings the passion in her life she so desperately needed and she turns into the wild woman of his dreams. He doesn't wanna let her go. This is what I really liked about him, although he has the rodeo as a passion in his life, he does have room for a second passion. Anna thinks she needs her own 'rodeo-like passion'. But in the end she decides that she wants to be by Grant's side. The ending was a bit sloppy and the action went very fast, but it still was a good story. I give it 4 stars.

The Back Blurb of the collection of four is: They’re every woman’s fantasy: the jeans . . . the swagger . . .the smile . . .With his rough hands and warm heart, The Cowboy has never been sexier than in these buck-wild novellas!

Well, that definitely applies for this woman: I really liked these cowboy stories and I rate this book as a whole with 4 stars, because the four showed I nice variety and a little insight in the exciting world of cowboys and rodeo riding. You surely won't get bored with this book!

Originally posted at September 6, 2009