Texas #1
Riley Hayes, the playboy of the Hayes family, is a young man who seems to have it all: money, a career he loves, and his pick of beautiful women. His father, CEO of HayesOil, passes control of the corporation to his two sons; but a stipulation is attached to Riley's portion. Concerned about Riley's lack of maturity, his father requires that Riley 'marry and stay married for one year to someone he loves'. Angered by the requirement, Riley seeks a means of bypassing his father's stipulation. Blackmailing Jack Campbell into marrying him "for love" suits Riley's purpose. There is no mention in his father's documents that the marriage had to be with a woman and Jack Campbell is the son of Riley Senior's arch rival. Win win.
Riley marries Jack and abruptly his entire world is turned inside out. Riley hadn't counted on the fact that Jack Campbell, quiet and unassuming rancher, is a force of nature in his own right.
This is a story of murder, deceit, the struggle for power, lust and love, the sprawling life of a rancher and the whirlwind existence of a playboy. But under and through it all, as Riley learns over the months, this is a tale about family and everything that that word means.
Review:
Let's be honest, the covers are what drew me to this series first. DAMN those are some fine men! And being the age that I am, I grew up in the hay day of Dallas, the original not the re-vamped series, and was completely addicted to the drama. Well let me tell you that the Ewings ain't got nothing on the Hayes! There is EVERYTHING in this book and if by some accident the author did miss something you can bet it will be in the the next one. I for one LOVED it and couldn't put it down.
Through all the drama and intrigue is a wonderful love story. Jack and Riley couldn't not have started out further apart but when they come together it is all kinds of hotness. A strong secondary cast that added so much depth and heart the story would not have worked as well without them.
Strong, stubborn, sexy cowboys....hot, carnal sex and that is a recipe for success!
Texas #2
Riley’s past comes back to haunt him both professionally and personally.
His dead brother left more than just bitter memories for Riley to deal with. The FBI get involved and suddenly it is more than his good name that is on the line. Jack is always there for him but how much more can Riley’s husband reasonably be able to understand?
Especially when Riley finds out on his delayed honeymoon that he has an eight year old daughter he never knew existed...
Review:
It's been a crazy year for Jack and Riley and just when they think things are starting to settle down in comes the drama. And no these cowboys can't just have one emergency to deal with at a time, they have to have multiple irons in the fire.
Riley finds out he's a dad, which leads to some wonderful AWWW moments with the boys, and really solidifies them as a family.
Throw in the FBI and dicey oil deals and lets not forget that Jack's mom has started to date a much younger man!!! I really don't know how these men find time to visit their barn and get their sexy on, but thankfully they do.
Texas #3
Against the backdrop of twenty half naked models on DD land, and in the midst of fighting the oil establishment that just won't give Riley a chance, Texas Heat is the story of one hot summer in Texas with a Gay Rodeo, humor, angst and a love between two men that just grows stronger every day.
Jack hires Robbie, a man recovering from a great loss, to be his right hand man. Meanwhile Riley's mischievous photographer friend, Eli, decides the DD is the perfect backdrop for a cowboy themed model shoot. Eli has secrets not even Riley knows about but despite what he is hiding he falls in lust with Robbie at first sight. Everyone except Robbie can see how perfect Eli would be for him.
What happens when secrets spill and lies are discovered? And just how far will Riley and Jack go to play matchmaker?
Review:
The cast of characters just keeps growing. While this book still centers around Jack and Riley and their ever evolving relationship we get a new romance in this book.
Robbie has come to the Double D (cracks me up every time that two gay men live on a ranch called the Double D) with secrets and hurt but he can't help but notice Eli.
Eli is a breath of fresh air on the ranch, because Lord knows things might have gotten quite if he hadn't shown up.
With fist fights, ex-boyfriends and a gay rodeo it's just another day in Texas. But the thing that always comes through in this series is the sense of family and how they are always stronger together. I love the relationship between Jack and Riley and the way that it seems to grow and mature but is still hot as hell.
Texas #4
Jack and Riley Campbell-Hayes begin a journey that will change their lives forever.
Set against the backdrop of the Double D, the cast of the Texas books face changes that won’t leave a single one of them untouched.
Jack and Riley want to extend their small family of three. Their first choice is surrogacy with Jack as the father and when all this begins smoothly both men can't help but contemplate at what point would things go wrong. After all, their lives are far from normal and nothing is ever smooth.
Add a small four year old boy in foster care into the mix and suddenly things become a whole lot more complicated.
Review:
Now you knew when Jack and Riley decided to expand their family they couldn't do it the easy way. When they chose to use a surrogate they get a little more than they planned for.
So between new horses to train and a house that needs to expand to encompass the quickly growing family, you would think that would be enough, and with some families it might but not the Campbell-Hayes family! We have more family drama with some PTSD that leads to a life altering event within the extended family, Jack's sister decides to try to have another child and a new hand has come to work on the ranch with secrets of his own.
But one thing that is never in chaos is the love between Riley and Jack. They are stronger than ever and have become one of my favorite couples of all time.
This series is high on drama and angst and all I want to know is when is the next one!
The next book in the series is Texas Christmas due out December 15, 2013.
An accurate review of a fabulous series I am happy to say is on my re read again and again list.
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