Let It Ride by L.C. Chase

Grade: B
Hotness Level: Inferno
Kink Level: No Kink
Genre: Contemporary, m/m, cowboy
Series: Pickup Men #2

Published: 5/26/14

Reviewed by Anne

195 pages

Bridge Sullivan wakes up one day after a scorching wet dream and thinks he just might be gay.  After a hilarious talk with his penis he's not really sure about being gay or bisexual, but he's quite sure he's Eric-sexual.  He's a pretty self-accepting kind of guy.  Not much bothers him.  So, once he figures out he's got a thing for Eric, he decides it's time to act on it.

Eric Palmer is a paramedic on the rodeo circuit that Bridge works.  He's openly gay and has become good friends with Bridge and his circle of buddies over the past year.  For the first time in a long time, he feels like he belongs.  He's surprised by the signals his straight friend is sending him, and even if they mean what he thinks they mean, he'd never do anything to screw up this group of friends he has.  Eric is very attracted to Bridge, but determined not to take any risks.  Bridge only scares him more when he tells Eric he's not looking for a one night stand - he wants a relationship. 

This was a nice story that worked best in the last quarter of the book.  The reasons behind Eric's hesitancy to allow himself to attach to Bridge are hinted at during most of the book, but not spelled out until near the end. Unfortunately, it wasn't until those reasons were made clear that I found them believable.  So the first part of the book suffered because Eric came off as over-reacting.  I do think my own history as a foster parent makes stories including foster care a harder sell for me.  

Overall, though, it was a good read and a pretty low conflict story, which I enjoy.  I loved the rodeo setting and camaraderie between Eric, Bridge, and their friends.  The fact that Eric refused to just throw a condom on the floor, and in fact turned getting a garbage can into a pretty hot scene earned the book bonus points from me!

This story is the second in this series, but it stood alone just fine for me.  I'd recommend it for any m/m reader who has love for cowboys and rodeos!

Slow Ride Home by Leah Braemel

Grade-C
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-Mild Kink
Series-The Grady Legacy #1
Genre-Contemporary Western
Reviewed by Kay
257 pages

Ben Grady is half owner of the Bull's Hollow ranch. He is a partner with his brother Jake. His first love was Allie Daniels. They dated in high school until Allie's father was found out as a thief and they left town. Ben has never gotten over Allie. Turns out there was a video made of Ben, Allie and Ben's best friend, Logan when they had a threesome. This video led to Allie losing her scholarship to Texas A&M.

Fast forward fifteen years and Allie is a lawyer who handles property title disputes. Bull's Hollow had part of it's shares held for a unknown heir. Ben and his family think the whole claim is ridiculous and their title insurance company sends in Allie to investigate. Ben and Allie's first meeting after fifteen years is strained to say the least. I won't give anymore plot away but that's the synopsis on how this story starts.

I am a sucker for western romances. I'm also a sucker for second chance love stories. I enjoyed both of the tropes here. What I didn't enjoy was the idea that back in high school a girl engaged in a threesome. I'm not a prude but it's hard for me to buy into it. The suspense of finding out if there was truly another heir was entertaining but I kind of thought my heroine was a slut. This tainted the book for me. I will admit that even though there was copious amounts of descriptive sex in this book that were hot, it still left me a little cold. I don't know if I'll read any more in this series yet.

                     

So Tough to Tame by Victoria Dahl

 

Grade: B
Hotness Level: Inferno
Kink Level: Mild Kink
Genre: Contemporary, cowboy

Series: Jackson #3

Published: 9/24/13
Reviewed by Anne

376 pages

 

Charlie and Walker were friends in high school when geeky Charlie tutored the very popular Walker.  They went their separate ways, but now they have apartments across the hall from each other and they are both recovering from awful on the job experiences that ended with being fired.  Neither has troubles starting a new job, and neither is admitting to anyone that anything bad happened.  It's like a high school reunion.  I'm great!  I'm so happy!  I just moved on to a wonderful job!

 

The attraction that had simmered between them in high school flares up again and now they are adults free to act on that attraction.  Neither is looking for anything long term, so it all should be great, right?

