Raising Kane

2.5 stars

This was another disappointment for me, which makes two in a row (I did not like All Jacked Up). In essence, I found the whole book to be tame. I was not excited about Kane and Ginger. Though there was a bit of a spark between them, the sex scenes were bland, IMO. I think Ms. James can write some scorching scenes, but I felt it was lacking this time around. I also thought this book was too predictable and the storylines are starting to seem the same; the cowboys are all dominant in the bedroom and the heroines seemed scared/unsure and don’t want to admit that they like it. There was no true conflict between them; they just didn’t talk to each other. There was a lot of internal dialogue going on and not enough face to face show more conversations. Kane didn’t think he was good enough for her since Ginger was a lawyer. Ginger was a bit weary of Kane because of his former playboy ways. I really hope the next one is better. If not, I might be done with this series unfortunately. show less

There's not much to review, so this will be short.

Kane "Buck" McKay has been trying for years to drop his bad boy reputation. He's cut down on the boozing, stopped skirt-chasing and even signed up to be a mentor to a Little Buddy named Hayden. Unfortunately for him, Hayden's mom, Ginger Paulson, attracts him like flame to a moth, and that's against the program's rules. When she's laid up after a ice-fueled slip down a set of stairs, Kane agrees to help take care of her, her elderly father and Hayden while she heals up.

And, well, that's it. That's what happens. From the get-go they admit their mutual attraction. They have lots of sex starting early in the book and continuing throughout. Neither is pushing the other away or avoiding show more commitment. They don't use condoms so it must be True Love.

In short - the book completely lacked conflict. There's nothing these two overcome that has them grow as characters. I mean, I guess Ginger learns to rely on someone other than herself, but that is not much of a character arc to speak of. The writing's technically sound, the dialog natural, but the book lacks purpose. The protagonists begin and end the book as the same people, only married and knocked up.

I liked it, I read it in one sitting, but the lack of urgency or growth really made the sex boring. I don't want to just be a voyeur. I need a good reason to watch people bone. /meh show less

Rancher/Lawyer combination. I like that Kane was part of Buddies program and even though there he was concerned about her being so much smarter the author didn't make that a huge issue with them. Lots of laughs and a fun read. Loved how he took care of her and her family.

May 14, 2011

This series just keeps getting better and better. I continue to love the glimpses into life on a ranch, all the hard work and hardship as well as how families come together and help each other. We have lost so much of that in our rush and scamper lives in the city. Don't get me wrong I love living near a big city, but I could be very happy living in the mountains near a creek with lots of trees and wold animals coming around. There isn't much more I can say about these books. They are well crafted with wonderful characters and the men and women from the previous stories pop in at such unexpected times and places. It truly is a series of books about a very close family and the joys and tragedies that they all face show more together.

December 21, 2014

There hasn't been much mention of Kane since Colt went to rehab and sold the Boar’s Nest to Cam. Kane has cleaned up his act and tried to show people that he has grown up and is a responsible person now. I don’t think that many people know who Kane really is which is many ways is very sad. One of the things that I like about this man is that he volunteered to mentor boys without fathers. He has been working with Hayden Poulson for some time and in all that time he has never acted on his attraction to Hayden’s mother Ginger Poulson. He gets his chance to get to know her a little better when Ginger slips on some ice and hurts herself bad enough that she needs help.

Kane is all alpha male; of course all the McKays are or seem to be. Kane is all very dominant much like Cord. In the years since Colt went into rehab he has taken on more responsibility for his family’s portion of the McKay spread since Kade has a family and needs to spend time with them. Kane is also very lonely. He wants what his older McKay cousins have he just has to convince the woman that he cares about that he will make a good husband. I loved that Kane has a tender side to his personality. I also liked that he is willing to fight to have Ginger as his wife. Finally Kane has a very strong sense of family. When Ginger’s Dad tries to move into an assisted living facility Kane convinces that man that he is very welcome in the home that Kane and Ginger will share. There aren't many that would take on the care of a disable senior.

Ginger isn't use to asking for help. Since Hayden birth she has learned to take care of things herself. She has been attracted to Kane since he became Hayden’s mentor. When she falls and hurts herself she is determined to see if that attraction can lead to more. Ginger is a very smart and savvy woman. She is also lonely and a little isolated due to her responsibilities. She works hard and is a tough but loving mother and a compassionate caring daughter. Ginger hasn't had the easiest life mainly due to her mother and an unplanned pregnancy by a married man. I did love that she was willing to help Kane with chores.

This is a continuation of the McKay family story. There are other things going on here that are a set up for the next book. There is no suspense in these stories all of them are about the daily lives a family that is trying to make a living working a ranch in Wyoming. Ms. James does a wonderful job of portraying the back breaking, never ending labor it takes to keep a ranch running. She also shows how family can make that labor easier and sometimes much harder. I love this series and look forward to each new book. show less

This one was about a single mother that falls for a McKay man. They are older, 37 which makes it that much.......read more on my blog iloveladyporn.com

3.5 stars
Still fun, but suffers from being in a series.

re-read 02/2013