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Sweetwater Ranch #1
Maverick Sheriff
Delores Fossen kicks off her new series, Sweetwater Ranch, with a Texas lawman, a beautiful district attorney… and the child they'll risk everything to protect.
Saving a little boy's life reopens painful wounds for Texas sheriff Cooper McKinnon. This could be his son, whose loss has haunted him for two years. But Cooper has a formidable adversary in Jessa Wells. She's the adoptive mother and she'll do anything to hold on to Liam.
It's cruel justice that the man who shares Liam's rare blood type has an unsolved murder in his own family. And the danger's far from over. Fighting her desire for Cooper, Jessa has no choice but to join forces with the maverick cowboy. Jessa knows working together is their best shot at keeping the child safe. But it's the possibility of a future alone that breaks Jessa's heart.
Saving a little boy's life reopens painful wounds for Texas sheriff Cooper McKinnon. This could be his son, whose loss has haunted him for two years. But Cooper has a formidable adversary in Jessa Wells. She's the adoptive mother and she'll do anything to hold on to Liam.
It's cruel justice that the man who shares Liam's rare blood type has an unsolved murder in his own family. And the danger's far from over. Fighting her desire for Cooper, Jessa has no choice but to join forces with the maverick cowboy. Jessa knows working together is their best shot at keeping the child safe. But it's the possibility of a future alone that breaks Jessa's heart.
224 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 19, 2014
200 people are currently reading
1085 people want to read
About the author
Delores Fossen
638 books815 followersThank you for finding me on Goodreads!
Want to know more about me? Well, here it is in a nutshell:
I’m a USA Today bestselling author, and I’ve sold over 100 novels. Yes, 100! Needless to say, I write a lot. I’ve had the honor of receiving the Booksellers' Best Award for romantic suspense, the Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award, and I was a finalist for the Rita. My books have been featured in Vogue, Woman’s Day and Woman’s World. I’ve also had nearly a hundred short stories and articles published in national magazines. I love hearing from readers, and you can contact me through my webpage at: www.deloresfossen.com.
Want to know more about me? Well, here it is in a nutshell:
I’m a USA Today bestselling author, and I’ve sold over 100 novels. Yes, 100! Needless to say, I write a lot. I’ve had the honor of receiving the Booksellers' Best Award for romantic suspense, the Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award, and I was a finalist for the Rita. My books have been featured in Vogue, Woman’s Day and Woman’s World. I’ve also had nearly a hundred short stories and articles published in national magazines. I love hearing from readers, and you can contact me through my webpage at: www.deloresfossen.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
July 31, 2015
There are a lot of problems with this book.
We have a great premise.
Cooper McKinnon is a Texas Sheriff. His wife and little baby died in a flood a few years ago - the boy's body is never found. The book opens with him coming into the hospital to give blood to a boy. The boy is exactly the age his son would be if he had lived. The boy is also the adopted son of ADA Jessa Wells. Jessa is out gunning for Cooper's family - she's reopening a case against Cooper's estranged birth mother, accusing her of murder.
So there's no love lost between the two. Cooper just met Jessa when she moved to town 3 months ago.
It should be obvious what happens: of course the boy is Cooper's long-lost son. And of course Jessa and Cooper start kissing etc.
...
I didn't buy it. I didn't buy it one bit. Cooper just met this woman three months ago - and those three months have been very strained, hostile months in which they hate each other and battle each other legally and professionally. Now, suddenly, he's attracted to her and kissing her and stuff!?!?!?!? Why? Because it turns out she is the adoptive mother of the son he thought was dead? I just did NOT see these two falling in love - especially not over the course of three days.
Really. Three or four days. And that ends with them exchanging "I love you"s and Um, whatever. That is not even close to being realistic. Also, Jessa is really struggling with her fears that Cooper will "take her son away from her" - which he has every legal right to do. It's hard to reconcile her protectively trying to shield her son from him and AT THE SAME TIME enjoying long kisses from him. What? o.O
...
Another thing that didn't make sense and was very poorly executed was the "mystery/intrigue" plot. As usual in Fossen's books, this whole thing was far-fetched and cockamamie. The bad guy's motivation and execution were laughable. I mean, these villains do the stupidest possible things you could ever do, and for reasons that are barely understandable. It's horrible. For instance, they shoot randomly and wildly at bunches of people. There are at least three shoot-outs in this book, if not more. Also, the bad guy does nutty stuff and expects to get away with it - even though he's OBVIOUSLY worked himself into a corner from which there is no escape (except for suicide, I guess.) It's ridiculous. It's hard to take bad guys who are this dumb seriously. Also, do you know how much money it takes to hire henchmen? Especially skilled ones such as snipers and hitmen? I don't see the bad guy in either this book or the third book, Rustling Up Trouble as being able to afford the kind of back-up portrayed in this novel. It's wildly unbelievable.
...
The side characters are lame and under-developed, with their own stories that are obviously going to turn into other books, but which I don't give two figs about. Fossen spends zero time getting to know these characters and they are completely worthless to the story.
...
One interesting thing is that Fossen sets Jessa up with an abusive ex who beat her black-and-blue. But even though she introduces what could have been an interesting facet to Jessa and her budding relationship with Cooper, it is barely touched on and completely wasted in my opinion. Fossen might as well have eliminated this whole thing from the book, for how much impact it has.
...
Another thing: the toddler, Liam, sleeps through EVERYTHING. He is unconscious for literally about 90% of the novel. And the things he sleeps through are like: hostage situations, shoot-outs, etc. Completely unrealistic and weird. I mean, I guess it beats the alternative of having a sickeningly cute kid around to say adorable things, so... But Fossen did that, too. At the end, Liam is doing adorable things to help the couple get together.
...
There's too much action in this book. I really wanted emotions and the development of feelings to take center stage, and instead, shooting and stupid b-movie type dialogue takes precedence. There's so much here to explore! Jessa's feelings of fear about Cooper getting full custody of her adopted son, Jessa and Cooper's hostile past as Sheriff and ADA, Jessa's former abusive ex and the fact that she adopted in order to avoid having a relationship again... All of this is glossed over and not given the proper exploration it deserves. I like romances to focus heavily on thoughts and feelings, and this didn't. This is a big component in why I couldn't believe Jessa and Cooper were truly in love.
...
The only truly good thing I can say for this novel is that at least Fossen mentions both condoms and birth control pills in this book. I hate when (contemporary) romance novels just pretend like pregnancy and STDs don't exist. Kudos to Fossen for taking the time to mention this BEFORE the couple actually has sex.
...
Tl;dr - Great potential, poor execution.
ONE REAL STAR, ONE ROMANCE STAR
Harlequin Intrigue September 2014
We have a great premise.
Cooper McKinnon is a Texas Sheriff. His wife and little baby died in a flood a few years ago - the boy's body is never found. The book opens with him coming into the hospital to give blood to a boy. The boy is exactly the age his son would be if he had lived. The boy is also the adopted son of ADA Jessa Wells. Jessa is out gunning for Cooper's family - she's reopening a case against Cooper's estranged birth mother, accusing her of murder.
So there's no love lost between the two. Cooper just met Jessa when she moved to town 3 months ago.
It should be obvious what happens: of course the boy is Cooper's long-lost son. And of course Jessa and Cooper start kissing etc.
...
I didn't buy it. I didn't buy it one bit. Cooper just met this woman three months ago - and those three months have been very strained, hostile months in which they hate each other and battle each other legally and professionally. Now, suddenly, he's attracted to her and kissing her and stuff!?!?!?!? Why? Because it turns out she is the adoptive mother of the son he thought was dead? I just did NOT see these two falling in love - especially not over the course of three days.
Really. Three or four days. And that ends with them exchanging "I love you"s and Um, whatever. That is not even close to being realistic. Also, Jessa is really struggling with her fears that Cooper will "take her son away from her" - which he has every legal right to do. It's hard to reconcile her protectively trying to shield her son from him and AT THE SAME TIME enjoying long kisses from him. What? o.O
...
Another thing that didn't make sense and was very poorly executed was the "mystery/intrigue" plot. As usual in Fossen's books, this whole thing was far-fetched and cockamamie. The bad guy's motivation and execution were laughable. I mean, these villains do the stupidest possible things you could ever do, and for reasons that are barely understandable. It's horrible. For instance, they shoot randomly and wildly at bunches of people. There are at least three shoot-outs in this book, if not more. Also, the bad guy does nutty stuff and expects to get away with it - even though he's OBVIOUSLY worked himself into a corner from which there is no escape (except for suicide, I guess.) It's ridiculous. It's hard to take bad guys who are this dumb seriously. Also, do you know how much money it takes to hire henchmen? Especially skilled ones such as snipers and hitmen? I don't see the bad guy in either this book or the third book, Rustling Up Trouble as being able to afford the kind of back-up portrayed in this novel. It's wildly unbelievable.
...
The side characters are lame and under-developed, with their own stories that are obviously going to turn into other books, but which I don't give two figs about. Fossen spends zero time getting to know these characters and they are completely worthless to the story.
...
One interesting thing is that Fossen sets Jessa up with an abusive ex who beat her black-and-blue. But even though she introduces what could have been an interesting facet to Jessa and her budding relationship with Cooper, it is barely touched on and completely wasted in my opinion. Fossen might as well have eliminated this whole thing from the book, for how much impact it has.
...
Another thing: the toddler, Liam, sleeps through EVERYTHING. He is unconscious for literally about 90% of the novel. And the things he sleeps through are like: hostage situations, shoot-outs, etc. Completely unrealistic and weird. I mean, I guess it beats the alternative of having a sickeningly cute kid around to say adorable things, so... But Fossen did that, too. At the end, Liam is doing adorable things to help the couple get together.
...
There's too much action in this book. I really wanted emotions and the development of feelings to take center stage, and instead, shooting and stupid b-movie type dialogue takes precedence. There's so much here to explore! Jessa's feelings of fear about Cooper getting full custody of her adopted son, Jessa and Cooper's hostile past as Sheriff and ADA, Jessa's former abusive ex and the fact that she adopted in order to avoid having a relationship again... All of this is glossed over and not given the proper exploration it deserves. I like romances to focus heavily on thoughts and feelings, and this didn't. This is a big component in why I couldn't believe Jessa and Cooper were truly in love.
...
The only truly good thing I can say for this novel is that at least Fossen mentions both condoms and birth control pills in this book. I hate when (contemporary) romance novels just pretend like pregnancy and STDs don't exist. Kudos to Fossen for taking the time to mention this BEFORE the couple actually has sex.
...
Tl;dr - Great potential, poor execution.
ONE REAL STAR, ONE ROMANCE STAR
Harlequin Intrigue September 2014
September 29, 2015
Jessa was run off the road, and now her infant son needs surgery. She found out he had a rare blood type that not many people had. The doctor called and asked Sheriff Cooper to come donate. Of all the people that could help her son, it just had to be Sheriff Cooper. Jessa, and Cooper has had their differences since ADA Jessa opened up a old case involving Cooper's family. Jesse sees a different side to him, when he comes to help her son. Cooper's wife was swept away in a flood. Her body was found, but his infant sons body that was in the same car, and was never found. Cooper took one look at Jessa's son, and it was like looking at his own son. Is it a coincidence that Jessa's son has his rare blood type, or is this baby boy his own missing son?
The suspense, action, and romance to the story was very good.
This is a book I really enjoyed!
The suspense, action, and romance to the story was very good.
This is a book I really enjoyed!
August 15, 2018
MAVERICK SHERIFF by Delores Fossen is an exciting Western romantic suspense full of intriguing characters. A good beginning for the type of series I will consider continuing.
Why was it in Dorine’s TBR? Several of my reading friends enjoy Fossen’s books, so I wanted to try one. That’s why I grabbed this freebie, along with a couple others, even though I’m not an avid Harlequin Intrigue reader. Not that I don’t like suspense – I do, but I lean more toward thrillers with a lighter romantic element. I’m also partial to law enforcement heroes since that’s my husband – I love it when they get the bad guys, as well as the love of their life.
My main problem with spicy romantic suspense is how in the middle of danger, the H & H can’t wait to tear their clothes off one another. This just seems unrealistic to me, especially when their child can be harmed by some psycho. Although MAVERICK SHERIFF did have some of those elements, it wasn’t over the top or constant, so I didn’t get frustrated with it. The attraction was nicely done and mostly believable.
I had already DNF’d two books from my freebie TBR prior to starting this one for out “series” TBR Challenge, so my mood wasn’t exactly agreeable. I had 24 hours to get my TBR book read and review written, so I hoped the third was the charm. Fossen had a lot to prove to keep me reading, and she successfully kept me riveted until I finished.
MAVERICK SHERIFF is a complicated plot with a variety of likeable characters and suspected villains. Cooper McKinnon and his large family are well-established law enforcement of various kinds in Texas. Their stance against lawlessness is a formidable wall for evil to penetrate. But evil runs deep with no boundaries. This is what they’re up against.
District Attorney Jessa Wells needs the McKinnon family’s help when threats are made against her adopted child. She had paid dearly for this little boy, and her love was all encompassing. But, the losses the McKinnons have experienced in their lifetime are brought to the forefront as they reluctantly help Jessa. That’s because Jessa is prosecuting their estranged mother for murder.
Cooper has AB negative blood and is called in when Jessa’s son needs it after their car accident. Cooper and Jessa are at opposite sides of a legal battle, well sort of since Cooper isn’t exactly happy about seeing his mother again, but that doesn’t stop this couple’s attraction to one another. It may make them ponder it a bit, but they just can’t help themselves. But, this small town’s secrets, and the people who need to squash them, may end everything before they have a chance to decide on their romantic fate.
Cooper is a definite alpha male, so he made me bristle with his high-handed ways toward Jessa sexually. Jessa annoyed me sometimes when she forgot her professionalism because she was too busy swooning from the alpha’s kisses. For a smart woman, she sometimes seems like the “little woman” who can’t think straight when the man is around. That just seemed off to me for her position as a district attorney.
Those were very small annoyances on my part because overall, Cooper treated Jessa with love and respect. Jessa won me over when her mama-bear instincts roared to save her son, as well as Cooper. I wasn’t sure I liked this one, at first, but the hero’s loss and discovery got to me. This family is huge and dysfunctional – I couldn’t wait to find out what happened next.
As far as first books in a series, this one does introduce a lot of characters and a mystery to be solved in future books. Fossen does that well without much confusion on my part. The suspense did seem a bit far-fetched in places, but that didn’t stop me from gobbling it up.
MAVERICK SHERIFF is a solid 3.5 rating, leaning closer to a 4, so I’m giving it the benefit of my crankiness toward romantic suspense in general with a 4 rating. I liked the setting, but there wasn’t enough detail for me to get a good feel for the area. I’m hoping future books lay that out more. I am curious about what will happen next because the characters really intrigue me, and because these books are such a quick read, I’ll try book two. If you’re an avid Intrigue reader, I’m sure you’ll love this book. If you love a series that features a good number of law enforcement heroes, then I’m betting this one will be a favorite. I lost count how many were introduced, male and female, so I think it will be fun to see where it goes.
Review by Dorine, courtesy of The Zest Quest. Digital book obtained for free from the publisher’s promotion through Amazon.
Why was it in Dorine’s TBR? Several of my reading friends enjoy Fossen’s books, so I wanted to try one. That’s why I grabbed this freebie, along with a couple others, even though I’m not an avid Harlequin Intrigue reader. Not that I don’t like suspense – I do, but I lean more toward thrillers with a lighter romantic element. I’m also partial to law enforcement heroes since that’s my husband – I love it when they get the bad guys, as well as the love of their life.
My main problem with spicy romantic suspense is how in the middle of danger, the H & H can’t wait to tear their clothes off one another. This just seems unrealistic to me, especially when their child can be harmed by some psycho. Although MAVERICK SHERIFF did have some of those elements, it wasn’t over the top or constant, so I didn’t get frustrated with it. The attraction was nicely done and mostly believable.
I had already DNF’d two books from my freebie TBR prior to starting this one for out “series” TBR Challenge, so my mood wasn’t exactly agreeable. I had 24 hours to get my TBR book read and review written, so I hoped the third was the charm. Fossen had a lot to prove to keep me reading, and she successfully kept me riveted until I finished.
MAVERICK SHERIFF is a complicated plot with a variety of likeable characters and suspected villains. Cooper McKinnon and his large family are well-established law enforcement of various kinds in Texas. Their stance against lawlessness is a formidable wall for evil to penetrate. But evil runs deep with no boundaries. This is what they’re up against.
District Attorney Jessa Wells needs the McKinnon family’s help when threats are made against her adopted child. She had paid dearly for this little boy, and her love was all encompassing. But, the losses the McKinnons have experienced in their lifetime are brought to the forefront as they reluctantly help Jessa. That’s because Jessa is prosecuting their estranged mother for murder.
Cooper has AB negative blood and is called in when Jessa’s son needs it after their car accident. Cooper and Jessa are at opposite sides of a legal battle, well sort of since Cooper isn’t exactly happy about seeing his mother again, but that doesn’t stop this couple’s attraction to one another. It may make them ponder it a bit, but they just can’t help themselves. But, this small town’s secrets, and the people who need to squash them, may end everything before they have a chance to decide on their romantic fate.
Cooper is a definite alpha male, so he made me bristle with his high-handed ways toward Jessa sexually. Jessa annoyed me sometimes when she forgot her professionalism because she was too busy swooning from the alpha’s kisses. For a smart woman, she sometimes seems like the “little woman” who can’t think straight when the man is around. That just seemed off to me for her position as a district attorney.
Those were very small annoyances on my part because overall, Cooper treated Jessa with love and respect. Jessa won me over when her mama-bear instincts roared to save her son, as well as Cooper. I wasn’t sure I liked this one, at first, but the hero’s loss and discovery got to me. This family is huge and dysfunctional – I couldn’t wait to find out what happened next.
As far as first books in a series, this one does introduce a lot of characters and a mystery to be solved in future books. Fossen does that well without much confusion on my part. The suspense did seem a bit far-fetched in places, but that didn’t stop me from gobbling it up.
MAVERICK SHERIFF is a solid 3.5 rating, leaning closer to a 4, so I’m giving it the benefit of my crankiness toward romantic suspense in general with a 4 rating. I liked the setting, but there wasn’t enough detail for me to get a good feel for the area. I’m hoping future books lay that out more. I am curious about what will happen next because the characters really intrigue me, and because these books are such a quick read, I’ll try book two. If you’re an avid Intrigue reader, I’m sure you’ll love this book. If you love a series that features a good number of law enforcement heroes, then I’m betting this one will be a favorite. I lost count how many were introduced, male and female, so I think it will be fun to see where it goes.