 

This was a good story.  I thought the characters were unique and more flawed than I'm used to reading.  They were each hiding the truth of themselves from the other, which bordered on annoying.  However, this set up worked for me.  They were both so embarrassed about their pasts because they were responsible for the poor choices they'd made.  This made for more angst than I usually like to read, but, again, it really worked in this story.

 

Walker is a really refreshing hero in a genre that seems full of billionaire CEOs and over achievers.  His life is simple, in part because he doesn't think he can achieve more, and in part because that's how he likes it.  Walker does make some changes over the course of the book, but the changes are motivated by his own happiness, not out of a desire to impress someone else.

 

Charlie was interesting, too.  A security expert who wasn't a strong physical force.  She specializes in out-thinking criminals and setting up monitoring systems.  The situation she finds herself in on her new job - feeling like she's being watched every moment of the day - was really creepy!  (Although I should point out that I'm not a huge suspense fan, so even a little bit of it is creepy to me!)

 

I think one of my favorite parts of the book was that their personal growth was in parallel, and not caused by the other person being in their life.  Even when Charlie tries to interfere with Walker, he's not going to move on things until he's ready.  I enjoyed that as opposed to magic sex that heals all wounds!

I thought the ending was a little too hearts and sunshine with respect to their careers, but I REALLY appreciated that the wedding in the epilogue wasn't theirs.  They still have issues to work through, in my opinion, but you leave the story sure that they will work things out.  This was an enjoyable and funny contemporary romance!

The Secret Heir of Sunset Ranch Charlene Sands

       
Grade-C-
Hotness Level-Blaze
Kink Level-No Kink
Genre-Contemporary
Reviewed by Kay
192 pages

The Cast

Justin: Ass-hat who lost a bet and had to pretend he was Brett for a weekend-and while he was at it, decided to sleep with Kat as Brett. Son of the wealthy Slade family.

Brett: Justin's soldier buddy who died in the line of duty, was raised by his Aunt Mattie. Had never met, much less slept with Kat.

Kat: Slept with Brett (who was really Justin), then found out she was pregnant. Was raised in an extremely poor and abusive household. Wants better for her son. A reformed gold digger. Currently living with Aunt Mattie.

Aunt Mattie: Brett's aunt. Lost her husband and her nephew-both had been in the military. The news of her nephew's death caused a heart attack, leaving her in a fragile health state.

Connor: Young son of Kat and Justin. A model baby, always sleeping when the story requires it.


The Plot

Justin returns home after his stint in the military is finished. He heads over to Brett's aunt's house to confess his guilt over Brett's death. When he arrives, he discovers Kat living there with Connor, the son he didn't know about. Aunt Mattie believes Connor is her nephew's son. Kat pleads with Justin to not reveal Connor's paternity as Aunt Mattie's health is too fragile to handle such a blow. Justin reluctantly agrees, but demands to be a part of Connor's life.

This was a book about secrets. Everyone seemed to have at least one huge skeleton in their closet. Starting off with Justin's "Brett's not my name" secret, it was just one secret after another.

It was also a book about money. How having money or not having money can lead to different motivations. Justin is not afraid to throw his money around. Kat struggles to not chase after money.

Secrets and money are not a good combination for me. I can handle one or the other, but when you put them together, it gets too soap opera-ish for me. And that's what this book read like. A soap opera. The characters seemed a bit like stock characters. A hero with money and a secret. Check. A heroine with a secret and no money. Check. I just couldn't connect with either of them and their conflict didn't pull me in either.

Obviously, secrets and money don't work for me as a combination. Do you have any combinations that don't work for you, but are okay individually?

Turn and Burn by Lorelei James

Grade: D+
Hotness Level: Inferno
Kink Level: Mild Kink
Genre: Contemporary

Series: Blacktop Cowboys #5

Published: 8/6/13
Reviewed by Kate

368 pages 

Tanna was hurt in a barrel racing accident and hasn't been able to get on a horse again. Unfortunately, that kind of leaves her floundering as barrel racing was her life. She agrees to help some friends out with their resort over the summer. Fletch is an overworked veterinarian. But when he hooks up with Tanna, who he calls 'Sugar Twang' (she shall forever be 'Sugar Twang' in my head), he feels the longing for something more. But he's definitely tied to the area while Sugar Twang is only there temporarily. How can the two of them possibly work?

