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Catch Me
Arizona Territory, 1882Maggie Bullock's father needed expensive medical care and if that meant stealing from their friendly swindling banker, so be it. Once her father was on the path to recovery she would face the consequences. The whole thing was surprisingly easy until she's kidnapped by bounty hunter Dean Collier. Collier is tired of tracking down worthless scum. He's afraid he'll lose his last scrap of humanity and become a stone-cold killer, just like the men he brings to justice. He jumps at the chance to become sheriff of Fresh Springs, Arizona. The one condition-capture Maggie. He figured it'd be easy. Until beautiful, loyal Maggie breaks through defenses he'd thought cemented. His feelings for her run the range from fury to confusion to love, but if he doesn't bring her in someone else will. Can there be a future between a sheriff and a fugitive? 77,000 words
308 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 18, 2011
4 people are currently reading
371 people want to read
About the author
Lorelie Brown
15 books137 followersAfter a semi-nomadic childhood throughout California, Lorelie Brown spent high school in Orange County before joining the US Army. After traveling the world from South Korea to Italy, she’s settled north of Chicago. Because going from California warmth to northern snow seemed like the proper order of events...
Lorelie has three active sons and a tiny shih-tzu who thinks he’s son number three—not four, he’s too important to be the baby. Writing romance helps her escape a house full of testosterone.
In her immense free time (hah!) Lorelie co-writes contemporary erotic romance under the name Katie Porter. You can find out more about the “Vegas Top Guns” and “Club Devant” series at www.KatiePorterBooks.com or at @MsKatiePorter. You can also contact Lorelie on Twitter @LorelieBrown.
Lorelie has three active sons and a tiny shih-tzu who thinks he’s son number three—not four, he’s too important to be the baby. Writing romance helps her escape a house full of testosterone.
In her immense free time (hah!) Lorelie co-writes contemporary erotic romance under the name Katie Porter. You can find out more about the “Vegas Top Guns” and “Club Devant” series at www.KatiePorterBooks.com or at @MsKatiePorter. You can also contact Lorelie on Twitter @LorelieBrown.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
March 31, 2017
Buddy Read with some of the lovely ladies of the Unapologetic Romance Readers crew: Nenia, Karly, Sarah, & Helen 2.0
"“All right, pay attention. This is a robbery.”
"“All right, pay attention. This is a robbery.”
April 21, 2017
3 Mozzarella Stick Stars
As late my give a damn about reviewing books I read appears to have been rather busted, but since this was a Buddy-Read with my lovely ladies over at URR I’ll give it a whirl.
Catch Me is one of those books that is strangely enjoyable despite being entirely unbelievable. The heroine in this here romance is a bank robber and the Hero a bounty hunter sent to capture her and return her to her hometown for justice.
Now that’s all fine and good, except I’m pretty sure (even though it’s stated in text to not be the case) that they are both really, really bad at these occupations. I’ve never met a bounty hunter, and I don’t even care for movies or shows about same, so I don’t know if it’s normal behaviour to become sexually aroused by the individual you are sent to track down but it would seem to be pretty problematic to get distracted in such a manner while persuing a felon. But really, what do I know, right?
From the moment Dean sees Maggie’s face in a tin photo he becomes a victim of her upturned lips and feminine beauty. At many points in this novel he makes reference to what she should be doing, namely keeping house and making sure her husband’s supper is ready when he gets home (not uncommon opinions of the time this is set, mind you), rather than trapesing all over the country on horseback. However, he seems to think it’s normal behavior to be attracted to his target and also to, for no reason I can think of, let her escape his capture the first time he comes across her.
And don’t even get me started on using your real name when you know you’re a wanted criminal. Maggie, that’s like How-to-be-a-shitty-criminal-and-get-caught 101, honey….. always use a different name, ALWAYS.
Anyways, so after he captures her (which was a bumbling mess of ridiculous that included a moment when she could have brained him about a hundred times because said “professional bounty hunter” couldn’t get his brain out of his britches when he landed on top of her on the bed) they start to make their way back to her hometown. Very slowly and with lots of fighting and sexual tension.
This was pretty cheesy, and not the good kind of cheese; the bland kind of cheese that really doesn’t taste like much unless you add other flavours to it. I did enjoy it, however, especially his adorable little nickname for her of “Hellcat”. I liked that Maggie was feisty, even though I thought it was pretty dangerous behaviour to have when you are the captive of a bounty hunter.
“No, no, don’t you dare apologize, Elmer Dean Collier.” She pressed her hand across his mouth. “If you keep apologizing, I’ll have to… I don’t know, shoot you maybe.”
*snorts* These two were funny together, I’ll give Brown that. I liked their banter a good deal more than the rest of the story, though.
So, I wrote a review or whatever, I guess. Thank you for the buddy-read, ladies! ♥
As late my give a damn about reviewing books I read appears to have been rather busted, but since this was a Buddy-Read with my lovely ladies over at URR I’ll give it a whirl.
Catch Me is one of those books that is strangely enjoyable despite being entirely unbelievable. The heroine in this here romance is a bank robber and the Hero a bounty hunter sent to capture her and return her to her hometown for justice.
Now that’s all fine and good, except I’m pretty sure (even though it’s stated in text to not be the case) that they are both really, really bad at these occupations. I’ve never met a bounty hunter, and I don’t even care for movies or shows about same, so I don’t know if it’s normal behaviour to become sexually aroused by the individual you are sent to track down but it would seem to be pretty problematic to get distracted in such a manner while persuing a felon. But really, what do I know, right?
From the moment Dean sees Maggie’s face in a tin photo he becomes a victim of her upturned lips and feminine beauty. At many points in this novel he makes reference to what she should be doing, namely keeping house and making sure her husband’s supper is ready when he gets home (not uncommon opinions of the time this is set, mind you), rather than trapesing all over the country on horseback. However, he seems to think it’s normal behavior to be attracted to his target and also to, for no reason I can think of, let her escape his capture the first time he comes across her.
And don’t even get me started on using your real name when you know you’re a wanted criminal. Maggie, that’s like How-to-be-a-shitty-criminal-and-get-caught 101, honey….. always use a different name, ALWAYS.
Anyways, so after he captures her (which was a bumbling mess of ridiculous that included a moment when she could have brained him about a hundred times because said “professional bounty hunter” couldn’t get his brain out of his britches when he landed on top of her on the bed) they start to make their way back to her hometown. Very slowly and with lots of fighting and sexual tension.
This was pretty cheesy, and not the good kind of cheese; the bland kind of cheese that really doesn’t taste like much unless you add other flavours to it. I did enjoy it, however, especially his adorable little nickname for her of “Hellcat”. I liked that Maggie was feisty, even though I thought it was pretty dangerous behaviour to have when you are the captive of a bounty hunter.
“No, no, don’t you dare apologize, Elmer Dean Collier.” She pressed her hand across his mouth. “If you keep apologizing, I’ll have to… I don’t know, shoot you maybe.”
*snorts* These two were funny together, I’ll give Brown that. I liked their banter a good deal more than the rest of the story, though.
So, I wrote a review or whatever, I guess. Thank you for the buddy-read, ladies! ♥
December 4, 2017
Buddy read with Nenia, Karly, Casey, and Helen 2.0 from the Unapologetic Romance Readers group.
Read for the URR 2017 New Year's Reading Challenge prompt 'Cowboy/Western Romance'
4/4 - Meh. I didn't hate Maggie like Nenia did (her review is here, but I do agree that there was no chemistry between her and Dean. For both of them, it felt like they chose whoever was close at hand for a last minute roll in the hay (her before she went off to jail and he before he became the 'straight-arrow sheriff'). Convenience rarely leads to chemistry.
There were a number of editing mistakes and badly worded situations that turned them into plot holes. For example, talking about Whitson's 'slow, painful death' on page 152, forgetting that on page 41 we were told that Dean shot him in the head three times. Shot in the head is a pretty quick way to go (as long as you aren't terrified first), after dying in my sleep at a ripe old age that seems like a reasonable choice. Or Brown's confusion over the definition of 'imminently' versus 'eminently' (thanks to Gaufre for helping me identify what word Brown had been aiming for as I was having a mental blank) - one means immediately, the other exceedingly - which is why him thinking that Maggie's lip looked 'imminently' bitable made no sense as she was still at the 'kick him in the balls if he gets close enough' stage.
The plot went pretty much as I expected (I even predicted the old switcheroo on the identity of the prisoner), except for an expected death that happened at an unexpected time in an unexpected way, but that wasn't anywhere near enough to make up for all the previous predictability. I've read one of Brown's more recent books, Far from Home which was a F/F (maybe that's the difference?), and that was far superior to this (obviously, I gave this two stars and that four), so I'm not going to base my future opinion of Brown's writing on this book. She's got a tick in each column, I'm looking forward to reading Take Me Home for a third opinion before I say 'Yes' or 'No' to her books.
Read for the URR 2017 New Year's Reading Challenge prompt 'Cowboy/Western Romance'
4/4 - Meh. I didn't hate Maggie like Nenia did (her review is here, but I do agree that there was no chemistry between her and Dean. For both of them, it felt like they chose whoever was close at hand for a last minute roll in the hay (her before she went off to jail and he before he became the 'straight-arrow sheriff'). Convenience rarely leads to chemistry.
There were a number of editing mistakes and badly worded situations that turned them into plot holes. For example, talking about Whitson's 'slow, painful death' on page 152, forgetting that on page 41 we were told that Dean shot him in the head three times. Shot in the head is a pretty quick way to go (as long as you aren't terrified first), after dying in my sleep at a ripe old age that seems like a reasonable choice. Or Brown's confusion over the definition of 'imminently' versus 'eminently' (thanks to Gaufre for helping me identify what word Brown had been aiming for as I was having a mental blank) - one means immediately, the other exceedingly - which is why him thinking that Maggie's lip looked 'imminently' bitable made no sense as she was still at the 'kick him in the balls if he gets close enough' stage.
The plot went pretty much as I expected (I even predicted the old switcheroo on the identity of the prisoner), except for an expected death that happened at an unexpected time in an unexpected way, but that wasn't anywhere near enough to make up for all the previous predictability. I've read one of Brown's more recent books, Far from Home which was a F/F (maybe that's the difference?), and that was far superior to this (obviously, I gave this two stars and that four), so I'm not going to base my future opinion of Brown's writing on this book. She's got a tick in each column, I'm looking forward to reading Take Me Home for a third opinion before I say 'Yes' or 'No' to her books.
July 15, 2011
Set in Arizona territory in 1882, Catch Me by Lorelie Brown is an entertaining romance of the American-Western variety that fans of the genre should not miss out on. Lorelie Brown serves the reader with enough adventure, red-hot passion and a love between two strong-willed people who have no clue as to what they are in for when fate throws them together in the most trying circumstances.
22 year old Margaret Bullock, daughter of the current sheriff of Fresh Springs is at her wits end as to how to obtain money for her ailing father’s treatment. Maggie does the only thing a headstrong and willful woman who won’t take what fate hands over lying down would do – rob the only bank in Fresh Springs and leave her hometown with the intention of never to return.
Elmer Dean Collier is a man who seems to have lost his way since the loss of life as he knew it five years back. A bounty hunter who has lived on the high that each righteous kill brings lifting up the haze of anger that has shrouded him since that fateful day five years back, Dean knows that it wouldn’t be long before he loses whatever shred of humanity that is left within him if he were to continue as he has been. Tired of the constant round of killing his life has become, Dean grabs at the chance of becoming the new sheriff of Fresh Springs upon capture and return of the woman who seems to have robbed the town’s only bank.
Blinded by the need to turn his life around and attaining his one chance at redemption, Dean at first doesn’t pay heed to the mischievous, daring and headstrong woman who turns him inside out when he at last manages to find Maggie. Bit by bit, Maggie manages to chip away at the coldness that seems to have become his protective shield for so long, until all he can think about is surrendering himself to the warmth he is sure to find in his captive’s arms.
Maggie though an innocent knows when passion blindsides her that there would be no regrets for her where Dean is concerned and she is determined that they both experience what their bodies seem intent on telling them would be one tempestuous coming together. But Dean is a man not to be swayed on his mission to deliver Maggie as he has promised, a promise that seems to eat away at him as their destination draws closer, making him question whether the peace that he hunts would embrace him if he were to give up the woman who has managed to sneak her way into his heart.
Catch Me is a novel that urges the reader to turn the pages, to keep on reading to find out whether the sexual tension that simmers between Maggie and Dean is as explosive as one would hope it to be, to experience the way Dean crumbles by bits and pieces until ultimate surrender is all he can think of and to find out the secrets that seems to shroud the lives of Maggie’s father and that of the infamous banker whose less than stellar intentions nearly drive Maggie and Dean apart for good.
Dean reminded me of the type of heroes that Maggie Osborne creates, the type of hero that I immediately fall in love with, as beneath their rough, gruff and tough exterior lies a man who hurts a lot more than I can even comprehend. Maggie is the type of heroine who is feisty, sensual and giving, the type of woman who can turn a man’s well ordered life all around until he is left with only one choice, i.e. to love and cherish her till death does them apart.
With invigorating banter between Maggie and Dane to liven things up along the 3 week journey these two make from Texas towards Fair Springs and the characters that are introduced in between, Catch Me is a story that well earns its position as a great read. Highly recommended for fans of the genre.
Memorable Quotes
Their lips clung and released, then came back again. His tongue dipped into her mouth and she received it with a quiet sigh of welcome.
She was sweet like apples. Sweet to the taste, to the touch, to all his senses. More succulent than anything he’d dared touch for a long time. He’d been lost in the dark, but if he gripped her tightly enough maybe she would lead him out.
Rating=4.5/5
Original review posted on MBR's Realm of Romance
22 year old Margaret Bullock, daughter of the current sheriff of Fresh Springs is at her wits end as to how to obtain money for her ailing father’s treatment. Maggie does the only thing a headstrong and willful woman who won’t take what fate hands over lying down would do – rob the only bank in Fresh Springs and leave her hometown with the intention of never to return.
Elmer Dean Collier is a man who seems to have lost his way since the loss of life as he knew it five years back. A bounty hunter who has lived on the high that each righteous kill brings lifting up the haze of anger that has shrouded him since that fateful day five years back, Dean knows that it wouldn’t be long before he loses whatever shred of humanity that is left within him if he were to continue as he has been. Tired of the constant round of killing his life has become, Dean grabs at the chance of becoming the new sheriff of Fresh Springs upon capture and return of the woman who seems to have robbed the town’s only bank.
Blinded by the need to turn his life around and attaining his one chance at redemption, Dean at first doesn’t pay heed to the mischievous, daring and headstrong woman who turns him inside out when he at last manages to find Maggie. Bit by bit, Maggie manages to chip away at the coldness that seems to have become his protective shield for so long, until all he can think about is surrendering himself to the warmth he is sure to find in his captive’s arms.
Maggie though an innocent knows when passion blindsides her that there would be no regrets for her where Dean is concerned and she is determined that they both experience what their bodies seem intent on telling them would be one tempestuous coming together. But Dean is a man not to be swayed on his mission to deliver Maggie as he has promised, a promise that seems to eat away at him as their destination draws closer, making him question whether the peace that he hunts would embrace him if he were to give up the woman who has managed to sneak her way into his heart.
