25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
5 blue ribbons from Romance Junkies, July 23, 2008
Gemma Jansen's struggling to take care of her ranch on her own while continuing to supply animals for the rodeos. Only none of the promoters seem to want to use any of her animals and none of them can give her a reason why. She's in need of a ranch foreman and believes she knows the perfect man for the job.
Cash Big Crow has quit the rodeo and now takes odd jobs to earn a living. Gemma's offer of a job as foreman at her ranch isn't exactly the job of his dreams - though a more permanent home and someplace he can spend the summer getting to know his adult daughter is appealing. The perk to taking the job is going to be a stipulation he insists upon - she's the boss during the day, but at night, he's in charge.
Gemma's very attracted to Cash, however she's also quite a bit older than he is and a widow to boot. She's not entirely sure she's ready to move on but she definitely needs his help. The last thing she expects is the unbelievable jealousy she feels when she first sees Cash with another woman - imagine her surprise when she learns that the `other woman' is actually his daughter, Maci. She hadn't even known that Cash had a daughter.
Gemma's offer of a job gives Cash the opportunity to settle in one place and get to know his daughter without having to constantly be looking for work. The one big problem with the whole situation as far as he can see is the mutual interest between Maci and Carter, a cowboy/artist living and working at Gemma's ranch. Cash knows exactly what he wants, even if he's not ready to admit to his feelings; he just never guessed his own daughter would possess the same passionate nature as he. While Gemma and Cash learn that rough and ready is just how they like their loving, Maci and Carter are learning that it takes more than loving to make a relationship work - there has to be trust too.
Lorelei James definitely has a talent for telling hot cowboy stories that will have readers longing for one of their very own. Gemma and Cash are simply perfect for each other. They're both passionate and hard-working and not afraid to go after what they want. Maci and Carter's relationship is reminiscent of young love. They both have backgrounds steeping in issues they've carried with them and several misunderstandings and snafus which result in some interesting encounters and one butt whopping from Cash that Carter won't soon forget. RODE HARD, PUT UP WET is exactly the sort of storytelling I've come to expect from Ms. James. The sex is hot, but it's the emotional context that ensures it's a story you'll remember.
Chrissy Dionne (courtesy of Romance Junkies)
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16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Two Couples, One Story, Lots of action, November 16, 2008
This book is a two for one. Not that it's two separate stories or novels but that two couples find love and their lives are intertwined with each other.
Gemma Jansen is a widow. Her husband use to supply rough stock for rodeos and she tried to continue doing this. For some reason, no one will give her a contract. She's pretty sure that it was due to her last foreman and she's looking to hire a new one. She knows who she wants to hire. They've been friends for years and last year he was ready to make it more but Gemma wasn't. Now, Gemma is willing to take the chance, if Cash Big Crow is still willing.
Cash has been on the rodeo circuit for years. It's finally caught up with him and he's no longer participating in the events but working the stock. He's been offered jobs at different ranches but he turns them all down. He's just not interested. This summer, he's being joined by his 22 year old daughter Macie. They don't really know each other but they want to try. Cash was 16 to Macie's mother's 26 when Macie was born. Her mother drug Macie all over and never gave her any real stability. When Gemma offers Cash the foreman's job on her ranch, he agrees if she can meet his two conditions. The first is that Macie is allowed to live on the ranch for as long she likes. The other is that while Gemma may be his boss, after work hours, she'll be in his bed and he'll be in charge.
Macie is looking forward to really getting to know her dad. She's never had this opportunity before and wants it to work out. She recently lost her job as a waitress when a guy put his hands where they didn't belong and she dumped a pitch of tea on him. She found out why her artist boyfriend wasn't putting his hands on her when she walked into his apartment finding him with his good friend being a lot more than friends. She should have known that he was gay! Macie isn't sure about living on Gemma's ranch but she's willing to try, though the thoughts of working on it aren't pleasant. That is why when she sees a help wanted sign at a local restaurant she applies and is given a job where she'll cook part time and waitress part time. It's perfect for Macie.
Carter McKay has been helping on Gemma's ranch. His family has a big spread about two hours away but Carter agreed to come up and help Gemma out while he's getting ready for an art show. Carter is an artist and is working on getting pieces done. He sees a vision of a woman in his head but can't seem to get it right. When he sees Macie though his vision has come to life! He wants her to pose for him but she just wants to blow him off. Macie's perceptions of artists aren't the best right now.
As Cash and Gemma work on their relationship, Cash is doing his darnest to keep Carter away from his daughter. Cash knows Carter's older brother Colby and it wasn't all good, especially around women. The fact that his daughter is grown with a mind of her won doesn't mean that Cash is going to accept that she's interested in Carter. Carter is willing to ignore Cash as long as Macie sees him but how long will that tentative peace last?
Gemma and Cash work well together but will that spill over into the bedroom. The first night they're together, were they joined by the ghost of Gemma's husband? Will Cash be able to get Gemma to see that age doesn't matter and that he couldn't care less that she's 10 years older than he is? Can they fulfill the dreams that they have or will their pasts break them apart?
This was one of those books that you just didn't want to put down. There was so much going on that you didn't want to miss any of it. Relationships were changing and new ones were being forged. Trust was being given and trust was broken straining relationships to their limits. Even as one or two characters were having things go smoothly, others were hitting a rocky patch. You were never sure where these characters were going but you sure wanted to be there with them.
These characters weren't just going through the motions but they were drawing out emotions. Cash and Macie didn't have a normal daughter/father relationship. Each would put themselves out just a little to see if the other would accept or reject the offering. Cash felt that he didn't have much to offer a daughter while Macie didn't know how to rely on anyone. Their struggles were heartwrenching and heartwarming. Gemma needed to look past her wonderful marriage and look forward to a life with Cash. She needed to trust that he would be there for her and not hurt her but his natural reserve doesn't allow him to share all that he would like with Gemma. As they struggle to find a balance, they each learn that trust doesn't come easy.
This is the second of Ms James's Rough Rider series. It don't need to be read after the first though characters that were in the first book show up as secondary characters in this one. The books revolve around the McKay family so as you get wrapped up in the trails and tribulations of one of them, you know that you will see them again in a future book. This makes it easier when the book ends because by then the characters feel like you know them and you can't wait until they start the next chapter of their lives.
Reader warning.....there is some graphic sex in this book. There is also same sex sex and a threesome. If this would offend you, then this may not be the book for you.
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