BOOK REVIEW- RUGGED TEXAS COWBOY by Lora Leigh

Two HOT cowboys. Two tough-as-spurs heroines. These two previously published, newly revised and expanded, smoking hot stories by #1 New York Times bestselling author Lora Leigh will leave readers breathless and begging for more!

COWBOY AND THE CAPTIVE

Melina is one of two gorgeous twin daughters, the clever and considerate one who always spared her parents the humiliation of what her sister Maria had wrought. But now, Melina is finally ready to stand up for herself and seize control of her life.  Until she is kidnapped by a cowboy, named Jardin, who is dead-set on settling the score with her family. There’s only one catch: In capturing Melina, this tough, rough, hunk of a man has actually found a way to unleash her greatest fantasies, body and soul. . .

COWBOY AND THE THIEF

Beautiful, spirited Angel Manning has always longed to experience the power of her ancestors’ most precious heirloom. Her mother once told her that the legendary Irish torque would lead Angel to the one man worthy of possessing her heart. But when Angel learns that her father, now a widower, has sold the torque to the notorious two-timer Jack Riley, she is furious. Of course she plans to take back what is rightfully hers, by whatever means necessary. But the fate of the ancient Druids works in mysterious ways. . .Could it be that this slick, smooth-talking cowboy was destined to satisfy Angel’s deepest desires all along?  AMAZON 3 STARS

Of both of the stories I liked Cowboy and the Captive better.   Maybe because there was more about depth about the people in the story.  And the danger and emotion was also deeper.  Melina's pain was easy to connect with; she had been so undervalued for most of her life.  Her parents and her sister (her twin) Maria were always eager to throw her under the bus.  All to protect the best loved but evil twin Maria.  It was incredible what she went through.  Her family was so manipulative, all except her brother Joe who feared for her life.  And he had plenty of reason to think that.  
The struggles between Melina and Luc were epic.  But so was his refusal to see who she really was. 
But I grew tired of the constant references to what different sexual parts of her body were doing as she lusted for him.  Some phrases were repeated so often, it made me want to roll my eyes. 
Don't get me wrong, the story itself could have been so much better if some of the erotica had been cut back.  

I did like that the two stories are linked because of the long friendship between the two men.  

In the second book, Jack is stronger and better than he seems. He is more than just the playboy.   Angel finds out that he has a core of steel when pressed.  And boy does Angel push that envelope. The history of the heirloom was interesting and added to the story. But once again more detailed sex even though probably not as much as the first book.  
Still that is something that both books did have in common and had me skimming some of the pages. Quite a few actually.  

I received a copy of this book via Netgalley and this is my honest opinion of it.