This is two books in one, first you have cowboy and the captive and then cowboy and the thief. These books are classic romance stories with a sexy slant on them. These are two novella books. These books have plenty of characters development, a strong storyline and lots of hot and steamy scenes. I can't wait to read more in this series and by this author in the future.
Highly recommended
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book

Well written and an enjoyable story. I really enjoyed reading this book and look forward to reading more by this author.

I normally adore Lora Leigh, but these books didn't even seem written by her. The passion between the characters were more narrated than actually felt. The steamy scenes (although hot) were the main focus of the stories instead of the stories being built around the searing chemistry. Plots were not easy to buy (even for fiction). I'm still going to stick with the author, but these fell a little flat for me.

Rugged Texas Cowboy is actually two novellas in one, and if you've never read any Lora Leigh's books before, this is your warning, they are highly erotic and for mature readers only. These two short novels are so hot that I was surprised that my Kindle didn't go up in flames. Writing steamy scenes is one of the things Ms. Leigh is known for, and few authors are her equal in that regard. Since I liked the first novella more than the second, book one, Cowboy and the Captive gets 4 stars. Book two, Cowboy and the Thief, wasn't quite as good as book one, and it gets 3 stars from this reader.

Book one is about twin sisters, Maria and Melina, one good, one bad. Maria, the bad one, is her parent's favorite daughter, and Melina, the good twin, is sweet, kind and has spent her life taking on the consequences for Maria's bad acts. Maria is a drug addict, and as the novella opens, she's transporting crates, supposedly for charity, across the border from Mexico, using a fledgling private air carrier service, owned by two friends, Luc Jardin and his friend, Jack Riley, who, though suspicious about the contents of the crates, need the money to help keep their business afloat, except that they aren't getting paid, they are being shot at and nearly killed once they land and it's clear that they are carrying drugs. They manage to survive, but they want to get even with Maria.

Fast forward two years, and Maria hasn't changed a bit, in fact, her twin sister, Melina, ended doing jail time for her because her parents encouraged, in fact, forced her to impersonate her sister. One week in jail and Melina was nearly raped, severely beaten, and barely survived her injuries, as her parents ignored her pleas and went on vacation rather than help her. Maria is in trouble again, and her parents again expect Melina to again take the rap for Maria, assuring her that all she'll get is a slap on wrist--but Melina is no longer willing to aid and abet Maria's crimes, nor is she willing to suffer the consequences. But the next thing she knows is that she's being kidnapped by Luc Jardin, who has a 2-year old score to settle with her twin, except that Luc didn't even know that Maria had a twin, and he wrongly assumes that Melina is lying and proceeds to punish her as if she really was Maria. He's soon to learn differently, and as he does, this short novel really heats up into one sexy, satisfying read.

The second novella, Cowboy and the Thief, is Jack Riley's story. He's in Ireland, visiting Joe Manning, and we're never given a reason for his trip there beyond learning that he's still in partnership with Luc Jardin in the import/export carrier service. How he knows Mr. Manning, and the reason he's in Ireland is never clearly explained. As soon as Jack meets Joe's daughter, Angel, he's attracted to her, and she to him. But Jack is an avowed player, and during the time he spends at the Manning castle, he and Angel strike sparks off each other every time they are in the same room. The backstory involves an ancient legend about an heirloom golden torque that has been passed down for generations, and it's something that Angel expects to inherit, but she's shocked and outraged to learn that her father has sold the precious heirloom to Jack, and once he leaves to return to Texas, Angel is right behind him, planning to steal back the valuable piece and return home with it back in her possession, but, of course, Jack catches her in the act, and holds her hostage on his ranch, threatening to turn her over to the law if she disobeys him. As in the first short novel, proximity breeds a lot of heat, and while Lora Leigh certainly knows how to do that, this story simply didn't hold together as well as the first one.

While I don't condone kidnapping a woman as a great way to get to know her, it's certainly a theme that Ms. Leigh has employed in the past. That said, the two novellas in this book are short and steamy reads, and although I much preferred the first story, which had more emotional depth than the second, both were enjoyable, erotic reads, which is what I've come to expect and enjoy in Ms. Leigh's novels.

Finally, I must add something that has become a pet peeve of mine, and that is the title of the book, which has nothing to do with the two short novels contained within. While Luc and Jack lived on ranches in Texas, neither of them were depicted as cowboys. Luc raises and sells Clydesdales, but since we never see him working with horses, and because the two interconnected stories are about his and Jack's import/export business, I felt that the title was utterly misleading.

I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this book. The opinions expressed are my own.

Did not finish.

Sorry, the book just didn’t appeal to me after all and I didn’t finish.

Well, the title is mostly correct, these stories are about cowboys but their ruggedness is more of the rough bedroom virility type than lack of refinement. Rugged Cowboy is less home on the range and more cowpoke cavorting (emphasis on the poke). Yes, the action is a little bawdy and crude in the bunkhouse and if that’s what you’re seeking than these lil ditties will scratch that itch.
The plot of The Cowboy and the Captive centers around a lot of well-favored troupes: twins, mistaken identity, miracles, of course, love. Romance plots are sometimes fantastical, but if storytelling is on point, you can believe almost anything. Although the opener was intriguing with its deal gone wrong, I wasn’t sold on the backstory. Unexplained sibling rivalry and villainous parents gave way to kidnapping as behavior therapy and insta-love. Sure it’s a short story, but a little connection other than lusty looks would have gone a long way. Also, the narrative was more telling vice showing.All of it unbelievable, but again forgivable if the characters are strong. Sadly, the twin mixup is paper thin as are the characters. The big discovery is not that compelling and the ending is rushed.
The connection to Cowboy and the Thief is unclear, although the male leads are meant to be bffs. The emotional connection between the main characters was non-existent. A quick skim to the good parts did little to lift the spirits. Overall this quick collection felt too cursory and generic for sustained attention. Disappointing.

As I was reading these two stories, I realized that I had read them years before. Many years ago they were published as erotica and gave a lot of authors their start. Both stories were good, but not in the same caliber as her Breeds series.
I would say these are guilty pleasure stories. If you want to over analyze them...The "hero" in the first story was a caveman and honestly more than a bit of a jerk to the heroine who has been mistaken as her evil twin, aided and abetted by the worst parents EVER! But there is also plenty of sexual sizzle that Ms Leigh writes so well.

This book contains 2 stories that I did some research and were previously published by Ellora's Cave back in 2004 and 2009.  I hadn't read these books prior to this and they are their own little series about two cowboys who co-own a company together and also own ranches.  I guess that about summarizes the connection.

In the first story COWBOY AND THE CAPTIVE, both friends are flying their private plane and are seduced into taking on a cargo for a beautiful woman who spells trouble.  Once they land they are ambushed and almost killed because their shipment contained drugs.  Luc has wanted vengeance on this woman for a while and he seems to finally get his chance when her brother sets him up to kidnap her.  I'm going to be honest here... This story had my eyes rolling back in my head a bit from the start.  It certainly feels like the erotic romances of the time this book was published and there is a time and place in my reading for that.  So as long as you go into this story expecting that and not an elaborate romance story with a deep connection, then you'll find it enjoyable.

The second story COWBOY AND THE THIEF is about Luc's friend and business partner, Jack.  This was like a completely different series in the fact that it took me a while to make sense of what was going on.  We are thrust into a different setting, Jack Riley is going to stay with his older friend Joe Manning in Ireland.  Joe actually has an agenda and that is he feels Jack is the man who will be his daughter's true love.  There's a bit of fate and supernatural beliefs to the whole thing and this story takes place half in Ireland and half back in Texas.  I cared a lot less for this story.  A lot of it didn't make any sense and I ultimately didn't connect with these characters.

Overall, if you are looking for some steamy insta love with some cowboys then you'll want to pick this up.  It wasn't necessarily unique but it was fun to read.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆☆
COWBOY AND THE CAPTIVE
4.5 stars
M/F Romance
Triggers: Attempted murder, mistaken identity, questionable consent, drug addiction.

