About STRUNG UP:
From New York Times bestseller Lorelei James…
Rancher Creston Grant retreats from the world after he loses the love of his life….Can his former flame, rodeo cowboy Breck Christianson prove he’s a changed man who can give Cres a second chance at love?
Strung Up is an enjoyable sexy novella in James' Blacktop Cowboys series. What readers will find is the author's trend toward character building and angst which build into a plot crescendo. James continues to weave together intricate character backgrounds and family dynamics and this story is no exception.
Those wanting to read more about some of the secondary characters should check out Ropped In and Stripped Down, each novellas in the series but published as part of the 1001 Dark Nights tales.
As always I enjoyed the book but can't wait until the next one. Keep reading for an excerpt!
Final rating: 4 out of 5 stars
____________Excerpt_____________
A white catering van had been parked near the rear exit. It appeared I wasn’t the only one seeking an escape. A big guy, roughly the same size as Sutton, rested against the side of the van, one boot heel hooked to the running board. He wore dark jeans and a plain white button down shirt with a logo on the left pocket. He’d angled his head down, obscuring his face. But with that build and that posture, I knew I was looking at a rodeo cowboy.
Something seemed familiar about him.
That’s when I noticed the poker chip in his left hand. He passed it through his fingers over and over again. I recognized that nervous tic.
My gut tightened. I took a few more steps forward, alerting him to my presence.
He palmed the poker chip before he slowly raised his head and looked at me.
Then I was staring into that face. That handsome fucking smug face.
A face I used to dream of.
A face I hadn’t seen in four years, since Sutton and London’s wedding.
I waited for the dismissive sneer to distort that perfect mouth.
A mouth I’d dreamed of nearly as often as his perfect face.
But no sneer formed.
His compelling eyes met mine.
I saw his recognition in those arctic blue depths. Followed by wariness. But no hardness. Or the mean glint I’d unconsciously steeled myself against.
He didn’t move.
Neither did I.
I found my voice. “Breck?”
“Hey, Cres.”
“What are you doin’ out here?”
“Same thing you’re doin’, I reckon. Avoiding the crowd.” He paused and dipped his chin to the empty space beside him. “There’s room if you wanna take a load off.”
I waited for the innuendo.
None came.
Everything inside me cautioned me to beat a fast retreat.
Not everything. My long-dormant libido urged me to stay.
______________About the Author______________
From Lorelei: “Why do I have a particular fondness for all things western? Well, I’m a fourth generation South Dakotan, living in the Black Hills, which is chock-full of interesting characters, including cowboys, Indians, ranchers, and bikers. The geographical diversity of the surrounding area showcases mountains, plains, and badlands. Living in and writing about rural settings gives me a unique perspective, especially since I’m not writing historical westerns. Through my fictional world, I can show the ideals and the cowboy way of life are still very much alive.”
A big thank you to @InkslingerPR for adding me to the review and excerpt tour!
1 comment:
Thank you so much! ~Jessica, InkSlinger PR
Post a Comment