Cowboy, Cross My Heart

Donna Grant

Aug 2018 · Heart of Texas Book 2 · Sold by St. Martin's Paperbacks

About this ebook

New York Times bestselling author Donna Grant takes you deep inside the Texas rodeo scene in the second book in her Heart of Texas series, Cowboy, Cross My Heart, where danger and desire ride side by side. . .

Naomi Pierce isn’t the type to let a cowboy sweep her off feet. It’s not her first rodeo, after all. But when she returns to her Texas hometown, she can’t help but be swept up again in the rough-and-tumble world of hard-riding, bronco-busting good-ol’-boys she loved as a girl. She might be here to photograph her Rodeo Queen best friend. But it’s one fine-looking cowboy who really captures her eye...

Brice Harper is all man, all muscle, and all heart. From the moment he rides into the stadium, he can’t help but notice the beautiful stranger with a camera watching him from the stands. It doesn’t take a zoom lens to see the sparks of instant attraction. But things really heat up when he meets Naomi up-close—and he discovers that someone is stalking her friend. Brice wouldn’t be any kind of cowboy if he didn’t offer to help the ladies out. But can the rough rider keep this spirited shutterbug out of danger—without risking his heart?

Ratings and reviews

COWBOY, CROSS MY HEART is the Second instalment in Donna Grant’s contemporary, adult HEART OF TEXAS romantic, suspense series. This is rancher and rodeo roper Brice Harper, photographer Naomi Pierce’s story line. COWBOY, CROSS MY HEART can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary. COWBOY, CROSS MY HEART fast forwards the series several years. Told from several third person perspectives including Brice and Naomi COWBOY, CROSS MY HEART follows the building relationship between rancher and rodeo roper Brice Harper, feisty photographer Naomi Pierce. Naomi Pierce’s return to Baxter County finds our heroine longing for days past when she, herself, was the champion roper. Naomi is only in town for a few days to support her best friend and pageant queen Whitney Nolan until Naomi is attacked by an unknown assailant. Enter Brice Harper, and the man with whom Naomi will fall in love. What ensues is the building romance and love between Naomi and Brice, and the fall-out as Naomi, and thusly the Harper family is targeted when Naomi gets too close to the truth. Naomi Pierce’s love for photography has captured the attention of the wrong people in Baxter County. Knowing her best friend Whitney is hiding some important pieces of information, Naomi will find herself the target of a powerful group of men forcing Naomi into hiding with the man that she loves. Brice Harper had no idea the woman he rescued would be the woman that called to his heart. A series of on-going attacks against his family and friends finds the Harper-East clan waging a war of their own. The relationship between Naomi and Brice is one of immediate and mutual attraction. Confined together to ensure Naomi’s safety, our couple begin a slow dance of seduction leading towards a happily ever after. The $ex scenes are limited but passionate and seductive. The colorful, strong and charismatic secondary and supporting characters include Naomi’s best friend Whitney Nolan, and Whitney’s chaperone Ms. Biermann; Clayton and Abby (The Christmas cowboy Hero #1), Brice and Abby’s brother Caleb; Brice’s friends Jace Wilder, and Cooper Owens; ranch manager Shane, and local sheriff Danny Oldman. The requisite evil has many faces. COWBOY, CROSS MY HEART is a story of romance and suspense; betrayal and power; family and friends. The character driven premise is inviting and imaginative; the characters are spirited and sassy; the romance is intimate and heart warming. COWBOY, CROSS MY HEART is a dramatic tale of mistrust and corrupted power.

4.5 Stars “No one said darlin’ quite the way a Texan did.” Donna Grant delivers in this fast-paced installment to her Heart of Texas series. Brice Harper has come a long way! We’re first introduced to Brice in THE CHRISTMAS COWBY HERO (Heart of Texas #1) where he’s a young teen arrested for stealing cattle from a prominent Texas ranch. Now he’s an educated cowboy who served his country in the Marines and has plans to own a ranch with his younger brother Caleb. He also loves his family and is fiercely loyal to those he calls his. I fell in love with Brice and all the characters from the first book of the series. It was such a joy catching up with them! I really enjoyed Naomi’s character as well. She’s a strong woman and fiercely loyal as well. She’s compassionate, caring and her heart’s as big as Texas. Naomi paired well with Brice and they had beautiful chemistry. The secondary characters were also amazing, and I hope each and every one of them gets their own book! What really glued me to the pages was the intense, fast-paced mystery aspect of the story. While Naomi is spending time with her friend and rodeo pageant contestant Whitney, she is attacked. What turns out to be a harmless photo Naomi took, opens the door to a powder keg full of secrets, lies and cover-ups someone would do anything to protect. And I do me anything. I really enjoyed reading COWBOY, CROSS MY HEART. It has romance, rodeos, suspense and mighty fine cowboys! ***I voluntarily read a copy of the book generously provided by the publisher via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and feelings expressed are my own***

4 Rodeo Worthy Stars Review by Nancy Late Night Reviewer Up All Night w/ Books Blog A fascinating fast pace read! Cowboy, Cross My Heart is the second book in Donna Grant’s Heart of Texas series. I did not read book one, but after reading this book I will definitely be going back to read it. This book was absolutely delightful! A swoon worthy cowboy and a photographer in need of rescuing. Naomi Pierce had left Texas and the rodeo circuit when she went off to college. Now being back in her hometown is bringing back all the memories and longing she had for the rodeo. Only there to photograph her best friend, the rodeo queen, she was not expecting to fall in love, with a cowboy of all people. Brice Harper is all man! Determined to make a name for himself, he and his brother have taken the rodeo by the horns and have become the very best. Not interested in a relationship, he is surprised when a single laugh has him stopping in his tracks. The moment he heard Naomi he was immediately drawn to her. A series of alarming incidents sets up the plot for Brice and Naomi. Having to work side by side to solve a threatening situation within the rodeo circuit brings these two together. This book had me at the edge of my seat, it was sweet, but more than that it was captivating. It does touch on some sensitive matters, I thought it only added angst to the story. It ended a little abrupt; I wish Grant would have given us a little more closure, but nonetheless it was a great read!

About the author

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Donna Grant has been praised for her “totally addictive” and “unique and sensual” stories. She’s the author of more than thirty novels spanning multiple genres of romance, including the bestselling Dark King stories. The acclaimed series features a thrilling combination of dragons, the Fae, and Highlanders who are dark, dangerous, and irresistible. She lives with her two children, a dog, and four cats in Texas.