Title: Sunset Ridge, 2nd edition
Author: Carol Lynne
Genre: Contemporary/Cowboys/Western
Length: Novella (99 pages)
Publisher: Resplendence Publishing (August 12, 2014)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥3.5Hearts
Blurb: After the death of his father, Grayson Conner finds himself running Sunset Ridge Stables, a prosperous horse breeding operation just outside of Wellington, Arkansas. Since riding a horse for the first time, Gray known running the ranch would be his destiny. Years spent watching his father negotiate and build the ranch into a highly respected operation have prepared him well.
In need of a manager to oversee the ranch hands, Gray hires Jack “Ram” Ramsdale, a sexy temptation that could spell nothing but trouble. For years, Gray has managed to keep his sexual preferences away from the ranch, but the introduction of Ram into his life changes everything.
Ram falls in love with Sunset Ridge Stables the first time he steps foot on the ranch with its rolling green hills and views to take a person’s breath away. The handsome ranch owner is definitely a bonus, but more than anything, Ram is searching for a place to belong.
With temptation at his fingertips, Gray gives in to his feelings and begins an intense affair with his new manager. For a few blissful months, he believes he can have it all, the ranch and a man he loves by his side. But when local gossip threatens the reputation of the Sunset Ridge, Gray and Ram are forced to make an important decision. Give up their relationship or lose everything they’ve worked for.
** Publisher’s Note: this title has been previously published by another publisher. **
ISBN: 978-1-30735-798-8
Product Link: http://www.resplendencepublishing.com/m8/687-978-1-60735-798-8–sunset-ridge-by-carol-lynne.html
Reviewer: Prime
Review: I feel rather torn when it comes to this story. I read it a few years ago when it was first published with Totally Bound, which I remembered later. Generally, I love Carol Lynne’s books, particularly the Campus Cravings and Cattle Valley series. However, Sunset Ridge leaves me feeling confused.
After much thought, I figured it out: there is one particularly annoying (bitchy, spoiled) character that quite frankly, ruins the story and makes the first half particularly difficult to get through. It’s Gray’s niece Raleigh, so she is quite a central character throughout. But please, just keep going, because not only does this character mature and do a complete 180, her antics aren’t particularly central to the book. However, I can’t work out why Raleigh had a sudden change in heart and quickly grew up and matured, it would have been better if she started to mature slowly from the beginning.
Otherwise, this is a very enjoyable story. We have two cowboys have hot sex, always a winner. The cowboys in question, Gray and Ram, also have a sweet relationship that forms. Like all cowboys, they start out in the closet, but soon discover that there is a good reason to come out if they need to. There is also the background story between Jesse and Ben, which completely makes up for the Raleigh debacle. I think it would be awesome if Jesse Ben had their own story.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *