Beauty and the Bounty Hunter (Once Upon a Time in the West, #1)

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Beauty and the Bounty Hunter (Once Upon a Time in the West #1)

by Lori Austin (Goodreads Author)

3.96 of 5 stars 3.96 · rating details · 170 ratings · 70 reviews

Love and revenge both come at a price.

Cathleen Chase is no killer—but as Cat O'Banyon, she is a ruthless bounty hunter who always gets her man. Catching one lowlife after another, she continues her search for the only man she really cares to locate. The one whose voice she will never forget; the man who murdered her husband. She'll stop at nothing to find him.

Con artist A...more

Mass Market Paperback, 300 pages

Published October 2nd 2012 by Signet Eclipse

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A Rogue by Any Other Name by Sarah MacLean

The Duke's Perfect Wife by Jennifer Ashley

2012 Historical Romance Novels

184th out of 217 books — 542 voters

Barefoot in the Sand by Roxanne St. Claire

2013 RITA Finalists

57th out of 78 books — 82 voters

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Community Reviews

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Feb 16, 2013 Dija rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: oct-2012, hr, first-in-series, authors-i-stalk, awww, cotton-candy-fluff, favorites, read-in-2013, reread-worthy, wow, surprisingly-good, western, my-reviews

Beauty and the Bounty Hunter is the first Western I've ever had the pleasure of reading and definitely won't be the last. Previously, I had no idea "Western" was actually a proper subbranch of historical romance and I don't think there could've better introduction to the genre than Beauty and the Bounty Hunter. I loved this book!

Cat's husband was murdered in front of her and she's vowed to hunt down all the thugs in the area until she finds the one who killed her husband. After making up her min...more

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Oct 20, 2012 Stella rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, for-review, historical, romance

Short review:

I liked it so much it was one of my Favourite Reads of 2012!

I LOVED this book!! Both Cat and Alexi were heartbreakingly scarred characters but so fascinating. I loved how this book had it all: heartbreak, adventure, love and lots of fun. I enjoyed every minute of it, grew so fond of Alexi, Cat and Mikhail and can't wait to read the next books in the series!

Detailed review:

Wow, wow, wow. Sorry I don't know where to begin. I'll start in the middle and tell you that I LOVED this book t...more

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Aug 29, 2012 Natasha rated it 5 of 5 stars

I'm embarrassed to say that this is the first historical western(romance) I've ever read. If the genre is anything like this novel was then I'll be reading it more often. Lori Austin(Lori Handeland) is a genius. I really felt as if I was in the wild west along side Cat, Alexi & Mikhail.

This romance had a different feel than the usual. No damsel in distress here, but deep down Cat is emotionally scarred. After her husband was murdered Cathleen Chase died along side him, the only one left now...more

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Dec 30, 2012 Jenny Q rated it 4 of 5 stars

4.5 Stars. I have found a new series and a new author to love! I was hooked from the very first scene, where Cat, a grieving widow-cum-bounty hunter disguised as a prostitute, wrangles yet another outlaw in her effort to track down the man who murdered her husband, a man whose face she’s never seen, but whose voice haunts her. But an unexpected wrench is thrown into her plans in the form of Alexi Romanov, the con-man Cat stumbled upon when she was most vulnerable, who showed her how to escape fr...more 4.5 Stars. I have found a new series and a new author to love! I was hooked from the very first scene, where Cat, a grieving widow-cum-bounty hunter disguised as a prostitute, wrangles yet another outlaw in her effort to track down the man who murdered her husband, a man whose face she’s never seen, but whose voice haunts her. But an unexpected wrench is thrown into her plans in the form of Alexi Romanov, the con-man Cat stumbled upon when she was most vulnerable, who showed her how to escape from her pain by losing herself in the art of the dodge, and whose bed she left in the middle of the night one year ago without ever looking back.

But Alexi has been looking back. He can’t forget the one woman to get under his skin and leave him wanting more. As much as he’d like to revel in reacquainting himself with all of Cat’s charms, he’s come with a very serious purpose. Someone has put a bounty on Cat’s head, and he’s no longer content to track Cat’s activities from afar. He would like nothing more than to throw her over his shoulder and carry her to safety, but he knows that’s the surest way to ensure Cat does the exact opposite of what he wants her to do. So instead he sets up a dodge to lure her back into his life, back into teaming up with him, and back into his bed. Cat’s not best pleased, but the hunter has become the hunted, and she’s not likely to last long without an ally. Together with their bodyguard Mikhail, Cat and Alexi hit the trail–Cat determined to track down the man who ruined her life and put a price on her head, no matter the cost–and Alexi determined to keep her safe from the bounty hunters and from herself, even if he has to con her in the process.

From Abilene to St. Louis to Denver, Cat and Alexi dance around each other, falling back into the intuitive partnership that made them such successful cons, but each holding on to their own agendas. But this time they both find themselves wanting more, yet reluctant to trust in each other’s feelings and intentions. In a relationship forged in deception, can they put aside their vulnerabilities and overcome the tragedies in their pasts to grasp for a future together? With every gunslinger in the West hunting for Cat O’Banyan, and Cat O’Banyan closing in on a face-off with the most dangerous of them all, they might not live long enough to find out.

The story takes place in 1870, when the American West was becoming more connected via railroads and telegraph wires, but was still full of isolated hiding places and lawless towns; and during a time when many disillusioned Civil War veterans were heading west, some running from the past, some seeking new beginnings. In a land where life was hard, temptations were many, and violence was rampant, Ms. Austin does a fabulous job of creating an atmosphere of contradictions: of wariness and wonder, resignation and hopefulness. And she has created two unique and memorable characters in Cat and Alexi. They are two scarred souls who have spent the past years of their lives pretending to be other people so much that they don’t know how to be themselves anymore, but the closest they come to it is with each other. Their histories are slowly teased out in a sexy story that had me burning through the pages. Evocative historical setting, great characters, punchy dialogue, wry humor, and a poignant storyline with plenty of danger and action to go along with the emotional angst–it all adds up to a very satisfying Western romance, and one that stands out from the crowd. I’ve already added the forthcoming second in the series to my list!(less)

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Mar 18, 2013 Jessica rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance

It started with the narrator observing that dark skin is ugly ("Short, swarthy, stocky -- the three S's of ugly" p.1) and then mentioning that the heroine is worth more because of her light skin, which was... not a great way to begin.

But then it got better -- zippy (non-racist) banter and a little intrigue, yay! -- so I kept reading.

But then... a village of convenient Indians, constant threats of sexual violence, the Civil War mentioned only in terms of states's rights, the grand reveal of a rea...more

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Feb 22, 2013 Sasha rated it 5 of 5 stars

First I would like to say I received this book through the goodreads giveaway. I had not read any books by this author before. Lori Austin is a really wonderful writer. She pulls you into the book from the beginning and keeps you enthralled to the very end and glued to the edge of your seat wanting more. When you are finished you wish you weren't. This is a really good read and one I feel you will want to make sure you read. Great book Great Author Great read! A must!!

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May 01, 2013 My Book Addiction and More MBA rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance, western-romance

From start to finish, this book is action packed! I was hooked from the first chapter and couldn’t wait to read more! Cat O’Banyon is a ruthless bounty hunter who fears nothing and no one, not even death. Having learned everything she knows from Alexi Romanov, when he shows up in her room one night while she’s working on a bounty, she knows it’s not good. The man she is after wants her to stop trying to find him. So what better way than to put out a bounty on Cat? Especially when the bounty for...more

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Mar 03, 2013 Amanda Lee rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: absolute-favourite, my-favourite-hero, selfless-hero, historical-romance

Wow! This is one of the best fast paced standalone romance I had the pleasure of reading. We started off right in the middle of the action. There is not much down time or lag in the story line. It keeps me reading till the end and I forgo my sleep until 3 in the morning.

The story started with Cat, a bounty hunter trying to catch her bounty in a whorehouse. While, in the room, a mysterious man appeared at the window. Initially, Cat thought he must be another bounty hunter competing with her. But...more Wow! This is one of the best fast paced standalone romance I had the pleasure of reading. We started off right in the middle of the action. There is not much down time or lag in the story line. It keeps me reading till the end and I forgo my sleep until 3 in the morning.

