Veena’s review of Cowboy, Cross My Heart (Heart Of Texas, Book 2) by Donna Grant
Contemporary Romance published by St. Martin’s Paperbacks 28 Aug 18
In a departure from her usual fare of dragons and druids, Ms. Grant takes us to modern-day Texas and the rodeo to reveal the ugly behind the Rodeo Queen beauty pageant while giving us a wholesome love story. Naomi Price is back in her hometown on a rare visit, when a trip to the local rodeo plunges her into a grey world that is hiding behind the glitz and glamour. Can local cowboy Brice Harper keep her safe from those gunning for her and her friend?
I very much enjoyed The Christmas Cowboy Hero, which is the first book in the series, and loved catching up with the previous characters. Brice and Caleb are now all grown up and veteran cowboys work on the East ranch. Brice is looking forward to setting up his own spread of cattle and plans a surprise for his brother Caleb, which backfires on him. Even as he’s trying to work his way through this mess, he rescues a beautiful, young photographer at the rodeo. Soon Brice, Caleb, and their friends and family are plunged into a hornet’s nest that Naomi has inadvertently stirred up by taking some pictures around the rodeo.
It appears that there is something nasty afoot with the rodeo beauty pageant with some very powerful men who have a lot to lose, should any part of this come to light. Naomi, along with Brice and his friends, soon become the center of the storm as they try to stay safe digging into the details. Fortunately they are backed by the very powerful Clayton East, Brice’s brother-in-law.
I enjoyed the action and adventure in this book, along with the family dynamics. I am looking forward to Caleb’s love story.
Grade:B
Summary:
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?
