REVIEW: Texas Outlaws: Cole by Kimberly Raye

Texas Outlaws: Cole (Texas Outlaws #3) by Kimberly Raye, is the third book about one of the three Chisholm brothers living in the small town of Lost Gun, Texas. This is Cole’s story, the middle brother. Cole has one goal, to be the first rodeo rider ever to win his sixth consecutive championship, which would make him a legend at the ripe old age of twenty-eight. Cole isn’t the settling down type and isn’t looking for a long-term relationship. His good looks and muscular physique keep the women panting and up until recently, he enjoyed the temporariness of it all.

Sexy Nicole Barbie is known throughout Lost Gun as a bad girl, along with her two older sisters. She is anything but, just dressing the part while her sisters and mother are the real thing. Her mom Raylene owns The Giddyup, the local honky-tonk and now that her sisters are married, believes Nicole will pick up the slack. Nicole has no intention of slinging bar food and drinks for the rest of her life, she plans on working as a sous chef once she completes and passes her culinary school exam in a few weeks.

Cole and Nicole have known each other since childhood. Although they are six years apart in age, they both have distinct recollections of their interactions while growing up. Nicole always had a crush on Cole, but Cole was always chasing Nicole’s older sister. As adults they are attracted to each other and due to their present circumstances, decide to temporarily get married. Cole needs to be free of all women and practice constantly before the rodeo without any distractions. Nicole needs her mom to realize she will not be her honky-tonk partner and focus on her culinary future. Thus, a marriage of convenience is the answer to their plight.

Spending time together in Cole’s RV only exacerbates their lust for each other. Their feelings are evolving and once they give in to their needs, they realize it is much more then sexual attraction. The heat they create is off the charts because now they are good friends as well.

I liked this book. I am a big fan of the marriage of convenience romance and Ms. Raye’s version is fresh and adventuresome. Nicole’s feelings of inadequacy are real and identifiable. While Cole’s evolution from a womanizer to loving husband is a wonderful experience.

With the exception of a few spots, the story flowed nicely. The secondary plot about the Chisholm brothers searching and subsequently digging for the money that their outlaw of a late father stole, is completed with this book.

Book Info:

Published February 18th 2014 by Harlequin Blaze Series #788  |  (Texas Outlaws #3)

Criminally Hot!

Cole Chisholm is a droolworthy bronc rider, and every inch the bad boy most mothers would warn their daughters about. Which means he’s exactly the guy Nicole Barbie needs.

Nicole has carefully cultivated a rep of her own, but she’s not really the bad girl everyone thinks she is. Her mother is pushing her to continue in the tradition of the wild women in their family when all Nicole wants is to focus on becoming the best chef in fifty states. Fortunately, Cole is the perfect guy for creating a sinful sensation…or at least helping with the pretense of one.

But once these two bad reputations get together, there’ll be more heat between the sheets than in all of Texas!