Sandy M’s review of Rough, Raw and Ready (Rough Riders, Book 5) by Lorelei James
Contemporary Erotic Romance eBook released by Samhain 4 Nov 08
I’m amazed at how Ms. James can keep the stories in this series fresh as fast as she writes them. But with each book we get a closer look into this circle of family she’s created, a much closer look into their lives, tragedies, loves, and their good times in life. In this latest book is the update her fans have been waiting for, the past and present loves of one man collide, which puts the future of everyone involved in jeopardy.
Trevor and Chassie have been married for a year, barely eking out a living on her family ranch, but they’re at least happy in their new life together, both away from the families that made them into people they didn’t like and left with nothing and no one but themselves to depend on. Then with the appearance of a man who Trevor thought to never see again, their lives take on a decidedly different turn.
Edgar Mancuso was Trev’s roping partner when they were both on the rodeo circuit. They became more to one another after a couple of years together, Trevor giving into the confusing desire he felt for the man. Theirs was a tempestuous relationship even while being a fierce and loving one. It all came to an end several years ago when Ed headed back to Brazil after realizing the man he loved would never acknowledge that love, neither with a loving gesture in public nor the words. Things have not gone well for him in those intervening years and he’s back on U.S. soil to see if there’s any chance at all Trevor would want to pick up where they left off. His wife may have something to say about that, however.
Trevor is both elated and scared to death at Edgar’s sudden presence in his life again. The same feelings that took him by surprise the first time around are still there, but now he has a wife he loves more than anyone and won’t do anything to compromise what they have together, even though his heart wants Ed in his life again. Chassie is thrown for a loop when she finds her husband kissing another man, and when she learns the whole truth that Trevor never told her about, she’s afraid he’ll want Edgar over her. Deciding to do anything at all to keep him in her life, she decides to finally learn about those sexual goings-on she’d always heard about on the rodeo circuit.
What she never thought would happen is finding she’s developing feelings for Ed. The fact she’s having the time of her life with two sexy cowboys in her bed should muddy the waters, but instead it only tells her what she knows her husband wants from her ever since Edgar walked back into his, and now her, life. It didn’t all go as smoothly as this makes it sound, they each have their moments of doubt and vulnerability during the getting to know each other process. Having Trevor and Edgar come together again also didn’t go all that smoothly. I like how everyday things get in the way to go along with their mind’s and heart’s uneasiness at times.
And, as I say in each of my reviews of these books, the family factor in these stories is one of the main attractions for me. This time, however, though we do see a lot of the McKay family, it’s Trevor’s family that rear’s an ugly head to remind him of what he should be grateful for. There’s also little teases thrown in for the next couple of books. I’m waiting for Cam’s story myself. The beginning of his storyline caught me off guard in this book and it has the makings for a very, very emotional story.
While this is not my favorite of the series, it’s still loads of fun, full of hot and steamy love scenes, and it’s always the cowboy’s themselves that get under my skin.
Grade: B+
Read reviews and info of the books in this series by following its tag.
Summary:
…Torn between the love he has…and the love he’s always wanted.
Chassie West Glanzer hasn’t been a stranger to drama and tragedy. A year of wedded bliss to sexy-as-sin cowboy Trevor Glanzer has brought her the happiness and contentment she never thought she’d find, and mellowed Trevor’s rodeo wanderlust. Then Trevor’s old roping partner ambles up the driveway—and Chassie’s life changes drastically.
Trevor never expected to see Edgard Mancuso again, after it became clear he couldn’t be the man Edgard needed. Now Edgard is back from Brazil to sort out their tangled past, and Trevor is plagued with feelings he thought he’d buried over three years ago. Although Trevor is hat-over-bootheels in love with his sweet, feisty wife, the sense his life is missing a piece has always gnawed at him.
Chassie’s shock that Edgard and Trevor were once lovers turns to fear of losing her husband. Or worse, fear that Trevor will stay with her only out of a sense of duty. Yet as the three of them spend time together, the sins of the past blur and fade, leaving raw emotion—and unbridled passion.
Passion that could heal…or cause irreparable damage to their future.
Warning: this book contains unbelievably explicit sex, including multiple cowboy/cowgirl/cowboy ménage scenes, juicy, hot, male on male action, a bucketful of politically incorrect situations and true Western ideology.
Read an excerpt.
Other books in this series (paperback releases referenced where available):
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