King’s Country (Oil Kings 1-4) by Marie Johnston-Review, Excerpt & Giveaway Tour
KING’S COUNTRY
Oil Kings #4
by Marie Johnston
Release June 7, 2021
Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Google Play / Apple /
GOODREADS: https://tinyurl.com/3wy3wdb9
ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date June 7, 2021
I’ve been the wicked witch of King’s Creek since I was eight years old, from my angry red hair down to my ball-busting boots. With a mean drunk for a daddy who left nothing but insults and unpaid bills in his wake, was there ever any other fate? Now his passing has left me one bad turn, from losing my land to the neighbors my family’s been feuding with for generations.
So of course it’s Dawson King who comes to my rescue in the middle of a snowstorm. But I don’t care how good he looks in a pair of Wranglers, or how much he spoils my horse, or how great of a cook he is. The Kings already have everything—money, looks, and charm. Dawson’s not getting my heart too.
I’m living my dream, I admit it. I took over the family ranch from my dad and grew it into the envy of Montana. I have the best views, the best employees, and the respect of the entire town. The only thing I don’t have is someone to share my dream with. So when my neighbor breaks her leg and nearly freezes to death, I all but kidnap her back to my place to recover.
We grew up less than a mile apart, but we couldn’t be in more different places now. Bristol’s had nothing but pride for so long, it’s hard to get close to her. And I want to get very close to Bristol.
I don’t care if the whole town loves me, I’m only interested in earning the love of one woman. But for a guy who’s got the world at his feet, Bristol’s heart might be out of my reach.
•••••••
REVIEW:Dawson is a good guy, living off of his family’s reputation. A hardworking cowboy, he loves being a rancher, what he doesn’t love is the neighbour from hell! He’d give anything for her to just disappear.
Bristol just can’t get a break! All her life she’s had people look down at her! Her father was a drunk, and the people in the town never gave Bristol a chance, so she grew to hate the town and everyone in it! Including the self righteous King’s!
A wintery night brings these two together, he finds and rescues her, and she has to be bad if she doesn’t snap at him like she usually does.
And then to make matters worse, she has to stay with him whilst her leg heals! This is going to be a nightmare for both of them!
But they weren’t always bitter enemies, as kids they would hang out together, and Dawson would walk her home. But all that changed when a horrible accident took the King’s mother from them. It left the boys without a mother, a husband without a wife and a young girl without a role model…..
There is a lot going on in the background, a family feud that’s been going on for generations. And a secret that if exposed will crush Bristol!!
Dawson and Bristol are drawn to one another, neither of them really want that, but fate has a habit of putting them in awkward situations.
And temptation can only last for so long until you give into it!
And when Dawson sees how the town treat her, he’s ashamed that they took their leaf from his family! It was never Bristol’s fault, but her daddy was a drunk, so Bristol had to defend the only person in her life. But to never get a break. To never get anyone smile and be nice to her, no wonder she was always mean as a snake! Who would blame her?!
So can Dawson change his families opinion on her? Can he make the town see the woman he is falling for is a good person? And what happens when Bristol finds out about the family secret m? Will it finally kill if the love she has for Dawson?
I loved this story, it’s my favourite in the series. It finally brings to light about the family feud between Bristol’s family and the King’s. The town was just full of nasty people, but when Bristol gives a few people a chance, she’s surprised to find out she can make friends. But with The King’s grandmother lurking in the background, you know it’s not going to be long before she breaks this couple up.
All the stories were brilliantly written. The descriptions made the places we visit just jump off the page. It’s jam packed with emotions, it’s overflowing with chemistry. And the humour was on point. You can’t help but root for the characters in this book.
I’d highly recommended this book and the whole series.
?Copy supplied for review
Reviewed by Julie B
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KING’S CROWN
Oil Kings 1
by Marie Johnston
Release Date: February 24, 2020
ebook ONLY. $1.99 Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Google Play
I lost my job and got kicked out by my roommate, who happens to be my ex-husband, on the same day.
If I nail one interview, I can get my life back on track. I even get to fly on a private jet with my prospective boss’s dad Gentry King, a widowed oil company CEO. We’ll make one stop and once Mr. King’s business is done, we’ll continue on to Denver where I’ll hopefully land a high paying job that’ll keep me from moving back in with my parents. I’m not even thirty, I can’t go backwards in life.
Mr. King is unbelievably attractive and intimidating, but it’s a short flight and I never have to see him again after it’s done. Only we don’t make it to Denver. A snow storm strands us in Wyoming where the only hotel room available has one bed. Unlike me, Mr. King remains undaunted and continues to work remotely at the desk in the room, otherwise ignoring my existence. Until the power goes out and there’s nothing for us to do but get to know each other.
Between our age difference, his adult kids, and his former mother-in-law who’s still in control of the company, what happens in Wyoming might have to stay in Wyoming.
