Following a dream brought Josie Keller to Shoshone, Wyoming. Following her heart brought her plenty of great sex with good-time cowboy Jack Chance! She was head over heels for him… until he left her.
Stay with one woman? Not a chance! Then why does Jack miss Josie like crazy? Had their relationship been more than just incredible sex?
Little do Josie and Jack know that a plan's afoot to get them back in the saddle…together. And once there, it's not long before they're burning up the bedsheets again!
But the past is never far away. Before it catches up with them, Jack has to decide if he's going to stake his claim on Josie, or lose her forever….
New York Times and USA Today bestseller Vicki Lewis Thompson believes love makes the world go around and laughter makes the trip worth taking. The recipient of RWA’s Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award and the author of more than ninety books, Vicki pioneered a new kind of romance hero with Nerd in Shining Armor. Following the success of her nerd stories, Vicki launched a boisterous paranormal series featuring a matchmaking witch and wizard, an ADD dragon named George, and a black cat inspired by her own precocious feline, Eve.
This series is wonderful. I just love the characters and the storyline. Although I did want to kick Jack up the arse. Serious problems with that cowboy. Finished reading this around 3 a.m. - I couldn't leave it hanging. Brilliant as always. Loved it! 5☆
I did enjoy this story with a very emotional ending that had me tearing up. I do believe the hero made atonement but his treatment of the heroine bothered me and it went on too long before she finally called him on it. Months ago cowboy Jack broke off with bar owner Josie, his sex buddy, and now they are thrown together for his brothers wedding.
Vicki Lewis Thompson continues the Sons of Chance series with Claimed by the Cowboy, the story of Jack Chance and his lost love Josie Keller. Ten months before this book begins, Jack’s father died in a car accident. Jack had refused to help his dad that day and, instead, had spent the day with Josie. After his dad’s death, Jack’s guilt devastated him and led him to end things with Josie. Now his little brother Gabe is getting married and wants Jack to be co-best man. But the catch is that the bride wants Josie to be one of the maids of honor. Jack has mostly avoided Josie for months (except for one embarrassing encounter at her apartment), but there’s no way he can disappoint Gabe and Morgan by refusing to be in their wedding. The whole family is nervous about Jack and Josie having to spend real time together at the wedding festivities, so Sarah, his stepmother, devises the perfect plan. Josie needs to learn to ride since the wedding party will be on horseback, and Jack can teach her. After his drunken visit to her apartment, Jack vows to keep their riding lessons platonic. But the attraction between them hasn’t died any during their time apart, and they both find it impossible to keep their hands off each other. They agree to resume their affair, but Josie quickly realizes that she can’t continue to deal with Jack’s emotional distance. Jack comes to realize that he has been putting up walls between himself and his loved ones, but is it too late to convince Josie to give him another chance?
I have been waiting for Jack’s story since I read the first book in this series. His grief and guilt surrounding his father’s death have been a major undercurrent through the prior books. Jack’s refusal to deal with his emotions has caused turmoil on the ranch and tension between him and his brothers. Of course, it also led him to break Josie’s heart. But this book explores the fact that Jack’s emotional issues stem from much further back— to his mother abandoning him as a child. That early loss keeps him from fully committing to being Sarah’s son and makes him hold himself apart from others to prevent himself from being hurt again. His dad’s death just added to his emotional struggles. Ms. Thompson always does a great job giving her characters emotional depth, but with Jack, I think she outdoes herself. Jack’s emotional turmoil is so realistic, and I hurt for him in this book. But Ms. Thompson also doesn’t shy away from showing how Jack’s attempts to protect himself from pain have caused pain for the people he loves, especially Sarah and Josie. I appreciate that Josie demands a partner who will give her his whole heart and that she respects herself enough to walk away from Jack when she believes that he can’t commit to that. I love that Ms. Thompson writes female leads that stand up for themselves.
Of course, Claimed by the Cowboy is a romance novel, so grief isn’t the sole focus on the book. Jack and Josie have a very steamy romance, and Ms. Thompson paints quite a picture of their passionate interludes during Josie’s riding lessons. But even before they resume their affair, Jack and Josie’s mutual attraction jumps off the page, especially in the scene where Jack first approaches Josie about the riding lessons. I loved how she described Jack straddling the chair in Josie’s office! The beauty of Ms. Thompson’s books, though, is her talent at balancing steamy romance with emotional engagement. She never disappoints when it comes to writing great love scenes and creating characters that have passion, but her books offer so much more than just pure sex. I’ve read romance novels where the only interesting parts of the books are the love scenes. There’s not necessarily anything wrong with that, but I personally enjoy a romance novel that goes deeper than steaminess. And that’s why I love Vicki Lewis Thompson’s novels.
