Last Chance Cowboy by Leigh Riker


Hi, everyone! I’m still hearing “Happy (Book) Birthday” playing in my mind. Last Chance Cowboy, the second book in my Kansas Cowboys series, came out on May 1st and I’m still celebrating. Champagne, anyone?



I do adore this cover (thanks, Harlequin!), and I have to admit Grey Wilson is one of my favorite heroes. I hated to give him such trouble in this story, but then conflict is, always, king. So not only does Grey need to clear himself of any wrongdoing in the long-ago death of the heroine’s brother; he also needs to save his family ranch—Grey’s heritage. He doesn’t expect Shadow Moran, the love of his life, to return to Barren, Kansas after ten years, especially now when he fears losing everything he has. To make matters even worse, Shadow has a secret to reveal…one that will change Grey’s life again.

Here’s a brief excerpt:

Grey took her in his arms. “You had a rougher time than I might have imagined. That was my fault too, Shadow. I should have been there. I should have known, somehow.”

“I don’t blame you, Grey.”

“Not for that,” he said, but he drew her closer.

Shadow’s head dropped like a wilted flower onto his shoulder as if she couldn’t hold herself upright any longer. She couldn’t move. All the years of being alone, of caring for Ava without him, seemed to condense into this moment, Grey’s lips on her hair. He brushed it aside, his other hand on her shoulder then slowly, sweetly, he kissed his way down her cheek to the line of her jaw and then to the corner of her mouth.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered. “You shouldn’t have had full responsibility for Ava—struggled like that—but you did a great job, Shadow. She’s a wonderful little girl. And somehow, we’ll make this work. For her,” he murmured. “And for us.”

Shadow wanted to make it work, too. But there was still [her brother] Jared’s death [between them]. And, in that moment, she hoped Grey did find proof that he was not to blame. That he could finally prove his innocence. Then, in the next instant, she stopped thinking at all.

Grey’s mouth took hers, not light and quick this time. He kissed her with the gulf of years breached between them at last, with that intense, soul-searching passion she had never forgotten. Neither had he, she knew, as she let him take her deeper, then farther still, as if in the joining of their mouths they might find forgiveness. For each other. Find love again.

If you haven’t already visited this small town, The Reluctant Rancher, Book #1, kicked off the series last October and is still available. It’s all about Logan Hunter, Grey's friend and neighbor, who’d rather be flying jets than be a cowboy again, but Logan’s injured grandfather needs him to run the ranch. Logan’s plan to hire a temporary caregiver to help at the house doesn’t work out—and pretty Blossom Kennedy, a woman on the run, soon turns his life upside down. Or has she stumbled into the exact place where she’s supposed to be…by Logan’s side.



Book #3, Cowboy on Call, will be released in October. Cover reveal soon! In this one, Logan’s estranged brother, Sawyer McCord, comes home at last. After making a tragic mistake in his medical career overseas, he needs a place to heal, to find a way to atone and decide about his future. Instead, he runs straight into Olivia, his brother’s ex-wife and the only woman Sawyer has ever loved. Are they both willing to take a second chance?

I hope you enjoy Last Chance Cowboy. Congratulations to the other May authors: Patricia Forsythe, Laurie Tomlinson and T.R. McClure. Great company to be in…

Buy links for Last Chance Cowboy and The Reluctant Rancher and social media links are on my website, http://www.leighriker.com(where you can also sign up for my newsletter).

Happy reading!
Leigh




Comments

  1. That really is a great cover, Leigh. I look forward to reading Grey's story. Congratulations!

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    1. I know, Jill. I've had a lot of great response to this cover. I hope you enjoy the story.

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  2. Congratulations on the release of Last Chance Cowboy, Leigh. It promises to be another excellent story!

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    1. Thanks, Kate! I'm having such fun with this series.

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  3. Hi Leigh, I agree with you. The cover is wonderful. And congrats on your release. Isn't it thrilling to see your books out there? Yay.

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    1. Oh, yes, Sandra. It is an ongoing thrill to see my books out there. Happy reading!

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  4. Congrats on your release, Leigh and great covers, too! And an enticing excerpt - all the best!

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    1. Thank you, Janice. Harlequin really does such great covers. Enjoy!

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  5. Leigh, love the excerpt! Sounds like these two have some issues and some chemistry and what could be better than that? Happy book birthday!

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    1. Thanks, Carol. I'm glad you liked the excerpt. Grey and Shadow were lovely to work with and I think they deserve their happy ending.

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  6. Congrats on the new release. Loved the excerpt!

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    1. Thank you, Tara! And a big hi to you from me. Glad you liked the excerpt.

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  7. Sounds like a great read! And I love that cover, too. :) Happy new release!

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  8. It sounds terrific. Can't wait to read it. I preordered on Kindle, but was away from wifi until today. Tonight I get to start the 4-pack.

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  9. Yippee!!! Don't you just love getting to dig in to a whole bunch of stories? Sounds divine to me, Beth.

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  10. Correction: I've learned that Cowboy On Call will be a November release (not October).

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  11. Very appealing cover, and I love your characters' names! All the best with it and with book 3.

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    1. Thank you, Virginia. Funny story: My editor pointed out that Shadow and Grey certainly have a connection via their names--which hadn't occurred to me--so I wrote a line of dialogue in which he says, "Even our names go together."

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  12. A great cover and a lovely excerpt. Good luck, Leigh!

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  13. Congratulations on the new release!! The covers are so great. Can't wait to see the cover for Cowboy on Call later this year. Thank you for sharing the excerpt with us. ( :

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    1. I'm waiting too--with bated breath--to see that third book cover. Don't see how it could get better than this second one...fingers crossed.

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  14. LOVE the excerpt! Congratulations on the new release, Leigh! I wish you a ton of sales!

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    1. Thanks so much for the good wishes, Stephanie. And I'm happy that you like the excerpt.

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