The Cowboy of Valentine Valley / A Promise at Bluebell Hill by Emma Cane – reviews

The Valentine Valley series by Emma Cane

THE COWBOY OF VALENTINE VALLEY (Valentine Valley #3) by Emma Cane

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date January 28, 2014

Welcome to Valentine Valley, where the cowboys have many talents and love is waiting around every corner . . .

Ever since a heated late-night kiss—that absolutely should not have happened—cowboy Josh Thalberg makes former Hollywood bad girl Whitney Winslow’s pulse beat faster. But when she decides to use his gorgeous leatherwork in her new upscale lingerie shop, Leather & Lace, she’s determined to keep their relationship strictly professional . . . even if she wants so much more.

Josh has never met a challenge he isn’t up for. Which is probably why he allowed Whitney to persuade him to take the sexy publicity photo that went viral—and now has every woman in America knocking down his door . . . every woman except the one he can’t get out of his head.

But how to convince a reformed bad girl that some rules are worth breaking?

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REVIEW: THE COWBOY OF VALENTINE VALLEY is the third full length storyline (fifth story) in Emma Cane’s Valentine Valley adult, western romance series. This is cowboy/leather designer Josh Thalberg and lingerie business owner Whitney Winslow’s story. Whitney has returned to Valentine Valley eight months after approaching the town people about her desire to open up her third ‘Leather and Lace’ lingerie boutique and eight months following the kiss that has turned her dreams upside down. Although this is the third full length story it can be read as a standalone without too much difficulty. Many of the previous storyline characters play an integral role in THE COWBOY OF VALENTINE VALLEY. The story is told from third person POV.

The focus of THE COWBOY OF VALENTINE VALLEY is Josh and Whitney’s building relationship and the drama surrounding small town mentality with the hopes of keeping the riff-raff at bay. When Whitney approached Josh about a designer line of leather collars for her shop, she had no idea the media fall-out that would occur when a few pictures of Josh showing his leather goods went viral on the social media networks. Add some enterprising ‘grandmas’ and the tabloid paparazzi and, Josh and Whitney will find themselves front and center in a small town scandal. Hoping to track down the people responsible, Whitney is surprised when the source of the problem is someone very close.

The relationship between Whitney and Josh is a second chance at love between two people who are perfect for one another but from different lifestyles and financial backgrounds. The romance is sensual and slow to build as our couple take the time to discover one another.

Emma Cane pulls the reader into a romantic tale set in a picturesque world where friends meet and fall deeply in love. It is a story (and series) where romance fuels the senses and love deepens the plot. The characters are colorful and approachable-they are people with hopes and dreams; heartbreak and sorrow; loves and dislikes. The world building continues as the Valentine Valley regulars draw in the reader for a peek at the past and the future storylines that have yet to be told.

Copy supplied by the publisher.

Reviewed by Sandy

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A PROMISE AT BLUEBELL HILL (Valentine Valley #4) by Emma Cane

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About the book: Release Date February 25, 2014

Welcome to Valentine Valley, where romance blooms and love captivates even the most guarded of hearts . . .

From the moment Secret Service agent Travis Beaumont strides into the town and through the door of Monica Shaw’s flower shop, she feels a sizzle of attraction. After years of putting everyone else’s needs first, Monica is ready to grab hold of life. If she can just persuade the ultimate protector to let his own walls down for once . . .

The President’s son is getting married in Valentine Valley, and Travis should be avoiding all distractions . . . not fantasizing about a forthright, sexy-as-hell florist. Especially when she’s keeping secrets that could jeopardize his assignment. But just this once, Travis is tempted to put down the rulebook and follow his heart—right to Monica’s door.

Roses are red, violets are blue, and in Valentine Valley, love will always find you.

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REVIEW: A PROMISE AT BLUEBELL HILL is the fourth full-length instalment in Emma Cane’s Valentine Valley series focusing on a tight knit group of friends and family in and around Valentine Valley, Colorado. This is florist Monica Shaw and Secret Service agent Travis Beaumont’s story. Although this is the fourth instalment, it can be read as a stand alone without too much difficulty although I would suggest for your complete enjoyment, reading the series from the beginning as many of the references are interconnected from previous storylines. A Promise At Blue Bell Hill fast forwards the series approximately six to seven months.

The focus of the storyline is on the impending nuptials of the US President’s son with one of Valentine Valley’s own. Travis is the lead agent preparing for the president’s visit and must be on guard for any and all potential threats to the first family. Travis finds himself irrevocably drawn to Monica once he has entered her shop and their mutual attraction fuels the gossip in the small town of Valentine Valley. As the storyline builds, so too, do the secrets between our couple-Monica’s past and Travis’s true intent.

As the town of Valentine Valley prepares for the upcoming visit of the president and the wedding of the year, the reader is re-introduced to many of the previous storyline characters. We get another glimpse at the Valentine Valley’s feisty Widow’s Boarding house ladies; the gang at Tony’s Tavern; and all of the couples who fell in love in Valentine Valley.

Emma Cane writes a wonderful storyline about two people who met under auspicious circumstances-they were obviously destined to meet-but life and everything it has to offer will ensure that what they have is only a temporary thing. As the date nears for the president’s arrival, the ladies of the Widow’s Boarding house have other plans for welcoming the president and her family. Plans will be made, lines will be drawn and family will be pitted against one another.

The relationship between Monica and Travis is slow to build as they play around one another throughout most of the storyline. In this, I did not feel the connection between our leading couple. There was something missing in the ‘love’ department-perhaps it was Travis’s cold, brooding, dark Secret Service exterior –or Monica’s ‘laissez faire’ attitude about the entire relationship. The relationship took second place to the secondary storyline regarding the upcoming presidential visit and the plans the elder members of Valentine Valley had put into motion.

A PROMISE AT BLUEBELL HILL is a story that pulls together all of Valentine Valley’s lovers and friends. It is a story about a building romance between two people from different walks of life; a story about family, discovering the truth and, knowing when to let go. The world building continues throughout each instalment with the re-introduction of old friends, new lovers and future stories. Emma Cane weaves a story about a small town in Valentine Valley, Colorado and all of the romance it has to offer.

Copy supplied by the author.

Reviewed by Sandy