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The Sheriff and the Innocent Housekeeper
The Sheriff and the Innocent HousekeeperHistorical Western Romance/NovellaApproximately 20,000 WordsWhen Becky Hamilton is orphaned at the tender age of fourteen, she comes to live with her aunt in Waco and begins work cooking and cleaning for the town’s brooding young sheriff. Mesmerized immediately with his raw masculinity and sinewy strength, her fascination turns to love as the years pass and his honest integrity is revealed.Jake Cooper manages to ignore his pretty, little orphaned housekeeper for three long years. But when she begins a subtle metamorphosis from girl to woman, he can’t control his consuming need for her any longer. It has been his job to protect the town all these years, but who will protect her from him? clutched the plate to her mid-section, standing as still as a rabbit caught in a predators sight, when she saw the way he stood at the door, watching her. Her hands began the all too familiar shaking, and she heard a roaring sound in her ears and a crashing, splintering noise at her feet. She looked down at the broken plate and in her confusion quickly bent down to retrieve it. A sharp pain in her hand jerked her upright again. The spell was broken when his deep voice intruded on her consciousness. “Goddammit!”Becky stood immobile as he pushed off the door and was quickly upon her. He picked up her hand in his. “Becky, what the hell?”She looked down at his hands holding hers and saw a stream of blood running from a cut on her finger. She realized she had compounded her mistake by cutting her finger. The plate was in shards on the floor. She knew those plates had belonged to his mother. Tears welled in her eyes.“I’m sorry, Sheriff.” He pulled her to the kitchen and his large body crowded her against the counter as he held her hand where it was bleeding. His arms wrapped around her from behind, his chest pressed into her back as he held her bleeding finger in the pail of cold water. The water turned pink as she tried not to faint. His mouth moved to her ear. “You’re more trouble than you’re worth.” He growled the words in her ear. His warm breath caressed her face. “I’m sorry about your m-mother’s china.” Her voice wobbled from the impact of his nearness. He reached around and tugged her chin up and around so he could look into her eyes. “You know this isn’t about the goddamn china, don’t you, Becky?”
61 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 10, 2011
132 people are currently reading
770 people want to read
About the author
Lynda Chance
29 books2,051 followersAlways a fan of romantic fiction, I've always been in love with the alpha-male. So in love, I've never been quite satisfied with the restrictions of series romance. I like to get into a guy's mind and have him do or say exactly what he's feeling at the moment, and sometimes I shock even myself! I consider my stories soft erotica; one man, one woman, heterosexual. But since abiding love is always the happy ending I'm looking for, my couples are always monogamous. My guy would never share his woman with anyone, and she is always enough to satisfy him. Since I believe that love starts with lust, my stories are always highly sexual, explicit in nature, and hopefully totally satisfying to my readers. I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoy writing them.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 120 reviews
May 28, 2016
Cute.
Short.
Review later.
Short.
Review later.
March 13, 2021
I knew the moment I saw the title and cringed that I shouldn't pick it up. I knew the moment I clicked on the description and found out that it is a historical novella that I shouldn't read it because short stories, especially historical ones, never do it for me. Take a look at me now. 🤡
It was a drama free, simple and sweet story. In other words, maddeningly boring due to a lack of conflict, be it internal or external.
What I certainly didn't appreciate, though, were the hero's regular visits to the whorehouse for the 3 years he knew the heroine and the fact that he's been lusting after the her since she was a 14 yo gal. My modern day sensibilities were offended.
The intimate scenes were saccharine, tho I must admit I felt vicarious embarrassment reading them.
I like the author but not this short novella.
It was a drama free, simple and sweet story. In other words, maddeningly boring due to a lack of conflict, be it internal or external.
What I certainly didn't appreciate, though, were the hero's regular visits to the whorehouse for the 3 years he knew the heroine and the fact that he's been lusting after the her since she was a 14 yo gal. My modern day sensibilities were offended.
The intimate scenes were saccharine, tho I must admit I felt vicarious embarrassment reading them.
I like the author but not this short novella.
June 1, 2016
Blah, this book was BORING. I didn't feel any passion between Jake and Becky AT ALL. Jake was an ass to be honest. Not to mentioned it skeeved me out that he visited the whorehouse twice a week for the whole three years he knew her, AND she knew that is what he was doing.
Nothing says love and romance like banging whores twice a week...
Nothing says love and romance like banging whores twice a week...
May 15, 2016
3.75 stars
Loved it! This was a mix of Diana Palmer's old fashion and Alexa Riley's OTT alpha males with the deliciousness of Lynda chance! Oh my, I think I might get the vapors!!
This was a short novella with a hot possessive sheriff and a virgin sweet housekeeper. As usual with this short stories it was to the point with minimal angst but so dam sexy and hot. It was an enjoyable read!
Loved it! This was a mix of Diana Palmer's old fashion and Alexa Riley's OTT alpha males with the deliciousness of Lynda chance! Oh my, I think I might get the vapors!!
This was a short novella with a hot possessive sheriff and a virgin sweet housekeeper. As usual with this short stories it was to the point with minimal angst but so dam sexy and hot. It was an enjoyable read!
November 30, 2021
2.5 STARS
I craved something easy and uncomplicated. And that it was. Too much so... What annoyed me most though was the writing style, 3rd person POV, switching ceaselessly between his and hers pov, sometimes even after two sentences. It was maddening really. Otherwise sweet and cute.
I craved something easy and uncomplicated. And that it was. Too much so... What annoyed me most though was the writing style, 3rd person POV, switching ceaselessly between his and hers pov, sometimes even after two sentences. It was maddening really. Otherwise sweet and cute.
June 7, 2016
This was a sweet story that had a little instant-lust-love thing happening. She was always in love with him but he took his sweet time recognizing the fact that she was growing up and needed to claim her before she married another. She is his housekeeper and he takes it for granted that she will be there and when she tell him she needs to move to help her aunt with her financial difficulties. He was having none of that!!! She was his and he was claiming her. Ahhhhh sweet in those days. Now not so much.
June 2, 2022
H was with saloon girls as a substitute for h!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 16, 2013
This was a sweet story... wish it was a little longer, but worth the read. I'm not into western's, but I did like this one. Totally fell in love with Jake Cooper. I love the stories where the boy SLOWLY realizes he's in love with the girl. Becky has many chances to be with the 'rich boy'... aka Kyle Bolton, but makes a great choice to be with the lower income sheriff.
"How long Becky?"
"What?"
"Tell me sweetheart. I really want to know"
"What do you want to know?"
"Tell me how long you've wanted me"
"I don't want to tell you"
"Please baby"
"Don't you know already Jake?"
"Tell me"
"Since I was fourteen. Since the first time I laid eyes on you".
"How long Becky?"
"What?"
"Tell me sweetheart. I really want to know"
"What do you want to know?"
"Tell me how long you've wanted me"
"I don't want to tell you"
"Please baby"
"Don't you know already Jake?"
"Tell me"
"Since I was fourteen. Since the first time I laid eyes on you".
May 27, 2016
Very short read. At 14, Becky moved to Texas to live with her aunt after her parents died. She went to work for the town Sheriff, Jake. At first Jake barely noticed her since she was so young. When she got older that was another story.
April 27, 2019
I love this author 😍
May 8, 2013
'He had to have her. She was his. And nobody would take her from him'.
First let me say that the title is RIDICULOUS!; but thank heavens the story isn't.
Pack with sexual tension that's thick enough to take my breath away, this book quickly became one of my favorite novellas. The heroine is a 17 year old woman and our hero is 28- ruggedly handsome and the town's sheriff.
Jake lifted his head. "Open your eyes." Her eyes blinked, then opened. "You're mine. Understand? From this day forward, you belong to me. All that sweetness is mine." His voice was deep, melting her insides and flowing through her veins.
The age gap didn't bother me at all. Infact I think i have a thing for older, mature guys.
I woudn't say it is erotica but it has that air. There is only one sex scene but the rest of the story centered on the growing tension between the two; how innocent Becky unknowingly enticed our hardened hero. I loved it! It was simple but sweet and thrilling.
He lifted his mouth and spoke. "Kiss me back." He breathed in raggedly. "Please, Becky, kiss me back." His mouth lowered again.
LOVE IT!
First let me say that the title is RIDICULOUS!; but thank heavens the story isn't.
Pack with sexual tension that's thick enough to take my breath away, this book quickly became one of my favorite novellas. The heroine is a 17 year old woman and our hero is 28- ruggedly handsome and the town's sheriff.
Jake lifted his head. "Open your eyes." Her eyes blinked, then opened. "You're mine. Understand? From this day forward, you belong to me. All that sweetness is mine." His voice was deep, melting her insides and flowing through her veins.
The age gap didn't bother me at all. Infact I think i have a thing for older, mature guys.
I woudn't say it is erotica but it has that air. There is only one sex scene but the rest of the story centered on the growing tension between the two; how innocent Becky unknowingly enticed our hardened hero. I loved it! It was simple but sweet and thrilling.
He lifted his mouth and spoke. "Kiss me back." He breathed in raggedly. "Please, Becky, kiss me back." His mouth lowered again.
LOVE IT!
October 3, 2024
Nothing exciting, a bit average.
February 19, 2021
For a short story, this one was adorable and funny and hot! And the age gap didn't bother me at all, and I actually like my heroes older. This book actually made me miss Diana Palmer's books.
October 21, 2021
The couple: Jake and Becky
Romance genre: Western; historical
Length: 61 pages
Plot: Becky has moved to Texas from the East Coast to live with her aunt after her parents died. To earn some money, she keeps house for the sheriff, Jake. She has a crush on him, but she is too young for him. She is 17 now, though, and the sheriff has noticed her too. In order to keep her safe and make sure she can live comfortably and stay in Waco, Jake marries her. It becomes much more than a marriage of convenience though.
Commentary: Lots of growling from our alpha hero. The one thing I didn't like is that Becky knows that Jake visits the local brothel a couple of times a week, and that goes on for several years. Obviously, she is too young to know much about what that means and to do anything about it, but still, once she is old enough, it's a little hurtful. But to be fair, he was a man without an outlet or a wife/girlfriend. Also, I will say that this book is unusual for today in that most books require the heroine to be over 18 when any romantic relationship starts. I believe she was 17 when they got married. It's been over a month since I read it so I can't quite remember. But also historicals tend to be a little looser with the age thing (Julie Garwood, lol).
Romance genre: Western; historical
Length: 61 pages
Plot: Becky has moved to Texas from the East Coast to live with her aunt after her parents died. To earn some money, she keeps house for the sheriff, Jake. She has a crush on him, but she is too young for him. She is 17 now, though, and the sheriff has noticed her too. In order to keep her safe and make sure she can live comfortably and stay in Waco, Jake marries her. It becomes much more than a marriage of convenience though.
Commentary: Lots of growling from our alpha hero. The one thing I didn't like is that Becky knows that Jake visits the local brothel a couple of times a week, and that goes on for several years. Obviously, she is too young to know much about what that means and to do anything about it, but still, once she is old enough, it's a little hurtful. But to be fair, he was a man without an outlet or a wife/girlfriend. Also, I will say that this book is unusual for today in that most books require the heroine to be over 18 when any romantic relationship starts. I believe she was 17 when they got married. It's been over a month since I read it so I can't quite remember. But also historicals tend to be a little looser with the age thing (Julie Garwood, lol).
July 7, 2016
"Open your eyes." Her eyes blinked, then opened. "You're mine. Understand? From this day forward, you belong to me. All that sweetness is mine." His voice was deep, melting her insides and flowing through her veins.
This was my first Lynda Chance novella and I really enjoyed it! It reminded me a bit of the Alexa Riley/Fiona Davenport stories.
The story was sweet and sexy. Orphaned Becky has been living with her aunt for the last three years and working as a housekeeper for the local sheriff. Things begin changing as Becky gets older and blossoms as a woman (even though she's 17...but, you know what I mean).
I felt connected to both Jake and Becky in a surprisingly short amount of time. The plot was interesting enough, although I would have liked to have the situation with Kyle Bolton come to a little more of a head.
Not a fan of the title - I feel like it's one step away from just having a synopsis on the front of the book.
I have to admit that I was not a fan of him visiting the whorehouse twice every week and her knowing that's why he was late to dinner those nights. It seems every book I've read lately has had way too much information about previous lovers - I need a break from that!
This was my first Lynda Chance novella and I really enjoyed it! It reminded me a bit of the Alexa Riley/Fiona Davenport stories.
The story was sweet and sexy. Orphaned Becky has been living with her aunt for the last three years and working as a housekeeper for the local sheriff. Things begin changing as Becky gets older and blossoms as a woman (even though she's 17...but, you know what I mean).
I felt connected to both Jake and Becky in a surprisingly short amount of time. The plot was interesting enough, although I would have liked to have the situation with Kyle Bolton come to a little more of a head.
Not a fan of the title - I feel like it's one step away from just having a synopsis on the front of the book.
I have to admit that I was not a fan of him visiting the whorehouse twice every week and her knowing that's why he was late to dinner those nights. It seems every book I've read lately has had way too much information about previous lovers - I need a break from that!
January 17, 2012
I rarely give more than 4 stars for a novella as I don't think the brevity of the format allows for good development of story and characters. This novella, however, is better than most. It brings together a hardened Western sheriff who has been alone for a long time and one who needs little in the way of domestic comforts. The young and innocent girl who cleans his house and leaves an evening meal for him has been a quiet but persistent presence in his life for several years. When she comes of age, then the game changes and while her service to him as his domestic help never changes, his awareness of her most certainly does. It is a sexy and lovely story about two lonely people who are an unlikely match, but who need one another more than they realize. A short but intense read.
September 12, 2013
Loved this book! Becky was the cutest heroine. She was funny, kind, and a complete optimist. Jake was the hot brooding sheriff who just couldn't resist his sweet innocent housekeeper. The chemistry between them was combustible. Sexy and intense read!
September 4, 2018
Sweet! Sweet! Sweet!
October 2, 2020
Quite alright. Nothing special. Also a quick fix for when you’ve nothing to pick up! Didn’t feel like their talking belonged in the 1800s.
January 2, 2022
✅SEE TAGS FOR SPOILERS.
July 15, 2023
She’s always running. She’s happy…running. She sees Jake fight…running. Girl should join track.
There wasn’t crazy chemistry between the couple. He honestly didn’t even care about her or hype her up for any other reason than her body.
That aside -the reason I read was for possessiveness and those expectations were met! 😎
There wasn’t crazy chemistry between the couple. He honestly didn’t even care about her or hype her up for any other reason than her body.
That aside -the reason I read was for possessiveness and those expectations were met! 😎
April 9, 2014
Some times short stories blow you away and sometimes they don't. This one didn't. I generally love this author and her OTT jealous heroes. This one though just didn't do it for me. It lacked tension and conflict. I mean the potential was there to have something happen concerning the other man that wanted her, some kidnapping or something that the hero had to rescue her from but no. The major conflict if you want to call it that was that the hero thought she was too young to marry and that he couldn't provide for her as well as the other man could. First of all 17 wasn't considered too young to marry back then especially in the West. Secondly his worry that he couldn't provide for her made him much to beta of a hero for this author.
August 2, 2015
This book was such a sweet, adorable book! It was pure cotton-candy fluff, the kind you feel warm and fuzzy inside while reading.
The heroine was so adorable that, like Jenny says, I felt like picking her up and putting her in my pocket. The hero was intense and brooding and sexy, and the chemistry between the two was explosive. I loved seeing his struggle to keep away from his housekeeper, and I loved the fact that she was in love with him.
I read it a couple of years ago, but a reread is definitely due, it was a wonderful book, even if it was extremely short.
The heroine was so adorable that, like Jenny says, I felt like picking her up and putting her in my pocket. The hero was intense and brooding and sexy, and the chemistry between the two was explosive. I loved seeing his struggle to keep away from his housekeeper, and I loved the fact that she was in love with him.
I read it a couple of years ago, but a reread is definitely due, it was a wonderful book, even if it was extremely short.
October 1, 2014
One very short, but very enjoyable story.
January 21, 2024
This book has all the tropes I love - age gap, forced proximity, small town romance - so I thought I’d enjoy it. It was okay, would have been better if it was a slow burn. Everything happened too quickly for me.
January 13, 2019
Unlikable hero/doormat TSTL heroine
May 16, 2012
I read this book last night and finished it instantly. I liked this story, it's kinda reminding me of an old manga series, Miriam (Oh, I love the manga, one of my favorite). The story is about Becky Hamilton, an orphan who fell in love with the sheriff where she works for. Jake Cooper is a 27 years old sheriff who's very handsome and has a very strong figures. Somehow he didn't understand how could he interested with a 14 years orphan girl that worked for him.
As time goes by, she grew up became a very pretty 17 years old girl and there's a man, Kyle Bolton proposing her to become his wife. But Becky didn't feel the same way as Kyle, she's secretly had a strong passion to Jake. And Jake can't deny his own feeling that he's strongly attracted to her and jealousy hitting him when he saw Becky with Kyle.
Because what Jake had said, Becky assumed that Jake was proposing her, which is didn't actually^^. But then after a long conversation, Jake realized that he couldn't loose Becky to Kyle, or anyone else. And finally he did propose her, and Jake gave her only three days to prepare everything (hemmm...couldn't wait any longer,sheriff?^^).
But after that, Jake found out that Kyle had already built a big and beautiful house for Becky. Kyle really had a sincere feeling for Becky. At this point, hesitation grasped him. Jake knew he couldn't give everything that Kyle can gave to her. He fought to himself, was he still selfish enough to keep Becky for himself or let Becky to have everything she deserved to?
Well, this is a romance book. Of course everyone knows how the ending is. So, better I answer that. Of course they're married, and of course the sheriff couldn't wait any longer to crawled to their wedding bed. And when Becky asking him that is not even night yet, Jake said he had ready for his wedding night (which is in this circumstances is in the middle of the day....hmpfh^^). The making love scenes kinda hot, but do not expect to high, girls...Just as hot as in historical western romance scale (I guess^^).
I really enjoyed reading this book. At first, I though this is an erotica book or something, because the other works of the author mostly kind of that genre. But then I found the story not even close to erotica book and very interesting and I liked it. Unfortunately, this is just a novella, so the story is too short. I wish this is a complete historical western romance book, not just a novella.
As time goes by, she grew up became a very pretty 17 years old girl and there's a man, Kyle Bolton proposing her to become his wife. But Becky didn't feel the same way as Kyle, she's secretly had a strong passion to Jake. And Jake can't deny his own feeling that he's strongly attracted to her and jealousy hitting him when he saw Becky with Kyle.
Because what Jake had said, Becky assumed that Jake was proposing her, which is didn't actually^^. But then after a long conversation, Jake realized that he couldn't loose Becky to Kyle, or anyone else. And finally he did propose her, and Jake gave her only three days to prepare everything (hemmm...couldn't wait any longer,sheriff?^^).
But after that, Jake found out that Kyle had already built a big and beautiful house for Becky. Kyle really had a sincere feeling for Becky. At this point, hesitation grasped him. Jake knew he couldn't give everything that Kyle can gave to her. He fought to himself, was he still selfish enough to keep Becky for himself or let Becky to have everything she deserved to?
Well, this is a romance book. Of course everyone knows how the ending is. So, better I answer that. Of course they're married, and of course the sheriff couldn't wait any longer to crawled to their wedding bed. And when Becky asking him that is not even night yet, Jake said he had ready for his wedding night (which is in this circumstances is in the middle of the day....hmpfh^^). The making love scenes kinda hot, but do not expect to high, girls...Just as hot as in historical western romance scale (I guess^^).
I really enjoyed reading this book. At first, I though this is an erotica book or something, because the other works of the author mostly kind of that genre. But then I found the story not even close to erotica book and very interesting and I liked it. Unfortunately, this is just a novella, so the story is too short. I wish this is a complete historical western romance book, not just a novella.
February 21, 2013
Lynda Chance is an author I stumbled across and I loved the first story so much I went and bought another. Her stories are well written with great characters and a pretty good plot. I would love to see her add a bit of action and suspense to her stories. Being that is my preferred genre I think Lynda would create amazing erotic romantic suspense stories. She already has the first two components down perfectly. If your looking for a quick read in erotic romance I would highly recommend this author.
April 26, 2016
This one lacked conflict, tension, and any angst. It was pretty straight forward.
The housekeeper falls for the sheriff that she works for. I thought there would be some conflict with the man that wanted to marry the heroine, but there was none.
The housekeeper falls for the sheriff that she works for. I thought there would be some conflict with the man that wanted to marry the heroine, but there was none.
January 5, 2016
Sweet,very light and very short story to read in your lunch break. Highly enjoyable. Leaves you with a smile on your face.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 120 reviews