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Studs in Spurs #4
Hooked
His last eight seconds could lead to the longest, most satisfying ride of his life...Annie Grant is at the top of her game as an on-air interviewer for the pro bull-riders tour. In all those years standing within microphone range of thousands of sexy cowboys, she's never been tempted...until now. Now that respected veteran Luke Carpenter is no longer with his longtime girlfriend, he's back on the market. And Annie is buying.Luke knows his days are numbered. Every year the rookies get younger, the bulls get ranker and, like it or not, the time is coming when he'll be hanging up his spurs. After a sizzling hot night with Annie, he realizes that maybe this old dog can learn some new tricks. But quicker than a bull can spin, things get complicated. A tragedy forces Luke into a no-win hang onto the tail end of his career, or retire early for his family. Either way, he can live with his choice. Question is, can he live without Annie? Contains knock-your-boots-off cowboy lovin, some up close and personal interviews of the oral persuasion, and a happy ending...cowboy style.
208 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 13, 2011
87 people are currently reading
870 people want to read
About the author
Cat Johnson
364 books1,766 followers📚Find Series Reading Order and Book Lists at Cat's site CatJohnson.net
🎥 For Film/TV Inquiries Email Cat@Catjohnson.net
It all started in first grade when Cat Johnson won the essay contest at Hawthorne Elementary School and got to ride in the Chief of Police's car in the Memorial Day Parade...and the rest, as they say, is history. As an adult, Cat generally tries to stay out of police cars and is thrilled to be writing for a living. She has been published under a different name in the Young Adult genre, but released her first romance in 2006.
Today, she is a NY Times & USA Today best-selling, award-winning author of contemporary romance. A promo ho, she's sponsored real live bull riding cowboys and promoted romance using bologna.
--from the author's website
🎥 For Film/TV Inquiries Email Cat@Catjohnson.net
It all started in first grade when Cat Johnson won the essay contest at Hawthorne Elementary School and got to ride in the Chief of Police's car in the Memorial Day Parade...and the rest, as they say, is history. As an adult, Cat generally tries to stay out of police cars and is thrilled to be writing for a living. She has been published under a different name in the Young Adult genre, but released her first romance in 2006.
Today, she is a NY Times & USA Today best-selling, award-winning author of contemporary romance. A promo ho, she's sponsored real live bull riding cowboys and promoted romance using bologna.
--from the author's website
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
October 13, 2017
This story had a pretty good plot but most of book was the main characters every detailed thought about their insecurity. After a few pages I started skimming all but dialogue and didn't really sense the romance. Still, it was a nice quick read. Bull-rider Luke and circuit reporter Annie follow through on their attraction then he has a life changing event.
September 14, 2011
Awww... I think I love Luke. I liked that he was a little bit older and that the maturity gave him some perspective on his life and what he wanted. I was so sad for him when his father died. And while I understood on the one hand why he didn't call Annie, I wanted to smack him for it. Lilly should have ended up in muck somewhere, and maybe Chelsea, too. Then again, maybe Joe (the network guy who hired Chelsea) should have gotten some kind of karmic payback. I loved how the other guys were playing matchmaker. Mustang sure can be silly! Cute continuation of the bull rider stories. Makes me want to visit a rodeo next time one comes to town! Or go to Oklahoma. No, really, honey... I have relatives there... no, you don't need to go with me, I'll be fine! Tee hee!
March 15, 2013
I had a really hard time connecting to this one. Particularly because Annie was a PSYCHO-CRAZY-INSANE-NUT JOB!
I lo0o0o0o0o0oved Luke but her insecurities and such were just a bit too much for me...
I lo0o0o0o0o0oved Luke but her insecurities and such were just a bit too much for me...
