Reviewed by Kat

TITLE: Cowboy Shep

SERIES: The Lonely Heroes Series (book 3)

AUTHOR: Sam E. Kraemer

PUBLISHER: Kaye Klub Publishing

LENGTH: 267 pages

RELEASE DATE:  Re-Release date June 4, 2021

BLURB:

Shepard Smokey Colson

While at dinner with a friend, I saw a news report that a man I revered, Colonel Wesley Howzer, and his wife, Doreen, died in a freak accident in Greece, leaving behind a son. I felt the pull to attend the funeral and offer the young man, a chef, my assistance. His father wasn’t just the man who had been my training officer when I was in John Wayne School for Delta. He was Saber, a well-respected member of Alpha Unit One, the same Ranger Unit Gabriele ‘Gabby’ Torrente, the linguist, belonged to when he was still in the Army.

My history with the military was bleak, but I owed Saber a debt of thanks for being there for me when I was going through a wicked time in my life. If it weren’t for Saber, I’d have likely not lived to see the next day after I was dishonorably discharged.
Going to Georgia to support the man’s son and offer any assistance was a no-brainer. I had no idea what I was walking into, but when I met the son of the man I admired nearly as much as my own father? I couldn’t walk away, regardless of where the road would lead me.

I’d met Parker Howzer when he was seventeen, and I was being kicked out of the Army. My head wasn’t on straight at the time, and all I remembered about the kid was he wore braces and seemed to want to be anywhere but at the table with his parents and me at the time. The beautiful man I met in a small diner in Columbus, Georgia wasn’t anything I expected. What would it take to pay my debt to Saber? I’d learn it would be more than just a condolence visit. It might be the thing to change my life.
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Parker Buckley Howzer

My parents were dead, or so I’d been told by a friend of theirs over the phone. That was the only thing that echoed in my head. My job didn’t matter. My personal life didn’t matter. The only two people in the whole world who ever loved me were gone, and how was I supposed to survive that? They’d been a blessing to me when they adopted me at twelve, and I thought I had life by the tail because of Wesley and Doreen.

Suddenly, with one phone call, I was an orphan again. An orphan with a lot of problems because someone was looking for something belonging to my parents and believed I had it, or so I would learn. I had no idea what or why, and no thoughts about how to figure it out.

Shepard Colson, or Smokey to his friends, came along like an avenging angel from heaven. He seemed to sense early on I was in danger, and he vowed to keep me safe, but at what cost to both of us? That worried me more than anything because Shepard held a power over me that would be life-altering. Whether I was ready or not, my life was about to change. I just didn’t know how much.

Please Note: This book contains material which may be offensive to some readers. It includes graphic language, violence, and/or adult situations and descriptions of sexual activity between two, consenting adult males. This fictional story is intended for adults over 18, is approximately 87,000 words in length. It is the third book in the series entitled, “The Lonely Heroes Series.” Each book can be read alone or as part of the series. I hope you enjoy them.

REVIEW:

I don’t know how I was lucky enough to to land on this series but I will be forever thankful that I did!

Shepherd “Shep or Smokey” Colspn is startled to learn the man that literally saved his life when the Army turned on him and his wonderful wife had been killed in a tragic accident while vacationing with friends in Greece. He knows he has to go help their adopted son like Col. Howzer helped and saved him. When he arrives at the base the Howzer’s last lived at he figures out pretty quickly that: A) their son Parker is in way over his head and needs someone to lean on, and B) Parker’s in danger. But how does he get the young man to let him do what he does best and protect the fiesty young man? And what the heck are these feelings he’s developing after holding the man all night in his arms???

Both Shepherd and Parker’s back stories broke my heart. Parker’s story had a wonderful ending with the Howzer’s. Smokey, a talented and decorated Ranger really got screwed by the Army he served when he was caught kissing his boyfriend by a vindictive first lieutenant who had washed out of his prestigious unit. Col. Howzer came to his side too. Although we don’t see and interact with the Coldon’s because this book starts with their death I truly admired both of their true character and love that they showed to each other and Parker. I also admired Smokey, Gabby and the other men who put everything on hold when Smokey realized that Col. Howzer was getting the shaft! They immediately jumped into action to clear the name of their beloved leader and protect his only child. Those men are the epitome of honor and bravery.

If you are looking for a book with lots of sex and a little fluffy story then this isn’t the book you are looking for. If you are looking for an intriguing, fast paced story with more turns than you could count that keeps you riveted to their story then you will love this book. It made me smile at the level of integrity and honor each of these men possessed.  And, just so you don’t have to worry, there is a slow-burn love story that will keep you on your toes.

I loved getting to see Gabby again. He had won my heart with Dex and the kids but I got to see a new side of him here. I missed that we didn’t see Hank and Reed but am pretty sure they will at least make an appearance in Hank’s brothers story next. The one that I didn’t expect to see was Bruno coming into the mix. He was the huge bouncer at the club Dex used to dance at. Bruno may have been a mountain of a man and loyal to his job but his learning disabilities, dyslexia I would guess, made him seam a little slow. But he sure wasn’t slow at protecting Parker.

I would advise that you read Ranger Hank and Guardian Gabe, the first two books on the series, because they are also fabulous but this could be read as a stand-alone also. I can’t recommend this book and series enough. They are simply fascinating, fabulous and will have you hooked to your seat. I hope you fall for these men as hard as I did! Can’t wait for the next book.

RATING:

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