Captive Cowboy
by Lindsey Brookes
Series: Captured Hearts, #2
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Cover Designer: EDH Graphics
Cover Designer: EDH Graphics
Release Date: May 27, 2015
Sometimes a wrong turn can lead you to the right man...
All work and no play just like his father had done leaves Brandon Barnes, the 'Ogre of Lone Tree', on the outside looking in when it comes to those around him. A man whose trust has been broken, leaving his heart guarded.
Megan McKinney, determined to put her painful past behind her, ends up stranded in Lone Tree, Montana. Love is the last things she’s looking for, but she soon finds herself falling for the gruff, unsmiling cowboy who rescued her. Now it’s her turn to rescue Brandon – from himself. So she sets out to teach him that life is meant to be enjoyed, not just lived. And that sometimes true happiness is only a smile away.
This was a great read that had a wonderful cast of characters that left me with a smile. Although there is a lot going on in this book it was easy to get caught up in Brandon and Megan’s story so it read very fast.
Brandon is the epitome of “all work and no play”. He’s always been the responsible one and has put business first. And when he finds his fiancé cheating on him, well business not only comes first, but it is the only thing he wants to focus on. He’s definitely an alpha cowboy type, but he holds his emotions close to his vest and very rarely lets himself have any fun, which has earned him that nickname – the Ogre of Lone Tree.
Megan has been hurt – and she carries the scars both physically and emotionally from the car accident she was in and then the emotional fallout she suffered when her boyfriend walked away making some very nasty accusations. I just loved her strength and resolve to start her life over again, and also her resolve when it came to Brandon.
When fate lands Brandon and Megan together, they are exactly what the other needs. Megan sees the man under the “Ogre” façade, and Brandon accepts Megan exactly as she is, scars and all. Watching these two dance around their attraction was fun – especially seeing Brandon struggle to keep his focus on business because he’s too busy thinking about Megan! They certainly have some issues to work through, but when they finally give in to the attraction between them, you can feel the chemistry on the page.
I loved all the secondary characters in the book – especially Digger, the dog who showed up one day at Brandon’s ranch and decided to stay. It was also great to have Brandon’s brother Dalton and his fiancé Caitlin part of the story. They both have become an important part of Brandon’s life and for me it was because Brandon has seen what true love looks like through Dalton and Caitlin that he becomes open to the idea that maybe he could have that to. Megan’s brother Riley was also a great addition to the story, and I hope that he gets his own happy ever after!
The writing and the dialogue were well done, and the banter at times had me laughing out loud, especially the scene in the diner when Megan and Caitlin run in to Brandon’s ex-fiancé.
All in all, this book had lots to love in it and wasn’t filled with lots of angst and heartache. There were some issues that needed to be worked through, but I loved that fact that the characters would address them head on to minimize the drama and keep the story moving. This is the second book in the series and can be read as a standalone (but Kidnapped Cowboy is also a great read, so check that one out too!). This would be a great addition to anyone’s TBR list!Turning, Megan locked eyes with an immaculately dressed blonde who appeared to be dining alone. The woman, not much older than she and Caitlin, looked her up and down with obvious disdain. “Clearly,” she told her, trying hard to contain her irritation at hearing the hurtful nickname Brandon had been giving, “you’ve been misinformed. Mr. Barnes is not an ogre. Brandon’s actually a very kind and caring man.”
The woman snorted. “Then he has you fooled. The man is nothing short of cold and callous.”
“Maybe where you’re concerned,” Caitlin joined in. “But what man would be warm towards a woman who spreads easier than mayonnaise?”
The blonde gasped and then shot to her feet in a huff of indignation. “Well, I never!”
“That’s not what I’ve been told,” Caitlin muttered as she took Megan by the arm and led her to one of the booths at the other end of the diner.
I received a copy of this book from the Author for an honest review.
thanks for hosting and reviewing
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