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The best way to heal a broken heart is to jump right back on the horse. So to speak.
After watching the girl he's crushed on for years fall for his best friend, the last thing special operative Jack Gordon wants is a vacation. If cooling his heels doesn't drive him crazy, doing it under his family's scrutiny will.
But once he's back home things get more than a little interesting. The new farm hand is cute, sexy...and his instincts tell him she's got something to hide. Luckily, he's got the skills and the backup to find out what.
Gordon Equine is the perfect place for Niccolina Campolini. The Gordons pay in room, board and cash. And they don't ask questions. Perfect for a girl on the run - until Jack shows up. Sexy as hell and far too inquisitive, Jack strikes sparks and suspicions that put both her body and her heart in danger.
Jack knows better than to trust a woman with as many shadows as Nicki, but the heat waves of their attraction are messing with his focus. And when her secrets catch up with her, he's not sure if he's protecting her from something, or protecting his family from her.
This book has been previously published and has been revised from its original release.
Warning: This book contains extremely stupid gangsters bearing guns, a bored team of special operatives looking for some action, and one Southern gentleman guaranteed to charm your panties off.
After watching the girl he's crushed on for years fall for his best friend, the last thing special operative Jack Gordon wants is a vacation. If cooling his heels doesn't drive him crazy, doing it under his family's scrutiny will.
But once he's back home things get more than a little interesting. The new farm hand is cute, sexy...and his instincts tell him she's got something to hide. Luckily, he's got the skills and the backup to find out what.
Gordon Equine is the perfect place for Niccolina Campolini. The Gordons pay in room, board and cash. And they don't ask questions. Perfect for a girl on the run - until Jack shows up. Sexy as hell and far too inquisitive, Jack strikes sparks and suspicions that put both her body and her heart in danger.
Jack knows better than to trust a woman with as many shadows as Nicki, but the heat waves of their attraction are messing with his focus. And when her secrets catch up with her, he's not sure if he's protecting her from something, or protecting his family from her.
This book has been previously published and has been revised from its original release.
Warning: This book contains extremely stupid gangsters bearing guns, a bored team of special operatives looking for some action, and one Southern gentleman guaranteed to charm your panties off.
72 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 17, 2010
20 people are currently reading
609 people want to read
About the author
Cat Johnson
364 books1,764 followers📚Find Series Reading Order and Book Lists at Cat's site CatJohnson.net
🎥 For Film/TV Inquiries Email Cat@Catjohnson.net
It all started in first grade when Cat Johnson won the essay contest at Hawthorne Elementary School and got to ride in the Chief of Police's car in the Memorial Day Parade...and the rest, as they say, is history. As an adult, Cat generally tries to stay out of police cars and is thrilled to be writing for a living. She has been published under a different name in the Young Adult genre, but released her first romance in 2006.
Today, she is a NY Times & USA Today best-selling, award-winning author of contemporary romance. A promo ho, she's sponsored real live bull riding cowboys and promoted romance using bologna.
--from the author's website
🎥 For Film/TV Inquiries Email Cat@Catjohnson.net
It all started in first grade when Cat Johnson won the essay contest at Hawthorne Elementary School and got to ride in the Chief of Police's car in the Memorial Day Parade...and the rest, as they say, is history. As an adult, Cat generally tries to stay out of police cars and is thrilled to be writing for a living. She has been published under a different name in the Young Adult genre, but released her first romance in 2006.
Today, she is a NY Times & USA Today best-selling, award-winning author of contemporary romance. A promo ho, she's sponsored real live bull riding cowboys and promoted romance using bologna.
--from the author's website
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
October 23, 2013
Shorter than the 1st but enjoyed the story more.
Finally some HEA for Jack.
May 2, 2013
Loved Jack! He reminds me a lot of Mustang from Cat Johnson's Studs and Spurs series. I cannot resist that sweet southern twang!!
Plus Jack, unlike Trey felt like a full story. Both stories were fairly short in length, but Jack felt more complete and less like, "Woah, it's over?? How the hell did that happen?"
Ooooh, the suspense portion... plus seeing Jack all protective of his new woman, heheh.
HOWEVER, as much as I loved this, to be totally honest, the resolution with our mobsters was really lame...
"Give us the girl!"
"No"
"Come out now!"
"No"
"Okay"
Ok, so it wasn't quite like that, but it mind as well have been, LOL.
Jimmy! You're up next hot stuff!!!!
