Title: Rode Hard
Series: Anthology
Author: Julia Talbot, Yolande Kleinn, Missouri Dalton, Nicole McCormick,
BA Tortuga, Penn E. Loaffer, Jon Key, Mychael Black,
Genre: Western Romance
Length: Anthology~153 pages
ISBN: 978-1-61040-781-6
Publisher: Torquere Press (July 22nd, 2014)
Heat Level: Overall Explicit (some stories had low to moderate)
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 4 Hearts
Reviewer: Cat
Blurb: It’s time to ride hard for cattle country! In “Where the Men are Men” by Julia Talbot, Skeet’s not the brightest guy around, but he still manages to surprise Donnie. In “Sage and Sand” by Yolande Kleinn, when Bram Caldwell’s stage route is attacked by bandits, his only hope lies with vigilante Marshall Maddox. In “Devilry Done” by Missouri Dalton, Luke’s out to get Ambrose back, but he might just get himself killed in the process. Birch is a champion bull rider who wants to try some of his moves out with bullfighter Lucas in “Eight Seconds” by Nicole McCormick.
In BA Tortuga’s “Hoping for a Good Break,” Colby left his man, Alan, with harsh words that are made unbearable by the misfortune of a riding mishap. “Asher, James, Glenn, and Gregg” by Penn E. Loaffer introduces us to four SoCal friends: a transplanted Colorado cowboy, two San Diego natives, and a Brit who proves that not all English are “proper.” In “Showstring” by Jon Keys, two men with wildly different backgrounds meet at the state fair, but is Jayden’s baggage going to spoil everything? In “Come Undone” by Mychael Black, Bryce Caldwell’s first impression of Ricky Clements is a whirlwind in black.
Purchase Link: http://www.torquerebooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=76&products_id=4224
Review: Each book is also sold separately (except for Asher, James, Glenn and Gregg) in case you want to buy just one or two or have a favourite you’d like to have by itself! I have included individual reviews and buy links, but they are so good I think you will love them all!
Where the Men are Men by Julia Talbot ♥♥♥
I have to say I felt a bit lost here in the beginning. I believe this must be from a series. The sexual tension between the characters was very good. I would have liked this to have been longer and perhaps mention if it’s from a series and what it is. I could not get a good feeling of either character. I did feel however, it was a good premise to a hot sexy romance. This book can be bought by itself:
http://www.torquerebooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=66&products_id=4226
Sage and Sand” by Yolande Kleinn, ♥♥♥♥♥
Bram work at his father’s stage, normally in at the desk. His father decides he is man enough to go on the road so he is sent on a three day dangerous Journey. I can’t say very much more without a spoiler but WOW this one is really good. And hot. The action is so well depicted I could see the guns a blazing and the sex …well its smokin!! This is definitely one to read especially if you like the old west, gunfights, and steamy hot first time mansex!
You can by this book alone:
http://www.torquerebooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=66&products_id=4229
Devilry Done by Missouri Dalton ♥♥♥♥♥
Lucas has a secret his brother found out and is blackmailing him. Actually, Lucas has several secrets. Lucas sets a dangerous plan in motion that he hopes gets his brother out of his hair for good, and perhaps even brings him more. He sets himself up in danger and knows that Ambrose will come, but he isn’t sure what he will do. There is lots of action set in this old west story, with a bit of a twist, I am not sure if you would call it paranormal or not. I’ll let you decide when you meet Lulu. Overall, it’s a very beautiful story. I loved it! You can by this one by itself at:
http://www.torquerebooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=66&products_id=4232
Eight Seconds by Nicole McCormick. ♥♥♥♥
Eight seconds are yet another very lovely story. It is a modern-day bull-riding story as the title suggests. Birch is good at hanging on for his 8 seconds but isn’t all wrapped up in his notoriety and status. Lucas is a bullfighter and one of the best. Both men share an attraction with each other. Can they be more than friends? I found this to be a very beautifully written saga of two men on a path of friendship and perhaps even more. I would love to see a full story about these guys! If you want a copy of this one by itself, you can find the link here:
http://www.torquerebooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=66&products_id=4233
BA Tortuga’s Hoping for a Good Break ♥♥♥♥
Alan is out on a rodeo and one of his friends has a fall and is critically injured. Alan realizes how short life is and hopes Colby will welcome him home.
This one is a real tearjerker. My only issue was it read as if it was part of a series or something. I would have loved to know why Alan thought Colby wouldn’t welcome him home and more about each character, having said that the story was absolutely amazing and if it is part of a series, I want the books!
http://www.torquerebooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=66&products_id=4231
Asher, James, Glenn, and Gregg by Penn E. Loaffer♥♥♥♥
This story is quite different form the others so far. It is about four young men in college. At first, I was a bit shocked. Asher after being so devastated from a breakup and balking so hard at meeting Gregg, as soon as they met, they headed to bed. The sex was pretty hot though. Then there was a major twist! I cried my eyes out. This is definitely one worth reading.
http://www.torquerebooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=4228
Showstring by Jon Keys ♥♥♥♥
Ben is showing some cattle at a fair to get buyers interested in his father ranch. Jayden has always dreamed of working on a ranch or with animals and is infatuated with the animals. And the attraction to Ben goes against everything his father has instilled in him.
This is a very lovely story of a man supressing his desires in so many ways and conforming to what his father wants of him. I loved the descriptions of the animals and the budding love between Ben and Jayden. It’s beautiful and sweet. I will definitely be looking for more of Jon Keys books.
http://www.torquerebooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=66&products_id=4227
Come Undone by Mychael Black, ♥♥♥♥♥
And what a finale! I am a big Mychael Black fan and this story was amazing!
Bryce is an older man and has a small ranch out in the woods where he is away from the hustle f the world. He is in town when a young man is thrown into his life(literally) he doesn’t know why but he takes the young man out for breakfast and once he hears the man’s story he finds him-self offering a lot more.
I loved both Bryce and Ricky and would love more of their story!
I think it was my favourite of them all though they were all definitely worth reading!
http://www.torquerebooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=66&products_id=4230
Overall if you like westerns, present or past, sweet or bittersweet, steaming hot or soft and sensual, and of course cowboys…this is definitely for you!