Lots of action with a touch of romance and a happily ever after. When a tragic event brings you home the last thing you expect is to be in the middle of a dangerous situation. Lucky for Samantha Sheriff Steele is set on protecting her no matter what. I received an ARC of this and volunteered to review it.

This the first book I’ve read by Veronica Chadwick and as far as Lora Leigh I can’t even remember how many I’ve read, since the list is so long. I was really excited and looking forward to reading this book. The plot was good two old friends reuniting after they both lost love ones under suspicious circumstances. Hunter being the sheriff in charge and Sam all grown up and a police officer from Detroit. Sam isn’t leaving until she finds her aunts killer and Hunter wants to solve his uncles and the others who were falsely declared suicides. The two work hand and hand in a conspiracy that is so much bigger than they ever thought. Can these two friends with feelings growing so out of control handle all of this? This plot goes way beyond the murders of fellow family and friends in their quiet little town. It was full of sex, mystery, intrigue and I’m glad I got the chance to read it. I’m looking forward to the next story since I’m sure there is more going on. I received an ARC from St Martin Press/ Netgalley and this is my honest review.

Wow! What an absolutely gripping story! I was on the edge of my seat towards the end. I couldn’t put it down.
Not only do Sam and Hunter burn up the pages but there’s all that seedy underground crime going on. Truly worth 5 stars!!!

****TRIGGER WARNING*****

This book started out well, a girl has a crush on a boy but moves away before anything happens. When her Aunt mysterious passes away she comes back to town to handle the funeral. There are other mysterious deaths and Hunter, the now Sheriff is investigating. They find they have chemistry and he decides he doesn't want her to leave before they figure out if they can make it work. She just so happens to be a police officer and he courts her to come to work for him.

That is pretty much when it goes horribly wrong. There is a lot of sex and trust me I like smut with the best of 'em but when on stakeout they have multiple bouts of sex. There is also a point where they get captured and there is an unnecessary assault. It does NOTHING to push the story forward and didn't need to be taken that far. Also it immediately goes into another story of sex once she is rescued as a way to "wash the bad away" *insert eye roll*. Horribly insensitive and unnecessary.

Sheriff Hunter Steele is now more convinced that something is terribly wrong in the small town of Deerhaven, California. When another of the residents turn up dead under suspicious circumstances. But that's not all he must deal with. The little waif of a pixie from his past is back in town and he isn't about to let her go again.

Samantha Ryder moved away when she was younger and had to leave behind many people she loved. Including the man who helped protect her from all the trouble she used to get into. But she is back now and can take care of herself. She plans to solve who murdered her Aunt Dottie.

As both look into the corruption going on in their hometown, they both become increasingly close together.

"One Tough Cowboy" by Lara Leigh; Veronica Chadwick
2-stars = way too much detailed sex, otherwise this story has the potential to be developed into a really good full length 5-star read. But, as is, when you take out the sex scenes... it is a rather short story not that well put together.
update: I updated my 3-stars to the Bookbub star rating:
1=bad; 2=disappointing; 3=okay; 4=good; 5=excellent
I was truly disappointed in this work. Hope when you read this book you will not be disappointed, too!

This book has a slow start but once it got going I didn't want to put it down. The main characters were very likeable and worked well with each other. The sex scenes were extremely hot but didn't diminish from the story line at all. I can't wait to see what else happens in this quite little town.

Suspicious things are happening in Deerhaven and Hunter is determined to find out what is going on. Three close friends, including Hunter’s uncle and Sam’s aunt have died in what are meant to appear as accidents. The manner of deaths don’t match what they know about the victims.

Small town corruption comes to a head and Sam and Hunter nearly die. It is in keeping with Lora Leigh’s other works. Lots of danger and action taking place.

I went into this novel blindly...I did not read the blurb and I haven't read anything by either of the coauthors before. That said I really enjoyed it but was a bit surprised by the book.

