He had buns of steel ...

Advertising exec Sonya Duncan had no use for cowboys, except as filler for a pair of Rocky Ridge blue jeans. Just her luck that the man whose gorgeous rear fit the bill happened to be the genuine article, and no more cooperative than a steer at branding time.

A will of iron ...

Clint Silver was no glossy poster boy, and the sooner Sonya Duncan figured that out the better. He was a man whose blood ran hot just thinking about her. But she was a high-strung filly and he knew was in for one hell of a ride before she'd let him love her.

And a heart of gold ...

"Ma'am. Meet your Rocky Ridge man."

Clint swept the hat off his head and held his breath as he witnessed Sonya's startled amber eyes narrow in speculation. Would his gamble pay off, or would she toss him out with a snap of her slim fingers?

She laughed. "Is that a fact? You're my Rocky Ridge man, are you?"

Clint winked. "Look no further, ma'am."

"Oh, but I'll have to take a closer look, a much closer look." She inched past the boundary of his personal comfort zone. "I have to ensure you possess all of the ... ah ... attributes I need."

"I've never had any complaints about my attributes before now." The woman held his future in the palm of her hand. He was at her mercy. But he'd be damned if he let her see that.

She raised one eyebrow. "Perhaps their standards aren't as high as mine."

"Well, you just haul out your yardstick and we'll see how I measure up."

A smile graced her lips. "Somehow, I doubt I'd need a stick that long."

"Ah, but you haven't seen the extent of my hidden qualities."

Sonya leaned closer. "By the time I'm finished with you, cowboy, you won't have anything left to hide."

His voice was husky when he replied, "Is that a promise?"

"THE ROCKY RIDGE MAN is a wonderful story of the healing power of love. Sonya and Clint are terrific characters, in difficult situations, who must learn to trust and who must come to terms with their pasts in order to embrace their futures. Meredith March has written a gripping, fast-paced romance that will tug at reader's heartstrings and keep them turning pages long into the night--not to mention wishing for their own Rocky Ridge man! Contemporary romance readers will be enthralled by this debut novel from one of tomorrow's romance superstars." Susan Lantz - America Online Romantic Fiction Forum Leader

"Talk about a book to take your breath away THIS is one Cowboy from Canada that will do that, and steal your heart in the process. Ms. March's writing style packs strong characterization and lots of steamy passion into a most heart touching tale. This is SO GOOD !! SPLENDID !! 4 1/2 BELLS !! - Donita Lawerence - Bell, Book and Candle

"Meredith March has combined it all in one book - a steamy romance with witty dialogue and characters who have a great deal to lose, and just as much to gain, if they become involved. A wonderful first book from an author who is sure to delight for years to come." The Romance Reviewer

"In Sonya and Clint, March has created two believably exasperating lovers, capturing the heat and intensity, as well as the turmoil, of their unexpected passion. She has deflty woven a complicated love story around the always complex theme of identity. Read THE ROCKY RIDGE MAN for a glimpse of the magic behind an illusion created with shadows and secrets." Writers Club Romance Group on AOL Reviewer Board

"Just the right balance of cosmopolitan and country. The writing is excellent, and the story/conflict/characters have real depth. The relationship between the hero and heroine is very sexy." Harlequin Temptation author Lori Foster

"Sexual tension gets a whole new meaning in this sizzler from Meredith March. Unique characters and witty dialogue sweep the reader right into the story from the first page. A spicy treat not to be missed." Rendezvous

Harlequin Temptation® and Harlequin® are registered trademarks of Harlequin Enterprises Ltd. Book Cover (to be released) is copyright by Harlequin Enterprises Ltd. All rights are reserved by the publisher. Excerpt is copyrighted by Susanne MacDonald-Boyce.