Cat Johnson

4.5 stars.

Three Weeks with a Bull Rider, the final novel in the Oklahoma Nights trilogy, is refreshingly unique, deliciously sensuous and full of surprises. In this outing, Cat Johnson effortlessly accomplishes what has to be one of THE most difficult things an author must do: transform a previously unlikable character into one that readers will not only love but one that they will root for 110 percent. Thankfully, in Ms. Johnson's talented and capable hands, Tara Jenkins becomes a heroine show more that is worthy of Jace Mills' heart and fans of the series will fall for her as well.

The Central States Rodeo Circuit offers both Tara and Jace the perfect opportunity to escape their real life problems for a few weeks. For Jace, he has been unable to make a clean break from his slightly crazy ex and after their latest confrontation, he is eager to put some distance between them. Tara's heart was broken when the man she loves marries another woman, so she too is looking for a distraction. Jace decides to hit the bull riding circuit and Tara signs up for the internship she needs to finish up her sports medicine degree. Although these two really cannot stand one another, after Tara's car breaks down, they reluctantly become traveling partners. Much to their surprise, their animosity gives way to friendship and an unanticipated attraction.

In the beginning, Tara is still the immature, selfish and bratty character readers met in Two Times As Hot but this makes her transformation much more realistic. Once she and Jace are on the road, she is unexpectedly compassionate and understanding when confronted with Jace's unhappiness over the situation with his ex. She also sees a different side to Jace during his interactions with the younger riders. Their relationship soon becomes a little more relaxed and while they still bicker back and forth, it is not quite as heated as it was at first. Tara takes the responsibilities of her internship seriously and she quickly begins to mature as she carries out her duties. She is headstrong and impulsive but Jace proves to be a calming influence on more than one occasion. Tara is also tenacious and this trait turns out to a good thing when it comes to their evolving relationship.

Older, mature and steady as a rock, Jace is a great guy who sometimes makes questionable decisions regarding his ex. On the positive side, he finally walked away from the tempestuous relationship. On the negative side, he drops everything to rush back whenever his volatile ex calls. Jace is reluctant to talk to anyone about the trouble with his ex, but once he opens up to Tara, she provides some startling insight that might explain his ex's erratic behavior. Tara suggests a very sexy solution to help Jace put his ex firmly in the past, but he is extremely reluctant to put her plan into motion. But Tara quickly overcomes his resistance and their relationship takes a very passionate turn.

My one word description for Three Weeks with a Bull Rider? Different and as far as I am concerned, this is what makes it an outstanding reading experience. It is the third novel in the series and Ms. Johnson does an excellent job keeping it fresh. Unlike the other books, Jace and Tara are on the road, so outside of a few friends on the bull riding circuit, the story centers exclusively on them. Fortunately, their characters are strong enough to carry the plot and they sort through their feelings for each other without interference from family or friends.

Another big difference is Tara and Jace take the time to get to know one another before they jump into bed together. The sexual attraction between them is always there; it just takes them a while to recognize it. Jace is the more sexually experienced of the two, but for the most part, Tara is the one controlling this part of their relationship. But there is just so far Jace is willing to go and this leads to some incredibly inventive and positively sizzling encounters between them.

The story flows so smoothly and the changes in the characters and their relationship occur so gradually, it takes a while to realize that Tara has matured into an immensely appealing character and that she and Jace are a perfect match for each other. There is no insta-love between them. Instead their feelings for one another grow over time, making the changes in their relationship easy to believe. There are no big misunderstandings to tear them apart, and although Cat Johnson does throw a couple of obstacles in their path, Tara and Jace overcome them with very little drama.

Three Weeks with a Bull Rider is a very strong finish to the Oklahoma Nights trilogy and although it can stand alone, I highly recommend the entire series. show less

4.5 stars.

One Night with a Cowboy, Cat Johnson's first installment in her new series Oklahoma Nights, is her best work to date and puts her head and shoulders above other authors in the Western romance genre. This unique romance is full of surprises and this dazzling story is sure to delight her fans. If you have not read any of her books, then I highly recommend you begin with this one.

Neither Becca Hart nor Tucker "Tuck" Jenkins are looking for a relationship but their explosive show more attraction proves too intense to ignore. A year after his divorce from his cheating wife, Tuck has worked through his hurt and anger with a number of one night stands. Becca meets Tuck right on the heels of her breakup with her longtime boyfriend and she is nowhere near ready for a serious romance. So a carefree one night fling is fine with both of them especially since they will never see one another again anyway. Until fate steps in when Becca lands a job at the same university where Tuck also works...

I absolutely adored the pairing of Becca and Tuck. This mismatched and improbable couple have little in common but their intense passion draws them together. Tuck is a quintessential cowboy but there is so much more to him than meets the eye. He is playful, charming and he positively oozes sex appeal. He is also just perfect for Becca.

New York born and bred, Becca is way out of her comfort zone in Oklahoma, but Tuck gladly takes the sexy slicker under his wing and introduces her to country living. Becca is intense and serious and Tuck is exactly what she needs to bring out her long forgotten flirtatious side. She has serious reservations about getting involved with anyone so soon after her breakup but with Tuck, she decides to throw caution to the wind and live in the moment.

But real life soon intrudes on the happy couple. There is the small matter of the no dating rule between co-workers. Becca is hesitant to commit to a serious relationship. Tuck is afraid to admit what he feels for Becca. Tuck soon panics and makes a snap decision that literally tears the couple apart. But a separation proves to be just what Becca and Tuck need to put their lives and their relationship in perspective.

The sexual tension between Becca and Tuck burns so hot I am surprised my eReader did not catch fire! Their sex scenes are positively incendiary and unbelievably sensual. Some of their scenes are exquisitely detailed and leave little to the reader's imagination while others just hint at the delicious lovemaking Becca and Tuck are indulging in.

One Night with a Cowboy is a quick and entertaining read that is absolutely superb. It is exceptionally well-written and full of unexpected twists and turns. I savored every luscious word of this amazing novel and the only thing I hated is that it had to end! But luckily for me, this is just the first installment of Cat Johnson's outstanding Oklahoma Nights series and I am impatiently (but eagerly) awaiting Two Times As Hot. show less

4.5 stars

Cat Johnson's Two Times As Hot is also two times as sweet, sexy and heartwarming. This second installment in the Oklahoma Nights series is sure to delight old and new fans of the series and it leaves everyone chomping at the bit for book number three, Three Weeks with a Bull Rider (love the clever play on the book titles).

Back in Oklahoma for her sister Becca's wedding, Emma Hart is not surprised to see Jace Mills, the bull rider she met at the same rodeo where Becca met her husband show more to be Tuck. What does surprise her is the unexpected attraction she feels for Logan Hunt, Tuck's best friend. Unfortunately, Emma has already agreed to be Jace's date for the wedding reception, but with Jace conspicuously missing following the ceremony, Logan gallantly steps in as Emma's escort. When their sizzling passion proves too hot to resist, Logan and Emma agree to a steamy one night fling. When the night is over, the two reluctantly and regretfully go their separate ways but will an unexpected twist of fate bring them back into one another's arms?

I really, really liked Logan in One Night with a Cowboy so I was super excited to discover he is the star of Two Times As Hot. I find several things about him appealing but his age and maturity are probably what I love most. Logan is also responsible and steady as a rock and this just makes him all the more irresistible. Although Logan has not had a serious relationship it is not because he plays the field. Instead it is because of his military career and the pure and simple fact he has not met the right person. Which makes it all the more sweet when he begins to fall for Emma.

Emma played a huge role in One Night with a Cowboy and I probably never would have forgiven Ms. Johnson if she hadn't written Emma's story ;). First up, I have to say I love the pairing of Emma and Logan. She, too, is older and she needs someone who was willing to put her first. And I am happy to report, Logan is willing, able and thrilled to focus all of his attention on her. That's not to say their relationship does not hit a few snags. Emma's life is not in Oklahoma, and after their incredible night together, she returns to New York. An unexpected emergency consumes Logan and the two don't have any contact after Becca and Tuck's wedding. But a surprising set of circumstances brings them together and their romance soon takes a delightful turn.

If I had to pick one word to describe Two Times As Hot, I would have to say "real" and I'll explain why. First, the characters. They are richly drawn and very realistic. Emma is genuinely happy for Becca but she is also a little jealous. She has insecurities but she does not let them consume her or keep her from going after her chance at happiness. Then there is Logan. Due to extenuating circumstances, he finds himself conflicted between family obligations and his career. He has a tough decision to make and there are no easy answers to his quandary. And of course, there is a vast cast of secondary characters who add so much heart and soul to the overall story. They are as well drawn as the primary characters and there is one in particular that readers are going to love to hate :).

But, hands down, what makes Two Times As Hot so realistic are the strong friendships between the various characters. Close knit and loving, they are there for another through thick and thin and all of life's ups and downs. They are extremely close and their support for another is incredible. The sense of family permeates the story and makes for a very warm and inviting read.

And last but not least, the plot. With Two Times As Hot, Cat Johnson puts a refreshing spin on a familiar storyline and readers will be thrilled with the outcome. A romance that is unique, appealing and delightfully unpredictable. Oh, yeah, it is also sinfully sensual and delectably steamy! show less

Read at Http://scorchingbookreviews.blogspot.com


Annie has reported on the pro-rider tours for years. Her familiarity with the riders has directly led to her lofty status as one of the best tour reporters around. She prides herself on her professionalism with the riders, vowing never to get involved with them on a personal level. No one has tempted her to break those Golden Rules like Luke Carpenter. Luke is a rider in the Twilight years of his career. His easy smile and tight butt have show more tempted her for a while, but it isn’t until the meddlesome Mustang gets involved that she realises Luke’s newly single status leaves the door wide open for her to take a chance. When it turns out the handsome Cowboy is just as distracted by her, the two embark on what could be a beautiful relationship. However, when his ex-girlfriends brother turns up with terrible news from home, it looks like the brakes are about to be put their fledgling relationship before it gets started. When it looks like his career may be over for a while, he has a tough choice to make. Does he try to make it work from afar? Or, does he put all his concentration into helping out his family?

Luke is just plain lovely. He is the Cowboy you’d love to take home to your mum; with good manners, blushing charm and an easy smile, he is the loveliest hero I’ve met in a while. When he and Annie finally get in bed, I was astounded; I didn’t expect such smexiness from such a nice boy, although all that stamina definitely paid off! He really liked to please his lady. I really liked Annie too; I like a character with a moral standpoint, and she has definite rules about sleeping with the people she works with. She struggles, before making a move on Luke, with jeopardising the respect that she has built within the pro-riding circles by sleeping with a rider. It takes some Mustang shaped meddling before she realises that respect doesn’t keep you warm at night. I think the long and short of this is that both of these characters are such genuinely nice people that you want them to get together..

My only complaint about this book was the limited time that the couple spent together. The bad news from home comes at around thirty percent of the way through the book, which means that Luke leaves quite quickly to head on back to the ranch. When he decides to take on the job full time, they spend a lot of time apart. Luke literally starts falling apart, trying to deal with the loss of his career along with the rest of his bad news. I hated to see this lovely man in so much pain. He started the book as this happy go lucky hero with a fantastic career, a sex life that was going places and a network of friends that he could depend on like brothers. This one sudden event changes all of this; he ends up at a ranch miles from the circuit in a job he hates, avoiding his ex like the plague. It was horrible to see him so lost. The toxic ex Lily is going to get a mention here; there are no words to describe this leech and I’m not sure I want to meet her again. Meanwhile, Annie is facing her own problems when the network starts to edge in the younger Chelsea (for some reason that name just implanted an image of an airhead in my brain! Made me hate her more) She deals with the issue with dignity and I continued to gain respect for her throughout this tale. With all the problems that she has to deal with, you would think she would have no time to miss Luke, but she does. I willed for them to get together, but they have a multitude of obstacles that they need to overcome. The ending does come a little too soon for me. I always struggle with this issue as I wonder if it’s really a complaint to want to see more of the characters. It doesn’t bother me too much because I know there is every chance that we will see these two again in future books. I do love that Cat Johnson keeps us abreast of all her characters throughout series.

This book is the fourth in the series but I will say that, although there are recurrent characters, you probably could get away with reading this as a stand-alone. It was nice to see Mustang and Slade again; Mustang is just as much the little cupid as I remember from the first book  I liked Chris; a hard working, funny, sexy Cowboy...I hope he gets a book :)

A sexy little book about two genuinely likeable characters that, in the twilight of their careers, fall in love at the Rodeo. With a charming Cowboy and a heroine I genuinely warmed to, this book left me wishing for a happy ending from page one. Smoking sex scenes, lots of Cowboy angst and some hot side characters made this one of my favourite in the series. show less