Sam Malone is the brains behind Blackbird, a guest and working ranch. Since his parents’ death, his sole purpose has been family and the ranch’s survival. Burned by love in the past, he avoids the distraction that comes with beautiful women. But what’s a cowboy to do when a sweet and sassy chef gets under his skin, only to be told by her overprotective cousin she’s off limits?
Hero: Sam is definitely the nice, quiet guy who's really a freak behind closed doors. I really loved this cross between cowboy and geek as well. I can respect a guy who knows how to crunch numbers, has a love for Star Wars, and rides horses like a pro. He's also loyal to the core and believe in putting family first, until he meets Gabi.
Heroine: Gabi is a geek chef. Yep and I fell in love right away because I'm also a geek chef. I watch science fiction shows and spend plenty of time in the kitchen.
Plot: Sam and Gabi are meeting again. This is the first time they've seen each other in over a year. While their reunion isn't based on their relationship with one another, it is a chance to rekindle an attraction that started with their first interaction. Business as usual is hard to stick to, especially since Sam and Gabi connect to each other like moths to a bright light. Also both Gabi and Sam have given up a lot over the years to pursue their own careers or help their families, this story is all about doing something for themselves for once.
Setting: It's a Montana ranch. Whoo hoo! I love the great outdoors, especially in books because I don't have to deal with bugs, snakes, and wildlife in general. This setting is a ranch with plenty of fun, horses, and adventures. Due to the length there isn't a ton of exploring, but what is provided are clear cut descriptions that gave me perfect mind-images of Blackbird. I was also very envious of their outdoor bar-be-que grill.
Sexual Performance: Sam and Gabi heat up the sheets and they don't believe in a closed door policy. There's a far amount of tension in the story as well and I was impressed with how Morgan heated up the pages to a fair simmer, but still left plenty of time for the hero and heroine to get together. Sometimes with short stories it's difficult to pace the relationship, including the intimacy, but Morgan does an excellent job of timing everything just right.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and rate it a yes. If you like quick reads, fun characters, simmering tension, cowboys, and all-things-geek you can't go wrong with Sam's Temptation. I also hope that Morgan has plans for the other Malone brothers. There are still three more that need their own stories. Especially, Nate.
Snag your copy: Decadent ~ Amazon ~ Barnes and Noble ~ Kobo ~ iTunes
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