Review by Dorine, courtesy of The Zest Quest. Digital book obtained for free from the publisher’s promotion through Amazon.
July 19, 2014
When Texas sheriff, Cooper McKinnon arrives at the hospital to donate blood to his nemesis Assistant District Attorney, Jessa Wells' son, he is curious because the child, who is practically the same age as the son he lost in a flood almost two years before and he has the same rare blood-type that Cooper has. Cooper's son and his wife perished when they were caught in quickly rising flood waters, his wife's body was recovered, however, his son's body was not. Could this baby be his son?
Jessa Wells is the tough ADA who is out to bring a murderer to justice, just so happens, that the suspected murderer is Cooper's own mother, who abandoned her family when Cooper was just a teenager. Now years later, the evidence points in her direction, and nothing will stop Jessa from upholding the law, not even Cooper. First, Jessa must make sure her adopted baby, Liam is healthy. So Cooper's showing up to donate is a godsend and a curse all at once. Cooper demands a DNA test be done on Liam and those results wreak havoc on all those involved.
MAVERICK SHERIFF by Delores Fossen is a fast-paced thriller of a ride with a lot going on. So don't blink, because you might miss some pertinent information! This book is like a six degrees of separation where so many people involved are connected in some dubious way. Cooper McKinnon grieves still for his lost family, but when a light appears to brighten his way, he also sees that Jessa is not so much foe, in fact he would mind making her more than a friend. Jessa endured an abusive marriage and is skittish when it comes to the tall and handsome lawman who evokes emotions she denies she wants to explore. I adore this kind of romance, where there is such animosity between the characters, but one pivotal moment changes it all and trust me, there are a fair share of pivotal moments here. A good start to a series that promises to an abundance of mystery with a fine taste of romance, MAVERICK SHERIFF has it all.
December 10, 2015
Mostly stupid. I didn't like the DA lady, the rest felt very much like "copy schematic".
It was mostly quite uninteresting. Not even the whole kidnapping/selling thing made it more thrilling.
And the culprit?
That was a cheap shot.
It also had insta-love and a stupid ready-made family solution.
It was mostly quite uninteresting. Not even the whole kidnapping/selling thing made it more thrilling.
And the culprit?
That was a cheap shot.
It also had insta-love and a stupid ready-made family solution.
March 11, 2024
Maverick Sheriff is book one in the new series by Delores Fossen called Sweetwater Ranch. Two years ago, Texas Sheriff Cooper McKinnon's life changed when his wife Molly and son died when a local bridge collapsed during heavy rains. Now, with Local District Attorney Jessa Wells looking into his Mother for murder, he did not need to complicate his life by saving a little boy who looks like his son and has his rare blood type. The readers of Maverick Sheriff will continue to follow Sheriff Cooper McKinnon to find out what happens.
Maverick Sheriff is the first book I have read by Delores Fossen, and it is an enjoyable romantic suspense. I have added Delores Fossen to my favourite authors list and read other books by her. I engaged with Maverick Sheriff from the first page and have never lost interest in reading this book. I love Delores Fossen's portrayal of her characters and how they interact throughout this book. Maverick Sheriff is well-written and researched by Delores Fossen. I like Delores Fossen's description of the settings of Maverick Sheriff, which complemented the book's plot.
The readers of Maverick Sheriff will learn about the consequences of illegal adoption on everyone involved. Also, the readers of Maverick Sheriff will understand the devastation that jealousy and greed have on communities.
I recommend this book.
Maverick Sheriff is the first book I have read by Delores Fossen, and it is an enjoyable romantic suspense. I have added Delores Fossen to my favourite authors list and read other books by her. I engaged with Maverick Sheriff from the first page and have never lost interest in reading this book. I love Delores Fossen's portrayal of her characters and how they interact throughout this book. Maverick Sheriff is well-written and researched by Delores Fossen. I like Delores Fossen's description of the settings of Maverick Sheriff, which complemented the book's plot.
The readers of Maverick Sheriff will learn about the consequences of illegal adoption on everyone involved. Also, the readers of Maverick Sheriff will understand the devastation that jealousy and greed have on communities.
I recommend this book.
September 16, 2014
Good book and excellent setup for the series. It starts out with Cooper rushing to the hospital to be a blood donor for a little boy with the same rare blood type he has. It doesn't matter that the boy's mother is his adversary in their professional lives. Jessa is the new ADA who is reopening an unsolved murder case in which his estranged mother is the prime suspect. Cooper doesn't care so much about the effect on his mother, but he does care about what it might do to his father and two brothers.
Getting a good look at Jessa's son Liam has Cooper seeing ghosts. The little boy could be the son he lost in a flood two years ago, whose body was never found. Before they can deal with that possibility they need to find out who keeps trying to kidnap or kill Liam and why they are doing it. The deeper they dig the more questions they have. They also discover that the sparks of their professional lives have kindled sparks of a different kind in their personal lives.
Cooper is still grieving for his lost family, but the thought that Liam could be his provides a light in the darkness. The attraction he's feeling for Jessa is an unwelcome development, given their positions on the prosecution of his mother. As much as he tries to resist, the intensity of their situation has their emotions running high and he starts to see her as more than just his adversary. When Jessa is put in a dangerous situation Cooper realizes he wants more than just to protect his son's new mother.
Jessa is wary of getting involved with the forceful sheriff. She survived an abusive marriage that has her cautious about getting too close to another man. Discovering that her son may also be Cooper's missing son has her terrified that she could lose him. That fear is always at the back of her mind as she and Cooper race to discover who is behind the attempts on their lives. She shows an incredible amount of strength and determination as she refuses to be left behind in the investigation. Spending all that time with Cooper shows her that he's a man she can trust her life and her heart to.
There are several storylines going in this book. The one that it seems will run the course of the series is the accusation of murder against Cooper's mother. She has come back to Sweetwater Springs to face those charges. Cooper, his two brothers and their father are not happy to see her. She abandoned them many years earlier, taking her twin daughters with her. With her return she has brought those daughters and her stepson, who are determined to prove her innocent. The twin daughters of Rosalie have been kidnapped and she suspects ties to the adoption ring.
The main one is that of Liam's identity and who is behind the attempts on his life. That mystery is solved by the end of the book, with plenty of twists and turns to keep us guessing as to who was really behind it. It all ties in to what appears to be a ring involving illegal adoptions.
There is an underlying theme of the importance of family. Cooper and his brothers and father are all united in their determination to protect their family. Jewel's return threatens their peace. I liked the obvious love and respect among the brothers and their father and how they are ready to back up Cooper when he needs it. The two sisters are very different personalities and definitely have a negative attitude toward the guys. Their stepbrother is still something of an enigma, but I'm sure we'll get to know him more. I did like the way that they stepped up in support during the trouble. I'll be interested in learning more about them.
Getting a good look at Jessa's son Liam has Cooper seeing ghosts. The little boy could be the son he lost in a flood two years ago, whose body was never found. Before they can deal with that possibility they need to find out who keeps trying to kidnap or kill Liam and why they are doing it. The deeper they dig the more questions they have. They also discover that the sparks of their professional lives have kindled sparks of a different kind in their personal lives.
Cooper is still grieving for his lost family, but the thought that Liam could be his provides a light in the darkness. The attraction he's feeling for Jessa is an unwelcome development, given their positions on the prosecution of his mother. As much as he tries to resist, the intensity of their situation has their emotions running high and he starts to see her as more than just his adversary. When Jessa is put in a dangerous situation Cooper realizes he wants more than just to protect his son's new mother.
Jessa is wary of getting involved with the forceful sheriff. She survived an abusive marriage that has her cautious about getting too close to another man. Discovering that her son may also be Cooper's missing son has her terrified that she could lose him. That fear is always at the back of her mind as she and Cooper race to discover who is behind the attempts on their lives. She shows an incredible amount of strength and determination as she refuses to be left behind in the investigation. Spending all that time with Cooper shows her that he's a man she can trust her life and her heart to.
There are several storylines going in this book. The one that it seems will run the course of the series is the accusation of murder against Cooper's mother. She has come back to Sweetwater Springs to face those charges. Cooper, his two brothers and their father are not happy to see her. She abandoned them many years earlier, taking her twin daughters with her. With her return she has brought those daughters and her stepson, who are determined to prove her innocent. The twin daughters of Rosalie have been kidnapped and she suspects ties to the adoption ring.
The main one is that of Liam's identity and who is behind the attempts on his life. That mystery is solved by the end of the book, with plenty of twists and turns to keep us guessing as to who was really behind it. It all ties in to what appears to be a ring involving illegal adoptions.
There is an underlying theme of the importance of family. Cooper and his brothers and father are all united in their determination to protect their family. Jewel's return threatens their peace. I liked the obvious love and respect among the brothers and their father and how they are ready to back up Cooper when he needs it. The two sisters are very different personalities and definitely have a negative attitude toward the guys. Their stepbrother is still something of an enigma, but I'm sure we'll get to know him more. I did like the way that they stepped up in support during the trouble. I'll be interested in learning more about them.
October 17, 2014
Hotness Rating 2.5 out of 5
Maverick Sheriff, the first book of the Sweetwater Ranch series, by Delores Fossen. This book had it's highs and lows. I liked it, but didn't love it! I will definitely read the next books in this series. The highs were greater than the lows and there is just something about Delores Fossen's writing style that I can't resist.
Cooper McKinnon lost his son and wife tragically. So, when he's called to the hospital to donate his rare blood for the son of the woman that is trying to make his life hell it's almost too much. It brings back bad memories and opens up a can of worms that will forever change his life.
Jessa Wells isn't well liked by the McKinnon family. But, Cooper did step up to help save her son's life. Now, some things have come to light that have the potential to destroy her and she has no choice, but to put her trust into the same man that hates her.
I loved Cooper. His past losses broke my heart, especially considering he's such a good man. His family has a ton of problems going on right now and hopefully we'll learn more about that in the future books. I get Jessa's fears and I thought she handled it relatively well. It was a terrible spot she was in.
Some of the events in this book were way too easy and unbelievable. But, as I said that story was good enough to counter all of that.
You can find this review and others at www.riverinaromantics.com
Maverick Sheriff, the first book of the Sweetwater Ranch series, by Delores Fossen. This book had it's highs and lows. I liked it, but didn't love it! I will definitely read the next books in this series. The highs were greater than the lows and there is just something about Delores Fossen's writing style that I can't resist.
Cooper McKinnon lost his son and wife tragically. So, when he's called to the hospital to donate his rare blood for the son of the woman that is trying to make his life hell it's almost too much. It brings back bad memories and opens up a can of worms that will forever change his life.
Jessa Wells isn't well liked by the McKinnon family. But, Cooper did step up to help save her son's life. Now, some things have come to light that have the potential to destroy her and she has no choice, but to put her trust into the same man that hates her.
I loved Cooper. His past losses broke my heart, especially considering he's such a good man. His family has a ton of problems going on right now and hopefully we'll learn more about that in the future books. I get Jessa's fears and I thought she handled it relatively well. It was a terrible spot she was in.
Some of the events in this book were way too easy and unbelievable. But, as I said that story was good enough to counter all of that.
You can find this review and others at www.riverinaromantics.com
August 13, 2014
http://njkinny.blogspot.in/2014/08/ar...
ADA Jessa and Sheriff Cooper have had differences since the day Jessa decided to re-open an old case involving Cooper's estranged mother and blaming Cooper and his brothers of tampering with the evidence! But when Cooper is called by the doctor to help Jessa's son Liam with a blood transfusion involving a rare blood type and Cooper sees Liam, it is like someone has punched him. Liam looks just like his missing son. With a kidnapper on the lose who is targeting Liam and the suspicion that he could be Cooper's son, it will take everything from Jessa and Cooper to come together and fight for Liam's safety. Dark secrets will be revealed, emotional wounds reopened and lives endangered!
I have to admit, this is my first book by Delores Fossen. Although I had heard a lot about her and have two of her books on my shelf but it just so happened that I didn't read any of them till now when I got this book from NetGalley and Harlequin and finally sat down to read.
The first thing that I always see while selecting a book is its cover. Howsoever one may say that he/she never judges a book by its cover but it is a known fact that first impressions are formed by the covers. It is the first thing our eyes see when we pick up a book. Here too, when I picked this book to request, the first thing I saw was the cover which is alluring. I love cowboy stories and so when I see a cowboy on a cover I tend to get attracted. The second thing that I see while deciding on the book is the blurb. I loved the blurb. It is appealing, intriguing and instantly interests the reader and I felt like I had to know what happened!
I am not picky on the publishers or authors. I may have my favorite authors but I never neglect new authors and am always happy to read books by authors new to me. Delores' book hooked me right from the start. The tension between the ADA Jessa and Sheriff Cooper is ripe but so is their concern over Jessa's ailing son Liam. There are two stories going on side by side in this book.
The first involves Cooper's estranged mother, Jewel who is back at Sweetwater ranch after almost two decades and is still wanted for a murder that happened when she used to live there all those years ago. Jessa is the one fighting to get Jewel convicted which is the reason of the tension between her and Cooper who feels this will adversely affect his father and his brothers. A lot of action is happening with Jewel back along with her daughters and a stepson.
The second story is the main story in this book which involves Jessa's son Liam who is the target of a kidnapper. An unknown person who is trying his level best to keep Liam's adoption secrets hidden and his connection unknown. He has already committed murders and shown that he will not stop until all lose ends are tied which include Liam. Add this to Cooper's suspicion that Liam could be his missing son. There is plenty of drama, action and suspense. Can Liam be Cooper's missing son?
The plot is well conceived and executed. There is an emotional tension and a sexual tension in the air. Jessa is afraid for her son's safety as well as her future with him. If he is proven to be Cooper's son then what will happen to her? Then there is the strong attraction that both Jessa and Cooper are fighting. They are conflicted and still helpless against this strong unknown feeling of care and hunger that they have for each other.
I loved the author's writing style. She uses simple and easy English but this doesn't compromise the interest that she easily extracts from the reader. I was kept at the edge of my seat throughout and completely engrossed till the end. The story is fast paced and takes the reader on an eventful and thrilling journey full of suspense and excitement.
The characterization is admirable. Delores introduces the various characters of this series and also keeps the foundation of the base story involving Cooper's family and his estranged mother, Jewel's family and the long ago unsolved murder. Did Jewel kill that man? Is this why she fled town leaving behind her sons and her husband never to return until now?
The love and understanding between Cooper and his brothers and his father is sincere and I could feel the companionship and mutual respect that they have for each other. They are fully in tune with each other and stand as a united front against any difficulty faced by any member of their family. The attraction between Jessa and Cooper is intense and slowly builds to a more concrete feeling of love. I could sympathize with these two and prayed for a happily-ever-after for them. They both have been traumatized in the past and are two broken people who need love to make them whole. I loved the scenes with these two in them and was very invested in all the action of the story.
All in all, Maverick Sheriff is an entertaining book that gives the reader entertainment, a surge of excitement and adrenalin, some intense action, an engrossing suspense and a love story that is heartfelt and deeply enjoyable. I give Maverick Sheriff 4.5 out of 5 and look forward to reading the next books in the series. Delores Fossen is a talented writer and I would definitely read more of her books now. I recommend this book to all lovers of romantic suspense. You will love the book!
I received the ARC from NetGalley and Harlequin and I am very thankful to them. The above review is my honest and unbiased opinion and in no way influenced.
ADA Jessa and Sheriff Cooper have had differences since the day Jessa decided to re-open an old case involving Cooper's estranged mother and blaming Cooper and his brothers of tampering with the evidence! But when Cooper is called by the doctor to help Jessa's son Liam with a blood transfusion involving a rare blood type and Cooper sees Liam, it is like someone has punched him. Liam looks just like his missing son. With a kidnapper on the lose who is targeting Liam and the suspicion that he could be Cooper's son, it will take everything from Jessa and Cooper to come together and fight for Liam's safety. Dark secrets will be revealed, emotional wounds reopened and lives endangered!
I have to admit, this is my first book by Delores Fossen. Although I had heard a lot about her and have two of her books on my shelf but it just so happened that I didn't read any of them till now when I got this book from NetGalley and Harlequin and finally sat down to read.
The first thing that I always see while selecting a book is its cover. Howsoever one may say that he/she never judges a book by its cover but it is a known fact that first impressions are formed by the covers. It is the first thing our eyes see when we pick up a book. Here too, when I picked this book to request, the first thing I saw was the cover which is alluring. I love cowboy stories and so when I see a cowboy on a cover I tend to get attracted. The second thing that I see while deciding on the book is the blurb. I loved the blurb. It is appealing, intriguing and instantly interests the reader and I felt like I had to know what happened!
I am not picky on the publishers or authors. I may have my favorite authors but I never neglect new authors and am always happy to read books by authors new to me. Delores' book hooked me right from the start. The tension between the ADA Jessa and Sheriff Cooper is ripe but so is their concern over Jessa's ailing son Liam. There are two stories going on side by side in this book.
The first involves Cooper's estranged mother, Jewel who is back at Sweetwater ranch after almost two decades and is still wanted for a murder that happened when she used to live there all those years ago. Jessa is the one fighting to get Jewel convicted which is the reason of the tension between her and Cooper who feels this will adversely affect his father and his brothers. A lot of action is happening with Jewel back along with her daughters and a stepson.
The second story is the main story in this book which involves Jessa's son Liam who is the target of a kidnapper. An unknown person who is trying his level best to keep Liam's adoption secrets hidden and his connection unknown. He has already committed murders and shown that he will not stop until all lose ends are tied which include Liam. Add this to Cooper's suspicion that Liam could be his missing son. There is plenty of drama, action and suspense. Can Liam be Cooper's missing son?
The plot is well conceived and executed. There is an emotional tension and a sexual tension in the air. Jessa is afraid for her son's safety as well as her future with him. If he is proven to be Cooper's son then what will happen to her? Then there is the strong attraction that both Jessa and Cooper are fighting. They are conflicted and still helpless against this strong unknown feeling of care and hunger that they have for each other.
I loved the author's writing style. She uses simple and easy English but this doesn't compromise the interest that she easily extracts from the reader. I was kept at the edge of my seat throughout and completely engrossed till the end. The story is fast paced and takes the reader on an eventful and thrilling journey full of suspense and excitement.
The characterization is admirable. Delores introduces the various characters of this series and also keeps the foundation of the base story involving Cooper's family and his estranged mother, Jewel's family and the long ago unsolved murder. Did Jewel kill that man? Is this why she fled town leaving behind her sons and her husband never to return until now?
The love and understanding between Cooper and his brothers and his father is sincere and I could feel the companionship and mutual respect that they have for each other. They are fully in tune with each other and stand as a united front against any difficulty faced by any member of their family. The attraction between Jessa and Cooper is intense and slowly builds to a more concrete feeling of love. I could sympathize with these two and prayed for a happily-ever-after for them. They both have been traumatized in the past and are two broken people who need love to make them whole. I loved the scenes with these two in them and was very invested in all the action of the story.
All in all, Maverick Sheriff is an entertaining book that gives the reader entertainment, a surge of excitement and adrenalin, some intense action, an engrossing suspense and a love story that is heartfelt and deeply enjoyable. I give Maverick Sheriff 4.5 out of 5 and look forward to reading the next books in the series. Delores Fossen is a talented writer and I would definitely read more of her books now. I recommend this book to all lovers of romantic suspense. You will love the book!
I received the ARC from NetGalley and Harlequin and I am very thankful to them. The above review is my honest and unbiased opinion and in no way influenced.
July 13, 2014
This is my first Delores Fossen book, but Harlequin's INTRIGUE line is one I feel I get a lot of wins out of. They're typically smart, quick paced, stay on point, and never insults the reader.
I feel like this does that for the most part. Except (you knew there was an except, right?)...
THIS IS WHERE YOU GET A WARNING THAT SPOILERS WILL BE HERE
.
BUT, NO, I WON'T TELL YOU WHO THE VILLAIN IS
.
.
You can guess from the spoiler that Cooper assumes Liam is his son and immediately has his blood tested. Of course this just pisses Jessa off as she goes into mama bear mode even as she completely understands what's compelling him to do it.
The book opens with a hit and run where Jessa & Liam are run off the road. The car stops but takes off when someone else comes along the abandoned, back road almost immediately.
That's the set up.
Throughout the book people say things like, He/She/They (they assume it's a he thru most of the book, so let's go with that - but there are a lot of suspects. This isn't a giveaway point)....He won't shoot at us with Liam in the car!
What???
The assumption is they almost killed him once. There's a lot of kidnapped babies (subplots) and assumptions that don't go with the evidence. There's the assumption that if the boy or the test or disappears no one will ever be able to prove if Liam is Coopers... you know beyond the results being stored anywhere, or the blood from the hospital, or other sources of DNA...or if they take the test away... you know, the ability to RE-TEST.
The continuity errors around the mystery at first felt like red herrings but as the book went on, it just felt like loose writing. It feels like the editor said, "I want you to throw more stuff in there so people don't guess who the bad guy is!"
OR, the writer was trying to be really complicated and the editor/reader never helped rein it in.
On the flip side: I loved Cooper and Jessa. I loved that he wasn't stupid about her and that she kept her guard up but not insane. I loved that they were both willing to put Liam first and worked together...even if that meant you never worried about how the Problem of Liam would be solved. It was kind of a POOF, We're A Family Now situation. They're a couple you want to root for. You want Cooper to regain the opportunity to love again. You want Jessa to overcome her past to let a man in...and you want that man to be Cooper.
The secondary arc and characters are interesting if a little unclear. But, that's completely acceptable for INTRIGUE since the books are short to focus only on one plot line.
BOTTOMLINE: Quick paced, easy read, great chemistry, and a good set up for an interesting series. I would definitely grab this book. Even with the looseness around the mystery, you can see where Ms. Fossen is setting up a great set of books.
Final Rank: 3.5 star!
Would I try the author again: Absolutely
Romance: 7
Heroine: 7
Hero: 8
Laughter: 5
Heat: Yes, but later in the book and not over the top
Cheating: No
Series: #1
Cliffhanger: The book is standalone, but this first in the series sets up a nice, complicated arc we're just diving into.
This ARC was received thru NetGalley for an honest, unbiased review.
I feel like this does that for the most part. Except (you knew there was an except, right?)...
THIS IS WHERE YOU GET A WARNING THAT SPOILERS WILL BE HERE
.
BUT, NO, I WON'T TELL YOU WHO THE VILLAIN IS
.
.
You can guess from the spoiler that Cooper assumes Liam is his son and immediately has his blood tested. Of course this just pisses Jessa off as she goes into mama bear mode even as she completely understands what's compelling him to do it.
The book opens with a hit and run where Jessa & Liam are run off the road. The car stops but takes off when someone else comes along the abandoned, back road almost immediately.
That's the set up.
Throughout the book people say things like, He/She/They (they assume it's a he thru most of the book, so let's go with that - but there are a lot of suspects. This isn't a giveaway point)....He won't shoot at us with Liam in the car!
What???
The assumption is they almost killed him once. There's a lot of kidnapped babies (subplots) and assumptions that don't go with the evidence. There's the assumption that if the boy or the test or disappears no one will ever be able to prove if Liam is Coopers... you know beyond the results being stored anywhere, or the blood from the hospital, or other sources of DNA...or if they take the test away... you know, the ability to RE-TEST.
The continuity errors around the mystery at first felt like red herrings but as the book went on, it just felt like loose writing. It feels like the editor said, "I want you to throw more stuff in there so people don't guess who the bad guy is!"
OR, the writer was trying to be really complicated and the editor/reader never helped rein it in.
On the flip side: I loved Cooper and Jessa. I loved that he wasn't stupid about her and that she kept her guard up but not insane. I loved that they were both willing to put Liam first and worked together...even if that meant you never worried about how the Problem of Liam would be solved. It was kind of a POOF, We're A Family Now situation. They're a couple you want to root for. You want Cooper to regain the opportunity to love again. You want Jessa to overcome her past to let a man in...and you want that man to be Cooper.
The secondary arc and characters are interesting if a little unclear. But, that's completely acceptable for INTRIGUE since the books are short to focus only on one plot line.
BOTTOMLINE: Quick paced, easy read, great chemistry, and a good set up for an interesting series. I would definitely grab this book. Even with the looseness around the mystery, you can see where Ms. Fossen is setting up a great set of books.
Final Rank: 3.5 star!
Would I try the author again: Absolutely
Romance: 7
Heroine: 7
Hero: 8
Laughter: 5
Heat: Yes, but later in the book and not over the top
Cheating: No
Series: #1
Cliffhanger: The book is standalone, but this first in the series sets up a nice, complicated arc we're just diving into.
This ARC was received thru NetGalley for an honest, unbiased review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 9, 2014
This was a very fast read, with a fast-paced plot. The action kept me reading, but there were several things that bothered me about the book.
- There were bits that were repetitive, and in something this short (it was less than 4 hours of reading for me and I'm not a terribly fast reader) that is more distracting and unnecessary.
- The set-up of the sheriff's mother being prosecuted by the ADA seemed like a good way to create some tension between the main characters, but I kind of felt like I was walking into the middle of a series, not the first book. It wasn't a big deal, but I felt a little more removed from that aspect of the plot because I didn't have any connection to it and the mother barely made an appearance. I still didn't have a very good feel for the family make-up or dynamics either between siblings, step siblings, half siblings? And what was the deal with the other family member who had a child kidnapped or disappeared? It was just kind of mentioned in passing a couple times.
-At the climax I was especially annoyed as there were some glaring issues with the kidnapping/ransom situation. Yes, the criminal was not in his right mind, but how did the sheriff and the ADA miss out on the fact that there was no point to his getting the DNA test results from them and leaving the child and them alive? They could just repeat the DNA test. Not to mention, half the town already knew the results so what was the point? Obviously it was just a trap to get both of them out there where he planned to kill them. I don't know that there was any other possible action on their part, but it still bugs me that they didn't at least acknowledge the large elephant in the room. Also, what was the reasoning for the criminal to leave Liam alive? Even if both parents were killed their bodies could still provide evidence to convict the guy of baby brokering. Is a two year old worth as much as a newborn? I suppose I'll grant him that he already made a bunch off the kid once so turning around and selling him again, even at a lower price is still a great profit; but a profit with a lot more risk attached I would think.
Over all I wasn't terribly impressed. I may give the next book in the series a try as I really love western/small town romantic suspense, but I'm afraid it won't be at the top of my TBR pile.
I received an advanced e-galley copy of this title via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The comments in the review above are my own.
- There were bits that were repetitive, and in something this short (it was less than 4 hours of reading for me and I'm not a terribly fast reader) that is more distracting and unnecessary.
- The set-up of the sheriff's mother being prosecuted by the ADA seemed like a good way to create some tension between the main characters, but I kind of felt like I was walking into the middle of a series, not the first book. It wasn't a big deal, but I felt a little more removed from that aspect of the plot because I didn't have any connection to it and the mother barely made an appearance. I still didn't have a very good feel for the family make-up or dynamics either between siblings, step siblings, half siblings? And what was the deal with the other family member who had a child kidnapped or disappeared? It was just kind of mentioned in passing a couple times.
-At the climax I was especially annoyed as there were some glaring issues with the kidnapping/ransom situation. Yes, the criminal was not in his right mind, but how did the sheriff and the ADA miss out on the fact that there was no point to his getting the DNA test results from them and leaving the child and them alive? They could just repeat the DNA test. Not to mention, half the town already knew the results so what was the point? Obviously it was just a trap to get both of them out there where he planned to kill them. I don't know that there was any other possible action on their part, but it still bugs me that they didn't at least acknowledge the large elephant in the room. Also, what was the reasoning for the criminal to leave Liam alive? Even if both parents were killed their bodies could still provide evidence to convict the guy of baby brokering. Is a two year old worth as much as a newborn? I suppose I'll grant him that he already made a bunch off the kid once so turning around and selling him again, even at a lower price is still a great profit; but a profit with a lot more risk attached I would think.
Over all I wasn't terribly impressed. I may give the next book in the series a try as I really love western/small town romantic suspense, but I'm afraid it won't be at the top of my TBR pile.
I received an advanced e-galley copy of this title via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The comments in the review above are my own.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 19, 2014
4 STARS
Maverick Sheriff is first book in Sweetwater Ranch. It has a big story that is set up probably to carry on the series. It introduces a whole bunch of characters and a lot of them are in different law enforce agencies. I like the ones that we have seen so far.
Sheriff Cooper McKinnon is a widower. He lost his wife two years ago in a flood. His six week baby's body was never found. Cooper and his son have rare blood type. All of a sudden he thinks his son is alive and adopted by district attorney.
Jessa Wells district attorney and mother to Liam. She wants to charge Cooper with obstruction and try his mother for murder. She was in a car wreck. Liam needs blood transfusion.
Colt McKinnon is a deputy of Cooper's and his brother.
Tucker McKinnon he is a Texas Ranger and Cooper's brother.
Jewell left her sons twenty-three years ago with their father Roy and took her twin daughters with her. Now she is wanted for murder of her lover Whitt from years ago. Jewell actually owns the ranch that they have lived on and worked. She wants her daughters to stay on in the guest house with her step son she adopted.
Rosalie McKinnon is a nurse she had her baby kidnapped six months ago. She has not been to the ranch since she was six years old.
Rayanne is Rosalie's fraternal twin. She is a deputy of small town two counties away.
Seth Calder FBI Agent is Jewell's stepson
Seth, Rayanne, and Rosalie came with their mom and are going to prove she did not commit the murder years ago.
Two gunman are at the hospital they are trying to kidnap Liam. They have a hostage. Who is trying to take Liam.
There is lots of drama, mystery, action, romance, one sex scene and suspense. You are not sure who kidnapped and put Liam up for illegal adoption two years ago? Or is murdering to cover it up. I did not want to put the book down till I was finished.
The setting for this book is Texas and the Sweetwater ranch.
I want to read the rest of the stories and find out what really happened twenty-three years ago.
I was given this ebook to read and in return agreed to give honest review of Maverick Sheriff. I received the ebook from Net Galley and Harlequin.
Maverick Sheriff is first book in Sweetwater Ranch. It has a big story that is set up probably to carry on the series. It introduces a whole bunch of characters and a lot of them are in different law enforce agencies. I like the ones that we have seen so far.
Sheriff Cooper McKinnon is a widower. He lost his wife two years ago in a flood. His six week baby's body was never found. Cooper and his son have rare blood type. All of a sudden he thinks his son is alive and adopted by district attorney.
Jessa Wells district attorney and mother to Liam. She wants to charge Cooper with obstruction and try his mother for murder. She was in a car wreck. Liam needs blood transfusion.
Colt McKinnon is a deputy of Cooper's and his brother.
Tucker McKinnon he is a Texas Ranger and Cooper's brother.
Jewell left her sons twenty-three years ago with their father Roy and took her twin daughters with her. Now she is wanted for murder of her lover Whitt from years ago. Jewell actually owns the ranch that they have lived on and worked. She wants her daughters to stay on in the guest house with her step son she adopted.
Rosalie McKinnon is a nurse she had her baby kidnapped six months ago. She has not been to the ranch since she was six years old.
Rayanne is Rosalie's fraternal twin. She is a deputy of small town two counties away.
Seth Calder FBI Agent is Jewell's stepson
Seth, Rayanne, and Rosalie came with their mom and are going to prove she did not commit the murder years ago.
Two gunman are at the hospital they are trying to kidnap Liam. They have a hostage. Who is trying to take Liam.
There is lots of drama, mystery, action, romance, one sex scene and suspense. You are not sure who kidnapped and put Liam up for illegal adoption two years ago? Or is murdering to cover it up. I did not want to put the book down till I was finished.
The setting for this book is Texas and the Sweetwater ranch.
I want to read the rest of the stories and find out what really happened twenty-three years ago.
I was given this ebook to read and in return agreed to give honest review of Maverick Sheriff. I received the ebook from Net Galley and Harlequin.
July 22, 2014
Jessa Wells, Assistant District Attorney, is determined to close an old case, a murder in which the prime suspect is the estranged mother of the local sheriff, Cooper McKinnon. But when her two-year-old adopted son, Liam, is badly injured in a hit-and-run accident that forces her car off the road, he needs a blood donation from the only person locally that shares his rare blood type--Cooper McKinnon.
Cooper McKinnon's wife and six-week-old son were killed in a flood two years ago, and while his wife's body was found, their baby's body never was. Could Liam be his lost son Cameron?
Jessa and Cooper are at war with each other over her prosecution of his mother--not because he's worried about the mother that abandoned him, his brothers, and their father, but because his mother will fight and his father is the next most likely suspect in the murder of of her lover. Now they have a new source of conflict in the possibility that Liam might be Cameron, illegally adopted to her. But then someone tries to kidnap or kill Liam from the hospital, and Jessa and Cooper have to work together to protect the child that means everything to both of them.
There are a number of logic failures in the plot, including Jessa and Cooper's belief that the Bad Guys, who have already tried to kill Liam, won't shoot at the car they're in if they believe Liam is in it. That's not the worst one, but the worst one would be a spoiler.
Nevertheless, the characters are solid, and the pacing is excellent. Despite the logic failures in the plot, Cooper and Jessa mostly avoid being stupid for the sake of the plot or dramatic conflict. They both feel strongly that this little boy is their own, but they also both have respect for the other's commitment to him, and are adult enough to rationally work together for his safety.
I forgive the plot logic failures. This is an enjoyable read.
Recommended.
I received a free electronic galley of this book from the publisher via NetGalley.
Cooper McKinnon's wife and six-week-old son were killed in a flood two years ago, and while his wife's body was found, their baby's body never was. Could Liam be his lost son Cameron?
Jessa and Cooper are at war with each other over her prosecution of his mother--not because he's worried about the mother that abandoned him, his brothers, and their father, but because his mother will fight and his father is the next most likely suspect in the murder of of her lover. Now they have a new source of conflict in the possibility that Liam might be Cameron, illegally adopted to her. But then someone tries to kidnap or kill Liam from the hospital, and Jessa and Cooper have to work together to protect the child that means everything to both of them.
There are a number of logic failures in the plot, including Jessa and Cooper's belief that the Bad Guys, who have already tried to kill Liam, won't shoot at the car they're in if they believe Liam is in it. That's not the worst one, but the worst one would be a spoiler.
Nevertheless, the characters are solid, and the pacing is excellent. Despite the logic failures in the plot, Cooper and Jessa mostly avoid being stupid for the sake of the plot or dramatic conflict. They both feel strongly that this little boy is their own, but they also both have respect for the other's commitment to him, and are adult enough to rationally work together for his safety.
I forgive the plot logic failures. This is an enjoyable read.
Recommended.
I received a free electronic galley of this book from the publisher via NetGalley.
December 11, 2018
Um livro pequenino mas muito completo. Com enredos interessantes, personagens de quem gostei logo de início e que ficaram comigo depois do "the end" e muita ação, mas logo desde a primeira página, teve a minha atenção num instante e manteve-a sempre.
A esposa de Cooper morreu há 2 anos atrás e o filho bebé, de 6 semanas apenas, também foi dado como morto apesar de o seu pequeno corpo não ter aparecido. Agora, Cooper é chamado a doar sangue num caso de emergência para socorrer um menino de 2 anos com quem partilha o mesmo tipo de sangue muito raro. E a mãe adotiva do menino é, nada mais nada menos, a assistente do procurador que está a acusar a mãe de Cooper, que o abandonou e aos irmãos e marido, de um homicídio ocorrido há mais de 20 anos atrás. Uma confusão tremenda! E Cooper suspeita que o menino, Liam, seja o seu filho. O pedido de teste de ADN vai dar início a acontecimentos inesperados e de uma magnitude tal que mobiliza toda a família de Cooper, mesmo as irmãs e o filho que a mãe adotou depois de abandonar Cooper, Tucker e Colt, recém chegados ao rancho Sweetwater.
Um enredo muito bom, muito cativante e confesso que fiquei apanhada pelos irmãos McKinnon. Há um monte de pormenores que não ficaram explicados, mas não é daquelas coisas em que fique a pensar. Quero ler o resto da série.
A esposa de Cooper morreu há 2 anos atrás e o filho bebé, de 6 semanas apenas, também foi dado como morto apesar de o seu pequeno corpo não ter aparecido. Agora, Cooper é chamado a doar sangue num caso de emergência para socorrer um menino de 2 anos com quem partilha o mesmo tipo de sangue muito raro. E a mãe adotiva do menino é, nada mais nada menos, a assistente do procurador que está a acusar a mãe de Cooper, que o abandonou e aos irmãos e marido, de um homicídio ocorrido há mais de 20 anos atrás. Uma confusão tremenda! E Cooper suspeita que o menino, Liam, seja o seu filho. O pedido de teste de ADN vai dar início a acontecimentos inesperados e de uma magnitude tal que mobiliza toda a família de Cooper, mesmo as irmãs e o filho que a mãe adotou depois de abandonar Cooper, Tucker e Colt, recém chegados ao rancho Sweetwater.
Um enredo muito bom, muito cativante e confesso que fiquei apanhada pelos irmãos McKinnon. Há um monte de pormenores que não ficaram explicados, mas não é daquelas coisas em que fique a pensar. Quero ler o resto da série.
March 21, 2017
Maverick Sheriff had an interesting premise, but sadly the execution was lacking.
The book starts off well enough. Cooper shows up at the hospital to donate blood (as he has a rare blood type) and it turns out he's donating for the son of the woman who is bringing up charges against his estranged mother on a 23 year old murder. There are potential consequences for the rest of his family, so clearly these two are at odds. I'm a fan of hate to love romances, but the quick switch here was just ridiculous. Cooper and Jessa flat out hate each other at the beginning of this book and I felt there wasn't enough leading up to them falling in love. It felt like they just flipped the switch from hate to love and that was that.
The storyline with Liam, Jessa's adopted son, felt forced and it was way too convenient that . The overall story of the was interesting and would have been much more enjoyable without the connection of .
All the obstacles to Cooper and Jessa's relationship were dealt with in one conversation within the final five or so pages. It felt like the author was running through a checklist of all the loose threads that needed to be tied up and was just ticking the boxes.
Ultimately, while the premise of Maverick Sheriff was interesting, this book just wasn't for me. I will however be continuing with the series as I'm interested to see where this murder storyline goes (plus I already own the next 4 books on my Kindle).
The book starts off well enough. Cooper shows up at the hospital to donate blood (as he has a rare blood type) and it turns out he's donating for the son of the woman who is bringing up charges against his estranged mother on a 23 year old murder. There are potential consequences for the rest of his family, so clearly these two are at odds. I'm a fan of hate to love romances, but the quick switch here was just ridiculous. Cooper and Jessa flat out hate each other at the beginning of this book and I felt there wasn't enough leading up to them falling in love. It felt like they just flipped the switch from hate to love and that was that.
The storyline with Liam, Jessa's adopted son, felt forced and it was way too convenient that . The overall story of the was interesting and would have been much more enjoyable without the connection of .
All the obstacles to Cooper and Jessa's relationship were dealt with in one conversation within the final five or so pages. It felt like the author was running through a checklist of all the loose threads that needed to be tied up and was just ticking the boxes.
Ultimately, while the premise of Maverick Sheriff was interesting, this book just wasn't for me. I will however be continuing with the series as I'm interested to see where this murder storyline goes (plus I already own the next 4 books on my Kindle).
July 26, 2014
What do you get when coupling a TX sheriff and a hot ADA? A VERY cute romance with some steamy swoons.
I love cowboys. And when those cowboys are law men… well – you have me swooning even before the first word is written.
I picked this title off of NetGalley’s Harlequin Intrigue line, and the synopsis seemed fantastic. A men who’ve lost all he loved. An woman fierce in her determination to protect her child. Anger and angst.
Cooper is hurt, lost, aching and lonely and would give anything to have his wife and child back in his arms. And he’s mad as hell at the new ADA in town, determined to ruin his family’s life.
Jessa just wants to do her job, and live her life with her little boy.
Their story collides when Jessa’s child is in danger and Cooper is called to help. Cooper sees something about the boy, and the circumstances of him landing in Jessa’s care, that are too suspicious to not investigate.
A thick plot of lies and deceit is woven into a seemingly straight forward adoption process, and I have to admit I was lost for a time or two trying to track who’s whom.
The story is well written and flows well. The plot was obviously well thought through and carefully planned. I did love the idea and the reasoning behind most of the details, but I wish the pace was kept all the way through the end, and that the ending was a little more developed.
Very sweet, light and quick to read. Could use some more refining to make it better and more wholesome.
* Thank you Harlequin and NetGalley for this advance copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
I love cowboys. And when those cowboys are law men… well – you have me swooning even before the first word is written.
I picked this title off of NetGalley’s Harlequin Intrigue line, and the synopsis seemed fantastic. A men who’ve lost all he loved. An woman fierce in her determination to protect her child. Anger and angst.
Cooper is hurt, lost, aching and lonely and would give anything to have his wife and child back in his arms. And he’s mad as hell at the new ADA in town, determined to ruin his family’s life.
Jessa just wants to do her job, and live her life with her little boy.
Their story collides when Jessa’s child is in danger and Cooper is called to help. Cooper sees something about the boy, and the circumstances of him landing in Jessa’s care, that are too suspicious to not investigate.
A thick plot of lies and deceit is woven into a seemingly straight forward adoption process, and I have to admit I was lost for a time or two trying to track who’s whom.
The story is well written and flows well. The plot was obviously well thought through and carefully planned. I did love the idea and the reasoning behind most of the details, but I wish the pace was kept all the way through the end, and that the ending was a little more developed.
Very sweet, light and quick to read. Could use some more refining to make it better and more wholesome.
* Thank you Harlequin and NetGalley for this advance copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
August 22, 2014
Delores Fossen is a brand new author in my list and “Maverick Sheriff” was a surprise package of danger, suspense and love.
First in a new series titled “Sweetwater Ranch”, Maverick Sheriff brings us up close and personal with Cooper McKinnon and his family steeped in a past of betrayal and murder. As close as he is with an ongoing murder trial that hits very close to home, he is a man of honor and integrity and he wears justice on his sleeve.
A chance meeting with the Assistant DA, Jessa Wells and her adopted son Liam, with a rare blood type, sets the ball rolling for a series of events of danger and threat that seem to tie him with Jessa and his past. Jessa is the attorney trying to put a closure to a decades old murder, even as she fights her feelings for Cooper. She loves Liam with her very being and would lay her life for him.
Danger and circumstances bring Cooper, Jessa and Liam under one roof. As Cooper and Jessa try to come to terms with their feelings for each other, they join forces to put an end to the threat hovering around Liam and Jessa.
This is a fast paced, adrenaline pumping page-turner. A definite enjoyable read as Delores keeps the suspense and thrill on every page, and it is also an introduction to the many facets of the McKinnon family, as they try to mend fences and give the past a burial, in the forthcoming books of the series. I am definitely looking for the next book in the series.
Received a copy courtesy Netgalley for an honest review
First in a new series titled “Sweetwater Ranch”, Maverick Sheriff brings us up close and personal with Cooper McKinnon and his family steeped in a past of betrayal and murder. As close as he is with an ongoing murder trial that hits very close to home, he is a man of honor and integrity and he wears justice on his sleeve.
A chance meeting with the Assistant DA, Jessa Wells and her adopted son Liam, with a rare blood type, sets the ball rolling for a series of events of danger and threat that seem to tie him with Jessa and his past. Jessa is the attorney trying to put a closure to a decades old murder, even as she fights her feelings for Cooper. She loves Liam with her very being and would lay her life for him.
Danger and circumstances bring Cooper, Jessa and Liam under one roof. As Cooper and Jessa try to come to terms with their feelings for each other, they join forces to put an end to the threat hovering around Liam and Jessa.
This is a fast paced, adrenaline pumping page-turner. A definite enjoyable read as Delores keeps the suspense and thrill on every page, and it is also an introduction to the many facets of the McKinnon family, as they try to mend fences and give the past a burial, in the forthcoming books of the series. I am definitely looking for the next book in the series.
Received a copy courtesy Netgalley for an honest review
October 27, 2014
Cooper Mckinnon, a Texas sheriff saves the life of a little boy, but it opens old wounds from the loss of his own baby son two years ago. Jessa Wills is Liam’s adoptive mother and Assistant District Attorney. She and Cooper are at odds since she has decided to open an unsolved murder involving his astranged mother. He and his brothers are also accused of tampering with evidence. However things quickly change with Jessa’s accident and the need for her son to have blood transfusion. His blood type is very rare. It seems that Cooper has the same blood type. When he sees Liam for the first time he feels sucker-punched because Liam looks just like his missing son. With someone trying to kill Jessa and kidnap Liam, Cooper and Jessa have no choice but to join forces and find out who is behind it.
In the beginning the book seemed to have great potential and then it waned. There was a mutual attraction between Cooper and Jessa, but nothing really happens until suddenly in the middle of the book they acted on their attraction during an attempted kidnapping of Liam. I felt it was out of place at this time in the book. I was somewhat disappointed in the storyline, but hope the next book will give it and the characters more depth. It did however have enough drama to keep me reading to the end.
Disclosure: I was given a copy of this eBook by the publisher, Harlequin, through NetGalley blogger program for review. I was not required to write a favorable review nor was I compensated for my review. The opinions in this review are my own.
In the beginning the book seemed to have great potential and then it waned. There was a mutual attraction between Cooper and Jessa, but nothing really happens until suddenly in the middle of the book they acted on their attraction during an attempted kidnapping of Liam. I felt it was out of place at this time in the book. I was somewhat disappointed in the storyline, but hope the next book will give it and the characters more depth. It did however have enough drama to keep me reading to the end.
Disclosure: I was given a copy of this eBook by the publisher, Harlequin, through NetGalley blogger program for review. I was not required to write a favorable review nor was I compensated for my review. The opinions in this review are my own.
July 30, 2014
I have to admit that when I picked up Maverick Sheriff it was a case of mistaken identity. The Maverick in the title fooled me. I though it was part of the Montana Mavericks series. Imagine my surprise when I found out it was book one in a new series set on Sweetwater Ranch in Texas. Any disappoint disappeared by the time I was on page 2. Maverick Sheriff is a tightly written book that caught me from the beginning.
Maverick Sheriff is full of tension and danger and is a very good fit for the Intrigue line from Harlequin. There are several mysteries introduced in the book but the main one involves two-year-old Liam. His rare blood type starts a series of events that cause Cooper McKinnon and Jessa Wells to work with one another. As the danger to both Liam and Jessa intensifies the attraction they feel for one another as grows.
This was a great mystery as well as a good romance. Maverick Sheriff is filled with unique characters who add to the danger. While one mystery is solved another is just touched on. It will be interesting to see who is featured in the next book and what will be revealed about the murder from years ago.
Maverick Sheriff is full of tension and danger and is a very good fit for the Intrigue line from Harlequin. There are several mysteries introduced in the book but the main one involves two-year-old Liam. His rare blood type starts a series of events that cause Cooper McKinnon and Jessa Wells to work with one another. As the danger to both Liam and Jessa intensifies the attraction they feel for one another as grows.
This was a great mystery as well as a good romance. Maverick Sheriff is filled with unique characters who add to the danger. While one mystery is solved another is just touched on. It will be interesting to see who is featured in the next book and what will be revealed about the murder from years ago.
August 19, 2014
I just love mystery and romance together. This book has plenty th of both. The suspense kept me turning the pages, there were so many people that could have been the culprit, you just had to keep reading to find out who it was.
Cooper is the sheriff and Jessa is the district attorney in town to put his mother in jail for murder. Then a kidnapping attempt on her son takes the story in a totally different directions. It forces them to work together to keep her son safe. As it turns out her adopted son is the son of Cooper that everyone thought was dead. The whole mystery revolves around the illegal adoption, now they have to figure out what happened and who is responsible. Cooper and Jessa definitely have chemistry but neither is willing to admit it. It's a sweet romance story and the characters were well developed. The set up of the secondary characters seems to be a great arc into the next book of the series. I'm looking forward to reading the next one.
I was given a copy by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Cooper is the sheriff and Jessa is the district attorney in town to put his mother in jail for murder. Then a kidnapping attempt on her son takes the story in a totally different directions. It forces them to work together to keep her son safe. As it turns out her adopted son is the son of Cooper that everyone thought was dead. The whole mystery revolves around the illegal adoption, now they have to figure out what happened and who is responsible. Cooper and Jessa definitely have chemistry but neither is willing to admit it. It's a sweet romance story and the characters were well developed. The set up of the secondary characters seems to be a great arc into the next book of the series. I'm looking forward to reading the next one.
I was given a copy by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 22, 2014
Maverick Sherriff is a romantic suspense by Delores Fossen. The opening scene where Cooper, the town Sherriff, is called in to give blood seems innocent enough however it starts a chain of events. He is asked to give blood because Jessa was in a wreck with her son and he has an unusual blood type. The mystery surrounding Liam is well played out.
There are several storylines. One is the mystery around Liam’s parentage and who is trying to kidnap him. The second is the 23 year old murder that Cooper’s mother, is accused of. Jessa happens to be the DA that is prosecuting her. The third storyline I picked up on is Rosalie’s missing child.
We are introduced to several of Cooper’s siblings who I assume will each get their own book.
There were several possible suspects and I did not guess the culprit. I recommend the book and plan to read the rest of the series
You can see my full review at More Than a Review dot com where I rate the level of sex, violence, language and drug/alcohol use in books.
http://www.morethanareview.com/books/...
There are several storylines. One is the mystery around Liam’s parentage and who is trying to kidnap him. The second is the 23 year old murder that Cooper’s mother, is accused of. Jessa happens to be the DA that is prosecuting her. The third storyline I picked up on is Rosalie’s missing child.
We are introduced to several of Cooper’s siblings who I assume will each get their own book.
There were several possible suspects and I did not guess the culprit. I recommend the book and plan to read the rest of the series
You can see my full review at More Than a Review dot com where I rate the level of sex, violence, language and drug/alcohol use in books.
http://www.morethanareview.com/books/...
September 4, 2014
2.5 Stars. I liked the main characters, how Cooper was fair-minded about the Liam situation rather than totally alpha about it, and Jessa was this independent career woman who doesn’t let anyone intimidate her, she was a partner in solving the case, not a bystander.
As for the romance, I enjoyed the tension early on; I just wished it had lasted longer. I get that many readers have certain expectations for sex scenes and are in a rush to get to the juicy stuff, and I’m not at all against the juicy stuff, it’s just that to me, sometimes it doesn’t feel like the story is ready to go there yet, like maybe it would benefit from a little more longing and uncertainty and waiting for later in the book to keep the emotional stakes really, really high.
I was a bit disappointed that the villain turned out to be the obvious choice, though the author did keep me guessing up until the end, which I do appreciate.
I received this through a Goodreads giveaway.
As for the romance, I enjoyed the tension early on; I just wished it had lasted longer. I get that many readers have certain expectations for sex scenes and are in a rush to get to the juicy stuff, and I’m not at all against the juicy stuff, it’s just that to me, sometimes it doesn’t feel like the story is ready to go there yet, like maybe it would benefit from a little more longing and uncertainty and waiting for later in the book to keep the emotional stakes really, really high.
I was a bit disappointed that the villain turned out to be the obvious choice, though the author did keep me guessing up until the end, which I do appreciate.
I received this through a Goodreads giveaway.
August 28, 2014
This wasn't my favorite Harlequin Intrigue, but I have to say I did enjoy the different approach to a missing child issue. Poor Cooper, having lost his child to be faced with the possibility of maybe finding him again, that's quite a dilemma. And then Jessa. Oh, poor, poor Jessa, having the possibility of the little boy she'd come to love be taken from her? Wow. These two really pulled on my heart strings. The plot itself wasn't so gripping, but the love (both as it grew between them AND for the little boy at the center of everything) was. Glad I read this.
Book provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Book provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 1, 2014
This review first appeared on my blog http://loriscreativity.blogspot.com/2...
Like: The author kept me guessing till the very end.
Dislike: Nothing.
Would I recommend it?
Yes, I would 100% totally recommend this book! Once I started reading 'Maverick Sheriff' I couldn't put it down! I don't usually read books with a lot of crime involved, but after reading this book I think I might have to start reading more suspense-romance type books.
Overall it was a great read and I only wish it was longer!
Like: The author kept me guessing till the very end.
Dislike: Nothing.
Would I recommend it?
Yes, I would 100% totally recommend this book! Once I started reading 'Maverick Sheriff' I couldn't put it down! I don't usually read books with a lot of crime involved, but after reading this book I think I might have to start reading more suspense-romance type books.
Overall it was a great read and I only wish it was longer!
August 11, 2016
*I received this book through Goodreads First Reads.
Actual Rating 3.5 Stars
I enjoyed reading this book. There was a lot of intrigue, plot twists and conflict in the story. My only issue was that I felt that the romance was not really the main focus in the book but more on solving the mystery of Liam, but hey that's just me. The characterization felt like an obvious set up for the next books in the series. There was just so many characters and conflict in this first book and I felt lost.
August 14, 2014
I have always enjoyed the Harlequin Intrigue books. What could be better than a mystery filled with suspense and romance! This fast-paced novel has more than one mystery to solve, but only one is resolved in book 1 of this new series, Sweetwater Ranch, by Delores Fossen. I look forward to reading more about the McKinnon family and its other mysteries hinted at in Maverick Sheriff. This series will have 8 books total. Book 2, Cowboy Behind the Badge, is expected to be released October 2013. I know what I’ll be reading in October! What about you?
August 24, 2014
I was a First Read Winner of this book and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It has been awhile since I read a book that I had a hard time putting down, and I pretty much devoured this one. I loved the characters and it had plenty of drama, action, suspense and romance. Delores Fossen is a new Author for me, but she won't be for long. I am looking forward of reading more of her books, especially more of the Sweetwater Ranch series. You just can't go wrong with some hot Cowboys.
July 26, 2014
This was a really suspenseful book. I enjoyed the twists and turns. I wish that there had been a little more about the backstory. As I read it, I felt like there had been a book before this one. But all in all, it was a wonderful story. I won't give out spoilers, but if you like Romantic Suspense, read this! It was well written and heart warming. I was disappointed. With the cover, I felt there would be more of a Western theme to the book than there was. But, it's still good.
August 31, 2014
Got this book in a giveaway and thought it was really good. New series and the characters come across as believable and entertaining. It is not a long book and there is alot happening throughout the whole book. The story reminds me of Harlequin's of old. It's concentrated more on building the characters, rather than the sex or violence. Although the is both. Lol. Enjoyed reading it.
August 19, 2014
*Goodreads first reads giveaway*
I found this book to be very entertaining, there was a lot of action in it, and I enjoyed the characters, the romance moved a little fast for me, guess I am not used to these kinds of books, so I don't think that they are for me, but it was enjoyable!
I found this book to be very entertaining, there was a lot of action in it, and I enjoyed the characters, the romance moved a little fast for me, guess I am not used to these kinds of books, so I don't think that they are for me, but it was enjoyable!
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