Promise Me, Cowboy

Promise Me, Cowboy By CJ Carmichael

Sage Carrigan is in a good place.  Running a very successful gourmet chocolate shop in her hometown of Marietta, Montana takes up nearly all of her time.  Thanks to this she has finally been able to put her painful history as a barrel racer behind her and move on to a quieter and safer future.  So why is Dawson O'Dell standing in her store drudging up the past?  And since when does he have a daughter?

Dawson O'Dell is trying to make things right.  Five years ago he betrayed a woman he had come to care deeply for, and that betrayal led to something much worse.  Now he is in Sage's hometown for the 75th Annual Copper Mountain Rodeo.  Can he finally set his life on the right course for his sake and his daughter's?  And can he ever convince Sage to trust him again?

This is the third novella in the Copper Mountain Rodeo series and the first story in the Carrigans of Circle C series.

For someone who has never competed in a rodeo, I can't imagine what goes through the heads of the cowboys and cowgirls that ride the circuit.  To get a glimpse of that and know that some of them are terrified of it, but do it anyway, really messes with my logic.  I know that this happens.  There are people everyday who hate their jobs, but still go to work because that is what is needed and expected.  But the reality of someone being afraid to do something that could kill them, and they still do it willingly is beyond me.  Mind blown.

Sage as a character is pretty straight forward.  Her fears, hesitations, dreams, desires, and relationships are all understandable and well explained.  That is pretty rare in a romantic heroine, and very refreshing.

Dawson on the other hand is a meat-head!  I guess someone had to balance out Sage's uncomplicated character because this guy is a knot of complexities and contradictions.

Now for the important stuff:  CHOCOLATE!  There is actually quite a bit of detail about Sage's obsession with single-source chocolate, and how she turned it into a business.  I dare you not to drool.

Overall, I enjoyed this story.  It introduced the Carrigan Family, which is way more complicated than Sage, and hinted about mystery to come.

Ratings:

(1=unacceptable, 2=poor, 3=acceptable, 4=good, 5=excellent)

Continuity/Flow – 4

Sex – 4 

Language – 4 

Storyline – 4

Overall – 4

Good Together

Good Together By C.J. Carmichael

Mattie Carrington Bishop is suffering from a severe case of empty-nest. Her 18-year old twin daughters are off to college and her 19 year marriage is simply...off. She knew her husband had taken the death of his friend hard, but nothing could have prepared her for the news he brings home, or the changes he forces on her life.

Nat Diamond has been playing hero to his neighbor for years. He hates the way her husband leaves alone her so often, and enjoys stepping in when he's needed. However, when he gets a call from Mattie's husband, everything changes. Suddenly his heroics take on a new meaning and his feelings become a lot more complicated...especially since his life isn't exactly what it seems.

This book had so many emotional twists and turns, I found myself steeling myself most of the time for the next shock. Well written and moderately paced this book doesn't feel rushed or drug-out.

The character points of view give ample story-behind-the-story time for the supporting characters without taking away from the main plot. We also get a little teaser to a possible future plot involving Callan, the youngest Carrington sister. Best of all the over-arching story of the Bramble Family history, introduced in Promise Me, Cowboy, was continued in this installment.

My only complaint was not getting "enough" happily ever after at the end of the book. I'm too much of a sap for that kind of thing, and I am a sucker for an epilogue, which did not happen in this story.

I can't wait for the next story.

Ratings:

(1=unacceptable, 2=poor, 3=acceptable, 4=good, 5=excellent)

Continuity/Flow – 4

Sex – 4 

Language – 4

Storyline – 5

Overall – 5