NoahThe last thing I want to do with my Saturday is ride on a parade float next to the Longhorn Pageant Princess. For one thing, whoever this princess is, I’m pretty sure she’s too young to be my partner. For another, I don’t like crowds or crowns, and I don’t want to be the King of the Winter Stampede. I just want to be left alone. Don’t seem that’s in the cards, though.At one year out of the … to be left alone. Don’t seem that’s in the cards, though.
At one year out of the military, I’m still tender about a few of the things I’ve seen, so I expect the discomfort that comes with this duty. I do not expect the woman who shows up to sit beside me.
Scarlett Little is kind, sweet, smart, and all kinds of curvy. She’d be the perfect woman… if I were in any kind of shape to have one. When we strike a deal to spend one night in each other’s company, it doesn’t take long to figure out that one night will never be enough. But Scarlett has plans for her future. Maybe it’s time I made some plans of my own.
Scarlett
I’m used to people judging me. I’m not used to them needing me, too. Today, Noah Miller needed comfort and reassurance, and I was happy to give him both—in spite of his gruff and grouchy demeanor. Fear has a habit of making people act in ways they normally wouldn’t, and Noah can’t hide the way he looks at me when he’s finally feeling himself again.
My Winter Stampede King is the biggest, hottest, hunkiest, most honorable cowboy I’ve ever met, and even though we agreed to just one night in each other’s company, I can’t help feeling that I’ve met the love of my life. But love hasn’t been kind to me in the past, and Noah is a distraction I can’t risk if I want the future I’ve planned for.
Short enough to read in one sitting and long enough to satisfy, this trope-tastic, over-the-top little dual POV standalone is sweet, steamy, and full of old-fashioned cowboy nobility and goodness. The love is insta, and the ending is HEA guaranteed.
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Scarlet is the Winter Stampede Queen. She has entered patents in order to win money to continue her education in psychology. Learning and earning a intern focused on PTSD. This kinda is where Noah comes in. He is only an year of of the army from a 20 year stint and has issues as expected with loud noises, crowds and other intricate every day things that used to be easy. He is the Winter Stampede King. He’s embarrassed she’s discreet about using techniques to help. Scarlett eat like a normal person and is mindful of her as the curvy woman he wants. How can he let her go when she still has work to do for school. He wants her to be his queen. Will she let him?
Loved Noah and Scarlet
Noah Miller, rancher and retired 20 years army. Home a year, Noah has been in limbo. His childhood best friend, Ian Meyer, has Noah taking on the role of king in the Cattleman’s League parade along with the a queen, the League ‘s longhorn princess.
Scarlet at 23 is a pageant veteran. The prize money is putting her through college, she is four months away from her master’s in social work. Then she meets her king. He is everything she could dream of, just four months to soon.
Noah can’t help but fall for Scarlet, even if he is 10 years to old, with a run down ranch and baggage from his time in the army.
A sweet and steamy older man younger women romance with a great epilogue to wrap up their story.
Noah still has demons chasing him after the war. He considers himself a damaged person and he is not ready for a relationship.
Scarlett only needs four months to be graduated and get free. She needs no distractions, but that it is not easy after meeting Noah.
Two damaged people finding the other half that cures their wounds. Neither of them expected that, but life has its own ways.
I wasn’t sure what to think about Scarlett and in the end, it was a surprise character.
Although I liked the book, I found something was missing. Three stars and a half.
Winter Stampede King and Queen
Cuddling a Cowboy is a beautifully written story about two people who are both trying to deal with the emotional aftereffects of some things that have happened to them. When they find each other, quite by chance but it must have been destiny, they are able to recognize the hurt there.
Noah is the Sergeant-at-Arms of the of the Cattleman’s Association and as such, as it written in the rules, he is the King of the Winter Stampede and must ride on a float with the Queen. Not only does he not want to do this but then add an ill-fitting hat with a crown on the brim and an ancient buffalo fur coat that stinks of must and mothballs and he is really calling Bull#h!t on the whole thing.
Scarlett has been crowned Queen of the Winter Stampede and she is ready to “do this”. When she meets Noah, after overhearing some choice words from him about what he thinks of his possible Queen, she also recognizes his anxiety. He is dumbstruck by her when he turns around. He cannot form words and is just staring at her. During the parade she grabs his hand, gives him pointers and pays attention to him to get him through the parade. But wait, because the is still the dance later that night where they are to dance together, the King and Queen. Noah is gentle with Scarlett even though his anxiety is really high and he does not want anything to do with being King. Instead of dancing they dodge it all and instead take off for an evening of fun which includes some kissing and later on some other things, but not everything.
Scarlett has a rule that she has been living by the last few years, no men and stay focused on school, after have a pageant coach who became her boyfriend and abused her. She does pageant, which she is really good at, to pay for her school. Noah retired out of the military a year ago after serving 20 years and doing multiple tours overseas. Since then he has lived on the family ranch which he inherited from his parents when they passed and he spends his time out in the pastures with the cattle, away from everyone.
I loved this story as it brought together two people who are somewhat broken and yet they are able to heal each other. The epilogue is great also. This is a must read along with the whole series!!!