Rugged Texas Cowboy by Lora Leigh
Rugged Texas Cowboy: Cowboy and Captives Romance by Lora Leigh
My rating: 1.5 of 5 stars
Rugged Texas Cowboy by Lora Leigh is an erotic romance read that combines books one and two of the Cowboys and Captives series under one title. Each story within is novella length and features completely different characters and story line.
In book one, Cowboy and the Captive, Melina is a twin who is pressured into impersonating her sister to help get her out of legal trouble. The problem is that this isn’t the first time Melina’s sister and parents wanted her to take Maria’s place and the first time landed her in jail where she was almost killed. But when Melina refuses and returns home she then finds herself taken hostage by the man whom Maria had dealt with in the past.
In the second story of the series, Cowboy and the Thief, Angel Manning finds that her father has sold a precious family heirloom that Angel had counted on owning one day. Angel’s mother had told her that the legendary Irish torque would lead her to the man of her dreams one day and she refuses to let her father get away with selling it especially when she finds it went to the notorious Jack Riley so she plans to take back what is rightly hers.
Well the first thing I’d say about these two stories is I really just didn’t get them at all and perhaps was not the right person to be reading and reviewing them. Starting off with the first story it really had some great ideas that just didn’t shake out to where I thought it should. The idea of a twin standing in for another in legal trouble certainly had my interest but then the story took the turn of the kidnapping which might have worked if both parties had realized the mistaken idea and then fell in love but instead it just make me think of stockholm syndrome the entire read.
Now as for the second book in the series the writing in this one just didn’t seem to gel as well as the first book had. My one positive when finishing book one was that the author had talent but I just hadn’t any interest in the story but the second book almost seemed to be by someone else. The story also seemed way off of what the first book was and really neither made me think of sexy cowboys which was the draw to picking this one up to begin with. In the end it became obvious this series is just not for me at all leaving me to rate it at 1.5 stars.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
Carries Book Reviews 
Fantastic Review Carrie! I’m sorry you didn’t enjoy these books. I agree the twin concept would peak my interest as well but obviously the way they went about it was all wrong. Your review was very honest and still great. You always have a great way of portraying the essence of the story and really pointing out the pros and cons!😁
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Thanks Dani! This was just one of those times it’s a wrong book/wrong reader moment because I just didn’t get the whole thing myself but others seem to like it. But hey if someone out there does a twin swapping places story in a different setting I’d definitely pick it up because that part certainly got me to thinking. 🙂
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Different strokes for different folks! But I agree about the twin swapping!
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I’m surprised that idea doesn’t come up more often really.:)
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Agreed!!!
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Also too bad the cowboys weren’t sexy! I hate when that happens! Lol.
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Well truth be told I didn’t even notice they were “cowboys” other than being told. The book was missing anything cowboy related to bring that image to mind.
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Well damn…😒😒😒
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I know Lora Leigh by name, but I haven’t actually read any of her books. Do you think at least with the first story, the shortness in length had anything to do with the issues you ran into? The premise sounds interesting, but a bit complicated to work everything out in a novella. The second story actually reminds me of something Nora Roberts wrote ages ago, Remember When. It’s too bad that didn’t work either. Thank you for the honest review. I don’t think I’ll be trying this.😒
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This is one I was sent a widget on and like you had heard of Lora Leigh but hadn’t read so I though why not? Sexy cowboys can be very appealing but that’s the first ball dropped with the book, other than writing he’s a cowboy there’s nothing to really show that he’s not any other joe shmoe out there.
But as far as length, truth be told had it been longer it probably would have ended up on of those rare DNFs for me. There just wasn’t anything I can find sexy about guy who just kidnapped her pulling out his “hard cock” on first meeting so it went downhill from there. I’m fine with erotic reads but jumping into that in this particular situation was just cringe worthy to me. Needless to say with my rating it went on to have tons of other things I just didn’t find appealing either and then the second story could barely gain my attention after finishing that first one. Simply a hard pass from me although as with any book there are others that do like it.
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Yikes! It sounds like he was a bit quick on the draw. I’m sorry. That was awful, but I couldn’t resist. My excuse is that it’s after midnight and I can’t sleep due to a fibro flare-up.😒
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Ouch, sorry to hear that. I’ve been quite the night owl lately myself and not sure if it’s my meds or what. Had a check up with my gastrologist last week and switched meds but it shouldn’t keep me awake, heck one is supposed to make me sleepy….yeah right.
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😔
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Better luck next time Carrie.
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Thanks Carla!
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