Review: Timeless Western Collection: Big Sky by Kimberly Krey, Annette Lyon, Cindy Roland Anderson

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

THE COWBOY’S CATCH by Kimberly Krey
When Jason Keller bids on a date with Marlee at the town’s annual fundraising event, she’s quick to turn him down. First of all, an evening with Marlee was never on the table; just dates with each of her younger sisters. Beyond that, Jason Keller—a man with Hollywood ties—is the last cowboy in town she’d go on a date with. Being abandoned because of her own mother’s Hollywood pursuits taught her well. But when the Keller Cowboy offers a hefty sum for the charities in question, in front of half the town no less, Marlee’s compelled to accept. It’s just one date after all, and it’s not like she’d ever fall for a man like him. Or so she thinks.

SELLING HER RANCH, STEALING HIS HEART by Annette Lyon
Teresa adores her job as manager of the J-Bar-D Ranch, which boards horses and offers riding lessons. The owner, Dorothy, has become like a grandmother to Teresa. But when Dorothy passes away unexpectedly, the ranch is put up for sale by none other than Dorothy’s only grandson, Derek. Even with the obvious chemistry between them, Teresa refuses to consider dating the guy who’s going to turn her beloved ranch into a strip mall. Derek wishes more than anything that he didn’t have to sell, but Grandma Dorothy ran the ranch into deep debt, and Derek’s own mother has ongoing medical bills. Without selling the ranch, he can’t pay off the debts or take care of his mother. If only he’d met Teresa had met at in a different time and place, they might have a future.

THE COWBOY’S SECOND GO by Cindy Roland Anderson
When recently divorced Callie Stewart, an aspiring country music artist, confronts the dishonest talent agent who stole her new song, he turns the tables on her, and her world spins out of control. Without proof she composed the hit song, Callie is forced to take her twin boys with her, move out of Nashville and live with her aunt in Montana. Having her dreams shattered leaves her trying to figure out how she will support her little family. Reconnecting with Ty Carter, her long-ago crush from high school and the guy who broke her heart, has her questioning her resolve to leave romance out of her new life. Ty isn’t just a good-looking cowboy, he’s sweet to her boys and makes Callie feel beautiful and alive. As her feelings for Ty grow stronger, the music reawakens inside her, inspiring her creativity and the desire to sing. Giving love a second chance might be the key to a forever love, and the start of a new music career…but can it be both?

My Review

I really enjoy cowboy stories, both historical and contemporary, I think because of the Louis L'Amour books I read as a teen from my dad's collection. All three of these stories embody what's special about the cowboy ideal- tough yet vulnerable, hard working and hard playing.

In The Cowboy's Catch, I liked seeing Marlee try to keep Jason at arm's length, only to discover that her prejudices about him weren't accurate. They had great chemistry, but the author's choice of verbs in a few instances threw me- she used "crooned" and "purred" and "mumbled" to describe the ways Jason spoke to Marlee, supposedly romantically... and it came off very odd to me. I would use "crooned" to describe the way someone sings, "purred" for a sound someone makes while getting a massage, and "mumbled" for something you say under your breath that you don't want the other person to necessarily hear. "Murmured" might have been a better choice in that last case. Other than my verb issues, it was a fun story ;)

The next story by Annette Lyon also has the female lead making unfair assumptions about the male lead. Teresa feels so strongly about the ranch she works at that she doesn't do a good job of listening to Derek, opting to storm off instead of face the situation. It was nice to see Derek prove her wrong as his time reconnecting with the ranch helps him get in touch with his love for the countryside.

My favorite of the three was The Cowboy's Second Go, seeing the journey Callie goes through as she returns to her hometown, faces her unrequited love and finally overcomes the awkward moment of young heartbreak she never forgave Ty for. He is such a sweetheart (now) and I enjoyed the wonderful scenes as he endears himself to her again and her two young boys.

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

Falling in Love Event: Author Cindy Roland Anderson, Sale & Giveaway

 

  

The Rogue Warrior by Cindy Roland Anderson  

His job was to protect her, not fall in love with her. 

When Logan Steele is hired to protect an archery champion who is being stalked, the former SEAL automatically assumes his client is a man. Then he meets Weslee Campbell, a beautiful woman with the prettiest light blue eyes he’s ever looked into, and he knows his life is about to change forever. That is, if his fear doesn’t get the best of him. For a man who has faced enemy insurgents, rescued innocent people in the line of fire, and piloted a helicopter without experience to save his SEAL team, he shouldn’t be afraid of anything…yet meeting a pretty girl with a heart of gold has him questioning if he’s brave enough to fall in love.  

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 As they slowly made their way toward the entrance, Weslee regretted her earlier behavior. She’d acted like a spoiled brat when all he was trying to do was keep her out of harm’s way. Her mother had raised her to be a lady, and she needed to make an apology. She tipped her face up to look at him and realized now was not the time to apologize. Focused and stern looking, Logan honed in on the crowd around them. With his attention riveted on their surroundings, it gave her a moment to really study him. His appearance was a little deceiving. The clean-cut look gave him a hot-boy-next-door kind of vibe. Dressed in the expensive tux, he looked more like a sexy British spy than a soldier. It was his piercing blue eyes that gave him an edge, making him look cool, calm, and dangerous. As if he knew she was checking him out, his eyes flashed to hers. Glimmering like chips of ice, they held very little warmth and were deadly serious. Still, despite his cool assessment, she felt that magnetic pull toward him. Instead of shrinking away, no doubt what he intended her to do, she held his gaze and gave him a soft smile. Then she saw it. A fiery attraction flickered behind his eyes just before he shuttered it and looked away. That brief second of intense heat wrapped around her like a warm blanket right out of the dryer. What if Inez was right? What if meeting Logan was her destiny?    

