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Strong, Silent Cowboy

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Strong, Silent Cowboy is an amazing read and highly recommended for anyone who loves a steamy romance, spies, action, danger, cowboys and small towns.

Reviewed by Annetta Sweetko for Fresh Fiction

Complete review: https://freshfiction.com/review.php?id=73354

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This was a lot HOTTER than most romantic suspense I've read ... but I am definitely not complaining. For a long time, I have felt that romantic suspense if my favorite genre and that might still be true but I don't find as many books in the genre that sing for me anymore. This book was pretty good however and I am interested in reading more from these authors if they have other books in this genre. I could have done with a bit more explanation of the events leading up to the suspense but I enjoyed this book..

Strong, Silent Cowboy came out yesterday on March 9, 2021 and you can purchase HERE. I will definitely check out more in this series!

She'd been here for three years, far longer than she'd expected to be when she first arrived. With a lot of luck, she'd finally managed to escape whoever had chased her since the night four years ago when she'd been forced to run from home.

Four years, she thought, staring into the darkness beyond the truck's lights. She was only twenty-four, and sometimes, she felt eons older. Her life was being stolen, taken from her, one year at a time, and what had she missed the most?

She'd missed Jacob's touch.

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OMG - I was totally immersed in all that was happening in this steamy and suspenseful read with a hot alpha cowboy, suspense, mystery, secrets, sizzling intimacy and so much more that kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish and at times I thought my Kindle might melt! I loved the second chance romance between Jacob Donovan, former undercover CIA agent turned cowboy, and Sallie Hamblen, manager for Dillerman Feed and Supply in the small town of Deer Haven, California. If you enjoy a can't-put-down, edge of your seat well written suspenseful romance, don't miss "Strong, Silent Cowboy". I received an advance reader copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review. I liked it so much, I purchased a copy for my keeper library.

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This is a very steamy book, if you don't like reading that stop now. Like a 10 out of 10!!
Jacob Donovan is an ex-CIA agent turned cowboy. He has come home to run his family ranch in the small town of Deer Haven. Sallie Hambllen is new in town and is the manager for the large feed and supply story. When they meet, Sallie is shocked to see him, three years ago she spent three night with him. Three very sexy days and night. Then he left and never come back. After she got back to the states she runs into trouble and has been on the run for five years.
When Jacob first meets Sallie again, he acts like he doesn't know who she is? She can't believe it.
She had her heart broke once by him, so she stays away from him for three years. That is really hard to do in a small town where everyone knows what a person is doing.
When the attraction proves two much for them, they will not only re-learn about each other but a lot of secrets too. This is a very fast-moving story, with lots of drama, suspense and intrigue.
There are many twists and turns, flashbacks and history. With great characters from other books in the series too. Once you start this story you will not want to put it down.
The reason I gave it four stars instead of five, was the quick ending. It should have had an epilogue so we knew what happen to them.
I received and ARC from the author and want to thank her. This is my honest opinion and am freely giving it.

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This has suspense, intrigue, chemistry and steam. I very much enjoyed reading this- I love second-chance romance and storylines. I also love when one character has lost part of their memory and is unaware it’s a second chance! This starts with Sallie landing in a small town and running into Jacob, whom she realizes she knew as Jake and her knew her as Kyra several years back. However, to Sallie’s devastation Jacob seems to have no recall of Sallie and their time together. The book picks up three years into the future.

Despite this being book two in a series, it’s most definitely a stand alone and I didn’t feel at all lost not having read the first book. That being said, parts of the mystery and intrigue get incredibly complicated - maybe more than it needed to be- and it felt like certain parts of their background didn’t make a ton of sense and never fully get explained. I don’t want to dive into the details of this and spoil the story, and despite these things I still very much enjoyed this read, but it definitely kept it from being a 4 star read for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced reader copy of this book. I voluntarily left an honest review.

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Strong, Silent Cowboy is another great read with wonderful characters. This steamy read pulled me in from the beginning and kept my attention until the end. It had a fast-paced storyline that flowed seamlessly. The characters had sizzling hot chemistry that could melt the pages. This is another great read and I would definitely recommend it.

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Second book for me by this sister duo. I’m going to miss them! This is typical Leigh...grouchy,strong and ultimate alpha male! I really enjoyed this story. It was a bit difficult for me to connect with Sallie. Sallie is harboring the ultimate secret! Jacob will do anything for her and he proves it. Lots of action and a good dose of angst. HEA.

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STRONG, SILENT COWBOY – Lora Leigh & Veronica Chadwick
A Moving Violations Novel #2
St. Martin’s Paperbacks
ISBN: 978-1250220097
March 9, 2021
Erotic Romance

Deer Haven, Texas – Present Day

Introduced to Jacob Donovan in a bar one night, Sallie Hamblen can’t let on that she has already met him—three years ago when both had different names and a different life. Back then, they instantly hit it off and spent three sizzling nights together before he mysteriously disappeared. Jacob doesn’t recognize Sallie, which saddens her, but she wonders if it’s for the best considering so much has changed in the three years since they parted. From what she has heard, shortly after they separated, Jacob was injured in an explosion that took part of his memory—the days that include their time spent together. Now they are like any other couple meeting for the first time. And like the last time, they hit it off. It doesn’t take long before Jacob and Sallie are spending a pleasure-filled night together.

So much has changed for Sallie and Jacob in the past three years. Back then, she was the adored stepdaughter of the ambassador. She met Jacob, then an undercover CIA operative, which she didn’t know about, and fell hard for him. The sex was fast, beautiful, and explosive between them. Then he walked out of her life. Eventually, she married another man, Jacob’s partner, but that marriage ended, and an annulment was obtained. Then the threats against her life started and her adoptive father arranged a new identity for her and plucked her down in this small Texas town. She soon realized that Jacob was also here, but he was now under a different last name and is a cowboy. And he doesn’t recognize her. Sallie stayed in the background watching Jacob, but it was inevitable that they’d meet again—and that they would find their attraction insatiable. Then, the danger that she thought she’d escaped returns to haunt her. Will Sallie have to run again?

For Sallie in STRONG, SILENT COWBOY, she believes the bad guys are after her ex-husband. She doesn’t realize at first that Jacob was also a CIA undercover agent. To her, he was just that handsome hunk who swept her off her feet and made love to her. Having him walk out of her life—and now not remember her—pains her so much. But Sallie can’t reveal her identity to Jacob because it would put both their lives in danger. However, unknown to her, once Jacob meets Sallie and has sex with her again, he begins to have flashes of her in his memory. Will it all come back? Jacob has also been laying low in Deer Haven because of his past CIA work. The bad guys are ruthless terrorists who torture their victims before brutally killing them. He can’t afford to let someone he cares for be lost to these barbaric murderers.

Meanwhile, Jacob can’t get enough of Sallie in his bed. He proclaims to her that it’s simply great sex, but deep down, does he care more for her than he’s willing to admit? Sallie lost her heart to Jacob once…will she lose it again? Their relationship starts off hot and heavy in STRONG, SILENT COWBOY, then shifts to a riveting suspense when it becomes clear that the terrorists have targeted Sallie once more. Jacob believes they are after him, but to convince Sallie of this, he will have to reveal more about his past to her. But that might put her life in even more danger…

A suspenseful and erotic romance about a couple that can’t get enough of each other, you won’t want to miss STRONG, SILENT COWBOY.

Patti Fischer

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Loved Jacob and Sallie's story! This is a book with 'hot' time, suspense, passion, and a lot more! Lora Leigh and Veronica Chadwick are a fabulous writing pair. You can't go wrong with their books! Plus, there's a cowboy! What more can you want?!!!

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3.5 stars--STRONG, SILENT COWBOY is the second instalment in the contemporary, adult, MOVING VIOLATONS erotic, romantic suspense series co-authored by Lora Leigh, and the late Veronica Chadwick. This is former CIA agent turned rancher Jacob Donovan, and feed-store manager Sallie Hamblen’s story line. STRONG, SILENT COWBOY can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Sallie and Jacob) STRONG, SILENT COWBOY follows the second chance romance between former CIA agent turned rancher Jacob Donovan, and office manager Sallie Hamblen. Six years earlier, a then eighteen year old Kyra Bannon, spent a glorious weekend in Switzerland with a man she knew as Jake Rossiter, a man with whom she quickly fell in love, but also a man who disappeared without a trace. Fast forward to present day wherein, Kyra, now known as Sallie Hamblen has been on the run since the demise of her short lived marriage to another man, a marriage she believes now places her in the direct line of fire. Finding Jake Rossiter, aka Jacob Donovan, living in the small town of Deer Haven, California was more than a coincidence that Sallie refused to ignore but said man had no idea who Sallie was, or his history with the woman that would call to his heart. Keeping her distance for close to three years, Sallie caved and spent another night with our story line hero.An overwhelming sense of déjà vu, and a need to protect our story line heroine, pulled Jacob Donovan back into the world he could no longer remember but a world that threatened everyone he loved. What ensues is the rebuilding romance and relationship between Sallie and Jacob, and the potential fall-out as their mutual pasts demand payment in blood.

Jacob Donovan is no longer working for the CIA. A life threatening incident almost destroyed his life, and took the memories of the time he spent with our story line heroine. Sallie Hamblen struggles with the heart breaking memories of her weekend with the man she would never forget, memories of which Jacob could no longer remember. Unable to let go of the grief and pain, Sallie continues to push our hero out of her life until threats to her life force her to run in the opposite direction.

The relationship between Jacob and Sallie is a rekindling romance; a second chance relationship between two people torn apart by secrets and lies, and a government agency determined to keep those secrets hidden deep undercover. Sallie battles between head and heart believing Jacob walked away without looking back; and Jacob’s sense of something missing is about to come full-circle when his memories return. The $ex scenes are erotic and intense, as per Lora Leigh’s style of writing.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful and energetic secondary and supporting characters including Sallie’s step father Rance Dougal; Jacob’s grandmother Mary Ann Donovan; ranch manager John Grange; former military or FBI agents turned ranchers Justice, Rancor, and Pride Culpepper; Sallie’s friends Lily and Shay; and office assistant Tara Danner. Here’s hoping Lora has plans for the Culpepper siblings.

STRONG, SILENT COWBOY is a story of betrayal, secrets, forgiveness and love. There are a number of issues with the way the story, and history has been presented, including a three year gap where apparently Sallie and Jacob never once crossed paths in a town where everybody knows your name. There is also a bit of disconnect between events, as though the editing removed some important information. I also found issue with the purpose of Justice Culpepper’s attitude with our story line heroine but perhaps it had everything to do with the who, how and why of Sallie’s appearance in Deer Haven, California. The character driven premise is intriguing; the romance is provocative; the characters are energetic, strong minded, charismatic and wounded.



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This is a steamy, suspenseful, action packed book. I couldn't put it down. Well written. I look forward to more by these author's

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Strong, Silent Cowboy is the second book in Lora Leigh and Veronica Chadwick's Moving Violations series and takes readers back to Deer Haven, Texas. Following former CIA agent Jacob Donovan, now a rancher, and his one three-night stand who shows up in town on the run from danger.

Their relationship moved pretty quickly and felt a little too fast considering Jacob and Sallie had a history. Jacob didn't recognize Sallie when she showed up in town but he lusted after her and had dreams of her, yet never acted on that. It led to a slow-burn type of romance in the beginning of the book that I found to be intriguing and still enjoyed it when it moved faster. The story was heavy on the romance which I did enjoy but I actually felt like the suspense took a back seat to everything else. Which I wouldn't have minded too much but in the end I felt like the mystery part of the book was too rushed and wasn't given enough space for detail.

Overall, this was an interesting story and I did like the relationship with Jacob and Sallie. There were a lot of steamy moments that were fun to read and also made the connection between them very clear.

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What would you do if you moved to a new town to run away from people that were chasing you and you found the man that rocked your world three years earlier...and he didn't remember you? Well, that is what Sallie Hamblen is faced with when she moves to Deer Haven, California.

Jacob Donovan was recruited by the CIA when he finished basic training at the age of 18. He was on a mission in Switzerland gathering Intel on a terrorist group when he met Sallie and they spent a fantastic weekend together, but he never returned to her like he said he would so she returned to her home in the US.

Sallie is on the run from people and she doesn't even know why they are chasing her. Her step-father has helped her procure a new name, and a job that sets her up in Deer Haven where Jacob lives as a rancher. When they are first introduced her heart speeds up and he has NO CLUE who she is. Well, isn't that kick in the head.

This story spans over six years, from when they first meet to when they finally get together. This story had great promise, and if I was rating the book on the hotness factor alone it would have gotten 5 stars because it was HOT, but I felt the story line wasn't developed to it's potential and I am left with a couple of questions that most likely will never get answered. I thought everything would wrap up in an Epilogue or something but it didn't so I'm left wondering about a few things.

Strong, Silent Cowboy can be read as a standalone even though it's the second book in the Moving Violations Series. This story revolves around one couple and there is no cross over between the books other than being friends.

If you enjoy Erotic Romantic Suspense than I would recommend this book to you.

Happy Reading!!!


**I have voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Readers Copy of this book for my Blog, Nadine's Obsessed with Books**

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Exciting and heart wrenching, Strong Silent Cowboy will keep you guessing until the very end. And secrets revealed will leave you reeling.
I loved Sallie and Jacob. Their chemistry was off the charts!
After reading the prologue, I felt that it should have been a story about their encounter 3 years prior and then not have the 3 year space between them meeting up again and the present time. It was a little weird that she purposely avoids him for 3 years, in such a small town where everyone knows everyone.
I gave it 4 stars for that reason.

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✦Review: STRONG, SILENT COWBOY by Lora Leigh & Veronica Chadwick https://wp.me/p3d0RZ-bKg
Publication Date: March 9, 2021
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Reviewed by: Reading in Pajamas/ Donna
Rated 4 Stars

This romantic suspense novel was filled with a lot of hot sexy time. A lot. I don’t mind a good romp between the sheets if it fits the storyline. In this case, it hovered at the sex-looking-for-a-story border. I also think they could have spent more time building an emotional bond to make the “I love you” more believable.

I liked Jacob and his hot alpha ways that easily gave way to lovely banter with family and friends. Sallie was a harder nut to crack. I liked her, just didn’t warm up to her as much because she was holding herself back from getting too close to others. The two of them made a smoking hot couple though and exciting to read throughout their drama.

I struggled with the rating for this book. It drew me in and held me with the intrigue and mystery….but in some ways, didn’t deliver on the answers. I still have questions, especially about her x-husband. The story just ended. I thought for sure there was a chapter or epilogue missing. That being said – it is a quick, sexy, and exciting story that I enjoyed.

*Review copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

~*~*~*~

Kindle https://amzn.to/3qpGIEo

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Strong, Silent Cowboy by Lora Leigh and Veronica Chadwick was filled with more sex than story, sadly. I don't mind the sex, but I really want the story, and this book left gaping plot holes and unanswered questions about this story, not something that would be answered in a sequel, if the series holds true to form. This book had the potential of being fabulous, but it glossed over everything that made the plot interesting. It left it as a shallow husk of a sex romp, not fulfilling at all.

I was invited to read a free ARC of Strong Silent Cowboy by Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. #netgalley #strongsilentcowboy

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A story that will certainly keep you on the edge of your seat to find out who is after Sallie Hamblen and why. Sallie had gone to Switzerland with her parents and met Jacob Donovan there under an assumed name and had a great weekend giving him her all and thought he felt the same. He left and said he would be back but after staying as long as she could which was a week, she returned home. You will find in this story that she then married her father’s aid, why, and how it ended with her life threatened and by the end who and why. Each time her life is threatened, her step-father moves her to another unknown location as he and his investigators strive to find out the answers before it is too late. This is her third move and she has been here for three years. She saw Jacob who was that love of her’s three years before that but didn’t seem to remember her. She didn’t know he had been in a blast and lost his memory of that week but he had dreams and she seemed to fit into them. I voluntarily reviewed this book after receiving a free copy from NetGalley.

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A very hot adult suspense story, I can always count on Lora Leigh to bring the heat. I really enjoyed the storyline of Jacob and Sallie. They were an interesting couple who had a journey to get “back to each other”, and also enjoyed the supporting characters who I thought made the story richer. I am used to bedroom scenes with Ms. Leigh’s books, but have to admit there were so many in this book, I started skimming over them to get to the meat of the book. If you like hot cowboys, feisty heroines, erotic and suspenseful romance, this is the book for you.

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An ex-undercover CIA agent turned cowboy finding a long-lost love from years ago that he couldn't remember? Sign me up!

This book fell short for me. I felt like it was way too predictable and too focused on the sexual aspect than the actual storyline. Major plot points were revealed in the final three chapters and all the action was jammed into one measly chapter. Plus the reader has only been with one man, can you guess who? And it was an instant love connection after three nights and what sounds like very little talking about their "relationship."

Don't even get me started on the fact that she was "strong," but at the first sign of danger she would run or who quickly she got turned on just by a look for her cowboy. It made me roll my eyes more often than get excited.

Maybe it's just because I had high hopes for this book that I feel so disappointed in what it had to offer. It also just reminded me that sex really isn't everything.

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3.5 Stars
Sallie Hamblen had three incredibly hot, sexy nights with Jacob Donovan, an undercover CIA agent, before he disappeared, leaving her broken hearted and forever yearning for the man she lost. Years later, Jacob doesn’t know that the beauty he’s about to seduce in a small town bar is the woman he held in his arms all those years ago and that she’s on the run from her past. Former CIA agent turned cowboy, Jacob Donovan wants nothing more than a simple life. Just the ranch and occasionally someone warm and sweet in his bed. Until Sallie comes back into his life. When he discovers that her life is in danger, he swears he’ll protect her. Even when secrets are revealed that threaten everything between them, he will lay everything on the line to keep her in his arms
A well written book which I enjoyed but I felt the story could have been the priority rather than all the sex scenes. Don’t get me wrong I do enjoy sex in a book but only when it enhances the story rather than in this case hinders the story. Whilst I warmed to Sallie I found it hard to like Jacob, I found him too hard & no soft centre. That said there were twists & turns, which I enjoyed.
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

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