As interesting a theme of two stories of pitting a hot Texas cowboy and a feisty heroine together. Sadly the storyline didn’t grab me as I was hoping. I felt the cowboys were both whiney and judgmental. The heroines were not heroic at all but weak-kneed who needed a man in order to find their true selves.

At first as I was reading in the beginning, I got a little worried, because I hate when the hero's, in this case Luc was being mean to heroine (Melina), but I continued reading and so glad that I did..As you continue you find out the truth, who is who, what happened. I enjoyed..

This is a 2 in 1 book, the first book is Cowboy and the Captive and the second is Cowboy and the Thief. You see the main hero from book 2 in book 1, as he is the best friend of the hero of book 1.

Book 1 is about Luc Jardin and Melina Angeles. Luc is almost killed 2 years before by Melina's twin sister Maria after flying a shipment for her back to the states. Luc and his best friend Jack didn't know they were flying drugs back and that they were expendable. He wanted Maria to be punished for what she did but that never happened. Melina's parents have always expected her to take the blame and punishments for her sister. To the point where she even spent a week in jail 2 years prior in her sister's stead. Now they want her to take her sister's place yet again. She refuses and her parent's disown her. But then Luc decides he will teach Maria to take responsibility for her actions, not realizing the woman he kidnaps is actually Melina. He doesn't believe her when she tries to tell him as he has never heard about a sister let alone a twin.

I truly liked this book. The way the parents treated her just made me so angry!! And then when Luc doesn't believe her when she tries to tell him who she is? I wanted to smack him for not at least looking into it to make sure he knew the truth. But then they both learn that they can depend on each other and that they truly love each other. Even after Luc finds out everything that happened to Melina 2 years ago. Very good story!

Book 2 is about Jack Riley, who is the best friend that is almost killed with Luc in the first book and Angel Manning. Jack is in Ireland for business with Angel's father. They are attracted to each other but Angel refuses to be another notch in Jack's bed post after a bad experience when she was younger. Her father just wants to see some sort of fire his daughter's eyes again. It hasn't truly been there since he sent her away to school, thinking he was doing the best thing for her. He thinks Jack can bring some sort of balance to her life and sets into motion events to hopefully bring that about. He sells Jack a torque that has been passed down the female side of her mother's family since ancient times. This is in turn pushes Angel to go to Texas and attempt to steal it back. Then the sparks really fly between Jack and Angel! This was also a good read. The beginning was a little slow for me but by the end I really enjoyed it. Jack was a very likable guy, especially once he realizes that what he had given up on ever finding is right in front of him now. Angel seemed to be extremely snooty at first until you find out why she is the way she is. She and Jack are perfect for each other and balance each other out.

All in all, both books were extremely well written with characters that I really enjoyed. Well worth the read and you can never go wrong with a Lora Leigh book!

It was a very enjoyable romance that centered around a kidnapping paired with a case of mistaken identity. Complete with loads of family drama, this story had a little bit of everything that makes for a great romance. Exactly what I've come to expect when I pick up a book by this author.

I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a nice 2-for-1 by Lora Leigh. Easy reads, I enjoyed both stories. They were both quite sexy!
Cowboy and the Captive is a heat and steam infused suspenseful story. Cowboy and the Thief is more of a mystery with some fun and sexy times too. They were both well written and if you like Lora Leigh, you'll like these!

There are two stories in this read, which is definitely a nice treat. Both stories are decent quick reads with enough drama to keep your curiosity. However, there wasn’t a huge western/cowboy feel to me. The story lines are interesting and different, but I just wasn’t wowed with the read. I’d really love to grab a few more books by this author to see what other tales she tells. She makes me want to love her writing.

COWBOY AND THE CAPTIVE

The first of this duo of fabulously steamy and erotic stories, tells the tale of betrayal, near death and the ultimate sacrifice given freely by a devoted sibling. But it also tells of mistaken identity and the bitter revenge that eats away at a basically good man.

Luc and Melina are an amazing couple who through determination, grit and sassy banter find a love that is destined to last a lifetime, if they can survive the danger posed by a drug crazed relative.


COWBOY AND THE THEIF

Nothing is more surreal than the beauty of Ireland, but beauty isn’t just found in the lush rolling fields, as Jack Riley quickly discovers. But Jack isn’t looking for long term, and the fiery Irish lass who has captured his attention wants nothing less.

A unexpected attraction, the purchase of a family heirloom, an attempt at robbery and some scorchingly HOT and sweaty nights are sure to make Jack rethink his long embedded beliefs about love and commitment.

A double treat; both of these stories are wonderfully written and kept this reader engrossed till the very last page. I’m hoping Ms Leigh plans to grace us mere mortals with more of these seriously sexy Cowboys!

Loved it, loved it. Luc met Maria when she asks him and his partner to fly some supplies to the US. They are suspicious but for $100,000, they let it go. It's a set up and his partner gets shot. Luc confronts, Maria and her parents not knowing she has a twin Melina. Maria is a drug user and her parents cover for her constantly. They expect Melina to take the rap for her. She refuses and is disowned. Then Luc kidnaps her thinking she is Maria, It's fun to watch Luc come to terms on who she really is. They have explosive chemistry, but that's not surprising for a Lora Leigh book.
The second story in the book is about Jack. Jack flies to Ireland and meets Angel who is not impressed with this smooth talking cowboy. This story had some mystery and of course, sexy scenes.
Both are a good read, but the first is my favorite of the two. I'll put the Amazon review up when it is published

I received an ARC of this book but I have to say I was not a fan.

Rugged Texas Cowboy by Lora Leigh is two books in one. I have been a huge fan of this author for a few years now, Her novels are legendary, that I highly recommend reading. That being said, the Cowboy and The Captive, and Cowboy and the Thief . . . I had a hard time connecting with the characters. Don't get me wrong, they were good stories. But not my favorites by Lora Leigh sadly.

Cowboy and the Captive is filled with mystery and suspense. A kidnapping gone wrong, mistaken Identity, with quite the bit of steam.

Cowboy and the Thief begins with a cowboy named Jack. Who buys an heirloom that wasn't for sale.  You see it belongs Angel and she is taking it back, no if's and or but's!

Overall I did enjoy the two stories, they were fun, sexy, and of course cowboys that will have your panties in a definite twist.

Rugged Texas Cowboy actually has two stories in the one book.

Cowboy and the Captive and Cowboy and the Thief.

Both stories were as good as each other, I found them both to be 3 stars each. With both you get your western romance on. Lora knows how to draw us readers in, I couldn't put it down yet I was not in love with the book.

If you are looking for two quick reads then this is it, with family drama, mistaken identity and Lora Leigh's sexy time...

When I requested this to review, I had honestly thought it was going to be just the one story. I am happy with the outcome that it was 2, because when reading it, I found that it was quick and easy and at the time what I needed.

If asked how I thought about both stories in a few months, or even days I would have mostly forget as it wasn't very memorabile, nothing to me stuck out, apart from the sex.

Both loaded with lots of drama, but not enough to grind your teeth.

Arc Review.

Cowboy and the Captive and Cowboy and the Thief are the two stories by Lora Leigh that you will find In Rugged Texas Cowboy. If you are a Lora Leigh fan you might remember these stories as they were previously published, but you will enjoy reading them once more. If you are new to Lora Leigh you will love these two stories. She is a wonderful writer and I have never found a story by her that I did not love! Cowboy and the Captive is a wonderful story and it features Melina and Jardin. Melina is one of two twins who has always been used by her family to protect her twin when ever she gets into a mess and Jardin is the cowboy who almost lost his life as a result of some of the horrible things that Melina's twin has done. Now Jardin is back and determined to teach Melina's twin a lesson. Jardin decides to kidnap Melina's twin, but kidnaps Melina instead and during her forced stay at his ranch they both face some hard truth and Jardin realizes how much he loves Melina, but danger finds Melina and Jardin will have to fight to save her!
Cowboy and the Thief is the story of Jack and Angel. Jack is Jardin's business partner and Angel is the daughter of a man that they have done business with in the past. Jack and Angel have a bit of a hate relationship and things come to a head when Jack buys a family antique from Angel's dad that she feels should not be sold as it was promised to her. Angel follows Jack back to his ranch to try and take back what she feels is hers and gets caught by Jack and the sparks between them fly!!

Two good stories by Lora Leigh. Not my favorites by this author, but I did enjoy them.

Rugged Texas Cowboy by Lora Leigh is a terrific story to read and I highly recommend it. I was drawn in from the beginning and could not put it down. It contains two stories that were both equally well written. The first story was The Cowboy and the Captive and the premise concerned a kidnapping with a case of mistaken identity as the good girl had a bad identical sister. The second story was The Cowboy and the Thief, and it was equally well written and enjoyable. Lora Leigh writes excellent stories that never disappoint me. I am looking forward to reading more from this author.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this novel.

Two short stories, not sure if they are rewritten or new but I've not read them before.
I don't think I related to either story very well, though I enjoyed the first one more. The first had a kidnapping gone wrong, or had it really? It was a typical read for this author, lot of steamy moments and drama.
The second story took me ages to read as it really didn't capture my attention.
All up not bad, if you like a kindle melting romance then this is for you.

I really hate when I don't connect to a book that I am looking forward to reading. I was excited when I got the book from the Author through NetGalley in exchange for a review, because I have been a huge fan of Lora Leigh so I did not even read the book description due to her being the Author. Plus I have always been a bit partial to Cowboys. There were so many problems with the plot for me, I just could not believe that a smart man would not know that he kidnapped the wrong women, especially when she did not have any signs of going through withdrawals. The whole relationship between the couples did not work for me and I am still trying to figure out what made them Cowboys? I read a lot and in order for me to escape the doldrums of everyday life I need to buy into the story you are trying to sell me, and the Author just did not do this for me this time around. I am still a fan of hers but just not this book.

This is the typical tried and true formula that I have come to associate with Lora Leigh stories, murder and mayhem with lots and lots of passion on the side. The great thing about the stories by this author is they don't feel repetitive, the characters always feel fresh and new. This was a good read, poor Melina she really had a tough go of it, but Luc was the knight in shining armor we all wish we had.

Rugged Texas Cowboy includes two books in one.
Cowboy and the Captive and Cowboy and the Thief.
Both stories`re connected through Luc Jardin and Jack Riley.
They are friends and Texas business partners.

Rugged Texas Cowboy is a typical Lora Leigh novel.
Her cowboy`s are bold, hot, very graphic and demanding.
She almost burned the pages. LOL

Of the two stories in this book, the second one was my favorite. Cowboy and the Thief, has a legend behind it that drew me in. Both were quite enjoyable though.

Not bad, but could be better. Two short stories in one here, which added a star in my rating. A lot of cheap sex spoiled a lot of the plot though, which I found redundant after awhile. Easy to read and easy to put down. A good take along book. Would recommend.