Review: Running Wild by Linda Howard and Linda Jones

Running Wild
by Linda Howard and Linda Jones
Series: The Men from Battle Ridge #1
Publisher: Random House/Ballentine
Publication date: November 27, 2012
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Purchase: Barnes and Noble/Amazon/Book Depository
Source: purchase 
*purchase through buy links supports this blog

In book 1 of this steamy new contemporary Western romance series by two blockbuster authors, a cowboy and a woman on the run take a stand and fight for love. Carlin Reed lives in fear, off the grid, moving from place to place. So Battle Ridge, Wyoming, a small town in the middle of nowhere, seems like a good place to lie low for a while. But after becoming cook and housekeeper to cattle rancher Zeke Decker, Carlin suspects that she’s made her first mistake. Rugged, sexy, and too distracting for his own good, Zeke is pure temptation mixed with something deep and primal that makes Carlin feel almost safe. Soon things are getting way too hot in the kitchen. Zeke doesn't challenge Carlin’s terms: cash, dead bolts, and no questions. It is easy to see that she’s a woman in trouble. Problem is, he’s so blindsided by his attraction to her he can’t think straight. Zeke tries to stay all business, no complications—but that game plan is sabotaged the second Carlin gets under his skin. And when her terrifying past follows her to the ranch, Carlin faces a heartbreaking choice: run away from the man she loves, or put him in the crosshairs of a madman.

One of my favorite genres is romantic suspense and  when you add a smexy, drop dead gorgeous cowboy, this little woman is a happy reader. I read Dani @ Paulette’s Papers  review of Running Wild where she declared she was reading this over and over!  *Naturally I bought it!* Howard and Jones provided me with a suspenseful thriller and a delicious romance. I literally consumed this full size novel in one sitting.

The tale begins when we meet Carlin Reed as she anxiously looks in traffic for signs of a familiar blue car. Carlin is on the run from a bad date turned stalker. When she fears him closing  in she heads north and finds herself in a place called Battle Ride, Wyoming. She ends up becoming a cook and housekeeper to cattle ranch owner Zeke Decker and the tale that unfolds has humor, romance and danger. I became completely swept up in this fast paced tale and its delightful characters.

Carlin Reed is sweet, determined, confident and deathly afraid. Living off the radar, Battle Ridge seems safe at least for a little while. I really admired Carlin, and laughed at some of her escapades.  Zeke is a cowboy trough and through and totally swoon-worthy. He works hard, has a ferocious appetite and is good to his employees. He is not looking for a woman, he’s been there done that! There is only one problem; Carlin. The dance these too waltzed was sweet, hot and endearing. As a couple I felt the spark from their first encounter. I love wicked banter and their chemistry was intoxicating. Zeke’s patience and handling of Carlin stole my heart as did the crew. The folks in Battle Ridge are exactly what you would expect in a small town with all the charming qualities. Kat, the diner owner was a hoot and the cow-hands on the ranch provided humorous and heartwarming moments. A few of the secondary character were developed and I am hoping we get their story. Of course the stalker was creepy and getting inside his head gave me the shivers.

Small town romances always offer such wonderful, colorful characters and I love watching the romance unfold and the humorous side of life in rural America. Running Wild added a suspenseful thriller to the plot and it captivated me as I turned page after page in search of resolution and my HEA. The writing and pacing of the overall arc was well done, and the romantic aspect felt genuine and built slowly. The collaboration was well done, and their voice blended to create a fast paced, entertaining and suspenseful read.

Running Wild will appeal to both readers of suspense and romance. I am looking forward to the next book in this series.

Four cups of Mountain Brewed Coffee out of five

Review: Against the Odds by Kat Martin

Against the Odds
by Kat Martin
Series: Raines of Wind Canyon #7
Publisher: Harlequin 
Publication date: December 18, 2012
Genre: Adult Contemporary Romantic Suspense
Purchase*:Barnes and Noble/Amazon/Book Depository
*purchase through buy links supports this blog

"Mr. Justice! Mr. Justice, can you give us a moment of your time?"Sabrina Eckhart stared at the news broadcast on KTRK-TV. She had watched the segment run on an earlier edition, but found herself watching it again. The reporter, a small man with dark hair and a determined expression, hurried to keep up with Alex Justice's long strides as he walked out of the downtown Houston Police Department building. "Mr. Justice!" At the sight of several TV cameras, Alex's steps reluctantly slowed. "Everyone in the city is grateful for what you did," the reporter said. "People are calling you a hero. What do you think about that?" The man thrust a microphone into Alex's handsome face. Six two, dark blond hair and blue eyes, always dressed as if he'd just stepped out of a GQ magazine, Alex Justice was an amazing-looking man. "I'm a private investigator," Alex said. "I did what I was paid to do—find evidence that would identify the killer of a ten-year-old girl. I was lucky enough to make that happen. There's nothing heroic about it." "It's been said you'll do anything to catch your man. Is that true?" Alex just kept walking. There wasn't a glimpse of the deep dimples bracketing his mouth that Rina remembered so well. She hadn't seen him in more than six months, not since the day her best friend, Sage Du-mont, married Jake Cantrell, one of Alex's best friends.

Kat Martin always entertains me with her ex-military alpha males and the woman who finally win their playboy hearts. Against the Odds is the seventh book from the Raines of Wind Canyon series but don’t let that scare you as each works as a standalone. In this novel we get smexy Alex Justice story and a side story regarding his sister and a totally lovable carpenter. Filled with action, suspense and a hot sizzling romance with just enough heat I quickly consumed this.

