Strong, Silent Cowboy continues the Moving Violations series with a suspense-filled romance between two people who act like strangers yet once, years ago, couldn’t keep their hands off each other. Life has changed for both Jacob and Sallie in the years between meetings – or introductions since Jacob doesn’t recognize Sallie. There are reasons for that, still, Sallie is holding onto secrets of her own so it’s hard to fight against Jacob’s seemingly forgetting all about their history.

This was a story that I didn’t hate, but I also didn’t love it. It falls into that category of it’s a good book, I enjoyed it (for the most part) and will move on. While the suspense is intense at times, the sizzling steaminess between Sallie and Jacob is certainly evident there was one constant that kept me from falling into their story and simply believing it. Time. Time wasn’t consistent to the point where I’d read something and go… wait, wasn’t that 2 years instead of 4? One night vs one weekend? It kept me just a step outside of this world. And I freely admit that this may not bother or even be noticed by everyone but once seen I couldn’t stop seeing more time inconsistencies. For a book that has grabbed me by the throat and never let up, I might have not paid attention to exact times but I wasn’t distracted enough by this couple for that to happen. I think Strong, Silent Cowboy has an audience, it simply isn’t me. I’m going to stop at this point in the series.

This is a 3.5 star read for me.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher, St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

This is the second book in this series by these authors. Wow, what a hot read this book was. This story is the total package, everything you want is there from romance, mystery and hot and steamy scenes. The story line is very well written and just hooks you from the first page. This is the amazing story of Sallie and Jacob. These two characters have amazing chemistry between them from the start which just gets more intense through out the story. This book can be read as a stand alone read.

I was given an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

I’m always looking for a good romantic suspense and this synopsis sounded perfect...too bad it’s not at all what I got as a reader.

Sallie and Jacob had potential. They both have secrets and connections and a secret connection between them. The idea of their previous weekend was a sort of new to me plot thread that had me intrigued. Sadly, instead of captivating me, it spiraled into inconsistencies and bland inner monologues.

Plot wise, it’s a mess. There are a lot of repetitive (and icky) word choices, more sex scenes than conversations, and no real explanation of wtf is going on until the story is nearly over. Oh, and top it all of with a very abrupt ending that, for me, left the story feeling unfinished.

Overall, this had little to no build up and tension was definitely something I needed in a story like this. I kept reading because I couldn’t look away (basically why it’s a 2 star rating), but I won’t be reading any more of this series.

**Huge thanks to St. Martin’s Press for providing the arc free of charge**

Enjoy the premise of ex-CIA agent turned cowboy, Jacob, having had an injury that made him forget having a steam filled few days with Sallie, and then meeting up with her again and not knowing who she is. Unfortunately, I didn’t like that it takes years for these two to actually talk and realize that Jacob has no memory of their time; not a fan of how things were handled by Sallie in the past and the present. I don’t like that they sleep together again without talking about things first; it’s another one night stand type scenario. No real connection, just lust; not a fan that she’s cool with sleeping with him again when she thinks he ghosted her in the past just because she’s oh so hot for him. It just doesn’t sit well with me; came across as weak. Also, I didn’t like how she’s the type that knows she’s in danger, but she must go on with her normal life.

She’s on the run because someone is after her, so she’s changed her name to Sallie from Kyra and has been in hiding. There’s some fun suspense and action that does add some entertainment value to the story. I just didn’t connect with the characters or the lack of deep connection between them; mostly lust between them. There are tons of steamy scenes; I liked most of them, but all of them did deter from them having an actual emotional connection based on more than lust. There are some sweet moments at times too, but I would’ve liked for there to be more time spent with them together and fully aware of the truth between them. Overall, this is an entertaining, very steamy read. I liked the read, but didn’t love.

I really enjoyed Strong, Silent Cowboy. The dynamic between Sallie and Jacob was quite heated and I was absolutely there for it. You know from the beginning that something happened with them in the past and he doesn't seem to remember her. I assumed from the get go that there was an underlying reason behind that, but I understand why an insecure young woman wouldn't think that way. She would just assume she didn't make an impression on him and was forgettable.

You know that Sallie is running for her life from a group that is looking for someone they think she knows the location of. She believes it's only a matter of time before they show up again since she's been in this town for quite a while.

I really liked that this book had a mystery/suspense factor blended with a cowboy storyline. The characters were solid and relatable. In addition, there were interesting support characters which enriched the storyline. It was an enjoyable read and I hope there will be more in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC. I chose to voluntarily review this book and the opinions contained within are my own.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and I am voluntarily reviewing it.

I really don't know how to rate this book off-hand. The story line didn't seem cohesive enough for me. There was a great deal of repetition. Also I was left with some questions and I don't think there will be an answer, unless the organization that is after Jacob comes back in the next novel. I did enjoy this book and was glad to have read it. But there were so many hang-ups with it that some may not enjoy it but then again some may.

While it is a part of a series, you don't have to read the prior one to enjoy this one. Also some self-publishing authors may put in spelling and grammatical errors to help prevent privacy, this book had a great deal of errors. There were some sections that I had to re-read them just to figure out the author's intent.

While this is a part of a series, you don't have to read the prior one to enjoy this. The first book was written almost 2 years ago.

This is a very spicy read so I would only recommend it to someone over the age of 18.

Great cover! This was a fun, steamy read with some great drama and mystery. I have not read the first book of this series however I have read so many of Lora's backlist many years ago. When the opportunity came up to read this book I was curious to see read about this new series. If you are looking for a fun suspenseful read without the high drama and interested in reading a new romance author I would suggest Lora Leigh's books. Thank you NetGalley/St. Martin's Paperbacks for the opportunity to read this eARC.

3 Remembering Stars
* * * A Quick Review
We have a woman who had the nights of her life, experiencing what made her "a woman." She learned all, felt all with a man who made his mark and showed her what it should be like. He then disappeared in the night.

The man was undercover, had to leave, and then while working loses his ability to remember past times in his life. Due to this complication, he can no longer be in the CIA, it is too dangerous.

Fast forward to now, he is on a ranch being the cowboy who just wants an easy life and love. Little did the man realize his past would be the woman he has his eyes on at the bar in town. There is something about her causing the draw...and she refuses to share she is running from her own past.

These two knock boots and eventually figure out there is something there.
Like all Lora Leigh writing, there are hot scenes she is known for.

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley. I read the dedication and was so touched I had tears in my eyes. The outpouring of love at the loss of Veronica Chadwick was heartfelt and tangible. I anticipated more of the same throughout the book. Unfortunately, I was disappointed because this book was more about explosive, cataclysmic, orgasmic experiences than anything else. Yes, there’s a mystery and some bad guys out to hurt Sallie and Jacob, but it’s all set to a backdrop of Jacob and Sallie f@cking as often as possible. The bad guys are almost like an afterthought, as well as every other conflict in the plot, serving only to further scenes allowing Jacob and Sallie to have sex.

I honestly could not see what Jacob had to offer, other than a domineering, possessive kind of protection. And Sallie wasn’t looking for protection. She was determined to protect herself. Every time he had an opportunity to show some compassion and care toward her, he instead demonstrated his authoritarian personality, telling her he wouldn’t let her go and she belonged to him, much like an abusive partner would do. He wasn’t abusive, but everything he did was a warning sign of someone who would be.

And Sallie was constantly fighting off thoughts that he wouldn’t stay with her, right up until the very end when she contemplates, “He’d feel responsible for her, feel it was his place to protect her. It wouldn’t have to be emotional for him, not really personal, just a piece of the puzzle that he needed to figure out what happened that week.” This thought literally occurred to her just before he promised her that they would always be together and she agreed “always.” I mean, what the hell does that mean anyway? She’s thinking he would feel responsible for her without it being personal but then agreeing to forever? Ultimately, the book just annoyed me.

Strong, Silent Cowboy is the second installment in authors Lora Leigh and Veronica Chadwick’s Moving Violations series. When Sallee Hamblen (an assumed identity to protect her) gets settled in her position as manager of Dillerman’s Feed and Supply in Deer Haven, Ca, she is introduced to rancher Jacob Donovan. While the name is different, the man is the same. Sallee spent an unforgettable three day weekend with this man in Switzerland three years ago before he disappeared. And yet, he acts as though she is a stranger.

In the three years that have passed, Sallee has had to move and change identities twice due to a masked assailant that threatens her life if she doesn’t reveal where some ‘man’ was. Sallee thinks this referred to the ex husband she was coerced to marry after her time in Switzerland but who subsequently served her with annulment papers. She hasn’t seen or heard from him since.

Now settled in to her job and new community, Sallee begins to relax a bit and when the strong, silent man who stole her heart and innocence years ago approaches her, she has no way to resist. As Sallee and Jacob fall into a modern courtship, she begins to relax into the feelings, new and old, that draw her to him. But just as Sallee does so, the storm from the past bowls them over.

This is a very interesting and enticing story that takes the reader from deep spy encounters to everyday life. With engaging characters, exceptional settings, and an extraordinary story from your favorite spy genre, Ms. Leigh and Ms. Chadwick have woven a page turning story. I did enjoy this book and I do recommend it!

I love a good country romance...our main cowboy Jacob, will steal your heart as he stole mine. I could not get over how much of a good soul he was. It made this story better! I loved Sallie. She is sweet, but there is danger lurking and it makes this story have a little bit of suspense.

These two characters had history and are familiar. That made my heart soar when they finally got together again. The heat factor was off the charts, the love that blossoms makes your heart swoon. I could not get over this story. I love this series, but if you have missed the first book, you can read Strong, Silent Cowboy as a standalone. But the first book is great, so you might need to back peddle.

I enjoyed this story with all the twists and turns. Sallie/Kyra was running for her life without knowing why. The strength she showed in surviving on her own, trying to keep others from being hurt on her account, made her a remarkable woman though she did not see it. Jacob was so protective of those around him, including Sallie, even though he could not remember her. The secondary characters made the story more fun as they interacted with Jacob and Sallie. I recommend this story, and I look forward to the next in the series.

I received an ARC through Netgalley, and this is my unsolicited review.

Sallie and Jacob meet and share three steamy nights together before he disappears. Now year later the former CIA agent, they bump into each other again years later but due to an injury, he doesn’t remember her. The sparks are still there, can he keep her safe from her past? Fast-paced read with loads of drama and intense chemistry. A steamy and entertaining read. I liked it.

Sallie is on the run, hiding from people who are out to hurt her for reasons she doesn't understand. She's done well making a place for herself, when a painful part of her past comes back to haunt her. Jacob was her first love, and he had disappeared after a romantic weekend. When she meets him again, he doesn't even recognize her.

So that's the basic setup, and I hate to say more because I don't want to inadvertently spoil anything. If I had "romantic-suspense" as a shelf, I would have tagged it that, because there certainly is danger and action. There was also a lot of sex, which I felt often took the place of the plot moving forward. But others mileage may vary, probably depending on how many sexy times they like in their books :)

My thanks to netgalley for the reader's copy!

If you like a lot, a real lot of long sex scenes that hog the book then this one is for you. That being said once I skimmed them there was still enough story line to entertain me. But when I felt she needed a hug she was ravaged again, I just found it very distracting from the plot.
The story spans over 6 six years from when they first met, until the came together again. He'd had an accident and no memories of her. She's on the run from danger but who and why?
All the action happens at the end and I think the last few chapters I enjoyed the most.

Strong, Silent Cowboy by Lora Leigh and Veronica Chadwick
A Moving Violation Novel #2

Hot steamy second chance at love romantic suspense that sees two people that truly deserve a HEA find one by the end of the book.

What I liked:
* Sally/Kyra: a woman who has endured much and come into her own. She is smart, strong, resilient, plucky, and enduring. I liked her.
* Jacob “Jake” Donovan: ex-CIA operative, cowboy, dealing with memory issues, good friend, HOT, demanding, stalwart, lethal, good friend – I like him for and with Sally.
* The Culpepper brothers: intriguing guys that could easily star in their own books…one after the other.
* Tara: seems a good friend to Sally.
* Jake’s grandmother: feisty and fun – could definitely relate to her.
* The steamy bits that seemed fitting for the main characters
* That the threat is finally figured out and dealt with
* Knowing that there will be more books in the series

What I didn’t like:
* The bad guys…all of them
* The way both main characters were manipulated and how that manipulation impacted them and their relationship the first time around

Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more in the series? Yes

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

3-4 Stars

Do you like it hot?! Well Lora and Veronica's combined effort have definitely delivered!!
This one has it all ladies! Its full of action, drama, heat, suspense, heat, and of course its not short on the romance either! This was a terrific, well written read by a great duo that you do not want to miss!

