Customer Reviews

Rode Hard, Put Up Wet (Rough Riders)

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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)

After reading Long Hard Ride, the first book of the Rough Riders series I was hooked on western romance. The story continued with Gemma and Cash who we met in the first book. There was a connection with Gemma and Cash but Gemma was not ready to move on after her husband of 25+ years passed away. I really enjoyed reading about Gemma finding love again in her late 40's with Cash. Cash is 10 years younger than Gemma and has a grown daughter of his own to deal with. Her story with Carter McKay was just a bonus in this book. If you love hot western romance you won't be dissapointed in this book or any other of the Rough Riders series.

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.

STORY BRIEF:
Gemma is a widow who owns a ranch in Wyoming. Cash has been in love with her for two years, but she was not interested. Finally she realizes she wants to be with him. She offers him a job as foreman on her ranch. He agrees but only if it includes being in her bed. She agrees. They have a lot of great sex. As a teenager, Cash got someone pregnant. They agreed not to marry and went their separate ways. The mother recently died, and Cash wants to spend time with his now 22-year-old daughter Macie. Macie comes to live on the ranch with Gemma and Cash. She's an excellent cook and gets a job in the local diner. She also falls in love with Carter, who is working on the ranch for the summer. Carter is an artist and wants to sculpt and paint Macie. They too have a lot of great sex.

REVIEWER'S OPINION:
I'm not sure how I feel. The story and characters were good. The erotic scenes were better than good. I think I wasn't emotionally pulled in as much as I would like. But it was still good, especially if you're looking for erotic romance. Sex acts include men with men, ménage with 2 men and 1 woman, rear door activity, light bondage and spanking.

DATA:
Story length: 292 pages. Swearing language: strong. Sexual language: strong/erotic. Number of sex scenes: 15. Total number of sex scene pages: 71. Setting: current day western US, mostly Wyoming. Copyright: 2008. Genre: erotic contemporary western romance.

I am a devoted fan of Ms. Lorelei James (and her YAHOO group!)and quite frankly, one should read the tags related to books before purchasing them. Any book that is tagged with menage, alpha male, erotica and Samhain Publishing (anything) and such is clearly not a classic Disney themed book. Disney is all about death, dark skinned bad guys and broken families and everyone loves them! This book is hot! And nope, I'm not Lorelei James, but I do think based on the very suggestive titles she names, you may get the wrong idea about her skills. To write a sex filled book, but still have a great storyline, is NOT what romance authors know how to do, it's usually one or the other.

I really liked this story about Macie and Carter. Yes, there's a lot of sex, but c'mon, the scenes are HOT! You even find out in the next book, CUAR, that he knows how to have sex on a horse! A horse! And if you actually read the story and follow the series, Macie and Carter are a really fun couple. They have like two sons now (by book 7, this is book 2)!

The funny thing is, Lorelei's Yahoo! group:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LoreleiJamesgang

is nothing like what she writes! Well it is, but other than the Humpday Hotties posted on another website, but linked in the group, is a pretty TAME site compared to the raunchiness of her words. Sex is mentioned in the forum, just not as heavily as in the books. Just fans talking and getting a sneak peek of the books to come.

I'm not one to say you can't criticize Ms.James, to each their own, w/o criticism, we might become a very pretentious race of people. But, if you bought a book called "Rode Hard, Put Up Wet," are you REALLY expecting to read a Hallmark book of the week? Macie's story is one of my favorite Lorelei James books. I'm very bias, I love them all, the novella's too, Lorelei, and this is a book more about family, than sex. Cash wants to get to know his daughter and happens to be doing his boss as well----but that was said on the back of the book! Trevor is such a slut, but again, you know that from the first book, "Long, Hard Ride"---again, the title says it all. I really loved this book. I'm going to read my copy again. Carter is the quietest out of his 5 brothers, the youngest boy and him and Macie really test each others personal space in this book, but it was done in a very fun way.

Saying this book is porn is like walking into a strip club and being offended you saw a bare boob....sometimes, it really is best to judge a book by it's cover, because it is so00o0o0 worth it and you have so0o0o0o just paid Lorelei James for 3 books!

There is a great combo of both stories. Macie and Carter and Cash and Gemma. The McKays show it doesn't matter if your a little different from the family norm they look out for their own. Cash learns it is never to late to be the type of father you want to be! You should check out the rest!

This is just one more great reason to read Lorelei James. I've fallen in love with the Rough Rider characters and can't wait for the next book to come out. The two Rough Rider books I've read so far have left me panting and wet. The menage is exciting and explicite, the sex is all hot, hot, and hotter. Lorelei always knows how to push my buttons with her words, and I can't get enough. This series makes me want to know ALL the McKay boys intimately.

This book is the second in a new series. It was an emotional read but very sexy at the same time. Cant wait for next in series.

Likeable characters, you feel yourself pulling for both Gemma and Cash to reach the realization they are right for each other but this book doesnt seem to be as believable as her previous efforts.

Book 2.
After the first book, Long Hard Ride, it was a no brainer to just continue right over to this book. What a lovely treat because you get 2 awesome hot romances in this book.
I love that the characters carry over from book to book and in this story you get to read more about Big Cash Crow and Gemma. They were introduced in the first book and I love that warranted their own awesome story.
Gemma & Big Cash Crow are a bit of an older couple in the traditional sense. However that is the draw for me. I love that the author made an amazing romance for a couple in their late thirties and forties. It was just as hot as anything that I have read.

The next couple is another McKay brother, Carter and his story is how he falls in love with Macie (Big Cash Crow's daughter). I loved the family dynamics in this story. You have a daughter/father healing relationship as well as the rough and tumble of a western erotic romance. Both couples have two coming together stories and it was just an awesome read. I know they say you dont have to read the books in order but it is just better if you do. You will just appreciate the character growth if you do.