Life, Books, and More....: Rough Rider by Victoria Vane

In Victoria Vane’s second Hot Cowboy Nights book, ROUGH RIDER, readers’ hearts may in fact soften to the rough and bitter Dirk Knowlton they met in Hot Cowboy Nights #1, Slow Hand.

A big thanks to Life, Books and More for sharing an excerpt to their readers so y’all can get to know a little bit more about the rough and tough hero of ROUGH RIDER. Be sure to enter the Rafflecopter for a chance to win one of three copies of Slow Hand by Victoria Vane!

Enjoy!

DIRK KNOWLTON ON TOUR

From ROUGH RIDER by Victoria Vane

The girls had their claws fully exposed, and Janice half expected to see dark locks of hair and leather fringe flying over the stall door.

“Cut the bullshit, you two,” said the third voice. “This is about Rachel and Dirk. And it seems to me she made the right decision to hold out. He’s toed the line until now, hasn’t he? How many of you can say that?”

“Sorry, Rae,” Strawberry said. “She’s right, but if he’s taking you for granted, maybe it’s time to shake things up.”

“What do you mean?” Rachel sniffed.

“There’s a whole room full of hot cowboys just outside that door. You only need to waltz your little moneymaker out there and take your pick.”

“But that’s just it,” Rachel wailed. “I don’t want any of them. You can’t understand how it is between him and me. It’s always been Dirk. It’s only been him.”

Janice watched through the crack as three sets of arms enfolded her, muffling her sobs.

“What about Wade?” one of them suggested. “He’s pretty damned hot.”

“I wouldn’t mind a piece of that myself,” said Mary Jane.

“Exactly,” replied the voice Janice recognized as Strawberry. “What better way to make that SOB pay than to play up to his little brother?”

“Little?” Mary Jane said. “He’s gotta be six foot three at least, and you know what they say about the tall ones. Or maybe it was boot size? Anyone get a good look at his feet?”

“He’s perfect, Rae!” Strawberry intoned with another annoying giggle.

Yeah, perfect if you’re a nasty, conniving, and manipulative bitch, thought Janice. Hadn’t any of them grown up yet? This whole scene was like junior high all over again. She’d heard more than enough. Janice rose and flushed. She was thankful they were gone by the time she opened the door.

Although Rachel knew Dirk far better than she did, Janice couldn’t imagine him putting up with this kind of childish crap. He wasn’t an adolescent boy to play those games with. Half of her hoped Rachel wouldn’t take such inane advice—but the other half couldn’t help hoping something else altogether.

Rough Rider

By Victoria Vane

Sourcebooks Casablanca

Contemporary Western Romance

February 3, 2015

ISBN: 9781492601159

Two wary hearts …

Janice Combes has two loves, bucking bulls and Dirk Knowlton. But Dirk only has eyes for a dazzling rodeo queen. How can Janice ever compete while mired ankle-deep in manure? Exchanging playful banter with Dirk is all Janice can expect—until the stormy night he knocks on her door dripping wet and needing a place to crash.

Different Dreams…

Dirk Knowlton is living the cowboy dream. Life should be good—roping, branding, backing broncs, riding bulls, but there's a void he can't seem to fill. After getting hung up by a bull, he wonders if this is really the life he wants. Restless and rebellious, he bolts…but there’s a certain cowgirl he can’t forget.

When a battle-scarred Dirk returns to his Montana ranch he's determined to hang on at any cost. Janice has come back home to lick her own wounds. When old dreams turn to dust, can two wary hearts take another chance on love?

Buy ROUGH RIDER by Victoria Vane here:

Book Trailer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOmh60NT1zs

Praise for Slow Hand by Victoria Vane:

“A “red-hot cowboy tale...their sexual chemistry crackles. Well-paced, scorching scenes and witty banter move the story along while setting the stage for Wade’s war-hero brother to find his own true love in the next installment.” – Publishers Weekly

“SLOW HAND by Victoria Vane is delightful, funny, page turning steamy sexy… I'm beginning to think Victoria could write a phone book and make it sexy.” – Unwrapping Romance

“PULL THE FIRE ALARM & STOCK UP ON FIRE EXTINGUISHERS FOR THIS STEAMY ROMANCE!” – Avon Romance

Our Review:
Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

I loved Dirk and Janice's story, particularly the fact that it was ten years in the making. Sometimes it is the right person but the wrong time and this was definitely the case for Dirk and Janice. When we first meet them, their lives are slightly chaotic with Janice having to run the family business of providing bulls for rodeos and Dirk having to decide about his relationship with his girlfriend and what he wants out of life. Yet one night is all it takes for them to realise they are meant to be together but neither seizes the opportunity. Fast forward ten years, a disastrous marriage for Janice and a battle scarred Dirk meet up again. This time Janice is determined to not let him slip through her fingers again and will do what it takes.

When we first meet Janice she is so incredibly shy and has a complex about herself and feels that she is not good enough for any man. So when Dirk shows an interest in her, she is so unbelievably out of her depth and when Dirk leaves and another man shows an interest she settles for him because of her insecurities about herself. Fast forward ten years and we meet a confident woman who has been through a lot but is determined to seize her chance at love and happiness.

Dirk is a complex character, which stems from him not really understanding himself fully. It takes a long time for him to figure it out and suffers greatly in the meantime. When Janice refuses to give up on him, it is just what he needs to soften and see a future for himself. Together they a formidable force.

They are both really likeable characters who have been through so much and are just trying to find their way just like you and me. The fact that they have been through so much means that they come across so much more down-to-earth. Their story is steeped with sadness but it is equally heart warming and gives all believers in romance hope. This was a truly poignant story.

Victoria Vane is a multiple award-winning romance novelist and history junkie whose collective works of fiction range from wildly comedic romps to emotionally compelling erotic romance. Victoria also writes historical fiction as Emery Lee and is the founder of Goodreads Romantic Historical Fiction Lovers and the Romantic Historical Lovers book review blog.

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