Catch Me is a novel that urges the reader to turn the pages, to keep on reading to find out whether the sexual tension that simmers between Maggie and Dean is as explosive as one would hope it to be, to experience the way Dean crumbles by bits and pieces until ultimate surrender is all he can think of and to find out the secrets that seems to shroud the lives of Maggie’s father and that of the infamous banker whose less than stellar intentions nearly drive Maggie and Dean apart for good.
Dean reminded me of the type of heroes that Maggie Osborne creates, the type of hero that I immediately fall in love with, as beneath their rough, gruff and tough exterior lies a man who hurts a lot more than I can even comprehend. Maggie is the type of heroine who is feisty, sensual and giving, the type of woman who can turn a man’s well ordered life all around until he is left with only one choice, i.e. to love and cherish her till death does them apart.
With invigorating banter between Maggie and Dane to liven things up along the 3 week journey these two make from Texas towards Fair Springs and the characters that are introduced in between, Catch Me is a story that well earns its position as a great read. Highly recommended for fans of the genre.
Memorable Quotes
Their lips clung and released, then came back again. His tongue dipped into her mouth and she received it with a quiet sigh of welcome.
She was sweet like apples. Sweet to the taste, to the touch, to all his senses. More succulent than anything he’d dared touch for a long time. He’d been lost in the dark, but if he gripped her tightly enough maybe she would lead him out.
Rating=4.5/5
Original review posted on MBR's Realm of Romance
March 17, 2021
I've read two books by Brown before I read this one. I loved both of them. But have been very reluctant to try anything else by her for a rather simple reason - those two other books had something in common that the rest didn't have - those two books were FF romance books. The rest are/were MF romance books. Which is odd, in it's way, to be a deterrent since I also read MF romance books. But still. Made me hesitant.
So, eventually, I finally broke down and tried one of them. The only one that interested me enough to try it. A western/historical novel. Set in the territory of Arizona, and the state of Texas. With a couple of minutes, so to speak, spent in New Mexico.
Because her father is deathly ill, is in an medical institution in Texas, and because 1) everything that could be turned into money has been turned into money - and hasn't been enough to pay the bills; 2) and because the local bank - which is owned and operated by her father's long time friend - turns down her request for help; a young woman of, if I recall correctly, 22 robs the local bank. And then zooms on over to Texas to turn the money over. To pay her father's bills.
Her father, who had been and still technically is, the sheriff of this small town is, naturally, not exactly pleased with her actions. But she had to do it. Because.
The mean old man who owns the bank, naturally, won't let her get away with this and so hires a bounty hunter. A very successful one. He's to hunt down, capture, and bring back this woman who has wronged him.
And so that man does. And he and the woman interact. And, for reasons that largely escape me, they engage in physical relations while she's a prisoner and being brought back to that small town.
The book had some interesting elements, and moments, but was rather too . . . melodramatic. And, sure did include much sexual relations in deed. A little too much. I was, frankly, bored during those moments, but don't assume they were poorly written (or written perfectly and with skill), for I mostly just skimmed those portions. Not really my kind of sex (less the MF nature of the thing, and more the kind presented as in - prisoner/captor + a bit of angry energy mixed in).
Well, I've now done it. Completed an MF book by that author who has given me two FF books that I've loved. I'm strongly inclined to now forgo the other MF books previously released and just take the FF (and potentially the MF) as they come down the pipeline.
That is all.
Rating: 2
December 14 2016
So, eventually, I finally broke down and tried one of them. The only one that interested me enough to try it. A western/historical novel. Set in the territory of Arizona, and the state of Texas. With a couple of minutes, so to speak, spent in New Mexico.
Because her father is deathly ill, is in an medical institution in Texas, and because 1) everything that could be turned into money has been turned into money - and hasn't been enough to pay the bills; 2) and because the local bank - which is owned and operated by her father's long time friend - turns down her request for help; a young woman of, if I recall correctly, 22 robs the local bank. And then zooms on over to Texas to turn the money over. To pay her father's bills.
Her father, who had been and still technically is, the sheriff of this small town is, naturally, not exactly pleased with her actions. But she had to do it. Because.
The mean old man who owns the bank, naturally, won't let her get away with this and so hires a bounty hunter. A very successful one. He's to hunt down, capture, and bring back this woman who has wronged him.
And so that man does. And he and the woman interact. And, for reasons that largely escape me, they engage in physical relations while she's a prisoner and being brought back to that small town.
The book had some interesting elements, and moments, but was rather too . . . melodramatic. And, sure did include much sexual relations in deed. A little too much. I was, frankly, bored during those moments, but don't assume they were poorly written (or written perfectly and with skill), for I mostly just skimmed those portions. Not really my kind of sex (less the MF nature of the thing, and more the kind presented as in - prisoner/captor + a bit of angry energy mixed in).
Well, I've now done it. Completed an MF book by that author who has given me two FF books that I've loved. I'm strongly inclined to now forgo the other MF books previously released and just take the FF (and potentially the MF) as they come down the pipeline.
That is all.
Rating: 2
December 14 2016
July 14, 2011
Female bank robber + Sexy bounty hunter + Weeks alone on the trail = a sexy, emotional, adventure filled read.
July 16, 2011
At First Sight: Maggie Bullock is in desperate need of money, so she decides to rob the bank in Fresh Springs, where her dad is Sheriff; thinking she will pay for her father's medical care and disappear for a while.
But the bank owner is of a vicious vent and quickly sics a bounty hunter after Maggie.
Dean Collier has spent the last five years as a bounty hunter, doing quite a few questionable things in order to forget the life he once had and what he lost.
But when he's offered the chance of becoming sheriff or Fresh Springs, with the condition that he captures Maggie first, Dean jumps at the opportunity of winning back some of his soul.
Too bad Maggie might just as well steal his heart.
Second Glance: Catch Me was quite a fun book, I liked the twist that Maggie was the outlaw and that she was, over all, quite capable and willing to do what needed to be done.
Dean was a nice hero, he was just trying to rebuild his life when he stumbled into Maggie and seeing them argue was kind of fun.
At the same time, this is kind of a road-book, as practically all of it takes place while Dean is taking Maggie from Texas back to Arizona to face charges; and he does something kind of jerky near the end of the book (though he does redeem himself).
I did feel like the ending was a bit drawn out but it wasn't bad.
Bottom Line: Catch Me is a nice read, particularly if you're in the mood for an American historical lite. There were a few things that made me roll my eyes, but over all it was a good read.
BTW, Catch Me is published by Carina Press, and as such only available as an ebook.
But the bank owner is of a vicious vent and quickly sics a bounty hunter after Maggie.
Dean Collier has spent the last five years as a bounty hunter, doing quite a few questionable things in order to forget the life he once had and what he lost.
But when he's offered the chance of becoming sheriff or Fresh Springs, with the condition that he captures Maggie first, Dean jumps at the opportunity of winning back some of his soul.
Too bad Maggie might just as well steal his heart.
Second Glance: Catch Me was quite a fun book, I liked the twist that Maggie was the outlaw and that she was, over all, quite capable and willing to do what needed to be done.
Dean was a nice hero, he was just trying to rebuild his life when he stumbled into Maggie and seeing them argue was kind of fun.
At the same time, this is kind of a road-book, as practically all of it takes place while Dean is taking Maggie from Texas back to Arizona to face charges; and he does something kind of jerky near the end of the book (though he does redeem himself).
I did feel like the ending was a bit drawn out but it wasn't bad.
Bottom Line: Catch Me is a nice read, particularly if you're in the mood for an American historical lite. There were a few things that made me roll my eyes, but over all it was a good read.
BTW, Catch Me is published by Carina Press, and as such only available as an ebook.
February 22, 2017
Ended up skimming most of this one. Just didn't work for me. May try again later.
September 13, 2011
Wickedly Wonderful Western Historical
There's nothing Maggie Bullock wouldn't do to save her father's life. That's why she walked into the bank in Fresh Springs, Arizona. The first time was to beg bank owner Willheim Masterson for a loan to provide the money for her father's medical care. The second was to take what that slimy bastard wouldn't give her, despite the years of loyal friendship between Masterson and her father. With nothing but a gun and determination the twenty-two-year-old robbed the bank.
Dean Collier didn't much like Masterson when he offered him the bounty on Maggie Bullock, but Dean figures he doesn't have to like the man. He needs the job that Masterson is offering in exchange for catching Bullock. It may just be his last shot at redemption. And really, how hard could it be to catch a woman who fancied herself a bank robber?
Turns out that was the wrong question. Catching Maggie wasn't a problem at all. She took the money straight to her father's medical care facility in Texas, just as he thought she would. Holding onto her once he caught the little hellcat, on the other hand, may just be the death of him. And the long journey back to Fresh Springs once he has the beautiful, stubborn, willful woman in hand could very well send him to hell - or offer him a heaven he'd never anticipated.
This nifty historical romance was a lot more fun than I was anticipating. I'm usually not too keen on books set in the west, nor am I an avid historical romance reader, but Brown kept me entertained with two characters who were very likable. Maggie is right up my alley for heroines. She was feisty, wily, passionate about her beliefs, and willing to do anything for those she loves. She robs a bank in the Arizona Territory in 1882 - that takes some major stones. Then she makes it from Arizona to the sanitarium in Texas where her father was being tended, alone in the back country and in a time period where that couldn't have been easy. She had a truly indomitable spirit that I admired and I found very sympathetic.
Dean was a bit of the tortured hero, complex and broody. He's lived through hell and carries around a lot of emotional baggage. As a bounty hunter, the blood of men are on his hands, but it's the weight of failure and a line he crossed that stains his soul. One of the things that Brown did particularly well with his character is create a man who not only desperately needed a woman like Maggie in his life, but one who could really appreciate Maggie's nature without stifling it. The two fit very well together and it made for very fun reading.
Aside from the chemistry and suitability between the lead characters, Brown also provided a well-paced plot that had quite a lot of action and just enough humor to keep it interesting. The storyline could have dragged for me, or felt very two dimensional on the long ride back to Arizona, but the addition Dean's brother and a few ancillary characters kept that from happening. My only preference would have been for more of Masterson's shenanigans to have been sprinkled a little more liberally throughout the book to add more of the external conflict to the plot, because that part did seem a little overbalanced at the beginning and end of the book and too much of the relationship conflict rested solely on whether or not Dean would do his sworn duty.
I don't think Catch Me is going to offer readers much in the way of surprises in either plot or characters, but it definitely offers steady, solid storytelling and characters who were genuinely made for each other. I can't speak on the authenticity of the historical era, but it certainly felt genuine, and there were some nice touches and details in scenery and action that seemed like the real deal. The language struck me as a bit more modern than I would have expected in some places, but again, I have no clue if the terminology in question was historically accurate or not. It's not an issue that concerns me too much one way or the other, so it wasn't a detractor.
I'd love to read more from Brown, especially to get a peak at what made Dean's brother tick. I liked him a lot and there was definitely a lot of untold story in his character's history. And if he gets a book, I hope we get another glimpse at Dean and Maggie in it. I fell for them pretty hard and would love to see how their lives progress.
Disclosure: An ARC of this book was provided to me by Carina Press via NetGalley. This rating, review, and all included thoughts and comments are my own.
~*~*~*~
Reviewed for One Good Book Deserves Another.
There's nothing Maggie Bullock wouldn't do to save her father's life. That's why she walked into the bank in Fresh Springs, Arizona. The first time was to beg bank owner Willheim Masterson for a loan to provide the money for her father's medical care. The second was to take what that slimy bastard wouldn't give her, despite the years of loyal friendship between Masterson and her father. With nothing but a gun and determination the twenty-two-year-old robbed the bank.
Dean Collier didn't much like Masterson when he offered him the bounty on Maggie Bullock, but Dean figures he doesn't have to like the man. He needs the job that Masterson is offering in exchange for catching Bullock. It may just be his last shot at redemption. And really, how hard could it be to catch a woman who fancied herself a bank robber?
Turns out that was the wrong question. Catching Maggie wasn't a problem at all. She took the money straight to her father's medical care facility in Texas, just as he thought she would. Holding onto her once he caught the little hellcat, on the other hand, may just be the death of him. And the long journey back to Fresh Springs once he has the beautiful, stubborn, willful woman in hand could very well send him to hell - or offer him a heaven he'd never anticipated.
This nifty historical romance was a lot more fun than I was anticipating. I'm usually not too keen on books set in the west, nor am I an avid historical romance reader, but Brown kept me entertained with two characters who were very likable. Maggie is right up my alley for heroines. She was feisty, wily, passionate about her beliefs, and willing to do anything for those she loves. She robs a bank in the Arizona Territory in 1882 - that takes some major stones. Then she makes it from Arizona to the sanitarium in Texas where her father was being tended, alone in the back country and in a time period where that couldn't have been easy. She had a truly indomitable spirit that I admired and I found very sympathetic.
Dean was a bit of the tortured hero, complex and broody. He's lived through hell and carries around a lot of emotional baggage. As a bounty hunter, the blood of men are on his hands, but it's the weight of failure and a line he crossed that stains his soul. One of the things that Brown did particularly well with his character is create a man who not only desperately needed a woman like Maggie in his life, but one who could really appreciate Maggie's nature without stifling it. The two fit very well together and it made for very fun reading.
Aside from the chemistry and suitability between the lead characters, Brown also provided a well-paced plot that had quite a lot of action and just enough humor to keep it interesting. The storyline could have dragged for me, or felt very two dimensional on the long ride back to Arizona, but the addition Dean's brother and a few ancillary characters kept that from happening. My only preference would have been for more of Masterson's shenanigans to have been sprinkled a little more liberally throughout the book to add more of the external conflict to the plot, because that part did seem a little overbalanced at the beginning and end of the book and too much of the relationship conflict rested solely on whether or not Dean would do his sworn duty.
I don't think Catch Me is going to offer readers much in the way of surprises in either plot or characters, but it definitely offers steady, solid storytelling and characters who were genuinely made for each other. I can't speak on the authenticity of the historical era, but it certainly felt genuine, and there were some nice touches and details in scenery and action that seemed like the real deal. The language struck me as a bit more modern than I would have expected in some places, but again, I have no clue if the terminology in question was historically accurate or not. It's not an issue that concerns me too much one way or the other, so it wasn't a detractor.
I'd love to read more from Brown, especially to get a peak at what made Dean's brother tick. I liked him a lot and there was definitely a lot of untold story in his character's history. And if he gets a book, I hope we get another glimpse at Dean and Maggie in it. I fell for them pretty hard and would love to see how their lives progress.
Disclosure: An ARC of this book was provided to me by Carina Press via NetGalley. This rating, review, and all included thoughts and comments are my own.
~*~*~*~
Reviewed for One Good Book Deserves Another.
June 27, 2011
I received a copy of this book from the author for my honest opinion and review.
Catch me is the first book of Lorelie Brown's that I've had the opportunity to read. I've had some really good luck with new to me authors lately and this was not going to be an exception. Catch Me is a historical romantic western. I haven't read one of these in a while and i wasn't sure i was in the mood. The cover and title if you just look at those are misleading to the premise of the story but once you read the blurb is all makes perfect sense. I kept thinking if she is a criminal how is this supposed to work out in the end? I had decided to try and have faith that the author knew what she was doing by starting the book off with the heroine committing a crime. Here's the blurb so you can see for yourself.
Catch Me by Lorelie Brown
July 18, 2011
Arizona Territory, 1882
Maggie Bullock's father needed expensive medical care and if that meant stealing from their friendly swindling banker, so be it. Once her father was on the path to recovery she would face the consequences. The whole thing was surprisingly easy until she's kidnapped by bounty hunter Dean Collier.
Collier is tired of tracking down worthless scum. He's afraid he'll lose his last scrap of humanity and become a stone-cold killer, just like the men he brings to justice. He jumps at the chance to become sheriff of Fresh Springs, Arizona. The one condition—capture Maggie.
He figured it'd be easy. Until beautiful, loyal Maggie breaks through defenses he'd thought cemented. His feelings for her run the range from fury to confusion to love, but if he doesn't bring her in someone else will. Can there be a future between a sheriff and a fugitive?
This book started out with the Maggie the heroine robbing the bank. I thought wait wait wait how is this going to be a happy ending book if the heroine commits a crime that will at the very least put her in prison. I calmed down cause i thought well this is the first chapter in the book so something has got to fix this right? There must be a mistake that's going to be explained later like maybe someone was forcing her to rob that bank. I found out at least she feels like she has a good reason for robbing the bank so that appeased me a little. Then we meet Dean who is in of all places jail. lol That made me laugh cause he is supposed to be a bounty hunter and he gets asked to go after Maggie so in a way it's one criminal after another.There are some funny moments in this book, but really both Maggie and Dean have some serious issues to deal with from their pasts. Dean is looking for something to save himself from becoming a stone cold killer and Maggie has been in denial that something has been off in her family for a long time. I can't write this without mentioning Dean's brother Andrew. LOVED Andrew. I am harboring thoughts that he is getting his own book at some point because the author wove some mystery around what he's been doing before he meets up with his brother part way through the book. Dean notices differences in him too. I would love to see this. In conclusion there is never a dull moment in this book. The sex scenes are hot and the sexual tension between Dean and Maggie is electrifying. Dean is in denial most of the book of his feelings for Maggie. I did get my happy ending though. You'll have to read the book to see how of course. Read about this book and author Lorelie Brown by clicking here www.loreliebrown.com . I give Catch Me by author Lorelie Brown 4 Modokker Book Pick Stars. Reminded me again how much i love a good historical western.
PS check out that cover too! Wow!
Catch me is the first book of Lorelie Brown's that I've had the opportunity to read. I've had some really good luck with new to me authors lately and this was not going to be an exception. Catch Me is a historical romantic western. I haven't read one of these in a while and i wasn't sure i was in the mood. The cover and title if you just look at those are misleading to the premise of the story but once you read the blurb is all makes perfect sense. I kept thinking if she is a criminal how is this supposed to work out in the end? I had decided to try and have faith that the author knew what she was doing by starting the book off with the heroine committing a crime. Here's the blurb so you can see for yourself.
Catch Me by Lorelie Brown
July 18, 2011
Arizona Territory, 1882
Maggie Bullock's father needed expensive medical care and if that meant stealing from their friendly swindling banker, so be it. Once her father was on the path to recovery she would face the consequences. The whole thing was surprisingly easy until she's kidnapped by bounty hunter Dean Collier.
Collier is tired of tracking down worthless scum. He's afraid he'll lose his last scrap of humanity and become a stone-cold killer, just like the men he brings to justice. He jumps at the chance to become sheriff of Fresh Springs, Arizona. The one condition—capture Maggie.
He figured it'd be easy. Until beautiful, loyal Maggie breaks through defenses he'd thought cemented. His feelings for her run the range from fury to confusion to love, but if he doesn't bring her in someone else will. Can there be a future between a sheriff and a fugitive?
This book started out with the Maggie the heroine robbing the bank. I thought wait wait wait how is this going to be a happy ending book if the heroine commits a crime that will at the very least put her in prison. I calmed down cause i thought well this is the first chapter in the book so something has got to fix this right? There must be a mistake that's going to be explained later like maybe someone was forcing her to rob that bank. I found out at least she feels like she has a good reason for robbing the bank so that appeased me a little. Then we meet Dean who is in of all places jail. lol That made me laugh cause he is supposed to be a bounty hunter and he gets asked to go after Maggie so in a way it's one criminal after another.There are some funny moments in this book, but really both Maggie and Dean have some serious issues to deal with from their pasts. Dean is looking for something to save himself from becoming a stone cold killer and Maggie has been in denial that something has been off in her family for a long time. I can't write this without mentioning Dean's brother Andrew. LOVED Andrew. I am harboring thoughts that he is getting his own book at some point because the author wove some mystery around what he's been doing before he meets up with his brother part way through the book. Dean notices differences in him too. I would love to see this. In conclusion there is never a dull moment in this book. The sex scenes are hot and the sexual tension between Dean and Maggie is electrifying. Dean is in denial most of the book of his feelings for Maggie. I did get my happy ending though. You'll have to read the book to see how of course. Read about this book and author Lorelie Brown by clicking here www.loreliebrown.com . I give Catch Me by author Lorelie Brown 4 Modokker Book Pick Stars. Reminded me again how much i love a good historical western.
PS check out that cover too! Wow!
June 23, 2011
Catch Me by Lorelie Brown is a historical western romance due to be released on July 18 2011. The novel tells the story of one sheriff’s daughter who robs a bank to pay for her father’s medical treatment and the bounty hunter that is running out of options contracted to bring her to justice. Maggie Bullock has run out of options, her father is gravely ill and the only medical treatment that has helped him this far is extremely expensive. She has already sold off everything she can and requested a loan from her father’s old friend, a banker and ruthless businessman in Fresh Springs who refuses her loan request. Maggie is out of options, but must help her father. She robs the bank owned by the man who refused her loan in order to pay for her father‘s treatment. Dean Collier is a bounty hunter running from a painful past and low on options of his own. He has been spiraling out of control, drinking and taking on bounties that would allow him deal in death and violence, and has landed him in jail. See my full review on here on Associated Content.
October 20, 2012
I found this book passable. I didn't finish reading it as it got so boring just waiting for them to get back to that town. Ironically I stopped reading after .
This review isn't really exemplifying my literary prowess to be honest. I can totally be witty but just reminiscing this book leeches away any inclination to be even remotely interesting.
I'm quite worried now, I feel slightly grey, monotonous even, (I am entirely certain I used monotonous in the wrong context but due to my aforementioned lack of willpower to escape the stale state this book has placed me in I can't even be bothered to google it).
That was a long sentence.
Some might even say it was 'complex'.
No it's not just you, even I don't know what I just did there.
Wow just don't read this book, don't do it look what it's doing to my cerebrum... My reasoning is entirely melted and i'm completely spouting nonsense.
What am I even talking about?
This review isn't really exemplifying my literary prowess to be honest. I can totally be witty but just reminiscing this book leeches away any inclination to be even remotely interesting.
I'm quite worried now, I feel slightly grey, monotonous even, (I am entirely certain I used monotonous in the wrong context but due to my aforementioned lack of willpower to escape the stale state this book has placed me in I can't even be bothered to google it).
That was a long sentence.
Some might even say it was 'complex'.
No it's not just you, even I don't know what I just did there.
Wow just don't read this book, don't do it look what it's doing to my cerebrum... My reasoning is entirely melted and i'm completely spouting nonsense.
What am I even talking about?
July 22, 2011
Reviewed at: Library of Lights
Review date: 23 July 2011
Review link: http://mykindaland.com/?p=351
Catch Me by Lorelie Brown is a beautiful and enchanting read for a coyboy romance. I couldn’t get enough of it even though the novel length was quite long winded. I love the plot and the character’s dynamics and I highly recommends this book for those who wants a high quality cowboy romance read.
I’m not a fan of cowboy romance, but I definitely can make an exception for this book. It’s sinfully delicious and as rich as the most tempting dark chocolates.
I rate this book 3 out of 5 stars. I received an ARC of this book from Carina Press via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review for this book.
Review date: 23 July 2011
Review link: http://mykindaland.com/?p=351
Catch Me by Lorelie Brown is a beautiful and enchanting read for a coyboy romance. I couldn’t get enough of it even though the novel length was quite long winded. I love the plot and the character’s dynamics and I highly recommends this book for those who wants a high quality cowboy romance read.
I’m not a fan of cowboy romance, but I definitely can make an exception for this book. It’s sinfully delicious and as rich as the most tempting dark chocolates.
I rate this book 3 out of 5 stars. I received an ARC of this book from Carina Press via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review for this book.
July 14, 2011
Female bank robber and cranky bounty hunter, so far it is a win..
I'm not sure how to grade this one, I managed to finish it, despite the reading funk, and historicals not being my standard fare.. There were a couple of argh/ugh moments, but it entertained me. And the main chars kept my interest. Will have to think of it some more.
I'm not sure how to grade this one, I managed to finish it, despite the reading funk, and historicals not being my standard fare.. There were a couple of argh/ugh moments, but it entertained me. And the main chars kept my interest. Will have to think of it some more.
May 7, 2011
I love bounty hunters in my westerns. I also love "alone on the trail" stories and heroines who don't take any crap. I got all three. Catch Me is fun, steamy, emotional and full of adventure, and western fans won't want to miss it!
Read
October 18, 2012L'autrice scrive bene (almeno per come lo posso valutare io che traduco mentre leggo), però, il rosa western non è un genere che mi appassiona particolarmente... gli eroi di questo tipo di romanzi si muovono, infatti, in un ambiente un po' troppo rude ed essenziale per i miei gusti...
September 28, 2016
Gritty and well done. This isn’t a glossy, pretty view of the American West. I liked both the hero and heroine. There are lots of bits that didn’t get wrapped up all neat, which bothers me a bit. 3 stars.
Bought from eHarlequin
Bought from eHarlequin
July 6, 2011
This story was just ok for me. It just kinda dragged and I couldn't connect with the characters.
**I received this as an ARC from NetGalley**
**I received this as an ARC from NetGalley**
July 13, 2011
Review to come
February 21, 2012
Great story!
December 29, 2012
Well, now. I was expecting this to be steamy, but... whoa. It does drag a little bit in places, but there's enough chemistry to scorch your saddles in here.
April 5, 2013
Loved the characters in this book and the setting. It felt as if you were right there in the American Wild West.
January 24, 2015
Just okay. The real baddies were obvious. So was how the HEA would come about even though the female lead was a bank robber.
August 7, 2011
A great trip back into the wild west. What can I say, I'm a sucker for a man in a stetson...
March 28, 2017
meh...
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