Hi there! Today’s book is a contemporary romance from Jessie Evans. LEATHER AND LACE is a fun Texas romance, without all the cowboy stuff…(unless you like the cowboy stuff in which case, it’s not VERY cowboy-ie, but there’s a sorta cowboy in it…)

About the book:
Cowboy bikers, fireworks, and romance, oh my…

Wild girl, Mia Sherman, has a secret—she isn’t as fearless as she pretends. Descended from Lonesome Point, Texas’s founding family, Mia grew up hearing tales of an old Irish curse that had followed the Shermans to America. At age twenty-four, Mia is still terrified of the stories, because they aren’t stories. They are a warning about what will happen if Mia allows love and romance into her life. The curse struck Mia’s grandmother and her great-great-whatever grandmother, and Mia knows she could be next. The first-born daughter of every generation is cursed to lose her husband on her wedding night, which is one of the many reasons Mia has sworn off relationships.

Until the fateful day Sawyer Kane rides his Harley into her life …

Rancher turned restoration expert, Sawyer Kane, can’t believe his luck when the feisty owner of the lingerie shop next to his hotel turns out to be the curator of his latest project, a ghost town he’s been sent to restore. He’s looking forward to long, hot days talking history, and hotter nights with Mia, but the redhead with the killer smile seems determined to keep him at a friendly distance. But when a dangerous man from Mia’s past arrives in town, Sawyer finds himself drawn into her inner circle, and into the legend of Lonesome Point itself.

Can true love conquer all, even a centuries-old curse? Mia and Sawyer may be the first couple to find out.

My Review:
Mia is a strong, educated businesswoman with a horrible ex—-so horrible he’s in jail. Paul haunts Mia’s nightmares, but he’s back in LA and she’s in Lonesome Point, Texas living near her family and friends. Mia’s a bit of a prankster, and she topples into Sawyer mid-prank, very early one Saturday morning. Like 2:30am, after having far too many shots of whiskey.

Sawyer isn’t looking for romance in Lonesome Point. He’s there to bid on the restoration of the nearby ghost town, but he’s more than happy to oblige the rambunctious redhead who stole his breath, okay knocked him breathless, in the street. Yeah, that Mia’s got spirit. Or, was filled with spirit… In either case, he’s intrigued enough to pursue her.

Mia turns Sawyer away for two reasons: she’s still scared of intimacy after Paul’s abusive ways, and she’s sure the firstborn women of her family are cursed to lose their husbands on their wedding night. It seems a crazy curse, but Mia’s granny swears by it. She should know–her hubby died that way, too.

It’s a fun, but not long, pursuit. All of Mia’s friends encourage her to leap–and Sawyer assures her everything will be casual. That’s before he gets her between the sheets however. Then it’s all Floodgates of the Past Confession Central and they spend a whole lotta time confiding in each other–excepting about Paul, he’s a taboo topic. Well, he’s taboo until he breaks parole.

Can Mia survive Paul’s love? Can she give her heart to Sawyer, believing a curse might steal him away when they should be at their happiest?

It’s a fun read with some interesting twists. I rather knew where the story was headed, but that’s likely equal parts good foreshadowing and attentive audience. The V-card issue was, perhaps, unnecessary. Lots of talk of unwedded parenthood, with the culture-clash in tiny Lonesome Point teetering on the disapproving side. For me, it seemed “meh.” I have no qualms about unwed parents. I do have trouble with deadbeat fathers–and this story seemed a bit littered with them.

I’m glad Mia found the courage to love. I’m not glad that she kicked Sawyer aside out of fear. Or that she takes too much on herself. Made her seem a touch, um, naive, for me. That said, this is breezy read with a cool setting, fun characters and well-written smexytimes. I enjoyed it.

Interested? You can find LEATHER AND LACE on Goodreads, Amazon and Barnes & Noble. I received a review copy from the author in exchange for my honest review.

About the author:
Jessie Evans gave up a career as an international woman of mystery to write the sassy, Southern romances she always wanted to read.

She’s married to the man of her dreams, and together they’re raising a few adorable, mischievous children in a tree house in the boonies. She grew up in rural Arkansas, spending summers running wild, being chewed by chiggers, and now appreciates her home in a chigger-free part of the world even more.

When she’s not writing, Jessie enjoys playing her dulcimer (badly), sewing the worlds ugliest quilts to give to her friends, going for bike rides with her house full of boys, and wandering the woods, glass of wine and camera both in hand, on the lookout for Bigfoot.

A southern girl, born and bred, Jessie loves writing Southern romances with just the right amount of sizzle, and hopes you’ll enjoy her stories set in the fictional town of Summerville, Georgia. Especially the “Always a Bridesmaid” series!

You can catch up with Jessie online on Goodreads, her website, and twitter.

Thanks for popping in, and keep reading my friends!