I highly recommend Claimed by the Cowboy, but readers should definitely read the series in order so that they can fully appreciate Jack’s story. I received an ARC of the book from the author, but that did not influence my review.
Where to start? It actually quickly became an almost hate read.
Let's see... our "H", and I use that term loosely, broke it off with the "h" (who is no prize) rather abruptly 10 months previous, telling her it "was just sex". Now, he shows up on her doorstep, drunk, and tries to punch what turns out to be her brother for moving in on his girl. Uh... right.
There are brief glimpses into the backstory of the "H" - his dad appears to have been a controlling asshole who ran off his first wife (that's never addressed other than the "H" appears to blame her entirely), and who didn't like that the "H" had taken up with the "h", not because he had issue with her, but because she distracted the son from being his devoted slave. He'd apparently demanded that son haul a horse, son refused, and the cynic in me sort of wonders if he didn't deliberately wreck to make son feel bad, only miscalculated and got himself killed - 10 months before the book starts.
The h, in spite of all this, when meeting him to discuss a few riding lessons for a wedding in 2 weeks, is more than ready to jump him, and in fact, the first lesson gets a hand job from him...willingly.
She does break it off with him after a few pointed questions by her brother make her realize he's just...playing around. But sheesh.
There were so many issues, from the h's absolute lack of self respect, to the H's self-absorbtion. It's a small town, with one gas station and one stop light. Theoretically, everyone is related to everyone, and everyone knows who is sleeping with whom, so his behavior towards her, or well, any local woman is irresponsible. Her practically falling over with her legs in the air because he's so hot or whatever... A wedding on horseback being conjured out of thin air in 2 weeks, complete with formalish gowns... Finding dresses that would fit (which, btw, was never mentioned in the book) in such a rush job would be a trial, not to mention horses don't always take kindly to great heaps of fabric dumped on them.
The riding lessons in and of themselves made me wince - a trail ride the first time? And trotting? Cantering? The h dropping the reins (ack!) and hanging on by the saddle horn to enjoy the ride?!
Jack was the brooding brother and I was hoping for more sexual tension going on between Josie and him. Josie seemed a bit easy here for my liking.. She should put more restrains considering their history. All in all, I enjoyed all 3 books of the series. ;DD
I love cowboy stories and this one fits the bill. fun easy read, likeable characters. This is part of the Sons of Chance series. Jack and Josie's story. The story starts off at the end of their romance and the storyline sets up a will they or won't they regain the love they had lost. The story is a stand alone, but with series it is good to read them all. I am looking forward reading Should've been a cowboy which will be Josie's brother, Alex's story - which should be good, as he is not at first meet a cowboy.
This is the 3rd installment of the Son's of Chance series and, honestly, it's not my favorite. I found most of Jack's personality off putting. No one wants a stubborn, emotionless, pompous ass hat as a "Hero" character and that's about the nicest thing that I can say about him. The sex scenes were not as good as VLT's previous books and the only reason I am giving this book a second star is because I did love the emotional breakthrough with his mother at the end. I've read the first three books of this series back to back, but I think I'll be taking a break before continuing through it.
Jack Chance had so much to get through before he could admit his love for Josie. Even to himself. Josie knew she loved Jack but until he could open to emotion she wanted, tried, to keep her distance. Claimed by the Cowboy is the perfect 3rd story to introduce the Sons of Chance series. It was great to ha e so many of the characters from the other books included in this one.. Well written, well plotted, and well edited.
Reread! Jack and Josie’s story was amazing! Jack was seriously messed up for a long time, but even jerks can be redeemed. It took him awhile, but he eventually was able to make it up to Josie. The tearful ending was wonderful!
I was wondering how they'd get together, since he ended their relationship so drastically. It amazing what appraising your life and making amends will do to patch up a relationship, I liked that it didn't drag on.
What a GREAT story! Kinda sad in places but funny in others to equal out to a wonderful time spent! I think Ms. Thompson has one of the funniest knacks for writing banter. I just adore her books!
This second chance at love brought tears to my eyes. Jack has to overcome a couple of very painful events from his past before he can even hope for a further with Josie.
I loved the book's flow...engaging, romantic and sexy fun. Well written and great character development. I would strongly recommend this book and this author.
Excellent Storyline of two very much in love with each other and Josie and Jack are perfectly fit into a storytelling, creative, Author. Vicki Lewis Thompson. Very well written!
Are all cowboys sexy and built for action or is that only in books. It seems that they all don't know what love is though. Isn't it wonderful when people figure that out.
Ending just stopped and left me with tons of unanswered questions. The author was too busy setting up the next book than finishing this story. Very frustrating. Otherwise it was a goid story