Hey y’all! I’m BA Tortuga, lover of cowboys and rednecks and the gal voted most likely to write a hot fistfight. I’m tickled as all get out to show off my brand new cover for my Dreamspun Desires book, Trial by Fire.
Aussies. Texans.
Billionaires. Rodeo cowboys.
A kidnapped baby.
Gun fights.
Fist fights.
*sparkles*
I can’t wait for all y’all to meet Holden and Lachlan and sweet little Chloe.
Trial by Fire
by
B.A. Tortuga
One Aussie. One Texan. One baby. One hell of a fight.
When his sister and her husband are killed in an accident, Aussie cattle station owner Lachlan McCoughney rushes to Texas to rescue their infant daughter, Chloe. He expects to find his niece living in squalor with the Sheffields, a rodeo family.
Instead, Lachlan finds Holden Sheffield, a salt-of-the-earth cowboy running a huge business operation. They want to explore their mutual attraction despite the many problems thrown their way, and together, they must find a way to give Chloe a new family and find a love that spans thousands of acres and two continents.
Publisher: Totally Bound (March 13th, 2015) Early Download available 02/13/15
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 5 Hearts
Reviewer: Cat
Blurb: Spreading acceptance one town at a time.
When the town of Cattle Valley runs out of room for new construction, Asa Montgomery begins to look into alternative locations. He discovers a small fishing village in Maine for sale and begins to make plans to purchase the picturesque town of Lobster Cove.
Unfortunately, setting up a new community takes him away from his partner, Mario, who isn’t pleased about being left behind.
Meanwhile, after years of dancing around their mutual attraction, Cullen Bryant decides the time has come to lay his feelings for Joseph Allenbrand on the line. Unfortunately, his plan is cut short when Joseph sends him away with no other explanation than he should move on.
Joseph knew sending Cullen away was the kindest thing to do for the younger man, but when he hears Cullen truly may be moving on, he realizes it’s time to reevaluate his life. Will he work out his issues in time to save what he’s spent years denying?
Review: Wouldn’t it be great to have a town that is all like-minded people? Where everyone is Gay or gay-friendly? That’s what cattle valley is. Asa Montgomery, a man with money enough to buy a town (or two) worked hard with his friends to build Cattle Valley. It wasn’t easy but now it’s filling up fast. It is getting so full that now they are having to take applications for new residents.
Asa has sold most of his businesses and focuses on Montgomery enterprises the software company that keeps Cattle Valley going and gives him more time with his sexy Italian husband Mario.
A call from Joseph about one of his boys being stabbed has Asa seriously considering buying the quaint Lobster Cove that Mario has shown him a few days ago.
This is book 32 of the Cattle Valley series. You probably could read this without reading the others as Carol is good at dropping a bit of information so you do know the characters. And there are a lot of characters. I really do think it is best though if you have read the series.
This looks like a setup for a new series and I am doing the happy dance! I love Cattle Valley and am looking forward to more of these men and lots of new men and new situations.
This also gives us more on Cullen and Joseph.
So if you like Millionaires (or billionaires) sexy gym workers, ex-priests that run homeless boys shelters, and are looking for a new series to follow this is for you. Oh, don’t forget some hot man-sex!
Publisher: Totally Bound (March 13 2015) Early download available 02/13/15
Heat Level: Explicit
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 5 Hearts
Reviewer: Cat
Blurb: Lessons learned from past betrayals can protect Colby Vincent’s heart, or cost him a chance at happiness he never thought to have.
Colby thought he’d never let anyone close again after being betrayed by everyone he loved, but one closeted, stubborn oilfield worker with a penchant for dressing like a cowboy seems determined to out himself and win Colby’s heart. It’s as if Hunter Talamentez walked right out of Colby’s fantasies and into the convenience store where Colby works.
But Hunter is closeted, and he’s never considered changing that. He’s got his homophobic cousin with him, a family that he knows won’t support him if they know the truth about who he is and a job where being out could get him hurt. He resigned himself to spending his life alone until he gets to know Colby. Then he embarks on a journey with Colby that will change their lives if only they both find the strength to take a few chances.
Nothing comes easily, and learning to give from the heart when that heart has been shattered twice before might be more than Colby is capable of. He isn’t sure about having more than a fling with Hunter, yet he can’t seem to stay away from the man, either. What was meant to be one night together turns into more, and Colby loses his ability to keep Hunter at the safe distance he’d wanted.
Review: Ballotsville isn’t a very accepting town. At least Colby hasn’t found it to be. Most people have ignored him or refused to shop on his shift as if gay is contagious. He doesn’t care. He is out, doesn’t flaunt his sexuality, but refuses to hide who he is. He works two jobs since his rich family tossed him out as soon as he turned 17 with only a suitcase of clothes.
He doesn’t have boyfriend since if there is anyone in town gay they are hidden in the closet. He has a fantasy guy that is tall, and brawny in jeans, pearl button shirt, silver belt buckle, cowboy hat, and cowboy boots.
Hunter is living in the closet and has never considered coming out. He stays busy working the oil rigs to send home money to his mom and has his bigoted cousin to keep an eye on that can’t stay out of trouble. Once he meets Colby in the convenience store and at his other job, he begins to wonder how long he can hide. The more he sees the sexy clerk the more he wants to get to know him.
This is another beautifully written story by Bailey Bradford. There are so many lessons of acceptance and love to be learned in this one story. I fell in love with every single character from Colby, to the sassy Christy he works with and of course Hunter. Bailey paints a poignant picture with words.
I could see Hunter in his cowboy clothes and the expression on Colby’s face the first time he saw him in his regular clothes and not work clothes. My heart went out to Colby. I could feel his pain and loneliness. Oh and the sex is so sizzling hot! It is explicit there is a lot of it but it’s always so well done!
If you’re looking for the perfect story to pull you in and keep you entertained for a few hours, this is it. If you like, hunky heroes, tough out and proud gay men, sassy chicks and happy endings this is the perfect book for you. I forgot to mention how smoking hot it is! Turn on the fans!
Title: Letting Hearts Heal Series: N/A Author: Luna Jensen Genre: Contemporary Length: Novel (200 pages) Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (January 5th, 2015) Heat Level: Low Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4Hearts Blurb: Mason returns to Sweet Valley, Montana, with nothing but a backpack full of rejections. After nearly a decade in the big city experiencing the highest highs and lowest lows, his heart and spirit are shattered. Fire robbed him of cooking—the only thing he’s good at—and now he’s out of options.
Thrust into instant fatherhood, Dean struggles to find a balance between getting to know his young son and building his business. Meeting Mason again after many years apart just adds another element to the juggling act. Dean’s vision for his ranch give them a chance to work together—to find each other and to heal—but it’s no easy feat for a grief-stricken little boy, an overwhelmed loner used to focusing only on his work, and an insecure chef.
Review: Overall, this is an incredibly cute story, though that is usually the case when there is a little kid involved in the story. This book is specifically all about the romance and healing hearts. This is the first book I’ve read by Luna Jensen, and from looking at Goodreads that would because this is her first published work.
Dean and Mason grew up together and are really high school sweethearts. However, Mason, coming from a not very accepting and unbending family (among other issues), had a rather traumatic time when he was forced to leave his hometown Sweet Valley (some of us may be thinking Sweet Valley High, but no).
The problem is life really hasn’t dealt him a good hand, even for the ten years he was away. There were people who were borderline abusive to him as well as the said fires from the blurb. Dean on the other hand stayed in Sweet Valley, though he was heartbroken when Mason left suddenly. Dean has been busy building up the family farm/business once more and recently has a father overnight to his four-year-old son, Wyatt.
Wyatt, as I said, is incredibly adorable. The poor kid has his own issues – so Dean not only has to smooth the way for Mason once they meet up again, he has already been doing the same for his son. But I have to be honest, the circumstances around Wyatt are clichéd – Dean who normally practiced safe sex forgot just the once, then he didn’t know about his son until Wyatt’s mother was killed in a car accident. However, I think we can let that slide since it’s only back-story and not a big deal is really made about it.
I found it interesting and yet very odd that these character’s don’t have a courtship as such. Instead, they have some slowly simmering tension before they just come together. It’s like their lives effortlessly mesh, including Wyatt. Mason’s psychological problems relating to fire I don’t was fully dealt with but it was nice to see that he had support and family in Dean and Wyatt. I also think that parts of this plot line were glossed over.
Really, though, this is a nice lighthearted romance and if you don’t over think the plot, you’ll enjoy it on some level. The characters are really relatable and for the most part, there aren’t any villains, (any real villains are glossed over and again these relate to Mason). There isn’t much in the way of sex, although there is some tension, but this for the most part is because Wyatt is heavily involved in the story. More or less, this is a story about family.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
Blurb: A heart can live a lifetime in eight seconds.
Ever since his father caught him with another boy and threw him out at the tender age of sixteen, Dustin Lewis has been fighting his way up the national bull-riding rankings. He’s on the brink of qualifying for the National Finals when he draws Diablo, a notoriously rank bull—and the ride goes bad.
When bullfighter Shane Rees frees Dustin from the rigging of the same bull that nearly destroyed his face, he comes dangerously close to dropping his guard. Shane knows the potential consequences of being gay in a sport loaded with testosterone-overdosed cowboys, and the resulting scars of mind and body have left him with little self-worth.
Their near-death-by-bull first meeting sparks an attraction that awakens every last one of their personal demons. Yet as the National Finals draws closer, so do they. But they’ll have to overcome emotional highs, near-tragic lows, and bone-crushing danger before love can bust out of the chute.
Warning: Contains man-on-man boot knocking, rawhide and raw emotions, badass cowboys and even badder-ass bulls. This ain’t your old man’s rodeo
Review: Dustin was kicked out of his home when he was very young after being caught with another boy. Both his family and the boy would have nothing to do with him. He lived with his best friend Todd and became a bull rider with Todd. Dustin has ADD and is very hyper.
Shane is a bullfighter. He has many scars from his job. Some are very visible, like one across his face. He is gay and not closeted, though he doesn’t advertise it either. His job is saving cowboys from the bull. After saving Dustin, he finds himself very attracted to the young bull rider. They become good friends. Could a hot young man like Dustin want anything other than a one off from a scarred up man like Shane?
This story had a lot going for it. I have to say I never really connected with either character. I do however like that they are unique… One is visibly scarred one is dealing with ADD. I did like the storyline and plot. There is a lot of hot, down and dirty, raunchy sex in this story. For me it was a bit of a turn off, but I am not saying it was bad; it just wasn’t my cup of tea. I will say about halfway through the story really picked up and I am glad I kept reading. Overall, it is a good story.
If you like, bull riders, bullfighters, drama, down and dirty sex talk, hot man-sex and a really good friends to lovers romance, this is for you.
Title: Enticing Hart Series: N/A Author: Mae Hancock Genre: Contemporary/ Cowboy & Western Length: Novel (183 pages) Publisher: Loose Id (January 12th, 2015) Heat Level: Moderate Heart Rating: ♥♥♥3Hearts Blurb: Hart Emile is tired of cruising for guys, living a soulless existence. He needs a change; so when an acquaintance gives him the number of the gay friendly Red Fox Ranch that’s hiring for staff, he heads south.
Oak Redman is eighteen years old and desperate to explore his awakening sexuality. The moment Hart lays eyes on the handsome young rancher he’s smitten. Not only is Oak hot, spirited and very persistent, he is also the ranch boss’s son and strictly off-limits. Hart tries to fight his feelings and to respect his boss and the family who quickly become dear to him, but after Oak’s Grandma suggests he gets with Oak, he can’t deny himself the most exciting and enticing man, he has ever met.
Hart’s not the only man to have noticed how sweet and charming Oak Redman is. A family friend, Steve, is also anxious to have the affections of the young rancher. Can Hart work out Steve’s dark secrets before it’s too late and keep his job, his lover, and his life?
Review: Hart takes a job at the Red Fox Ranch. It seems a welcoming environment for him. The boss, Bay, has OCD, his son Oak is cute as hell to Hart but he knows he’s off-limits so he fights the attraction he felt for him. Oak is energetic and spirited and knows what he wants.
Steve, a family friend, also wants Oak for himself and does anything he can to try to tear Oak and Hart apart. I was so glad they stayed together instead of letting some one’s jealousies tear them apart. Drama and emotional scenes all throughout.
Well written book that enjoyed reading. I especially liked reading how close the people on the ranch seemed to each other. The atmosphere seemed friendly and inviting until Steve came in the picture.
Good read.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
Title: Cowboy Sandwich Series: Cowboy Sandwich, # 1 Author: Drew Hunt Genre: Contemporary/Western Length: Novel (268 pages) Publisher: JMS Books (April 6th, 2014) Heat Level: Explicit Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥3.5Hearts Blurb: Barry Logan’s day starts out shitty and continues to go down the crapper. His car breaks down in the Middle of Nowhere, Colorado. The only mechanic for miles is out of town, forcing Barry to hole up and await his return. Bored and hungry, Barry goes to the town’s only bar in search of food and entertainment. The former is almost inedible, but his interest in the latter is piqued when two specimens of cowboy perfection walk in.
Barry has always had a thing for cowboys, and he’s been on a mission to get up close and personal with as many as possible before flying home to England. Having two cowboys at the same time would be a new experience, and one Barry is eager to try. So when the two men leave the bar, Barry follows in hot pursuit. He overhears them arguing about whose turn it is to bottom that night. Without thinking, Barry offers his services.
Jimmy Pierce and Jake Wilson drive Barry back to the Double J ranch for a night of wild passion he won’t forget. The next morning, Barry wakes in an empty bed to a beeping smoke alarm. It seems the ranch cook quit the night before, leaving Jimmy, Jake, and their three ranch hands to fend for themselves.
Barry immediately takes charge. His cooking meets with everyone’s approval, and he agrees to stay on both in the kitchen and in Jimmy’s and Jake’s bed. The two cowboys are physically demonstrative, both with each other as well as with Barry, who finds himself falling fast for both of them. It’s like a dream come true — Barry has two men and a job he loves.
But petty jealousies, rivalries, and miscommunications threaten to shatter the dream, and when Barry’s scheming ex shows up, things get even worse. Sandwiched between two cowboy lovers, has Barry bitten off more than he can chew?
Review: The blurb is pretty detailed so I’m not going to get too much into the basic details of this book. This is the first book in the Cowboy Sandwich series. Just the title of the book is hot and the book itself delivers on the dark imaginings that are stirred by just the phrase “cowboy sandwich”.
Barry is a Brit who has always had secret yearning for cowboys since watching Western movies as a child. This leads him on adventures that include studying in the US and even making a home there. He’s smart and he’s got money, as he is a games/mobile app development. In a small Colorado town where his little car breaks down he meets two cowboys and it is the start of another adventure for Barry.
He now finds himself with new friends, new lovers and a new job as a cook on his lovers’ ranch. Jake and Jimmy are rough, ragged cowboys, through and through and certainly put a different spin on the word “romance”. They’ve been best friends forever and are also lovers/boyfriends.
Barry is a cute – he is in fact a twink, but it is Jake and Jimmy that steal the show in this book. I’ve been thinking about it a lot and I’ve come to the conclusion that the gritty type of cowboy represented by Jake and Jimmy are something of a John Wayne cowboy if John Wayne were on the set of Deadwood.
Sorry, to anyone who doesn’t understand that. Their dynamic is, underneath all the grit and harshness, really sweet. Their relationship with Barry just clears away some of that grit. However, their competitive nature also often emerges around Barry as well.
Sometimes it felt the competitive streak between Jake and Jimmy was tiring, yet it was still funny to read all the same. My only complaint in terms of characters, we get good background to understand the cowboys, but I didn’t feel there was enough background about Barry included at times, he just comes out of nowhere as some sort of fairy godfather with a Yorkshire accent.
The sex is hot and graphic – it was interesting how some of the anal scenes were taken down to their rawest, gritty form. It wasn’t necessarily romantic but I think anything less would not play true to Jake and Jimmy’s characters, although Barry gets away with being the sweet one of the trio.
At the same time, sometimes there felt like there was too much sex that stopped suddenly so another plot twist could be added. For example, the boys are discussing new birthday traditions, spanking is mentioned, then nothing kinky in that respect.
Overall the story line is good, even though it focuses more on Jimmy followed by Jake, although the story is told more so via Barry’s perspective. As I said earlier, I would have liked a bit more character revealed from Barry as well.
However, I have to admit, many of the minor characters were a mish-mash of interesting people. That also includes a couple of the animals featured as well. But, in all this, an important take home message is: boys need to learn to communicate!
