Category Archives: The McCord Brothers Series

September 29, 2016 · 11:58 pm

Review: Blame It on the Cowboy by Delores Fossen

Title: Blame It on the Cowboy by Delores Fossen
The McCord Brothers Series Book Three
Publisher: HQN Books
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 416 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Every cowboy has a wild side—all it takes is the right woman to unleash it… 

All of Logan McCord’s carefully laid plans erupt the day he walks in on his would-be fiancée getting…well, not so carefully laid. Tonight, just once, Logan is acting on instinct. And that instinct is telling him to say “Happy to oblige” to the cute stranger looking for a no-strings fling with a Texas cowboy.

When chef Reese Stephens made her bucket list, she mistakenly thought she had weeks to live. Not that she regrets her one-night-stand with the gorgeous rancher. But she does regret leaving an heirloom watch as a parting gift. Tracking Logan down is easy. Walking away again is another matter. Because Reese’s crazy past and Logan’s battered heart are no match for the kind of chemistry that could turn one night into the start of a passionate lifetime.

Review:

Blame It on the Cowboy is an entertaining addition to Delores Fossen’s The McCord Brothers series.  Although it is the third installment in the series, it can be read as standalone but I highly recommend the previous books as well.

After finding his girlfriend of eight years in a truly cringe-worthy compromising situation, Logan McCord is drowning his sorrows when he meets Reese Stephens.  After playing a few drunken word games, Reese makes him an offer he cannot refuse and they spend one incredibly hot night together.  The next morning, they both return to their normal lives with no plan to ever see each other again.  Three months later, Logan is shocked to discover Reese is the newly hired cook at a local diner and naturally, he is very suspicious about why she has moved to his small hometown.  Reese’s reason for finding Logan is on the up and up but she understands why he might be mistrustful of her. Her plan to remain in town a few days is quickly derailed and Reese and Logan further complicate things when they give in to their simmering passion. Is there any chance for this mismatched couple to live happily ever after?  Or will Reese’s troubled past tear them apart?

Reese might not have many physical possessions but she has a ton of emotional baggage.  The most of her problems are not of her making, but she cannot escape the guilt she feels for other people’s actions.  A previous relationship has left an indelible mark on her and Reese blames herself for how things finally ended between her and her ex.  She has steered clear of romantic entanglements ever since, but her attraction to Logan is too strong to resist.  As their lives becomes more entangled, Reese becomes more certain than ever that her somewhat sordid past will ruin Logan’s reputation.  When someone from her past tracks her down, her first reaction is to run away, but will Logan convince Reese to stay?

Having taken over the family business after his parents’ tragic deaths when he was 19, Logan takes his responsibilities very seriously.  He is a little staid  but well-respected by his business associates and the people in his hometown.  Surprisingly, he is not overly concerned what anyone thinks about his relationship with Reese and he is quick to try to convince her to stay in town.  When his ex returns to try to repair her ruined reputation and win him back, Logan is willing to hear her out but he is not at all keen to renew their romance.  As Reese’s troubles continuing to spiral out of control, will he remain with her? Or will he decide to reunite with his philandering ex?

Reese and Logan’s relationship often takes a backseat to the various shenanigans of people from Reese’s past.  At first amusing, these antics soon become tedious and a little over the top as they continue to snowball.  Logan’s ex is also determined to win him back so be prepared for some scheming as she tries to come between him and Reese.

When the story focuses on Reese and Logan, there is no denying the chemistry between them and their scenes together are absolutely delightful.  Despite the sometimes ridiculous exploits of everyone else, things between Reese and Logan are a little intense due to Reese’s rather traumatic past.  They genuinely like one another and Logan is respectful of Reese’s privacy once he gets to know her.  Reese and Logan are a wonderful couple and it is frustrating that their romance is overshadowed by the subplots involving people from their respective pasts.

Blame It on the Cowboy is a lovely romance between two wounded protagonists. Reese and Logan’s road to happily ever after is full of detours and unforeseen obstacles but in the end, love prevails as they help one another overcome the problems that have haunted them for so long.  Old and new fans of Delores Fossen are going to love this latest addition to The McCord Brothers series.

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Filed under Blame It on the Cowboy, Contemporary, Delores Fossen, Harlequin, HQN Books, Rated B, Review, Romance, The McCord Brothers Series

May 30, 2016 · 11:56 pm

Review: Lone Star Nights by Delores Fossen

Title: Lone Star Nights by Delores Fossen
The McCord Brothers Series Book Two
Publisher: HQN Books
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 384 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

No strings attached is pretty much Lucky McCord’s calling card in Spring Hill, Texas, but when family is on the line, this cowboy’s honor and heart are about to get lassoed, tied and branded

Every family needs its black sheep, and Austin “Lucky” McCord is happy to oblige. The bad-boy bull rider lives fast and loose, until his business partner leaves him an unexpected bequest. Suddenly Lucky is sharing custody of two children with Cassie Weatherall, one of the few homegrown women he hasn’t bedded. And not from lack of trying…

Cassie fled her messy past to become a celebrity therapist in LA. So why does it feel so right to come back and share parenting duties—and chrome-melting kisses—with a man she’s striven to avoid? Loving Lucky always seemed like a sure bet for heartache. But for this perfectly imperfect family, Cassie might just gamble with everything she’s got.

Review:

Lone Star Nights is an absolutely heartwarming addition to Delores Fossen’s The McCord Brothers series.

Following the death of his close friend and business partner Dixie Mae, bull rider Lucky McCord is stunned to discover that he is sharing guardian duties with her granddaughter, Cassie Weatherall.  Although Lucky is immediately charmed by four year old Mia Compton, he is disconcerted by the similarities between himself and her thirteen year old sister Mackenzie.  While Cassie and Lucky try to track down the girls’ relatives, they move into Lucky’s childhood home on the family ranch.  Complications quickly ensue as both Cassie and Lucky try to avoid the ghosts of their pasts and their sizzling attraction to one another.

Despite his partnership with Dixie Mae, Lucky lives a pretty footloose and fancy free life.  He does not want to become involved with the family business and his visits home are short lived. The death of his parents continues to haunt him and Lucky feels guilty over his perceived role in the car accident that took their lives.  He is very charming and well-liked by the ladies, but he is always upfront that he is not looking for a relationship.  Although Lucky hopes to find a relative to take Mia and Mackenzie, he is surprised by his reaction when it appears the girls won’t remain with him and Cassie on a permanent basis.

Cassie is the middle of personal crisis when she gets the news about her grandmother.  A celebrity therapist who appears on numerous talk shows, she is plagued with panic attacks when she is under stress. Cassie is also having trouble extricating herself from her last relationship.  Instead of standing up to her ex when he unexpectedly shows up at the ranch, she continues to let him make decisions for her.  However she does find her backbone when it comes to dealing with her father and it is extremely gratifying watching him get exactly what he deserves!  Cassie is also surprisingly honest with Lucky and although she risks getting her heart broken, she does not let him take the easy way out when it comes to their future.

Although it is wonderful watching Cassie and Lucky fall in love, Mia and Mackenzie are the heart and soul of Lone Star Nights.  Mackenzie is surly and hides her heartbreak behind heavy make-up and a perpetual bad attitude.  Mia is absolutely darling and she charms everyone she meets.  Initially, Mackenzie tries to hold everyone at arm’s length but she slowly but surely begins letting down her guard.  She still remains prickly and standoffish but little glimpses of affection give both Cassie and Lucky hope that she will eventually trust them.

With a multi-faceted cast of lovable characters and an entertaining storyline, Lone Star Nights is a sensual romance that is poignant yet humorous. Heartfelt and engaging, this captivating novel is sure to be a hit with old and new fans of Delores Fossen’s The McCord Brothers series.

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Filed under Contemporary, Delores Fossen, Harlequin, HQN Books, Lone Star Nights, Rated B+, Review, Romance, The McCord Brothers Series

February 24, 2016 · 11:58 pm

Review: Texas on My Mind by Delores Fossen

Title: Texas on My Mind by Delores Fossen
McCord Brothers Series Book One
Publisher: HQN Books
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 384 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

The McCord Brothers are the most eligible bachelors in Spring Hill, Texas. But these cowboys are about to get wrangled by the love of some very unique women—the kind who can melt hearts and lay it all on the line.