I am voluntarily posting an honest review after reading an Advance Reader Copy (ARC) of this story.

Strong, Silent Cowboy, by Lora Leigh & Veronica Chadwick, is available at booksellers on 3-9-2021. This book is #2 in the Moving Violations Series. I hate to say it but I did not like this story. I found the female lead to be annoying and the male lead to be silly. I had a hard time suspending my sense of belief to enjoy this far fetched plot. It just didn't hold my attention. The female had too much inner dialog for my taste. It also repeated itself. The male didn't have enough inner dialog, what was he thinking? Besides sex. Their sex scenes are put out there as dominate/submissive about to happen at any time. It didn't really. It seemed a little 1o shades of grey, not really one or the other.

#LoraLeigh #Strong,SilentCowboy #MovingViolationsSeries #Netgalley #cowboyromance #St.Martin'sPaperbacks

The authors instantly pulled me into their book as I tried to figure ouit what happened after the two main characters had met six years ago and why Jacob had disappeared. I also found myself drawn into the story because Jacob did not remember Sallie and she thought he forgot her for different reasons. I liked that this book was full of drama, mystery, intrigue, and sexy cowboys. The suspense of the story made me quickly turn the pages to figure out what was going to happen next and how all of the mysteries would turn out. It was a very suspenseful book . It was also very steamy with sexy Jacob and his love for Sallie. I received an advance copy of this book and I willingly chose to write an honest review.

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Heidi

hey met in Switzerland and had a steamy weekend together. He had business to attend to, but promised her he’d return. However, a week later he still hadn’t come back and she had no choice but to go back home, alone.

Three years later she met him again in the little town of Deer Haven. Both were going by different names, then they had used in Switzerland. He because he had been working undercover for the CIA in Switzerland. She because she’s been on the run for nearly five years. Someone has been stalking her and threatening her life. They’re looking for someone, but she’s unsure who. Her stepfather put her in Deer Haven with a new identity to hide. However, none of that really matters. The thing that hurts Sallie the most is that it’s clear that Jacob doesn’t even remember her.

Jacob hasn’t been the same since the explosion in Switzerland. He lost a week of his memories and he knows that he missed something important as he feels he’s lost part of himself. Since then, he’s been haunted by erotic dreams starring a girl whose face he can’t quite make out. And, when he finally gives in to his desires and goes home with Sallie and marks her as his. The face of the girl in his dreams morphs into that of Sallie.

It’s been three years since the last attack. And, when Sallie’s stalker finally catches up with her, she’s ready to run again. However, Jacob is not willing to lose her. He demands she stays and let him protect her. But can she trust a man who forgot her so easily before?

This was a really good read. And, honestly I needed that. This book drew me in from the first page and I didn’t want to put it down!

Sallie and Jacob had an interesting past. They fell for each other hard. But after his mission went to crap it left him without his memories for that week and left her completely heartbroken and alone.

I actually really loved both of these characters. Jacob is a no-brainer. I love the alpha man types, in my books, especially those, like Jacob, who stand up for those that can’t defend themselves. Jacob reminded me a lot of the alpha males from Leigh’s Breeds series. The way he marked her to keep other males away. And, also in his protectiveness. He also had a lazy assurance about himself, much like those lazy feline Breeds.

Sallie was strong in her own right, as well. She’d have to be, to survive all the things she has endured.

And, when these two get together the sparks fly!

However, this book does have a few struggles. Most of them are standard flaws in Leigh’s books. Mainly the grammatical errors. I did read an advance copy of this book so it’s possible those could be corrected by the final release. However, I’ve seen several of her books published with those errors so I expect that to be the case with this book as well.

I also found some of the times Jacob and Sallie decided to have sex had odd timing and was unrealistic. And, by the end of the book the sex scenes seemed quite repetitive. This is also a typical Leigh book flaw.

All-in-all, these flaws are quite minor and didn’t keep me from thoroughly enjoying the story. I ate this book up and it left me wanting for more.

The book did end in a weird spot though. I was expecting more. An epilogue or something…. But it wasn’t there. Again, it didn’t keep me from enjoying the book, but maybe a well-written epilogue could have made me enjoy this story even more.

Overall, I really liked this story and can’t wait to see what these authors have in store for us next! I really want to see the Culpepper brothers and Jacob’s cousins get their stories. I see a Justice and Lily story in our future and I’m all for it!