Also in this series: To Have and to Hold
Series: Cactus Creek Cowboys #2
Published by Sourcebooks Casablanca on November 4th 2014
Genres: Historical Romance
Narrator: Devon Sorvari
Length: 9 Hours and 53 Mins
Pages: 384
Format: Audiobook
Source: Hoopla Digital
ISBN: 1402284497
After her husband's death, widow Laurie Spencer is left with nothing but the money she finds in the saddlebags of a dead soldier. Determined to be independent, she invests it in a ranch with Jared Smith, but when she doesn't have enough for a full partnership, she reluctantly throws herself in as part of the deal.
Playing housekeeper means plenty of time in close quarters with the sexy cowboy. Soon, they're in each other's arms, but personal demons keep Jared from admitting he's falling in love. When he finally sees what was right in front of him, it's going to take more than a lasso to get her back into his arms where she belongs.
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To Love and To Cherish is the second book and this story features Laurie Spencer and Jared Smith. Laurie Spencer is another of the three female cousins that were introduced to us in the first book. Laurie has just become a widow, her husband having passed away from a heart attack. Laurie is a beautiful woman, but her husband was very controlling in every aspect. He was insanely jealous, and forced her to wear unattractive clothing and she was always by his side, since he didn’t want her to attract male attention. Laurie is shocked to learn that she didn’t inherit everything so that she could be financially secure. He left it to his brother to dish out to her when he felt she needed it. The last thing Laurie wants is to be controlled and have no freedom once more. But she has money, lots of it….money only she knows about. So she makes a pact with handsome rancher, Jared Smith. She will give him her money so he can purchase his cattle if he will let her be his partner in the ranch and so she goes to cook and clean for his crew while learning the ropes of the ranch. Jared will have to be forced to choose over Laurie and the love he has for her or making sure his brother and his men get the money that is owed them.
To Love and To Cherish is a spectacular story that I couldn’t get enough of. I was able to listen to this one, since it was available through Hoopla (my library’s audiobook system). It was great to see a continuation of the first book….the people of the wagon train have settled in Arizona, built a nice town and are prospering. It was great fun to see characters from the first book in this story. I grew to really like Laurie. She has great strength and character, bold and goes after what she wants. She isn’t about to bow down to another man and stands on her own which was quite amusing to watch at times. The romance between Jared and Laurie is full of great chemistry from the beginning. It was a different experience seeing them act on their desire for each other pretty early in the book. We see how their emotional bond is built and gets put to the test. This was quite a wonderful story to read, and I couldn’t get enough of it. I loved seeing the love story take place on a ranch, and seeing the way the ranch hands are all like a family and they take to Laurie instantly. A great spin of a romance, and a western that I would recommend to anyone that loves a great historical love story!! The ending just about made me tear up like crazy….we see some great emotional bonds that get formed and not just between our main couple….It will knock your socks off.
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Forever and Always by Leigh GreenwoodAlso in this series: To Have and to Hold
Series: Cactus Creek Cowboys #3
Published by Sourcebooks Casablanca on November 3rd 2015
Genres: Historical Romance
Pages: 352
Format: Paperback
Source: Library
ISBN: 1402284527
He Knows She Can Never Be His…
Logan Holstock, oldest of three brothers orphaned on the Santa Fe Trail, has always been content knowing his brothers were alive and happy somewhere in the vast and brutal West - until he learns he may be dying. Certain he has little time left, Logan sets out to find them and end his days near a family he's never known… and stumbles across a strong yet vulnerable widow who makes him yearn forwhat can never be his.
Logan knows he shouldn't love Sibyl Spencer - he couldn't bear leaving her a widow all over again. But as he finds himself drawn deeper into the lives of this small Western town, he can't escape the longing to find peace in her arms. When he discovers that his death sentence is anything but, Logan swears he will do whatever it takes to prove himself to the woman he loves… and show he believes their love is worth fighting for.
Forever and Always is the third and most latest release….I am not sure if this is just a trilogy or if there will be more books. You never know with Leigh Greenwood. Now Forever and Always is probably my favorite book of the series…which is saying quite a bit since I couldn’t put down the previous two books. In this story we have Logan Holstock and Libby Spencer. Logan is the last of the three brothers and he has come out west to find them. Logan is dying from what his doctor tells him, and he knows he will be gone soon and must find his brothers before then. Libby Spencer, has recently become widowed when her husband was shot in his bank while a robbery was taking place. Logan saved Libby’s life. Libby takes in Logan when he become too sick, but there is something suspicious about his illness. Libby and her daughter instantly take to Logan, Libby has never known affection or care until she meets Logan. Libby will fight for him no matter the stakes that are involved.
This was quite a beautiful story and I honestly couldn’t get enough of seeing the last of the cousin and the brother get together. This had quite a mystery tone to the story as well. We see the evil workings of his ex fiancee who is only after his money and has been working to poison him, but Logan has no clue. We see her manipulations and how far they go. It was quite a unique experience to see how this aspect of the story balanced out so well with the other workings of the story. I loved seeing this and the way it came together in the end. The bond that forms between the three brothers that were seperated when they were just children, and are now reunited and having found love for themselves. I honestly wanted more of these three couples….so enchanting to see their families and their connection to each other and the way that they fight and banter for and with each other. It makes me want to read more of this author. I would highly recommend this trilogy and the audio narrative was done excellent!!
I really enjoyed Logan’s story and it was my first chance with the author and the series. I’m with you. I want more of those brothers together and the new families they have. 🙂
I’m so glad you enjoyed these. I’m not huge into westerns. But I should give them a try.
I’ve never read a Leigh Greenwood book though I keep meaning to try him out. I love westerns so I’m sure I’d enjoy them. I’m especially intrigued by Forever and Always.
I could totally go for some cowboy yumminess right now.
Cowboys! I would like to read these, but I have to admit, the authors biography is even more interesting. Adding him to my wishlist.
oh I adore those cowboys!!! And yes you definitely need to try him out. He writes romances so well and I always admire male romance authors.
Dang dang dang. Definitely going to have to try him out in 2016. Love your new colored category dots 😀