Tuesday, April 30, 2019

Review: Cowboy, Cross My Heart (Heart of Texas #2)

Cowboy, Cross My Heart (Heart of Texas #2)

by Donna Grant 

Blurb:
Naomi Pierce isn't the type to let a cowboy sweep her off feet. It's not her first rodeo, after all. But when she returns to her Texas hometown, she can't help but be swept up again in the rough-and-tumble world of hard-riding, bronco-busting good-ol'-boys she loved as a girl. She might be here to photograph her Rodeo Queen best friend. But it's one fine-looking cowboy who really captures her eye...
Brice Harper is all man, all muscle, and all heart. From the moment he rides into the stadium, he can't help but notice the beautiful stranger with a camera watching him from the stands. It doesn't take a zoom lens to see the sparks of instant attraction. But things really heat up when he meets Naomi up-close--and he discovers that someone is stalking her friend. Brice wouldn't be any kind of cowboy if he didn't offer to help the ladies out. But can the rough rider keep this spirited shutterbug out of danger--without risking his heart?
Themes: Contemporary
Rating: 3.75 stars
Heat Rating: 
Review:
I have always been skeptical of when a beloved author, one that has become so entrenched in my library and my reading habits, suddenly branches into an all new world.  Sometimes it works out beautifully and sometimes the trauma of the experience even makes me hesitant to return to their “normal” work.  Luckily for me, Donna Grant’s departure from paranormal romance and into the sexy and romantic world of Texas cowboys fell into the former category and not the latter. The first story in her series was a good read, with an amazing story of a young man in way over his head and the hero who took him under his wing and in the process feel in love with the young man’s older sister.  This new story in the series is about that young man himself who has grown into an amazingly sexy and accomplished rodeo champion and cattleman.   Brice has worked long and hard to make up for the mistakes of his past and model himself after the older brother he acquired in that first book and he has done well in both regards.  When he comes across a woman, who that he previously felt and intense connection with from far away, being attacked there was no way he was not going to intervene to save her.  But little did either of them know that by saving her from the attacker, they would both be put into the crosshairs of a sadistic and dangers group of men, bent on protecting their sick way of life. Naomi has returned home for a long visit with her best friend who has made it to the top in the rodeo pageant circuit to finally find herself the queen, but in doing so she discovers that her friend has changed dramatically and there is something not quite right going on around the rodeo.  Together Brice and Naomi are pushed into danger again and again and finally, working together with his family and friends, they come to understand that this danger goes back a long time and they need to so everything they can to stop it, before someone else dies.  I Loved getting to know this adult version of Brice and seeing him in action.  While Grant glossed over his time in the military, it was obvious the skills he learned there and from his brother-in-law made him into the great man he became.  Sexy, alpha, and willing to do whatever it takes to protect his woman and family—honestly what more could any woman ask for in a mate? Naomi herself was a bit of an enigma in the beginning, but I came to like her more and more as she showed her spunky and sassy side, while defending herself and her loved ones from danger.  I have to use the cliché but here it just fits, you might take the girl out of Texas but you can’t take the Texas out of the girl. Naomi’s return home reminds her of just what is important in life and that she is strong enough to stand up for what is right and what needs to be changed in the world. The passion between these two is palpable every second they are on the pages, even when it is just their eyes locking before their first official introduction, and though their feelings developed quickly, it is obvious their feelings for one another run deep and true and will last a lifetime.  I am dying to read the next story in this series and see Brice’s younger brother fall in love.  I suspect I know who will steal his heart, but until I get to read it myself I will just keep hoping I am right.  Another magical cowboy moment, Donna, keep ‘em coming!
*ebook provided by publisher (via netgalley) for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review.  No compensation was provided.

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