The story started with Cat, a bounty hunter trying to catch her bounty in a whorehouse. While, in the room, a mysterious man appeared at the window. Initially, Cat thought he must be another bounty hunter competing with her. But later she learned that he is Alexi, her ex-mentor cum old flame. Thing that I don't understand is, how does she not recognize him when he cornered her without revealing his face, when later in the story she mentioned how she remember Alexi's scent. Anyway, Cat learned to become a skilled bounty hunter and a con-woman to avenge the death of her husband, Billy. He was killed right in front of her and now she goes around hunting bounty to look for the killer who she only recognize his voice, but not his face.

What I like most is, we don't need to read through a long chapter on Cat's past with her husband or how she mourns for him. We only got a snippets of flash back of her memories with her husband and how she met Alexi.

Oh, our Alexi, a skilled master of disguise and con artist helped Cat when she was at her lowest point of her life. He did have a mysterious past himself. I was anxious to find out why did he carried unloaded guns and when he brought Cat to Dr. Ethan Walsh, I am eager to find out what is the history between him, Mikhail (Alexi's right hand man) and Ethan.

I love Alexi for being a hero who let's his action speaks of itself. All this while, when he is helping Cat to avoid the bounty on her own head and to find her husband's killer, he knows that she still miss her dead husband dearly. He even believes that she think of her husband when she is in his bed. I didn't blame Cat for her lack of trying to convince Alexi. But being a con artist as they are, they had a hard time believing each other words. Nonetheless, Alexi, is a selfless hero. He wanted to protect Cat and even try to hunt down Billy's killer on his own, or die trying.

Beside the romance, I really love the fast pacing plot. The author provide us with enough snippets and make me eager to continue reading without stopping to find out the answer. The only thing I'm disappointed is the story ended. I love Alexi and Cat so much that after they got their little HEA, I'm hoping that the next story 'An Outlaw in Wonderland' featuring Dr. Ethan as the main character, we will still have some Alexi and Cat in it. I miss this fantastic duo. I'm sure Alexi still needs to the settle the unresolved issue between Ethan and himself. (less)

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Dec 02, 2012 Aurian Booklover rated it 5 of 5 stars

I have been a fan of Lori Handeland’s nightcreatures novels for a long time now, and when she went back to her roots as an historical romance author, I had to follow. As not to confuse her fans, she uses the name Lori Austin for those books. I’ve already read some enthusiastic reviews about this book, so I was eager to start reading it, and I certainly was not disappointed.

The book kicks of with a lot of action, which is something I love as it drags you into the story at once, wondering what has...more I have been a fan of Lori Handeland’s nightcreatures novels for a long time now, and when she went back to her roots as an historical romance author, I had to follow. As not to confuse her fans, she uses the name Lori Austin for those books. I’ve already read some enthusiastic reviews about this book, so I was eager to start reading it, and I certainly was not disappointed.

The book kicks of with a lot of action, which is something I love as it drags you into the story at once, wondering what has happened. Cat O’Banyon is a bounty hunter in the Wild West, and she has a reputation of always getting her man. She doesn’t mind dressing up as a hooker, or saloon girl, or anything else, if in the end she can take him in, and ask him the question she asks all the criminals: “you or she?”
Cat is hunting for someone, and she only knows she will recognize his voice. But the trademark is making her notorious as well, and now someone has put a huge bounty on her own head. Luckily, her old friend Alexi Romanov has heard about it, and he tracked her down to warn her, just in time to safe her, or so he thinks. Cat is convinced she would have saved herself though.

They end up travelling together again, and with Alexi’s big friend Mikhail. During their travels, their histories are revealed, bit by bit, and I loved both the adventurous journey, and the personal stories. Which I am not going to spoil for you.

Lori Austin has written a very good historical western romance, and she does not shy away from some of the heavier topics concerning the war between the states and the cruelty of men. It was really kind of heartbreaking to read about it.
I did love Cat, and her kick ass character, she was above all practical. She took care of herself. She started out as a farmers wife, a pioneer’s woman, and one criminal changed all that. Alexi teached her everything she wanted to know, how to shoot, how to kill, how to defend herself. How to con people. He also thought her about disguises, and passion, and how to play cards, to cheat, and how to spot a fellow cheat. Everything she needs to survive.

But then there is Alexi, a man to dream about. Of course he is a con artist, who doesn’t mind taking someone else’s hard earned money, but well. He is gorgeous, he speaks several languages, or at least the endearments and the cursing, and he takes care of Cat and Mikhail. He really has a tortured past, so you tend to overlook his bad points. They were just fire together, and I absolutely loved reading this book.
And I have to write it, I hate her brother in law even more than the real villain in this book. There are no words for this piece of slime.

This book is filled with action, with hard memories but also sarcasm, friendship, love and some good lovescenes. I loved it all.

I do recommend this book to all lovers of something new and original in historical romance.

9 stars
Full review on my blog, www.boeklogboek.blogspot.com

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Nov 07, 2012 Caitlyn rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: strong-female-leads, romance, historical, historical-romance

Beauty and the Bounty Hunter starts right in the action with the reader meeting Cat O'Banyon, a bounty-hunter on a quest for vengeance and Alexi Romanov a con man. Alexi has come to warn Cat that there is a bounty on her head – dead or alive. Cat O'Banyon has become a legend, a woman bounty hunter traipsing the west capturing lowlifes, but she is searching for just one man. Instead of encouraging Cat to go into hiding the news of the bounty means that Cat must be close.
Every new town Alexi takes...more

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Oct 06, 2012 Kathleen rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: western-historical-romance

One of the most notable things about Lori Austin/Lori Handeland's work is the author's remarkable ability to change style and tone with each book. Elements of her engaging voice remain, but they're arranged in new ways to create a completely different experience for readers. That's a good thing.

BEAUTY AND THE BOUNTY HUNTER may not be what readers expect. That's also a good thing. The heroine is strong and independent in ways not often seen in historical romance. In fact, in many ways she's stron...more

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Dec 05, 2012 →kelly♥[: rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: breathtaking-cover, historical-romance, 2012-book

My Rating: 3.5

When I first had a glimpsed of the cover of Beauty and the Bounty Hunter, I knew I had to get my hands on it asap. Just look at those western outfits and that oh-so-shiny-and-tiny gun in that girl model's hand! Those red-bowed high-heels match that gorgeous long red dress too. -drools-

I connected with Alexi right from the very first sentence I've read written in his point of view. I don't know why, but there's just something about him. Outside, he's so cocky and confident, but in...more

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Apr 03, 2013 David Watson rated it 5 of 5 stars

I haven't read a lot of romance novels in my time but I've heard a lot about Lori Austin's work lately and wanted to give it a try. while I wasn't sure what to expect from this book, I was familiar with some of the books that Lori has written under the name of Lori Handeland so I had high expectations. Beauty and The Bounty Hunter by Lori Austin is a historical romance set in the wild west in 1870.

The story begins with Cathleen Chase searching for a wanted man. You could say Cathleen lives a do...more I haven't read a lot of romance novels in my time but I've heard a lot about Lori Austin's work lately and wanted to give it a try. while I wasn't sure what to expect from this book, I was familiar with some of the books that Lori has written under the name of Lori Handeland so I had high expectations. Beauty and The Bounty Hunter by Lori Austin is a historical romance set in the wild west in 1870.

The story begins with Cathleen Chase searching for a wanted man. You could say Cathleen lives a double life, Cathleen is a woman with a horrific past but as Cat O'Banyon she is a ruthless bounty hunter and master of disguise. Cat is on a mission to find the man who killed her husband and she is putting an end to every wanted man she finds along the way. The problem is she is also a wanted woman with several bounty hunters on her trail.

Cat learned her skills from a man named Alexi Romanov who is a con artist with a complicated past. Alexi and Cat worked together on the road but Cat left him to follow the trail of the murderer she is after. Alexi catches up with her and has some information on the man she is looking for. Her husband's murderer is in Denver City and has put a bounty on Cat's head. The two travel together to find the man that destroyed Cat's world and they run into nothing but trouble on the way.

When I first started reading this book I thought, what did I get myself into? In the beginning it seemed like it was going to be way to heavy on the romance for my tastes. I kept reading though and I quickly fell in love with this book. When you first start reading you don't know anything about Cat and Alexi and the details are filled in as you go along. All of the characters in this story are very complex and have a good back story including the supporting characters.

I loved the characters of Ethan and Mikhail, even though they weren't a big part of the story. Lori Austin makes you care about them by telling their story and it added a lot more depth to the book. The villains in the story are also very deep characters and you get the feeling they are what they are because living during this time period was so brutal.

While I loved the characters, I also loved how the settings are described. The west really comes to life in Beauty and The Bounty Hunter. I liked the scenes in the Indian territory and the civil war prison. There is also a scene in the saloon where the patrons were talking about the health problems they had and I found myself thinking that is probably exactly what they talked about in the saloons during that time. I got the feeling that Lori Austin put a lot of research into the history of the west. The world these characters live in is a brutal place and it shapes who they are.You see that in Cat and Alexi, they've done some bad things but its because they are doing what they need to do to survive and not because they are bad people.

They actually become better people by being together. They have tortured pasts and they understand each other's pain. I think this is an excellent romance but it is much more then that. The story is excellent and halfway through the book I was hoping that there was going to be a sequel because I felt there was so much more you could do with these characters. I was glad to see that there is a sequel to Beauty and The Bounty Hunter coming soon. So give this book a shot no matter what kind of genre you like, a good story is a good story and you won't be disappointed.
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Oct 20, 2012 Jenny rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: won-it, signed-copy, read-2012, five-star-reads, historical

*I won a copy of this book in a giveaway*

I LOVED this book! I'm quite shocked about it because I have always said that I have zero interest in historical westerns. However, when I came across the cover and blurb of this book, I was intrigued. It didn't sound like a typical western (and I admit the cover was awfully appealing.) There was a giveaway so I entered. I'm so very happy that I did because this book is awesome!

Both Alexi and Cat are tortured souls. They've both suffered in horrible ways...more

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Oct 14, 2012 Chelsey rated it 5 of 5 stars

Where do I even begin with this book? I loved it!! My favorite part was Cathleen Chase, or should I say Cat O’Banyon? Cat is a bounty hunter who is out to seek revenge on the man who killed her husband some time ago. The death of her husband obviously altered her life for the worse and she has changed her entire persona just to find his killer. When we are first introduced to Cat she is in, well, a whorehouse and some man has just bought a “session” with her. I was like, WHOA CAT, but once they...more Where do I even begin with this book? I loved it!! My favorite part was Cathleen Chase, or should I say Cat O’Banyon? Cat is a bounty hunter who is out to seek revenge on the man who killed her husband some time ago. The death of her husband obviously altered her life for the worse and she has changed her entire persona just to find his killer. When we are first introduced to Cat she is in, well, a whorehouse and some man has just bought a “session” with her. I was like, WHOA CAT, but once they are alone you find out her real purpose in doing what she does. She is an amazing heroine and she had my respect from the beginning, well after I realized she wasn’t really a prostitute. I have always wanted to own my own gun and I would like to imagine that I could be as courageous as Cat with it! Her words and actions are just so powerful and I was thinking to myself the whole time that she should be a character in a movie.

Alexi is Cat’s male counterpart and I have to say that I love Alexi equally as much as I love Cat. In the beginning of the novel you get the sense that they have been lovers before and it makes the tension between them so much more steamy! Alexi is your typical male in this story. His first loves are money, alcohol, and women, lots of women! He comes off as arrogant and just plain stubborn at times but there are parts where we are able to see the soft side of him and the side that cares deeply for Cat. Their attraction to one another is unstoppable; they are like two huge magnets that cannot stay apart. Alexi has a tendency to speak in various foreign languages, especially when using terms of endearment with Cat, and I thought this was an awesome characteristic that only added to his depth as a ladies’ man!

Action, action, action! I was so thrilled with how much action we see in this story and Lori Austin keeps you right in the covered wagon with Cat and Alexi the whole time! I could hear the guns and see the looks on the grimy faces of the men that Cat was hunting down. I loved every second of my trip with Alexi and Cat. The best parts were when either Alexi or Cat would end up hurting someone who saying the wrong thing to someone else and then they would have to skip town as fast as they could to avoid anyone coming after them. They both seem to have a knack for causing trouble. They love to start fights, but just can’t stick around to finish their pathetic victims off!

The best twist in this story is what holds Cat and Alexi together! I don’t want to give anything away because it is worth picking up and finding out for yourself! This is a new series and I hope to read every other book in it! I am so pleased with this story and this new author that I can add to my list!

***A huge hug and thank you to Lori Austin for gifting me an e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest review***
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Nov 06, 2012 Kit★ rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical, romance, western-or-westernish, series

I first picked this up recently because I'd heard good things about it from some friends in my romance groups. Then it got chosen as the November book of the month in the Western and Medieval Romance Lovers group, so I bumped it up to the top of the TBR. It barely sat on the shelf for a week. Once I started reading it, I was hooked. I was really liking the Western type setting, and I was especially liking the heroine, Cat. She was definitely not a run of the mill heroine. She was a bounty hunter...more I first picked this up recently because I'd heard good things about it from some friends in my romance groups. Then it got chosen as the November book of the month in the Western and Medieval Romance Lovers group, so I bumped it up to the top of the TBR. It barely sat on the shelf for a week. Once I started reading it, I was hooked. I was really liking the Western type setting, and I was especially liking the heroine, Cat. She was definitely not a run of the mill heroine. She was a bounty hunter, on a vengeance mission to find and kill the man who destroyed her life. She was smart, and not afraid of much, especially not whipping her goods out as a distraction. That was a neat change from the usual virgins and stuff, lol. I liked how she and Alexi both were excellent at disguise, sneaking in and out of places with only a little hassle. It was rather fun, even though there was a slight hint of danger hanging over them. I could totally envision this story as a movie, it would be good. I liked Alexi's character a lot too. They went great together. Even Mikhail was a great character, I liked him a lot. A good one to have around, on your side. His back story was sad, I would have liked to see him as he was before the 'accident', but he was still a good character to me. When there was danger, he was almost always around to help get them out of a mess, in one way or another, even if it was just to have the horses ready to run. I was also slightly intrigued by Ethan's character, he went through a lot of the same stuff as Alexi, even if in different ways at times, so I'm eager to get to his story, learn more about him. I enjoyed Alexi though, how he projected that take charge kind of attitude, but wasn't so awful tough, couldn't even shoot a gun without having a nervous breakdown afterwards. Not that I blame him, after what he went through in the prisoners' camp during the war, but I liked how he had a vulnerability. One that could possibly get him killed, but still. He had to use his brains, and his skills at disguise, and convincing people of things to survive, and get out of scrapes. Brains are nice to have in a hero, not just toughness. This book projected a high level of steaminess, but it ended up being more medium than spicy. Mostly the love scenes were short, sweet and to the point, no abundance of purple descriptions and stuff. I coulda went for a higher steam level myself, but I still liked it. I also could've went for more on Alexi's background, his story was told a bit, but not in full details, especially his childhood that was so terrible. It was only vaguely told of. Altogether though, I don't really have anything to complain about. It was a highly enjoyable story, with enough action, drama, tension, and 'mystery' to keep me intrigued. Plus I was really into the setting, and the tough heroine. I really liked her a lot. I'll definitely be getting the next one in the series when it comes out, I'm really looking forward to it. (less)

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Nov 22, 2012 Lisa - (Aussie Girl) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-american

A 3.5 star read for me. I quite enjoyed it, especially the interesting Civil War facts sprinkled throughout although the relationship between Alexi and Cat did seem a tad cliched in parts. I also had a bit of an issue with the resolution (view spoiler)...more

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Feb 23, 2013 Sarah rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical, read-2013

I don't usually read western historicals but this one was pretty cool. First of all the title implies shes a beauty and he's a bounty hunter it is actually the other way around which makes me like the book even more. I picked this up on a whim at the library and hadn't read any reveiws for it so maybe having no expectations helped but I got sucked into this book quicky. The characters were vibrant and tragic and very much in need of a HEA. I really admired both of them because of their flaws, he...more

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Feb 17, 2013 Jane rated it 3 of 5 stars

Cathleen Chase AKA Cat O'Banyon is a bounty hunter trying to find the man who killed her husband. Alexi Romanov is the con artist who took her in after he husband died and taught her everything he knows. The man Cat is after has put a large bounty on her head... dead or alive. To find him before someone finds her, Alexi and Cat team up again. The two of them together are nothing but trouble.

This was really more like two and a half stars for me. There was lots of action in the story and the chara...more

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May 12, 2013 Jennifer Grimm rated it 5 of 5 stars

Beauty and the Bounty Hunter is one of the best combinations of western and historical that I have ever read. It started out in a brothel, which I thought was a surprising place to start. It covered all parts of the west, including Indian Territory. The details were very thorough and followed Indian tradition. The characters were different types of people that one would not normally associate to one another, yet they blended very well together. I definitely cannot wait to read the rest of the se...more

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Mar 27, 2013 Cheryl rated it 5 of 5 stars

What a fabulous book! The detail written by author, Lori Austin, was fantastic. I felt like I was actually in the story, watching everything happen. For me, that is the measure of a truly great book. Cat and Alexi are incredible characters and each of their stories progressed in the perfect amount of time throughout the book. Lori Austin has written the first of what is sure to be an amazing series set in the American West. Thank you for bringing the old west back. I can't wait to read about Eth...more

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May 18, 2013 Brandi Larsen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013

I had no idea I'd love Western romance. This book is fantastic. I think my favorite aspect of the story was the brotherly bond between Alexi and Michail. (This is going to sound crazy, but it reminded me of J.R. Ward's brotherhood.) I also appreciated the disguises, the tenacity, and that there was just enough duplicity to keep me guessing. The last fifty pages have an immediate and wonderful flow. If you're looking for a western romance, read this one.

I work at Penguin, but it didn't affect thi...more

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Apr 22, 2013 Aoi rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: frontier-wild-west

And that's another add to my authors-to-watch-out-for shelf! Beauty and the Bounty Hunter is an engrossing, rollicking, and steamy read set in the mordernizing-but-not-yet-quite-mordern Wild West. The story picks up straight from out of a movie, when our heroine lures a customer to her room in a whorehouse, only to reveal her identity as the infamous bounty hunter Cat O'Banyon.

She is on the lookout to capture her husband's killer-the only cinch being she can only identify him by the sound of hi...more

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Nov 04, 2012 Keri rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-read, ntm-author, reviewed, romance-western, lori-ausin-lori-handeland

Cat O'Banyon is a bounty hunter who uses every weapon at her disposal, including her body. As long as she gets her man that is all that counts with her. Two years ago, one evil man blew apart her world and she is determined to find him, one outlaw at a time. That is why she had to escape from Alexi Romanov, a grifter with blue eyes and unforgettable hands. He also taught her every trick she knew and saved her you might say. Alexi for his part, is also running from his past and who he is.

After he...more

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Jun 12, 2013 Gerd rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: tausch

Aaarghh... if I could somehow unread the last twenty pages I might still be inclined to give the book a three star rating, but as it stands I can only utter a: Do not read!

Warning.
This book relies heavily on rape culture!

Lori Austin reintroduces the rapist as romantic hero in the form of her lead character Alexi.
Of whom it is said in the novel that "...he would never force hi,self on a woman, he would never take what wasn't freely given."
Only to have at the end this passage (after hearing that...more

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Oct 04, 2012 Dorine rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical, favorites

5 Blue Ribbon Review courtesy of Romance Junkies. For one of the most engaging, unusual, galloping historical westerns I've read this year, grab this novel for an addictive chase through the old west. Green-eyed beauty, Cat O'Banyon is a tough bounty hunter by circumstance who hooks up with a sharp-shooting, charm-the-pants-off-you, sexy master of illusion Alexi Romanov. The question will be, who is protecting whom, and will they live or die by the bounty?

Farmer Cathleen Chase becomes the infamo...more 5 Blue Ribbon Review courtesy of Romance Junkies. For one of the most engaging, unusual, galloping historical westerns I've read this year, grab this novel for an addictive chase through the old west. Green-eyed beauty, Cat O'Banyon is a tough bounty hunter by circumstance who hooks up with a sharp-shooting, charm-the-pants-off-you, sexy master of illusion Alexi Romanov. The question will be, who is protecting whom, and will they live or die by the bounty?

Farmer Cathleen Chase becomes the infamous bounty hunter Cat O'Banyon when she decides to track her husband's killer. The killer's words invade her dreams and haunt her days, while one by one Cat hunts down bad men who may or may not be "the one" she's determined to find.

Master of illusion and former sharp-shooter Alexi Romanov craves the game of deceit, cheating others becomes his way of survival…even though he looks at it as taking what's offered. When Cat came into his life, she was tattered. By the time she left him, she had purpose and skills only he could teach her. They had an agreement, her body for his training, but he never agreed for her to steal his heart.

They've moved on as individuals, trying to stay alive, until Alexi discovers a sizeable bounty for Cat, dead or alive. Not able to leave a former colleague and lover to fend for herself, Alexi and his companion, Mikhail, go to Cat's aid. Not that Cat wants or needs their help, and if truth be told, helping her can be just as dangerous as being Cat O'Banyon yourself.

Cat and Alexi make a great team once they decide to work together, but how long that lasts depends on whether it's safer to be together or apart. Just like there's a certain addiction to danger for these two independent hellions, there's a spark of attraction to each other that neither of them can deny for long. Never quite sure who's charming-the-pants-off of whom, their one-upmanship is very entertaining. But, with a bounty on her head, Cat isn't safe to be around and she intends to keep Alexi and Mikhail safely out of her way. The question is, can the student of disguise outfox the master and live to tell about it?

You know you've read a great book when you can't figure out exactly how the author transported you into her world and left you there stewing about it, wanting more, needing more, long after the last page was turned. Alexi and Cat's story was captivating and it's very hard to let it go when a novel is as magnetic as this one. Lori Austin's style is so convincing that you can't imagine her story told any other way other than exactly like she layered it for our reading pleasure.

BEAUTY AND THE BOUNTY HUNTER is a galloping kick-off to Lori Austin's ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST historical series. Witty, adventurous, loving, heart-breaking, fast-paced with unexpected characters sure to entrance, BEAUTY AND THE BOUNTY HUNTER is so fun and addictive!

Taking place in 1870, this novel will easily draw in new readers with its fresh storyline, as well as capture the hearts of western historical lovers. For non-stop action, an irresistible, but tough, heroine with a heart-rending story, and the tempting man we all hope she gets in the end, BEAUTY AND THE BOUNTY HUNTER is highly recommended as the next book you'll add to your keeper shelf. There's not a dull moment and I'm not ashamed to beg for book two, AN OUTLAW IN WONDERLAND, to magically arrive on my doorstep tomorrow! Doggone it, I read that sneak-peek excerpt for book two and now I'm toast! Back to re-reading book one...again.
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Nov 27, 2012 Justina Rangel rated it 5 of 5 stars

One of the best historical romances I've ever read. I loved learning about the characters throughout the book, Alexi is the sexy, strong, and protective hero all of us are looking for in a romance novel (as well as out of one), I couldn't help but fall in love with him and get annoyed when Cat took so long to realize she had too. Cat was not the typical heroine, she didn't cry, complain, or regret anything she had to do. It was a refreshing change from the typical historical romance novels. Can'...more

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Jun 15, 2013 Betty Ann rated it 5 of 5 stars

Another romance novel! But this was a good one, more meat to the characters & story rather than the gratuitous sex scenes. That's the way I prefer it. Finished this in a day and left me satisfied :) that's all I can ask for in a romance novel. The main characters, Cat & Alexi, were likeable and of course had their secret pasts that you discover at the end. It was a good, quick & easy romantic read, exactly what I was looking for.

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Feb 14, 2013 Jodie rated it 5 of 5 stars

This was a book that I won through goodreads first reads

First I would like to thank the Lori Austin who sent a personalized signed copy of the book. It is something that I will treasure always.

This was the first time that I read anything that had a western theme and I have to say that I fully enjoyed every second of it. I wasn't able to put the book down after reading just one page ( which is very rare for me, it takes at least a full chapter me to react that way).

Anyone who is looking for a g...more

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Apr 12, 2013 Lilmissmolly rated it 5 of 5 stars

I've not read very many Westerns before, but I've been a fan of Lori's for years. I loved this book! Lori's writing style draws in the reader to where you just can't put down the book. The heroine is very like-able and not the typical damsel in distress, which is why I only read a few westerns in the past. I'm now converted to being a fan of the genre and can't wait for Lori's next Western!

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About Lori Austin

Lori Austin is the pseudonym for award winning author Lori Handeland, known for her paranormal romance series, The Nightcreature Novels, as well as the urban fantasy series, The Phoenix Chronicles and the historical fantasy series, Shakespeare Undead. Under the Austin name, Lori writes sexy, adventurous western historical romance.

She is a New York Times Bestselling Author and the recipient of many...more

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Books by Lori Austin

An Outlaw in Wonderland (Once Upon a Time in the West, #2)

The Lone Warrior (Once Upon A Time In the West, #3)

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Beauty and the Bounty Hunter (Once Upon a Time in the West #1)

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