Sandy M’s review of Redneck Romeo (Rough Riders, Book 15) by Lorelei James
Contemporary Western Romance published by Samhain 18 Jun 13
I was so excited, this book released two days before my birthday last month. Happy birthday to me! Then why has it taken me so long to read this next Rough Riders story? The copy I got from Amazon had blocks of text missing. In every chapter. It was a number of days later before I could get on the phone with them to get a good copy. But when I finally did…
It was like coming home. I’ve been living amongst this McKay family from the beginning, so I feel like a part of them all. Especially living through not only their double-hawt relationships, but also their tragedies and down times and their triumphs and successes.
The last McKay cowboy of the series is Dalton. He left Sundance three years ago after a super bad day – he left his bride-to-be at the altar and he had a more-than-usual-hateful visit from his father. So Dalton needed to find himself, which he’s been doing quite while in the wilds of Montana, his latest stint as a guide for elk hunters. Then comes the calls from his brothers saying he needs to come home, their dad is in the hospital, not doing well at all.
Once on the road, the news he’s waited for but thought would never come is relayed by cousin Sierra: Rory is back in town after breaking her engagement – six months ago. She’s the reason his life went to hell and he couldn’t say “I do” to the wrong woman. Now that she’s free? Dalton is going to do everything in his power to make sure Rory is his. His determination even excludes Rory’s view on the subject.
But Rory has been burned by Dalton one too many times to allow him to sweep her away again. He’s more than likely the same old Dalton, love’em and leave’em, drinkin’ and gamblin’, no change whatsoever. After all, a McKay is a McKay. She has more important things to tend to, like getting a job that will give her a chance to put her hard-earned education to work. However, her traitorous heart and body overrule her mind every time Dalton puts his hands, mouth, and body on hers. The man knows how to leave her sated and boneless, and he never misses the opportunity to do so. I mean, he’s a McKay; makin’ love is second nature, especially this new Dalton.
Dalton has definitely changed. He’s already put plans in motion that will keep him busy in his own way, as well as keep him near Rory. Little by little, she does notice those small changes in him, but Rory is afraid to let her heart take over. But did she ever really have a chance? Not against this new and improved Dalton. I love all the little ways he shows her the changes in him and that she’s it for him, no question.
All throughout the story Ms. James strings us along as to the mystery of why Dalton left town after the visit from his father. When he finally decides to tell his brothers, they’re as shell shocked as the reader at learning the truth. That man doesn’t deserve to be a father. But Dalton’s brothers stand beside him, as they always do. I always enjoy scenes when it’s just brothers in this series, no matter which branch of the family it is. Whether they’re pissed off at one another, teasing each other, or coming together in grief, Ms. James keeps the relationships real and emotional. I really like the poker scene with most of the cousins in attendance, the first time Dalton has been with them since his return. And thank goodness for Gavin, who saves the night when things begin to go south when they all learn of Dalton’s future plans.
Rory is having her own moments, and they come to a head when she also learns of Dalton’s plans. Feeling played for a fool, she confronts him and things could go from bad to worse, but that’s another thing I love about Lorelei James’ characters – they always talk the bad stuff out. It may take a while or it might take only a few pages, but they work toward making the situation as right as possible. Dalton and Rory are no exception; Dalton even going that extra mile for the woman he loves.
This book is bittersweet. The last McKay is off the market. These larger-than-life men who play and love with ferocious abandon will become part of romance history, but every fan of the series is beyond happy to have read about them and lived their escapades and romance with them. There are two related books still forthcoming, both in the West family series, and beyond that, only Ms. James knows what will come next. It’s been one wild, sexy ride, one not to be forgotten anytime soon.
Grade: A
Summary:
The last McKay standing is knocked to his knees…
Three years ago, Dalton McKay looked across the altar and saw the woman he knew he’d love for the rest of his life…only it wasn’t his bride. That’s when he took the McKays’ love-’em-and-leave-’em reputation to new heights—fleeing the ceremony and Wyoming.
Now a family issue has brought Dalton back to Sundance, giving him a chance to prove to everyone—especially the woman he thought he lost—that he’s a changed man.
Aurora “Rory” Wetzler has fallen for cowboy hottie Dalton’s smooth-talkin’ ways too many times. So he’s determined to convince her he’s playing for keeps this go around? Fine. She’ll call that bluff—she can’t ignore their intense chemistry or resist smokin’ hot sex, but she’s not willing to gamble her heart again.
Dalton has plenty of fences to mend with the McKays, but his biggest fear is that Rory doesn’t believe they have a future. He’ll have to pull out all the stops to show her they belong together for the long haul.
Read an excerpt.
Other books in this series:
