Running Wild by Linda Howard and Linda Jones

Running Wild by Linda Howard and Linda Jones
Carlin Reed lives in fear, off the grid, moving from place to place.  So Battle Ridge, Wyoming, a small town in the middle of nowhere, seems like a good place to lie low for a little while.  But after becoming cook and housekeeper to cattle rancher Zeke Decker, Carlin suspects that she's made her first mistake.  Rugged, sexy, and too distracting for her own good, Zeke is pure temptation mixed with something deep and primal that makes Carlin feel almost safe.  Soon things are getting way too hot in the kitchen.  

Zeke doesn't challenge Carlin's terms: cash, dead bolts, and no questions.  It is easy to see that she's a woman in trouble.  Problem is, he's so blindsided by his attraction to her he can't think straight.  Zeke tries to stay all business, no complications--but that game plan is sabotaged the second Carlin gets under his skin.  And when her terrifying past follows her to the ranch, Carlin faces a heartbreaking choice: run away from the man she loves, or put him in the crosshairs of a madman.  

Nobody writes men like Linda Howard and this book definitely had an amazing male lead in Zeke.  Zeke who is impatient, stubborn, and takes on many responsibilities to protect what he considers his whether it be his ranch, his family, his ranch hands, or soon, Carlin.  Carlin is on the run from a stalker who is computer savvy and a cop--a combination that makes living "off the grid" an absolute necessity.  Working her way across the country is her best plan to keep Brad, her nutcase stalker, off her trail.  Pulling into Battle Ridge, WY, Carlin just wants a job to restock her cash stash so she can keep moving; little does she know she has found home.  

Zeke needs a housekeeper since his previous one quit to be nearer her family.  He is reluctant to hire a woman as he feels it would be a bad idea with all the men on the ranch unless said woman was married or middle-aged.  Carlin is neither and Zeke is determined to steer clear of her until the hand who has been doing the cooking is hurt and unable to continue kitchen duty.  With no other options, Zeke hires Carlin who insists she will only be able to stay until the spring.  Carlin and Zeke are an amazing pairing who come together at a pace that is perfect.  They both are attracted to the other but are understandably reluctant to get involved with each other considering Carlin's stalker, Zeke's worry she will run at any time, and their employee/employer status.   

There were times I laughed out loud at the banter between Carlin and Zeke, I loved the secondary characters, especially Spencer, and the romance and suspense were both timed exquisitely.  The ending confrontation with Brad happened fairly quickly but I didn't feel that it was short changed in any way.  Overall, I very much enjoyed this book and would love to revisit Battle Ridge.  I am in awe of how seamlessly this book flowed having been written by two different authors, I couldn't tell who wrote what.  Instead I just sat back and enjoyed the ride.

Reading Challenges
105 Challenge
Foodie Challenge
Monthly Mix Up Mania
Official TBR Pile Extreme
Reading Road Trip
Romantic Suspense
TBR Pile
Bookish Bingo

I purchased this book with my own funds.

A to Z by Marie Sexton

A to Z by Marie Sexton

Zach Mitchell is stuck in a rut.  His college boyfriend left him ten years ago, but Zach still lives in the same apartment, drives the same car, and feeds his ex-boyfriends's ungrateful cat.  His Denver business, A to Z Video Rental, is struggling.  He has annoying customers, eccentric neighbors, and an unfulfilled romance with his landlord, Tom.  A combat boot-wearing punk with an attitude, Angelo Green was raised in foster homes and has been on his own since he was sixteen; he has never learned to trust or to love.  He doesn't do relationships so when Angelo takes a job at A to Z Video, he decides Zach is strictly off-limits.  Despite their differences, Zach and Angelo quickly become friends, and when Zach's break-up with Tom puts his business on the line, it's Angelo who comes up with a solution.  Together with Jared and Matt, their friends from Coda, Colorado, Zach and Angelo will find a way to save A to Z , but will they be able to save each other too?

Based on the first chapter I really didn't think I would like this book.  I stuck with it because I was trying to finish my Alphabet Soup reading challenge and I needed a Z...Thank goodness because I ended up really enjoying this book quite a lot.  Zach did not strike me as likable at first--he up front admits that he was lazy in his life choices and had repeatedly cheated on his long time ex-boyfriend.  But.  Then he starts his "relationship" with Tom and I started to feel badly that Zach would think so little of himself that he would accept the little that Tom gave him and be grateful for it, not to mention want more which so obviously was never going to happen.  I was so relieved when Angelo entered the picture because I knew it had to spell the end for Tom.  It didn't happen soon enough for me but that was okay--I think it needed to happen exactly the way it did for Zach to really understand how little credit he was giving himself.  

The best thing about this book was watching, and hearing as this book is written in alternating 1st person chapters, both Zach and Angelo evolve both in their relationship and as individuals who slowly come to realize their worth to others as well as to themselves.  From a decidedly unromantic beginning, Marie Sexton crafted a wonderfully sweet story about two men that I rooted for the whole time while always understanding why it took them both so long to get to their happy ever after.  What was so wonderful was watching the different stages their relationship went through.  I  knew that while each stage was necessary and if needed could work long-term that they both truly deserved the best of happy-ever-afters and even better, I got to see them get it.  

Reading Challenges
Alphabet Soup
I Love Library Books
Contemporary Romance

I borrowed this book from my local public library.  

Once More With Feeling by Nora Roberts

Once More With Feeling by Nora Roberts
It had been more than five years since Raven Williams had laid eyes on Brandon Carstairs, the man who'd stolen her heart.  Now he offered her the opportunity of a lifetime--to work with him on his latest venture.  And despite the painful ache he brought to her life, Raven found herself powerless to say no...

After a long unexpected absence from blogging I found myself in a rut of only rereading well known shorter stories on my kindle.  I was enjoying my reading life but I wasn't loving it.  I was in a holding pattern and while it was comfortable and familiar and, yes, full of great stories, it wasn't new and fresh and exciting.  So I did what I often do while when I find myself in a reading rut.  I turned to an author that I knew would snap me out of it.  Nora Roberts-one of the best story tellers out there.  I went to my good old TBR pile and grabbed the first Nora I saw.  And promptly DNF'd it.  Not wanting to give in so easily, I went back and grabbed another, this time it was Reunion, a two-in-one compilation including Once More With Feeling.

Once More With Feeling is one of Nora's 80's romances but it felt more contemporary than some I have read from that same era.  Raven is a mega successful singer who had a one time romance with Brand Carstairs, another successful singer/songwriter.  Five years ago their love affair ended abruptly hurting them both.  Brand is back in Raven's life with the opportunity of a lifetime--collaborating with him to compose the score to what is sure to be the hottest movie of the year.  Raven is unsure if she wants to chance putting her heart on the line again, but she can't turn down the chance to be a part of a project that will fulfill her artistic needs and add another success to her career.  

Brand knew he had Raven's love five years ago, but he never had her trust.  There were whole sections of her life that she held back from him.  He is determined to have all of her this time around.  After securing Raven's agreement to work with him, he whisks her off to Cornwall to work in an environment free from interruptions from family and fans.  His plan works as they quickly break down walls that have stood between them, but there is still anger on both sides from their past interactions and these explode in one long awaited argument.  Unfortunately, it is at this same time that Raven's personal life implodes and she must return to California to deal with the fall out.  Will Brand and Raven ever get it together and finally find a way to let go of the past so they can move on to the future?  Of course they will!  This is romance-landia, happy endings are a must--although I will admit the ending on this one felt a wee-bit rushed.  Overall, though, this book fit the bill of breaking me out of my kindle and back into the land of new-to-me titles.  It feels good to be back!  

Reading Challenges
Around the World
Contemporary Romance
Genre Decades 
Monthly Motif (Retro reading for June's motif)
TBR Pile
TBR (Retro reading for May)
TBR Reduction Extreme
Bookish Bingo
Story Sprites

I purchased this book with my own funds.

Story Sprites Reading Challenge

Story Sprites Reading Challenge (Hosted by Great Imaginations)

I am happy to jump back into blogging and back into my reading challenges!  On that note, Great Imaginations has come up with a new fun challenge to try called Story Sprites.  It runs from July 1-Oct. 1 at which point everyone will share their wrap up posts.  There is a game board: 

with colored "paths" that you can take (does anyone else get fun Candy Land feelings from this board?) depending on the books you want to read.  There are five paths: red, orange, green, blue, and purple.  You can choose one, some, or all the paths to complete.  Completed paths earn you badges and entries into a great giveaway they are conducting.  With all of this fun, how could I not want to participate?  My official goal is at least one path but you know I secretly (or not so secretly) want to complete them ALL!

Bookish Bingo Summer Edition

Bookish Bingo Summer Edition (Hosted by Pretty Deadly Reviews)

I am excited to be joining in the fun of Bookish Bingo once again!  This board looks like a LOT of fun!!  Thanks to Pretty Deadly Reviews for hosting this fun adventure into reading!

Love all the categories!!  Great combo of wide open and more challenging!  This bingo runs from June 1-August 31 and you can sign up until July 16 so if you hurry, you can still sneak in before the deadline like I did...Good luck!

Deal Me In: The Gauntlet by Karen Chance

Deal Me In: The Gauntlet by Karen Chance

This story started our really strong and then it just lost steam...I ended up DNFing it although I tried it more than once.  I am not sure why it didn't work for me.  

Deal Me In: Demon's Secrets by Nathalie Gray

Demon's Secrets by Nathalie Gray

Cain (of Cain and Abel) steals secrets from the souls of the dying for his keeper in Hell.  Secrets can be used to buy souls and are in high demand.  Because of this, other keepers have their own spawn who are on the hunt for secrets.  One of them is Bethany who Cain finds himself drawn to, so much so that he is willing to die again for her knowing only the most heinous of tortures await him if he returns without the secrets.  This one was pretty good.