Alex works with his former military buddies at a security firm in Houston, and he has just collected DNA evidence that leads to the arrest of a child killer. He met hot little redhead Sabrina Eckhart at his best friend’s wedding and while there were sparks she clearly didn’t like him, so he is surprised and intrigued when she hires him to help her explore a mine she inherited from her Uncle Walter. As a former navy pilot he flies them down in his plane to West Texas and then rents a helicopter to explore the 3,000 acres. When the helicopter malfunctions things get a little heated, as events begin to occur leading him to believe that someone wants Sabrina dead. The tale that unfolds has two suspenseful threads with romances that kept me turning the pages.

Martin has a knack for creating characters that I end up rooting for. They are flawed noble and completely swoon-worthy. Alex Justice with his six-foot frame and piercing blue eyes is no exception. Despite his playboy ways, women from his past respect him and that says a lot. He is dedicated to his work and loyal to his friends and I loved how Sabrina got under his skin. Sabrina had a lucrative career in the stock marketing until the economy took a dump and now finds her net assets depleted so the prospect of a mine excites her. She finds Alex smexy and intriguing but doesn't see them going anywhere. The more she learns about him the deeper she falls. I actually liked her, and despite her need to be in the middle of it all she was pretty leveled headed. The suspects, old characters and Alex’s sister added humor, suspense and romance to the tale.

The world building and weaving of the two storylines was solid, intense and captivated me. Sabrina’s inheritance and the threats against her and others made for intense moments and action packed scenes as it thrust the couple together. The second tale regarding the child killer added an extra layer of suspense that had me flipping the pages searching for a happy ending.  Sabrina felt genuine and as the reader it was obvious to us how Alex was feeling but watching him figure it all out was fun and honestly I only wanted to bop him on the head a few times. I loved the banter, the tender moments and of course the heat. Martin gives you just enough heat to let your imagination soar and it’s one of the things I like about her romances as the suspense is front and center.

Against the Odds was a wonderful romantic suspense and a lovely addition to the Raines of Wind Canyon series. Tomorrow on the blog I will be sharing my thoughts on Against the Edge book eight.

Four cups of chocolate mocha coffee out of five

Big Sky Mountain by Linda Lael Miller

Big Sky Mountain
by Linda Lael Miller
Series: Swoon-Worthy Cowboys #2
Publisher: Harlequin
Publication date: July 31, 2012
Purchase:Barnes and Noble/Amazon/Book Depository

With his rugged good looks, vast wealth and family name, hell-raiser Hutch Carmody is still the golden boy of Parable, Montana. But he's done some growing up-making peace with his illegitimate half brother and inheriting half of Whisper Creek Ranch, which should have been all his. These days, Hutch knows there are some things money can't buy: like the heart of loving, ladylike divorcé e Kendra Shepherd. 
Kendra's quiet mansion reminds her of what she wants most-a devoted husband and the pitter-patter of little feet. She can't get Hutch Carmody out of her mind. But a rough-and-tumble cowboy like Hutch, coming home for family dinner? Seems crazy! Then again, crazier dreams have become reality under the vast Montana sky.(synopsis from Goodreads)

Big Sky Mountain is the second novel, in Linda Leal Miller’s, Swoon-Worthy Cowboys series. We find ourselves back in Parable, Montana. This time she shares Hutch and Kendra' tale. This was a funny, sweet, small town romance.  I enjoyed visiting Parable again and the characters who reside there. Each of these novels can be read as a standalone, but I like getting to know all of the characters and recommend reading them in order.

This tale picks up almost nine months from where the last book ended, and Hutch is about to make a serious mistake, luckily he sees the light, but it has put him in the spotlight. To make matters worse Kendra Shepherd, the woman who broke his heart is back in town with a child in tow. Every time he sees her he is reminded of what could have been. Kendra has returned to give her daughter the chance to grow up secure in a small town. She is selling her mansion size home and looking for the perfect little house to set up their new life. The last thing she needs is Hutch Carmody messing things up. How does he manage to unnerve her just by being in the same room with her. The tale that unfolds is at times comical as these two wrestle with their fears and the obvious attraction they both feel.

I love the characters in Parable and it was nice seeing them again. Hutch is finally making peace with his bastard brother and hopes the drama dies down soon. Hutch is sweet, stubborn and loveable. With his devilish good lucks he has Kendra’s heart all a flutter. Kendra has had a rough life, raised in a trailer park by a grandmother who didn’t want her, and she has made quite a few mistakes.  She is a mom now and determined to be a good one. Her real estate business is successful and she has a plan. If only she had someone to share it with. Madison, Kendra’s four year old daughter stole the show in this novel. She is a little spit-fire and added humor and drama to the mix. I absolutely adored this little ginger haired girl. We learn more about Tara and her neighbor, who I believe will be the next story. Opal is back with all her spunky and meddling ways. I love this woman and her over the top obvious advice was humorous. Everyone looking for love should have an Opal in their corner. We get to see Slade and Joslyn and the other townsfolk. I enjoyed visiting them and getting updates on their lives.

This tale moved at a slower pace than the first novel, but I loved all the little mundane details. The drama surrounding Hutch’s recent escapades was both hilarious and sad. The romance was slow to develop as these two danced the nervous tango. It’s so obvious to the reader and other characters that these two are meant to be. When they finally come together it is bittersweet and I loved how Hutch calmed a nervous Kendra. I love the town of Parable and Miller has done a great job of weaving new characters and story-lines into the tale. I am looking forward to the next installment.

I recommend Big Sky Mountain and the Swoon Worthy Cowboy series to fans of small town romances.  You can see my review of book one, Big Sky Country here. The next book in the series, Big Sky River is due out in January of 2013 and I hope to bring you an early review. Miller is on my favorite author list and I hope you enjoy her books as much as I do.

I want to thank Harlequin and netGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for my unbiased review.

I gave this novel 3 coffee cups out of 5.