Granite Man & Warrior by Elizabeth Lowell Published by Harlequin Enterprises, Limited on 2007
Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Western
Pages: 409
Format: Paperback
Goodreads
Granite Man: Mariah MacKenzie returned to her family's Rocky Mountain ranch determined to reclaim a life she's longed for. Cash McQueen was a distraction she didn't need, a temptation she didn't want-- but the only man tough enough to be her guide on a bold quest for a legendary treasure. Cash's passion for prospecting didn't run to beautiful women... anymore. Until Mariah made him want to believe again in something more precious than gold...
Warrior: Wildlife biologist Eden Summers arrived in the Colorado Rockies with one thing on her mind: researching the local cougar population. Used to living and working alone, she had handled threats from nature's fiercest predators. But Nevada Blackthorn, a rancher by trade, a warrior by nature, was a breed apart. And Eden was having a hard time fighting her attraction for a man with a heart and soul as wild as the wilderness that surrounded them.
Lynn’s Review:
Granite Man & Warrior by Elizabeth Lowell are two contemporary westerns printed in one book. The first, Granite Man, is about Mariah MacKenzie and Cash McQueen. The second, Warrior, is about Eden Summers and Nevada Blackthorn.
These books have all the tropes. She’s an inexperienced virgin. He’s a hardened man with no ability to love. She falls instantly in love. He falls instantly in lust. She ends up pregnant. Everything works out and the live happily ever after. Oh sorry for ruining the plot. Of book books.
Mariah is returning to her childhood home, searching for a long lost gold mine to prove to her brother that she has some worth. She has step-daddy issues. Cash is a geologist, also looking for the long lost gold mind. (Get it – Granite Man?) He has a cheating ex-wife and trust issues. They trek off in the wilderness in search of the lost gold mine together. And of course manage to fall in love.
Eden is a wildlife biologist studying cougars. She grew up in the wilds of Alaska and her best friend is a mostly wolf dog she rescued from a trap. Nevada is an ex-soldier who is also tracking cougars. He is the one who secretly paid for Eden’s grant. He’s seen too much death to even contemplate love. They rescue each other on multiple occasions, literally and figuratively.
I knew I was burnt out on romance before I even picked this up. But I was looking for something that wasn’t going to be emotionally exhausting. I saw this sitting on my book shelf and thought I’d give it a try. I have enjoyed other Elizabeth Lowell books. But these books were a miss for me. Sure, the sexy times scenes and sexual tension are well written. But even towards the end of Warrior’s 13 page second sex scene, I was bored. Just get on with it already. What little plot was around the sex scenes was predictable. And honestly, I’m not even sure I’d know how to fix these books.
As we are here to guide you with your reading decisions, I would say skip this. Or if you are interested, just skip to the sexy parts. The rest of the book probably isn’t worth it. If you want some well written Elizabeth Lowell Westerns, read the Only series instead.
But at least I can add this book to my completed Shelf Love list.
Oof! Sorry these were such a disappointment, Lynn. They did kinda sound promising. At least you know the author can write something you enjoy. 🙂 And hopefully you’ve moved onto a book that is more satisfying.
Bookworm Brandee recently posted…Audio Review ~ Unbelonging ~ Sabrina Stark
Thanks, Brandee. I’m still on the quest for something good to read!
Meh, none of it sounds especially exciting :\ Sorry – though I’m sure there must be some romances there that can still steal a girl’s breath 🙂 I’m a declared optimist!
Ramona recently posted…YA Books June 2015 – Sizzling Fiction
Truth be told, Ramona, I’m in a bit of a book slump. Nothing I’ve read lately has been very good. But I agree, there there are probably some good romances out there somewhere!