Sandy M’s review of Raising Kane (Rough Riders, Book 9) by Lorelei James
Contemporary Western Romance ebook published by Samhain 23 Jun 10

I think like a lot of fans of this series, I’ve anxiously awaited Kane’s story. He’s a bad boy for sure, he’s had his moments of excesses, fights, plenty of women, and any number of other things, but he’s the hero who’s also chivalrous, take-charge and in control when needed, loves his family and his dog, and has a soft spot for kids. And he’s sexier than hell. He’s a man any woman would give anything for to rub herself all over, up one side and down the other every day of the week. And then do it all over again. Twice. On Sundays. Just as his heroine discovers.

Ginger is an attorney, taking over business from her father, who is now wheelchair-bound and living with her and her son, Hayden. Falling down icy stairs puts her in the hospital instead of behind her desk, and the doc won’t release her unless she’s got someone to take care of her. She’s a little riled at this, since she’s the one who’s always in control and takes care of everyone else. And she can still do that, injured or not.

That’s what she thinks. Kane McKay is about to take that control from her. As much as he’d like that control to include the bedroom, the rules of the Little Brothers program prohibits becoming involved with Hayden’s mother. But the woman needs help and she’s going to get it, whether or not she asks for it. From cooking to cleaning, laundry, helping her invalid father and other surprises, Kane is everywhere he’s needed while Ginger recuperates.

Their attraction grows and finally ignites once Ginger is on her feet again, which is not long with Kane around. These two combust loud and long and over and over again. Sizzling hot love scenes is only one of many erotic and romantic things Ms. James is superb at in her writing. Her heroes are always a man’s man and her heroines a woman’s woman, especially in bed. Ginger is an intelligent, strong, and independent woman, but with Kane her submission is complete and voluntary, knowing he will give her everything she needs behind closed doors.

You also have to love a man who cries when he finds his dog curled up in the snow, the animal knowing it was his time to head to doggy heaven. Then even though they’ve been on the outs lately, Kane’s twin brother Kane offers support, taking care of the emotional task of burying Shep. This family sticks together more than they fight, but now Kane is looking to throw a few punches and finds it with cousin Colt over a bit of ranch business, but all is forgiven later when Kane’s sad news trickles through the family. For the McKays, it doesn’t matter what happens as long as the family stays together, and Ms. James makes sure her fans get a lot of familial love in each book.

I have to go a bit further with the Shep issue, because it involves another of my favorite scenes – Hayden crawls into Kane’s lap when he hears the news to offer comfort. Talk about wrenching your heart out. Simply a wonderful scene.

This latest installment of the series has it all, everything you could want in an erotic romance and everything you could want in a simple, lovely romance. Ms. James makes you shiver in ecstatic, steamy delight on one page and then become misty-eyed with emotion on the next. She makes you hanker for a good old knock-down drag-out one moment and then soothes you with gentleness and kindness within minutes.

I just recommended this series to a friend. She’s reading the books back to back and having a time of it. If you haven’t started on these Lorelei James books yet, don’t fret. Once you start, you won’t stop and it will seem like only moments until you’re caught up. Just try it if you don’t believe me.

Grade: A+

Summary:

She surrendered the reins. Now he’s raising the stakes.

When a patch of ice sends attorney Ginger Paulson head-over-high-heels down a flight of stairs, she has no one to care for her young son and her invalid father—until lethally sexy Kane McKay shows up at the hospital, determined to prove his cowboy chivalry. Past experience has inoculated her against take-charge men, but even Ginger isn’t immune to Kane’s invasive charm and Built Ford Tough body.

For two years rancher Kane McKay has followed the Little Buddies mentoring program’s cardinal rule—hands off his Little Buddy Hayden’s mama. But one look at Ginger’s bruised body and Kane is through watching the stubborn woman take care of everyone but herself. The feisty, curvy redhead needs his help, and he’ll give her the hands-on type whether she likes it or not.

After Kane throws out doctor’s orders and issues his own demands—her full sexual submission—Ginger realizes Kane’s caring nature extends beyond just fulfilling her physical needs.

Can the former hell-raiser convince the gun-shy single mom to look beyond his past…toward a shared future?

Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series: