This is a good book. This book has two stories in it. The stories are about a cowboy looking for his true love. The stories are about family. It takes a town to raise a child. Each cowboy has issues but he is able to work through them and fall in love.

The Rancher’s Plus One by Joanne Rock

This book delivers not one, but two captivating stories that will truly charm you. Who can resist the allure of Strong Cowboys and Sassy Heroines?

Let’s journey into the pages of The Rancher’s Plus One by Author Joanne Rock. This book is a beautifully woven tale that touches the heart deeply, centering around personal healing and the ardent quest to amend past wrongs, all for the promise of a brighter tomorrow. Levi and Kendra, each bearing their own emotional baggage, are unexpectedly thrown together to mend the tarnished reputation of the Kingsland family. The result is a whirlwind of emotions that intensify with each passing moment. Can these two individuals set aside their haunting histories and focus on the task at hand? Or will the irresistible pull of their desires take control, steering them into uncharted territory?

The brilliance of The Rancher’s Plus One lies in its premise. Joanne Rock, the gifted author, masterfully crafts a world filled with characters possessing unwavering strength, both in the main roles and in the supporting cast. The importance of family radiates throughout the narrative, amplifying the emotional resonance. And as the plot unfolds, a touch of mystery adds an extra layer of intrigue that will undoubtedly keep your mind engaged. One question persistently lingers: “Where’s Clayton?” The anticipation to uncover this mystery is undeniably captivating.

Rated 4 Stilettos by Deb!

Stranded with a Cowboy by Stacey Kennedy

You’re in for a treat with Stranded with a Cowboy by Stacey Kennedy, the captivating second installment in the Devils Bluff Series.

Returning to Devils Bluff feels like reuniting with old friends. The story follows Beau Ward, a devoted father who’s dealing with unwanted attention from gossip mongers while raising his son. With his brother Colton’s interference, Beau finds himself at the center of matchmaking attempts. But all Beau wants is to extricate himself from this chaos and avoid another marriage after losing the love of his life.

Enter Nora Keller, a straight-shooting and surprising character. From the start, her no-nonsense attitude catches your attention. Nora arrives in Texas to assist with her friend’s wedding, seeking a fresh start and a job opportunity in Paris. The concept of happily ever after isn’t something she readily believes in. However, as she spends time with Beau, sparks fly and walls begin to crumble. Perhaps this cowboy could be more than she ever expected.

The chemistry between Nora and Beau sizzles, and the question lingers: Will they let go of their reservations and explore this undeniable attraction? Could it be a fleeting spark, or will it ignite into something deeper and more meaningful?

With Ms.Kennedy’s skillful storytelling, Stranded with a Cowboy delivers a heartfelt narrative about moving forward, finding the extraordinary in life, and fighting to hold onto it. The Ward family’s dynamics add layers of complexity, each member requiring their unique form of healing.

As you immerse yourself in this charming story, you’ll find yourself rooting for these characters, hoping they’ll uncover a connection that transcends their pasts. So saddle up and get ready for a ride through romance, healing, and the unexpected. Stranded with a Cowboy proves that sometimes, the most remarkable journeys lead to the most unexpected destinations.

Rated 4 Stilettos by Deb!

My rating for these stories is 41/2 Stilettos by Deb!

Stranded With A Cowboy is the 2nd book in the “Devil’s Bluffs Series.” This is the 2nd book that I have had the pleasure of reading by Stacey Kennedy and I am so enjoying these sexy cowboys. Beau is a sexy millionaire rancher, widower and a single father who has been named Texas’s Sexiest Bachelor and now he is being hounded by the press. Beau heads to his remote cabin to seek some privacy. Beau’s brother Colton is getting married and Nora is headed to Texas to help with wedding preparations. When Beau first sees Nora he is very much attracted to her and there seems to be something in the midst between the two. As Nora has been hurt in the past she is not really looking for anything in the romance department. As the two continue with the planning of the wedding they get more than that they bargained for when and the two find themselves stranded in a raging storm. Beau and Nora are enjoying spending time together as their hearts, minds, body and souls meet between the sheets for sizzling hot passion together during the raging storm.

Can these two get together and end Beau’s single status, became a family and have an HEA?

I received an ARC via NetGalley and I am leaving my review voluntarily.

Stacey Kennedy returns to Devil’s Bluff in Stranded With A Cowboy, the second book in this series. I enjoyed this book, but not as much as the first in this series. I didn’t feel the connection between the hero and heroine in this book for quite a while and that’s probably due to their agreement of a “no strings, just fun” arrangement until the wedding between his brother and her best friend. Despite that, Stranded With A Cowboy was a good story that I enjoyed.

Single dad Beau Ward wants one thing, for the reporters hanging around Devil’s Bluff to leave him alone. When he stepped in to help his brother and his lady love out of a jam he never expected to become the story they all wanted. Needing to get out of town and hoping they’ll leave when he’s gone; he leaves his son with his brother and heads to his cabin. He never expects to get a call from his future sister in law asking him to go out in the beginning of a tropical storm to find Nora, her best friend who was on his way to see him. (This was my first problem with this couple, this felt like a forced meeting and as someone who has lived in North Texas for going on 35 years we don’t really get tropical storms here, yes we get the affects of a tropical storm (high wind, rain, hail, tornado) on rare occasions and this kind of took me out of the story.)

Nora Keller is on a mission to make her best friend’s wedding perfect and also to find out if the spark she felt during a Facetime call where she meets Beau is as strong as she thinks it is. Deciding on having a fling is out of the norm for Nora but after her last relationship fizzled she’s decided love isn’t in the cards and a fling is what she wants.

I liked both these characters but didn’t understand why Nora hadn’t shared her financial woes with her best friend and while I understand her wanting to shake up her life and applying for jobs in Paris, I question how she expected to live when she was supposedly completely broke. Beau felt a bit one dimensional unless he was in a scene with his son, Austin, and he came to life.

While I did enjoy this story, it just didn’t have the same feel or emotional level I’ve come to expect from this author. That said, I was happy with the outcome, the epilogue was epic.

Beau Ward wanted to take the spotlight off his brother when he accepted the sexiest bachelor title. He just never expected the unrelenting pressure from reporters who have invaded all aspects of his life. Leaving his son with his brother he escapes for some much-needed solitary peace and quiet.
The last thing he expects is for his brother's fiancé's best friend to show up to disrupt his solitude followed closely by the worst storm the region has seen stranding them together. Ok time to exercise that zing that he felt when he saw and spoke to Nora on face time. Now she has a proposition for him. No strings attached sex plus she's the best researcher there is, and she'll get the pesky reporters off his back before she leaves the country for Paris where she wants to relocate.
What neither counted on was for Beau's son to develop a strong liking and relationship with Nora and for feelings to get involved. Is there a way for them to find a way for all parties to get their cake and eat it too? I truly enjoyed the emotional impact of Beau's relationship with his son and how the boy expresses to Nora that he hates going to his mother's grave on her anniversary and wishes there was a different way to remember her.

Beau Ward is Texas's sexiest bachelor. He is a widower with a young son to raise and needs to get away from all the attention. His brother Colton is getting married soon and he meets Nora Keller on Facetime with his soon to be sister-in-law. His first look at her and there is a spark there. Nora is coming to Texas to help with the wedding and has recently been dumped by her boyfriend. She really doesn't believe in HEA. As they spend time together, they are both attracted to each other.
Nora needs a new start and his waiting to hear about a job in Paris and will move there after the wedding.
Book was easy to read in held my interest. Would recommend it to anyone.

***ARC Provided by the Author***

There was something about this one that I really enjoyed, and I think it was mostly about how much I really liked Beau. There was something about him that made me want to move to a small town in Texas, which is definitely not something I can usually say.

I also liked Beau and Nora together. I liked how into her he was, and how willing he was to show her that he saw her, and her worth, and that he was interested in being with her regardless of the things about her that weren't perfect.

I have seen authors ask if readers like books where heroes or heroines fall first, and I think it depends...but when I read books like this one, it makes me want to say I like the hero falls first books the most, just because getting to be part of Beau deciding Nora was the one for him made this book a fantastic read.

I enjoyed and recommend this title.

This story was so much fun. Who doesn't love a single dad story? Especially a single dad who has been named sexiest man? This book was so romantic with lots of spice! Highly recommend.

Nora and Beau meet via FaceTime and it’s chemistry from the start. Nora comes out to Texas as her BFF is getting married to Beau’s brother. One topical storm and one bed - they get to know each other! 🔥 This is a fun, cute, steamy cowboy small town Texas romance!!

They work through some tough baggage and one hell of a “please come back” HEA! ✈️

Thanks to @staceykennedybooks @harlequinbooks for this eARC 💖💖

Two-fer.

Stranded with a Cowboy was a fast paced read that I enjoyed.
Beau Ward is a widower and a father, who was named Sexiest Bachelor and has him dodging reporters. He's instantly attarcted to Nora, the maid of honor in his brother's wedding, whom he conveniently gets stranded with. They get hot and heavy, but she's leaving on a jet plane...
4.5

In the Rancher's Plus-One, Levi has messed up not once, but twice with Kendra.
Three years ago, he had a hot one night stand with Kendra, then totally burned that bridge when he bought the company she worked to build with her father without one word to her a few days letter. Idiot. He's again again an idiot when he goes to her for help when his company is going down in #KancelKingsley flames. She's the PR fixer who is the only one who can fix his mess.

Kendra is strong, yet keeps giving Levi chances, even though he keeps burning her. Again.
And she doesn't even make him work for it, three times over.
4

This is a Steamy Cowboy Romance, and this is the second book in the Devil's Bluffs series. I have read the first book in this series before picking up this book, but I do think you can read this book as a standalone without any problems. I liked the characters, but it took me awhile to really get into this book. I felt all the steamy times took away for the storyline in away. I loved the ending of this book, and there were some really cute moments in it. Overall, I just found this book to be just an ok read. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Harlequin Desire) or author (Stacey Kennedy) via NetGalley, so I can give an honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.

My rating: 5-stars.

First of all I have to say that Nora and Beau are HOT! Their chemistry is just off the charts HOT!

This book starts where Most Eligible Cowboy ended.

Hello insta-lust. I'm not usually a fan of insta-lust books but after the banter between Nora and Beau over Facetime I welcomed it with open arms.

Nora is a strong and independent woman. She's also highly amusing to me. Beau is a strong and independent man but has a past that he has to work on and through to heal and move forward with his life. He also has a young son named Austin who is the main focus in Beau's life. He's a sweet and well-mannered child. When Nora and Austin meet it's absolutely the most precious part of the book.

While this book is a short and quick read, it still manages to tell Nora and Beau's story beautifully. Ms. Kennedy has another well written and wonderfully told story to be proud of.

I voluntarily requested an arc via Netgalley and this is my honest review of Stranded with a Cowboy.

Fantastic pair of pulse-pounding romances!

The Rancher's Plus One by Joanne Rock is a wonderfully steamy second-chance romance. After an unforgettable one-night-stand, Kendra goes out of her way to avoid Levi, while he'd like nothing more than pursue their hotter-than-hell connection. After his father dies, Levi is left with a public relations nightmare that only the best PR rep can resolve, and that just happens to be Kendra.

It takes a fair amount of negotiating just to get an agreement on paper, but Levi manages to get Kendra to agree to accompany him on the required goodwill tour to restore his company's reputation. Naturally, all the secrets and misunderstandings come to light during this whirlwind tour, and both their relationship and the company's public image are restored.

I really enjoyed the banter and the chemistry between Kendra and Levi, and I appreciated the lengths he was willing to go to in order to prove his intentions to Kendra. It was a charming story throughout.

Stranded With a Cowboy by Stacey Kennedy is a follow up to her previous book, Most Eligible Cowboy. Here we see Colter's brother Beau taking the spotlight off his brother but then finding out that the cost of his notoriety is much more than he'd bargained for. He retreats to his secluded cabin, only to be followed by the best friend of his brother's fiancée, Nora, who insists on his help with planning the upcoming wedding.

Beau is still figuring things out after the death of his wife a few years earlier, and Nora is fresh from a brutal breakup so she's sworn off relationships for good. Perfect timing for a little friends-with-benefits, no-strings arrangement, or so they thought. As the wedding nears, their commitment to non-commitment starts to weaken. Throw in Beau's adorable young son, and Nora is a confused mess, wondering how such a city girl could ever be happy in a small country town, much less settled down with a cowboy who never got over his first love.

I really loved the way Nora and Beau worked together, and how quickly Nora bonded with Austin. I thought her reluctance to commit was relatable and her Paris aspirations turned out to be exactly what she didn't know she needed. This is a delightful story with a wonderful HEA and extended epilogue.

I highly recommend this set to anyone who loves contemporary cowboy romances. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

This was bingable, steamy, and just perfect.
If you're looking for a quick, easy, cowboy romance - PICK THIS UP!!!
Can every book I read be a cowboy/city girl, enemies to lovers, forced proximity romance?
Harlequin does it again!!!!!

Oh my goodness, let me tell you about the juiciest, most steamy love story that will leave you begging for more! It's all about the oh-so-dreamy Beau Ward, the heroic younger brother of the infamous Colter, and his sizzling hot romance with Adeline's best friend, Nora Keller.

You see, Beau wanted to help his brother out by taking the spotlight and stealing the attention away from his brother's love life. But little did he know, things would backfire and he'd be left longing for the peace and quiet he once knew. That is, until Nora came along with a daring proposal. They could have some no-strings-attached fun until the wedding, no harm done.

But here's the thing, my friends. Devil's Bluffs has a special power over all those who visit. Love is in the air, and it certainly wasn't immune to Nora and Beau's wild, passionate romance. Even after all they had been through, could they give love a chance?

Let me tell you, this story is an absolute thrill ride. The plot is packed with twists and turns, and the romance scenes are hotter than the flames of hell. But it's not just steamy fun – there are moments of raw emotion that will leave you clutching your heart.

The characters are absolutely to die for. Nora and Beau are a match made in heaven, with chemistry that sizzles off the pages. And don't even get me started on the family gatherings. Those sweet moments of family togetherness will leave you feeling warm and fuzzy inside.

So if you're looking for a wild ride filled with passion, love, and family, then look no further. This story will leave you breathless and wanting more.

I enjoyed the book and it made for easy reading while on a mountain vacation. I loved the chemistry between Beau & Nora from the first moment they met on screen. Their time together in the cabin was hot and I enjoyed their 'getting to know you' banter, but then reality would come into play and that's where the book lost my interest just a bit. Nora's insistency in her head that she was going to Paris regardless of what happened between her and Beau just rubbed me the wrong way. And then she runs off in the end and I just wanted to scream at her that she's living such a great man and his little boy. For what? A job that provides temporary happiness?

Of course, there's a cute kid in this one and cute kids always help elevate most stories in my book. The grand gesture at the end with Beau and Austin was adorable. Granted, I don't think they should have been the ones making that grand gesture since I didn't agree with Nora running away.

I didn't read the first book in the series, but this book can be read as a standalone with no issues.

I received an arc from NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

Two books in one and both were amazing reads. I love the strong Cowboy theme in these two books and definitely one I would recommend.

If you need a good vacation read this is the book for you. Strong characters and a hot and steamy romance in both.