  

 

On sale for just 99 cents on October 4th & 5th

 

  

Logan and Weslee have such a fun and rewarding love story! I loved the chemistry between them, the suspense leading toward the ending, and the comedy spread throughout the book as well. Such a fun, romantic read, and the perfect addition to the Navy SEAL Romance Series 2.0. ~ Kimberly    

     

Author Cindy Roland Anderson 

Cindy Roland Anderson writes clean, contemporary romance with a combination of humor, romantic tension and some pretty great kissing scenes. She and her husband, John, live in northern Utah, and have five amazing children. Their family has expanded by adding a son-in-law, a daughter-in-law, and seven adorable grandchildren. She is a registered nurse and has worked in the NICU as well as the newborn nursery. She loves to read, almost as much as she loves writing. And she loves chocolate, probably a little too much.

  

    

 

   

Giveaway Details Ends 10/28/18 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use money sent via Paypal or gift codes via Amazon.com. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. This giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.  

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Romance is in the Air: Author Cindy Roland Anderson & Giveaway!

     

Blue Moon Kisses by Cindy Roland Anderson 

At age twelve, Ashlee Nichols fell in love with her brother’s best friend, Beau Jacobsen. Everyone thought she was cute and that her crush was simply that…a crush. But her young heart had known he was the one, and she had planned on marrying him as soon as she was old enough. Unfortunately, when she confessed her feelings to Beau, he’d laughed, patted her on the head and told her he was flattered. Sure, Beau had been twenty-two at the time, but she knew she wouldn't always be a little girl. Just when she turned eighteen and was finally old enough to date him, Beau joined the Army and was deployed to Afghanistan. Now, six years later, Beau is back in Mitchel Creek, Georgia for a few weeks. He’s hotter than ever…and still ten years older, something he can’t seem to get past. He still sees Ashlee as a glorified little sister…or does he?

       

Blue Moon Kisses was well worth the wait. I anxiously awaited this sweet clean romance and was not disappointed. I was engaged from the first line and didn't want the story to end. The author has a fun writing style and I loved getting to know this couple as they navigated the obstacles in their relationship. There are some funny and heartwarming moments you will enjoy. - Diane, Amazon Reader 

This book had me laughing, smiling, and wanting to read it all over again! - Jessie C, Amazon Reader 

This was the perfect ending to The Georgia Moon books. I've been waiting for Ashlee and Beau's story for a while now. I was NOT disappointed! I loved it. It perfectly captured their romance. If you haven't read this series you need to. - Sarah, Amazon Reader  

         

  

That was all Beau needed to hear. He excused himself and made his way back to the buffet table. Several desserts were available to guests, but the pecan pie must have been popular. There was only one slice left. Just as he reached for the plate, someone else snatched the pie out from under him.
“Sorry, but I got it first.”
Recognizing the voice, he turned around and found Ashlee Nichols standing behind him. “That was my piece of pie,” he said, trying to sound annoyed.
“Not anymore.” She took a bite and made a big production of how good it tasted.
Beau watched her with amusement while taking his first real look at her in six years. He’d expected her to look exactly like Taylin, but there were subtle differences he’d never noticed before. Like the color of her eyes. They were a shade lighter, reminding him of a cove in the Mediterranean Sea he’d once vacationed at during his time abroad. Her mouth curved up, creating a slight dimple in her right cheek. Funny, Beau didn’t remember her having a dimple before.
Realizing he’d been staring, he gently cleared his throat. “You better hope they have more in the kitchen.”
“They don’t.” She used her fork to cut another bite and held it out toward him. “But I’m willing to share.”
Beau wasn’t sure why the comment made the back of his neck feel on fire. This was Ashlee—his eyes swept over her aqua-blue colored dress that accentuated curves he didn’t remember her having—just not a teenage version of Ashlee.
Whoa. Had he just checked out Chase’s little sister? Warmth flooded his chest, and he took a step away from her. “Thanks, but I need to cut back on carbs.”
“Right.” She twirled the fork around and made a slow perusal of him.
“What?” he said, feeling slightly off-balance under her scrutiny.
“I’m just imaginin’ what it would be like to run my fingers through your hair.”
Beau was grateful he had hair. He was positive the heat flushing his face would’ve made his scalp turn red too.
“Leave the poor guy alone,” Chase said, coming up beside his little sister.
“Where’s the fun in that?”
Rubbing the back of his neck, Beau glanced at Chase and tried to regain some normalcy. “Can you believe she stole the last piece of pecan pie?”
“Yes.”
“Hey,” she said with a laugh, “I offered to share.”
Beau watched her take another bite, an act that shouldn’t make his pulse kick up a notch.
    

 

  

Author Cindy Roland Anderson 

Cindy Roland Anderson writes clean, contemporary romance with a combination of humor, romantic tension and some pretty great kissing scenes. She and her husband, John, live in northern Utah, and have five amazing children. Their family has expanded by adding a son-in-law, a daughter-in-law, and six adorable grandchildren. She is a registered nurse and has worked in the NICU as well as the newborn nursery. She loves to read, almost as much as she loves writing. And she loves chocolate, probably a little too much. 

    

Giveaway Details $25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Giveaway Ends 3/3/18 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.   

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