Okay, that's all that general stuff you can get by reading the book description (well, except for the Sugar Twang bit, I threw that in for a bonus). Now, onto what you really want to know.

I think that we all know that Lorelei James succeeds at writing series that keep us coming back for more and more and more. Turn and Burn is filled with all the things that should keep you coming back for more. It is a solid entry into the series, but it didn't blow my socks off. There was nothing extremely memorable about either Fletch or Sugar Twang. And unfortunately, a day later, I'm already forgetting them a bit. Fans of Lorelei James, and especially her Blacktop Cowboys series, will enjoy this one, but I don't think this is the best example of her writing.

The other thing I think I need to address in this one is Fletch's nickname for Tanna. Sugar Twang. Now I'm generally fine with nicknames. But for some reason this one grated wrong. And it was on every page. I didn't enjoy the book as much because every time I read it, it pulled me out of the story a bit. Sugar Twang? *shuddering*

So, obviously Sugar Twang is not my favorite nickname.  How about you?  Are you pro-nickname or anti-nickname?  What are the ones you've loved or hated?

Cowboy Seeks Bride by Carolyn Brown

Grade-B-
Hotness Level-Blaze
Kink Level-No Kink
Series-Spikes & Spurs #7
Genre-Contemporary
384 pages
Reviewed by Kate

Haley McKay (whose professional name is HB McKay) thinks her dad is playing a practical joke on her when he sends her to meet Dewar O'Donnell and his buddies at the start of a cattle drive. She's supposed to ride with the cowboys on the month-long round up as research for a reality show the family tv company is considering, but Haley is sure that when she gets there it will all be a joke.

Dewar is expecting HB McKay to be a middle-aged business man, not the feisty red-head that shows up. He's been actively looking for a wife, but knows there's no way Haley's busy life as a career woman would mix with his life on the ranch. But despite the logic, the sparks between Haley and Dewar fly.

Carolyn Brown is one of my favorite authors of the modern cowboy, In Cowboy Seeks Bride she delivers a solid, low conflict romance. Haley's city-girl ways clash with Dewar's country life, but the attraction is instant. I enjoyed watching Dewar and Haley sneaking around and hiding their relationship from the other cowboys on the drive. The ending seemed a bit too easy, a little too perfect, but still believable. I can forgive the ending since I enjoyed the book as much as I did.

Are you a fan of the modern-day cowboy romance? If so, who are some of your favorite authors?

Redneck Romeo by Lorelei James

Grade-A
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-None
Series-Rough Riders #15
Genre-Contemporary
Reviewed by Kay
388 pages

Dalton McKay is the last single male in his generation. He also just moved back to his hometown after a three year absence. He had to leave his family to find out who he was, aside from a drinkin', fightin', ranchin', whorin' Mckay. Now that he knows who he is, he has to get the girl he's always wanted.

Aurora "Rory" Wetzler has grown up in Sundance. She and Dalton McKay have been friends since childhood, until they weren't. When they weren't friends, they were kind of more. Being kind of more and it imploding has left her emotionally scarred. Now, she's a more mature, confident woman. She is not gonna fall for the McKay charm again.

They are a lot of different plots going on this book. I won't give any of them away but they are majors plots. I started this book with a lot of doubt. I mean, I wasn't a huge Dalton fan, he seemed judgemental and kind of a beta male in the previous books. Also, this took place three years in the future from the last full length novel in the series. I don't know why but that left me a little off kilter before I started reading. I'm so very glad I kept going. I ended up enjoying this book immensely. I also ended up liking Dalton and understanding him better.

Kudos to Lorelei James for keeping a very long series fresh and exciting. I hate that it seems to be winding down. According to her website there should be one more book, but who will it be about?
The only possible McKay of marrying age is Sierra at twenty-one. Hopefully, she will continue writing about the Wests. There are seven of them I think.

Marooned with the Maverick by Christine Rimmer

 Grade: B
Hotness Level: Blaze
Kink Level: No Kink
Genre: Contemporary
Reviewed by Kate
219 pages

When the flood waters rise in the small town of Rust Creek Falls, kindergarten teacher Willa is trapped in her car. Collin, a childhood neighbor and troublemaker, rescues her. The pair takes shelter in a barn for the night. Willa quickly comes to realize that everything she thought she knew about Collin was wrong. Collin has always believed that he was no better than his reputation, but Willa insists he's so much more. He's someone she wants.

I enjoyed Christine Rimmer's pacing in this book. While mostly about Willa and Collin battling his opinions of himself, the backdrop if the flood clean-up keeps the story moving at a quick clip. This was the first book I've read by Christine Rimmer, but it definitely won't be my last.

Short Rides by Lorelei James

Grade-B+
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-Moderate
Series-Rough Riders #14.5
Reviewed by Kay

Let me start by saying that this will be a joint review between Kate and I. We have each done a review with Anne but not one together. I'm super excited about it! We'll each give our reviews, a list of our faves of the series and our not so much faves. I hope you enjoy the review as much as we enjoyed the book and writing it.

This novel has three separate parts-

The King Of Hearts is about Cam McKay who is the deputy of this hometown since his discharge from the armed services. He was badly wounded and ended up with part of one leg and hand amputated. On Valentine's Day there is a murder suicide committed and he is on the scene. It was very disturbing because of the nature and brutality of the crime. It also talked about PTSD and getting treatment for it. It was okay for me but a little preachy about gun control. I did enjoy his scenes with the kiddos.

Rough Road was about Trevor, Edgard and Chassie Glazner. They are a committed triad. If you are unfamiliar with that, it means they are all lovers in a committed relationship. They all have children together and raise them together. This story deals with prejudice against their lifestyle involving their son. He's bullied by a child at school and he questions his parents about what the "F" words means.
I do want to point out that the parents of the bully were worst case opinion people. Not every one who disagrees with someone's lifestyle is a jerk about it. I loved the support they got from their extended family and the lovely vacation they got to take.

All Knocked Up is about Jack and Keely Donohue who are awaiting the arrival of baby number one. Between work schedules and pregnancy hormones it's a wild ride. The bonus to this story is that we get multiple babies!

I enjoyed all three stories and can't wait for the next installment in this wonderful series.

My personal favorites in order are (I didn't rate the novellas):
Raising Kane
All Jacked Up
Cowgirls Don't Cry
Chasin' Eight
Rough, Raw and Ready
Kissin' Tell
Branded As Trouble
Cowgirl Up And Ride
Tied Up, Tied Down
Long Hard Ride
Shoulda Been A Cowboy
Rode Hard, Put Up Wet
Cowboy Casanova
Gone Country

Don't get me wrong, I liked them all but some more than others. Now, on to Kate.

What does a series that already has 14 full length books (#15 is slated to be released on 6/18) and 2 novellas need? *waiving hand in the air* OOH, ooh, pick me. I know. An anthology containing a short story and two novellas!

King of Hearts featuring  Cam and Domini left me feeling a bit flat. It gives a glimpse of their home life, but it was lacking the heat that I've come to expect from a Rough Riders book.   D, blaze

Rough Roads revisits Chassie, Trevor and Edgard as they celebrate their anniversary and deal with issues their oldest son is having at school. I loved this one.  B+, inferno

All Knocked Up follows Jack and Keely through the end of her first pregnancy. This one made me laugh out loud. B, inferno.

For those of us waiting for the next installment in the Rough Riders series these stories will help fill the void and pass the time. I'm curious to find out how many of you are riding the Rough Riders train? What was your favorite book so far?

Kate's favorites in order:

I've not listed them before and it was funny because some of them I actually felt my lip curl just reading the title. And Kissin' Tell would have been a few spots lower on the list except for Lorelei James' masterful use of a trampoline :) Makes me smile every time I think about it. I'm curious to know what your favorites are.

1. Rough, Raw and Ready
2. Raising Kane
3. Tied Up, Tied Down
4. Branded As Trouble
5. Cowgirl Up and Ride
6. Strong, Silent Type
7. Cowboy Casanova
8. Kissin' Tell
9. Should Been A Cowboy
10. Cowgirls Don't Cry
11. Gone Country
12. All Jacked Up
13. Long Hard Ride
14. Rode Hard, Put Up Wet
15. Chasin' Eight

Billion Dollar Cowboy by Carolyn Brown

Grade: B
Hotness Level: Blaze
Kink Level: No Kink
Genre: Contemporary,  Cowboy
Series: Cowboys & Brides #1
Reviewed by Kate

When Colton, a lottery winning ranch owner, is drugged by a gold digger, the family decides somehing must be done. Laura is working at the ranch as an office assistant to pay off a loan she took out to cover her sister's gambling debts. She and Colton reluctantly agree to pretend to be in a serious relationship to keep the gold diggers at bay. But when pretends start to feel real, both Colton and Laura have to search inside themselves to see if it could really be love.

I enjoy a rich hero. I really enjoy a hot cowboy hero. Combined together, you can't go wrong. Add the sad story of his childhood and Colton becomes a sigh-worthy hero. Laura is one of those rare poor girls who doesn't care a stitch for money. Strong and self-assured, she provides a nice contrast to Colton.

The only thing that pulled me out of the story was the scene when Laura helps Colton deliver a calf. (Despite his wealth Colton is a very hands on ranch owner). In my prior life as a farmer's wife, I have helped in more calf deliveries than I care to remember. Unfortunately, my personal experience only served to point out the inaccuracies in the scene. However, I would guess that the scene would not affect most readers the same way.

I look forward to more hot cowboys and more strong heroines in the rest of the series (and hopefully no more calf deliveries.)

Against The Wall by Rebecca Zanetti

Grade-C
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-None
Series-Maverick Montana #1
Reviewed by Kay

I freely admit it, I read this book for the cover! I know, I know, I deserve to get what I get, but look at the cover! It called to me and I answered. Honestly, what I got wasn't so bad.

Sophie Smith is a landscape architect that specializes in golf course design. I can't help but think that's kind of cool. Her company wants to build a housing addition with a golf course in Maverick, Montana near Mineral Lake. The town has a pretty good size Native American population that doesn't want it done because the land doesn't want it. I'm not gonna argue the rationale of that statement, I just thought since that is what the book said, I told you. She is sent in to try and change the minds of not only the tribe but the town council and a "concerned citizens" group.

Jack Lodge is a tribe member and their lawyer. He also helps his family on their land as almost a foreman on a ranch would. He has to go toe to toe with Sophie and her development company to keep this from happening. He has two brothers and a sister that have good sized parts in this novel also.

I liked these two characters a lot and the secondary characters also. The plot was okay for me too. The love scenes were on fire, which also helps in my opinion.. What I didn't care for was the speed in which the town accepted her as their own. I couldn't buy in to it. Jake and his family latched on to her so quick, it was a little unsettling. Using a nickname for her the first time he met her? No! I would consider this a low conflict love story and I like a conflict in my love stories. This was my first novel by Rebecca Zanetti and I liked it but it didn't blow my socks off.

Hot on Her Trail by Sable Hunter

Grade: B-
Hotness Level: Inferno
Kink Level: No Kink
Genre: Contemporary, Cowboy
Series: Hell Yeah! #2
Reviewed by Kate

Jessie had been hired by the McCays to be their surrogate and egg donor. But a mix-up at the sperm bank leaves her pregnant with Jacob McCoy's baby. When she refuses an abortion the McCays kick her out. Jobless, Jessie uses the last of her money to travel to the Tebow Ranch so she can tell Jacob about the baby. She doesn't expect him to support her or the baby, but feels Jacob deserves to know about the baby.

Jacob has been dreaming of settling down for a while now. He sees Jessie and knows she is the one, even before he knows who she is. When he finds out about the baby, it's just icing on the cake. Although Jacob is sure of his feelings for Jessie, some of his brothers remain skeptical.

