REVIEW - KIDNAPPED COWBOYS (GIVEAWAY)

"Retired rodeo star, Dalton Barnes, gets the surprise of his life when he’s abducted by a soft-spoken female with a ‘gun’ and taken to the retreat his family owns. He soon learns she’s kidnapped the wrong cowboy by mistake. She wanted his brother."

Author: Lindsey Brookes
Pages: 380 pages
Publisher: Self Published on Feb 2013
Form: E-book (from tour for an honest review)
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Amazon: Buy / $6.19 (Kindle) ( EU price, click to see yours )
Barnes & Noble: Buy / $2.99 (Nook)

"After countless attempts to speak with the owner of the retreat for troubled teens she runs on the outskirts of Lone Tree, Montana, Caitlin Myers resorts to kidnapping Brandon ‘The Ogre of Lone Tree’ Barnes in a desperate attempt to change his mind about turning Stoney Brook into a vacation resort for the wealthy.

Retired rodeo star, Dalton Barnes, gets the surprise of his life when he’s abducted by a soft-spoken female with a ‘gun’ and taken to the retreat his family owns. He soon learns she’s kidnapped the wrong cowboy by mistake. She wanted his brother. Things go from bad to worse when a late spring snowstorm strands them together at the cabin. But it’s during their snow-in that Dalton learns why Caitlin has gone to such lengths to save Stoney Brook. Having had issues with his older brother himself and a not so happy past, Dalton promises to do what he can to help her.

When confronted Brandon tells Dalton he’ll hold off on his plans for the retreat, but only if Dalton agrees to stick around and help run it. Keeping his promise to Caitlin, Dalton agrees and what starts out as a common goal to turn the troubled teens’ lives around that summer ends up turning theirs around as well. Can a man who has always avoided putting down roots and a woman with a deep-seated fear of abandonment hang on to the happiness they've found together? Or will the past return to threaten their newfound love?"  ~ From Goodreads

I really wanted to like this book and I think I did pretty good 1/3 into it, then it began to lose pace and entertainment value, sure the humor was there but it started to feel slapstick and forced. I might be near alone in this opinion as I've heart great reviews on this book.

In the beginning I liked both Brandon and Cait and their chemistry, and the love of chemistry never faltered, just the story did a little. The "bad brother" Dalton was heavily featured as well which is I believe to see his story, he seemed to have heartache, a bitch ex and some hollywood star caliber package lying around. But of course you got glimpses of a good heart. Brandon had a pretty good story arc from runaway playboy rodeo-star to stand-up ( except for the soap incident ) disciplinarian of teenage misfits, Caitlin was just little coocoo, endearing at times, annoying in others. I wasn't quite sure which won. ;) Perhaps her good heart made her more likable in the end.

The blurb ( even though bit on the long side ) promises some fun, love and drama and you do get that - and a lot reviewers have found this book great, so I'd say if the blurb intrigues you pick up a copy - make up your own mind. :)

Rating :

Lindsey will be awarding a $10 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour!

 All the tour dates can be found here:
http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2013/04/virtual-reviews-tour-kidnapped-cowboy.html

Romance author Lindsey Brookes grew up reading romance novels. She penned her first romance, a historical, at the age of seventeen. From there she went on to join Romance Writers of America where she learned the ins and outs of the publishing business and ways to hone her craft. She switched to writing contemporary romance and has finalled in/or won more than 75 RWA chapter sponsored contests with over a dozen different manuscripts. She is also a four time RWA Golden Heart finalist as well as a past American Title III finalist and winner of Harlequin's Great American Romance Novel contest. She's married to her childhood sweetheart, her hero, with whom she has two beautiful daughters.

Check out her websites:
www.lindseybrookes.com
www.possumhollowseries.com
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