This was not what I was expecting when I picked this short story up. Melina has had a difficult life. Because her twin sister, Maria, has always gotten in trouble and then had Melina to help her get out of it. After a horrible experience for Melina in jail, where her parents ignored her, and Maria once again skated by without being punished, Melina decides it's time to stand up for herself – she refuses to take Maria's place again because serious prison time is expected.

Jardin is doing what he believes is the right thing. At the direction of Maria's and Melina's brother, Jardin believes that he is doing what is necessary to get Maria off the drugs that are destroying her life and the lives of those in her family. I had a difficult time with Jardin because despite the author's attempt to paint him as a victim, he was very harsh and mean to Melina and threatened her in a very questionable manner. Even when he started to realize that perhaps he was wrong about her, it didn't really stop.

I wish that Melina's brother had gotten more involved – he set everything up and then kind of disappeared. When it all comes to head, it will pit family against family. The question becomes whether or not blood is thicker than love.

COWBOY AND THE THIEF
4.5 stars
M/F Romance
Triggers: Questionable consent

Angel has always had a high spirit. She was sent away when she was young in order to learn how to control her spirit. Now that she's all grown up, it's up to her dad to fulfill his dying wife's last wish – help Angel find her soulmate.

That's where Jack comes in. Despite his philandering ways, Angel's dad believes he might hold the key to his daughter's heart, and he is going to have to break Angel's heart a little in order to get her to see that.

Angel can't seem to understand why her dad would warn her away from Jack, but then give him the most precious piece of her mother's history. She's heartbroken and determined that Jack doesn't deserve it and she will get it back somehow.

This is where the story gets interesting. Jack manipulates Angel into his bed and house and they find themselves in each other. However, Angel realizes that she was the unworthy one of her mom's torque and she leaves it with Jack.

It's up to Jack to convince Angel that they belong together. However, with Angel resigned to leave it behind, can Jack catch her?


Mary Jo – ☆☆☆☆
These are classic Lora Leigh stories. Fast-paced and high-octane romance.

In the first story, we meet Melina and Luc, two people who come together under the less than best of circumstances and find a way to overcome the obstacles placed in their path. It’s not easy, with Luc being stubborn and "knowing what he knows" and Melina being the victim of mental and physical abuse most of her life.

In the second story, Jack and Angel meet under somewhat normal circumstances, until Jack purchases a family heirloom from Angel's father, one that under the family lore, he had no right to sell. Seeing thievery as the only way to retrieve her rightful property, Angel follows Jack to Texas, where he promptly spots her breaking into his house.

Angel has to let herself love, but she believes she's destined to fail, to fail to live up to the legend associated with the torque, to be alone for the rest of her life. Jack doesn't know her story, all he knows is that this is one woman he can't seem to get off his mind, or out of his bed.


Sarah – ☆☆☆
I have to admit that I didn’t get on terribly well with either of these two stories.

The first story starts with a betrayal, a shootout, and a kidnapping. It’s a complicated yet exciting premise that still doesn’t completely make sense to me. Beyond the complex plot and overly simplistic characters, it was the whole matter of dubious consent/non-consent that really turned me off of this book. Luc kidnaps a traumatised Melina, a woman who was previously abused in prison, and he immediately pursues a sexual relationship with his prisoner. Call me a snowflake, but the whole situation made me squeamish.

The second story starts with Angel and Jack on a more equal footing, but the slightly exaggerated Irish setting and characters didn’t quite work for me. Back in Texas, Angel’s behaviour is childish and pretty bizarre. Jack’s behaviour is less palatable and his ultimatum (sex or jail) made me really uncomfortable. Outside of a consenting BDSM relationship, his threats of physical punishment for her perceived infractions left me cold.

I may be overreacting, but I feel #metoo stories coming out of both of these situations and we do young women no favours with romance writing that glorifies kidnapping, coercion, violence, and infantilized women.

I remember reading some paranormal romance by Lora Leigh some years back. I think the romance genre has changed a great deal over the past few years and this traditional, more simplistic style of romance now feels incredibly dated. In 2017, I expect interesting, empowered women in romance writing.


