Book Review: Drifter's Heart (Cowboy Fever #6) by Karen Wiesner

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Drifter's Heart
Cowboy Fever Series #6
By:  Karen Wiesner
Published:  Dec. 2013
By:  Whiskey Creek Press
Mature Content:  18 & Up
Source:  Author

GR's Summary:

Return to cowboy country in Fever, Texas, where the heat isn't the only thing causing a fever! See if you can find the heirloom wedding band!
Easy to love, hard to hold... 

Maggie May’s pa is still looking for the cowboy who knocked up his cowgirl vixen daughter five years ago. Little Tex has grown up without a father, but he’s the shining star of the May Ranch. Like his father, though, he’s always running off and disappearing. Just when Maggie May thinks it’ll never happen, the drifter she loves shows up, suddenly wise to the fact that his oh-so-altruistic efforts to quiet her endless stream of conversation had ended with a child. Horse trainer for hire and former rodeo bullfighter, Ryder McCall returns to Fever, Texas. This time, Maggie May plans to get him back in her clutches--and win his heart forever.

Cowboy Fever Series:

My Take on this Journey:

Drifter's Heart, by Karen Wiesner, will steal your heart!  I must admit that out of all the characters in the Cowboy Fever Series, Maggie May, was my least favorite until I read Drifter's Heart.  Now it has surpassed, The Only One that had that place won hands down!  This is a complicated, well rounded story, filled with an expanse of subjects that will touch everyone's hearts.  It takes a very special person, and writer to imbibe the sensitivity and expertise to rip at their readers soul, and make them feel every bit of the sorrowful pain their character's are enduring.  Ms. Wiesner has accomplished such a coveted gift, that she shares with her readers, in this emotional ride of a lifetime.

Ryder McCall was a drifter, that came back to Fever for a season of work on the May Ranch, 5 years prior.   Ryder was the son of the famous Reece McCall and had a half sister, Lavender McCall, both hooked the bull ring. He was a good looking man who's mystique grabs at the readers heart.  He was a loner at heart, didn't have attachments anywhere he roamed, and never stayed too long in one place.  Fever, was the only place that felt like home to him.  Ryder came from a dysfunctional childhood, filled with pain, destruction, and chaos.  When he came to town, he was warned by Maggie's father that he could work at his ranch on the condition that he stayed clear of his pride and joy, his only daughter, Maggie.  Ryder takes on the job, has heard rumors of the wild girl, and doesn't give it a second thought. 

Maggie May has had a bad reputation of being with all the good looking guys in Fever County since she was 13 years old.  Small towns gossip, and Maggie let them believe what they wanted.  She never fell hard till Ryder McCall entered her life.  Eventually, after an abundance of relentless chasing and a downpour of rain, (that left these two naked and captive in a run down shack) Maggie wares down Ryder, and they had a wonderful, tender night of lust and love for Maggie.  Ryder realizes that Maggie is not the girl about town, as her reputation had him believing.  She was a sweet girl, a motor mouth, (as he called her)who gave him her heart and her most precious gift she could, her V-Card.

Maggie's memory of their one, tender, treasured night ended as fast as it began.  The next morning she awoke to the awareness that Ryder was long gone, and she was alone and devastated beyond words.  As time went by, Maggie realized she was pregnant, and being the proud woman that she was, she took on the responsibility of her son, Little Tex, on her own.   I began to love this character and all she stood for.  She loved her son endlessly, and became a wonderful mother that grew up fast.  Her only real friend was Amanda, Mac's wife, who became her confidant.  Little Tex was a handful, with a disability that would take every ounce of her strength, patience, time and efforts.  He was a little spitfire, and when people saw him coming they put their things up very quickly.  He was hell on wheels, but had an innocence about him, with a heart of gold, with a special gift of communicating with the animals.  No one else could understand him, as his speech was an impediment, that frustrated him to no end when others didn't realize what he needed or wanted.  Little Tex was a clone of his father, with his same beautiful, penetrating, blue eyes.

This novel takes the reader to 5 years later, when Ryder returns to Fever, to work at his friend, Mac's ranch, after a life altering accident in the bull ring that almost kills him.  He is expected not to walk again, but survives with tremendous pain, rehab, and a bad limp.  This wonderful segment takes the reader through the day to day grueling life of Maggie, and her pain and anguish, the sleepless nights soothing her son from his night terrors, and the torment that has become her life without the man she loves.  Maggie will not settle for anything less than it all, and she is determined to have it.  Don't miss out on this wonderful series, the compassion and overwhelming heartache, the tears that will stream down your face before you realize they are there, that only a special writer like Ms. Wiesner can make you feel. 

Drifter's Heart takes on a life of it's own, with Maggie and Ryder meeting again, the realization that he has a son with a disability that he has had to endure his entire life, the regrets and hopes that he can be a better man and father than his dad ever was for him or Lavender.  This novel takes you through the conflict and turmoil of a Drifter that has always only known one way of life, but wants to change, keep promises, have a real family, and just doesn't know if he has it in him.  Sparks fly, Love scenes are great, threats are made, and twists and turns are around every corner, and then fate steps in.  Every aspect of the story makes for a wonderful, well rounded, all encompassing, heart wrenching, story that will warm the readers' heart.  If you haven't read this, it is a must on your TBR!  Get your tissues ready for this all encompassing tear jerker.

I give, Drifter's Heart, by Karen Wiesner 5+ Heart Felt, Tender, Broken Promises, Life Changing, Second Chance at Life Stars! 
   

Favorite Quote:

"Ryder could no longer look at the night sky without remembering Maggie calling stars the forget-me-nots of the angels or referring to night as a woman with a sable skirt, fringed with light from celestial walls, sweeping through marble halls.  He wanted Maggie May to be forever immortalized in his mind as his tiny beauty with stars in her eyes." 
 (Kindle Loc-505)

~Ryder

Purchase At:

Amazon |Barnes and Noble

About Karen Wiesner:

Karen Wiesner is an accomplished author with 102 books published in the past 15 years, which have been nominated for and/or won 126 awards, and has 40 more titles under contract.

Website | Goodreads 

Giveaway:

Comment on this Review for a chance to Win a Copy of, The Only One, By Karen Wiesner!

Book Review: The Only One (Cowboy Fever Series #5) by Karen Wiesner

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The Only One
Cowboy Fever Series #5
By:  Karen Wiesner
Published:  November 2013
By:  Whiskey Creek, LLC
Source:  Author
Purchase At:  Amazon


GR's Summary:

Return to cowboy country in Fever, Texas, where the heat isn't the only thing causing a fever! See if you can find the heirloom wedding band!
More than five years ago, Ken Abrams, Triple Aces Ranch co-owner, and his wife Karla were madly in love and expecting their first child. Tragedy took that unborn daughter from them and drove them into opposite corners. Seeing how unaffected Ken seemed by the loss of their child shook Karla’s whole world. He didn’t want to talk; didn’t even appear to grieve. The very next morning, he was back out on his horse, doing ranch work, and she couldn’t forgive him his ease in coping—especially when his work seemed to take over his entire life so she rarely saw him anymore. Devastated, Karla left him. Ken is the only man she’s ever loved, and, after five years apart, she knows she has to make a decision: wash her hands of their marriage, or confront him about the loss of their unborn daughter.
Ken never understood why Karla left him, and, the few times he’s contacted her, she’s been as cold and volatile as a rattlesnake. He can only believe she also blames him for the death of their unborn child. He allows her the silent separation, unwilling to risk her asking him for a divorce. The death of his daughter tore him to pieces. Losing Karla will finish him for sure. 
When Ken shows up with her four brothers at the exotic dance club Karla’s been working as a waitress to make ends meet, she sees that he hasn’t changed at all—and she tells him she wants a divorce ASAP. Can Ken prove the loss of their child all but destroyed him and she’s still the only one for him?

Cowboy Fever Series:

My Take on this Journey:

The Only One, by Karen Wiesner, was the continuing saga of the Cowboy Fever Series.  This was the sad story of the loss and separation of Ken and Karla Abrams.  These two were great characters.  The book was a wonderful addition to the series.  Ken and Karla knew each other growing up, when Karla was still a tomboy.  She was brought up to be as tough as her brothers and could hold her own against anyone.  Karla's mother died when she was very young from a massive stroke.  She was devastated when her confidant died, and she was left with her four troublemaking brothers, her father, and a house filled with silence.  She felt devastated and bewildered.  No one understood her, and she thought their lack of emotion meant that they didn't feel the pain she was enduring from her mother's death, though they were dealing in the only way they knew how to.  Karla thought all men were made from the same mold, and from that point was untrusting of the opposite sex.  Karla grew into the most beautiful woman in the world, in Ken's eyes.  Once he fell in love with her, he never looked in any other direction.  Not even back in the direction of his first love, the ever unforgettable Maggie May, the town slut.  Once him and Karla got together, he realized true love for the first time.  He knew then that what he had with Maggie wasn't what he felt for Karla.

Karla and Ken married, though they didn't have much to start off with.  Ken was a loving, caring man that was misunderstood by his wife after one year of marriage.  They lost their first child right before her birth due to less than standard care during pregnancy, and the fact that she was vasa previa.  Karla was devastated, as was Ken.  Ken threw himself into his work on the ranch, and closed himself off from his wife, who was grieving in a way he couldn't allow himself to.  Karla thought that Ken didn't care because he returned to work the day after the funeral.  She left her husband, and they were apart for 5 years.

This novel was a very sad story of time lost, because of misunderstandings.  Ken loved his wife so much and was devastated with the loss of their child, and then the loss of his wife when she walked out on him.  Karla moved away to the big city of Lubbock, and without any skills had to get a job in an erotic dance club, waitressing.  She was a head strong woman and didn't want to ask anyone for anything.  She had aspirations of going to school someday and doing more with her life, but with the wages she was making, that time wouldn't come too soon.  These two are reunited by her brothers, as they kidnap Ken to get him to the club to face his wife.  The wedding of their friends at Triple Aces, April and Shawn is upon them, and decisions have to be made.  Will love be enough?  Read it to see if they get the HEA they deserve!

Ms. Wiesner does a wonderful job with her ability to make the reader connect with the devastation, torment, and heart wrenching sadness, that encompasses these two characters.  The reader is a part of the story in every way.  The love between these two characters was magnetic.  I loved this story immensely.  I look forward to the last segment in this series, which I will be reviewing next month.  Don't miss out on this wonderful series.  A definite must for your TBR!

I give The Only One, by Karen Wiesner, 5 Heartfelt, Emotionally Charged, Second Chance Love filled Stars!  

My Favorite Quotes:

"I can't forget... This heat.  The lava that fills me at the mere thought of the things we used to do together.  The things I wouldn't let anyone else do to me because I belonged to you so completely.  I wanted to believe I was the only woman who could ever hold every part of you.  (Kindle Loc. 5487) 

 ~Karla

"God in Heaven, he'd thought he'd never survive the loss of his baby.  He'd been torn to pieces, unable to function.  He hadn't known how to be whole anymore."  (Kindle Loc. 5547)

~Ken

"The day we first kissed was the day I lost my heart..."  (Kindle Loc. 5671) 

~Ken

"Don't hold back, babe...  Never with me.  Especially not now."  (Kindle Loc. 57040)


~Ken

"I love you, Karla.  That'll never change.  I'll go to my grave, and you'll still be the only one."  (Kindle Loc. 5708)

~Ken

"You keep acting like it was physically impossible for you to be there for me, Ken.  But you can be there for me.  Haven't you just proved that you can be?  That sharing all this brought us closer?  That we love each other more when we support each other?"  (Kindle Loc. 5741)

~Karla

About the Author:

Karen Wiesner is an accomplished author with 100 titles published in the past 15 years, which have been nominated for and/or won 125 awards, and 37 more releases contracted for spanning many categories and formats.

Website | Goodreads 

Giveaway:

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Book Reviews: For Always (Cowboy Fever Series #3) & Taming April (Cowboy Fever Series #4) by Karen Wiesner

For Always

Cowboy Fever Series #3

By:  Karen Wiesner

Published:  November 1, 2012  

By:  Whiskey Creek, LLC

Source:  Author

Book Summary:

Jared Chapman is the ranch foreman at Triple Aces Ranch, which he co-owns. When he gave his heart to Alana Hamilton, an orphan his grandmother brought to the ranch, he’d never regretted it. As a young man, he’d had no idea how to share the intensity of feelings he had for sweet and vulnerable, seventeen-year-old Alana. Instead, he’d awkwardly promised her he’d always be there for her. 