This one picks up right where book one left us. Although you can read it as a stand alone, I think it is better read in order. Following in the path set by the first book, the love is instant and intense. The characters are likable. The dirty talk is a bit pornish. In addition to the conflict created by a brand new, super fast relationship, there is also the added intrigue of Mr. McCay, who is determined to find Jessie. Despite the similarities with the first book, I'm looking forward to the next book in the series. 

Cowboy Heat by Sable Hunter

Grade: B+
Hotness Level: Inferno
Kink Level: No Kink
Genre: Contemporary,  Cowboy
Series: Hell Yeah! #1
Reviewed by Kate

Libby has been battling leukemia since she was a teenager. When it finally goes into remission, her doctor encourages her to spend time doing all the things she has missed out on. Living on a ranch, riding a horse, and sex are at the top of her list. An opportunity to fill in for the housekeeper at the Tebow Ranch opens up ad Libby jumps at it. After all, the Tebow Ranch is run by the sexy McCoy brothers. Maybe one of them will help her wth her pesky virginity problem.

Aron survived a short marriage that nearly tore his family apart at the seams. He has no wish to visit the altar again, but four years without sex is a long time. When he sees Libby for the first time the attraction is instant. The fact that she agrees to a temporary relationship is great, the sex even better.

I liked the strength and weaknesses of both Aron and Libby. I liked the closeness of Aron's family. I liked the storylines that ran through the book. My only complaint was that the dirty talk sounded a bit pornish. When I finished this one I immediately started the next book in the series. Could there be a better recommendation?

Once Tempted by Laura Moore

Grade-D
Hotness Level-Blaze
Kink Level-None
Series-Silver Creek #1
Reviewed by Kay

Tess Casari was swept off of her feet into a whirlwind romance and marriage. Less than six months later, she was a estranged widow. Distraught and terribly insecure she plays pin-the-tail-on-the-location and moves to start fresh.

Ward Knowles is a ranch at his family's vacation ranch. He's kind of sullen and somber. He has had his own share of disappointment in the love department. His ex-fiancee dumped him for what she thought was something more.

When Tess starts working at the ranch, she immediately dislikes him despite her attraction to him. Ward doesn't dislike her but is cautious regarding his attraction to her. They play a cat and mouse game with each other and their feelings. As the relationship grows, they each learn more about the other and their secrets.

The story was okay but nothing special. I felt bored throughout most of it and had to force myself to finish it. This was my first novel by this author. It was hard to connect totally with the characters. I pitied Tess for the tragedy she went through with her deceased husband and his family. It ended nicely which was a plus. There were love scenes but they were too tame for me. This would probably be a good read for someone who likes a more tame and/or sedate love story.

Too Hot to Handle by Victoria Dahl

Grade - B

Hotness Level - Blaze
Kink Level - no kink
Genre - Contemporary

Series - Jackson #1
Reviewed by Anne

Merry has been a tumbleweed through life, but she's finally putting down roots and showing her family and friends she can be a success.  She's gotten a job as curator of a ghost town.  She's going to develop it and turn it into a tourist attraction.  Shane lives across the hall from Merry.  He has ties to the ghost town that Merry doesn't know about.  In fact, he is contesting a will that has direct effect on the ghost town.  Merry knows he does carpentry work and asks him to do some restoration work in the ghost town.  Shane accepts the job, thinking he can get a little inside information on the committee opposing him in the lawsuit about the will.  When he starts feeling attracted to Merry, his deception weighs on him, but not quiet enough for him to come clean.

I usually don't like this kind of set up.  I'm not a fan of BIG SECRETS.  And I was initially annoyed at this one.  However, the farther I got into the story, the more believable it got.  Shane tells himself, just a little while longer.  With every passing day you know the revelation of the big secret will be even more painful, but I found myself rooting for them to stay in the lie just a little longer, because they were so good for each other and I knew the truth would rip them apart.  So I understood why Shane kept the secret.  In the end, I felt like his grovel and apology were fitting for the hurt he caused and I was ok with everything.

 

Other than the BIG SECRET, I really have nothing to complain about. I loved Shane and Merry's chemistry.  Victoria Dahl is such a fun and funny writer!  There were so many stand out scenes in this book.  The shower scene, the hidden vibrator scene, all the moments between Merry and Grace were delightful, too.  I really enjoy a book where the characters have real friends.  Raylene at the bar was a hoot!  

 

This is the second book in the Jackson series.  I haven't read the first book and I followed this one just fine.  I'm going to read the first one, though, because Grace was such a good friend to Merry and such a strong woman that I want to know more about her.  This is a wonderful book and I highly recommend it!  Dahl is back on my favorite writers list.

Rocky Mountain Heat by Vivian Arend

Grade-C
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-None
Series- Six Pack Ranch #1
Reviewed by Kay

Blake Coleman is the first born of a family of modern day cowboys. He lives at the Six Pack Ranch with the rest of his family. He  takes the responsibilities of ranch life very seriously. Jaxi is the girl next door. She has grown up with the Coleman boys. She has loved Blake for as long as she can remember but he has ignored her at every turn.

These two characters dance around each other and their feelings until one night Jaxi pushes Blake just a little too far. It starts off a domino effect that includes members of his family, from his parents to his brothers.

This started of sweet and engaging but toward the middle I had to force myself to finish the book. I am a huge Lorelei James fan and I wanted this to be like that, I think. This isn't bad but just felt a little long and it lost me for awhile. I don't think I'll continue the series though.

Covert Seduction by Callie Croix

Grade-C
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-None
Genre-Romantic Suspense
Reviewed by Kay

Reid Galvin is a Navy SEAL on leave after a horrible mission and all he wants is to see Becca Anderson. They had a situation before he was deployed and it carried on through his deployment. He has decided how he feels about her and wants to set matters right.

Becca Anderson is an employee at an investment firm who decrypted a file for a co-worker recently that was quite a shock. She loves Reid but has a hard time with his job and where their relationship stands. Reid calls her to set up a time for them to talk things out and interrupts her on a date that really isn't one.

David told Becca that on the file she decrypted that some one embezzled money from the firm. Big money, like two billion dollars big. He gives her a copy of the information on a zip drive. She's very scared about all this as she should be but agrees to wait until David has found out everything and everyone involved before they go to the authorities.

On the way home from the fundraiser they are ran off the road by another car and into a deep canal. They are trapped upside down inside the car with water seeping in from a crack in the back windshield. Meanwhile, Reid decides to wait for Becca at her house to come home after her date and happens upon the accident scene. He jumps in to rescue whoever is trapped, having no idea it's Becca.

He rescues them both and then takes Becca back to her apartment to take care of her. The next day, she gets a phone message from David saying someone has broken in and ransacked his home. She then hears someone attack David and the line goes dead. She at that point tells Reid. At the same time downstairs, a man breaks into her house. Reid chases down the man and holds him until the police come.

Reid takes Becca to his friend's beach house where they stay until the police wrap everything up, which they do quite quickly. They both admit they love each other and are willing to work on their relationship. In the epilogue, they are happily married.

This was just an okay read for me. It was plenty hot enough and that was done well. There was a couple of things that didn't ring true for me, such as, Reid and Becca having sex in front of a picture window where the neighbors could and did see her. Also, Becca made a comment about tying him up at her mercy. The book describes how dominant he is and how he's held back in their encounters in the past, so I don't see him allowing himself to be tied up. Nor do I by into an alpha male allowing anyone to see the woman they want to marry, naked. Those for whatever reason were an issue for me. The rescue scene with the car trapped in the canal was pretty good but again, just an okay read for me.

Undeniable by Alison Kent

Grade-B
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-Low
Series-Dalton Gang #1
Reviewed by Kay

Arwen Poole is a bar owner in a smallish ranch town. She is also the daughter of the town drunk. She doesn't know that she's beautiful either. She is very content with her life. At least, she was until the Dalton Gang moved back home.

Dax Campbell has been kind of a drifter since he left town at eighteen years old. He left town to escape his dysfunctional family and their expectations of him. He spent his teen years at the Dalton ranch with the family he always wanted. He made the Daltons and his friends his family.

He and his friends come home after the death of the Daltons to take care of the ranch that was willed to the three of them. He sees Arwen and their relationship starts off with a bang. Literally.

I liked this novel a lot. Liked all the characters and what they are going through. Dax and Arwen struggle to put a label on their relationship because of their pasts. I loved the emotions I felt while reading and the sex...hot and frequent.

Gone Country by Lorelei James

Grade-B
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-None
Series-Rough Riders #14
Reviewed by Kay

This is the latest installment in Lorelei James' Rough Riders series. It is about Gavin Daniels and Rielle Wetzler. Gavin is the child of Charlie and Violet McKay that was given up for adoption. He looked them up earlier in the series and they have been trying to build a relationship ever since. This story is also about Sierra, Gavin's sixteen year old daughter and Rielle's daughter, Rory who is twenty four.

Let's start with Gavin, the most un-McKay man ever. He's not a rancher, artist, ex-military man or a man whore. For those of you who have read this series, you know what I'm saying. He is very likable and hot in his own way. You feel for him and his quest to get to know his family. You also get to see his dealing with his issue of getting put up for adoption. His relationship with Charlie seems more at peace than his relationship with Violet.

Rielle is a single mother and has her own self made business. She has always had to work hard not only at her business but as a single mother and a child of the town hippies. She was a very young mother at age sixteen, but she kept her baby and has worked her butt off ever since. She stayed in Gavin's house he bought in Wyoming several years earlier. She also owns land next to Gavin's she was saving up to build her own place on.

Sierra and Rory are typical only children in that they are selfish and oblivious to anything that doesn't center on them. That being said, I still liked them both. You get to experience first love with Sierra and a West boy! Sorry I love the Wests! Sierra and Rory both have to deal with some loss of their parents' attention which is emotional.

I really forced myself to read it because I had no interest in Gavin. It wasn't personal but I still had McKays I'd heard about to read first in my opinion. I went ahead and read it obviously because Lorelei James is an auto-read for me. Especially this series. I enjoyed this book quite a bit. I also got to learn about the McKay/West feud which was exciting. I highly recommend anybody to read this book. I would have to say you must read the series in order though to totally understand it.

Caden's Vow by Sarah McCarty

Grade-A
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-Low
Series-Hell's Eight #6
Reviewed by Kay

This focus of this book is on Caden and Maddie. Caden is one of the Hell's Eight. Eight boys who were the only survivors of a massacre in the town they lived in. This attack happened when they were all boys and it bonded them all together. They had to survive on the streets until they were found by Tia, who took them in and basically saved their lives. They as adults built Hell's Eight Ranch and became Texas Rangers. Their reputations are fierce and well known.

Caden is tired of all the matrimonial bliss going on around him and decides to leave and find his own place in life. Maddie is also living at Hell's Eight. She escaped from a whorehouse she was born and raised in, taking refuge at Hell's Eight. She is love with Caden and it's a difficult situation. Maddie retreats in her own mind a lot. This causes others to see her as crazy or childlike.

I looked at some reviews of this book and was scared to read it. They were not favorable. I agree that Sarah McCarty has slipped with the last few books in this series. The last book I truly enjoyed by her was Tucker's. For me, Tracker's and Shadow's were borderline sub par. The stories were okay but the heat level was tanking and that was one of the reasons I have enjoyed her work so much in the past.

I loved everything about this book. I can't stress that enough. I think McCarty has hit her stride. The characters broke my heart, especially Maddie. She's always been viewed as fragile and for most of the book she is, but you know a little bit more why. She is an extremely damaged young woman. She was pimped out by her mom at age eight. She cares horrific self-esteem issues. I was furious at some comments made by Caden to her about her. I openly bawled several times in this book because of her view of what she deserved for circumstances in her life she had no control over. Her defense mechanism was too retreat inside her mind and with her past it is totally understandable. Fans of this series will cheer this book. It is my favorite in the series easily.