From #1 New York Times bestseller Lora Leigh and Veronica Chadwick comes a second chance at love and bodyguard romance Strong, Silent Cowboy, a Moving Violations novel. “Leigh’s books can scorch the ink off the page.”–RT Book Review He Will Do Anything… Sallie Hamblen had three incredibly hot, sexy nights with Jacob Donovan, an undercover CIA agent, before he disappeared, leaving her broken … Donovan, an undercover CIA agent, before he disappeared, leaving her broken hearted and forever yearning for the man she lost. Years later, Jacob doesn’t know that the beauty he’s about to seduce in a small town bar is the woman he held in his arms all those years ago… and that she’s on the run from her past.
To Keep Her Safe…
Former CIA agent turned cowboy, Jacob Donovan wants nothing more than a simple life. Just the ranch and occasionally someone warm and sweet in his bed. Until Sallie comes back into his life and all of a sudden he wants to be in her bed every night…all night. When he discovers that her life is in danger, he swears he’ll protect her. Even when secrets are revealed that threaten everything between them, he will lay everything on the line to keep her in his arms.
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Strong, Silent Cowboy is the first book I’ve read by Lora Leigh and Veronica Chadwick. I was saddened to learn that Ms. Chadwick passed at the end of 2019. This romantic suspense was just what I needed after being in a bit of a reading rut.
Sallie Hamblen has been through quite a bit over the last several years and Deer Haven is the first place that she has felt somewhat at home even though she stays mostly to herself. When she encounters the man she spent three amazing days with in Switzerland and who broke her heart when he up and disappeared, she can’t believe it. But does he remember her?
Jacob Donovan likes things simple. After leaving the CIA and becoming a rancher, he has the life he hoped for. When he runs into a beautiful woman at the bar one night, he can’t seem to get the feeling of deja vu out of his head after spending one night with her. Why is that?!
As Sallie and Jacob begin to spend time together, their relationship grows, but Sallie ends up in danger due to events in her past. Jacob is the first one to come to her aid, but it forces them to deal with their relationship from the past and how it plays a part in what Sallie is dealing with in the present.
This was an enjoyable romantic suspense with plenty of heat along with a great cast of characters. I enjoyed it and would recommend it.
**I voluntarily read an early copy of this title courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review**
This was the first book I’ve read by Lora Leigh and Veronica Chadwick. The dedication at the beginning had me in tears to start.
I really enjoyed this read and had trouble putting it down to live life. I will be looking for more books by these two authors. The writing was a bit repetitive at times, but the storyline was intense and the characters were likable. I hope that Lora Leigh will continue this series and write a more about the secondary characters in this book! I’m intrigued!
The beginning has us in the dark other than Jacob and Sallie possibly having a past. All kinds of situations were running around in my head regarding those two and the possibilities. Neither of them were forthcoming and they really needed to communicate with each other. Their chemistry is off the chart and there is several long, detailed sex scenes. Those almost over power the rest of the book. Sallie was a favorite character. She was lonely, but smart, strong willed, and compassionate. She loved deeply although she didn’t want to do so. Gran was my other favorite character. She was funny and brought lightness to the intense read. Not quite enough of that in the book. But truly, the suspense is what kept me interested. I couldn’t wait to get answers. I did feel like there were situations/people that were not tied up neatly, so it felt like we were left hanging a bit. I certainly wasn’t ready for the book to end!
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of the book. This is my voluntary and honest review.
While just a young innocent 18 year old, Sallie shared an unforgettable weekend with a man she’d never forget before he left her hotel room one morning and never returned, leaving her broken hearted. Now, on the run from someone who wants her dead, settled in the small town of Deer Haven, the last person she expects to find is the man who left her behind – and he doesn’t seem to recognize her.
After leaving the agency, former CIA agent Jacob Donovan was happy to return to Deer Haven and the quiet life ranching provided. Not anxious to settle down, he spends time with his friends at the local bar, But since Sallie moved to his small town he’s been unsettled. He doesn’t understand his feelings, watching her, wanting her. Unwilling, unable to wait anymore, he picks her up in the small town bar, not knowing it’s the woman who’s been haunting his dreams since her returned home. He just knows being with her feels right, feels familiar and he isn’t about to let her go.
When danger catches up with Sallie, Jacob swears he’ll protect her. As Jacob discovers information about the danger stalking her, more questions are raised, secrets are revealed and the past threatens to tear them apart. But Jacob isn’t ready to let her go again and he’ll risk everything to prove it to her.
This story grabbed me from the very first sentence and didn’t let me go. It’s an intense, emotional story of a heart broken woman who isn’t sure she can trust again and a man who finds he’s been betrayed by his past. The writing is rugged and forceful, no flowery words, even in the bedroom. Sallie initially comes across as a shy, nervous woman, but we find she has a backbone and is willing to stand up to and for the man she’s always loved even when he doesn’t want her to. Jacob is a hard man, shaped by is past, loyal to his friends and grandmother and willing to do anything to protect those he considers his. Together Jacob and Sallie need to find a way to work together to overcome the danger stalking them.
There are so many secondary characters in this story I’d love to learn more about. I hope there are more Moving Violation books to come.
Lora Leigh, hot cowboy, steamy love scenes, danger and suspense…what’s not to love?! In the second book of the Moving Violations Series by Lora Leigh and Veronica Chadwick, we meet Sallie Hamblen who is on the run from what, she doesn’t know for sure. While on the run she ends up in Deer Haven only to run into Jacob Donovan, who she knew as Jake Rossiter. With the feeling that he forgot her she chooses to stay in town and just forge on. The night Jacob decides to make his move, everything changes. This books is everything I’ve ever loved about Lora Leigh’s books. There’s action, love, and of course a happily ever after.
Loved this book! Very well written with wonderful characters and awesome storyline. Once I started reading this book, I didn’t want to stop. It was action packed, steamy, unpredictable and entertaining. I would recommend this book.
Suspenseful second-chance romance
Get ready for a backstory that will break your heart! Sallie remembers Jake, but he doesn’t remember her. She’s on the run, and all clues lead back to their first time together six years earlier. There are layers upon layers of conspiracy at play here which made for an intriguing story from start to finish.
As I’ve come to expect from this author, the intimate scenes are scorching hot and there are plenty of them. It’s rare to see such a deeply primal connection outside of a PNR romance. Here, Jacob and Sallie’s connection is white-hot and goes well beyond just their physical chemistry. Jacob is everything a gal could want in a possessive, protective, dominant lover, and he’s not going to let anything stand in their way.
The HEA was solid, if a bit abrupt. There were too many story inconsistencies that slipped past the editing process for me to give this a full five stars, but they didn’t detract from the overall reading experience. If you’re looking for a steamy romance with secrets unfolding at every turn, this is the book for you. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
This was a great story with some outstanding characters but it did have its issues. Such as, quite a bit of editing problems, the same thing restated frequently, and I personally felt the ending was to abrupt, even an epilogue would have worked to tie the book together. Still, it was an enjoyable read for a Contemporary Western Romance.
I didn’t love this book. The writing wasn’t bad but I never cared much for the characters and found their relationship difficult to appreciate. Much of the story was questionably plausible.
Sallie is on the run, hiding in the same town the man she spent an amazing weekend with lives in but he doesn’t remember her. She assumes she made so little impression he’s forgotten despite it being the most best weekend of her life. Jacob is the town’s hottest bachelor but has stayed away from Sallie for the three years she’s been in town. Until now. Soon, Jacob’s grandmother is threatened, Sallie is being stalked and Jacob and his buddies are on an intense CIA operation.
The coincidence of Sallie being in the same town as Jacob after they spent a night together overseas is pretty out there but things like this happen. His being a CIA agent with a team of operatives when she needs saving was pretty far fetched. Much of the story just didn’t strike me as realistic…and I’m a fan of paranormals! Sallie’s job is featured frequently but doesn’t add to the story. Jacob’s memory issues are strangely resolved.
Fans of Leigh or Chadwick may appreciate the story more than I did.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press.
Sorry to say, but I DNF at 28% due to writing, flow and character POV.
The synopsis from NetGalley pulled me in as a woman who was in distress and a cowboy who saves her is right up my alley, but while reading I couldn’t differentiate on who was talking, when it switched over to a different POV (no break points) and I couldn’t tell when the scenes changed (view spoiler).
I wish the writing was better, as Lora Leigh’s books I am a fan of. Cowboys are a weak spot in my romance department as those alpha males are protective, dominant-usually and uber caring.
Unanswered Questions 3.5*
This story left me confused and asking why characters had done certain things. Whilst well written, I didn’t really like the hero who I felt was too hard without an ounce of compassion or gentleness – it was all about his dominance and possession of the heroine as if she was an object not a person with heart and feelings.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
“Strong, Silent Cowboy” A Moving Violations Novel by Lora Leigh; Veronica Chadwick
A really good story embedded with more explicit sex scenes than I wanted to read. So, I skipped most of those scenes. Meanwhile, it is a really good contemporary suspense story with a trace of romance. Happy Reading ! !
Note: I received an ARC of this story from the publisher via NetGalley.
This review expresses my honest opinion of this story.
Strong, Silent Cowboy (Moving Violations #2) by Lora Leigh, Veronica Chadwick
This is Sallie Hamblen and Jacob Donovan’s story they spent 3 hot days together and then he ghosted her.. or so she thinks. She has been running for her life and ends up in his town. He doesn’t remember her but he can’t resist her. She is brokenhearted that he forgot her but she can’t stay away from him. This story has all the feels, terror, violence, angst, mystery, laughter, tears and plenty of steam to get us to a HEA and leaves us wanting more.
As much as I enjoyed book 1 in this series, this one just didn’t meet my expectations.
1- Sallie/Kyra Hamblen and Jacob Donovan met and had a whirlwind three day affair in Switzerland when she was an innocent eighteen year old that grew up in a boarding school with nuns. Really?
She fell in love and didn’t see him again.
2- We are told it was a 3 day affair, later we are told it was one night and then back to three nights.
3- Sallie comes face to face with him three years later, while she’s on the run and living in the same town as Jacob . But it took three additional years for them to see each other again? Not likely in the small town.
4 – I am all for the intimate scenes, but this one felt more like an erotica story with a plot thrown in for good merit.
5- As a reader, I would have preferred an epilogue that would tie up the story.
It seems to me that the book needed some editing , more of the plot , less of the intimate scenes and more character development to make it a successful book.
I respect the author, and though for me it was more of a 2.5 stars story, I am giving it 3 stars.
I was entrusted a copy of this book by Netgalley and St. Martins. The opinions expressed are solely my own.
3.75 stars.
I really enjoy Romantic Suspense, especially when it involves cowboys and small towns. After reading book one in this series, I knew I’d read the next book.
Sallie and Jacob
The H/h have an over-the-top amount of chemistry; with just one look at each other, I knew things were going to get hot. Having both perspectives made the book incredibly erotic. As with the first book in the series, I felt there was way too many pages of intimacy. These too were so intense that they couldn’t be in the same room with each other without touching, kissing, etc. I enjoy intimacy between the H/h because it helps to show me their true feelings. However, this book had pages and pages and pages of it and I found myself skimming to get past it all. In my opinion that unfortunately took away from the story. My biggest intrigue was the suspense/mystery aspect and I felt there were too many cracks in the story despite how exciting parts of the book were. I had many questions by the end where I assumed everything would have been wrapped up nicely. Instead, I did not have closure on a few things. Like, why did John do what he did to Sallie and lie to Jacob in the hospital? How did Rance end up at that last conflict when did? Although the book ended in a happily-ever-after, I expected an epilogue to tie everything together and give me answers to questions I still had. I was disappointed with no epilogue.
I also had some of the same issues after reading the first book in the series; questions that needed answers. Even though I felt let down with a few things, I overall enjoyed the book. The talents of the authors are amazing and they definitely know how to give you all the angsty, emotional feels using a broad imagination. Truthfully, it was the suspense/mystery aspect of the book I enjoyed the most.
This second book in the series is a standalone and you don’t have to read book one prior.
I just want to say something else. I recently learned that Veronica Chadwick recently passed away. My heart goes out to her family and close friends. I am sure she will be missed and it saddens me that we won’t have more stories from her. She will be missed.
This is my honest and unbiased review and I thank you for taking the time to read it. 🙂
Sallie has a troubled past and is on the run for a long time it doesn’t help that she is living in the same town as her past lover who is not remembering her at all. After dancing around each other for years Jacob makes a move on Sallie and he launches a series of events. Will Sallie have to run again, will Jacob remember her? it is to find out in this Strong, silent cowboy book. The story is likable and easy to read, characters well developed. The story has suspense, secrets, and action, a lot of love, and is an enjoyable read.
I volunteered to review an ARC of this book for NetGalley
Jacob and Sallie spent three wonderful nights together, then he disappear. She loved him all this time, then after three years, she moved to a town, where he leaves, she is surprise to find him, but what’s worst is that he doesn’t remember her.
I loved and enjoyed every moment of this story.
Loved, loved it.
This book took off right out of the gate. I was captivated from the very beginning and devoured every word.
The suspense is riveting, and the romance is palpable. Jacob is a force to be reckoned with. He’s intense, absolute alpha dominance at its finest, and Sallie is determined and strong, despite being on the run.
This book contained all my favorites:
A Dominant, protective hero; A heroine that is not a pushover and holds her own with the hero; Gripping storyline; Beautifully constructed characters; Lots of steamy moments; And a few other surprises!
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press and am voluntarily leaving a review.
3.5 Stars. I did enjoy this book. At the same time this book is so unlikely to happen in the real world that it is hard to believe the story. You will get hot and bothered reading this book. Unfortunately there isn’t much more to the story than that. The book reference a weekend that happened in Switzerland so many times you would think nothing else happened after that. The reason Sallie is on the run is so far out there that I can’t even imagine it happening in real life which makes it hard to believe the book. Again the book is entertaining but not my cup of tea. I prefer more of an actual story to all the hot and bothered parts which was pretty much the whole book.
*I received this free book from NetGalley and am leaving my honest opinion*
Very sexy alpha cowboy!
The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance:
Heat/Steam:
Story/Plot:
World building:
Character development:
The setting: Deer Haven, Texas
The Hero(s): Jacob Donovan – Ex CIA, Jacob’s last assignment was in Europe chasing a group of terrorists who had been kidnapping political interns, raping, torturing and murdering them for some unknown purpose. He is now retired from the CIA and is a Rancher on a successful ranch in Deer Haven.
The heroine: Sallie Hamblen (a.k.a. Kyra) – Sallie is in Deer Haven because she is running for her life. She has fake documentation provider to her by her wealthy step-father and he got work for her. Sallie recognizes Jacob immediately as the guy she spent three days and nights with six years ago before he left her with no word.
The Love Story: After spending an amazing weekend with Jake six years ago, Kyra waited for him for a week but he never came. She is now on the run from an unknown assailant who has found and attacked her more than once. She is devastated when Jacob doesn’t recognize her, but she doesn’t acknowledge that she knows him.
The story is very romance heavy and when it starts going, it is great. I liked the fact that Jacob is a cowboy and that he isn’t a playboy. He is selective about who he takes to bed and isn’t known for choosing women from town, so all the women who aren’t related to him are hoping he will choose them. Though one nigh after three years in town, he approaches Sallie and they are off to the races…
The book is super steamy! Jacob and Sallie have explosive chemistry and once they finally get together, they can’t keep their hands off each other, even though Jacob doesn’t remember her. Jacob is the quintessential dominant alpha male cowboy. Of course the fact that he used to be a spy doesn’t hurt either.
The book is a stand-alone which I like since I get sometimes get sick of always having cliffhanger endings. One thing I did notice is the fact that the POV kept switching within chapters. I am not an expert on POV, but most of the time in romance it seems to be in first or third person POV and is either told from the heroine’s POV or multiple POV’s switching every other or few chapters. This was third person and it seemed that within a scene, one paragraph it was the Hero and the next the heroine. I had to keep checking who it was as I was reading.
Granted, I generally don’t notice POV much, other than the fact that I really like books that have the POV of both protagonists. So this switching within a chapter could happen with a lot of books and I just happened to notice it more in this one. It wasn’t a huge deal and didn’t really take away from the story much but I thought I would mention it. Other than that the book was great and the last 20 percent was terrific.
I voluntarily read & reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts & opinions are my own.
A very steamy romantic suspense read. Have a fan handy as this book will scorch your e-reader right in the first chapter!
While I love romantic suspense, I found the suspense aspect very disjointed. This read like it was part of a series as other characters were introduced yet it was only later in the story that their relationship to the MC’s were explained. In fact, there was a long standing friendship between Jacob and the Culpepper family that was only revealed in the middle of the story. (I’m dying to know the story behind the Culpepper brothers’ names!) Background information about Jacob also doesn’t happen until the mid point of the story. The story was told in his and her POV’s however, that seemed to bounce around. And it seemed to end rather abruptly. I kept turning pages expecting to read more to the ending, but no such luck.
While I liked the story and would definitely be interested in more from these authors, I felt this book could have benefited from tighter editing for a more cohesive story line.
I received a free copy from Netgalley. This is my unbiased review.