Rough Ride (The Roughnecks) [Kindle Edition]

Keri Ford (Author)

Book Description

The Roughnecks Series, Book One (Erotic Romance)

You do for family, no matter what. Lane Iverson knows that better than anyone. Harboring a secret about his mother’s death, Lane is counting the days until he finishes helping his brothers with some work and can head back to his hiding hole hours away. As long as he doesn’t have to face his three brothers every day, the guilt is easier to carry.

There is only one thing that can risk his plan. All of five foot tall, with these deep eyes and a voice that shudders through him. The completely addicting, Gretchen Jones. She’s been watching him the entire time he’s been in town. With courage from her friends behind her, she confronts what she wants. To her surprise, that’s the easy part. Keeping her heart protected when she knows he’ll be leaving? Not so easy, but her only choice.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Keri Ford was raised in South Arkansas on a farm surrounded by family, horses, cows, donkeys, ostriches, emus, chickens, ducks, Canadian Geese, and enough dogs one would think they were a pound…and then she bought a Cosmopolitan when she was twenty-two. She doesn’t recall the fantastic sex tip that drew her to the magazine, but she vividly remembers reading an excerpt of Christina’s Skye’s Code Name: Princess. One elevator scene and quick thought of, I didn’t know people wrote stuff like this… and her life would never be the same. Website: http://KeriFord.com

Product Details

• File Size: 522 KB
• Print Length: 182 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1622370163
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: Turquoise Morning Press (May 5, 2012)
• Language: English
• ASIN: B0080Y3VP4
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Not Enabled
• Lending: Not Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #384,264 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Sometimes easy is not the way to go. May 7, 2012

By Kelly

Format:Kindle Edition

Rough Ride is book 1 in Keri Ford's new series The Roughnecks and takes us back to the quiet little town of Apple Trail. The Roughneck series is a spin off of Keri's Apple Trail series which I LOVED!!! If you haven't read the Apple Trail series find more about it here[...]. Okay back to Lane...

Lane is one tough cookie. He loves his brothers more than anything, but being so close to them is tough. Lane has been keep a secret from his brothers. A secret that may just tear his family apart once and for all. Lane wants to help his family, but the minute they are done he is going to cut and run. The one thing he didn't factor in was Gretchen. Gretchen, may be the very best thing he will never deserve.

Gretchen knows that Lane is only here temporarily. And she is not a temporary type of girl. She is a forever girl. But her forever was taken from her. With the encouragement of her best friends, Gretchen takes a leap of faith that maybe, just maybe she can have just a fling with Lane. But what will she do when it is time for him to leave?

I loved this book. Lane is tough, complicated, full of guilt, and a stubborn pain in the ass. But in the end he has to learn that sometimes you have to fall before you can get up and live. Gretchen is very strong, even when the chips are down she is a trooper. But she never will let a man walk all over her. Lane & Gretchen are a great couple to read about. I look forward to seeing them in the next couple of books in the Roughneck series.

Thank you Keri, for the opportunity to read your new book

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Great start to a new series May 7, 2012

By Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews TOP 500 REVIEWER

Format:Kindle Edition

Rough Ride is the first book in Keri Ford's new The Roughnecks series. We first met the Iverson triplets (yes, TRIPLETS) and their baby brother, Grant, in Satisfying Her Tastes. Grant came to town to reclaim his family's homestead and plans on bringing his brothers in to help him with the property. The four have been scattered across the United States and its Grant's wish to get them all in one place they will hopefully love and want to stay.

Lane Iverson is the youngest of the Iverson triplets. He arrives in Apple Trail at his younger brother's request and has been working for months waiting until he can go back to Louisiana where he's been living. He works with his brothers (Jacob, Trent, and Grant) but doesn't spend off hours with them. He's hiding something from them all and he's afraid that once his secret is out, he'll loose what's left of his family. He knows that Grant wants them all to settle here, but he has no intentions of settling down period.

Gretchen Jones owns and manages the mobile home park Lane is living in. She's been half infatuated with Grant since he moved into town but doesn't think he even knows she's alive. He's been pleasant and even helpful at times but he's kept his distance. Gretchen finally works up her nerve to confront Lane and he kisses her, stops, and sends her on her way. Confused she confides in her best friends, Flora and Tonya. Gretchen has never had a short time affair, but the girls convince her that's the best way to approach Lane and she reluctantly agrees.

Lane and Gretchen dance around each other quite a bit in this story. It's fun and flirty and at times infuriating because you can tell how much they want to give in and be together. They do finally find their way but it takes Gretchen making a big move for it to happen. While I did enjoy this book, at times I wanted to shake both of them and say "enough already." Both characters were stubborn and they really didn't communicate very well, although the "sexting" scene in the hospital was priceless. I really enjoyed the interactions between Gretchen and her friends and Lane and his brothers. The dialog is smart and engaging and the sex scenes gratifying. It's my hope that as this series continues we'll see how Gretchen and Lane's relationship is progressing. The next book is out in August, how many months is that?

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Rough Ride May 7, 2012

By A. Schreiner TOP 1000 REVIEWER

Format:Kindle Edition

For the past seven months, Lane has been in the small town of Apple Trail, Arkansas helping his two brothers renovate a manor house, in which one of his brothers and girlfriend will eventually move into. Due to his mother's death and keeping a dark secret from his brothers for many years, Lane feels guilt over the whole matter, and tries to be part of the family. But he feels edgy and can't wait to get back to his own house, hours away from Arkansas. But the one distraction he has comes in the form of a very petite, gorgeous woman named Gretchen. Gretchen owns the trailer park that he is temporarily staying in. Her husband died six years ago, and she took over the park at that time. Gretchen has two best friends, Tonya and Flora and together the three of them work and live in Apple Trail.

Lane and Gretchen have been having eyes for each other for some time. But they both know Lane is only in Apple Trail temporarily, so they are both hesitant to start something. But Tonya and Flora urge Gretchen to throw caution to the wind and have a fling with Lane, even if it is only for a month or two. Lane tries to resist, but when Gretchen not only woos him with her body but with homemade cooking, he can't stay away.

I really enjoy Keri Ford's voice. She has a previous set of novellas set in this same town that are very light, funny, and just downright sexy. Rough Ride is a full length book, and I think her best one to date. First of all, hooray that these characters aren't filthy rich. Now, they are filthy sexy (of course!) but they live in a trailer park. I kind of like that. I'm weak for cranky heroes, and I just gobbled Lane up. He is sexually frustrated because he is so attracted to Gretchen yet scared to start something up with her. And he has a lot of stress because he has kept a secret from his brothers for so long, he is afraid if they ever found out, he would lose them as family. We'll get to the secret business in a minute. First let's dive more into the lovely, and playful sexual tension between Gretchen and Lane.

"Do you cook for all your renters?"

Her lips curled up as she moved across the bedroom and returned to his side. "Only the ones who stare at my ass when my back is turned."

His mouth opened, words waiting, but he shut it. Best to keep his trap shut before he stuck his foot in it.

She walked close to him. "Thank you."

He swallowed. "For what?"

"For not denying it. I wasn't positive, but I thought so."

Hell. "Gretchen."

"Lane." She walked in close and put her hands on his chest. Her fingers were short and slim, dwarfed against the width of his chest. Her pink painted fingernails were neatly trimmed and a stark, girl contrast to his filthy, dirt and oil streaked shirt. "I want to hear you say it."

He was forced to clear his throat. "Hear me say what?"

"That you look at my ass."

"Christ."

There were so many cute scenes in this book where Lane and Gretchen have great flirty banter. Keri Ford also gives us some very hot romance scenes once these two decide to have some fun with each other.

Now back to this mysterious secret. I think this is the weakest part of the book. I just didn't feel the suspense of Lane possibly getting kicked out of his family because he held onto this secret. When the brothers find out - it just didn't seem to hold its steam. I did like how it affects Gretchen and their relationship though.

What I also really liked is the end. In a lot of romance books, there is always that conflict at the end - the big blow-up that happens in the last few pages, before the hero and heroine make-up and decide to live happily ever after. Same goes for this book - Lane and Gretchen get in a big fight. But what I liked about it is that Keri Ford doesn't rush their happy reunion. Their disagreement is really examined and she gives it enough page time to make their eventual - I love you - seem very realistic.

Rough Ride is the start to what looks like will be a fun and sexy series.

More About the Author

Keri Ford was raised in South Arkansas on a farm surrounded by family, horses, cows, donkeys, ostriches, emus, chickens, ducks, Canadian Geese, and enough dogs one would think they were a pound...and then she bought a Cosmopolitan when she was twenty-two. All it took was one excerpt of a sexy romantic suspense and her life would never be the same. Well, parts of it. She still lives on that farm.