Not for me, but I think some will love the erotic scenes, the fanciful plot and the captive/captor romance.

DNF, 58% (I finished one novella and the prologue of novella two, for reference, though I did consider DNFing earlier.)

This is the book version of the "It's not you, it's me" breakup speech. Let me say that this book is compulsively readable. I read the whole thing in just about one sitting. Each time I'd think "it's time to put this up and go to bed" I'd decide to just read "one more chapter". And we all know how that goes. The plot of both novellas was nicely fleshed out and well paced. There wasn't that feel of rush at the end or slow spots or any of the other pacing flaws that can sometimes curse a novella.

So what was the problem? I'm more of a slow burn emotional connection romance reader and this was definitely more of an out of control bonfire in terms of heat. I mean - wow. Granted Jill Shalvis' contemporaries are on my high end of spice so use that as your guide for what to expect here.

As for the stories they're entertaining. Both are a take on the enemies turned not so much trope and both couples do not hold back when it comes to voicing their opinions. There were a few times when I thought "Really? You're attracted to him now??" as they seemed to really hate each other at that particular moment but as I continued with the story I found that I completely bought it.

If you like your romance with some serious heat and can't resist a good enemies to lovers trope than these 2 quick reading novellas may be just the thing to keep you up reading past your bedtime.

I liked this book. I usually don't read this genre of romance but I really liked it! it was well written and a fun read!!!

With this one you get two steamy stories in one. Two hot cowboys that are hard to resist even if they have kidnapped you! Both stories have adventure, mystery, and a whole lot of passion. They are both well written and even though these are shorter stories, I felt like I really knew these characters. I highly recommend this one.

This is a compilation of Cowboy and the Captive and Cowboy and the Thief, both previously released titles.

In these stories we meet a couple of hot Texas cowboys on their route to happily ever after.

Each novel seemed longer than a novella but I felt cheated because neither story had any real depth to them.

Individually, the stories are examples of a quick, easy read with some hot and sweaty scenes thrown in, and who doesn't want a hot, sweaty cowboy?

Rugged Texas Cowboy contains two novellas in one book. The first novella is Cowboy and the Captive and the second is Cowboy and the Thief.

Cowboy and the Captive: 1 star

This book just didn't work for me on any level. I love a good erotic book and I don't mind the kidnap trope if done well. I didn't find that in this case and couldn't stand the hero and never connected with the heroine. Luc hates Maria and so kidnaps her or so he thinks but ends up with her twin sister (why/how this came about was really confusing - Merlina's brother hires him to kidnap Merlina but makes him think that she is Maria). It was very confusing - why would Luc do this for Maria's sister? What was the motive? Why didn't Merlina's brother just hire a bodyguard? Really you hire a man who hates Maria and have him kidnap Merlina while telling him it's Maria? The whole premise was preposterous! Then Luc treats her like absolute crap including shoving his junk in her face and telling her to suck him right after he kidnaps her. Even though Maria is a drug addict and Melina has no signs of being a drug user and goes through no withdrawal and tells him she is Maria's sister Luc refuses to believe her. All it would take is an internet connection and a quick search to find out that yes Maria has a twin sister but Luc never does this. He tells himself he should hate her but for some reason his "body just wants her." Luc threatens her a lot including threatening her sexually and basically postures a lot but never really follows through with any vengeance. Mostly, he has her cook and clean for him. Meanwhile Melina although she doesn't like the situation can't help but respond to Luc. She wants him even though he's a complete jerk and believes she is her sister. At first she informs him she doesn't want her sister's seconds but then they have sex (even though he still believes she's Maria) and she just forgets about that. I probably could have gotten into this if the characters realized the mistake early but it went on for way to long. Even once Luc and Melina were together he continued to order her around and treat her like a captive. I never believed for one second these two were in love and it was all just a bit weird and not sexy or romantic to me.

Cowboy and the Thief: 2 stars

I enjoyed this one a little bit more than the first but still felt it was lacking. Jack buy's Angel's family heirloom as a way to get her attention and get through her cold exterior. Angel is furious and vows to get it back no matter what. She breaks into Jack's house but of course he catches her. Jack knows that their is a connection between them and decides he won't let her go until she acknowledges it. Not a lot of character development and instant lust/love but better than the first book.

Overall, neither of these books really had anything to do with being a cowboy so the title is definitely a bit deceiving. The characters lacked development and the plot had a lot of holes. If you are looking for some steamy and erotic sex without a believable plot then this book may work for you it just didn't for me.

4.5 stars
This book is actually two stories, “Cowboy and the Captive” and “Cowboy and the Thief” that are being reissued under a new publisher. In the first story, Luc Jardin and his partner Jack Riley are asked by Maria Catarina Angeles to transport a crate from South America to the US for a hundred thousand dollars and a night that the men will never forget. Unfortunately, things do not go as planned and the men almost wind up dead. Luc vows to get revenge on Maria no matter how long he has to wait. Melina Catarina Angeles is Maria’s twin and has unfortunately had to pretend to be her sister which leaves her in some dangerous situations. Maria is once again in trouble with the law and Melina’s parents beg her to take her place. Upon leaving her parent’s house and returning home, Melina is kidnapped by Luc. Melina has always been attracted to Luc from the moment she saw him but he thinks she is Maria. How will Luc react when he learns the truth? Can Luc keep her safe from her unstable twin and her entourage?
The second book continues with Jack’s story. He is traveling to Ireland to see an old friend Joe Manning. Upon his arrival he is introduced to Joe’s daughter Angel. Jack and Angel are like two bickering children but there is heat simmering underneath the surface. Unbeknownst to Jack and Angel, Joe is setting them up because of an old Druid legend pertaining to ‘the torque’. When Joe sells the torque to Jack, Angel flips out and follows Jack to Texas to steal it back. However, she gets more than she bargains for. Can the two work out their differences? Will Angel get her prized possession back?
Lora Leigh has a way of crafting storylines that suck the reader into the action from the beginning. These two stories have everything; hot cowboys, steamy scenes, action, betrayal and plot twists that keep you engaged throughout.
I volunteered to read an arc provided by Netgalley.

If you like a simple straightforward romance, this book should be a good fit for you. The characters were likable and it has a HEA. Pretty quick read.

Rugged Texas Cowboy is a collection of two erotic tales published in one delightful cowboy collection.

Cowboy and the Captive is a story of mistaken identity leading to love. Maria is the bad girl gone horribly wrong who frames her twin Melina for all her sins. Taken captive by Jardin, someone Maria betrayed and almost had killed. Melina is now faced with Maria's punishment.

Cowboy and the Thief is a story of Angel, an Irish lass, and Jack, a true blue American cowboy. Jack purchases Angel’s family heirloom, a torque, that is supposed to find Angel’s family’s true mate. Desperate to get the torque back it puts Angel at Jack’s mercy.

Two highly erotic romances.

I received this ARC copy of Rugged Texas Cowboy from St. Martin's Press. This is my honest and voluntary review. Rugged Texas Cowboy is set for publication Dec. 5, 2017.

My Rating: 4 stars
Written by: Lora Leigh
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks
Publication Date: December 5, 2017
ISBN-10: 1250150876
ISBN-13: 978-1250150875
Genre: Erotic Romance

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Reviewed for: http://tometender.blogspot.com

11 likes

I'm thinking these stories were written in an earlier time period - the scenarios were very rape-like. Good stories, but not politically correct.

ARC was given by the publishers via NetGalley.

I was not actually expecting to review this author, so I was glad that I was able to read her.

COWBOY AND THE CAPTIVE

Book one has this powerful effect on me. The way the parents handled their children was something. Added to the fact that something happened to affect the attitude towards the older child, Melina. She did her best to loved by her parents only to be put under the bus over and over again. Jardin, on the other hand was so full of hate of Maria, that he cannot see past it. He was able to but well. not without repercussion.

COWBOY AND THE THIEF

This book centers on a heirloom that was left by Angel's mother, and Jack, buying it because he was judge for who he is. It was kinda disappointing. The reality of the situation was not lost on the book. People often judge other on based on what happened and what they see. However, hasty judgement can cause consequences that could ultimately affect everyone's lives. I like this, how Jack did what he said, and the ending was something else too.

I look forward to reading more books from this Author.

I don't think I had ever read any books by this author but I am so glad I finally did because I very much enjoyed both stories. Very well written and got me hooked and wanting to read more of Lora Leigh's books in the future.

I do recommend .

I am not to much of a fan for Western Romance when I am looking for a good book to read. When I saw that Lora Leigh was coming out with Rugged Texas Cowboy that had two short stories in one book, I knew I had to give it a try!

Cowboy and Captives was all about the vendetta that was coming and mistake in identity. I was into the story, and the characters were great. The suspense of knowing that the wrong woman was kidnapped had me wondering what will happen next. With Cowboy and the Thief, we get that insta connection with the characters. There was always drama and once in awhile I was not to sure where the story line was going.

All in all I got into these stories and my only recommendation would to make these into a full novel. I felt that the ended needed just a bit more to make it complete. I am a huge Lora Leigh fan and stil can not wait to see what she will bring us next. 3.5/5 stars!

3.5*
Cowboy and the Captive
3*
Mistaken identity and revenge make for a sexy fast past read.
Luc Jarden and Jack were setup and almost killed by Maria Catarina Angeles. Luc swears he will see her put in jail, but when she’s gets no punishment he plots his revenge. Melina Catarina Angeles has lived in the shadow of her twin sister all her life. Now she been mistaken for Maria and kidnapped by the one man she’s not been able to forget Luc Jarden.
Luc vows to get Maria cleaned up and off drugs and to admit her responsibility. Melina vows to make Luc see her for who she is, if the big lug of a cowboy would just listen. As things heat up between them, thing are just not adding up they way they should. Can Melina make Luc see the truth before its to late?
My only problem with is book was that Melina’s innocent personality did not match the way she talked in her head. It just didn’t sound like her at all.

Cowboy and the Theif
Lora Leigh
4*
Finding love when you never thought you would, written in a legend of passed druids.
Jack Riley self made man traveled the world looking for the one that is meant to love him. He has given up on ever finding that person.
Angel Manning has a passion that’s hidden behind a sophisticated strong demeanor, looking for a promised true love like her parents. The torques legend has yet to bring the one person for her and her belief is diminishing.
The day Jack comes to Ireland and walks into Angel’s life her world is turned upside down and her life’s control starts to slip. One off handed remark and the one thing she hold dear is taken away. Vowing to get it back will take her to America and into Jack’s domain. Jack doesn’t like a thief and he’s going to punish Angel in the most wicked ways, but in the end he will walk away. Legend or not he does not believe love is real or is it?
I really like second story. Good story line and steamy hot chemistry.

4.5 Stars Two steamy cowboy stories from the fabulous Lora Leigh I know I would have to have these and I was right.
COWBOY AND THE CAPTIVE and COWBOY AND THE THIEF are well written stories with great characters that kept me engrossed throughout. This is my first venture into the contemporary world with Ms Leigh and I can say I love these stories as much as everything else I have read by this author. Do yourself a favor and be sure to grab this book I have and will also be adding it to my print collection when it is released.

This is a two novella in one book. THE COWBOY and the CAPTIVE is about a man , who almost loses his life because he and his partner are tricked by a beautiful, drug addicted, soulless thief. He is determined to find her and make her pay. When given the chance to kidnap her and force her to dry out on his ranch, he kidnaps her twin = a twin he didn't know existed! This is a classic alpha hero vs alpha heroine story that is melt the sheets hot!
The COWBOY and the THIEF. This story is about a cowboy who travels to buy and sell horses and other money making ventures. When he goes to Ireland, he meets and clashes with the daughter of one of his customers. He buys a very special piece of jewelry that means the world to this woman and, she travels to Texas to steal is back from him. That's when the true fun begins! Another melt the sheets HOT story.

Rugged Texas Cowboy by Lora Leigh

Two novellas in one book –

Having seen Lora Leigh’s name about for some time I thought this book might be a nice introduction to her writing but perhaps not. This is a story of two friends/business partners in business together as pilots. They take on an iffy job and nearly die in the prologue and then have their romances told in each of the novellas. I have to say that if you are looking for a cowboy romance or one that could possibly maybe happen and is realistic then stay away. If, on the other hand, you are looking for some steamy scenes with more of a fantasy feel then this might work for you – sadly I didn’t really fall for either hero or heroine of these stories.

COWBOY AND THE CAPTIVE
Luc Jordan kidnaps the woman who set him up in the prologue – or thinks he does – and has the blessing of her brother to do so. I had trouble with more than one thing in this story from the parents adoring Maria and using Melina as her scapegoat to the instant attraction she felt the first time she saw Luc…before the kidnapping. Not my cup of tea…though I don’t mind a bit of bondage and other things that happened in this book IF in the right context with consent of both parties.

COWBOY AND THE THIEF
Jack Riley ends up in Ireland where he buys a family heirloom with magic powers. Angel Manning, the daughter of the seller of the heirloom, is incensed by the purchase and heads off to steal it back. This book again has some questionable interactions in the bedroom and a romance I found unbelievable…the only thing I can say is that necklace must have had STRONG magical properties to see the Jack and Angel together at the end.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC – This is my honest review.

2 Stars

Two novellas, two different women and two overbearing alpha cowboys. Luc, taking the justice system into his own hands, thinks kidnapping the woman who wronged him will set things right. Luc's friend Jack, travels to Ireland for a friend and finds himself infatuated with the man's daughter. The first story was hard on my heart as Melina suffered so much. The second was fun with a bit of Irish folklore and very erotic chapters, but I think Jack should have been aged older. Seems a bit unbelievable that he was twenty-two. Very different stories, both enjoyable and sexy. My first read from Leigh, I got my copy from Netgalley and wrote my review voluntarily.

3.5 stars Three stars for Cowboy and the Captive, Four stars for Cowboy and the Thief.

Cowboy and the Captive. 3.5 stars. This is a re-issue of an old Ellora’s Cave book by Lora Leigh. It’s a reread for me. I’m not sure if it’s been re-edited. If not, it should have been. There are conflicting details and some of the word choices are off-putting. I graded it above average because the story-telling is solid, the main characters are likable if too-good-to-be-true, and the love scenes are sexy. My main complaint with this and with many of Ms. Leigh’s books is that the villains are one-dimensional. They have no reason for doing bad things, they’re just pure evil with no redeeming qualities. I specially hate it when the main baddie is female. They seem to be more cruel, more heartless. In any case, it’s still worth a read.

3.5 stars upgraded to 4. A matchmaking Irish dad. A sexy cowboy and a prim and proper Irish daughter. Cowboy and the Thief is light and sexy. There’s not much conflict, just the usual reluctance to commit. There’s lots of sex, more than you’d expect in a novella. Except for an objectionable word, this book is written well.

ARC received via Netgalley for an honest review

There's only one thing better than a cowboy. Two of them!

Rugged Texas Cowboy were two quick and exciting stories that will keep you in the edge of your seat.

Cowboys, mistaken identities, bad guys, family dramas - this short has a bit of it all.

I really liked the first story of Luc and Melina. In fact, I would have liked more of it! I was very much drawn into their story, and felt that it was a bit rushed at the end to tie up all the loose ends. This would have been great as a full length book.

The second story is very short and sweet. I freaking love our feisty Irishwoman Angel, she sure doesn't take crap from anyone. And Jack - yeah, he's my kinda guy!

This books was a great way to spend a couple of hours lazing on the couch.