September 19, 2011
Read at Http://scorchingbookreviews.blogspot.com
Annie has reported on the pro-rider tours for years. Her familiarity with the riders has directly led to her lofty status as one of the best tour reporters around. She prides herself on her professionalism with the riders, vowing never to get involved with them on a personal level. No one has tempted her to break those Golden Rules like Luke Carpenter. Luke is a rider in the Twilight years of his career. His easy smile and tight butt have tempted her for a while, but it isn’t until the meddlesome Mustang gets involved that she realises Luke’s newly single status leaves the door wide open for her to take a chance. When it turns out the handsome Cowboy is just as distracted by her, the two embark on what could be a beautiful relationship. However, when his ex-girlfriends brother turns up with terrible news from home, it looks like the brakes are about to be put their fledgling relationship before it gets started. When it looks like his career may be over for a while, he has a tough choice to make. Does he try to make it work from afar? Or, does he put all his concentration into helping out his family?
Luke is just plain lovely. He is the Cowboy you’d love to take home to your mum; with good manners, blushing charm and an easy smile, he is the loveliest hero I’ve met in a while. When he and Annie finally get in bed, I was astounded; I didn’t expect such smexiness from such a nice boy, although all that stamina definitely paid off! He really liked to please his lady. I really liked Annie too; I like a character with a moral standpoint, and she has definite rules about sleeping with the people she works with. She struggles, before making a move on Luke, with jeopardising the respect that she has built within the pro-riding circles by sleeping with a rider. It takes some Mustang shaped meddling before she realises that respect doesn’t keep you warm at night. I think the long and short of this is that both of these characters are such genuinely nice people that you want them to get together..
My only complaint about this book was the limited time that the couple spent together. The bad news from home comes at around thirty percent of the way through the book, which means that Luke leaves quite quickly to head on back to the ranch. When he decides to take on the job full time, they spend a lot of time apart. Luke literally starts falling apart, trying to deal with the loss of his career along with the rest of his bad news. I hated to see this lovely man in so much pain. He started the book as this happy go lucky hero with a fantastic career, a sex life that was going places and a network of friends that he could depend on like brothers. This one sudden event changes all of this; he ends up at a ranch miles from the circuit in a job he hates, avoiding his ex like the plague. It was horrible to see him so lost. The toxic ex Lily is going to get a mention here; there are no words to describe this leech and I’m not sure I want to meet her again. Meanwhile, Annie is facing her own problems when the network starts to edge in the younger Chelsea (for some reason that name just implanted an image of an airhead in my brain! Made me hate her more) She deals with the issue with dignity and I continued to gain respect for her throughout this tale. With all the problems that she has to deal with, you would think she would have no time to miss Luke, but she does. I willed for them to get together, but they have a multitude of obstacles that they need to overcome. The ending does come a little too soon for me. I always struggle with this issue as I wonder if it’s really a complaint to want to see more of the characters. It doesn’t bother me too much because I know there is every chance that we will see these two again in future books. I do love that Cat Johnson keeps us abreast of all her characters throughout series.
This book is the fourth in the series but I will say that, although there are recurrent characters, you probably could get away with reading this as a stand-alone. It was nice to see Mustang and Slade again; Mustang is just as much the little cupid as I remember from the first book I liked Chris; a hard working, funny, sexy Cowboy...I hope he gets a book :)
A sexy little book about two genuinely likeable characters that, in the twilight of their careers, fall in love at the Rodeo. With a charming Cowboy and a heroine I genuinely warmed to, this book left me wishing for a happy ending from page one. Smoking sex scenes, lots of Cowboy angst and some hot side characters made this one of my favourite in the series.
Annie has reported on the pro-rider tours for years. Her familiarity with the riders has directly led to her lofty status as one of the best tour reporters around. She prides herself on her professionalism with the riders, vowing never to get involved with them on a personal level. No one has tempted her to break those Golden Rules like Luke Carpenter. Luke is a rider in the Twilight years of his career. His easy smile and tight butt have tempted her for a while, but it isn’t until the meddlesome Mustang gets involved that she realises Luke’s newly single status leaves the door wide open for her to take a chance. When it turns out the handsome Cowboy is just as distracted by her, the two embark on what could be a beautiful relationship. However, when his ex-girlfriends brother turns up with terrible news from home, it looks like the brakes are about to be put their fledgling relationship before it gets started. When it looks like his career may be over for a while, he has a tough choice to make. Does he try to make it work from afar? Or, does he put all his concentration into helping out his family?
