Taming The Cougar (Hot Flash)

Sandy Sullivan is a romance author, who, when not writing, spends her time with her
husband Shaun on their farm in middle Tennessee. She loves to ride her horses, play
with their dogs and relax on the porch, enjoying the rolling hills of her home south of
Nashville. Country music is a passion of hers and she loves to listen to it while she writes.

She is an avid reader of romance novels and enjoys reading Nora Roberts, Jude Deveraux
and Susan Wiggs. Finding new authors and delving into something different helps feed
the need for literature. A registered nurse by education, she loves to help people and
spread the enjoyment of romance to those around her with her novels. She loves cowboys
so you'll find many of her novels have sexy men in tight jeans and cowboy boots.

 

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Review: Taming the Cougar by Sandy Sullivan

 

 

Judith's review of Taming the Cougar by Sandy Sullivan.

After her ex left her for a much younger woman, she decide's she is done with the opposite sex. Her B.O.B can take care of her needs just fine thank you very much. Until the day she runs into Chris Nelson, hot cowboy extraordinaire at the local honky-tonk during her daughter's bachelorette party. Feeling a little tipsy or a whole lot drunk, Marla's tongue gets away from her to the point she tells Chris the torrid details of her marriage breakup only to be embarrassed enough to run.

Chris Nelson needs a quick fuck and the gorgeous cougar sitting in the bar booth is the ticket. Getting her alone seemed like a good idea to the point the quick ride in the front seat of his truck, blows his mind. When Marla passes out, he feels obligated to take care of her until she's sober enough to drive herself home.

Little do either of them know, their paths will cross again in the most unlikely place. Can Marla put aside her distrust of men, especially for a younger man? Can Chris convince her he's not like other guys and does he even want to?

I hadn't read any of Sandy Sullivan's work until I found a series of novels set in the West and Northwest and found that I liked her style and the way she put a story together. So when I was sent this story I was delighted to read and review it. Obviously the mother of the bride is in her early to mid-40's and the last thing she feels is over-the-hill. Just because her ex is crazy and has now married a young nubile thing and gotten her pregnant doesn't indicate that she is ready to dry up and blow away. He may try to make her feel that way, but Marla isn't going to lie to herself just because he's a jerk. Even her daughter wonders how her mother put up with her father for 20 years. Yet, there's no getting around the fact that she has been badly hurt and has now come to the conclusion that a long-term relationship with her Battery Operated Boyfriend is lots less wear and tear on her heart. Men just aren't worth it! Meeting up with a sexy cowboy may be exciting for the evening, but he's just that: one evening's excitement.

Now it must be noted that not every single older woman is toting around a broken heart or a charred set of emotions. But our heroine certainly has had her share of crap shoveled at her, and now she is just trying to figure out what he future is going to be--a future she never dreamed would be such a lonely one as it is now. How strange that a tall and gorgeous cowboy was holding her and comforting her as the pain of rejection finally came to the surface. Did she want her ex back? No way!! But the reality of being set aside by someone who had promised to love and be with her still hurt and hurt deep.

This story chronicles a journey of re-discovery of the power of friendship that knows no boundaries of age, the power of love to heal and restore, and the grace that can fill a relationship when two people are willing the accept one another for who they are. This story also tells of a man who makes some interesting discoveries about himself and one whose innate goodness supports his efforts to bring joy to this sad woman who has sort of crashed into his life. He was the kind of man to whom women were attracted, but he was intrigued by the fact that this was the first woman in a long time who held his interest even when she wasn't trying to.

"Marla needed someone who would stand beside her, strengthen her with his love and trust not to hurt her. Could I be that man? Do I even want to?"

It is story full of love and friendship, of learning new ways to relate that may be outside what society views as "normal," a series of experiences that opened up a future that was totally unforeseen by both Marla and Christ. And it bears the unique stamp of a writer who crafts a story so well, who draws the lines of her characters with a sure hand, and one for whom the story is the thing. It is heart-warming and enjoyable on many levels and while it engages the mind, it also satisfies that emotional need that romance lovers bring to the books they love. This is truly a terrific book and one I will continue to re-read in the future.

I give it a rating of 4.5 out of 5

You can read more from Judith at Dr J's Book Place.

Story Excerpt

Fuck!

Music blared from the speakers near the front of the stage from the CD continuing to play. The band had taken a break between sets and Marla Listril squeezed her eyes shut for a moment, hoping the pounding in her head would take a break too.

"What's wrong, Mom?"

Blonde, blue-eyed and beautiful, her daughter Andrea lit up a room when she entered and tonight was no exception. Unfortunately for those giving her the eye, disappointment would follow, for tonight her baby celebrated her last few days of singledom. Four days from now, she would marry the love of her life.

"Nothing, sweetheart. I have a bit of a headache is all. I had to put up with your father today, remember?"

"Sorry. I hoped he might be easier to deal with since I threatened his life if he didn't behave at the wedding. Sometimes, I don't know how you put up with him for twenty years."

"I know, but he takes every opportunity to throw the new Mrs. Paul in my face. It wasn't enough he left me for a younger woman." She glanced to her left, noting the milling people moving from the bar to the tables. "Did you know she's pregnant?"

"Shit! Seriously?" Andrea asked, shock clear on her face.

"So I've heard. We aren't going to dwell on your father." She tucked a stray curl behind Andrea's ear and smiled. "Tonight is for you, honey. I know your friends will be here soon and when they arrive, I'll take my leave."

"You know you don't have to go. I'd love having my mother party with me."

"No one wants to party with their mother and besides, I know most of your friends’ mothers and they won't want to get drunk and act stupid in front of me."

"Probably true. For now have a drink, Mom. You deserve it and I'm sure it'll help your headache a bit if you loosen up."

Andrea signaled for the waiter and as he stopped at their table, Marla couldn't help noticing the broad shoulders, chiseled chest, trim waist and nice ass when he turned back toward the bar with their drink order. Country music wasn't her thing, but she sure liked the view of the cowboys hanging around the bar. There's just something intriguing about a firm butt in a pair of jeans.

At forty-three years old, Marla didn't think of herself as over the hill. The blonde of her hair came naturally without the aid of coloring and her blue eyes sparkled with life. She still had a fairly nice figure for a woman her age even if her hips held a little more padding, her thighs had a little extra cellulite, and her boobs weren't near as perky anymore. Overall she didn't think she looked half bad.

Glancing across the bar, she caught the eye of a cowboy leaning against the mahogany expanse. His elbows rested on the bar behind him and a long neck bottle of beer dangled from his fingers as his gaze traveled over her face, down to her chest and back up. A small grin spread across his lips before he lifted the bottle to his mouth and took a sip. Other than the jeans resting tight over his thighs, the blue chambray shirt molded to his impressive chest and the black cowboy hat on his head, he could be any guy off the street. So why the shivers racing along her arms?

Adult Excerpt

Both of her arms crept up his chest and wound around his neck. Her fingers slipped into the hair at his nape and another sigh escaped her mouth, only to be caught inside his. Their tongues slid together briefly before he plunged his completely past her teeth to delve into the hot recesses of her mouth.

The tang of Coke and the bite of rum lingered on her tongue, driving him insane with need. Never had a woman ramped up the heat to scorching the moment their lips touched—no one but Marla. Desire, hot and blazing poured through his veins and settled in his balls. His cock burned for release the moment his hand cupped her breast and kneaded the softness. Her nipple already diamond hard, poked against his palm and a soft moan escaped her mouth. Wanting to feel her heat, he slipped his hand down her abdomen, across her thigh and under her skirt. The heat of her pussy singed his hand as he pushed past the flimsy barrier of her silk underwear and plunged two fingers into her pussy. Wet, hot vaginal muscles sucked at his fingers, drawing them deeper inside her as she spread her thighs wider and whimpered in need.

He ripped his lips from hers only to slide them along her cheek until he reached the soft whorl of her ear. A soft nibble to her earlobe forced another moan from her or was it from his fingers inside her? He didn't care. She responded to his touch like a woman possessed.

"I need you, darlin'. I ache for you."

"Yes. Oh God, yes," she whispered, her hips bucking against his hand.

He lifted his head and stared into the pools of green turned so dark with desire, he felt like he would drown in them. "My place isn't far."

"No. Now. I need you right now."

"My truck—"

"Where?"

He slid his fingers from inside her and felt the groan she released at the loss of his touch, clear to his toes. Grabbing her hand, he tugged her along until they stopped at the side of his truck. Lucky for him, he parked near the back in a dark corner. No one would see them here. He opened the door and helped her inside. Once he made it to the driver's side, he pulled open the door, adjusted his cock in his pants to relieve a little pressure and then jumped inside the cab.

"Are you sure you don't want to go to my place?"

"No. I want you right now—right here," she said, her voice low and sexy. She grabbed the hem of her skirt and bunched it up near her hips. "You do have a condom, right?"

"Always."

"Good. Let's see what'cha got."

Her pussy glistened with her juices when she ripped her underwear down her legs and tossed them on the floor. He didn't think he'd ever been this horny or hard in his life.

She grabbed the button on the fly of his jeans, flicked it opened and slid the zipper down. His cock sprang free and right into her hand. The warmth of her palm almost undid him when she did a little slide motion from his balls to the head of his cock.

"Mmm. Nice."

He wanted to lick her nipples and bite them, but her dress prevented it without her getting completely naked and the parking lot of the bar wasn't a good place for that.

And it's a good place to fuck her silly?

"I would love to suck you dry right now except I need to feel this inside me more," she whispered, stroking his length with her hand.

He thought he'd detonate before he got inside her.

She took the condom from his fingers, ripped it open with her teeth and rolled the slippery latex over his cock until it rested at the base. He almost blew it when she shimmied over the top of him, spread her thighs and took his entire length inside her in one slam of her pelvis against his.

Holy shit!

Her pussy gripped him like a vice, sucking and drawing him so deep, he thought the top of his head would explode. With a little whimper, she picked up a rocking motion he knew would make him blow within seconds if he didn't get her there first. Needing to make sure she had at least one good orgasm, he slipped his hand between them and found her clit with his fingers. Several wet slides and a few wicked pinches later, she screamed her release, coating his cock with her cum. He pumped his hips a few times and let go of his own climax with a satisfied grunt, while she rested her head on his shoulder.

Once his breathing slowed and the blood rushing in his ears calmed, soft snores met his ear.

What the fuck?

"Marla?"

He couldn't believe what he heard. She fell asleep with him still inside her after the best fuck he'd ever had.