Plus Jack, unlike Trey felt like a full story. Both stories were fairly short in length, but Jack felt more complete and less like, "Woah, it's over?? How the hell did that happen?"
Ooooh, the suspense portion... plus seeing Jack all protective of his new woman, heheh.
HOWEVER, as much as I loved this, to be totally honest, the resolution with our mobsters was really lame...
"Give us the girl!"
"No"
"Come out now!"
"No"
"Okay"
Ok, so it wasn't quite like that, but it mind as well have been, LOL.
Jimmy! You're up next hot stuff!!!!
February 4, 2020
I purchased Jack ~ Red, Hot & Blue ~ Book 2 as part of an anthology.
Jack returns home to his family horse ranch first because he is being requited to take a three week leave with the rest of his unit and second to recover and get over his crush on Carly, his best friend's girl.
When he gets home he finds his younger brother, who runs the ranch has hired Niccolina Campolini or as she is calling herself Nicki Camp and he knows she is hiding something. She is on the run from the New York mob and when two of the goons show up the fun begins for the the special ops guys. The comedy of the the unprepared two thugs compared to the highly trained special ops guys makes this one of the funniest books I have read in a long time and I loved it.
Jack returns home to his family horse ranch first because he is being requited to take a three week leave with the rest of his unit and second to recover and get over his crush on Carly, his best friend's girl.
When he gets home he finds his younger brother, who runs the ranch has hired Niccolina Campolini or as she is calling herself Nicki Camp and he knows she is hiding something. She is on the run from the New York mob and when two of the goons show up the fun begins for the the special ops guys. The comedy of the the unprepared two thugs compared to the highly trained special ops guys makes this one of the funniest books I have read in a long time and I loved it.
July 8, 2012
This review was posted at Under the Covers
I had a soft spot for Jack since the first book when we saw him getting his heart broken by his long time crush. Then his brother was in a pretty life and death situation and Jack's team finally rescued him. So after all that Jack goes back home. Other than being a military men, he's also a cowboy. Ohhhh the perfection!
Nicki is actually the daughter of a mobster and she's been on the run and hiding for a while. What better place to hide than as a farm hand for Gordon Equine. But then she starts falling for Jack.
I have to say this book was a bit light on everything. The connection between Jack and Nicki was there and sweet, however the suspense element was almost non-existent really in this story. And then there's the sexual frustration you will probably get reading this. Jack, my poor sexy cowboy, got nothing but blue balls. But that's ok, it did work out with the story that they took their time. I just wish maybe the story would've been a little longer and we would've seen them getting together at least once.
I guess I'm a bit disappointed because I expected an over the top wonderful HEA for Jack and it was a very low key romance. I'm not sure I think Jimmy is ready to get his book next, but lets bring it! I can't wait to read about this tortured hero.
I had a soft spot for Jack since the first book when we saw him getting his heart broken by his long time crush. Then his brother was in a pretty life and death situation and Jack's team finally rescued him. So after all that Jack goes back home. Other than being a military men, he's also a cowboy. Ohhhh the perfection!
Nicki is actually the daughter of a mobster and she's been on the run and hiding for a while. What better place to hide than as a farm hand for Gordon Equine. But then she starts falling for Jack.
I have to say this book was a bit light on everything. The connection between Jack and Nicki was there and sweet, however the suspense element was almost non-existent really in this story. And then there's the sexual frustration you will probably get reading this. Jack, my poor sexy cowboy, got nothing but blue balls. But that's ok, it did work out with the story that they took their time. I just wish maybe the story would've been a little longer and we would've seen them getting together at least once.
I guess I'm a bit disappointed because I expected an over the top wonderful HEA for Jack and it was a very low key romance. I'm not sure I think Jimmy is ready to get his book next, but lets bring it! I can't wait to read about this tortured hero.
September 2, 2010
When it comes to smutfactor Trey and Jack are on two different sides of the spectrum. Trey's a twelve on the one-to-ten scale while Jack is more a point five, and for that I will always favor Trey's freaky play over Jack's nice guy charms.
This book is crammed full of stereotypes, both southern and northern. From the south's Lover's Lane, drive-ins, and mama's homemade pies to the moronic New York mobsters named Paulie the Pudge and Vinny Don' Kno'. Despite the bias which so clearly hated on my Yankee brethren (I'm New York born and Georgia raised), I did like the story. And despite the fact that a southern drawl makes me want to chamber a round, I did like Jack. Though, seriously, that 'darlin' crap was making my fist clench.
I know these are re-releases but when does Matt get a story? The computer god needs a story!
This book is crammed full of stereotypes, both southern and northern. From the south's Lover's Lane, drive-ins, and mama's homemade pies to the moronic New York mobsters named Paulie the Pudge and Vinny Don' Kno'. Despite the bias which so clearly hated on my Yankee brethren (I'm New York born and Georgia raised), I did like the story. And despite the fact that a southern drawl makes me want to chamber a round, I did like Jack. Though, seriously, that 'darlin' crap was making my fist clench.
I know these are re-releases but when does Matt get a story? The computer god needs a story!
February 19, 2011
What happened here? Jack's story was a lame one. The sex was just mediocre, with the action too safe by Task Force Zeta standard and Jack was not as hot as Trey.
And I hated that he kept referring to Nicki as darlin'. I know that he's a southerner and all but at some point he surely remembered her name at least..
And I hated that he kept referring to Nicki as darlin'. I know that he's a southerner and all but at some point he surely remembered her name at least..
September 16, 2011
2.5 stars
I had really looked forward to Jack's story cause I loved him in Trey's story, but this didn't do it for me. I still love Jack and I liked the beginning of this story but when it came to the bad guys, it got so silly and stupid, it ruined it for me. I wish the bad guys had been real bad guys instead of such stupid stereotypes of New York mobsters. I hope Jimmy's story is better.
I had really looked forward to Jack's story cause I loved him in Trey's story, but this didn't do it for me. I still love Jack and I liked the beginning of this story but when it came to the bad guys, it got so silly and stupid, it ruined it for me. I wish the bad guys had been real bad guys instead of such stupid stereotypes of New York mobsters. I hope Jimmy's story is better.
October 12, 2012
I'm a little disappointed with Jacks story. With how sexy Jack is with his sexy southern ways, I was hoping for some steamy scenes with him. Unlike the first book there really wasn't any. :( I'm going to continue on to Jimmy's story, who is Jack's brother so hopefully he will bring the steamy.
December 14, 2012
Storyline and some of the characters were pretty cheesy......not one of Cat Johnson's better works.
June 6, 2016
I really liked this second book. Can't wait to continue the series.
June 17, 2023
Forced downtime isn't what Jack Gordon needs but maybe a trip home will allow him to get his head on straight. Plus he gets to visit family. Nicki Camp works on the Gordon family horse ranch where she flies under the radar and hopefully reains relatively safe from those looking for her. Jack is attracted but also suspicious...hazards of his job. All that asise these two are white hot together. Jack enlists his teammates' help when nicki's pst catches up with her. The future is looking great for the two of them and their HEA.
March 20, 2020
What a fun read!
Okay, I was ready for the hot hero. I was ready for the strong heroine. I was even prepared for the hard as nails friends that have your back. What I wasn’t ready for were the laughs thrown in for good measure! Coulda just been me, as I happen to know some folks like these characters but I really enjoyed this story!
Okay, I was ready for the hot hero. I was ready for the strong heroine. I was even prepared for the hard as nails friends that have your back. What I wasn’t ready for were the laughs thrown in for good measure! Coulda just been me, as I happen to know some folks like these characters but I really enjoyed this story!
February 27, 2021
Not as great as the first novel "Trey". I was expecting more steam from "Jack" seen as he sounds like a little bit of a manwhore... or is that just me being hopeful? Lmao. Any way "Jack" helps find out why a new girl at the ranch is being secretive? then sets out to help her... But not sure if its going to last...maybe?
January 24, 2020
Jack doesn’t get the first girl of his dreams. But he gets sent home for a break and finds The perfect girl at his family’s horse ranch. But she is in trouble and he is going to protect her at all costs. Another great story!
October 5, 2020
Jack needs to get over his buddy "stealing" his girl...after all...women are like busses and another one will be along any minute and he does "fall in and out of love" faster than fly to honey.
Jack gets just the perfect woman for him when he goes back home to his family horse breeding ranch.
Jack gets just the perfect woman for him when he goes back home to his family horse breeding ranch.
December 14, 2023
as with previous books love the characters here jack you fall in love with them and bingo story is done all her books have great characters but storylines end too quickly want longer stories to read for hours instead of just and hour or two
May 23, 2017
Good read
June 3, 2017
3.5 stars
October 3, 2017
3.5 stars
March 24, 2019
A good plot but to short to become interesting.
September 11, 2019
I enjoyed reading.
October 23, 2019
2.5 cute enough
February 7, 2022
Always fun to read a cat Johnson book!
April 10, 2025
It was all serious and worrisome, and then bam – LOL’ing at the situation as devolved into a comedy sketch!!!
July 26, 2016
This book should definitely be read in sequence as the second book in the series.
Another OK, but not fantastic book. The author does a good job blending from book 1 into book 2 and letting us see Trey and Carly and Jimmy from book 1, but I wish there would have been more.
Jack is given time off from his secret military unit and goes home for some R&R, which just happens to be where his brother Jimmy is (injured in book 1). We're also introduced to Jack & Jimmy's youngest brother, Jared who seems like another good guy so the author does a nice job setting up future books.
Jack is upset about Carly's relationship with Trey as he is sure he's in love with her so when she and Trey become involved Jack is sure he'll never meet someone, yada, yada, yada. Same old story. We all know what's coming next. Enter the beautiful woman who captures his heart.
Nicci does have an interesting back story which makes for a few nice chapters (don't worry, no spoilers), but I think much more could have been done with this plot.
My biggest disappointment was that this book was TOO SHORT. I think a longer book would have been better able to delve into the characters and expand the plot to really make it more interesting.
Since I read the first one (Trey), I decided to go ahead and read this one to see if it got better. Now, I'm debating whether or not to read book 3 (Jimmy). I think I would enjoy Jimmy's story as we've seen him in both books so far, but after reading the first two, I think I'll probably come away disappointed again and don't know if I want to take the chance. We'll see...
Another OK, but not fantastic book. The author does a good job blending from book 1 into book 2 and letting us see Trey and Carly and Jimmy from book 1, but I wish there would have been more.
Jack is given time off from his secret military unit and goes home for some R&R, which just happens to be where his brother Jimmy is (injured in book 1). We're also introduced to Jack & Jimmy's youngest brother, Jared who seems like another good guy so the author does a nice job setting up future books.
Jack is upset about Carly's relationship with Trey as he is sure he's in love with her so when she and Trey become involved Jack is sure he'll never meet someone, yada, yada, yada. Same old story. We all know what's coming next. Enter the beautiful woman who captures his heart.
Nicci does have an interesting back story which makes for a few nice chapters (don't worry, no spoilers), but I think much more could have been done with this plot.
My biggest disappointment was that this book was TOO SHORT. I think a longer book would have been better able to delve into the characters and expand the plot to really make it more interesting.
Since I read the first one (Trey), I decided to go ahead and read this one to see if it got better. Now, I'm debating whether or not to read book 3 (Jimmy). I think I would enjoy Jimmy's story as we've seen him in both books so far, but after reading the first two, I think I'll probably come away disappointed again and don't know if I want to take the chance. We'll see...
August 4, 2012
Still fresh from reading book #1 in this series (Trey), I thought I had a pretty good idea of what to expect in this second installment. And boy, was I wrong! Jack is completely different from Trey; different locations, different threats posed, different ways of handling the problem, etc. Although, I was thoroughly pleased to see many of the characters you were introduced to in Book #1 were the same (Jack's Special Ops "Brothers"). Even though it was different, it was just as good as the original (if not better)!
To me, it seemed as though Jack had more action than the original story, and I loved the way Nicki was introduced, and how she was worked into the overall story. It was good to things work out for Jack after his heartbreak in book #1.
Overall, "Jack" is a very enjoyable read (and quick, I stand by my thought that it was too short). I have already picked up Book #3 in the series (Jimmy), and I can't wait to see what happens!
My final words on Jack:
To me, it seemed as though Jack had more action than the original story, and I loved the way Nicki was introduced, and how she was worked into the overall story. It was good to things work out for Jack after his heartbreak in book #1.
Overall, "Jack" is a very enjoyable read (and quick, I stand by my thought that it was too short). I have already picked up Book #3 in the series (Jimmy), and I can't wait to see what happens!
My final words on Jack:
NEGATIVE POINTS:
- Too short! I would have loved there to be more to this book.
- Too short! I would have loved there to be more to this book.
POSITIVE POINTS:
+ It is a quick, easy & enjoyable read
+ Bringing in characters you already met in Book #1 to help Jack
+ It is a quick, easy & enjoyable read
+ Bringing in characters you already met in Book #1 to help Jack
May 10, 2011
Jack goes back to the Southern ranch he grew up at, in an atempt to get over his broken heart. Everything is going fine, until he meets the new ranch hand Nicki. The confusing mix of suspition and attraction he feels towards her almost irritates him into losing the legendary Southern charm. Eventually, his libido starts to over-rule his head, but can he ever really have real feelings towards a girl he doesn't trust? Nicki is a girl with a huge secret, but she isn't willing to share it with Jack...no matter how hot he is! The reason she chose the ranch is it's safe from her past, but this wouldn't be a good book unless the past came knocking in the form of some stupid mafia dudes. Will Jack protect her, or will he throw her to the wolves for putting his family at risk.
I'll be honest, I was a little disappointed with this book. Jack was my favourite character in the first book, so I was really looking forward to this! Unfortunately it didn't deliver. I liked Jack, he was charming, sexy and smooth as hell! I even liked Nicki, although I didn't really understand her. My problem was the romance just didn't smolder enough for me. Put quite simply, I liked it but I didn't love it as the pages failed to ignite.
I'll be honest, I was a little disappointed with this book. Jack was my favourite character in the first book, so I was really looking forward to this! Unfortunately it didn't deliver. I liked Jack, he was charming, sexy and smooth as hell! I even liked Nicki, although I didn't really understand her. My problem was the romance just didn't smolder enough for me. Put quite simply, I liked it but I didn't love it as the pages failed to ignite.
October 1, 2015
Part of a series but stands alone; no cliffhanger.
I enjoyed this story a lot. It is #2 in the Red, Hot & Blue series but can be read as a standalone. This one is not nearly as spicy as Trey, the first book in the series, but the heat level fit the story and situation.
Nikki is on the run and has found a haven with Jack's family on their horse breeding farm. Jack is on leave from the service and goes home to visit. He immediately suspects that something about Nikki isn't quite right and sets out to figure out what is going on. Both of Jack's brothers are living on the ranch/horse farm and he is somewhat surprised that neither of them is already involved with Nikki. Jack is still nursing his heartbreak from losing his long time crush to his best friend, Trey, but his interest in Nikki helps to alleviate that.
This is a very quick read and there's not a lot of time for character development but I loved the story and will continue to read this series.
I enjoyed this story a lot. It is #2 in the Red, Hot & Blue series but can be read as a standalone. This one is not nearly as spicy as Trey, the first book in the series, but the heat level fit the story and situation.
Nikki is on the run and has found a haven with Jack's family on their horse breeding farm. Jack is on leave from the service and goes home to visit. He immediately suspects that something about Nikki isn't quite right and sets out to figure out what is going on. Both of Jack's brothers are living on the ranch/horse farm and he is somewhat surprised that neither of them is already involved with Nikki. Jack is still nursing his heartbreak from losing his long time crush to his best friend, Trey, but his interest in Nikki helps to alleviate that.
This is a very quick read and there's not a lot of time for character development but I loved the story and will continue to read this series.
March 17, 2011
Jack and Nicki's book.
I wanted a quick read until the book I ordered at the library came in. I had just got & read Trey's book for free on my Kindle and totally loved Jack in that book. So I thought why not go for a book about Jack.
I was disappointed. Not the same calibur as Trey's book at all. Even though Jack's book had almost no smut at all, that isn't why I didnt like it. Jack's book is so blan, full of sterotypes and almost no elaboration at all.
It felt like I was reading the author's outline not her story. This could have been an awesome story. Its like there was a rush to end it.
Unfortunately since Trey's book was free and I paid for this one, I think I will skip the next book and any others that follow. There just wasnt enough in this book to make me want to continue with the series.
I wanted a quick read until the book I ordered at the library came in. I had just got & read Trey's book for free on my Kindle and totally loved Jack in that book. So I thought why not go for a book about Jack.
I was disappointed. Not the same calibur as Trey's book at all. Even though Jack's book had almost no smut at all, that isn't why I didnt like it. Jack's book is so blan, full of sterotypes and almost no elaboration at all.
It felt like I was reading the author's outline not her story. This could have been an awesome story. Its like there was a rush to end it.
Unfortunately since Trey's book was free and I paid for this one, I think I will skip the next book and any others that follow. There just wasnt enough in this book to make me want to continue with the series.
June 29, 2013
The second book in Cat Johnson's Red, Hot, and Blue series was an interesting read, but too short for my tastes. It takes place directly after the events of Trey, and you get to see what is happening with the Hero/Heroine from that book as well as the rest of the cast of characters in the series. The tension in the book was rather contrived, almost implausible, and seemed to be an afterthought. There was little to no mention of attraction between the Hero and Heroine in this story before they're trying to jump each other's bones, so to speak. It was a quick read for a summer afternoon, but I can't say whether or not I would recommend it to others.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews