Reviews - Zakia and the Cowboy
Reviews:
5.0 out of 5 stars Zakia, February 12, 2014 By Colfel This review is from: Zakia and the Cowboy (Thunder Creek Ranch Book 1) (Kindle Edition)
I loved this story! I can see this type of situation happen in real life. The twins were a hoot and the family dynamics were realistic as well. Life on a ranch is hard work and yet Luke seemed to make it happen with his new family. I think the characters were well developed and the storyline was good. My only regret was the story ended too quickly.
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing read January 11, 2014 By Bre Format:Kindle Edition
I received this book as a gift in exchange for an honest review.
I fell in love with this story. I read this book in one sitting. I look forward to reading more books by Lorraine Nelson. A very gifted story teller. I will be recommending this book to family and friends.
5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyed! May 7, 2013 By Angie Format:Kindle Edition
This book was really good. It was well written and was suspenseful. I did not expect the stalker to be who it turned out to be. I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
Oct 08, 2012 Julie Ramsey rated it 5 of 5 stars Shelves: Zakia and the Cowboy
Zakia as a young women, married Luke the love of her life. Both were young but the chemistry is strong. Luke, a cowboy through and through. Owning and running a ranch, kept him busy. If not out working on the farm, he was working with his animals. Except for at night. At night, was for Zakia. Zakia although, in love with Luke was very lonely. All ways by herself and never included in the ranch, started to regret getting married so young. So when she leaves Luke, he really doesn't understand why but gives her the divorce. Just when Zakia, realizes she is still in love with Luke, want to go back and finds out she is pregnant, she gets divorce papers n the mail. She thinks, maybe he didn't love me? So as she raises the twins on her own, mysterious things start to happen. Someone is leaving notes around her home, where no can get to. The messages are getting more and more violent and threatening and she fears for her boys safety. So with Sam, her best friend's help, Zakia runs for her life! She goes to the only person she thinks can help her, Luke.
This was an awesome story. You fall in love with Zakia, Luke and her boys. I loved the characters in this book. All were interesting, real, and you cheer for them and want things to go well for them. Of course, if that were all it would not be an interesting story would it? I really liked how the author sets up the next book by including the characters. Easy, romantic read with some excitement through in for good measures. Contains adult content so 18 and up.
complimentary book given for a free review. come check out this review and more on juliesbookreview.blogspot.com
4.0 out of 5 stars Tractors Are Sexy April 23, 2012 By Lola's Mom VINE VOICE Format:Kindle Edition
"He gave her a leg up, their bodies brushing against each other, causing a heated friction that certainly wasn't due to the heat of the sun."
Wow! I think that's my favorite line and just had to throw that out there. This is a romantic/western suspense. Zakia is a single mother with two twin boys who has a nasty stalker. She escapes to the only place she feels safe: her ex husband's ranch.
Luke is a hot cowboy who gets a shock of his life when he discovers he has two twin sons. Once her and Zakia get over their awkwardness and in his case, anger, things start to heat up. It was obvious these two never shoulda been separated.
Enter Blake and Sam. I loved Sam. She was my favorite character. I had a hard time liking Zakia at times. I just like my heroines tough; I like them to save themselves, not cry or go to sleep rather than walk on a sprained ankle. LOL. Though I hand to hand it to her when she got ahold of the duct tape and got creative. She redeemed herself then. And then there is Sam, my kinda woman.
"I do not need your permission to go riding. No man tells me what to do."
I understand this ex military chick with a fake hand is featured in book two. I cannot wait! Anyway, her and Blake (another hottie!) and a bunch of ranch hands mean to go on a cattle rustling expedition. The goal is to make the stalker show himself and at the same time, keep Zakia and her kids safe.
Things backfire...and that's all I'm gonna say. You gotta read it for yourself to figure out what happens next.
And one last favorite line of mine that I think you will all get a kick out of...
"Bouncing over the fields with her on his lap must be hard on his hard-on."
LOL!!! In case you're wondering, that was a tractor scene. :)
London Saint James, Jan 8, 2012, 5 stars.
Great job, Lorraine. Loved the book.
Dec 12, 2011 Stacey Jo's Rated it 5 stars.
Zakia and The cowboy is a heartwarming story about young love gone wrong and second chances. Young bride Zakia ran away from life on a sprawling ranch and her hot cowboy husband because she felt like she didn't fit in. Only to find herself pregnant and alone.
She wants desperately for him to come after her, but he doesn't. She wants to call him, but she doesn't. Pride gets in the way of their love for each other....as it often does for us.
Years later, Zakia realizes the only one she can run to in her time of need is her ex husband Luke. A crazed stalker has her running back to the ranch and into Luke's arms. But will he accept her and help her? Or will he let his pride control him once more?
Lorraine Nelson has created a story of love and hope. A love many of us can only hope to find. When faced with a second chance with your one true love, what would you do? Forgive them or forget them? Is it ever that simple? Here it isn't.
Zakia and The Cowboy is everything a true love story should be. It's heartfelt, moving and full of true emotion.
If you like your women strong, your cowboys hot and your love stories full of action...this is the book for you.
Oct 10, 2011 Heather Chamblin rated it I loved this book. Something the author didn't give away in any blurb or excerpt I read was Zakia was pregnant when she left Luke 5 years earlier, which made the book so much better. And to make things better, they were twin boys (awwww). I could picture them so well in my head and they were just adorable. The first part of the book was mostly dedicated to Zakia and Luke learning to trust each other again and rekindling their love. Oh and don't forget, Luke has two little boys he's dying to know...moreI loved this book. Something the author didn't give away in any blurb or excerpt I read was Zakia was pregnant when she left Luke 5 years earlier, which made the book so much better. And to make things better, they were twin boys (awwww). I could picture them so well in my head and they were just adorable. The first part of the book was mostly dedicated to Zakia and Luke learning to trust each other again and rekindling their love. Oh and don't forget, Luke has two little boys he's dying to know more about. Ladies, you will be swooning for this man after reading how great Luke is with these kids, it's too sweet. The second part of the book was more on this stalker business which got suspenseful and leaves you wanting to know what happens next. I love a good mystery were I can read through the book and figure out who it is and his/her motive and that is exactly what I got. I did figure out who the stalker was (thank you, thank you. I know, I should have been a detective, lol) but I couldn't figure out what his motive was so kudos to Mrs. Nelson on that. There was a part in the book that made me want yell at how obtuse they were being and through the book across the room but I can't give any details away in case of a spoiler, sorry!
Oct 12, 2011 Terra Oenning This Book Has it all...Romance and A Thriller all in the same Book. It has a True love Story That touches Your Heart. I was even thinking I Knew who the stalker was but I was wrong lol then I finally caught on.. When Zakria shows up after 5 years to her ex-husbands place with Twin Boys, Luke gets a shock of his life finding out he is the father of them. That Changes everything as he will do anything to protect his boys and the mother of his children that he never stopped loving. In the End they rekindled the love they had and more( A Family) . I truely loved this book and wish there was more men out there like Luke. Not gonna give spoilers away on the stalker as it had me on the edge a few times.. I can't wait to read more of Lorraines work it really is so enjoyable and just makes the heart melt. I loved Zakria and the Cowboy... omg i loved this book and so wish i could find a luke lol ... Im sure i will be re-reading it again this weekend lol.. it was that good:) Thank U For writing such an amazing book... Cant wait for the next one :)(Hugs)
Michelle Fayard's review Oct 20, 11 (Also posted on Amazon. 5 out of 5 Stars!)
Zakia and her five-year-old twins are forced to return to the ranch of her former husband when someone starts maliciously stalking her. Zakia has never stopped loving Luke, but how will she regain his trust after having left without an explanation—and without telling him she was pregnant with their sons? Now time is running out, both for their love and Zakia’s life.
Set in the Canadian Rockies, ZAKIA AND THE COWBOY is an intense read from debut author Lorraine Nelson. The first of the Thunder Creek Ranch series, ZAKIA is a keeper, and Nelson is an author whose name readers will look forward to seeing on covers in the future, as she excels in creating memorable characters, gripping scenes and heartfelt emotions with a wow level of heat. The rich details about life on a cattle ranch are an extra bonus.
Anna Keraleigh's review Nov 11, 11. I've been in this weird cowboy mood. I bought cowgirl boots and had Zakia and the Cowboy on my list to read. Figured, I'd pick up a copy since I was craving Cowboy.
What a wonderfully romantic, amazing read! I fell in love with these characters and applaud Lorraine for writing such a gripping novel.
5.0 out of 5 stars What's not to like? October 4, 2011 By DJ Frazier - This review is from: Zakia and the Cowboy (Thunder Creek Ranch) (Kindle Edition)
This book has what a reader of romance is looking for. It has suspense, a deep meaningful romance, and lots of spice. There are heart warming moments mixed with heart pounding to take you on an emotional journey. It's the kind of read you want to snuggle up to on a cold winter's night.
TBR, December 2nd, 2011
Reviewer: B.H. 5 stars!
Zakia is running from a stalker. She flees for protection to her ex-husband with the surprise that she not only had his child but twins. Can they rekindle lost love or will the stalker end any hope of a good future?
The beginning was hard to continue, it was telling and the story just starts. There’s the characters, there’s the scene with no gentle ease into the book. That said, KEEP READING! It gets so much better. The growing relationship between Lucas and his twins was beautiful. Then add the flames between him and Zakia, it makes for a dynamic read. I’m not a mother and usually kids in romance novels never end well but Ms. Nelson did a fantastic job incorporating them without smothering the steam. There was sweet and romantic. That hay scene was something special.
There are small paragraphs from the stalkers POV and they really did not work as well as they could have. He/she should have had a lot more violent and malicious thoughts to be a convincing psychopath. Some scenes were redundant, such as why she left. I must have read Zakia explaining it at least three times. If they were trimmed it would have really added to the story. Back to the stalker, halfway through I knew who it was, but I’m usually ahead of the game in these kinds of thriller books. The ending could have been flesh out and a real explosion of intensity, this just fizzled out but it was still very satisfying.
So why, do you ask, did it get 5 stars? Well, it was sweet, romantic and truly entertaining. I really enjoyed the blooming relationship between the twins, Lucas and Zakia. If you have kids I have a feeling you’ll love this book. I don't have any and I still really loved this book. I can't wait to read the next in this series!
Pick up your copy of Zakia and The Cowboy and prepare to swoon.
HEA Reviews, December 2, 2011
4 Stars
Once you start this book, you won’t want to put it down. It’s filled with passion, suspense, happiness and a sense of finally being a family. One will do anything in order to keep their family safe from a crazy madman.
Zakia truly had a friend in which she could trust her life with. When she needed to flee her home Sam was there to help her with anything she needed. There was only one problem what if her ex-husband had a wife, children and would turn her away and not help her. When she left him she thought that he would come for her but he never went. She felt lonely in their home and felt that he did not want to share his ranch life with her. Then she wrote him a letter after she left to let him know what was happening with her but she never heard back. After time past she believed he did not care about her and the day came when she received the divorce papers. Even if that was a long time ago she knew that he could protect her but she knew once he found out about her secret he could make her leave but maybe he could care for the others and she would go back and face the stalker on her own.
When Luke sees Zakia he thinks he is dreaming but when she speaks he knows that she has come back but for what she is the one that left. When he learns of her kept secret he is enraged but cannot let her leave so he tries hard and acts somewhat civil to her. After spending time with Zakia and the others he finally feels that he is whole. He admits to himself that he has never stopped loving Zakia and there was no way that he would let her leave when they found her stalker.
Now as for the stalker he was smart, clever and not even her security system detected him. Then when he finds her at the ranch she is so frightened but she knows that Luke will keep her safe. Then he ends up entering Luke’s home and leaves her a nasty note on her mirror in her room. Anyone in there right mind would go into shock and that is what she did. But no matter what Luke was there to comfort her and tried to make her feel safe. But Luke knew that they needed to do the cattle run and hoped that once they were out in the open he would strike and mess up somewhere but wrong again. The stalker was able to capture Zakia and take her on a ride she would never forget, underground.
When Zakia showed up at the ranch last one night it was time for the truth to finally come into light. It was a chance to start over and have a family if and only Luke could forgive her. This story tells of their journey in becoming a family and trying to leave everything in the past in the past. It was gripped with emotions as Luke comes face to face with the secret that was kept from him but he does not waste time in making memories with them. I felt so happy for them because you could tell that they still loved each other but it was going to take time for Luke to trust again.
Zakia and the Cowboy is a joy to read and it will take you on a guessing game. I loved how their HEA ended because this time things will be different. I can’t wait to read Blake’s and Sam story next.
4 Tea Cups!
I loved this story! I can see this type of situation happen in real life. The twins were a hoot and the family dynamics were realistic as well. Life on a ranch is hard work and yet Luke seemed to make it happen with his new family. I think the characters were well developed and the storyline was good. My only regret was the story ended too quickly.
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing read January 11, 2014 By Bre Format:Kindle Edition
I received this book as a gift in exchange for an honest review.
I fell in love with this story. I read this book in one sitting. I look forward to reading more books by Lorraine Nelson. A very gifted story teller. I will be recommending this book to family and friends.
5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyed! May 7, 2013 By Angie Format:Kindle Edition
This book was really good. It was well written and was suspenseful. I did not expect the stalker to be who it turned out to be. I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
Oct 08, 2012 Julie Ramsey rated it 5 of 5 stars Shelves: Zakia and the Cowboy
Zakia as a young women, married Luke the love of her life. Both were young but the chemistry is strong. Luke, a cowboy through and through. Owning and running a ranch, kept him busy. If not out working on the farm, he was working with his animals. Except for at night. At night, was for Zakia. Zakia although, in love with Luke was very lonely. All ways by herself and never included in the ranch, started to regret getting married so young. So when she leaves Luke, he really doesn't understand why but gives her the divorce. Just when Zakia, realizes she is still in love with Luke, want to go back and finds out she is pregnant, she gets divorce papers n the mail. She thinks, maybe he didn't love me? So as she raises the twins on her own, mysterious things start to happen. Someone is leaving notes around her home, where no can get to. The messages are getting more and more violent and threatening and she fears for her boys safety. So with Sam, her best friend's help, Zakia runs for her life! She goes to the only person she thinks can help her, Luke.
This was an awesome story. You fall in love with Zakia, Luke and her boys. I loved the characters in this book. All were interesting, real, and you cheer for them and want things to go well for them. Of course, if that were all it would not be an interesting story would it? I really liked how the author sets up the next book by including the characters. Easy, romantic read with some excitement through in for good measures. Contains adult content so 18 and up.
complimentary book given for a free review. come check out this review and more on juliesbookreview.blogspot.com
4.0 out of 5 stars Tractors Are Sexy April 23, 2012 By Lola's Mom VINE VOICE Format:Kindle Edition
"He gave her a leg up, their bodies brushing against each other, causing a heated friction that certainly wasn't due to the heat of the sun."
Wow! I think that's my favorite line and just had to throw that out there. This is a romantic/western suspense. Zakia is a single mother with two twin boys who has a nasty stalker. She escapes to the only place she feels safe: her ex husband's ranch.
Luke is a hot cowboy who gets a shock of his life when he discovers he has two twin sons. Once her and Zakia get over their awkwardness and in his case, anger, things start to heat up. It was obvious these two never shoulda been separated.
Enter Blake and Sam. I loved Sam. She was my favorite character. I had a hard time liking Zakia at times. I just like my heroines tough; I like them to save themselves, not cry or go to sleep rather than walk on a sprained ankle. LOL. Though I hand to hand it to her when she got ahold of the duct tape and got creative. She redeemed herself then. And then there is Sam, my kinda woman.
"I do not need your permission to go riding. No man tells me what to do."
I understand this ex military chick with a fake hand is featured in book two. I cannot wait! Anyway, her and Blake (another hottie!) and a bunch of ranch hands mean to go on a cattle rustling expedition. The goal is to make the stalker show himself and at the same time, keep Zakia and her kids safe.
Things backfire...and that's all I'm gonna say. You gotta read it for yourself to figure out what happens next.
And one last favorite line of mine that I think you will all get a kick out of...
"Bouncing over the fields with her on his lap must be hard on his hard-on."
LOL!!! In case you're wondering, that was a tractor scene. :)
London Saint James, Jan 8, 2012, 5 stars.
Great job, Lorraine. Loved the book.
Dec 12, 2011 Stacey Jo's Rated it 5 stars.
Zakia and The cowboy is a heartwarming story about young love gone wrong and second chances. Young bride Zakia ran away from life on a sprawling ranch and her hot cowboy husband because she felt like she didn't fit in. Only to find herself pregnant and alone.
She wants desperately for him to come after her, but he doesn't. She wants to call him, but she doesn't. Pride gets in the way of their love for each other....as it often does for us.
Years later, Zakia realizes the only one she can run to in her time of need is her ex husband Luke. A crazed stalker has her running back to the ranch and into Luke's arms. But will he accept her and help her? Or will he let his pride control him once more?
Lorraine Nelson has created a story of love and hope. A love many of us can only hope to find. When faced with a second chance with your one true love, what would you do? Forgive them or forget them? Is it ever that simple? Here it isn't.
Zakia and The Cowboy is everything a true love story should be. It's heartfelt, moving and full of true emotion.
If you like your women strong, your cowboys hot and your love stories full of action...this is the book for you.
Oct 10, 2011 Heather Chamblin rated it I loved this book. Something the author didn't give away in any blurb or excerpt I read was Zakia was pregnant when she left Luke 5 years earlier, which made the book so much better. And to make things better, they were twin boys (awwww). I could picture them so well in my head and they were just adorable. The first part of the book was mostly dedicated to Zakia and Luke learning to trust each other again and rekindling their love. Oh and don't forget, Luke has two little boys he's dying to know...moreI loved this book. Something the author didn't give away in any blurb or excerpt I read was Zakia was pregnant when she left Luke 5 years earlier, which made the book so much better. And to make things better, they were twin boys (awwww). I could picture them so well in my head and they were just adorable. The first part of the book was mostly dedicated to Zakia and Luke learning to trust each other again and rekindling their love. Oh and don't forget, Luke has two little boys he's dying to know more about. Ladies, you will be swooning for this man after reading how great Luke is with these kids, it's too sweet. The second part of the book was more on this stalker business which got suspenseful and leaves you wanting to know what happens next. I love a good mystery were I can read through the book and figure out who it is and his/her motive and that is exactly what I got. I did figure out who the stalker was (thank you, thank you. I know, I should have been a detective, lol) but I couldn't figure out what his motive was so kudos to Mrs. Nelson on that. There was a part in the book that made me want yell at how obtuse they were being and through the book across the room but I can't give any details away in case of a spoiler, sorry!
Oct 12, 2011 Terra Oenning This Book Has it all...Romance and A Thriller all in the same Book. It has a True love Story That touches Your Heart. I was even thinking I Knew who the stalker was but I was wrong lol then I finally caught on.. When Zakria shows up after 5 years to her ex-husbands place with Twin Boys, Luke gets a shock of his life finding out he is the father of them. That Changes everything as he will do anything to protect his boys and the mother of his children that he never stopped loving. In the End they rekindled the love they had and more( A Family) . I truely loved this book and wish there was more men out there like Luke. Not gonna give spoilers away on the stalker as it had me on the edge a few times.. I can't wait to read more of Lorraines work it really is so enjoyable and just makes the heart melt. I loved Zakria and the Cowboy... omg i loved this book and so wish i could find a luke lol ... Im sure i will be re-reading it again this weekend lol.. it was that good:) Thank U For writing such an amazing book... Cant wait for the next one :)(Hugs)
Michelle Fayard's review Oct 20, 11 (Also posted on Amazon. 5 out of 5 Stars!)
Zakia and her five-year-old twins are forced to return to the ranch of her former husband when someone starts maliciously stalking her. Zakia has never stopped loving Luke, but how will she regain his trust after having left without an explanation—and without telling him she was pregnant with their sons? Now time is running out, both for their love and Zakia’s life.
Set in the Canadian Rockies, ZAKIA AND THE COWBOY is an intense read from debut author Lorraine Nelson. The first of the Thunder Creek Ranch series, ZAKIA is a keeper, and Nelson is an author whose name readers will look forward to seeing on covers in the future, as she excels in creating memorable characters, gripping scenes and heartfelt emotions with a wow level of heat. The rich details about life on a cattle ranch are an extra bonus.
Anna Keraleigh's review Nov 11, 11. I've been in this weird cowboy mood. I bought cowgirl boots and had Zakia and the Cowboy on my list to read. Figured, I'd pick up a copy since I was craving Cowboy.
What a wonderfully romantic, amazing read! I fell in love with these characters and applaud Lorraine for writing such a gripping novel.
5.0 out of 5 stars What's not to like? October 4, 2011 By DJ Frazier - This review is from: Zakia and the Cowboy (Thunder Creek Ranch) (Kindle Edition)
This book has what a reader of romance is looking for. It has suspense, a deep meaningful romance, and lots of spice. There are heart warming moments mixed with heart pounding to take you on an emotional journey. It's the kind of read you want to snuggle up to on a cold winter's night.
TBR, December 2nd, 2011
Reviewer: B.H. 5 stars!
Zakia is running from a stalker. She flees for protection to her ex-husband with the surprise that she not only had his child but twins. Can they rekindle lost love or will the stalker end any hope of a good future?
The beginning was hard to continue, it was telling and the story just starts. There’s the characters, there’s the scene with no gentle ease into the book. That said, KEEP READING! It gets so much better. The growing relationship between Lucas and his twins was beautiful. Then add the flames between him and Zakia, it makes for a dynamic read. I’m not a mother and usually kids in romance novels never end well but Ms. Nelson did a fantastic job incorporating them without smothering the steam. There was sweet and romantic. That hay scene was something special.
There are small paragraphs from the stalkers POV and they really did not work as well as they could have. He/she should have had a lot more violent and malicious thoughts to be a convincing psychopath. Some scenes were redundant, such as why she left. I must have read Zakia explaining it at least three times. If they were trimmed it would have really added to the story. Back to the stalker, halfway through I knew who it was, but I’m usually ahead of the game in these kinds of thriller books. The ending could have been flesh out and a real explosion of intensity, this just fizzled out but it was still very satisfying.
So why, do you ask, did it get 5 stars? Well, it was sweet, romantic and truly entertaining. I really enjoyed the blooming relationship between the twins, Lucas and Zakia. If you have kids I have a feeling you’ll love this book. I don't have any and I still really loved this book. I can't wait to read the next in this series!
Pick up your copy of Zakia and The Cowboy and prepare to swoon.
HEA Reviews, December 2, 2011
4 Stars
Once you start this book, you won’t want to put it down. It’s filled with passion, suspense, happiness and a sense of finally being a family. One will do anything in order to keep their family safe from a crazy madman.
Zakia truly had a friend in which she could trust her life with. When she needed to flee her home Sam was there to help her with anything she needed. There was only one problem what if her ex-husband had a wife, children and would turn her away and not help her. When she left him she thought that he would come for her but he never went. She felt lonely in their home and felt that he did not want to share his ranch life with her. Then she wrote him a letter after she left to let him know what was happening with her but she never heard back. After time past she believed he did not care about her and the day came when she received the divorce papers. Even if that was a long time ago she knew that he could protect her but she knew once he found out about her secret he could make her leave but maybe he could care for the others and she would go back and face the stalker on her own.
When Luke sees Zakia he thinks he is dreaming but when she speaks he knows that she has come back but for what she is the one that left. When he learns of her kept secret he is enraged but cannot let her leave so he tries hard and acts somewhat civil to her. After spending time with Zakia and the others he finally feels that he is whole. He admits to himself that he has never stopped loving Zakia and there was no way that he would let her leave when they found her stalker.
Now as for the stalker he was smart, clever and not even her security system detected him. Then when he finds her at the ranch she is so frightened but she knows that Luke will keep her safe. Then he ends up entering Luke’s home and leaves her a nasty note on her mirror in her room. Anyone in there right mind would go into shock and that is what she did. But no matter what Luke was there to comfort her and tried to make her feel safe. But Luke knew that they needed to do the cattle run and hoped that once they were out in the open he would strike and mess up somewhere but wrong again. The stalker was able to capture Zakia and take her on a ride she would never forget, underground.
When Zakia showed up at the ranch last one night it was time for the truth to finally come into light. It was a chance to start over and have a family if and only Luke could forgive her. This story tells of their journey in becoming a family and trying to leave everything in the past in the past. It was gripped with emotions as Luke comes face to face with the secret that was kept from him but he does not waste time in making memories with them. I felt so happy for them because you could tell that they still loved each other but it was going to take time for Luke to trust again.
Zakia and the Cowboy is a joy to read and it will take you on a guessing game. I loved how their HEA ended because this time things will be different. I can’t wait to read Blake’s and Sam story next.
4 Tea Cups!