Given the title, I expected a typical cowboy romance. While Hunter does live on a ranch, that's about all there is to the cowboy aspect. The setting is a rural community but Hunter being a sheriff and the plot having nothing to do with ranching, there isn't anything to really say cowboy romance about it. The heroine has recently moved back to her hometown after having relocated to a big city when just a child...so nothing there either in regards to ranching life/cowboy theme.

I was also not expecting the level of suspense in this one. It was a really good drama. The authors were able to create that nail biting feeling perfectly. There was plenty of tension and fear despite the very competent hero and strong heroine.

One Tough Cowboy certainly had the steamy romance aspect down though. The sexy scenes were intense for sure. And Hunter was definitely swoon worthy.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel. The authors also did a great job at setting up the next in the series while also leaving the reader fully satisfied that this story is complete.

From their very first encounter Sam Ryder fell hard for sexy cowboy Hunter Steele, but she was young and wild, and he was older and wiser, and just didn't see her the way she saw him. But that didn't stop her from constantly trying to make their lives intersect, by finding trouble and then calling for him to come to the rescue. But there little love affair never had a chance to bloom because her family packed up and moved away, and so she had to say goodbye to the cowboy who held a piece of her heart.

She has often thought of him through the years and wondered if he was still just as sexy and sweet as he use to be, and lucky for her she is about to find that out firsthand. She is returning to Deerhaven to settle her late aunt's affairs and then of course head back to Detroit and her life there. That is unless she has a good reason to stay... like maybe a certain sexy sheriff that comes to her rescue?

One Tough Cowboy does not disappoint, with it's sultry and suspenseful story line it will pull you in from the first page, and keep you completely mesmerized until the last. This first installment in the Moving Violations series was impressive on all fronts, the characters were well crafted, had great chemistry, and had an exciting and satisfying story to tell.These authors expertly designed words kept me glued to the pages, between the sexiness brewing between the main characters, and the danger lurking about town, there was so much action to hold my attention. Highly recommend you check this one out, the story you will find waiting amongst it's pages is sure to take you on a thrilling and satisfying literary ride!

I requested an advanced copy of this title from NetGalley, and I am leaving my honest opinion.

One Tough Cowboy was HOTTTTT and pretty intense, especially near the end. Like, my heart was pounding as the suspense built in the last few chapters especially. Sam and Hunter haven't seen one another basically since she was too young for him to look at in that way. But now things are different and Hunter is determined, confident, and has all the moves. He's using them all just for Sam, his little Pixie. Apparently she used to cause all kinds of mischief when they were younger, and now it just translates to her being tough and stubborn. These two uncover something way bigger than what anyone would suspect from their small town. As much as I loved their story, I can't wait for the next book!

Even though this isn’t the first collaboration by authors Lora Leigh and Veronica Chadwick, it is the first one which I have had the pleasure of reading.

If you’ve ever enjoyed Lora Leigh or Veronica Chadwick’s work, then you are in for a very pleasurable surprise, as this time you’ll get double the pleasure with this intoxicating new series. If “One Tough Cowboy” is any indication to what we may expect, then this series is going to be one hell of a ride ;)

Samantha is back in her hometown for her aunt’s funeral. She is heartbroken to have not had the chance to see her one last time and feels that there is something suspiciously fishy going on with her death. Being a detective in Detroit, she is determined to get down to the bottom of this. Now all she has to do is get in control of her ceaseless attraction to her childhood crush and the town’s sheriff, Hunter.

Hunter’s Pixie is back in town, but she is no longer the little pest that he remembers her to be. She is not only drop-dead-gorgeous, but she is also smart, fearless and determined. Hunter has been suspecting that there is something going on in his town that seems to have a reach far beyond its borders and with Samantha’s help he is going to uncover it.

I liked the mystery and suspense of the book and loved the little girl returns to her hometown premise, but I just wish that the book were a little longer and that Hunter and Samantha had a little bit more time before giving into their mutual attraction. The love scenes were insanely hot and while I do appreciate the heart pounding intensity of those scenes, I wanted a little more chasing before our couple yielded to temptation. Having said that, there promises to be many interesting and sexy men in this series and I can’t wait to meet them all and the women who will bring them to their knees ;)

One Tough Cowboy by Lora Leigh and Veronica Chadwick is the first book in their Moving Violations series. I really liked the premise of this story with the mystery of corruption and suspected murders being identified as accidents. I thought the attraction between the hero, Hunter Steele and the heroine, Samantha "Pixie Pest" Ryder was entertaining. They had known each other when they were younger and meet again when Samantha returns the town she grew up in after the death of her aunt.

This story has lots of action and intrigue, but maybe too many sex scenes especially at times when they seemed out of place. I also had a bit of a problem in some sections of the book because timeline discrepancies disrupted my reading. It was an interesting story though.

I enjoyed this story. It was an entertaining novel that kept me on the edge of my seat. It was hard to put down. Sam & Hunter were well developed characters & their chemistry was smoking. Highly recommend this book & look forward to the next one in the series.

Something is rotten in the little California town of Deerhaven. Three suspicious deaths, Lillian Henderson, the mayor's wife, Zachariah Steele, the sheriff and their childhood friend, Dorthea Coulter, within eight months, all declared accidental by the incompetent or corrupt coroner. The sheriff was replaced by his nephew, Hunter Steele, ex military and local ranch owner. Hunter does not believe any of the death were accidents, but murder, and he is aiming to prove it, despite the mayor shackling him with two belligerent, incompetent deputies.

Samantha Jolene Ryder, Dorthea's niece, returns for the funeral. At eleven years old, she had cried when her family moved away to Detroit sixteen years, leaving behind her home, her beloved aunt and her hero/protector Hunter Steele. Now she works for the Detroit police, and knows that her aunt was murder. Her two week leave will not provide enough time for her to find the murderer, so she gives notices and reluctantly agrees to hire on to the Deerhaven PD. Suspicious that it was the mayor's idea, Hunter nevertheless needs her help. When they were younger he had called her Pixie Pest when he rescued her from bullies and jams and she reciprocated when she saw him with girls, who did not deserve him. As they work together now as adults, trying to keep their relationship platonic, they realize that they have always loved the other. Can they find out what evil has invaded the small town, before they are snuffed out too?

I had a hard time putting this book down. Engaging characters, a compelling plot and an action packed, skillfully written narrative keep this steamy page turner moving. There are also enough interesting additional characters to keep this series going for several more volumes. I received a free ARC from NetGalley.com. This is my unbiased and voluntary review.

One Touch Cowboy by Lora Leigh & Veronica Chadwick. I've read past Lora Leigh books but haven't read anything by Veronica Chadwick. I look forward to reading more by both author. Enjoyed this book with it's setting and great storyline with it's spicy content.

Rollin', rollin', rollin'...

I don't know what's happened to me. A few years ago One Tough Cowboy would have floated my boat in a BIG WAY! Lora Leigh was one of my favourite naughty writers and I would go out of my way to read whatever she released. Unfortunately, I have come to a stage in my life where I want more storyline and fewer sex scenes. This story would have been so much better if a few of the porno scenes were cut. I'm still shuddering from some of the descriptions and if I had to read anymore, my eyes would have rolled right out of my head.

The storyline was interesting and I enjoyed the suspense and intrigue of the murder, mystery in their small town. The sheriff was one heck of a sexy cowboy who wasn't afraid of getting his hands dirty to make sure his county was safe. Samantha was a pretty tough cookie and wasn't going to be pushed around by anyone. The push and pull between them were fun to watch and I was entertained with them dealing with their sexual attraction in the workplace.

I liked One Tough Cowboy and admit that it was BLOODY HOT!! It was just too unrealistic for me to love it. If you love cowboys, small-town romances and lots and lots of dirty talking, I highly recommend trying this one out.

Stacey is Sassy, received a complimentary copy of this story. The copy provided is not the final copy and may be subject to edits and changes.

Exciting journey for two people that were close as children but then life put distance between them. When Sam returns to Deerhaven following a family tragedy, she is put directly back in Hunter’s path. Hunter was her brother’s best friend growing up and she loved him. She was always getting into trouble, the Pixie Pest, as he dubbed her and he would always rescue her. When her family moved away, she left part of her heart behind but didn’t realize it until she returned. Hunter is now the sheriff after spending time in the military. He is just as hot today as he was years ago which has Sam all tied up in knots. Hunter has a real mystery on his hands in town for a suspenseful set of twists and turns. Sam is now a cop in Detroit which allows them to work together putting them in each other’s path. The chemistry these two have is off-the-charts giving us intense sexy encounters. I loved their connection as kids to adulthood. Seeing how they didn’t lose that spark they had which allowed it to glow hotter as adults. The mystery was captivating and intense which kept me guessing. I voluntarily read an ARC of this book and this is my honest review.

Samantha and Hunter knew each back in the day but it has been more than 10 years since they’ve seen each other. When she returns home after her aunt’s mysterious death to do her own investigation she find Hunter is just as yummy now as then. When he warns her off the investigation she finds the order hard to comply with. Being a Detroit cop now to his hometown sheriff she doesn’t bend as easily as she may once have. She knows her Aunt is one of a few mysterious deaths that she needs to figure out.

Hunter has a lot of eyes on him so he wants to do everything by the book. He knew Samantha coming home would be a problem for him and his investigation but he didn’t think it would be his attraction to her causing the issues. Working together to solve these cases has his imagination on overdrive, but does she feel the same way about him?

This was my first read by these authors and though it read ok it wasn’t a grab my attention kind of read. It had good bones, for sure, but wasn’t executed well in my opinion. The storyline dragged at times and I found myself skimming pages pretty often. It was erotic with tons of sex and encounters with little to no storyline dictation (not that sex needs that but usually it has a rhyme or reason within the story). A 3 ½ star read for me that I received from Netgalley without expectation for review. Any and all opinions expressed are my own.

4 to 4.5 stars.
First let me explain my 4 to 4.5 rating. There were parts of this book that I liked and there were parts I loved. For me the reason for the 4 was because their were several areas where I feel the author didn't give me the full closure I needed. Bottom line, when the end came I had questions. Unfortunately, I really can't go into details without spoiling this book for you. I definitely don't want to spoil it because the suspense aspect was amazing. I was constantly on the edge of my seat. There are definitely surprises and moments of "what the heck!"

I haven't read anything by this author(s) before and I am so glad I have now. Wow, despite my few qualms with the book, I can't fault anything about the writing talent. It was amazing. I will definitely be on the watch for the next book in this series.

Hunter and Samantha
Hunter is the small town's current sheriff. Sam and Hunter new each other from when they were younger. But she moved away with her family. Samantha is back in town to settle things at her aunt's. Her aunt "accidentally" overdosed on pain medication. Samantha is planning to stick around town for awhile and investigate her aunt's suspicious death. She just so happens to be a Detroit police officer. Hunter and Sam will have to work closely together on the investigation. The attraction between these two is scorching. I am not exaggerating when I tell you there is a lot of intimacy. These two could not keep their hands off each other. Also, it was impossible to keep their attraction to each other from growing into love. I really loved Hunter and Sam together. Their chemistry was believable. Another aspect I loved was despite Sam being a police officer, Hunter still felt the need to protect her. Gosh, he is a total book boyfriend!

This story has a good amount of twists and turns. Surprises around every corner. And while there is some predictability, I was genuinely entertained and totally engrossed in the plot. So if you are a fan of romantic suspense and a sexy as sin alpha sheriff, I highly recommend One Tough Cowboy as a must read.

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