Sandy M’s review of In Need of a Cowboy by Linda Lael Miller & Heather Graham
Contemporary Western Romance published by Kensington Books 21 Jan 25
It’s been a while since I’ve read a good cowboy romance, so when I saw these two very popular authors giving me two for one, I decided now is the time to get into a couple of western stories. I’ve read and really enjoyed a number of Miller’s books over the years, but only one or two Grahams and I don’t believe those were westerns. Which, in the long run, is neither here nor there. It’s just I was expecting better reading from both authors – one delivered and one is just simply okay.
Ask Me Again – Linda Lael Miller
Jack has sudden fatherhood thrust upon him – twelve years after the fact – when an age-old lover drops Gideon off on his doorstep and hightails it child free. No doubt the boy is his, and love swamps him even though Gideon is, of course, quite wary of his new circumstances. Also new to the area is Harper, just moved in across the way from Jack’s. She’s a former social worker starting a new job with local schools, and she’s just what both of these love-starved guys need. Her help with trust issues in being father and son is just what the doctor ordered, and a side of unexpected love is a huge bonus.
A sweet story that gives you all the wonderful feels of the different sides of love.
The Cowboy – Heather Graham
This story is a mystery set in the rodeo world. Vicky is a law enforcement officer currently working as bait to find who’s been kidnapping and selling women. She’s not impressed at first with Adrien when he’s strutting on his quarter horse, but when he saves her from being taken and realizes he’s FBI, she sees a totally different side of him. Same thing for Adrien, his impression changes of her changes as he discovers she’s brave, forth-coming, and damned good at her job. This plot is a great one. That part of the story I enjoyed…
What kept me from liking it more is the way the author constantly had all of characters interrupt one another during dialogue. And I mean it was all the time. Along with that and just as often is the use of exclamation points. Everywhere! All the time! On every page! People just don’t talk that way day in and day out. Every single time those things happened throughout, I would end up irritated and pulled out of the story – something I just can’t abide in a book, and this is a novella more than anything, so my irritation was at an all-time high.
So beware if you decide to read this one. The good plot and decent characters just couldn’t override those issues for me.
Grade: Miller – A/Graham – C
Overall Grade: B
Summary:
ASK ME AGAIN
by Linda Lael Miller
Sudden fatherhood turns an Arizona rancher’s life upside down. But when a burned-out and beautiful social worker moves in across the road, the lonely cowboy finds the missing piece of his family puzzle in a city girl who’s not afraid to take a chance . . .THE COWBOY
by Heather Graham
He thinks she’s a fancy filly. She thinks he’s a jerky jock. When they wind up on the same team, the barrel-racing FBI agent and the no-nonsense detective have to rethink their first impressions . . . to track down a criminal mastermind who’s abducted two women.
