Dinca’s review of Texas Pride (Night Riders, Book 6) by Leigh Greenwood
Historical Romance published by Sourcebooks Casablanca 6 Mar 12

You can’t beat an historical Texas romance by Leigh Greenwood. He writes of Texas like no other author. I have read all the Night Rider series and enjoyed every one.

After the death of their parents, Carla and Danny Reese inherited the family ranch.  Carla is beside herself after finding Danny lost his half in a poker game. To make matters worse, some guy shows up claiming to be a Polish prince in exile and after a year he will sell his half of the ranch the gambler contracted to him and return to Poland.

Ivan Nikolai only wants to return to his homeland where he belongs. To do that he has to regain his fortune, since the Russians have taken control of his country. A way to do this is to accept the offer of his most detested enemy, Laveau di Viere. All he has to do is watch over half of a ranch that di Viere won in a poker game. After a year, half of the ranch will be his to sell and then he’ll be able return to Poland.

Carla Reese does not like having Ivan Nikolai on her ranch, even if he isn’t the one who stole it from her brother. He’s still a smooth-talking, handsome man with a killer smile that can turn any female to mush, regardless of her age. No matter how hard she tries, she finds she’s not immune.

Ivan has a way about him that is very diplomatic and people flock to his unassuming and kind manner. He helps the townspeople any way he can while assisting on the ranch.

As usual, in Leigh Greenwood’s stories the attraction between the heroine and hero grows slow and steady. I find myself waiting and waiting for it and then…wham! There it is and you hang onto every sweet and enduring moment. Of course, disaster comes and blows their love apart and you work through the mess to get it all back together again.  As I said at the beginning of this review – and it bears repeating – I have read every one of the Night Riders romances and have enjoyed every last one of them.

Grade: A

Summary:

Carla Reece had never met anyone more infuriating in her life. The blond giant who swaggered up to her door had no right to take over half her ranch — no matter how stupid her brother had been gambling it away in a high-stakes poker game. Her new foreman claimed to be some foreign royalty who promised to leave in a year. .Still, a year was way too long to spend with a man who made her madder than a wet hen and weak in the knees all at the same time.

Ivan may have charmed everyone in town into thinking he was the perfect gentleman, but Carl knew better. There had to be a chink in his armor — a red-not passion under that calm, cool gaze. But once she finds it, she may be in for more than she ever bargained for.

Read an excerpt.

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