The Cowboys Series by Leigh Greenwood

The freedom of the range, the bawling of the longhorns, the lonesome night watch beneath a vast, starry sky--they got into a man's blood until he knew there was nothing better than the life of a cowboy...except the love of a good woman. Isabelle Born and bred in Savannah, Georgia, she was the kind of woman Jake Maxwell avoided at all cost. "Neat as a pin and stiff as starch," he classified her when she and her wagonload of orphans pulled up to his Texas ranch... moreThe freedom of the range, the bawling of the longhorns, the lonesome night watch beneath a vast, starry sky--they got into a man's blood until he knew there was nothing better than the life of a cowboy...except the love of a good woman. Isabelle Born and bred in Savannah, Georgia, she was the kind of woman Jake Maxwell avoided at all cost. "Neat as a pin and stiff as starch," he classified her when she and her wagonload of orphans pulled up to his Texas ranch. But without any men of his own, the boys under her care were Jake's only chance of driving his beeves to market. Still, he couldn't help wondering if he could teach a gang of outlaws-in-the-making to herd cattle...if he could keep his hands off the oh-so-proper belle...if there was any way at all to stop Isabelle from branding his heart as her own. less

The freedom of the range, the bawling of the longhorns, the lonesome night watch beneath a vast, starry sky--they get into a man's blood until he knew there was nothing better than the life of a cowboy ... except the love of a good woman. MARINADevastated by a ruthless betrayal, disillusioned by the War Between the States, Ward Dillon swore he'd escape his bitter past and start anew ... even if he had to abandon his heart's desire... moreThe freedom of the range, the bawling of the longhorns, the lonesome night watch beneath a vast, starry sky--they get into a man's blood until he knew there was nothing better than the life of a cowboy ... except the love of a good woman. MARINADevastated by a ruthless betrayal, disillusioned by the War Between the States, Ward Dillon swore he'd escape his bitter past and start anew ... even if he had to abandon his heart's desire. So the San Antonio doctor traded his medical practice for the rugged life of the open trail, refined society for the company of rough-and-ready cowpokes. Yet what hope, what harmony, what hint of happiness could be his without the woman he'd left behind, the beauty who haunted his dreams? And when Marina tracked Ward down on the windswept Texas plains, how could he resist the burning brand of passion that had once brought them searing ecstasy and promised the only peace possible for his embattled heart? less

Hannah was lovely enough to make any man forget the past--any man except Buck Hogan. For thought she had more than fulfilled the promise of beauty in the 14-year-old girl he'd once known, Buck would always remember that back then he had been her father's whipping boy. Helpless no longer, he would have his revenge by taking the old man's ranch. The only thing he hadn't counted on was falling in love with Hannah. .

The freedom of the range, the bawling of the longhorns, the lonesome night watch beneath a vast, starry sky—they got into a man's blood until he knew there was nothing better than the life of a cowboy...except the love of a good woman. Melody When Chet Atmore rode into the Spring Water Ranch, he was only a dusty drifter, hoping to find a fresh horse and stay one step ahead of his reputation as a gunfighter... moreThe freedom of the range, the bawling of the longhorns, the lonesome night watch beneath a vast, starry sky—they got into a man's blood until he knew there was nothing better than the life of a cowboy...except the love of a good woman. Melody When Chet Atmore rode into the Spring Water Ranch, he was only a dusty drifter, hoping to find a fresh horse and stay one step ahead of his reputation as a gunfighter. But by the next morning he was being pressured into several unfamiliar roles: Young Neill Jordan saw him as some kind of hero, with guns ablazing; the ranch foreman hoped he'd be the savior who could stand up to their land-hungry neighbor, Lantz Royal; and the lovely new owner of the Spring Water had offered him a job as a cowboy. Most disturbing of all, Melody was looking for a husband, and when Chet held her soft, sweet body against his, he was tempted to fulfill every one of her expectations...and more. less

The freedom of the range, the bawling of the longhorns, the lonesome night watch beneath a vast, starry sky—they got into a man's blood until he knew there was nothing better than the life of a cowboy...except the love a good woman. Pearl In the West there were only two kinds of women—the wives and mothers and daughters, and the good-time girls. It was said that Pearl Belladonna could show a man the best time ever, but Sean O'Ryan had not come to the gold fields looking for a floozy... moreThe freedom of the range, the bawling of the longhorns, the lonesome night watch beneath a vast, starry sky—they got into a man's blood until he knew there was nothing better than the life of a cowboy...except the love a good woman. Pearl In the West there were only two kinds of women—the wives and mothers and daughters, and the good-time girls. It was said that Pearl Belladonna could show a man the best time ever, but Sean O'Ryan had not come to the gold fields looking for a floozy. He wanted gold to buy a ranch, and a virtuous woman to make a wife. The sensual barroom singer might tempt his body with her lush curves, and tease his mind with her bright wit, but she wasn't for him. From her red curls to her assumed name, nothing about her seemed real until a glimpse into her heart convinced Sean that the lady was, indeed, a pearl beyond price. less

Riding up to the Winged T cattle ranch to retrieve his stolen money, self-proclaimed drifter Pete suddenly finds himself--within moments of his arrival--owner of a cattle ranch and husband to a charming woman.

A Proper setting down She landed in Cole?s arms. The shock knocked the sense out of her. She couldn?t describe it any other way. Nothing else could account for the fact that not a single coherent thought remained in her head. He caught her easily, as if he?d done it before. He balaned her lightly against his chest, but that didn?t keep her from being acutely aware she was leaning against his body. Heat and tension passed between them like their clothes weren?t even there... moreA Proper setting down She landed in Cole?s arms. The shock knocked the sense out of her. She couldn?t describe it any other way. Nothing else could account for the fact that not a single coherent thought remained in her head. He caught her easily, as if he?d done it before. He balaned her lightly against his chest, but that didn?t keep her from being acutely aware she was leaning against his body. Heat and tension passed between them like their clothes weren?t even there. ?Put me down,? she said, finally managing to find her tongue . . . and the indignation that should have boiled to the surface immediately. ?I can?t.? ?If you don?t, I?ll punch you in the nose so hard it?ll make your eyes water. I?m not in the habit of being manhandled by every passing drifter.? ?It?s not that,? he said. ?I?? She drew back her fist. ?You?ve got exactly one second.? He shrugged and set her down. She felt her stocking feet sink into warm, soft manure. less

The freedom of the range, the bawling of the longhorns, the lonesome night watch beneath a vast, starry sky-they get into a man's blood until he knows there is nothing better than the life of a cowboy ... except the love of a good woman. VALERIA With hair like a raven's wing and ruby lips, she had a fiery temperament that hints of wild Gypsy blood... moreThe freedom of the range, the bawling of the longhorns, the lonesome night watch beneath a vast, starry sky-they get into a man's blood until he knows there is nothing better than the life of a cowboy ... except the love of a good woman. VALERIA With hair like a raven's wing and ruby lips, she had a fiery temperament that hints of wild Gypsy blood. Luke finds himself inexorably drawn to her, despite her haughty manner, despite his reservations about all women, despite the fact that she is promised to another. Luke is the one who's been hired to protect her--and he is a man of his word-but who will protect either of them from the desert storm of desire that arises whenever his lips meet hers? This is #8 in The Cowboys Series. less

Matt Haskins proved to be the most difficult of all the orphans in The Cowboys to write about. It's not easy to make a hero out of a man who has been sexually molested, especially when the abuse has given him a mental block against physical contact. I had to find a way to make the reader see that Matt's strength was of a different kind from most cowboys. It was almost as difficult to make Ellen Donovan see it. Ellen's experience with men has been all bad... moreMatt Haskins proved to be the most difficult of all the orphans in The Cowboys to write about. It's not easy to make a hero out of a man who has been sexually molested, especially when the abuse has given him a mental block against physical contact. I had to find a way to make the reader see that Matt's strength was of a different kind from most cowboys. It was almost as difficult to make Ellen Donovan see it. Ellen's experience with men has been all bad. When she's forced to marry Matt so they can each keep the children they're trying to adopt, she's certain he has ulterior motives. She sets up stringent conditions before agreeing to the marriage of convenience. She expected Matt to accept them -- she wouldn't have married him otherwise -- but she was a little surprised, and disappointed, when he stuck to them after they were married. Ellen didn't want a quiet, unassuming husband. She wanted one who would take on the world in her defense. Matt had the size and the strength, but she didn't see much else to recommend him. Taking on the responsibility of the two boys Matt wanted to adopt was one more thing she didn't need. She planned to stay married just long enough so the crusading Revered Wilbur Sears couldn't take her kids or Matt's boys. Then she was headed for San Antonio to open her own hat shop. But while Ellen was making plans to leave Matt and his two troublesome boys behind, she discovered there was a lot more to this good-looking cowboy than met the eye. less

Hawk and Zeke have been inseparable ever since boyhood�two loners, outsiders, as free as the wild horses they chase across the Arizona desert. So when they join up with two misplaced dancehall girls on the trail, they react about the same way as unbroken mustangs to the saddle. Kicking and bucking at every step of the way, the bachelors are gentled by soft touches and warm caresses until each finds himself riding the range with a brand-new partner.

Bret Nolan had never gotten used to the confines of the city. The sprawling buildings, the rumbling wagons, even the roads: all seemed designed to lock him in. He would always be a cowboy at heart, and his restless blood still longed for the open range. And he was on his way back to the boundless plains of Texas to escort a reluctant heiress to Boston?on his way to pick up a woman destined to be a dutiful wife... moreBret Nolan had never gotten used to the confines of the city. The sprawling buildings, the rumbling wagons, even the roads: all seemed designed to lock him in. He would always be a cowboy at heart, and his restless blood still longed for the open range. And he was on his way back to the boundless plains of Texas to escort a reluctant heiress to Boston?on his way to pick up a woman destined to be a dutiful wife. But Emily Abercrombie wasn’t one to agree to anything easily, and she wasn’t about to just up and leave her ranch in Texas to move to an unknown city. And the more time Bret spent with the determined beauty, the more he realized he wanted to be the man?the only man?in Emily’s life. Now he just had to show her the true honor found in the heart of a cowboy. less

He is the most beautiful man Idalou Ellsworth has ever set eyes on. When he appears at her front door, she is struck speechless at the very sight of him. Folks in Dunmore, Texas think her bossy, too focused on rescuing her family�s failing ranch to be interested in courting. But in Will�s company, she can�t think of anything but him. And when the devil-may-care cowboy takes her in his arms, she understands as never before, the pleasures of being a woman.

Leigh Greenwood: The freedom of the range, the bawling of the longhorns, the lonesome night watch beneath a vast, starry sky - they got into a woman's blood until she knew there was nothing better than the life of a cowgirl - except the love of a good man. Lord Davenport: Born and raised on the Broken Circle Ranch, Eden never expected to fall head over heels for the heir of the British earldom... moreLeigh Greenwood: The freedom of the range, the bawling of the longhorns, the lonesome night watch beneath a vast, starry sky - they got into a woman's blood until she knew there was nothing better than the life of a cowgirl - except the love of a good man. Lord Davenport: Born and raised on the Broken Circle Ranch, Eden never expected to fall head over heels for the heir of the British earldom. As the youngest of the Maxwell clan, she was used to riding her mustang across the plains, not a carriage through Hyde Park, and she'd sooner have coffee from a chuck wagon than tea in a society drawing room. But there was one thing London offered that was not to be found in all the Lone Star State: A man who captured her heart and thrilled her senses. Now the only challenge was convincing him to try love, Texas style. less