Welcome
Home, Cowboy
A Hero’s Welcome #2
By: Annie Rains
Releasing
April 26, 2016
Loveswept
With its thriving military base, Seaside, North Carolina, is
teeming with heroes of all stripes. But, as the Hero’s Welcome series from
Annie Rains continues, it takes a cowboy to rescue the town’s newest resident
from heartache.
After a bad breakup
leaves Julie Chandler completely devastated, she comes to Seaside seeking a
fresh start. A talented, compassionate yoga teacher, she has developed a
program to help alleviate the effects of PTSD, but getting a bunch of
bullheaded Marines into downward facing dog might be impossible. So Julie’s
shocked when one of her first students dives in headfirst—and almost tempts her
to take down her walls with his easy smile and electrifying touch.
Ever since Texas cowboy
turned Marine pilot Lawson Phillips lost a crew member in a helicopter
accident, he hasn’t been able to fly. When a psychologist orders him to attend,
of all things, a yoga class, Lawson’s outraged—until he finds out Julie is the
instructor. She’s beautiful, graceful, and completely guarded when it comes to
his advances, but he’s determined to find out what makes her tick. Because
underneath Julie’s hard shell is a woman Lawson knows he could fall for—and
he’s not ready for the ride to end.
After
a bad breakup Julie Chandler decides she needs a fresh start. So after arriving
in Seaside, she sets to work, developing a yoga program at the veterans center,
using yoga to offset some the PTSD effects. But she runs in to some resistance
with the center manager, whom doesn't believe in her program; but ends up doing
the program for free to prove that it works. But free doesn't pay the bills, so
now she is looking for a job that fits in with the program and the best job
that she finds comes from the most unlikely person…Lawson Phillips.
Marine
pilot Lawson Phillips is suffering from PTSD since he lost a crew member and
hasn't been able to fly since. But when his psychologist sends him to a yoga
class to help him combat his PTSD, Lawson wants to dismiss it out of hand…that
is until he sees the teacher! Lawson has been attracted to Julie since the
wedding between his best friend and her sister, but Julie has never seen
interested in him…almost running at every encounter. Now Julie needs help and
Lawson has the ability to help her, by supporting the program and getting her a
job as a babysitter to his niece. But just when everything seems to be going
great, a set back sends Lawson running for the hills and you are left wondering
if this is it for Lawson and Julie.
This
is such a sweet and funny story, that deals with the huge issue and struggles
of PTSD. The story line was solid with not too many bumps in the road. The
writing was smooth and descriptive and the characters were likable. The only
part of the story that didn't fit for me was really the title, as in my mind
Lawson was always a Marine, rather than a cowboy, but honestly that really was
not a big deal.
I
gave Welcome Home, Cowboy 4 stars and I'm really looking forward to the next
book in the series.
“Come ride with me anytime,” he said, helping her dismount
from the horse when they were back at the barn. He didn’t place his hands on
her ass this time, which was both regrettable and a relief. Instead, he
steadied her waist with his hands. She turned to face him after he helped her
to the ground, and was surprised to find how close they were standing. Close
enough that the brim of his hat on her head nearly touched his chin.
“This belongs to you.” She took off the hat and
went up on her tiptoes to put it back where it belonged. Their eyes locked as
the movement brought them even closer together. Her heart bucked again, like a
wild horse ready to bolt.
Returning to flat feet, she started to step
away. Needed to step away. Too bad Bon-Bon was still behind her, blocking
her escape.
“Julie?” he said, making her feet pause and her
heart stutter. She liked the sound of her name on his lips. Low, deep.
“Yes?” she asked breathlessly.
He reached out his hand to tame a strand of her
hair brushing against her cheek. “You have what I call hat-hair.” He took his
time smoothing the hair around her ear, awakening every nerve in her body. Then
he slowly dipped, keeping his blue-as-the-ocean eyes on hers, and kissed her.
She melted into him instead of stepping away.
The side of his cheek on hers was warm and inviting, intoxicating. His tongue
tapped softly against hers, just once, as he swept his hand behind her neck,
pulling her gently toward him.
A soft moan escaped her throat, betraying her.
She parted her lips for him, inviting him in, begging him to stay, which he did
for just a moment longer. Then he broke it off, keeping it sweet. The kiss had
threatened to be more, though. It had threatened to take her inside that barn,
lay her down on a blanket of hay, and be a whole hell of a lot more.
“See you later, Lawson,” she said, forcing
herself to step away from him, away from the horse and the barn. She turned
toward her car and didn’t look back. Otherwise, her hormones were going to win
and drag this cowboy into the barn and slam the stall doors behind them.
“See you later, Julie,” he called after her.
Annie
Rains is a contemporary romance author who writes
small town love stories set in fictional towns on the coast of North Carolina.
Raised in one of America’s largest military communities, Annie often features
heroes who fight for their countries, while also fighting for a place to call
home and a good woman to love. When Annie isn’t writing, she’s spending time
with her husband and 3 children, or reading a book by one of her favorite
authors.
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