Luke is just plain lovely. He is the Cowboy you’d love to take home to your mum; with good manners, blushing charm and an easy smile, he is the loveliest hero I’ve met in a while. When he and Annie finally get in bed, I was astounded; I didn’t expect such smexiness from such a nice boy, although all that stamina definitely paid off! He really liked to please his lady. I really liked Annie too; I like a character with a moral standpoint, and she has definite rules about sleeping with the people she works with. She struggles, before making a move on Luke, with jeopardising the respect that she has built within the pro-riding circles by sleeping with a rider. It takes some Mustang shaped meddling before she realises that respect doesn’t keep you warm at night. I think the long and short of this is that both of these characters are such genuinely nice people that you want them to get together..
My only complaint about this book was the limited time that the couple spent together. The bad news from home comes at around thirty percent of the way through the book, which means that Luke leaves quite quickly to head on back to the ranch. When he decides to take on the job full time, they spend a lot of time apart. Luke literally starts falling apart, trying to deal with the loss of his career along with the rest of his bad news. I hated to see this lovely man in so much pain. He started the book as this happy go lucky hero with a fantastic career, a sex life that was going places and a network of friends that he could depend on like brothers. This one sudden event changes all of this; he ends up at a ranch miles from the circuit in a job he hates, avoiding his ex like the plague. It was horrible to see him so lost. The toxic ex Lily is going to get a mention here; there are no words to describe this leech and I’m not sure I want to meet her again. Meanwhile, Annie is facing her own problems when the network starts to edge in the younger Chelsea (for some reason that name just implanted an image of an airhead in my brain! Made me hate her more) She deals with the issue with dignity and I continued to gain respect for her throughout this tale. With all the problems that she has to deal with, you would think she would have no time to miss Luke, but she does. I willed for them to get together, but they have a multitude of obstacles that they need to overcome. The ending does come a little too soon for me. I always struggle with this issue as I wonder if it’s really a complaint to want to see more of the characters. It doesn’t bother me too much because I know there is every chance that we will see these two again in future books. I do love that Cat Johnson keeps us abreast of all her characters throughout series.
This book is the fourth in the series but I will say that, although there are recurrent characters, you probably could get away with reading this as a stand-alone. It was nice to see Mustang and Slade again; Mustang is just as much the little cupid as I remember from the first book I liked Chris; a hard working, funny, sexy Cowboy...I hope he gets a book :)
A sexy little book about two genuinely likeable characters that, in the twilight of their careers, fall in love at the Rodeo. With a charming Cowboy and a heroine I genuinely warmed to, this book left me wishing for a happy ending from page one. Smoking sex scenes, lots of Cowboy angst and some hot side characters made this one of my favourite in the series.
April 17, 2013
This book really does have the most adorable hero. He has to be one of my favourites.
The storyline could have been better. We don't see a lot of the couple together, or even in the same region. The romance still works based on the feelings the hero and heroine have for each other when they're dating, but it would have been nice to see more of the two of them.
I also found the heroine's lack of self confidence a but clumsy. Usually I love the idea of anyone without complete confidence, because who really has total confidence? And I liked that the hero even lacked a bit in that department ... but the heroine's low self-esteem was a bit cumber-sum and annoying at times.
Regardless, this is probably one of my favourite books in this series!
The storyline could have been better. We don't see a lot of the couple together, or even in the same region. The romance still works based on the feelings the hero and heroine have for each other when they're dating, but it would have been nice to see more of the two of them.
I also found the heroine's lack of self confidence a but clumsy. Usually I love the idea of anyone without complete confidence, because who really has total confidence? And I liked that the hero even lacked a bit in that department ... but the heroine's low self-esteem was a bit cumber-sum and annoying at times.
Regardless, this is probably one of my favourite books in this series!
February 2, 2017
I really enjoyed this book! Be still my heart! Luke is the ultimate cowboy! He is sexy, loyal and honest! Just the way I like my cowboy's! I liked the fact that he is older and more mature than the younger bull rider's. The simple fact that he stayed loyal to Annie just made me have so much respect for him.The only complaint that I have is this story was just too short. I would have liked to have more of their story.
March 10, 2015
Ok, this is gonna sound super, duper shallow, so take this review at face value. I liked the story but only gave it 2 stars because it didn't have enough sex in it. I don't normally read hetero, so when I do I tend to prefer the sex to be mind melting and insanely good.
March 29, 2016
I did like this book and I liked the characters. I would have given this a higher rating if the H/h weren't apart for a large amount of the book. If you are a fan of Cat, you will enjoy the story. Just need to say that Luke was adorable.
March 21, 2012
Holy Hot Cowboy! Excellent read and very steamy.
January 11, 2022
I'm hooked
Although Bull riding is the core of this series, this author gives each Bull rider a totally different story line to indulge in and conquer. Makes for a great read. Sounds a tough life, although exciting, one that you were probably born to do, just like nurses or doctors. You don't choose the life, it chooses you. 8 seconds that can change your life for ever, and choosing to do that on an almost daily basis is certainly not something a lot of us could do.
Luke is a great character, in a line up of great characters, all of whom have huge jaw aching smiles which results in the reader also suffering the same infliction. It's a tough life.
I have this book 4 stars because it was so entertaining, enlightening and an easy read.
Although Bull riding is the core of this series, this author gives each Bull rider a totally different story line to indulge in and conquer. Makes for a great read. Sounds a tough life, although exciting, one that you were probably born to do, just like nurses or doctors. You don't choose the life, it chooses you. 8 seconds that can change your life for ever, and choosing to do that on an almost daily basis is certainly not something a lot of us could do.
Luke is a great character, in a line up of great characters, all of whom have huge jaw aching smiles which results in the reader also suffering the same infliction. It's a tough life.
I have this book 4 stars because it was so entertaining, enlightening and an easy read.
November 2, 2024
What a great friends to lovers story
Luke and Annie have been professional friends for years. He is a bull rider and she is the sports reporter who covers all the events. When Luke breaks up with his long-time girlfriend, and come back after the break in competition, be and Annie get together one night. But the next day Luke has to leave and go home when his dad died. Annie and some of the cowboys go to support him for the funeral, and then he has decisions to make about the ranch and his mom. He decides to retire from bull riding and take care of the ranch but he is miserable. Will he stay and run the ranch or sell it to his ex-girlfriends dad and go back to bull riding? Can he leave his mom alone now? Does he contact Annie at all and will she forgive him?
Luke and Annie have been professional friends for years. He is a bull rider and she is the sports reporter who covers all the events. When Luke breaks up with his long-time girlfriend, and come back after the break in competition, be and Annie get together one night. But the next day Luke has to leave and go home when his dad died. Annie and some of the cowboys go to support him for the funeral, and then he has decisions to make about the ranch and his mom. He decides to retire from bull riding and take care of the ranch but he is miserable. Will he stay and run the ranch or sell it to his ex-girlfriends dad and go back to bull riding? Can he leave his mom alone now? Does he contact Annie at all and will she forgive him?
January 29, 2019
Love this series
This is another great book in this series. It gives you a look into the lives behind the scenes of the bulk riders who risk their lives with each ride. It isn't all came an buckle bunnies.
This is another great book in this series. It gives you a look into the lives behind the scenes of the bulk riders who risk their lives with each ride. It isn't all came an buckle bunnies.
June 6, 2021
I’m loving this series
Just when I think I don’t have an interest in any more cowboys, I fall in love again. Swoon worthy Thank you! Mustang is still my favorite though. Lol
Just when I think I don’t have an interest in any more cowboys, I fall in love again. Swoon worthy Thank you! Mustang is still my favorite though. Lol
April 21, 2012
You've heard it all week - we've got cowboys - young ones, old ones, all of them make a gal weak in the knees! As much as readers will come to love Slade, Mustang, and Chase but I have to tell you, you're gonna fall for Luke. Excluding myself, the only girl who is perfect for him is Annie.
Annie embodies all that you want in a heroine: she's strong, she professional and sassy. I love that she is surrounded by all that fine manflesh and just feels like one of the boys - until she wants to be Luke's girl. Once he's back on the market, Annie is ready to make her dreams come true....she just has to convince him that. And that's where the fun begins.
Luke comes across as a polite, experienced "old timer" who's cool has been cracked by the breakup with his long time girlfriend (sort of an unheard of on the circuit). He's not really interested in starting up something new but Annie has her mind set on her long time crush. Behind all that polite is a raw, hot cowboy - and he knows how to get a girl started....and finished!
Cat Johnson has a knack for creating stories that grap you and make you want to hang on for the entire ride....even beyond the buzzer. Her characters have depth and humor and the dialogue is sexy, witty and very, very real! There is some serious growth in the building story arc of these cowboys - nice to see old friends and make new ones. This former city girl is "hooked" on the cowboy way - keep\'em coming Ms. Johnson....we are ready to saddle up and ride 'em hard!
RATING: 5 Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries and a glass of champagne - cheers to a rockin' author and her hunky hero cowboys! Well done and bring on the next one!!!!!
Check out this review and more at: http://guiltyindulgencebookclub.blogs...
Annie embodies all that you want in a heroine: she's strong, she professional and sassy. I love that she is surrounded by all that fine manflesh and just feels like one of the boys - until she wants to be Luke's girl. Once he's back on the market, Annie is ready to make her dreams come true....she just has to convince him that. And that's where the fun begins.
Luke comes across as a polite, experienced "old timer" who's cool has been cracked by the breakup with his long time girlfriend (sort of an unheard of on the circuit). He's not really interested in starting up something new but Annie has her mind set on her long time crush. Behind all that polite is a raw, hot cowboy - and he knows how to get a girl started....and finished!
Cat Johnson has a knack for creating stories that grap you and make you want to hang on for the entire ride....even beyond the buzzer. Her characters have depth and humor and the dialogue is sexy, witty and very, very real! There is some serious growth in the building story arc of these cowboys - nice to see old friends and make new ones. This former city girl is "hooked" on the cowboy way - keep\'em coming Ms. Johnson....we are ready to saddle up and ride 'em hard!
RATING: 5 Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries and a glass of champagne - cheers to a rockin' author and her hunky hero cowboys! Well done and bring on the next one!!!!!
Check out this review and more at: http://guiltyindulgencebookclub.blogs...
September 12, 2011
3.75 is what I actually give Hooked. This book has so much potential to be a 5 star..but idk if I'm getting to critical or losing it, because, I LOVE Luke and Annie, but I felt like I didn't get to see them together enough or enough how they actually fall in love.
Luke has to be one of the cutest, "awww shucks ma'am" blushing, type cowboys I've read. I didn't feel I got to see an alpha side to him, just a sexy as hell know how to please his woman cowboy. TBH I felt like the first 25% was great, I loved the way they were shy with each other and got together, then the incident happens we see a bit of how that Luke deals with it. Then bam months later he is back and the story is wrapping it up and I loved the end, but it came to fast for me.
To see the rest of this review follow this link
http://naughtycougartales.blogspot.co...
Luke has to be one of the cutest, "awww shucks ma'am" blushing, type cowboys I've read. I didn't feel I got to see an alpha side to him, just a sexy as hell know how to please his woman cowboy. TBH I felt like the first 25% was great, I loved the way they were shy with each other and got together, then the incident happens we see a bit of how that Luke deals with it. Then bam months later he is back and the story is wrapping it up and I loved the end, but it came to fast for me.
To see the rest of this review follow this link
http://naughtycougartales.blogspot.co...
September 20, 2013
This is a more somber cowboy romance. Luke, a professional bull rider, is nearing the end of his career, but has a few good years left. After breaking up with his high school sweet heart he is free to pursue Annie the sports announcer who has been covering the tour for years. Their romance just starts to heat up when everything changes... Luke's father dies and Luke returns to the family ranch.
Again, Cat Johnson did a good job of bringing the pro rodeo circuit to life, and every aspect of the cowboy culture seemed spot on. Unfortunately, I never felt connected to either Luke or Annie. I never really got sucked into the fantasy of their world.
I think other Cat Johnson books are better, but if you are a fan of cowboy romance you might give this one a try.
Again, Cat Johnson did a good job of bringing the pro rodeo circuit to life, and every aspect of the cowboy culture seemed spot on. Unfortunately, I never felt connected to either Luke or Annie. I never really got sucked into the fantasy of their world.
I think other Cat Johnson books are better, but if you are a fan of cowboy romance you might give this one a try.
April 3, 2012
Hot little steamy number.... Well there's actually only 2 sex scenes but they are enough. A bit if an emotional journey in it. But I really like Luke and Annie and their story.
I accidentally read this book first (then found it was number 4 in the series).
The thing I found weird is that Luke or Annie aren't mentioned in the other books. Everyone else is, Mustang, Jenna, Slade, Chase etc.
November 20, 2012
Another great entry into the Studs in Spurs series. Luke is older than the previous group of Heroes by a few years and bring a welcome maturity to the story. Annie is great, both in fighting for her job and her man. I probably would have taken the cast-iron-therapy approach to some of the issues she had with Luke. -note-Cast-Iron-Therapy is the liberal application of a cast iron skillet to the man's head until he see's things from your point of view.
September 15, 2011
I really liked this story. Luke and Anne were so sweet together and I loved how nervous they were on their first date. I also liked how it was not so much about the sex but rather all the problems that real bull riders have to go through in life. The only thing I didn't care for was how insecure Anne was all the time. It kinda got on my nerves.
September 21, 2011
I love this series. This book was a lot less erotic but much more based on the uncertainty of what life can bring. PBR reporter and a pro bullriderr?erct combintation of a not allowed "office" romance and the one thing that brought them together. I really hope she keeps writing at least one more. I would love to hear Skeeters story!
March 19, 2012
I love this series and this last book did not disappoint. Annie & Luke were great together and I loved seeing each of them go through their own battles all while thinking of the other.
It was great to see Slade & Mustang from books 1 and 2 and even a little scene with Chase from book 3.
Overall a pretty good read.
It was great to see Slade & Mustang from books 1 and 2 and even a little scene with Chase from book 3.
Overall a pretty good read.
October 20, 2015
Luke and Annie....after being with the wrong woman for years he's finally single and now that he is it's time to let a certain lady know it....she notices that his girlfriend hasn't been in the stands lately and she's just wondering if her time to be with this bull rider has come...wonderful read about making it work no matter what curveballs life throughs your way
April 15, 2013
I think this might be one of my favourites of this series. Luke is a bit more mature than the other riders featured, and the plotline was a bit different. Not quite as much sex, but what there was was definitely hot! I was also really happy to see that the ending was much more developed than most of Cat Johnson's books.
4 stars for this one!
4 stars for this one!
October 21, 2015
Great writing
It was another great storyline for bull riders. It deals with an older bull rider and 30 something reporter. Both not young in there careers with not much time. When there relationship begins the next day his father dies. After a few month away with no words to each other, can he come back and win the girl? Yep
It was another great storyline for bull riders. It deals with an older bull rider and 30 something reporter. Both not young in there careers with not much time. When there relationship begins the next day his father dies. After a few month away with no words to each other, can he come back and win the girl? Yep
September 15, 2011
******
If you liked this book you may enjoy the following groups:
Erotic Enchants Group
Menage Readers Group
September 13, 2011
4.5 Stars. 4.5 Stars. Hooked is a compelling read with a unique plot. It is a poignant novel with a great deal of substance and emotional depth. To read this review in its entirety, please visit http://bookreviewsandmorebykathy.com/...
July 30, 2012
I loved this book. I was already a big fan of the Studs in Spurs books but this was I was even more in love with! I love Luke and Annie. I also liked that the characters from the other books did not change.
August 22, 2012
I'm just getting into cowboy books. I've read some awesome one and some that were just 'bleh'. This falls into the awesome category. I liked that the heroine is vulnerable...but so is the hero. They figure things out together and it was very nicely wrapped up.
October 13, 2013
Luke and Annie are proof shyness knows no age limit, nor does experience change things when that one has you tongue tied!! Whereas Chase was sweet, Luke is so darn cute when he is with Annie, the two of them together gives you hope for all the good guys out there!
April 19, 2013
4.0 This was one of my favorites in the series. Characters are fun and believable. Setting is interesting. Easy to relax, read and enjoy. I wanted the resolution of the plot to be more complicated. All these books flow well in the beginning and middle, but then they resolve too quickly.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews