Promise Me, Cowboy by C.J. Carmichael

Reviewed by Desere 


Some woman have the unfortunate luck of falling for a man that has already been taken to the altar, finding out before things go too far is always a bonus but when it gets to the point where his pregnant wife is pointing a loaded gun at you after catching you buck naked in the arms of her husband, now that has no bonus at all expect maybe of course that you now no better and you will surely never be making the same mistake again.

In this read from author C.J. Carmichael we get to know Sage and how her life takes a fall for the worse when her biggest mistake did-I-forget-to-mention-I am-married Dawson comes walking back into her life.

She hates the man, she never wanted to be the other woman and she has never been able to shake off the feelings of guilt and despair, and all he is to her is a reminder of her moment of weakness.

But she has moved on and built a good life for herself and she does not need Dawson shaking things up, ignore him and carry on is the only option she has until she learns there is a little more behind the one wild ride she had with Dawson and the gun baring wife that caught them.

The character of Sage was one I could sympathise with, as we all make mistakes but we also learn from our mistakes, if it does not break us it makes us stronger and this is the case for Sage. She does not go and lie down, she gets back up and moves on , yet she does not let go of the guilt.

Through this the author showed that even though we learn from our mistake, get up and move on the guilt that stays with us and that clouds our judgement in such a manner that anger gets the better of us and we never really let go unless we find the healing with in ourselves, by digging for truth.

I am not saying that Sage's reaction to discovering Dawson is married was uncalled for, only that I think we need to remember there is always too sides to a story and maybe over reacting is never the best route to take, maybe try to let someone explain before making a decision.

The character of Dawson was yes a jerk for taking Sage to bed whilst married but as the read progressed the author showed him to be very different from the man that Sage makes him out to be, even though he cheated there was a story behind his actions and he only needed a chance to let it out.

The backdrop settings and dialogue was well incorporated and it all felt nice and homey. I am taking away a message of secrets are never a good thing and being straight about it all from the start go will always end better, and never ever judge a person by their past actions everyone deserves a second chance.

I recommend this read for all fans of small town romance reads , a thrilling, exciting and sensual read.

5 star review
" He promises her the world, but can she believe him?" 

Copy received in exchange for a honest review.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Reviewed by Nas

PROMISE ME, COWBOY by author C.J.Carmichael is a Montana Rodeo series release by Tule Publishing for November 2013.

Sage Carrigan has almost recovered from her humiliation of five years before when in walks rodeo cowboy Dawson O’Dell back in her life and in her chocolate shop. She doesn’t want him. She has never forgiven him.

But Dawson has come to stay for the long haul. And he has a young daughter with him.

Would Sage ever forgive him?  The chemistry between them still sizzled. Could it turn to something permanent?

PROMISE ME, COWBOY is a humorous story with steamy sensuality and heart-tugging pathos. C J Carmichael has written a fun, engrossing and fascinating story of heart-ache amid all the rodeo action and drama which will keep a reader involved in the story from the first page.

Recommended for all lovers of romance.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Reviewed by Shirley


 Five years ago after a nasty accident while barrel racing, Sage Carrigan had left the rodeo circuit. After going home and healing, she knew she disappointed her father by refusing to rejoin the circuit or work on his beloved ranch. Instead, she opened a sinfully, decadent sweet shop named Copper Mountain Chocolates. She loved her little shop, her family and the town but buried in her heart she has a secret. The day of the accident her competing career was not the only thing she lost. Her world was shattered when the man she loved and who said he had loved her had his own secret...a wife. Now, with the Copper Mountain Rodeo in town, Dawson has presumed to darken her door once again with a long overdue apology. It was too little, too late. So if it was and she was so hardhearted against him, why did she feel the stirrings of love in her heart?

His wife had sworn they were through. She was finally getting a divorce. Dawson O'Dell believed her words and started an easy friendship with Sage that matured into love over several months. His wife's abrupt arrival in his trailer while he was with Sage was as shocking to Dawson as it was to Sage. Shock held him in place while Sage ran weeping from the trailer and then subsequently disappeared. Five years was a long time to wait to deliver an apology, but life had gotten in the way. He still loved her and he would move mountains to gain her love again. Would she ever forgive him or love him again, or now that he has extra baggage, would she push him to the curb and forget him?

I found this story a quick, easy read. Well developed characters wove a tale of romance, forgiveness, and the rodeo scene. Between the descriptions of the rodeo and the scenery, I was given a deeper insight into this world of cowboys and cowgirls and their love of the rodeo.

I would recommend this book to all romance readers.

I was given an ARC from the author for an honest review.

5/5 stars   Was her heart too broken to give forgiveness?

Rodeo Sweethearts by Lilian Darcy

Reviewed by Desere 

Married for over thirty years is quite the achievement for many couples but behind those always rosy looking years there is always a few secrets that have taught the couple something valuable in life.

In this really, really short little read coming in at only fifteen pages, it tells the story of Rob and Melinda, parents of five children and the difficulties of living with a life changing secret, the effects it has on their relationship and the road forward.

I was a little amazed when the secret was revealed because under normal circumstances in a small town things like this would not go unnoticed as almost everyone knows everything about everyone even with Melinda appearing in town so little. In small towns things always have a way of getting out, never the less when revealed I could understand why Melinda kept the secret, it takes a strong courageous person to get up and go on as best they can while all the time hiding what is really going on.

I liked the tension between Rob and Melinda over if the secret needs to get revealed or not, but it was not super extreme as in other reads where it builds and builds to where there is simply no stopping the bomb from exploding and then it is mostly overdone, this however did not make the read any less interesting as the author made sure to carry the message across that when married for a really long time couples are aware that major tension situations accompanied by major shouting and yelling and name calling simply is not worth the energy.

I am taking away a message of time changes everything but it is not always for the worst, sometimes it is life's way of slowing us down, and showing us that when change comes it is better to embrace it then to hide it, for when we hide it, all it will accomplish is us living in fear, ageing us , stressing us out and placing too much strain on the relationships with the ones we love.

A emotional heartfelt read !

4.5 star review
"Love can stand the test of time, when facing secrets together" 

Upon release this will be a free read

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Reviewed by Nas

RODEO SWEETHEARTS by author Lilian Darcy is a Montana Rodeo series novella by Tule Publishing in 2013.

Melinda and Rob are Jamie MacCreadie’s parents from Lilian Darcy’s Marry Me, Cowboy.

They have a secret they are divided over whether to share with their five children or not. Melinda and Rob were young rodeo sweethearts and had shared their first kiss at a rodeo.

Would Rob be able to get Melinda to agree to share her secret?

RODEO SWEETHEARTS is a sweet romance which shows trust and love matures with age in a relationship. I loved reading this story.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Reviewed by Shirley


 " In sickness and in health". One of the traditional vows that a couple pledges to each other on their wedding day. A vow to be there for each other regardless of the states of their health. Some couples handle these changes in circumstances well and sometimes they don't. In this very short story, Lilian Darcy provides a glimpse into what this means to Rob and Melinda MacCreadie.

Kind, sweet and still lovely at 47, Melinda MacCreadie tries to organize herself and her household. She writes lists detailing chores for the day, but they never seem to get done. It's not because she doesn't want to, but because of her secret. Never wanting anyone's pity or resentment from her children that she is sure will come, she refuses adamantly to her husband's requests to share their secret. Although she is terrified of crowds, she wants to see her son, Jamie, compete at the rodeo, but it also stirs memories of her dating days with Rob. While reliving these memories and enjoying watching her son, she still ponders. Is she right in her decision to keep her secret or is she causing undue hardship on others?

Still handsome and fit at 47, Rob MacCreadie tries not to get frustrated or irritated with his wife. He knew the vagueness and lack of organization were not really her fault, but he wished she would let him tell others why. He would still love her, the children would still love her, and their friends would still love her, but he knew she was afraid. So he ponders the same question. Would it be better or worse for others if the secret was revealed?

While I sympathized with Rob's frustration, I admired the calm, loving care he had for his slightly vague, disorganized wife. On the other hand, I felt the emotions as Melinda tried to work through her dilemma with each turn of the page. I enjoyed this story. It filled in some of the background of Jamie's parents' lives who were introduced in Marry Me Cowboy by Lilian Darcy. Although it was extra short, it was well written, characters were well developed, and a lot of information was packed within the pages.

I would recommend this to any romance readers.

I was given a copy by the author for an honest review.

4/5 stars. Should the secret remain theirs alone or should they share it?  

   

Marry Me Cowboy by Lilian Darcy

Reviewed by Desere 


The story has been portrayed in films the world over and has popped up in many books, marriage of convenience !

But in real life when you marry someone either for money, business or to obtain a green-card it does not always turn out to be love found and happy ever after.

But lucky for us romance readers it is the case in books! In this short read from author Lilian Darcy she tells of Tegan, she has been living in the US and living the dream, she is so not ready to go back home to Australia, her brilliant solution to her little dilemma is to marry Chet.

But at the last minute Chet backs out of the deal and she is left holding the bouquet so to speak. She however finds her luck is in when Chet's friend Jamie steps up to the plate and take his place.

He has no interest in marriage to a woman he has no feelings for but a man has to do what a man has to do to help a lady in distress. It is only when he get's up close and personal with Tegan that his world starts spinning out of control faster than you can say ready, set, GO!

The author did a fantastic job at packing in loads of emotion and passion in this little read. The characters were well developed and I felt connected to each one, loved the different little quirks of each one, it made the read very real as it reminded me that we all have secrets and we all have different goals and when having to face them head on it all comes down to what truly lies in our hearts.

It was fun, sexy and had my attention from page one, I loved the moments of conflict. This is the second read in The Copper Mountain Rodeo series by various authors and just like the first one it was very short but it did pack a punch. It did not feel dragged out to get the big moment but then again being a short read I did not expect it to, however in some short reads the authors do not always manage to give it all in a few chapters and I have often been left feeling empty and thinking the read is a waste of time.