••••••••
REVIEW:Gentry has a lot of making up to do, after his wife died, Gentry threw himself into the single man’s life, drinking and women! In fact there wasn’t a woman safe from his charm, and because of that he list his sons! (They couldn’t forgive him for not mourning their mother)So he’s giving up women and focusing on his boys and his job.The job his wife got him (he works for his mother-in-law!) being the CEO of the company has him working long hours, but he’s not going to complain.
Kendall needs to get on with her life! But she didn’t realise it would happen all in one day! Being let go at work (downsizing) was bad enough, but getting home and finding your husband wants to move his new girlfriend into their home was a bit much!!She could move back home, but she doesn’t want to become the living nanny! (Her parents work long hours and put upon Kendall to look after her siblings!)So job hunting and flat hunting is a priority.
An age gap romance isn’t usually my go to read, but I really enjoyed it.I liked Kendall, she was just so matter of fact, nothing really threw her, and she tended to take things in her stride.Gentry came across as arrogant, he wasn’t the type to stay around once he’d had his fun. But reading his story you’ll probably see where he’s coming from.
They meet up when they both have to take a flight out of town. Gentry has a business meeting, and Kendall has a job interview with his son (it’s a long story, but it is a good one)The plane lands, but can’t take off again for Kendall to meet Beckett.They have to stay in a hotel together and in the same room….And I know what your thinking (same room, same bed, this is not going to end well) but nothing happens.Gentry is adamant that he won’t be tempted.And it works, for a while. But they more time they spend together, the harder it is to keep that promise.
Needless to say, Beckett thinks the worse of both Kendall and his father, so won’t even interview her! So she’s back to square one! But Gentry comes to the rescue and offers her a job.But that doesn’t really help, as gossips assume she’s sleeping with the boss!
And when they do finally get together, it’s not plain sailing! His mother-in-law gets involved, his sons have an opinion, and even the gossips make it awkward!
So can they really overcome all the obstacles that are thrown their way?
This leads nicely into book two of this series, King’s Ransom which features Gentry’s son Beckett.
?
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KING’S RANSOM
Oil Kings #2
by Marie Johnston
Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Google Play
Release Date; April 6 ,2020
I lost my job and got kicked out by my roommate, who happens to be my ex-husband, on the same day.
If I nail one interview, I can get my life back on track. I even get to fly on a private jet with my prospective boss’s dad Gentry King, a widowed oil company CEO. We’ll make one stop and once Mr. King’s business is done, we’ll continue on to Denver where I’ll hopefully land a high paying job that’ll keep me from moving back in with my parents. I’m not even thirty, I can’t go backwards in life.
Mr. King is unbelievably attractive and intimidating, but it’s a short flight and I never have to see him again after it’s done. Only we don’t make it to Denver. A snow storm strands us in Wyoming where the only hotel room available has one bed. Unlike me, Mr. King remains undaunted and continues to work remotely at the desk in the room, otherwise ignoring my existence. Until the power goes out and there’s nothing for us to do but get to know each other.
Between our age difference, his adult kids, and his former mother-in-law who’s still in control of the company, what happens in Wyoming might have to stay in Wyoming.
•••••••
REVIEW:An enemies to lovers I suppose, only Beckett doesn’t realise Eva hates him and wants to ruin his reputation and company!
Beckett never wanted to go into the Oil business, nor did he see himself becoming a full time rancher. Beck has a knack of spotting things people need and then creating apps or promoting those those created the apps. And he’s become very successful. So successful that he needs a PA, his last one just wanted to marry him and get hold of his inheritance! And the one after that married his dad!
Eva wants to ruin Beckett King! He ruined her brothers reputation, and when companies pulled out of buying her brothers app, he spiralled into a depressive satiate that has Eva worried! So Beckett is going to feel all the pain and humiliation that Eva can bring down on him! She just needs a reason to be in his office!
I have to admit I didn’t like this one as much as the first book, but it’s still a great read. I didn’t really get the same connection that I got with book one.
Beckett gives Eva a job after mistakenly thinking she’s come for an interview. There are sparks, there is banter and there is the interfering grandma in the background trying to pull strings and orchestrate a wedding!!
So you can read these books out of order, you don’t need to read them all. But there is an ongoing story in the background….. Each King needs to be married to inherit a large amount of money. If they aren’t married then the money leaves the family! And grandma isn’t having any of that! So she’s harassing them to get married before they are thirty!
Beckett and Eva are getting on really well. There is a chemistry that they are both aware of, but Eva is trying to keep her distance. She’s not suppose to fall for her enemy, is she? But lies have a habit of being found out. And when they do…..
Can Beckett forgive Eva for lying to him about her motives for getting to know him? And can Beckett give Eva another chance, when usually no one gets another chance with him?
?
