Review: Turn and Burn by Lorelei James

Posted October 2, 2013 by Holly in Reviews | 0 Comments

Review: Turn and Burn by Lorelei JamesReviewer: Holly
Turn and Burn by Lorelei James
Series: Blacktop Cowboys
Also in this series: One Night Rodeo (Blacktop Cowboys #4)
Publisher: Penguin
Publication Date: August 6th 2013
Genres: Fiction
Pages: 368
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Series Rating: four-stars

Tanna Barker is a world champion barrel racer. But her personal life has been less of a success, and she’s feeling adrift. After her mother’s unexpected death, her father has remarried, and sold the Texas ranch she called home. Now a rodeo injury has left the restless spitfire holed up in Muddy Gap, unsure what her next move should be.
Until she meets her match in a wild, wild cowboy
Veterinarian August Fletcher has always put his job first. He’s never found a woman who could handle his on-the-road lifestyle. But when sassy, sexy Tanna blows into town, he finally finds the woman of his fantasies. And there’s something between them, but she claims she’s been burned by love ’em and leave ’em road dogs before. How can Fletch prove that he’s in it for the long haul, and that their sizzling relationship is better than winning any rodeo medal? It’ll take some sweet persuasion to convince Tanna that Muddy Gap is where she belongs.

I have a whole host of Lorelei James books in my TBR pile. I have no idea why Turn and Burn is the first one I’ve read. I suspect it has something to do with the fact that I thought she wrote westerns. Which she doesn’t. I have no idea where I got that from.

I really enjoyed the setting and the strong women showcased in the story. The heroine, her friends, and even the band of old women are independent and not afraid to be themselves. That’s so refreshing.

Tanna Barker is broke and injured and needs a place to lick her wounds and decide what to do about her future. Muddy Gap, WY seems like the perfect place. On her first night in town she meets a sexy stranger she decides to take to bed. After a hot night between the sheets she disappears the next morning, even though she secretly wanted to stay.

No one could have predicted her one-night-stand would turn out to be the local veterinarian, or that he’d be pissed that she disappeared without leaving her name or number. Especially the man himself. August Fletcher is a man with no time for a relationship. He enjoys sex as much as the next time, but his vet practice keeps him on the road way too much for a regular girlfriend. But that doesn’t stop him from wondering “what-if” about the sexy new lady in town. Tanna is everything he’s ever wanted in a woman…except she isn’t going to stay. Muddy Gap is nothing more than a temporary stop for her, while it’s his whole life.

They end up burning up the sheets, but they both keeps parts of themselves hidden from one another. It isn’t long before they both want more…but are they too afraid to reach out and grab it?

As I said, I enjoyed how strong Tanna was. She wasn’t afraid to speak her mind or grab for what she wanted. She was a tough cowgirl who’d been kicked hard but life but not brought down. Fletch was the perfect counterpart for her, since he was just as tough but also had a soft side she needed to lean on. They started out as lovers but quickly became friends. Tanna wasn’t quick to open up to him, but Fletch still gave her support, whether he realized it or not.  Just as she offered comfort and support to him.

The story could have become bogged down with their emotional issues, but the witty banter and sexual chemistry kept the story moving. All in all a solid read. I’ll be reading more of James soon.

3.75 out of 5

This book is available from Berkley. You can buy it here or here in e-format.


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