Bonus Day: Two Reviews

Review One: A Cowboy's Heart
By J.M. Snyder

Publisher JMS Books LLC

ASIN: B007773PPG

Transgender, erotica, GBLT, historical

Every now and then I read a GBLT title to brush up on what’s being published. This time I saw J.M. Synder’s, A Cowboy’s Heart, as a free download. Since I’d never read the author’s work before, I thought I’d give one of her titles a shot.

And I was pleasantly surprised.

As many of you know, I’m really difficult to please when it comes to reading material. Seriously, you have no idea how many books I wade through because they’re A) poorly written, B) poorly edited, C) a Yawnsville plot, and D) the list goes on. If the first chapter doesn’t suck me in and if after leafing through it reading a few pages here and there the book still doesn’t interest me, I usually toss it aside or hit the delete button. So, when I opened A Cowboy’s Heart on my iPad, it was nice to find something that intrigued me.

The main hero, Tommy, is young (19 if my memory serves) and just learning about his sexuality, but he knows he yearns for the touch of the same sex and he’s smitten with his boss, Hal. They work on a ranch, so whenever the other hired hands go to town to buy the painted ladies’ time at the bar, Tommy dreams of being with Hal. However, one payday his co-workers drag him to the local watering hole and that’s where Tommy meets “Lila”, one of the “soiled doves.”

There’s just one problem—well, a problem as Lila sees it. She’s not who she appears to be. Then a second half to her problem arises. She finds herself drawn to Tommy, and when Tommy keeps coming back to see her, things start to snowball until the two find themselves falling in love. As a result, Tommy realizes a few things about his feelings for his boss, Hal, too.

Now, when I review, I don’t give away the entire plot. Suffice it to say that the historical elements are wonderful right down to the clothing and the setting. The plot is good, and Ms. Snyder’s writing style is pleasant and kept me reading.

But one thing about this novel truly kept me turning pages: Lila’s POV. I found her side of the story much more interesting, and it compelled me to find out more about her, why she chose to don the garb of a saloon harlot, and what made her tick as a person. I also got a kick out of the madam who first discovered Lila’s secret. When I read the line where she told Lila the eye color she was using just wasn’t her, I burst out laughing because I saw and heard the madam in my head so clearly. Making me laugh out loud while reading is a tough thing to do, so kudos to you, J.M.!

If you enjoy the GLBT genres with a historical flair, I highly recommend A Cowboy’s Heart, and if you’d like to buy the book, click on the cover above or the link below and either one will take you to the author’s page where you can scroll down and find links to several of your favorite e-book distributors. Or, if you’re one of those diehard Amazon shoppers, you can find the book HERE.

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Review Two: Unspoken Promises

By Becca Dale

Publisher: Decadent Publishing

Contemporary romance, cowboys, western

Sometimes I cuss my wireless Internet until the air turns blue. I went through trials of cyber fire to download Unspoken Promises by Becca Dale. Often when this happens, I end up so frustrated I say “Aw, the hell with it!” and I give up. However, as an author and an editor who has penned and edited western romances, I’ve been very intrigued by Decadent Publishing’s new Western Escape line. I was determined to get my free copy.

Three distributor’s sites would not cooperate with my wireless provider. Finally, after about thirty minutes of aggravation, I managed to get the book from Smashwords, crawled onto the bed, and opened the title on my iPad.

Bear in mind that Unspoken Promises is a short story. However, the author’s writing style is so professional and fluid it took me only seconds to fall in love with the story. My only complaint is that it was too short. In just a few minutes I grew very attached to Treynor, the hero, and Billie, the heroine.

There’s a misunderstanding that threatens their love, and when Billie has grown up seeing lies between her parents forgiven over and over, she fears the worst when Treynor is seen with another woman.

True love, new beginnings, determined hearts, and a great backdrop of a western town, a small farm with a lovely quarter horse, and a handsome cowboy who can melt a nun’s panties...what more could you ask for? So, I’m happy I kept fighting my wireless provider until I could download this li’l gem.

Now go get Unspoken Promises and enjoy a quick, lovely read!

Download at Decadent Publishing, but you can also get it at Bookstrand.com, Are.com, and Smashwords.com.

Disclaimer: all books reviewed by 4SW have been purchased or are free offers downloaded by the individual reviewer; some may even be borrowed from our local libraries. 

Practical Jokes

Help us welcome erotic romance author Randi Alexander. She writes about cowboys. Apparently, she's into practical jokes and includes that humor in her books. A woman after my own heart. (grin)

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One sunny day, my husband were gardening, and I stuck a flower in my hair, over my ear. Hubby thought it was cute and found another flower to put over my other ear, then one in the bit of cleavage showing above my tank top. After about an hour, we needed to run to the garden center. He drove, or I would have noticed that both the flowers were still in my hair. And the daisy was still in my bosom.

Of course, it's a neighborhood store, so we ran into people we knew, and I couldn't figure out why everyone was smiling at me. And why hubby was smiling at me, too. Not his normal, 'Love 'ya babe!' smile, but a goofy old grin. In the truck on the way home, he burst out laughing. "Look in the mirror." I didn't have to. In that split second, I knew I'd forgotten about the flowers. I must have looked like a hippie to our friends. And the other shoppers. And the store employees. Hubby had a good laugh, and I did chuckle a little. So, Hubby-1, Wifey-0. But not for long.

After supper a couple nights later, hubby asked if we had any sweets. I pulled out the remaining Halloween candy, which was definitely the bottom of the bucket miscellany. He chose a blue sucker, something that came in the variety pack I'd bought. But he was happily slurping away on it.

Then he remembered he had to run to the drug store to get his prescription and asked if I wanted to go along for the ride. I turned to tell him I'd rather not when I noticed his lips were bright blue. Ah, I thought. That's why the sucker was shaped like a paintbrush.

Fighting to keep my wicked 'She's up to something!' smile from ruining this perfect opportunity, I jumped up, grabbed the truck keys, and said, "I'll drive." He shrugged, still working on that very blue sucker.

He finished it as we walked into the drug store, and we headed directly back to the pharmacy counter. We would usually split up, and I'd putter around, doing my little bits of shopping, but that night, I stuck to him like a thistle.

The pharmacist, jotting something on her pad, said, "May I help you?"

"Picking up a prescription for Alexander," he said.

"All right. Just a..." She glanced at him and did a classic double-take, then leaned in closer to examine the blue-lip phenomena.

Hubby stiffened, then smiled, unsure.

I gave it all away, though. With my hand over my mouth, I was holding back laughter, which always makes me snort like a truffle hog. And added to it, my eyes were watering with the pain of keeping it all inside.

Hubby looked at me, then back at the pharmacist. "What did she do now?" He was referring to the other ten or twelve dozen pranks I'd pulled on him during our short but interesting marriage.

She pulled out a little mirror and with a smile and a wink, she showed him.

While she was retrieving his prescription, he stood licking his lips madly, but the blue was pretty much on there for good. "I know what this is," he said between savage licks. "Payback for the flower-in-the-boobies thing, right?"

"Mm...hm. We're all tied up now. Hubby-1, Wifey-1." I love my husband.

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Blurb:

Country music superstar/actor Chase Tanner has yet to be denied anything-and he's never wanted anything or anyone more than gorgeous screenplay writer Reno Linden. So when the film they are working on is finally finished, Chase decides to turn up the volume on seducing Reno.

Reno Linden lived a quiet, rural life until she was thrust into the Hollywood scene when her book was adapted to film. Chase Tanner is larger than life, sinfully sexy and hell-bent on getting her into bed. Skittish after a failed wedding engagement, Reno risks the plunge into Chase's arms, and is surprised that her good girl self can keep up with bad boy Chase.

Though Chase returns to his cowboy roots often, and Reno cherishes the time spent with him on his ranch, the two find their careers pulling them in different directions. Will their attraction survive the glitz and stress of fame?

EXCERPT: Over 18 only

Chase's sports car sat in the driveway and after settling Reno in the passenger seat, he jumped in. He squealed the tires out of the driveway then slowed to cruise along the quiet neighborhood streets.

On a flat stretch, he took her hand. "Reno." His brow furrowed, but he didn't say more.

She watched his profile as they meandered past million dollar houses. The quiet time together was what she needed, yet so poignant it hurt. She'd miss him. Her phone beeped in her purse, and she sighed. "That's my reminder. I have to get to the airport."

He pulled over at a spot with a view of a canyon, and tightened his grip on her hand. "One more day, Reno. I promise I'll make it worth the cost of another plane ticket."

Chase gritted his teeth and fought the urge to steal her away. He wasn't ready to let her go.

Reno stared at him, her eyes sad and slightly red from her tears. Her hand smoothed over his cheek. "I wish I could. But the studio is flying me home in one of their jets. On their way to Canada to pick up some execs who are fishing, or hunting, or something."

He opened his mouth to say he'd arrange for another flight, but she cut him off.

"I have a meeting with my agent tomorrow morning. And..." She sucked in a choppy breath. "...putting it off is just going to make things harder. I need to get home."

"All right." He released her hand, drove to the airport, and found the studio's hangar. Both of them silent.

He wanted to argue. To swing a U-turn and kidnap her. To beg for one more day. But she was right. The closer they got to each other, the harder it would be for them to be apart.

He helped her out of the car and walked her to the plane's steps. This was tough. He didn't know how to say goodbye.

To celebrate the release of Chase and Seduction, I'm giving away, to one lucky *commenter, an e-copy of my novella Her Cowboy Stud. Just leave a comment today and we'll choose a winner tomorrow. *Commenter must be 18 years of age or older to win.

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I'm also giving away a cowgirl hat to one subscriber to my newsletter. For more details, and to sign up for this contest, please go to my website, RandiAlexander.com. And while you're there, you can read the first chapter of Chase and Seduction.

Good luck, and thank you!

Randi's site's:

• RandiAlexander.com
• WildAndWickedCowboysBlog

Buy Chase and Seduction at The Wild Rose Press Wilder Roses