Air force captain Riley McCord has come home on medical leave to find one heck of a welcome reception. Every unattached woman in Spring Hill, Texas, wants to nurse him back to health. That includes his childhood friend Claire Davidson—the only person who understands how damaged he really feels. In high school, she chose his best friend over him. According to Riley’s rules, that should make her off-limits forever. But when Claire suggests a no-strings fling, he can’t refuse.

Claire always wanted Riley—but she also craved the safety and stability he couldn’t offer. So she chose another path, only to end up crazier about him than ever. She’s even convinced herself that this time she won’t be devastated when he leaves. Yet once Riley realizes the depth of Claire’s feelings—and his own—he’ll have to make the ultimate choice: return to the job he loves or stay home for the woman who’s always lived in his heart.

Review:

Texas on My Mind, the first installment in Delores Fossen’s The McCord Brothers series, is a delightful friends to lovers romance. With plenty of obstacles to overcome, the fate of Riley McCord and Claire Davidson’s relationship hangs in the balance right up until the novel’s heartwarming conclusion.

Riley and Claire are childhood friends who wanted different things in life. Growing up, Riley could not wait to leave their hometown and join the Air Force while Claire was looking for stability and marriage. Firmly in the friend zone after Claire chose their mutual friend Daniel Larsen instead of him, Riley has an adrenaline rush career as a combat rescue officer but after a possible career ending injury, he returns to the family ranch to heal. Unbeknownst to Riley, Claire has temporarily returned to Spring Hill with her two year old son Ethan to get her late grandmother’s house ready to sell. Their paths immediately cross and while the two share a mutual attraction, there are numerous roadblocks standing in the way of their relationship progressing beyond friendship.

Despite his physical injuries and fairly severe PTSD, Riley is completely confident he will be cleared to return to his career and he is willing to work as hard as necessary to make that happen. His return is big news in town and he is immediately besieged by women from his past who would like nothing better than to entice him into marriage. Dodging them is a whole lot easier than avoiding his brother Logan’s attempts to lure him into the family business but fortunately his other brother, Lucky, understands his reasons for not wanting to become overly involved. Riley’s attraction to Claire is an unwanted distraction, but with his man rules firmly in place, he is confident he will be able to ignore his desire for her.

Despite her feelings for Riley, Claire went with the safe route when she chose Daniel as her boyfriend. Ten years later, their relationship has been on again/off again but she is currently considering Daniel’s marriage proposal. With Riley’s return, the gossip mill is working overtime as the townspeople continue speculating about the identity of her son’s father and her future with Daniel. Realizing her feelings for Riley have not abated in the intervening years, Claire cannot decide whether she should continue playing it safe with Daniel or if she should throw caution to the wind and act on her desire for Riley.

Riley and Claire easily pick up their friendship where it left off but there is definitely plenty of sexual tension between them. Both are carrying some pretty heavy emotional baggage from their respective pasts and these issues have a direct impact on their relationship. Claire is still struggling with the emotional fallout from her mother’s abandonment and she uncovers new information that is somewhat devastating. Riley still cannot see a future for himself other than the Air Force and he refuses to admit to himself (or anyone else for that matter) that he may not pass his medical board.

As if Riley and Claire do have enough roadblocks in the way of a relationship between them, outside interference causes added stress. Daniel absolutely refuses to take no for an answer to his proposal and he becomes quite manipulative with both Riley and Claire. Someone from Riley’s past tries to stake a claim on him and when he refuses to play along, she persistently tries to change his mind. He also has to fend off the unwanted attention from several of the single ladies in town who have set their sights on him.

Texas on My Mind is an engaging romance between two extremely likable protagonists. While the plot has a few familiar elements, Delores Fossen does a wonderful job keeping the overall story fresh and interesting. The tantalizing glimpses of Logan and Lucky will leave readers eagerly awaiting the next release in The McCord Brothers series.

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Filed under Contemporary, Delores Fossen, Harlequin, HQN Books, Rated B, Review, Romance, Texas on My Mind, The McCord Brothers Series