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
Title: Second Helpings Series: Cowboy Sandwich, # 2 Author: Drew Hunt Genre: Contemporary/Western/MMM Length: Novel (188 pages) Publisher: JMS Books (December 7th, 2014) Heat Level: Explicit Heart Rating: ♥♥♥2.5 – 3 Hearts Blurb: The men from the best-selling novel Cowboy Sandwich are back for a second helping of threesome loving and humor. When their mobile ranch game is nominated for several awards by a gaming magazine in London, Barry Logan, Jimmy Wilson, and Jake Pierce fly across the Atlantic to visit Barry’s family as well as attend the games convention and awards ceremony.
Driving on the wrong side of the road, paying a small fortune for gas, eating strange foods, and dealing with an unfamiliar temperature scale are just the start of Jimmy’s and Jake’s adventures. Tensions run high after the awards ceremony. Jimmy and Jake see how well connected Barry is within the games industry and know they can’t offer him the sort of career and life a talented games developer deserves.
After their weeklong visit to the UK, will they be flying back to the States as a threesome, strengthened by their trials, or will the relationship fracture under the strain of incompatibility?
Review: This is the second book in the Cowboy Sandwich series, which must be read in order to understand the plot points and relationships of the main characters. If you haven’t read book 1, go back and read it now because this one will leave you baffled otherwise.
Okay, I’m going to straight out admit it – I didn’t like this book as much as I liked the first. I think it’s because this just feels like an extension of the first, which doesn’t truly bother me, it just makes this book a sequel in the truest sense of the word.
However, what I think is that this book is missing the tension and the arguments of the first book (ok, argument isn’t quite the right word, but it gets my point across). These guys aren’t fighting for anything, they’ve settled into a normal relationship, which is about where most stories end.
Instead, this is the story of three guys in a sexual relationship and who love each other, go overseas together. Barry has developed a game that is nominated for a number of awards, so Barry is bringing his men to the awards ceremony and convention. The catch is because the ceremony is in London, it is a British award, and they get to meet Barry’s family. I kind of wish Barry’s family was mentioned a bit more or there was just more to their plot.
The rest of the story was well written, but as I said, there were no tensions, no arguments (petty or otherwise). There were a few minor characters, but aside from Barry’s family, they were well and truly minor characters. Jimmy and Jake, however, were as funny and as competitive as they were in the first book, which for me was the main highlight. But as a personal gripe: Jimmy and Jake were the kind of tourists I don’t understand – seriously, when I go to a foreign country I go out of my way to find food that is not what I get back home.
This was one of those weird books for me again. I didn’t outright hate it, but I didn’t love it. I certainly enjoyed it and I liked meeting up with the three characters I had met in book 1. But when I started to over think things it took away from my enjoyment as I started to pick apart the plot. But to be fair, I tend to over analyse almost everything.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
Blurb: Moving from a Texas ranch to an Australian Outback station was a life changing decision for Travis Craig. Though it wasn’t really a decision at all. Something in his bones told him to go, though he had no clue as to why.
Until he met Sutton Station’s owner, Charlie.
Loving Charlie shouldn’t have been easy. The man was stubborn, and riddled with crippling self-doubt. No, it shouldn’t have been easy at all. Yet somehow, falling in love with Charlie was the easiest thing in the world.
Loving him was easy. Living with him, teaching him how to love in return and, more importantly, how to love himself, was not.
But Travis knew all along it’d be worth it. He knew the man with the red dirt heart was destined to be his. Just as if he knew, the red dirt that surrounded him was where he was supposed to be.
In the final instalment of the Red Dirt Series, we see Charlie through Travis’ eyes. We see how much he’s grown and how much he loves. We go back to Texas with them, and we see Charlie get everything he truly thought he never deserved.
Red Dirt Heart 4 is Travis’ story.
And this is the story of not just one red dirt heart, but two.
Review: Nooo! I did not want to see the end of this series. I absolutely love Travis and Charlie, and as finales go this was absolutely perfect!
Red Dirt 4 is written in Travis’ view. I have to say I loved it and loved the insight into the growth of Charlie and the more emotional side of their relationship.
I this book we have more on Charlie and Travis and their growing relationship. I have to say these two men are one of my favorite fictional couples. I would give anything to have a love like theirs. The story is beautifully written, and a page tuner. There are a few sad moments and some absolutely breathtaking ones. These two men are so hot together.
I also loved how the epilogue was done almost as a separate book. I can’t tell you anything about it without it being a spoiler so I will say I gave that 5 stars as well and loved to see how the relationship continued throughout the years. I will say I would have loved this as a separate full story!
If you love the Outback, Australian farmers (I still call them cowboys), very emotional stories, sweet loving romance, and some sensual man love this is definitely for you!
I recommend this series to everyone but you do need to read it form the beginning. You won’t regret it!
Blurb: Wheelchair-bound, Kyle Brynn loves his home above the bakery he owns and runs. He’s proud of everything he’s managed to accomplish since the accident six years ago that took the use of his legs. At the age of twenty-six, he’s an independent man living on his own, despite the protests from his family.
However, with his independence comes loneliness. It’s not the townspeople’s fault that they see him as less of a man, it’s his.
Darshawn ‘Gill’ Gilling quit professional football at the height of his career without a word to the press as to why. Now settled in Cattle Valley, Gill’s happy running his garage and gas station. His life is much easier since coming out of the closet to his friends and family. He just wishes he’d had someone to come out for.
Most folks in town tend to be a little awestruck when Gill comes around, but if he wanted fans, he’d have stayed in football. What he really wants is that cute little baker down the street.
Review: This is book three in this amazing series and you should read the books in order to get a full idea of each wonderful character. This story I think is my absolute favorite one so far. I think it is because it is so tender and caring. I loved it so much even more than the last. The pain the Kyle feels when he thinks that he will always be alone because he is stuck in the wheel chair makes me want to cry sometimes. He feels that no one will want him, but he’s so very wrong. Gill wants him whether he is in a wheel chair or not. Gill is falling in love with the little man.
At first, Kyle puts up roadblocks, but Gill wins him over. Then one day his doctor had told him that his kind of spinal injury wasn’t as bad as they thought. That with the use of a physical therapist he might be able to walk again. The only thing was there was not one in Cattle Valley, and he didn’t want to go for fear that Gill would find someone else to love. He has lots of feelings, but he is so insecure in others. He doesn’t trust that someone would stay with him no matter what.
Gill come up with a plan to prove that he would stick through it all for the love of his man. However, it backfires and hurts them both. Kyle thinks that Gill is like everyone else so he doesn’t trust his motives and leaves. I love the way they are together though. You can that these two men love each other and that Kyle have to overcome his pain and anger to move forward.
I think that this story has more feeling in it. It makes what is happening so much more real to you. The fact that he was hurt in a car accident after drinking one night when he was younger and giving up is something that a lot of people do. However, he had chosen to move forward, by moving out, owning his own business and just living again, he just thought he was going to have do it alone. Gill proves him wrong all the way around and I love that about Gill. He is so supportive and caring to Kyle that you love him even more.
I would definitely be recommending this story to those who loves two hot and sexy men, difficult decisions, overcoming all challenges set in front of you, passionate sex, and amazing people. I loved it and cannot wait to read book four.
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 *
Blurb: The bronc in the arena can kill, but it takes a man to destroy…
Daniel Blake and Tristan Wells are committed to their two-year relationship, and to keeping it a well-hidden secret. When a competitor lets them know their secret isn’t so well hidden after all, the ground isn’t the only thing that comes up to hit hard. Danny’s facing scrutiny from rodeo management for alleged misconduct, and Tristan thinks that Ben Kincaid from Crow Creek Ranch is just the man to help ferret out who has it in for them. Wyoming isn’t known for being tolerant of “alternative lifestyles” and men who take on broncs and bulls for a living aren’t strangers to playing rough, in and out of the arena.
With their future on the line, Tristan and Danny’s relationship will be tested by those out to see an eight-second ride turn into a world of failure. Ben’s determined to have his new friends’ backs, in more ways than one. Even if they survive the spills and attacks, will Danny and Tris’s future survive Ben?
Review: This is the fifth book in the series and stands alone pretty well. If you read them all in order, you would have a better understanding of the supporting characters and how Danny and Tristan met, but having said that there is adequate backstory on the main characters so that you can enjoy this story.
Danny is a Flankman for the ranch he works at and is moving up. He has dreams for him and Tristan to start their own business and to be together as partners in every sense of the word. Tristan wants that just as much as Danny if not more.
Danny’s boss gives him the opportunity to make some extra money acting as an agent for him in a rodeo in Wyoming. Tristan goes along so they can get a little alone time. Crow creek is a stopover so they can meet a man to see about breeding a mare that will give Danny and Tristan the beginning of their dreams.
They meet Ben and there is an attraction between the three men. Ben goes with them to the rodeo to help out and their friendship bonds strengthen. But is it more than friendship for all three men? Will this strengthen or harm the relationship with Danny and Tristan.
There are twists and turns galore in this book. I was on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen next with nearly every page turn. I loved Danny and Tristan and the contrast between the two men. Their relationship is smokin’ hot and the added tension with Ben made it even hotter. I loved the rodeo action and the love scenes and fight scenes were like watching a movie. I really liked the sex. It was smoking hot without being overly explicit and gave the feeling of emotion between the men.
If you like, rodeos, ranchers, vets, horses, spunky teenage girls, lots of twists and turns, a strong committed relationship and some smokin’ hot man-sex this is for you.
Blurb: When vegan, peace-loving, social do-gooder Park Williams stumbles across the half-dead cattle rancher who has been sabotaging the Willow Springs Ranch in the name of a homophobic militia group…there’s only one thing to do. Save his life, then share his tent. Waking to find the man’s dick pressed against his ass is just a bonus.
Tanner Triplett is in trouble. Not the your-brother-is-a-sociopathic-murderer-and-you’re-his-next-victim sort of trouble. Not even the your-father-is-trying-to-overthrow-the-federal-government-and-you’re-going-to-jail-for-helping kind of trouble. No, this is the sort of trouble that comes when you wake up with stranger’s dick in your hand. Holy fuck. How is he going to get out of this?
A sudden need to run for their lives ought to do it.
Determined to make amends, Tanner leads Park to the relative safety of the WSR, where the biggest danger should be from gun-wielding cowboys seeking revenge. Tanner hadn’t counted on sharing a room with the exotically beautiful Park or the danger to his heart when the carefully erected walls protecting his secret come tumbling down.
Review: This is book 5 and I have to say the best yet. Where they ach do stand-alone well and there is sufficient backstory you can follow alone on this one I do recommend you read at least the last two Taking Chance and Hanging Chad or at least hanging Chad.
Park is a very unique man. He works for child abuse enforcement n Flagstaff and after his last case involving Chad Ollam, a gay teacher accused of abusing his students, Park has decided to retire and take a long needed vacation to find himself and what he wants to do with his life. He has two dogs Taco and Scooby and sets off to off grid camp farther south in Arizona near the Willow Springs Ranch. He stops to let the dogs out when Scooby stumbles across a man near dead.
Tanner Triplett has done some bad things. He has tried to be as little involved as possible in his father’s crazy schemes, but his brother has pushed until he feels hopeless. Left dying in the brush, he is surprised when a beautiful man and his dogs come across him and the man refuses to leave him, spouting stuff about fates, destiny and kismets and cartwheels. Tanner knows that Park will be in danger if he stays so he takes him to Willow Springs ranch knowing he will be sent to prison if they don’t kill him first.
This book is full of action from beginning to end. It pulls together a long ongoing mystery form the other books and introduces us to park and gives us more Tanner. I was also happy Ty, Cass and Chase all played more roles in this book too. I loved how Scooby and Taco and Park’s eccentricities lighten the angst, murder and mayhem of the plot. Park and Tanner’s story was worth the wait!
If you believe in destiny or fate, like ongoing westerns, ranchers, lawmen, cooks, Navy Seals, rodeo stars, mystery, suspense, dogs, vegans, hippies, and some hot mansex. This is definitely for you
Blurb: This is book six in the Mossy Glenn Ranch series. See the full series listing here
Frankie never let anyone close, until Duke refused to give up on him.
Frankie Freemont knows everyone at the Mossy Glenn thinks he’s a jerk for breaking things off with Jody. Letting people get close to him just isn’t something Frankie does. And older men? No way. Frankie doesn’t do that daddy thing so many younger guys seem to like.
This is why he can’t understand his reaction to Duke Edmonds. Duke has always made him nervous for no reason Frankie can figure out.
Duke suffers a concussion, and Frankie suffers the consequences of a bad choice he makes. With his family wanting him for only one thing—money—and Duke slowly breaking down his defenses, Frankie doesn’t know which way is up.
Duke is determined to prove to Frankie that he’s a good man—they both are. Duke’s worked hard to overcome his youthful past. He’s still ashamed of being a bully years ago, and does everything he can to make sure he never makes mistakes like that again. Being a better man is hard at times, but Duke’s spent his whole adult life doing so.
Now he and Frankie have to decide what they want, and how to go about getting it. That means making some changes that can break each man’s heart. Purchase Link:https://www.totallybound.com/broncs-and-bullies Review: This is book six in the Mossy Glen Ranch series but it stands alone just fine. I want to say I love the titles and covers too. I will warn you that you will not want to put it down once you start. Bailey has a way of captivating you until the very last word. Also, you will want to read the first six in this series https://www.goodreads.com/series/98282-mossy-glenn-ranch plus the nine in the Love in Xxchange series https://www.goodreads.com/series/60325-love-in-xxchange to see how Will, Troy, Carlos and the rest of the gang met.
Though the trio does make an appearance, we don’t get a sex scene from them this time, oh well. Duke swept me off my feet. I have a thing about older men and Duke is hot, sexy and has a heart of gold, and is determined to make Frankie his.
I actually liked Frankie even though he had recently dumped Jody. I did see his point to not keep leading Jody on. I had a soft spot for Frankie. Frankie is a loner and doesn’t make friends easily. He has a very low self-esteem and is self-destructive. He gets involved with a man who likes to get rougher than Frankie likes.
There is quite a bit going on in this story with Frankie and his secrets, and Duke dealing with effects of a bad concussion and some family issues of his own. We meet a couple of characters I hope are coming in the next book or so also. I will say there was a twist near the end that brought tears to my eyes, though it led to a very satisfying ending that brought me even more tears though this time happy ones.
I highly recommend this book (and this series) if you like hot sexy cowboys, older men/younger men, life issues, some angst a touch of drama, some twists, a bit of a tearjerker, smokin’ hot sex and a sweet satisfying ending this is definitely for you. After 15 books in this line, Bailey never ceases to amaze me with her wonderful characters and heart-wrenching stories. If you like MM cowboy romance, you will want this series!
Blurb: Officer Chance Carter is pretty sure he’d still enjoy being on either end of a good ass reaming—just not the one from his supervisor that lands him on an involuntary extended vacation. Another holiday season with nothing to do except visit an old friend.
Former hospital corpsman Bryan Mitchell doesn’t feel less than honorable, but that’s what his discharge paperwork states. Now he’s down and out in Kingman, Arizona until the charity of a stranger lands him a temporary job for the holidays.
When two federal employees go missing during a highly controversial wild horse roundup, the two Willow Springs Ranch newcomers are drafted to help in the search, but if rumors of a local anti-government militia are true, Chance and Bryan may be in serious trouble—and from something far more dangerous than their mutual attraction.
Review: This is book three of the Willow Creek Ranch books. These do stand-alone fine, though you will want to go back and meet all the other characters.
I love this series. Taking Chance is the story of Chance Carter. We met him briefly in book 2. He is a friend of Holden’s. He finds himself in a bit of trouble on his job after giving Holden a bit of information. He is forced on leave so he decides to go visit Holden at willow Creek Ranch to wind down and try to decide what he wants to do with his future, since he isn’t happy with his job or life.
Bryan is new to the book and series. He was a hospital corpsman in the navy, but was caught with the admiral’s son. He was dismissed from service, took an OTH discharge to avoid court-martial and spare his lover. He finds himself with little money, no job and a broken down car, stranded in Arizona on his way to Vegas.
He stops in the VA office where he is introduced to Ty from Willow Springs Creek Ranch. Ty also being from the navy offers him a job, a place to stay and meals included in the pay. When he gets there, he finds his cabin is shared with Chance.
I really liked this book. I was hoping for Chances story and wasn’t disappointed. I really like Bryan too. This is a story of two men facing difficult changes in their lives and also a new unexpected relationship that also throws monkey wrenches in each other’s plans. I love the story lines in these books and how they do connect. I was happy to get a bit more Ty. There is a bit of mystery and suspense that introduces a new threat that I hope to see more of in the next few books. I do have to say the story didn’t go like I thought it was and I was surprised.
I can’t wait to see Chads story.
If you like, a great series, hot cowboys, secret agents, SEALS, mystery, intrigue, romance and some pretty hot man-sex this is for you.
Warning: you will look at s’mores in a new light. YUUUUMMM!
Blurb: For Chad Ollom, landing on the Willow Springs Ranch after his teaching career crashed and burned last year was a lesson in irony, considering he’d sworn off all things related to horses and cowboys after a near fatal fall as a child. Now with a new mission in life, Chad plans to bring critically ill children to the ranch for a special celebration.
Aging rodeo cowboy Jesse Duran lives life eight seconds at a time and whether its broncos or men, it’s always been get on and get off before anyone gets hurt. When he’s required to take a break from the circuit and ends up on the WSR, the enticing ass of a standoffish teacher turned contractor might just be enough challenge to keep him entertained for a week or two.
As attraction flares, personal boundaries start to crumble, and the lines between seducer and seduced begin to blur. When the series of on-going attacks against the WSR moves from sabotage to arson, Jesse steps up to help, but when Chad is forced to return to his past to face charges, the men of the WSR want to know if Jesse will stick or leave Chad hanging.
Purchase Link: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-hangingchadwsr4-1214650-148.html Review: This is Book 4 of the Willow Springs Creek series. They do stand alone pretty well. Though you will understand the other characters better if you have rad their stories.
Chad is working at willow springs ranch helping with construction of the new bunkers for the new children events and camps they will be hosting. Chad was a schoolteacher but when it was discovered he was gay he was accused of molesting a child. He left on his own and the case had come back that with no proof, he was guilty but he went to the ranch to clear his head and decide what to do next. He has a secret that keeps him from interacting with the ranch operation and he stays as far from the cowboys as possible.
Jesse Durant is a rough stock rider in the rodeo circuit. He is 37 and getting a bit too old to compete. He has done it all his life and the travelling from place to place and excitement of the rodeo is in his blood. A friend of his (Roy) asks him to go the Willow Springs as a favour to him and help Cass for a few weeks while his latest, very bad injury heals. He meets Chad in a Bar in a nearby town but Chad avoids his advances even though part of him is interested, he has his own no cowboy rule. Is it fate that the two are both working on the same ranch?
As much as I love this series, this one wasn’t my favourite. I was really looking forward to Chad’s story, but for some reason this one fell a little flat for me. Don’t get me wrong the story is very good, both men are so hot and sexy, the ongoing story gets tenser and tenser, but for me there were issues I can’t explain without a spoiler. I still really liked the book a lot and encourage you to read this book and this series. I am looking forward to more to the new character introduced Park.
If you like, older men/younger men, rodeo stars, teachers, ongoing series, great romance, cowboys, horses, some suspense and some pretty steamy man-sex this is for you. Oh and if you like, Twinkies….oh man, how hot is that?
Blurb: When someone sees all that he is, they can delve deep within his soul, and there is no hiding from what the heart desires…
Kendall Weston thinks living in Prentiss is a welcome change from his past. He enjoys working for his former boss in a law firm as his assistant, yet there is one thing that is messing things up. When he took the job, no one said anything about four-legged demons that could crush him with their big legs. He’s not getting on a horse, no matter what anyone said. At his supposed lesson, he has his argument all ready for the reason he can’t ride a horse. That is until he meets a man who knocks him for a loop. The man looks so solemn, but the sparkle in his gaze makes Kendall want to see how he would look if he smiled.
Thomas Ward takes over the lesson for the man who is obviously out-of-place. Something he can’t define draws him to the man. Kendall’s sharp wit and humor draw him in even more. Thomas is more comfortable with horses than people. But Kendall is different from any man he has ever been attracted to. To get Kendall, he’s going to have to soothe the skittish man as he does his horses—with lots of steady touches and soft words, then he will let Kendall have his way before holding on for the ride of his unbound reaction.
Reader Advisory: This book is best read in sequence as part of a series.
Review: This was an amazing story. Each book in The Prentiss Series focuses on a different romantic couple. To enjoy the overall story arc and crossover characters, we recommend reading the series in sequential order. It keeps me from getting a bit lost in the stories and gives me an insight in to their world. A world that captured my attention from the start and kept it all the way to the end. I love the way each character just mixes with the others. How fast they are to defend what is theirs and what they believe. This story was amazing and I loved it.
Kendall was sent to learn how to ride a horse, something he did not want to do. He was scared to death of horses or any creature that had more legs than a human. One that actually couldn’t kill you. However once he gets to the ranch and is told that Thomas is the one who will be teaching him. A very sexy cowboy whom he wanted but was afraid to get attached to. His past was coming in to mess with his future. He just couldn’t seem to get it in his head that he was falling faster for this man.
Thomas and his brothers were all adopted and were loved by their fathers. He had taken one look at Kendall and knew that this man was going to be his. He had known it might be like taming a wild horse but it was getting harder to hold his feelings in. He was in love with Kendall. He knew that he would run, and that he would have to let him because he knew Kendall would come back to him.
I loved this series and cannot wait to read the next book. The characters just mix so well with each other and make the story so much fun. I love the way Thomas is so gentle with Kendall giving him time to realize that he is loved more than anything. That he will never cheat on him, never lay a hand on him in anger and will love him for life. I have always love Talia’s stories and this one is on the top five list.
I would recommend reading this book because it will draw you in with the flow of the words and the great story, then will keep your attention till the end.
Blurb: With only three months left on a lease-to-own agreement on a quarter horse Wyatt’s worked hard to own, a thunderstorm spooks General and he throws Wyatt, changing both their lives forever. Luckily, Kellen, a friend of the stable owner, calls for emergency medical attention, and Wyatt comes out of the hospital with just a broken wrist and a concussion.
When Wyatt returns to the stable, he finds the owner has sold General to Kellen for retraining. But Wyatt’s woes have just begun, and now he must drive an hour to see his horse. The perks help balance the hardships, however, and Wyatt finds himself falling for Kellen. His fortitude is soon tested again by the ultimate betrayal when he learns Kellen doesn’t intend to return General after he’s trained
Review: Country Strong is a very beautiful story of a man and his best friend, his one stability in life, the one thing that gives him reason to carry on in this world.
His horse.
Wyatt is 25 almost 26, cast out at a young age for being gay, has always loved horses and dreamed one day to have his own. Living in the town, working a decent job, he can’t afford to own a horse and finds a farm that leases horses to people who can’t have one of their own. Its win-win for all involved. Wyatt fell in love with his lease horse and with it being an older horse had made an oral rent to own agreement with the owner and in a few months General will be his.
One day while riding it thundered and General shied some causing Wyatt to fall. Kellan a man who trains horses for the owner had dropped off a couple saw Wyatt’s accident and saved him. To Wyatt’s dismay, Alan decided to sell General since he is a teaching horse he couldn’t have him hurting kids.
Wyatt developed an instant attraction to Kellen, even though he is a much older man. Kellen also couldn’t get the younger man out of his mind. Kellen could see how attached Wyatt was to General and bought General to retrain and possibly return so Wyatt could get him back. Not all plans go as expected. Feelings change, new ones develop and complications set in.
I fell in love with Wyatt right away. The passion he had for general was to die for. The story has a great storyline and isn’t nearly as predictable as it seems it may be. There are some soft twists; touching scenes, tight friendship, and conflict and of course some pretty darn hot man-sex. I add Wyatt and Kellen to my favourite couples list for this year.
If you like modern-day westerns, friends to lovers, close friends (M/F-no sex) cowboys, and some touching scenes and of course some sensual hot man-sex this is for you! I would love to see this develop into a series. It has such great promise!
Hiya guys, today we are visited by Silvia Violet with her brand new audiobook release Finding Release, you will get a chance to listen to an excerpt and to win a audio copy with the Giveaway. So peeps enjoy our post and click that Rafflecopter link <3 ~Pixie~
Finding Release (Audio)
by
Silvia Violet
Finding Release (Wild R Farm 1) is now available in audio!
Coleman Wilder is a half-breed werewolf. Some days the tension between his human side and his werewolf instincts threaten to tear him apart. But the challenge of running a horse farm as a gay man in a conservative Tennessee town keeps him focused until he meets horse shifter, Jonah Marks.
Jonah’s family insists that shifting is sinful, but Jonah longs to let his stallion run free. Desperate to escape his family’s judgment, he asks Cole, his secret crush, for a job. Cole turns him down, scared his desire for Jonah will make him lose control. When Jonah’s brother threatens his life, Cole struggles to save him and give them both a second chance at the life they’ve always wanted.
Blurb: What will happen to the wedding of the century in Mesa Rojo when Hunter and Ethan are forced to babysit a mobster, deal with the homophobic father of the groomsman, and overcome their own cold feet? Sparks!
Hunter and Ethan are back in the third and final installment of the Honky Tonk Trilogy. In this story, we revisit Westmore Ranch where Hunter is forced to have a man stay on the ranch who is a member of a west coast crime family. This man, Troy Castor, sets his sights on damaged Drew behind Reggie’s back. In steps Ethan to save the day but with heavy consequences.
The wedding is not going as planned as Reggie’s father blames Hunter for “corrupting his only son into homosexuality.” He starts rumors, causing the vendors to run for cover to avoid being in the middle of a war between the two largest cattlemen in the area. This and their own insecurities about being a man the other deserves has them both worried if they are even ready to commit for a lifetime.
When the day finally comes bullets fly. With the bullets come revelations, tears, and new dreams to reach for. But, will Hunter and Ethan be the ones reaching for them together, or will one have to set out on his own?
Review: This is the third and final book in this trilogy. Each book can be read alone and easily followed, but I suggest you read them in order to get full impact of all the characters( besides once you read one of them you will want all three) I do hope this isn’t the end of the story though since there are so many directions this could still go. I do want more of Cain and some of the others. I will say I loved how rain wrapped up the story with lots of excitement and a sweet satisfying ending.
This story is back at the Ranch with Ethan and Hunter preparing for their wedding. Hunter gets a call from the Carrillo family to call in his favour. They send Troy to hide out from Dante on the ranch (this bit is from book two but is explained enough in this story you get the gist of it.) Troy has a dark side and is a real bad guy he tries his best to wreak havoc with Ethan and Reggie and Drew.
There are lots of twists to this story. I will say that I felt the part of Troy was a bit rushed and I would’ve read more. I also felt that the part of Drew and his singing got mentioned this dropped( I am hoping it will maybe spurning a new series hint, hint since I would have loved a lot more of Drew.) but this didn’t affect the story for me I loved every nail-biting minute of it. As usual, the sex is hot, explicit, there was a bit less on the bondage and D’s, but it still was very hot, sensual and sexy and there is a lot of it.
If you like cowboys, gay weddings, surprises, lots of twists, bad guys, mobsters, hot mansex, cute kids, D/s relationships, bondage, lots of hot mansex and did I say Cowboys? This is definitely for you.