Sharp Shootin' Cowboy

by Victoria Vane

Overview

"Spicy and fun...A spirited, heartwarming story."—Long and Short Reviews

Tempers and passion flare when former Marine, turned rancher and hunting guide, Reid Everett, clashes with conservationist Haley Cooper in the middle of the Wyoming wilderness. Can they remain on opposite sides of the fence with such ardent chemistry threatening to explode between them?

Weary warrior… After eight years as a Marine sniper, war-scarred Reid Everett is back in his native Wyoming. He knows and loves this rugged land, so working for wildlife services to reduce the booming wolf population suits him to a T.

Caring crusader… Wildlife biologist Haley Cooper is desperate to make a difference. Leaving the world of academia behind, she accepts a position as a wolf advocate to protect the animals she loves.

Raw attraction… Their jobs set them on a collision course, but chemistry sparks like wildfire between Reid and Haley. They'll have to brave some rough territory if they hope to reconcile their polarizing views with a passion that won't be denied.

Hot Cowboy Nights Series:

Slow Hand (Book 1)

Rough Rider (Book 2)

Sharp Shootin' Cowboy (Book 3)

Saddle Up (Book 4)

Praise for Slow Hand:

"For erotic passion and one-liners, the first in Vane's new series will satisfy." —RT Book Reviews

"Deliciously wicked banter… rich storyline and vibrant characterizations make this an intense and satisfying read." —Fresh Fiction

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781492601197
Publisher:	Sourcebooks
Publication date:	06/02/2015
Series:	Hot Cowboy Nights , #3
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	320
Sales rank:	973,180
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

Victoria Vane is a multiple award-winning romance novelist and history junkie whose collective works of fiction range from wildly comedic romps to emotionally compelling erotic romance. Victoria also writes historical fiction as Emery Lee and is the founder of the Romantic Historical Fiction Lovers Goodreads group and the Romantic Historical Lovers book review blog. She lives on the east coast of Florida.

Read an Excerpt

Chapter 1

Mojave Desert, Southern California

Lying on his belly behind an outcropping of rocks, Reid squinted into the scope of his rifle. He was sweating like a pig in his dirt-encrusted ghillie suit and didn't even want to think about how he smelled after three days in hundred-plus temps. He shifted his body. His legs were numb from hours of observation, but he still felt the gravel chewing through the suit and into his skin.

"You got plans after this, hermano?" asked his spotter, Rafael Garcia. They'd met during basic eighteen months ago and had done two tours together. Six months after returning, they'd both earned the coveted Scout Sniper hog's tooth they proudly wore around their necks.

"Nothing special," Reid answered. "You?"

"Oh yeah. Big plans, considering this is our final weekend of freedom and the last chance to score some ass. You need to come along this time."

Reid squinted through his riflescope at the village below where the USMC had re-created a near-perfect model of their mission theater, complete with hundreds of Arabic speakers who wandered the streets and haggled in the staged marketplace. It was quiet below; maybe too quiet.

"No can do, Raf. I've got phone calls to make and a ton of shit to take care of before we deploy." In truth, he was still licking his wounds.

What pissed him off most wasn't so much getting dumped, as he'd half-expected that, but her chosen method. That's what really sucked. Rather than a letter or even a phone call, she'd sent a Dear John text on New Year's Eve: Can't wait for u anymore. :( So sorry Reid. Take care. Tonya.

After two years together, she hadn't even allowed him the satisfaction of tearing up a letter. Five months later, he still wasn't over it. After seeing so many guys dumped during deployments-and now having experienced it himself-he'd banished any thought of women from his mind.

"C'mon, hermano," Garcia cajoled. "You've still got all next week to take care of that shit. You gotta get some while the getting is still good. We're looking at eight straight months of chaqueta."

"Chaqueta? Jacket?" Reid translated with a frown.

"No, man." Garcia grinned, fisting his hand and mimicking jacking off.

"You speak English as well as I do. Why can't you just use it?" Reid asked.

"You're not in Wyoming anymore. You need to learn some Spanish. Hispanics are the fastest growing minority. Especially here in SoCal. Who knows? We may even outnumber you gringos before the end of the century. Just think of it as broadening your cultural horizons."

"Yeah? Well, I think my cultural horizons are gonna expand real soon, considering where we're headed."

"And the hijos de puta madres over there will kill you for touching their women. Shit, they don't even let you look at them. For the next eight months, we'll all be doing punetas."

Garcia was right. The coming months would be almost monastic. No sex. No booze. A supreme test of both celibacy and abstinence. Most of the grunts would spend the next week drinking 'til they puked and fucking anything that moved. He didn't judge, but that didn't mean he wanted to be part of it.

"Tell you what, esé," Garcia continued, as he raised his binoculars, "if you go this weekend, I'll even take you someplace where your cowboy ass will feel right at home."

"In Southern California?"

"Yeah. We have rednecks in tejanos out here too. Mierda," Garcia swore softly. "Insurgent sighted at two o'clock. He's got an RPG shouldered."

"Fuck. Can't see him."

This was the final test of a grueling, sleep-deprived seventy-two hours, and he was about to fail. Reid pulled back from his scope to blink the dust out of his eyes, then scanned for his target again. "Sighted," Reid confirmed with relief. "Got the son of a bitch in the crosshairs."

"Too slow, hombre. He's already taking cover. Looks like he's going to launch from behind that concrete wall."

"The hell he is." At twelve hundred yards, it was the longest shot Reid had ever attempted, but his bipod supported the deadliest weapon he'd ever fired. The M82A3 with fifty-caliber rounds could certainly handle the distance and even a concrete wall. Hell, it could probably take out a fucking tank from a mile away.

"Wind call?" he asked.

"Steady at seven miles per hour. No cross breeze," Garcia replied.

Reid doped his scope.

"Push it left point two," Garcia instructed.

"You sure about that?" Reid had estimated point three. He was rarely off, but Garcia knew his shit. He'd proven to be the best spotter in their class.

"Yeah, I'm sure. You gotta trust me." Garcia echoed his own thoughts, but Reid was accustomed to relying on his instincts. It was hard to turn that over to someone else. "Tell you what," Garcia continued, "if you miss the mark, you're off the hook. If you hit, you're the designated driver."

To any other guy that kind of bet might provide incentive to miss, but Garcia knew him too well. Reid took pride on never missing a shot and had an entire trophy room of big game back in Wyoming to prove it.

"All right by me." Reid made the necessary adjustment and honed in once more on his target, a silhouette behind a concrete wall that stood over half a mile away.

One shot. One kill. The scout sniper mantra. It was time to take it.

Reid inhaled slow and deep. Exhaling, his finger tightened on the trigger. He held the next breath for a three count and then slowly and deliberately squeezed. The recoil rammed his right shoulder. The discharge blasted his ears. Three seconds later, half the concrete wall disintegrated before their eyes.

"Mierda!" Garcia lowered his spotting scope with a grin. "That thing's a fucking cannon. So, are we gonna take a taxi or do you wanna drive?"

Editorial Reviews

"I really liked this story. I liked the idea, I liked the timeframe, I liked the characters… this is a book that will be a re-reader for sure; I also would love to see Reid and Haley again in the future." — mignon mykel : reviews

"Spicy and fun...A spirited, heartwarming story." — Long and Short Reviews, 4 Stars

"Vane offers readers a book that’s enormously broad is scope, but deeply personal in its study of two polar opposite, yet marvelously compatible, characters... The time frame of this novel also allows readers to enjoy just how much these two characters grow, together and as individuals, and makes their unique struggles and choices that much more meaningful, and their eventual happiness that much more gratifying." — RT Book Reviews, 4 Stars

"SHARP SHOOTIN' COWBOY is the kind of story that stays with the reader long after they finish the book." — Fresh Fiction

"Ms. Vane's writing is as descriptive and flawless as ever: vivid and precise as a photograph." — Fresh Fiction

"Vane has crafted yet another intricate & thought provoking tale that can definitely hold your attention." — Pure Jonel

"The way that the author frames the debate about reintroducing wolves into their habitat and the needs of farmers and ranchers to preserve their way of life, gives readers an excellent opportunity to see both sides of the story. I’m going to be very interested to read the fourth book in this series, A Cowboy’s Whisper, to see where the author takes us next." — Reading Reality

"Victoria Vane does write a good book. There is action, sexy encounters and a very slow build romance, coming to terms with love. Add in the lessons about the pros and cons of wolf management and this is a really good read." — La Deetda Reads

"With a slow building romance, wicked banter, a rich storyline, and completely endearing characters, this was a story that I didn't want to put down until I'd read the last word. The epilogue was awesome - I actually read it more than once just to savor it. I highly recommend SHARP SHOOTIN' COWBOY to anyone who enjoys delicious contemporary western romances with plenty of substance." — Reading Between the Wines Book Club

"With an easy flow and great dialogue, this story was a pleasure to read." — Bookworm to Bookworm

"This story is more than just a love story it is also about ranchers and the wolf that have been put back into the wilderness, and the pros and cons of both sides. Overall I found this to be a very good book." — 1 Rad Reviews

"If you’re a fan of this series, this is a good one. If you’ve not read any of the other stories in the series and like a good cowboy/military story, you’re going to like this." — Red Hot Books

"The story was unexpected -much of it took place outside of a ranch setting- but engaging as an unlikely couple found their HEA despite taking the long road home." — Guilty Indulgence Book Club

"Whether she is writing Historical Romances or Contemporary Romances, I know that Victoria Vane will never disappoint. As with all her stories, SHARP SHOOTIN’ COWBOY is compelling, emotionally charged, sensual and well-researched." — Rakes and Rascals

"The story was very entertaining.The two main characters were so different, it was interesting to see them struggle to find a common ground to base their relationship on." — Katherina's Books

"Sharp Shootin’ Cowboy is a very unique romance read, and one I enjoyed from start to finish. So much so, I’ll be looking into this author’s backlist works. Because it’s clear to me after reading this work, I’ve been seriously missing out on some truly great romance reads." — Okie Dreams Book Reviews

"This was another fine contemporary read from the awesome Victoria Vane." — Life Books and More

"A truly enjoyable and engrossing love story. You won’t be disappointed… I will now read anything that Victoria Vane writes. Brava!" — Austen Student

"Books that make you think are always a favorite of mine, so kudos to Victoria Vane for setting this romance in the middle of a serious and thought-provoking issue. So far, I've enjoyed the three available novels in the series and I do like that the women the cowboys are partnered with aren't desperately looking for someone to swoop in and ride off on a stallion to safety." — Bookaholics Not So Anonymous

"The strength of Victoria's imagination and writing speaks for itself...and her cowboys rock the pages. I highly recommend reading SHARP SHOOTIN’ COWBOY by Victoria Vane. It’s a sweet, compassionate contemporary romance starring a sexy, sharp shooter cowboy turned Marine, who reveals just how honorable a man he truly is, and in a way, which will surely surprise you." — Unwrapping Romance

"This is really a great lovable series and I just can't get enough of it." — The Bookworm's Obsession

"I loved this book because I can identify so much with these characters... It was a blast watching these two find common ground outside the bedroom." — In My Humble Opinion

"Sharp Shooting’ Cowboy is a fast-paced romance with a very unique storyline. While wolf reintegration is a controversial topic, Victoria Vane does a wonderful job presenting unbiased information about both sides of the issue... All in all, it is an absolutely marvelous addition to the Hot Cowboy Nights series that old and new fans are sure to enjoy." — Book Reviews & More by Kathy

"I really enjoy a good quick and easy romance but I devour a storyline that has substance, that engages you in the characters plights and stays with you long after the story is over. Sharp Shootin' Cowboy is just such a story." — Tome Tender

"This was another fabulous addition to the Hot Cowboy Nights series." — Housewife Blues and Chihuahua Stories

"Victoria Vane has done it once again bringing new irresistible characters to life and enticing and highly engaging plots to read. I loved the instant chemistry between the two characters who are working on opposite sides of an issue. A beautifully woven story told in a fun, addictive and realistic way. Readers will fall in love with Sharp Shootin’ Cowboy and keep coming back for more by this talented writer. I look forward to reading more novels and highly recommend this story readers everywhere." — Universal Creativity

"This is the second book I’ve read of the author and if she keeps writing hot cowboys it won’t be my last! One of the things I like about Victoria Vane’s writing is she takes her time to give you full character development." — Rusty's Reading Blog

"This novel was this author's third one in her 'Hot Cowboy Nights' series and I found it a interesting one dealing with a Marine Sniper and a Wildlife Biologist. This author did her research on this read providing and giving the reader some real issues that were dealt with for this hero and heroine... Putting these two characters together was a work of art with them being so very different." — Arlena's Book Reviews

From the Publisher