3.75 stars.
I really enjoy Romantic Suspense, especially when it involves cowboys and small towns. After reading book one in this series, I knew I'd read the next book.

Sallie and Jacob
The H/h have an over-the-top amount of chemistry; with just one look at each other, I knew things were going to get hot. Having both perspectives made the book incredibly erotic. As with the first book in the series, I felt there was way too many pages of intimacy. These too were so intense that they couldn't be in the same room with each other without touching, kissing, etc. I enjoy intimacy between the H/h because it helps to show me their true feelings. However, this book had pages and pages and pages of it and I found myself skimming to get past it all. In my opinion that unfortunately took away from the story. My biggest intrigue was the suspense/mystery aspect and I felt there were too many cracks in the story despite how exciting parts of the book were. I had many questions by the end where I assumed everything would have been wrapped up nicely. Instead, I did not have closure on a few things. Like, why did John do what he did to Sallie and lie to Jacob in the hospital? How did Rance end up at that last conflict when did? Although the book ended in a happily-ever-after, I expected an epilogue to tie everything together and give me answers to questions I still had. I was disappointed with no epilogue.

I also had some of the same issues after reading the first book in the series; questions that needed answers. Even though I felt let down with a few things, I overall enjoyed the book. The talents of the authors are amazing and they definitely know how to give you all the angsty, emotional feels using a broad imagination. Truthfully, it was the suspense/mystery aspect of the book I enjoyed the most.

This second book in the series is a standalone and you don't have to read book one prior.

I just want to say something else. I recently learned that Veronica Chadwick recently passed away. My heart goes out to her family and close friends. I am sure she will be missed and it saddens me that we won't have more stories from her. She will be missed.

This is my honest and unbiased review and I thank you for taking the time to read it. :)

I really didn't care for this book. The story seemed contrived and implausible. I don't recommend this one.

This book is light on the story and heavy on the erotica.
Jacob first met Sallie when he was undercover on a mission for the CIA. The two spent three unforgettable nights and then Jacob disappeared. Sallie in the meantime found herself in the trigger hairs of a killer and finds herself with a new identity living off the grid in a small town where she discovers Jacob well and thriving as a gentleman rancher.
For three years they live in the same town with neither of them acknowledging each other until one night Jacob decides to finally scratch his itch with Sallie only to find her strangely familiar. It turns out he was in an accident and lost his memories of the one week where he originally met Sallie. It appears them coming together is a trigger and suddenly Sallie is being hunted again and Jacob is determined to keep her safe this time.
I feel there are a lot of unresolved threads in this book with the focus being on the hot erotic sex scenes that are a trademark of the author taking up the bulk of the words. Consequently while it all comes together satisfactorily with some nice twists it's just too glib and quick for me.

If you like scorching relationships this is the story for you. Sallie Hamblen on the run see’s Jacob Donovan the man who deserted her. Can they give each other another chance. Both their pasts are going to catch up with them and many past secrets will come to light. This is a fast paced relationship with Jacob being very possessive. Jacob’s Gram is a lovely character you want to see more of. The suspense side of the story is slow to boil and could be a bit more at the forefront.
I was given an arc of this book by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Sallie and Jake met for three night years ago. She was left heartbroken and wondering what happened to the man she spent those unforgettable nights with, Then by an odd chance of luck they end up in a small town with him not remembering her. The scary part is she has been on the run for all that time and she is now found. These two have to come together if she is going to survive. This book was full of mystery and suspense. The journey was fast paced and their love story hot. Great bookI was given an ARC from St Martins Press via Netgalley. My review is based solely on my opinions.

Jacob and Sallie met years ago, but due to circumstances outside his control Jacob separated from Sallie. Three years pass before their paths cross again and he has no idea that Sallie was the love of his life. Another three years pass by with them co-existing in the same town before their chemistry takes over. They develop a relationship and he keeps dreaming, wondering if they knew each other at some point. With his CIA training he knows that she is not being 100% forthcoming with her truths and when the truth unfolds he will stop at nothing to save her. I love Jacob's dedication to Sallie even though he didn't remember their past. Their connection spans years and history unfolds and brings them closer together.

There are some great scenes, plot twists, and character development throughout this book. When the final twists come I couldn't put the book down. There is no doubting the connection between these two characters and the love that binds them. The book is told in third person POV, which I'm not normally a fan of, but the story was woven very well going between characters thoughts within a chapter. I actually liked being able to read both character's thoughts instead of having to wait until the next chapter to see the other side.

Overall, this is a steamy, second-chance romance that will not disappoint.

I was so sorry to hear about Roni Chadwick's passing. I knew that this story was coming and just waiting to see when it came out of if it would. There is still a third in the series I'm wondering about, as well. I may be wrong, but also, being a big fan of Lori Leigh, I see a lot of her style throughout the book, as well.

Knowing the dominant force of a man like Jacob makes me wonder why it took three years before approaching Sallie, but their story was hot and exciting once he did. Sallie is on the run from a group she doesn't understand, and Jacob is her only hope of making it out alive, but their past makes it hard to go to him for help. Once she does, watch out. This book is chockful of erotic scenes that will keep you warm on a cold night.

Sallie has a troubled past and is on the run for a long time it doesn't help that she is living in the same town as her past lover who is not remembering her at all. After dancing around each other for years Jacob makes a move on Sallie and he launches a series of events. Will Sallie have to run again, will Jacob remember her? it is to find out in this Strong, silent cowboy book. The story is likable and easy to read, characters well developed. The story has suspense, secrets, and action, a lot of love, and is an enjoyable read.
I volunteered to review an ARC of this book for NetGalley

Wow this book had me and wouldn’t let go. The chemistry between Jacob and sallie is really blazing! The story is full of suspense, mystery and a whole lot of wow romance. Story line holds you and doesn’t let go. Can’t wait for the next book.

Sallie had one perfect weekend with Jake when she was 18. Her life went to pieces after that. Three years later she moves to town under another name and meets him, using another name. He has no clue who she is. Another 3 years go by and they finally act on the chemistry they both felt. Things happen and secrets are exposed. A good read with plenty of suspense. I received this copy free from Netgalley for an honest review.

I personally did not like this writer's style. The writing did not seem skillful. The story did not grab my attention. I must admit romance is not my favorite genre, but I was in the mood for a good one. This one just did not make the grade. Sorry.

Jacob and Sallie spent three wonderful nights together, then he disappear. She loved him all this time, then after three years, she moved to a town, where he leaves, she is surprise to find him, but what's worst is that he doesn't remember her.
I loved and enjoyed every moment of this story.
Loved, loved it.

This book took off right out of the gate. I was captivated from the very beginning and devoured every word.

The suspense is riveting, and the romance is palpable. Jacob is a force to be reckoned with. He's intense, absolute alpha dominance at its finest, and Sallie is determined and strong, despite being on the run.

This book contained all my favorites:
A Dominant, protective hero; A heroine that is not a pushover and holds her own with the hero; Gripping storyline; Beautifully constructed characters; Lots of steamy moments; And a few other surprises!

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Lots of romance and suspense! This was a very enjoyable read and a great escape book.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

The first chapter of this book caught my interest and I was looking forward to a good read and was loving how the backstory was being drip fed. I love a strong, silent cowboy, so I was settling in to be entertained. However it was as if the editor went on holidays after the first chapter or so. There are glaring and recurring inconsistencies in the backstory which makes it confusing as to how long the hero and heroine actually spent together in the past - I can't believe that wasn't cleared up in the editing. The romantic suspense element dropped away at some stage and the book decided it now wanted to be erotica since the plot also faded away. To be honest, the sex was boring and repetitive and there wasn't any other foundation to keep me interested. I thought the hero was a jerk. There was nothing cowboy or silent about him, so who came up with the title? - they obviously didn't read the book.

3.5 Stars. I did enjoy this book. At the same time this book is so unlikely to happen in the real world that it is hard to believe the story. You will get hot and bothered reading this book. Unfortunately there isn't much more to the story than that. The book reference a weekend that happened in Switzerland so many times you would think nothing else happened after that. The reason Sallie is on the run is so far out there that I can't even imagine it happening in real life which makes it hard to believe the book. Again the book is entertaining but not my cup of tea. I prefer more of an actual story to all the hot and bothered parts which was pretty much the whole book.

*I received this free book from NetGalley and am leaving my honest opinion*

Very sexy alpha cowboy!

The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: ❤️💙💜💛💚
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📙
World building: 🌎🌏🌍🌎
Character development: 👤👤👤👤

The setting: Deer Haven, Texas

The Hero(s): Jacob Donovan - Ex CIA, Jacob’s last assignment was in Europe chasing a group of terrorists who had been kidnapping political interns, raping, torturing and murdering them for some unknown purpose. He is now retired from the CIA and is a Rancher on a successful ranch in Deer Haven.

The heroine: Sallie Hamblen (a.k.a. Kyra) - Sallie is in Deer Haven because she is running for her life. She has fake documentation provider to her by her wealthy step-father and he got work for her. Sallie recognizes Jacob immediately as the guy she spent three days and nights with six years ago before he left her with no word.

The Love Story: After spending an amazing weekend with Jake six years ago, Kyra waited for him for a week but he never came. She is now on the run from an unknown assailant who has found and attacked her more than once. She is devastated when Jacob doesn’t recognize her, but she doesn’t acknowledge that she knows him.

The story is very romance heavy and when it starts going, it is great. I liked the fact that Jacob is a cowboy and that he isn’t a playboy. He is selective about who he takes to bed and isn’t known for choosing women from town, so all the women who aren’t related to him are hoping he will choose them. Though one nigh after three years in town, he approaches Sallie and they are off to the races…

The book is super steamy! Jacob and Sallie have explosive chemistry and once they finally get together, they can’t keep their hands off each other, even though Jacob doesn’t remember her. Jacob is the quintessential dominant alpha male cowboy. Of course the fact that he used to be a spy doesn’t hurt either.

The book is a stand-alone which I like since I get sometimes get sick of always having cliffhanger endings. One thing I did notice is the fact that the POV kept switching within chapters. I am not an expert on POV, but most of the time in romance it seems to be in first or third person POV and is either told from the heroine’s POV or multiple POV’s switching every other or few chapters. This was third person and it seemed that within a scene, one paragraph it was the Hero and the next the heroine. I had to keep checking who it was as I was reading.

Granted, I generally don’t notice POV much, other than the fact that I really like books that have the POV of both protagonists. So this switching within a chapter could happen with a lot of books and I just happened to notice it more in this one. It wasn’t a huge deal and didn’t really take away from the story much but I thought I would mention it. Other than that the book was great and the last 20 percent was terrific.

I voluntarily read & reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts & opinions are my own.

Thank you St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the eARC to read and review!

[Content Warning: Mature readers only (18+). Explicit sexual language and scenes. Possessive alpha males.]

"Strong, Silent Cowboy" is a thrilling story and red-hot romance that is off the charts.

Jacob is a possessive alpha male. He is strong, yes, as a former CIA agent. But silent? Not really, especially where Sallie is concerned. Jacob is confident that Sallie is his woman, his one and only. But he doesn’t understand her reluctance towards being with him, what she’s hiding, or why she haunts his dreams.

Sallie too can’t resist the undeniable, physical attraction between them even as it pains her because he doesn’t remember their passionate weekend together. Add the fact that she’s been on the run for years and Sallie is just lost, longing for a day she can stop running, stop looking over her shoulders, living in fear, and be with the man who has stolen her heart. She wants to have a normal life and plant roots somewhere.

The authors do a good job balancing the danger, drama, and intense romance. I was on the edge of my seat when Sallie’s past started catching up to her. I liked the mystery surrounding what happened after Jacob left Sallie and why Sallie has been on the run.

Jacob’s possessiveness was somewhat unlikable - just too much in my opinion. I didn’t like some of the disconcerting/unacceptable things he said and did to Sallie, primarily in (about) the second half of the story.

After so much build up of tension and revelations, the ending was sadly disappointing. It felt incomplete and abrupt. I think the book needed more pages for a much more fuller conclusion.

But overall I did like the story and was drawn by the elements of mystery that kept me guessing throughout the entire book.

3.5 stars

I had not read the first book in this series (One Tough Cowboy) so I decided to read it real quick before I started "Strong, Silent Cowboy". I was not prepared for this series to be borderline erotica so I was a little surprised. If you like erotica, then you may love the first book - but I found the plot to be a little weak and honestly, it appeared the main characters were just looking for excuses to have sex. A lot of sex. Which I don't mind as long as it seems natural or purposeful. I found One Tough Cowboy to be more on the awkward side.

That being said, the second book (Strong, Silent Cowboy) seems to have just as much sex, but I really enjoyed this plot much more. This is a fast paced mystery that keeps your interest until the end. It's also an easy read as I was able to finish it all in one day. This is a story of Sallie & Jacob - they met 6 years ago and took part in a "one weekend stand" while in Switzerland, Jacob left and told her he would be back within an hour. Sallie, only 18 years old at the time, waited as long as she could before she had to leave Switzerland, but Jacob never returned. Sallie tried to find him, but no one knew of Jacob and she could not find him anywhere. Fast forward a few years and coincidentally, Sallie lands a job in a small town in California with connections through her step-father. To say she is surprised when she is introduced to a local cowboy named Jacob is an understatement - to say she is devastated when he acts like he doesn't remember her is also an understatement. The rest of this book takes us on a wild ride that explains each of their situations a little better.

I still felt like part of this plot was a little weak (why exactly was Sallie being blackmailed? what did John have to say for himself? along with a few other questions), but I'd give the book 3.5 stars overall.

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review. The opinions stated above are mine without biases.

Sallie is on the run for her life. She never expected to see the man she fell in love with, in the small town she is now hiding in. She is surprised and hurt when he doesn't seem to remember her. After living in the same town with him for three years, he finally makes his move on her but danger has found her again.

Secrets are revealed and Jacob has to keep her safe if he wants to have a future with her.