But author Lilian Darcy gave me as reader everything I wanted and did so masterfully! I highly recommend this read for all fans of cowboy romance reads, short and fun and the perfect little afternoon escape into a world of boot scooting romance!

5/5 star review
" Grab your boots it's time to drag a cowboy to the altar" 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Reviewed by Nancy Crocker

Born and raised in Australia, champion barrel racer Tegan Ash wanted to travel the world on the rodeo circuit before tying herself to the family ranch. But shortly after arriving in the United States, her Father and Stepmother sold her dream home. Now she feels there is no reason to return to her native Australia. But with her Visa about to run out in six weeks, she will have to leave or get married.

Jamie MacCreadie left behind the family ranch to seek his thrills on the rodeo circuit also. He lives for the excitement of riding and roping and just maybe winning a few championships along the way. For almost two years he and Tegan have been bickering with each other. A great friend to his good buddy Chet, he worries about Chet’s heavy drinking..   

Fellow rodeo friend Chet Wyndham has offered to marry Tegan. But when the day finally arrives he can’t follow through. Not because he doesn’t think the world of his good friend. He has been carrying around a big secret and instead of confiding in his family and friends; he has been drowning his sorrows in alcohol.

Jamie MacCreadie butts heads with Tegan Ash on a daily basis. So no one is more surprised than Tegan when Jamie offers to marry her. I thought for such a short novel the author was still able to give a full story here. The relationship was believable, and the passion was really good.  I also thought the author did a good job of showing two people who fought so much really were more alike than they first thought. I also enjoyed the how both families were brought into the story.

I recommend this book to lovers of romance with a western theme.

Favorite lines:

“Shoot, you really are romantic.”

“I can be. You wait.”

“Till when?”

“Till next time.”

“You better be a little bit romantic this time, Jamie MacCreadie, or there might not be a next.”

“You going to just keep talking?”

“That’s right, you don’t like that, do you?”

“Neither do you, didn’t you just decide?” He pulled on her hips and brought the two of them together again, groin to groin, junk to junk. Did girls have junk?

5/5 stars

I received an ARC of this book from the Author in exchange for an honest review.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Reviewed by Nas

MARRY ME, COWBOY? By author Lilian Darcy is a Montana Rodeo series release by Tule Publishing for October 2013.

Australian Tegan Ash is on a trip to US, so she can get the travel itch out of the way before she settled down at her family’s farm. Without asking her, the farm was sold by her family.

Being out on the rodeo circuit, she decides to settle on in US. But who would marry her for the green card? She manages to get a friend agree, but he pulls out at the last minute. She blames Jamie MacCreadie, because he has always been a bad influence.

What she doesn’t realize is the reason she is antagonized by Jamie is because she is attracted to him. Then they are thrown together and sparks fly.

But it’s nearly time for her to go back to Australia, would she just leave Jamie and go now? Would Jamie stop her from going?

MARRY ME, COWBOY is a well-written romance. It showcases the rodeo circuit and I loved it. I was hooked from the first page and finished reading till late at night.

Highly recommended for lovers of romance.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Reviewed by Shirley



 People will marry without love for a variety of reasons. Wealth, power, land, prestige, honor or pregnancy are just a few of them, but Tegan Ash didn't want to marry for any of those reasons. She just needed a green card to pursue her dream. Now that Chet won't help her, was six weeks long enough to find another willing man to marry her, or was she destined to return to Australia, her dreams unfulfilled? Honestly, Tegan no longer knew.

Coming to America eighteen months before under a sponsorship, marriage was the last thing on her mind. She wanted to follow the rodeo circuit, competing in barrel racing, before finally settling down to run her parents' farm. Now, she has lost her sponsorship to younger, better riders, according to her sponsor, the family farm has been sold from under her, and her proposed fiance has jilted her at the altar. And the largest crowning glory to her troubles, Chet's sarcastic, insensitive, bad influencing but handsome best friend has just jokingly offered to marry her. She couldn't do that...could she? They didn't even like each other. Or was their animosity a cover for a different kind of awareness?

Wanting to follow the rodeo for a few years to sow his wandering urges, Jamie MacCreadie and Chet had a partnered up for the circuit. Jamie always had plans to return to the farm, but until then, he sent most of his winnings home to help with the farm's improvements. He had tried to make his family understand his position, but their relationship was still strained. Now he had created a new problem. Jokingly, he had offered to take Chet's place with the abrupt, flashy, hard-edged Tegan. What had made him offer? After all, they didn't even like each other... or did they? Was that enmity between them just a smoke screen for a much more basic form of awareness?

I found this a fun, easy read. The writing, dialogue, and descriptions flowed smoothly to make for an enjoyable story. I would recommend this to all romance readers.

I received a copy from the author for an honest review.

5/5 stars   Would she stay or would she go???