Reckless with the Cowboy by Elsa Winckler is a Stress Busting Book Festival pick #westernromance #romance #mustread #giveaway
- N. N. Light
- 2 days ago
- 5 min read
Title: Reckless with the Cowboy
Author: Elsa Winckler
Genre: Western Romance, Cowboy Romance
Book Blurb:
Cowboy Becket Weston likes women, plural, and has a reputation for breaking hearts. His bad-boy behavior masks a deeper need to atone for past mistakes. His side-hustle—using a pseudonym and posting comic drawings of ranch life on social media—lets him explore life, love, and grief without being exposed. He even has a following! But no amount of introspection can explain his fascination with Eleanor Campbell—Main Street, Marietta’s newest shopkeeper. She’s definitely not his type, so why does she keep turning up in his drawings?
Ellie Campbell isn’t one for staying long in any one place, but when she inherits money from her grandmother and decides to open a yarn store in small-town Marietta, it feels like she’s putting down roots. She’s not looking for a relationship after one too many hard knocks, literally, but Becket Weston gets under her skin like no other, igniting passion that’s impossible to ignore.
He’s a bad boy playboy and everyone knows it, but there’s something about him that just doesn’t add up. Does Ellie have the courage to stick around and find a way into his heart?
Excerpt:
As he turned his head to check the traffic, a motion in the shop next to the pharmacy caught his attention. A woman with curly blonde hair cascading down her back was standing on a stepladder, her hands stretched out in front of her as she was trying to put something on top of a cupboard. A very unsteady stepladder, from what he could see.
He recognized her immediately. It was Ellie, Laura’s very sexy curvy friend. She’d attended Laura and Hayden’s wedding four weeks ago, but had slipped away before he could introduce himself. She wasn’t the type of woman he usually dated, his mother had said when Ellie had been discussed during a lunch. Well, he didn’t have to like her to know she was in trouble. Even from here, it was obvious the ladder was going to keel over at any moment.
His feet were moving before he even thought about what he was doing.
With two steps he was inside the shop. Dropping the bag in his hands on the nearest counter, he charged forward.
The ladder groaned and tilted.
“Oh!” she cried and the next moment she came tumbling down. With another step forward he was just in time to catch her in his arms.
Shocked blue eyes looked up at him. Then the strangest thing happened. For a split second, he could swear the earth stopped turning, long enough for him to become acutely aware of the soft womanly curves he was holding in his arms.
For the life of him, he couldn’t look away. With one glance he took in everything about her—skin like petals under his fingers, silky curls brushing against his hand, generous breasts pressing against his arms, the pulse fluttering in her neck, the shudder that went through her. Or was it through him?
“Put me down!” she demanded and wriggled to get down.
“Steady now, sweetheart,” he got out as he slowly put her down.
Strangely lightheaded from the notes of flowers and citrus that still clung to him, he steadied himself against the counter. Forcing himself to look away, he glanced down. She’d kicked off her shoes and was in bare feet. Her toenails were painted a soft pink. Desire like he’d never experienced before hit him forcefully in the gut.
“Don’t call me sweetheart,” she huffed. “Thank you, but I had the situation under control.”
He should be flirting, joking with her, but gone was all his usual suave bantering. Like an idiot, he could only stare. She was still talking, but he didn’t hear a thing. Her lips … they were made for kissing. And the line of her neck …
“… please leave?” Her words finally penetrated his befuddled mind. “This is yours …” she said as she picked up the package he’d bought at the pharmacist.
As she tossed the packet in his direction, the box of condoms slipped out, fell to the ground and several condoms fell out.
They both crouched down at the same time. She had the box in her hand while he was picking up the few packages that had fallen out. “Skin-on-skin feeling for enhanced sensation and pleasure,” she read out loud before she realized what she was holding in her hands. Blushing a fiery red, she dropped the package like it was a hot potato and got up quickly.
Quickly putting everything back in the paper bag, he stood up. “I …” He had to clear his throat. “I was just trying to help.”
Turning her back on him, she moved closer to the door. “I know all about you, Becket Weston. I’m not falling for those baby blues.”
Well, he hadn’t ever been one to step away from a challenge. Finally regaining his equilibrium, he pushed the package into the pocket of his jeans and sauntered closer to where she was waiting for him to leave, back straight. “Baby blues?”
Whipping around, her mouth opened, ready to cut him down to size again, but then she froze. She’d obviously not realized how close he was standing to her. Backing up a few steps, he saw it—the clear outline of her nipples straining against the soft material of the dress she was wearing; the top button had slipped open, giving him a glimpse of the swell of a milk-white breast and midnight-blue lace. Another wave of desire punched him in the gut—he wasn’t the only one to react.
“Sure about that?” he chuckled as he lowered his head. He’d merely meant to tease her; actually kissing her hadn’t even entered his mind. Until he caught the whiff of her scent again. Within seconds his blood heated to way beyond boiling point and rushed loudly through his bloodstream.
Steady, steady. Taking a deep breath, he grinned, forcing himself to play his usual role. “Wanna kiss and make out?” he teased, trying to clear his befuddled mind.
Buy Links (including Goodreads and BookBub):
Amazon kindle: https://amzn.to/3YxzliF
B&N Nook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/reckless-with-the-cowboy-elsa-winckler/1146419988?ean=2940184576473
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Reckless_with_the_Cowboy?id=sZw3EQAAQBAJ&hl=en_US&gl=US
What’s your favorite way to combat stress?
I love taking a walk on the beach – it just blows all the cobwebs and stress away. I also knit and crochet and of course, I love to read.
Why is your featured book a stress busting read?
It’s a love story with a happy ending – sure to put a smile on your face. Especially dog lovers will enjoy this one, I hope.
Giveaway –
One lucky reader will win a $100 Amazon gift card.
Open internationally.
Runs May 1 – 31, 2025
Drawing will be held on June 1, 2025.
Author Biography:
Elsa has been reading love stories for as long as she can remember and when she ‘met’ the classic authors like Jane Austen, Elizabeth Gaskell, Henry James The Brontë sisters, etc. during her English Honours studies, she was hooked for life.
She married her college boyfriend and soul mate and they are now fortunate to live in the picturesque little seaside village of Betty's Bay, South Africa.
She likes the heroines in her stories to be beautiful, feisty, independent and headstrong. And the heroes must be strong but possess a generous amount of sensitivity. They are of course, also gorgeous! Her stories typically incorporate the family background of the characters to better understand where they come from and who they are when we meet them in the story.
Social Media Links:
Webpage: https://elsawinckler.com
Personal Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/elsa.winckler
Author Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ElsaWincklerRomanceAuthor?ref_type=bookmark
Twitter: https://twitter.com/elsawinckler @elsawinckler
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/elsawinckler/
Wattpad: http://www.wattpad.com/user/elsaw1
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elsaw1/
Tik Tok: @elsawinckler
