Book Review: Strung Up by Lorelei James

Author: Lorelei James
Series: Blacktop Cowboys #7.5, 1001 Dark Nights #46
Audience: +18
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Erotic Romance, Western Romance
Publisher: Evil Eye Concepts, Incorporated
Release Date: September 13th 2016
My Rating: 5 Cups
Source: InkSlinger PR
Blurb (from Goodreads):

From New York Times bestseller Lorelei James…

Rancher Creston Grant retreats from the world after he loses the love of his life... Can his former flame, rodeo cowboy Breck Christianson prove he's a changed man who can give Cres a second chance at love?

*Disclaimer: I received an eARC of this book from InkSlinger PR and Evil Eye Concepts, Incorporated in exchange for an honest review. This does not influence my rating or opinion of this book in any way.

Strung Up is one of those books that will take you for a wild ride, make you love it and want more. Lorelei James managed to touch so many important themes in this novella, from dealing with the loss of a partner, to finding love, to the struggles of being a gay man in a work environment where everyone prides themselves with their heterosexuality, to family dynamics and so on. You have it all here, and it's one of the reasons why I love James' books so much.

As I haven't yet got to read her Blacktop Cowboys series, I was not familiar with Breck from the very beginning of the series, to see how he changed and how he became the man he was in this book. But I can tell that even before this novella he was a strong, confident man. Reading about what he went through after his ex announced it to everyone that Breck was gay, really made me respect him more, and also be incredibly sad for him. I get even sadder when I think that this is real. Even today, there are people who can lose everything just based on their sexuality, and that is infuriating to say the least. But I greatly respect Breck for finding the strength to move on, to try to make a bad situation into a good one.

I met Cres in the 1001 Dark Nights Bundle Six, and since then I've kept my fingers crossed that he would get his own story. I never imagined that his story would be so tragic, but I wanted his story told. I've hoped for an M/M story from Lorelei James since forever, and I was super happy when Cres got his story. As I said, he has a really sad story, but at the same time a very hopeful one. I also loved that his family was so cool with his sexuality, and that it wasn't something they focused on. Even in the previous novella, the one I was referring to earlier, it didn't feel like the Grant family defined Cres as his sexuality, which was honestly such a great thing.

I am super happy that I was able to read this book and I cannot wait to see what other stories will James write in the future.

Book Review: Cowboy Casanova by Lorelei James

Author: Lorelei James
Series: Rough Riders #12
My Rating: 5 cups
Blurb: (from Goodreads)

His rough touch makes her lose control…

In Sundance, Wyoming, you can't throw a boot without hitting a McKay cowboy, so Ben McKay is used to fading into the background. Except on weekends, when he's Bennett, imposing Dom at The Rawhide Club, surrounded by a bevy of female subs eager for the attention of his long…whip.

As for the curvy brunette eying him from across the room? He'll eat his Stetson if she's the experienced Domme she claims to be. Bennett offers her a deal—he'll let her call the shots for one night. But the next night he gets to prove to her how freeing it'll be when he takes the reins.

Ainsley Hamilton is amazed by how well Bennett read her every secret yearning during that one explosive weekend—and she's stunned when they come face to face in their everyday lives as rancher and new bank president. Now Ben's urging her to explore her submissive side outside the club, and there's something in his commanding gaze that makes it too easy to let him take control—of her desires and her pleasure.

Can Ben help Ainsley overcome her fear that a relationship built on dark sexual appetites won't survive the light of day?

I know I've said it before, but I feel the need to repeat myself: I don't think I've ever read about cowboys that are sexier than those from Ms. James' stories. I'm actually sure of it. That being said, I have to say I'm in a very happy place right now and I'm sure I'm not the only reader out there feeling the same way. I mean, let's face it! A McKay story is more than good. Two McKays getting their HEAs and I for one am in heaven! Yes, I'm addicted. There, I said it!

I loved Ben McKay. What's not to love? He's sexy, dangerous, dark, sensual... He's a Dom. But he's also a great listener, a great friend and brother and cousin, always having a good advice for everyone, always trying to calm his cousins or brothers when they get into a fight. He's also the type of hero I love, the one who makes mistakes and has the balls to admit doing them.

Then there's Ainsley, who's been hurt by the people who're supposed to care for her and accept her as she is and not judge her. So she's afraid of losing control and afraid to trust someone with a part of her that is so vulnerable. She's willing to change that though and I think that's all that matters.

The sex scenes were hot, the scenes with more than two McKay cowboys were sometimes funny, sometimes touching and sometimes sad, the scenes where Ben and Ainsley were acting like a couple were plain sweet. Here's another moment when I feel the need to repeat myself. Few authors manage to write series this long and make every character different and interesting at the same time. Lorelei James manages to do so and the fact that we get those little snippets of the old characters' lives is amazing. So I'll say it again: I hope this series never ends.

My Rating:

Book Review: Chasin' Eight by Lorelei James

Author: Lorelei James

Series: Rough Riders #11

Blurb: (from Goodreads)

She wants it…he’s got it…and the chase is on…

Bull rider Chase McKay has finally landed in a pile too big to charm his way out of. Caught with his pants down, he finds himself bucked right off the PBR tour until he can get his act together.

Hollywood actress Ava Cooper became the tabloids’ favorite target when her longtime boyfriend was outed as gay. She needs a place to lay low and a chance to prove to herself that she can satisfy a red-blooded man between the sheets. The sexy, rugged cowboy she finds holed up in her Wyoming hideaway seems like the answer to her every fantasy.

But Chase has sworn off women. Forever. Or at least a month. Whichever comes first.

When they take to the road to get Chase more hands-on bull riding experience, they have every intention of keeping their hands off each other. But the two headstrong stars quickly end up riding a hot and heady rodeo circuit all their own—until the press gets wind of their affair. When the dust clears and the lights of the paparazzi fade, are they ready to give up chasing the dream for a chance of finding forever?

About a year ago I was chatting on Shelfari about sexy books and one of the girls mentioned Lorelei James and her cowboys. The only other book of Ms. James that I read before that was Running With the Devil and I remember I enjoyed that book a lot, so I thought it would be a good idea to try her other works too. Her cowboys are the sexiest I've ever read so far. Chase McKay isn't any different than all the other cowboys from the McKay family.

The reason I loved Chase was because he was different than the other McKay cowboys. He's not impossibly tall, he's just 5'10, and it's obvious that at times it bothers him a little. Also I felt that the person he was at the ending of the book was much more mature than the one he was at the beginning of the book. So, unlike some of the McKays, he grew up in this book. Don't get me wrong, all the McKays grew up and matured just fine, but most of them matured over the course of a few books.

After one too many wild nights and mistakes, Chase McKay faces a dilemma: grow up and save his career as a professional bull rider, or continue partying and lose everything he's worked for over the years. So he decides to go home, see if he can get his head straight and give celibacy a try. All would be well, if his new roommate, Ava Cooper, wouldn't be so attractive.

Ava Cooper is a Hollywood actress who's had a bad luck with men. When her most recent boyfriend is outed as gay, paparazzi start stalking her. She, too, decides it's time for some hiding and rediscovering, so she goes to Wyoming, where supposedly no one knows her and no one will bother her. Also she sets a challenge for herself: see if she can satisfy a red-blooded man and the first man she sets eyes on is Chase McKay.

What I loved about this book was how the relationship between Ava and Chase developed. Because of his month of celibacy, Chase wanted to try and become friends with Ava, and I think they did it very well. The attraction between them is huge and it sometimes make me want to be able to shake both of them up a little bit, so they would do something about their attraction. Yet, at the same time, I was afraid that once they jumped in bed, the friendship would disappear. Luckily, it didn't happen that way. The dialogue also was very funny.

The details about bull riding were very interesting too. I actually loved them, because they helped set the background for Chase a lot better. They helped me understand part of why Chase was so determined to succeed and to be the best at bull riding.

This is one of the series that don't disappoint, the series where each book is better than the previous one and no matter which book you read first, it will get you hooked on the series and it will make you want to read it all over and over again. Another thing I love about it is the little tidbits about the characters who already have their story told. You always get to see them again and that's wonderful in my opinion. Now, I am impatiently waiting for the next story in this fun, sexy series, Cowboy Casanova, due December 2011.

My Rating: