Rode Hard, Put Up Wet

I had high hopes for this one. It had the older woman younger man trope with cowboys and Indians added in. And it was nice, don't get me wrong. It just lacked a depth of emotion I guess. There were two complete romances going on in this one. I felt that neither romance was given justice. I liked everyone. I just wished that this had been two books instead of being crammed into one. While we knew the characters, we didn't get very deep into anyone's thoughts. Still it was an enjoyable read and I'm going to keep on with the series.

Follows on nicely from Book 1, Long Hard Ride, of the Rough Riders series which is about Colton and Channing. Unlike most romance novels, it has 4 leads, Macie and Carter, and Gemma and Cash, which means the action is non stop as the relationships develop, and both were equally riveting. But as another reviewer, Emleemay, says below, there is more than love and sex – I was drawn to Carter's relationship and identity within his large and larger than life family, and Macie's search for family. Narrator, Rebecca Estrella, has an unusual somewhat staccato delivery – while it is a bit quirky, I don't mind it, but I think I'll leave it another month before I pick up Book 3 in the series, as much as these cowboys and cowgirls are pretty show more irresistible. Actually, better leave it 3 months, since that's how long ago I read Book 1, and I had had sufficient time out from the narrator to appreciate her again. show less

From back of book:

Warning: this book contains explicit sex nine ways 'til Sunday - including menage a trois, inventive use of ropes, naughty girls getting spanked, stubborn men getting hog-tied, graphic language and whoo-wee! hot nekkid cowboy action.

You have been warned.

Good for you if you're still here because this book is so so HOT!! This is my first read by [a:Lorelei James|541293|Lorelei James|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1235687924p2/541293.jpg] seeing as her books are fairly unattainable in the UK unless you have about £50 to blow on Ebay. If you keep on the lookout, though, eventually you might find a good deal (like I did) and you had better snag these sexy novels right away. But, seriously, they are not for the faint of show more heart and if you're generally opposed to graphic sex in books or sex that is a little more than ordinary they are not for you. Otherwise, step right in to the world of Ms James and hot cowboys getting it on all the time, in every place imaginable.

By the way, any of you not particularly consider a cowboy your definition of mr sex-on-a-stick? Hey, that was me too before I read this book. But [a:Lorelei James|541293|Lorelei James|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1235687924p2/541293.jpg] knows only too well what gets our heart racing and if you think you can escape the sexual pull of these alpha males: think again.

On that note, I was reading an interesting blog post by Ms James on her website about alpha males, sexism and feminism and she made an important point that I think I love the most about her novels. That is that she may create alpha males but she always creates equally strong alpha females. There's no big strong cowboy and weak, whimpering cowgirl. Damn no, all her characters have strong, dominating personalities. I may be falling in love with the author and potentially the series too.

But... did you think this was just a book about sex? Well, sure, there's an awful lot of sex, but there's also some very touching emotional tales going on here as well. There are two love stories, Gemma and Cash, and Macie and Carter. Gemma is a lonely widow who hasn't been able to get Cash Big Crow out of her mind since the last time he came to town, but Cash wonders if he is simply a poor substitute for her dead husband and seeks to make a mark that her husband never did: physically and emotionally.

Macie is Cash's daughter and grew up travelling with her mother and rarely seeing her father. They have finally come together in an attempt to build a relationship but they soon find their own insecurities get in the way. As for Carter, he is a horny artist who discovers his muse the day Macie struts into town, and he is determined to make her far more than that. Note: there's some seriously hot goings on with rope and whipped cream!

Stories in erotica are often sketchy and just poorly-executed fillers between the sex. But not here. It's quite sad at times and, when I reached the end, I was shocked at just how important it was to me to know what happened to these characters. I won't say I was surprised because the ratings and reviews speak for themselves, but this is so so much more than an erotic novel (though it's damn good at being that). There's a chance I might increase my rating has this series progresses but I'm always hesitant to give 5 stars. We'll see how I'm feeling after I've read the next book I've ordered from ebay: [b:Tied Up, Tied Down|3654380|Tied Up, Tied Down (Rough Riders, #4)|Lorelei James|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1215303888s/3654380.jpg|3697558]. show less

What a great story by Lorelei James. "Rode Hard, Put Up Wet" is a two-romance book. We get an older couple and a younger couple...doesn't get much better than that!! Word of warning tho, this book has oral sex, anal sex, vaginal sex, menage sex, sex with ropes, and sex with toys. YIPPEE!

Gemma finally gives in and contacts Cash, the rodeo circuit rider she's been attracted to for over a year. She needs his help on her ranch and he quickly agrees...with one condition. He wants Gemma in his bed and under his control. The romance between these two is beautiful. Cash uses his rough exterior to hide his insecurities just like Gemma does. I found myself wanting to jump into the book and help them learn to open up to each other. Their sex is show more sizzling and the sacrifices each is willing to make for the other (sometimes needlessly) are touching. Neither is perfect, but it takes some time for both of them to realize that neither of the other is looking for perfection...just love.

Cash's daughter Macie is looking to have a relationship with the Dad his job, and her mother, never really allowed her to know. Her heart is wary but she's determined to try. When a gorgeous cowboy calls her his 'muse', she thinks it's just a line. But she quickly learns that this is one cowboy who knows just which of her buttons to push...and man is he good at it!! And Cash McKay is sure the art gods must be smiling on him when he spots the woman he's been seeing in his dreams, literally. When he finds out she'll be spending time at the ranch where he works with Gemma, he knows it's only a matter of days before he'll have her...in his paintings and in his bed. But Cash will have to learn that while some things are meant to be, some things are also meant to be just between the two of them.

Two great romances, two sizzling pairs of lovers, and all the emotional ups and downs of real life relationships. I just loved this book and couldn't put it down. show less

2011, March 7

This books was a really fast read with lot of hot sex and crazy people that are afraid of having love find them. Each of the main characters of this book have been hurt, some badly, in the past. They are each struggling with that past and trying to carve out a new future. Ms. James did a pretty good job of keeping the characters lovable and getting them to work through their individual problems without a lot of hand wring and long drawn out psychological discussions. There also wasn't a lot of whiny about how hard life had been and how they might have deserved more. While there isn't a lot of action in the story there is enough loving and hot, steamy, kinky sex to keep the pace going. I look forward to reading the rest of show more this series.

2014, October 3

This story has two romances going on at the same time. The first is Gemma Jansen and Cash Big Crow; it is so about time these two got together. The other couple is Carter McKay and Macie Honeycutt. Carter is the youngest of the Carson and Carolyn McKay boys. Carter is an artist and he is working part time for Gemma while he works getting ready for a big gallery show of his work. He never expects to find the woman that will be his wife at a small rodeo he and Gemma has gone to in order to find out about being a stock contract for the circuit. Gemma is also at the rodeo looking for Cash. She is in need of a foreman and she really wants to spend time with Cash. So the fun and games begin when they all head to the Bar 9 for the summer.

Carter is more than a little insecure and I guess that is the case with most creative people. He feels that he doesn't fit in anywhere and that no one would miss him if he just disappeared. Carter is very intense and dominant but he gets lost when his muse strikes. For all his time in school Carter is still a cowboy. He still loves Wyoming and the horses and cows and the land that make up a ranch. His art reflects what he sees and feels leaving in Wyoming. I think that he has more or less given up on finding anyone that can understand him so when Macie seems to do just that he is blown away. His arrogance is almost his down fall but his family proves that his family does care about him and that he needs to find a way to keep Macie.

Macie has lived her life on the road for most of her life. Macie's mother was a free spirit. She never really wanted to settle down. Macie never had much time with her father but she always enjoyed the time she did. Macie is a great cook and she finds a job that she comes to love while she is on the Bar 9. I think that her wondering is what makes her the perfect foil for Carter. She understands what being alone really means and she is capable of entertaining herself. I am not saying that these two don’t have a rough road to their happily ever after. There are some misunderstandings and a few fights. They do work things out in the end but it is touch and go for a little while.

Cash spent most of his youth on the reservation. He was raised by his grandparents after his mother died of alcohol poisoning and his father was put in prison. Cash was a father by the time he was sixteen and in no way ready to have a child. He was determined to get away from the reservation and make his way in the world. He has made a living with the rodeo circuit but age has caught up with him and so does Macie. When Gemma offers him the foreman job he hopes that he and Macie can put down some roots. He is thrilled that he also has the opportunity to farther is seduction of Gemma the only woman that he ever loved. Colby McKay offers Cash a chance to start a bull riding school which will add income to the ranch.

Gemma is a widower. She lost her husband two years ago and she has been carrying on through all that time. She finally realizes that it is time for her to move on. She is lonely. She also realizes that she needs to change her business from stock contracting to supply the contracts with stock. She is surprised by how creative Cash’s love making can be. She has to supply some tough love to get through to Cash but these two finally come to realize that they love each other.

This is a great second book to this series. We are introduced to Jack Donahue who will show up in a future book. We get to see more of Amy Jo Foster and Keely McKay. The two girls are getting ready to go off to school in Denver. I am not sure Denver is ready for these two. We also get to see a little of Cord and Colt in this story. There are some really hot love scenes throughout the book. There is also one menage scene in this story as well as some bondage but that is about a kinky as things get. This is a great book and I love reading each and every one of them. show less

Not a big fan of Gemma and Cash. Who wants to hear about sags and wrinkles and deformities in their romance books?! Love Jack though... glad to see him even if it was a very brief visit.

I think I’m one of the few who actually liked the first one better then the second. The cowboys were fierce, the women were strong and beautiful, the sex scenes were good, but the romance, a bit cheesy. Quick fun.