Alana had loved Jared from the start for the kindness he showed her, but she didn’t possess beauty, smarts or riches. Unwanted for most of her life, she’d learned to make the best of her lot in life. Not sure what a close-mouthed cowboy like Jared meant with his promise, she accepted the proposal of the one man who’d expressed interest in marrying her. Marriage to Holt Bowman meant leaving the only place she’d ever called home and giving up on true, fairy-tale love with Jared. 

Jared had been silently devastated by Alana’s marriage. But, true to his promise, when her husband begins to take the pressures of being up-and-coming politician out on her, Jared runs to her rescue. Alana isn’t looking for a bodyguard. Can Jared open up and become the prince who will love her for always?

My Take on this Journey:

Alana Hamilton came from humble beginnings.  She was a waif of a girl that didn't possess natural beauty, but what she did possess was a hard work ethic, and a gentle, loving, nurturing heart.  She was an orphan, living without love or a home until one day she was rescued, at eleven years old, by Nelly Chapman.  Nelly was a rancher who lived on Triple Aces Ranch with her son, daughter-in-law, and their son, 16 year old Jared.   Jared Chapman and Alana became very close, both having a deep attraction for one another, but each too shy to let the other know their true feelings.  Though they did not speak the words, their actions were apparent to Nelly.  Alana had finally found everything to make her heart content.  Nelly was very loving and kind to Alana till the day she died, and 17 year old Alana was crushed, decided she did not want to burden the family, so she left the only home she ever knew and moved into town.  She was selfless, and though she went, her heart was at the Ranch with Jared. Jared's kindness shown brightly as he visited daily to make sure Alana was doing well.  

Jared Chapman was a man of high moral standards and truly loved Alana.  He wanted to tell her so many times how he felt about her, but the words were never within reach.  When his grandmother Nelly died, she left him her pearl necklace and matching ring.  The only woman he had ever loved was Alana from the moment he laid eyes on her.  He knew how she felt about Nelly, so he gave her the necklace, hoping someday to give her the matching ring to make her his.  Unfortunately, he missed his chance and she married a high society man named Holt Bowman, the first man to lay eyes on her, a man who was in politics, and a man of means who could give her anything her heart desired.  Unfortunately, all she desired was Jared, but she left with Holt, leaving Jared heartbroken, and leaving herself without the man she has always loved and would never forget.

Holt Bowman was a Svengali.  Holt had been a mayor for years in Lubbock, Texas and was seeking to eventually bid for a seat in the Senate.  He created a persona for himself to Alana and the world, but Jared saw through him.  The day of the wedding, Jared saw the look on Holt's face as he looked at his bride like a possession instead of the love of his life.  Jared vowed to be there for Alana, that was all he could do.  He lost his chance with her, and had to throw himself into the work at his ranch in order to survive and endure the unhappiness that would become his life.

Karla Sanford-Abrams was Alana's only friend, who grew up with her on the co-op ranches, when Alana moved away with Holt and left Fever, Texas.  Karla was the estranged wife of Jared's good friend, Ken Abrams.  Karla left her husband 4 years ago after the loss of their first child, and no one in town understood why.  They were both very secretive about what happened, and Karla moved to Lubbock, Texas.  Holt wanted Alana to himself, but Alana still saw her friend.  He only allowed her part time work at an animal shelter, even though Holt wanted her at home where he could control her every move.  Holt called Alana a million times a day to keep tabs on her.  He was incessant, and drove me crazy!

Karla was a good friend to Alana, and helped her through an abusive relationship with Holt.  Every week, unbeknownst to Alana, Jared called Karla and he would hem haw around to get information about Alana.  Of course Karla kept it to herself, but was on to him.  When things got devastatingly bad for Alana, Karla finally told Jared.  Let me tell you, this night and shining armor came to her rescue.  The cast of characters were well rounded and likeable, except Holt, (intentionally) which will make you want to belt him!  Ms. Wiesner does a great job with her prose, and descriptions, and she made it all believable for me.

The characters showed growth, there were tough  life lessons to overcome, friendship, betrayal, and loyalty all wrapped up into a neat package.

I give For Always, by Karen Wiesner 4.5 Lost, Lonely, Deceptive, Life Changing, Romantically Longing Stars!  

Purchase At:

Amazon | Kindle | Barnes and Noble

Taming April

Cowboy Fever Series #4

By:  Karen Wiesner

Published:  March 11, 2013  

By:  Whiskey Creek, LLC

Source:  Author

Book Summary:

Return to cowboy country in Fever, Texas, where the heat isn't the only thing causing a fever! See if you can find the heirloom wedding band! 

Shawn Jacobs, co-owner of Triple Aces Ranch, is the ultimate ladies’ man. But as his best friends find the women of their dreams and get hitched one by one, he wonders what he’s missing. 

Once a classmate of Shawn’s and the daughter of a hard-working ranch hand who never had enough money to buy her a dress, let alone move out of the filthy hovel they’d lived in together after her mother’s death, April St. Clair is a high-powered lawyer. She’s left the dirty, dusty, stinking life of cattle ranching as far behind her as she can get. The men she dates are dressed to the nines, and their hands are as soft as their hearts. Unfortunately, she hasn’t come home once since she left for college. When her father dies—alone—she’s devastated. The only thing he left behind is a young mare that he’d wanted Shawn Jacobs and no other to train. 

When the beautiful, snobby, green-eyed blond shows up at Triple Aces in treacherous high heels and designer clothing, asking him to train her father’s horse, Shawn’s amusement quickly turns to annoyance—and more. April infuriates him even as she turns him on. He knows it isn’t just the wild horse that needs to be tamed. April resists him at every turn, but even she isn’t immune to cowboy fever.

My Take on this Journey:

April St. Clair was a green eyed blond beauty.  She left Fever 15 years ago, when she left for college, and never gave it a second thought.  She became a lawyer who lived the good life, had a town home in a prestigious area, two car garage, spacious two bedrooms, with a privately fenced in backyard.  April came from the small ranch town, lived with her father after her mother died, and could never get her father to leave that town, though he didn't have two dimes to rub together.  Her father changed once her mother and sibling died tragically.  They both lost someone that bonded them, and neither shared a real relationship after that day.  April worked hard and studied hard to get good grades and high tailed it out of town the day she graduated from high school.  April wanted to get him an apartment, but she didn't understand that her father was a proud man and a hard worker.  He wanted to live and die there, and she never got it.  April was ashamed of her father, Peter St. Paul, his tattered clothing, lack of education, and foul mouth.  She never saw beyond the surface, how much he adored her, knew her, loved her, and was "The salt of the earth" to everyone else who knew him. 

Repeatedly Peter asked her to visit, but April always had a excuse for why she couldn't.  She put it off one too many times, until the day she gets the dreaded phone call that told her that her father died alone in a run down trailer in Fever.  She is devastated and had to learn the meaning of life out of the threads of death that laid before her.  April never found out how very sick her father was for months before he died, he never said a word to her, even when he went to visit her and she was rude to him in front of her partner at the law firm.

The only thing of value her father had to leave her was a young mare named Misty, that he wanted Shawn Jacobs to train for him.  That was the beginning of a tumultuous relationship and quite a battle of wills.   April and Shawn had always been attracted and flirted with each other since they were in high school together, but Shawn was the bad boy that could get any girl he wanted, and April was the smartest girl in the school, geeky, with a book in her face all the time.  Shawn had one bad relationship that left him sour, and insecure, with a rich girl named Raquel, that used him, then threw him away easily. When April came to town for her father's burial, he misjudged her just because she reminded him of his snotty ex.  

This novella was a whirlwind romance that started with definite attraction from both characters, but animosity at the same time.  Once a rich boyfriend shows up in town all hell breaks loose.  April has quite a few aha moments when a friend of her father's, Lindy, discloses a lot of secrets to her that she never realized.  The development of the characters came naturally with so many twists and turns.  I loved this romantic, humorous novella.  Ms. Wiesner makes it very enjoyable for the reader.  The first part of the novella tore my heart out. I felt so many mixed emotions.  This was a very quick read that will leave you smiling. 

I give Taming April by Karen Wiesner 5 Emotionally Charged, Hot Cowboy, Fun Filled Stars!

 

Purchase At:

Amazon | Kindle | Barnes and Noble

About the Author:

Karen Wiesner is an accomplished author with 100 titles published in the past 15 years, which have been nominated for and/or won 125 awards, and 37 more releases contracted for spanning many categories and formats.

Website | Goodreads 

Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway