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maureensbooks89's review
3.0
Everyone who has been visiting my blog regularly knows that I love a good cowboy story. So when I finished reading my previous book, and received an email about a review request of ‘Cowboy, Cross My Heart’ I couldn’t resist and started reading. I was definitely in need of a nice cowboy filled romance novel.
In ‘Cowboy, Cross My Heart’ we meet Naomi Pierce. Naomi visits her old hometown in Texas after being away for a long time. Naomi is visiting her best friend, the rodeo queen, when a handsome cowboy captures her eyes. When Naomi and her friend Whitney get attacked the handsome cowboy Brice Harper can’t stand back and comes to their rescue. But unfortunately it doesn’t stay with one attack. Soon Naomi and Brice are forced to hide and make plans to find there attacker. And although it starts getting more dangerous, they also can’t deny the chemistry between them.
‘Cowboy, Cross My Heart’ is a nice romance and suspense story. It’s not a very hard to follow story, and there are definitely some very predictable moments. The writing was very descriptive, and I found myself finding the story moving in a, sometimes to fast, pace. One moment Naomi and Brice see each other for the first time. The second, Brice is very protective of Naomi and acts like he is already in love with her.
But that doesn’t mean I didn’t like the story. I enjoyed reading it. I like the main characters Naomi and Brice and I enjoyed reading about their romance. But I definitely missed the ‘build-up’ romance part. It just moved way to fast and I just didn’t really believe there romance as much since I felt like it just happened in a second. Brice is immediately very protective of Naomi, and his friends and family can see immediately that there is something going on.
The suspense part was definitely fun to read. But also very disturbing and in the end it came to a conclusion unexpectedly fast. This also just felt to rushed to me. This story just had more potential if you ask me.
Overall, I enjoyed the read and the author was able to make me want to keep on reading. But there was a lot that could have been a little better if you ask me.
In ‘Cowboy, Cross My Heart’ we meet Naomi Pierce. Naomi visits her old hometown in Texas after being away for a long time. Naomi is visiting her best friend, the rodeo queen, when a handsome cowboy captures her eyes. When Naomi and her friend Whitney get attacked the handsome cowboy Brice Harper can’t stand back and comes to their rescue. But unfortunately it doesn’t stay with one attack. Soon Naomi and Brice are forced to hide and make plans to find there attacker. And although it starts getting more dangerous, they also can’t deny the chemistry between them.
‘Cowboy, Cross My Heart’ is a nice romance and suspense story. It’s not a very hard to follow story, and there are definitely some very predictable moments. The writing was very descriptive, and I found myself finding the story moving in a, sometimes to fast, pace. One moment Naomi and Brice see each other for the first time. The second, Brice is very protective of Naomi and acts like he is already in love with her.
But that doesn’t mean I didn’t like the story. I enjoyed reading it. I like the main characters Naomi and Brice and I enjoyed reading about their romance. But I definitely missed the ‘build-up’ romance part. It just moved way to fast and I just didn’t really believe there romance as much since I felt like it just happened in a second. Brice is immediately very protective of Naomi, and his friends and family can see immediately that there is something going on.
The suspense part was definitely fun to read. But also very disturbing and in the end it came to a conclusion unexpectedly fast. This also just felt to rushed to me. This story just had more potential if you ask me.
Overall, I enjoyed the read and the author was able to make me want to keep on reading. But there was a lot that could have been a little better if you ask me.
mal_bookdragon's review
5.0
The Heart of Texas series continues...
After a 12 year gap, we find the Easts and Harpers have grown, Abby and Clayton have married and had children and Brice and Caleb grown up. Both Harper boys have become men, served their country and made names for themselves in the rodeo circuit.
Brice wants to leave the East ranch, taking all he’s learn from his mentor and brother-in-law, Clayton, to strike out on his own. His best friend and brother Caleb feels abandoned when Brice tells him he’s bought a ranch causing tension between the brothers from the start of the book.
That sets Brice up to being alone when he sees a beautiful photographer, Naomi and her best friend (a rodeo queen), Whitney attacked. Brice feels compelled to help the two women and especially after hearing the secret Whitney has been carrying alone since her BFF left Texas years ago.
After Whitney and Brice’s best friend Cooper are put in the hospital after an attack on her life in an attempt to silence her, Naomi and Brice are forced to band together to find the men responsible all while dealing with the growing mutual attraction between them.
It’s a great story, made even better by author Donna Grant’s unique voice. I love how she used secondary characters POV to weave a complex story. I truly cannot wait for more books from this world.
I received an ARC from NetGalley for my honest review.
After a 12 year gap, we find the Easts and Harpers have grown, Abby and Clayton have married and had children and Brice and Caleb grown up. Both Harper boys have become men, served their country and made names for themselves in the rodeo circuit.
Brice wants to leave the East ranch, taking all he’s learn from his mentor and brother-in-law, Clayton, to strike out on his own. His best friend and brother Caleb feels abandoned when Brice tells him he’s bought a ranch causing tension between the brothers from the start of the book.
That sets Brice up to being alone when he sees a beautiful photographer, Naomi and her best friend (a rodeo queen), Whitney attacked. Brice feels compelled to help the two women and especially after hearing the secret Whitney has been carrying alone since her BFF left Texas years ago.
After Whitney and Brice’s best friend Cooper are put in the hospital after an attack on her life in an attempt to silence her, Naomi and Brice are forced to band together to find the men responsible all while dealing with the growing mutual attraction between them.
It’s a great story, made even better by author Donna Grant’s unique voice. I love how she used secondary characters POV to weave a complex story. I truly cannot wait for more books from this world.
I received an ARC from NetGalley for my honest review.
nikkisbooknook's review
4.0
Caleb and Brice are the brothers of Abby East, who we met in the first book in this series. They are now grown adults and prize rodeo ropers.
Brice and Naomi are an engaging couple. There is a strong story with a very current topic as its basis. I loved that Naomi would do anything for her friend, even when she didn't really want to bring what she had been through to light, for fear of the publicity. Brice is a strong man who can show his softer underneath when he has too. Seeing the stress and anxiety Naomi suffers when her friend is attacked, really kicks his protective streak into overdrive.
Naomi & Whitney may be life long friends with nothing much in common but they still love each other and I love how easy their friendship was.
I loved revisiting with Abby and Clayton now that the first bloom of their romance has passed, still finding them as much in love as ever. Jace was a total hoot and really lightened the mood, when some of the darker storyline threatened to suck me in too much.
Brice and Naomi are an engaging couple. There is a strong story with a very current topic as its basis. I loved that Naomi would do anything for her friend, even when she didn't really want to bring what she had been through to light, for fear of the publicity. Brice is a strong man who can show his softer underneath when he has too. Seeing the stress and anxiety Naomi suffers when her friend is attacked, really kicks his protective streak into overdrive.
Naomi & Whitney may be life long friends with nothing much in common but they still love each other and I love how easy their friendship was.
I loved revisiting with Abby and Clayton now that the first bloom of their romance has passed, still finding them as much in love as ever. Jace was a total hoot and really lightened the mood, when some of the darker storyline threatened to suck me in too much.
canary20's review
3.0
Naomi ran away from where she grew up and moved to DC when she graduated high school and really didn't look back. Abby, Brice, and Caleb are brother and sister but Abby raised the boys since she was 18 and they were 10 when their mom left them and left them with a lot of abandonment issues. When Naomi comes back to visit her mom and her best friend bad things start to happen and Brice gets shoved into the middle of it. Families come together to help and make sure nothing happens to this sweet family and their friends. There are a lot of outside forces that are trying to tie up loose ends and Brice and Naomi are part of this. This is a cute cowboy romance with a HEA. Received this book as an ARC for my honest review.
elizabeth_delozier's review against another edition
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
Check your TWs beforehand. In this book, the brothers are all grown up and have embraced the cowboy lifestyle. The romance component was the only part of the book worth reading to me, the rest of the plot felt rushed, forced, and was too dark for my liking. This was not the light-hearted read I was expecting.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Car accident
ladywithaquill's review
4.0
Donna Grant does it again! I love, love, love cowboy heroes, and this one is a military veteran too! *swoon* The thing I love most about Donna Grant's books is that she creates such engaging, genuine characters that are people I want to know better, even after the story has concluded. In many books, as long as there is a HEA, I am satisfied. But with Grant's books, I always crave more.
Brice Harper competes in rodeos with his brother, Caleb, but he is ready to settle down and run a horse ranch. Competing in what may be one of his last rodeos, his attention is caught by a beautiful woman with a camera, taking pictures of the contestants. When he saves her from an assault hours later, he knows that it may be more than his attention than has been caught. Naomi Pierce left the rodeo circuit a long time ago after a car accident cost her friend her life. Coming back to visit is with conditions - she's not staying long and she's not getting involved with a cowboy. Unfortunately, upon realizing her friend is in trouble and she's now in the middle of it, she may be staying longer than expected. And the cowboy who is determined to protect her is impossible to resist.
I was so proud of both Naomi and Brice throughout the entire story! Both characters were brave and stayed on the path of justice, even when it would have been easier to let it go. Naomi's friend, Whitney, has gone through something horrific for years, and even though she initially tries to get them to leave it alone, they want to help her regardless. When Naomi and then Brice become targeted by Whitney's abusers, not only does Brice care more about Naomi's safety than his own, but both Naomi and Brice still pursue what is right even while they are bruised and bleeding. It was inspiring to see the story unfold, both on the side of romance and also with the mystery of who is attacking them. Donna Grant balanced the romance and darkness really well and inserted levity when it was needed most, keeping the story from getting too deep in the sadness. I am always happy when authors tackle tough subjects with respect and honesty, which is exactly what Donna Grant did.
I'm anxious to read the next book, which I assume will focus on Brice's brother, Caleb! These cowboy veterans are hard to resist.
**I received a free copy via NetGalley and this is my honest review.**
Brice Harper competes in rodeos with his brother, Caleb, but he is ready to settle down and run a horse ranch. Competing in what may be one of his last rodeos, his attention is caught by a beautiful woman with a camera, taking pictures of the contestants. When he saves her from an assault hours later, he knows that it may be more than his attention than has been caught. Naomi Pierce left the rodeo circuit a long time ago after a car accident cost her friend her life. Coming back to visit is with conditions - she's not staying long and she's not getting involved with a cowboy. Unfortunately, upon realizing her friend is in trouble and she's now in the middle of it, she may be staying longer than expected. And the cowboy who is determined to protect her is impossible to resist.
I was so proud of both Naomi and Brice throughout the entire story! Both characters were brave and stayed on the path of justice, even when it would have been easier to let it go. Naomi's friend, Whitney, has gone through something horrific for years, and even though she initially tries to get them to leave it alone, they want to help her regardless. When Naomi and then Brice become targeted by Whitney's abusers, not only does Brice care more about Naomi's safety than his own, but both Naomi and Brice still pursue what is right even while they are bruised and bleeding. It was inspiring to see the story unfold, both on the side of romance and also with the mystery of who is attacking them. Donna Grant balanced the romance and darkness really well and inserted levity when it was needed most, keeping the story from getting too deep in the sadness. I am always happy when authors tackle tough subjects with respect and honesty, which is exactly what Donna Grant did.
I'm anxious to read the next book, which I assume will focus on Brice's brother, Caleb! These cowboy veterans are hard to resist.
**I received a free copy via NetGalley and this is my honest review.**
pramage's review
2.0
i don't know. i guess if you're into romance, ranchers/cowboys and unrealistic storyline this book may be for you,just not for me. maybe audiobook is not the way with these.
jbenando's review against another edition
4.0
Suspenseful and twisty with a romance mixed in. I love reading about cowboys and all their sexiness. Their family values and how they take care of each other are quite impressive.
When Naomi comes home and finds herself a victim of an attack, she realizes that something horrible is happening in the rodeo circuit and she’s determined to discover the truth. All the while she’s getting sucked in by a hot cowboy named Brice, whether she wants to or not.
This book definitely kept me on my toes. It was fast paced and had plenty of heart stopping moments. I am loving this series. And I’m curious to see which cowboy is next in line to fall in love.
I received an arc and this is my honest review.
When Naomi comes home and finds herself a victim of an attack, she realizes that something horrible is happening in the rodeo circuit and she’s determined to discover the truth. All the while she’s getting sucked in by a hot cowboy named Brice, whether she wants to or not.
This book definitely kept me on my toes. It was fast paced and had plenty of heart stopping moments. I am loving this series. And I’m curious to see which cowboy is next in line to fall in love.
I received an arc and this is my honest review.
melissadeemcdaniel's review against another edition
3.0
“Cowboy Cross my Heart” is a feel good, contemporary with a Texas rodeo theme. The H&H, are attractive and we are cheering for them to live through the threats of the bad guys, and find their way to love.
One small quibble is that the novel is cast in a “Christian”, family values, (white American) forward slant. Isn’t it time to acknowledge that “rodeo” includes minorities and perhaps even people of different faiths? Just saying!
One small quibble is that the novel is cast in a “Christian”, family values, (white American) forward slant. Isn’t it time to acknowledge that “rodeo” includes minorities and perhaps even people of different faiths? Just saying!
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