A Cowboy to Keep by Karen Rock {Review and Giveaway}

A Cowboy to Keep by Karen Rock

Paperback, 384 pages

Expected publication: February 7th 2017 by Harlequin

Can't stop running from the past

Dani Crawford has a secret…and if bounty hunter Jackson Cade finds out, he could ruin everything. The scarred yet handsome cowboy has tracked a dangerous criminal to the dude ranch Dani manages, and to get rid of Jack she'll have to help him catch his man. But the closer they get to cornering their quarry the more Dani wants Jack to stay. Spending time with him is making her long for things she can never have thanks to a past mistake. And if the truth comes out she may be spending her future behind bars rather than safe in her cowboy's arms…

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My Review: 5 Stars

There's something very intriguing about a cowboy, especially one who is associated with danger, mystery, and suspense. And believe me, there's plenty of action--on the ranch, on the trail, and in the heart.

Jack is a bounty hunter and is posing as a wrangler on a dude ranch to try and catch his prey. With his jagged scar, handsome and rugged good looks, and swagger, he's a force to be reckoned with. Dani has a past that must stay hidden at all costs, yet she can't stop the growing attraction she feels towards Jack.

I love the way that Jack and Dani first meet--the sass, confidence, and stubbornness shines through and had me smiling and immediately crossing my fingers that they would get together. They are both super tough on the outside but marshmallows on the inside, and that combination sets up a fantastic romantic tension. There are events that occur as the story progresses that would have me in a melted puddle on the floor from all the stress, but these characters jump right in with their bravery and determination to figure things out. I love the way they learn to work together to solve the mysteries on the ranch and to resolve their pasts. The underlying chemistry is undeniable and so swoony--the harder they try to deny themselves the pleasures of love, the more the flames ignite. It's like trying to put out a grease fire with water.

This is a great story for those who enjoy contemporary Westerns with a good dose of mystery and suspense. I was engaged throughout the entire book and I was literally prying my eyelids open to finish the thing before falling asleep because I absolutely could not wait until morning. The story also gave me a nostalgic feeling--back to a time when men were tough but sweet gentlemen and made me long to live on a ranch in Colorado because of the vivid setting. This is the start to what's sure to be a fabulous new series!

Content: mild language (a handful of cuss words); mild violence (some danger, talk of death and drugs, etc); mild romance (kissing).

*I received an ARC, which in no way affected my thoughts and opinions, which are all my own.*

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Pre-order/Buy Links:

  

About the Author:

Karen Rock is an award-winning YA and adult contemporary author. She holds a Master of Fine Arts in English and worked as an ELA instructor before becoming a full-time author. Her Harlequin Heartwarming novel, A LEAGUE OF HER OWN, has won the 2015 National Excellence in Romance Fiction Award and the 2015 Booksellers Best Award. Her Heartwarming novel, WISH ME TOMORROW, has won the 2014 Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence and the 2014 Golden Quill Contest. Her co-authored YA novel, CAMP BOYFRIEND, has been a finalist in the Booksellers Best and Golden Leaf awards. When she's not writing, Karen loves scouring estate sales for vintage books, cooking her grandmother's family recipes, hiking and redesigning her gardens. She lives in the Adirondack Mountain region with her husband, daughter, and two lovable dogs who have yet to understand the concept of "fetch" though they know a lot about love. http://www.karenrock.com

GIVEAWAY:

Enter to win a copy of A Cowboy to Keep. Ends 2/6/17.

You can win a print copy if you live in the US or an ebook if you are INT.

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