Knight in Cowboy Boots
Blurb:
A charming gambler. A stubborn heiress. Neither want love, neither can escape falling. Nick Townsend believes in one thing—himself. Left to his own devices, he’s built a billion dollar casino business, played with the ladies, and made sure no strings ever wrap around his head or heart. But when an old man dangles a deal of a lifetime in front of him and also threatens a family ranch Nick always believed was his, he’s determined to triumph. Jessica McDowell believes in two things—her hotels and her honor. Not for a moment does she believe in the too charming, too sexy man trying to play games with her heart. Yet she can’t help getting sucked into his allure, until she wonders if she was wrong all along and he’s been right from the very beginning. But when the deal Nick made with her devil of a father blows up in his face, he finds himself with a woman who’s transformed from a good lover to an ugly challenge. Although he’s sure about his charms, he’s no longer sure they’ll ever work again on the woman who’s stolen more than his ranch…she’s stolen his heart. Knight in Cowboy Boots is a standalone story with a happily-ever-after ending. It’s part of the romantic International Billionaires series—books that take well-loved stories and place them in exotic locales. The Ugly Duckling blends with The Good, The Bad and the Ugly to create a story filled with good sex, a bad boy, and an ugly woman finding her beauty. Travel from the colorful island of Tasmania to the vitality of Las Vegas and San Francisco. and finally end up on the western ranch of any cowboy’s dreams. Follow Golden Heart winner.
Review: 4 Stars
Knight in Cowboy Boots is the tenth book in Caro LaFevers International Billionaires series. I quite enjoy this series and look forward to reading more of them. They can be read as standalone books as well. Each story is about a different billionaire. This one is Nick and Jessica's story. There was a lot that I loved about this story but there were a few things that kept me from giving it a 5 star review...more on that later.
Jessica's life has been good. She has lacked for nothing...materially that is. She grew up traveling and learning the hotel business right along with her father. She loved him and she loved their business. What she lacked was true friends and someone to love outside of he father and her hotel family. Everyone was her "friend" for the benefits. And the same had been true of any of her boyfriends. Then she meets a mysterious stranger and her life gets turned upside down. Nick is handsome and he doesn't want her because of who her father is. Their chemistry can't be denied either. There is only one thing that holds her back...she knows there is something going on between him and her father and she is going to get to the bottom of it. Will she still love him when she gets to the bottom of the truth? Or will she end up with a broken heart?
Nick is a self made man. He has been trying to prove himself to his father over and over again. He owns a chain of hotels world wide and is a billionaire. You would think that would please his father and make himself happy but it hasn't. He isn't looking for love...but sometimes that is when it finds you. When a deal he can't pass up is offered he reluctantly agrees to it. Will he regret his decision? Or will he end up getting the better end of the deal? Jessica is a feisty redhead that captures his heart right away. He wants to win her over but he is hiding something that could end what they have begun. He will do everything in his power to change that but he's afraid it won't work. The more time they spend together the more he realizes that he may lose everything he has ever wanted. Can he convince her that she is what he wants? Or will she end up leaving him in the end?
Knight in Cowboy Boots is a great romance read. It was enjoyable and the characters were believable. I liked Jessica because she was smart and independent. I didn't like the fact that she couldn't see her value, but it is understandable why she had that issue. I liked Nick but he made me mad a time or two. I did like how he helped Jessica see her worth. He was always building her up and that was a great thing. I do think he had some integrity but did question it for a bit. I would recommend this book to others because it is well worth the read.
SPOILER ALERT: some things past this point can be considered spoilers
The reasons I couldn't give this book a 5 star rating... #1 Nick kept the secret for 75 to 80% of the book....if he really loved her why couldn't he tell her? I know he was afraid to lose her but it was the right thing to do. I don't like secrets and there shouldn't be any in a relationship...especially one that big. #2 Jessica knew something was going on but still married him. How could she marry someone if she felt he wasn't being honest? I get being swept up in a moment but it's not something I could do. #3 Once she did find out and left (even filed for divorce), all became ok again when Nick got hurt. I get that she realized she loved him but come on how realistic is that? I like HEA's and all but he should have had to work for it. It shouldn't be a "kiss and make up" type of thing.