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KING’S TREASURE
Oil Kings #3
by Marie Johnston
Release Date: February 8, 2021
Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Google Play
Broke, jobless, and stranded in Las Vegas on Valentine’s Day, I am forced to call my parents for a bailout. Again. A pampered princess and wannabe environmentalist, I know I’m a cliché and would do anything to change it. So when I meet Xander, a struggling photojournalist with absolutely nothing in common with my domineering, millionaire parents, I know just where to go next:
A wedding chapel.
But when I wake up the next day, my matrimonial rebellion comes with an unpleasant surprise. My husband is no penniless globetrotter—Xander King is the son of a billionaire oil tycoon, and my parents couldn’t approve of the match more. Now the only thing that could shock them would be a quickie divorce…except my new husband has a proposition for me.
••••••••
REVIEW: Xander wants to be known for his pictures, for his artistry, and not because he’s a King! Going into the Oil business with his family would have been a nightmare, the ranch work with his brother is ok, Xander just can’t see himself doing it full time!So Xander spends a great deal of time travelling the world and photographing it. And give the man his credit, he works his way around the world doing jobs.
He’s also hiding a secret, it keeps him from going home. He’s also hiding from his grandmother (who wants him to get married!!)
Savvy doesn’t want to go back home with her tail between her legs. If she does it means admitting defeat and fling back to work for her father! And he’s a hard taskmaster to work for, what she needs is a plan, and it’s a crazy one at that!
Xavier and Savvy meet in Las Vegas, get drink and then get married!She’s in awe of Xavier, he seems to know what he wants from life, and he goes around the world to get it.But in the morning, a cold and harsh reality sets it! Xavier isn’t a poor man, he’s in fact a potential client of her fathers! Talk about landing a big one!
There is a lot going on in this book, and for most of it I did enjoy the journey, but I couldn’t connect with Savvy, she seemed to want an independent life, but couldn’t break away from her family. And Xavier seemed like a waste of space in places!
So can this marriage work? Can Savvy finally break away from her domineering father? And can Xavier finally tell his family the dark secret that keeps him from going home?
?
“Because I don’t need to.”
He cocked an arrogant brow, and it only added to his rugged manliness instead of making him repellent. “The snow’s started. I have your horse, your cow, and your dog. You might as well stay.”
I gave him a tight smile. “Are you going to put me in the barn too?”
“I have nice straw, what can I say?” He rolled his eyes. “I don’t know what cave you think I crawled out of, but I have a big house. You won’t even have to see me that much.”
I gestured to my cast. “All your bedrooms are upstairs.”
“Not mine.” Grief hid in the depths of his whiskey eyes. “I have Mama and Dad’s old room downstairs,” he added softly.
The reminder of his mom peeled open the haphazard bandage I’d slapped over my heart years ago. Sarah King had been one of the best people who roamed the earth, and one of my dad’s stupidest decisions had stolen her from us.
“I don’t want to sleep on a couch.” Dawson’s couch was probably nicer than the salvaged mattress I had in the RV, but I didn’t want to sleep under the same roof as him. If only the trailer were more inhabitable.
“I’ll stand at the end of the stairs so when you fall hopping up them, I can catch you.” His tone was dry. “You can use my bed.”
Heat swamped my body. There was no reason on God’s green earth that I needed to be near or in Dawson’s bed. I didn’t care if it was for convalescence. No. “I’ll be fine at home.”
That wasn’t true. I had no goddamn clue how I was going to stay in my RV and do what needed to get done, but I’d figure it out like I had all my life.
“Bristol.”
“Take me home.” I sat up and scooted my legs over, biting back a grimace. My right leg was killing me and my cuts screamed. “Never mind. I can call for a ride.”
“And pay them how? I didn’t see a purse on you.”
“I can call . . . someone else.”
“Like a boyfriend?” His voice was stilted. Odd.
I gave him a careful glare. “Yeah, like a boyfriend.”
He pulled out my phone and handed it over. The screen blinked on. The barrage of messages from Marshall would’ve been easy to see. My cheeks burned. Would there be a time I wasn’t ashamed around Dawson King?
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Marie Johnston is a RITA® Finalist, and a best-selling and award-winning writer of paranormal and contemporary romance – and an avid reader of them both.
Several years ago, when kids started outnumbering adults in the house, Marie Johnston left her job as a public health microbiologist to stay at home. Settling into working part-time and shuttling kids around gave Marie the opportunity to think about what she wanted to be when she grew up. A die-hard science geek, she explored her previously thought to be non-existent creative side after much time spent making snowman crafts and coloring princesses. Having entertained thoughts of writing a book one day then subsequently deciding it would be too hard, she finally put the figurative pen to paper and began to type – and fell in love with storytelling.
The Sigma Menace is the first series by Marie with Fever Claim being her first book EVER. She is humbled by the fact that people are willing to read to her books and looks forward to keeping readers entertained for many years.
Marie lives with her husband and four kids in the Upper Midwest where the summers are gorgeous, the winters are brutal, and spring and fall are luxuries.
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