Ruthie – ☆☆☆
These two novellas feature best friends, Luc and Jack.

In the first, Luc skirts a very fine line for me, but I trusted that he would redeem himself. I liked the plot of the set-upon twin, and would happily have exiled her terrible parents. It was undoubtedly hot and steamy, but I think some readers will be affected by the early scenes. Jack has some role in the story, but there is no overlap.

Jack is now a lone wolf, as Luc is happily settled. On a visit to Ireland he may also have found his match – not that he has any intention of acknowledging it. When the time comes, they have an incendiary encounter, from which they may never recover. It has a similar tone to the first book, but there is some fun repartee between the two of them.

I loved both of these books. The second one is a little shorter than the first book. The first book is about cowboy named Jardin and a girl named Melina. Melina is a twin, the nice twin. Her sister seems to get away with anything and everything. A case of mistaken identity mixed with a bit of revenge/justice has Melina kidnapped by Jardin. Only Jardin is going to get more than he bargained for. This book had me so mad at times. The way Melina’s family treats her is so upsetting. She is used by her family to help get her sister out things she gets into. I felt for her so much. But maybe Jardin thinking she is her twin and kidnapping her could be the best thing to ever happen to her. Not everything is as it seems.
The second book is about Jardin’s friend, Jack Riley and Angel Manning. He travels all over selling horses, cattle, and whatnot that he and Jardin raise and breed. This book has a bit of a paranormalish aspect to it. Angel’s family has a torque that is passed down from mother to daughter for many generations. Angel’s father sells the torque to Jack. Angel is beyond upset and vows to get it back no matter what. Even saying she will steal it from Jack if she has to. Maybe the torque is working its druid magic is mysterious ways. Maybe Jack is supposed to Angel’s wolf mate. The torque has a wonderful story behind it. Angel and Jack are drawn to each other right away but Angel has been hurt in the past. Jack may be considered a player by some but he is honest and doesn’t try to make himself seem any different from how he really is. I liked reading about how the two handle each other in this book.
I really enjoyed reading both books and highly recommend them. I also look forward to reading more books by Lora in the future.
I was given this book in return for an honest review.

The kidnapping business was just so unrealistic. Angel and Jack were much more my style.

Sorry, but I could not finish this book. I'd read the tales in their original incarnation, and had hoped that they'd at least be re-edited and tightened, but there was soooo much filler in the first, re her parents, re her not wanting to disappoint, re her sister being the evil twin and she the good one, yet still not loved and appreciated by anyone other than her absentee brother. This was a mess, I am sorry to say, and FYI, I do edit for several authors, so I say this with respect and from a professional perspective.

Rugged Texas Cowboy, by Lora Leigh features two stories: Cowboy and the Captive and Cowboy and the Thief. Both stories are entertaining and steamy western romances with plenty of drama, family complications, and romance.

In the Cowboy and the Captive, Luc Jardin is ready for revenge against Maria Angeles, after she scammed him and his friend, as well as almost killed them. However, Luc kidnaps her twin sister, Melina, instead. After protesting her innocence, Melina accepts the situation and her unwanted attraction towards Luc, and he is confused by his new attraction as well.

In the Cowboy and the Thief, Jack Riley bought a Irish torque necklace, which belonged to Angel Manning. According to legend, this family heirloom is considered to lead Angel to the man of her heart. When Jack purchases the heirloom from her father, Angel is outraged and travels to Texas to reclaim it and finds the answer to her heart instead.

Rugged Texas Cowboy is geared towards those who enjoy reading steamy romances focused on cowboys.


Note: I received this book from NetGalley, which is a program designed for bloggers to write book reviews in exchange for books, yet the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

When I read the blurb, I didn't see that there would be two stories.

Both stories about cowboys (which I love reading).
In the first one, it tells the stories of two twin sisters, Melina and Maria.
Melina is the good daughter who, more than once, has been forced by her own family to pretend to be the troubled sister to save her neck.
Maria is that daughter who never seems to want to change, even getting involved with drugs and almost killing a man.
That's when Melina becomes involved in a kidnapping, when Jardin kidnaps Melina thinking to be Maria.
But their connection is different than Jardin thought it would be. He wanted to get revenge for what Maria had done in the past, but Melina was there, happy to have some adventure, close to a sexy man.

In the second story we have the dilemma of Angel who discovers that his father had sold something that would be her inheritance.
According to the story that Angel's mother told her, that precious heirloom would make Angel find the man of her life.
Determined to have the heirloom back, Angel would do everything possible to get it back, and Jack Riley was not a man to convince and manipulate...

I'm a fan of Ms Leigh's books. Her stories have plots full of sexuality and mystery. The female characters are strong and determined. Unfortunately I didn't feel connection with this genre here.
3 stars

These are completely opposite stories. Cowboy and The Captive is entertaining, and romantic. Luc is stubborn, frustrated and amusing. Melina is sweet, kind, naive and snarky. While Luc does kidnap Melina, he's not out to hurt her. And finds himself so confused about his feelings, he can't think, he just takes Joe's word as truth. If I was Melina, I wouldn't forgive Joe. Luc and Melina perfectly compliment each other, and are an entertaining couple. Cowboy and The Thief is not romantic, not entertaining and not enjoyable. Jack is a class a creep and Angel starts as an amusing, fire-breathing nice girl, but Jack quickly turns her into a slave. The lore of the necklace is fascinating, and even going with the same characters, but without the BDSM, it could be an amazing book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. This is my honest and voluntary opinion of it.

This was a great read and really hot. I read both stories back to back and I think I cheated my self a little. The cowboy and the captive was a stong story and really a page turner whereas cowboy and thief, while a good read didn’t have the same impact and was more a casual read, a slower build and calmer atmosphere. So when I read them back to back it took me to a different atmosphere and started to not like the second as much. Don’t get me wrong, great story and hot as well but would recommend to read in 2 different sittings or at least the second story first

I didn't love it and I didn't hate this duo. The second story is definitely better but not by much. If you're looking for a quick, steamy read, you'll get that from these books.

ARC provided by NetGalley.

Lora Leigh is a wonder woman when it comes to writing stories. She has a way of putting pen to paper and writing out a story. It evolves to the stories we have here.
COWBOY AND THE CAPTIVE—Book 1 started off with literally a bang. Melina's twin sister is ruining her life by making people believe she is Melina and tearing apart her life and her family’s. Maria nearly got Lucas Jardin/Luc killed in the shoot-out two years ago and now he is back for revenge. Melina took the blame for that shoot out. Now her father is trying to get her accept the blame for something her sister did again but Melina swore she never would accept blame for something her sister did again, especially after she almost died last time. Joe, Malina's brother gets wind of his parents plan and comes up with an alternative plan to save his sister’s life. Joe became friends with Luc after that first incident with Maria went down so Joe uses Luc's hatred of Maria to save Melina’s life. He doesn’t bother to tell him who is actually saving. Luc kidnaps Melina and that’s when the fireworks really get going. The chemistry between Melina and Luc is instant. You can tell Luc isn’t too sure what is going on but he can tell something is off, different. The romance is brewing and Melina has always had a soft spot for Luc. She has loved him and her despair over what her parents and her twin sister, over what they were doing and did to her really is terribly sad. This was a great story and I loved the outcome. I don’t want to give too much away but there is some fantastic action. The ending was full of twists and turns. My rating: 4.9 stars
COWBOY AND THE THIEF- Book 2 is the story of Luc’s friend Jack. We met him in book 1. This is the story of how he met his Angel. Part of this story takes place in Ireland and has a bit of Irish folklore. Jack is a bit of a rouge and Angel is somewhat priggish but how they meet and fall in love is the beauty of this story. It involves this necklace and Angel’s family history. I enjoyed the story and the only thing was I wished there was some follow up of how they were doing as a couple.. overall it was a good story. My rating : 4.5 stars

“I received an advanced copy of this book from the author at no cost to me."