Shannon C’s review of Ride ‘Em by Delphine Dryden
Contemporary Erotic Romance published by Lyrical Press on 05 Jul 16
It’s been a while since I’ve dipped into one of Delphine Dryden’s books. Not because I’ve disliked them, but because shiny new authors caught my attention. I was excited to learn that she had a kinky contemporary western out this month and was eager to step back into her world.
The setup for Ride ‘Em is a romance staple. The heroine is trying to convince the hero to sell his ranch to her stepfather’s land management company, because she thinks it will advance her career. Luckily for a reader who’s been on this rodeo many times before, Dryden gives us a fresh twist on the subject. Our heroine, Mindy, does want to advance her career, but it’s in a job she hates, and she’s hoping that by returning to the small town she left after high school, she’ll figure out that it’s the kind of place it’s good to leave. And Logan, our hero, figures out very quickly why she’s there. He’s angry at first and assumes the worst, but it’s quickly obvious that they have a lot of chemistry. Instead of the conflict being about whether Mindy will convince Logan to sell the land, it becomes whether or not they can trust each other after such a rocky start.
My favorite part of the book is the dialogue. Mindy, in particular, is quick-witted, and some of her zingers made me laugh out loud. I would have enjoyed the book just about as much if there had been one less sex scene and about ten percent more banter. And this is one of those contemporaries that feels like it could exist in our world, complete with pop culture references people actually use.
The characters are delightful, too. Mindy is a great combination of genuinely sweet and strong-willed, and not only is Logan a sexy cowboy, he’s also a petroleum engineer, which means that Ms. Dryden is still giving us the hot nerds she’s always written. The two of them have great chemistry, and even though their play is a little too intense for this vanilla reader, I could understand why they were into it, which is all I ever ask. I also think their romance is exactly the right length for the story. Dryden shows us enough to make sure we know Mindy’s a great fit for the ranch and for Logan, without adding too much unnecessary conflict. I also love that the end is clearly a HEA, but Mindy and Logan still have a few milestones to go before they settle down on a dude ranch with lots of cattle and 2.5 kids. (And because it needs to be said, yes, this is definitely a standalone book. It’s just that it doesn’t end with babies and the heroine uprooting her entire life for the hero.)
The secondary characters show a lot of potential, particularly Chet, Logan’s cousin, and the town sheriff, who manages to both play straight and slightly subvert the tropes of a small-town cop. He is integral to the story, and I can’t wait to meet the woman who will get under his skin, because I love me a starchy, buttoned-up hero.
If you’re looking for a quick but hot read, this is a great start to a promising new series. I can’t wait to see where it goes from here.
Grade: B
Summary:
SADDLE UP
Mindy has come to Logan’s dude ranch to convince him to sign away his land’s mineral rights to her stepfather. She doesn’t want to beg, but she will if
she has to, like she does Friday nights when she submits to her master’s desire . . .BUCKLE DOWN
Logan doesn’t like to be jerked around, in business or pleasure. And when he learns what Mindy is up to, he’s ready to teach her a lesson. In fact, he’d
like to tie her up, strip her down, and give her a spanking she’ll never forget . . .RIDE HARD
With passion riding high, Logan and Mindy indulge in carnal play that leaves them both wanting more. And with their jobs on the line, they realize that
their erotic fantasies might be their ticket to success . . .
No excerpt available.
