Lorelei James Rough Riders: Yeee Haw! Lovin’ Some Cowboys!
July 16, 2010 
19 Comments
Lorelei James Rough Riders cowboys? Three words: nom, nom nom.
Once upon time, I would have laughed in your face if you told me I would enjoy a cowboy romance. Cowboys were not my thing, not at all. Why? I don’t really know, it’s not like I had a bad rodeo experience or anything, I just wasn’t ready to cowboy up I guess. But one day Pearl, from Pearl’s World of Romance (and regular FVBR reviewer) was chatting it up about Vivian Arend’s novella, Rocky Mountain Heat. Peer pressure is my friend so I high tailed over to my local e-book store and bought a copy. Hooooo-doggie, I was in love with some sexy cowboys and ready for more! Pearl recommended I give Lorelei James’ Rough Riders series a try, so of course, I did.
That’s it. I am hopelessly hooked. I’m moving to Wyoming and finding myself a bronco bustin’ cowboy. The McKay cowboys are the hottest, sexiest, omg-so-delicious-hard-ridin’-cowboys I’ve ever ‘known’. This is it for me. My destiny. I’ll discuss the details with my hubs later, I’m sure he’ll understand, right? Probably not. I’ll stick with my new cowboy book boyfriends, and stay married to my wonderful, understanding, insanely tolerant husband, and just enjoy my new cowboys in my head. 
Long Hard Ride (Rough Riders 1)
Channing Kinkaid itches for a wild western adventure with an untamed man. Enter Colby McKay bull rider, saddle bronc buster and calf roper. He knows he’s found a woman who’s up to the challenge of cutting loose. Intrigued by Channing’s bold proposition to "horse around" on the road, Colby proposes sexual escapades not only in his bed, but in those of his two rodeo traveling partners. Can Channing give up total control? Especially when not all is as it seems with the sexy trio?
I love the covers in this series, I think they are so eye catching, and just gorgeous. This one is not my favorite in the series but still very nice. I’m sucker for a nice manly forearm and I won’t even go into what those chaps do for me. Just sayin’.
Although this is the first book in the series, this was not the first book I read from the Rough Riders series. I skipped ahead to book #5 for the plain and simple fact that it is an m/m/f ménage and I was fully intrigued by the thought of m/m/f cowboy action. (I’ll discuss that book at a later date.) Long Hard Ride is Channing and Colby’s story. Colby is a rodeo star, on the road competing. He’s got a thing for Channing who is travelling with another competitor. When she finds out her ‘travel mate’ is married Colby offers the newly adventurous Channing the opportunity of a lifetime. Hit the road with him and his two travel companions, live the rodeo life for a while, and keep their bed warm…all three of them.
I’ll admit, at first I wasn’t really convinced by this scenario. I expected an unemotional sex-fest and wasn’t all that thrilled the idea. I love erotic romance but there has to be a good strong emotional relationship in order for me to enjoy the story. Not only did I get one intense emotional relationship with Channing and Colby, I got a nice introduction into a secondary relationship as well. (m/m alert) Don’t get me wrong, there is plenty of smoking hot sexy times to keep you happy. Oh, my are there sexy times! Wow!! But the relationships are intense as well, making this one of my favorite erotic romances.
Go on now, git’cher cowboy on!
Rode Hard, Put Up Wet (Rough Riders 2)
Workin’ up a hot, sticky sweat is pure pleasure with a hard-ridin cowboy or two. Struggling stock contractor Gemma Jansen swallows her pride and tracks down circuit rider Cash Big Crow to offer him a job managing her ranch. Cash agrees on one condition: theirs wont be strictly a working relationship. She’s the boss during the day, but once she’s corralled in the bedroom, Cash calls the shots. Despite concerns about their age difference, Gemma consents. Cash suspects the sexy widow hides an untapped wild streak. He intends to loosen her tightly held reins of control even if he has to break out his horsewhip to do it. But Cash is in for a surprise. Gemma proves a rough and ready participant in any leather-n-lace game Cash dreams up. Between riding herd on his wayward daughter, Macie, and rowdy cowboy Carter McKay doggin’ Macie’s every boot step, Cash struggles to hide his true feelings for Gemma except this time, Gemmas grabbed the bull by the horns and she’s playing for keeps. Summers going to be a hot one at the Bar 9.
Cash Big Crow has it bad for the widow Gemma. And now he’s finally got his chance with her. Turns out, Gemma’s got a thing for him as well but she still has a few pieces of her heart to put back together before she can fully give it to Cash. Don’t worry now, they’ll scorch the sheets first, and work the rest out as they go.
Gemma is about 10 years older than Cash but that’s not a problem for him at all. In fact he’s got a grown daughter from a former relationship with a woman who was also about ten years older than him. Now his daughter Macie is in his life, and they’re trying to develop the father daughter relationship they never had. Macie gets a two’fer in the relationship department though. Not only does she face the challenges for getting to know her father for the first time, she also faces the challenges of fending off (or not) sexy cowboy, Cater McKay.
Cash and Gemma’s relationship sweet and sexy but for me it was Carter and Macie that moved me. I just always had the sense that Cash and Gemma would be just fine with a little time and patience but Carter and Macie were a much different story. Carter is impulsive, intense and sexy as hell. He is an artist and doesn’t quite fit the McKay cowboy mold so he has a few familial issues to work out. Macie has some trust issues and the two of them are explosive both in the bedroom and out. Carter is one of my favorite McKays.
Cowgirl Up and Ride (Rough Riders 3)
…Ridin’ the edge of lust is fun—until someone falls in love.
Goody-two boots AJ Foster has waited her entire life for her dream cowboy Cord McKay to see her as more than the neighbor girl in pigtails. Now that she’s old enough to stake her claim on him, she’s pulling out all the sexual stops and riding hell-bent for leather—straight for his libido.
Divorced rancher Cord has sworn off all women…until innocent AJ suggests he teach her how to ride bareback—and he realizes she doesn’t mean horses or bulls. Between his responsibilities running his massive ranch, missing his young son and dealing with the sexual shenanigans of his brother and cousins, Cord is more than willing to take AJ up on her offer. On a trial basis.
Dear universe, look at that cover. Cord McKay is just drool worthy. All cowboys do their ranchin’ chores bare chested right? Well they should. Wow!
AJ is a virgin and looking to remedy that. But not with just anyone, she wants the man she has been in love with since she was five years old and no one else will do. She’s waited for him even after he married someone else. Now Cord is a single father and AJ is ready to claim her man.
Cord is my favorite McKay cowboy. Wait, did I already say that about a couple of other McKay’s? Oh well, each time I read one of these books I fall in hopelessly in love with the hero. Cord is all kinds of sexy, a dedicated father and over all good ol’ boy. What’s not to love?
I cringed at the virginal AJ at first. I’m not really a fan of the virginal, skittish, heroine so I went into this one with doubts. Good thing Miss AJ doesn’t know the meaning of skittish! This young woman knows what she wants and is not willing to settle for second best. She knows Cord is her cowboy and no one else will do. Go AJ!!
Besides the very intense emotional relationships in this series I love that the characters are lusty and unashamed of it, including the women. They make love and work the pesky relationship issues out as they go. Now, I can’t read stories like these exclusively but I do love this series. The cowboys are tough, sexy and not afraid of their ‘dark desires’. The women embrace their sexuality and match their cowboys kink for kink. This series is definitely going on my favorite erotic series list. If you love cowboy romance, run, don’t walk, get yourself a McKay. If you don’t love cowboy romance, run, don’t walk, get yourself a McKay. There is just no two ways about it. Do it.
I’ve already read most of this series and I’ll do another post with a few mini reviews of the other books soon.
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So glad you liked the McKays!
They are my first cowboy-loves and always will be.
I love what Lorelei does with the scorching sex and the emotional intensity. She reels me in every single book.
P
Oooo those covers are all so lickable!!! I'm not a big cowboy-Western fan but the few I've read lately are getting me to change my mind.
Great reviews FV.
Pearl–YES, every single book! Love it!! Thank you for your recommendation.
I wasn't into cowboys at all until I started reading this series. I've read a few others, but honestly, nobody does cowboys and smokin hot scenes like Lorelei. Best of all, unlike most erotic romances, you really do come to care about the characters. I've got book 7 (Cam's story) waiting for me on my Kindle right now.
Tori–I wasn't a fan of the cowboys either but this series seriously changed my mind. Give it a try, I double-dog dare you!
JenM–Yes, I love the whole McKay/West family. I adore them! Lorelei James really knows her stuff!
I will move to Wyoming with you and be your neighbor! I LOVE this series. One of my favorites. As a former cowgirl who grew up on a ranch, when I discovered there was series like this out there, I couldn't get enough of it. Sadly, I don't remember any of the guys I new looking like this. LOL
Sounds like it's time for a re-read Samantha. I know, it's a hardship, but you can do it. hehe
Welcome to the McKay fangirl club FV…I'm lovin' these cowboys too and though I'm hopelessly behind I've got good stuff ahead of me
Leotine–I am running for president of the McKay fan club next term. I am! LOL
I just read "Cowgirl Up and Ride" a couple of weeks ago. Loved it! I had heard all the fan love for LJ and she certainly lived up to all the hype.
Great cowboy post. Made it a happy Friday
I looove me some cowboys. Thanks for the heads up on this series. I'll be runnin' to get myself a McKay.
I'm happy you (finally) discovered and love this series!!
Carter is one of my favorite McKays too, and Cord, and Kade (bk 4). I'm now reading Kane's story and he's sexy as hell too (although I didn't like him that much in previous books, but he has redeemed himself). You have so many sexy McKays still ahead of you! Yay!
Pearl has been pimping this series to me forever…I really need to read them. They sound HAWT!!!!
Cowboys and westerns have never been my thing-you have just convinced me to give them another try!
You are too funny with your cowboys:) I've never been a cowboy fan, but maybe I'll have to give them a try since you're so enthusiastic!
Cowboys are going to be the death of you Ms V…
I did read most of this series and I love them as well.. Rode Hard Put Up Wet is my fav..
E.H>
I was never into cowboy stories untill Pearl recommended LJ to me, I love those covers and the Mckays are yummy!
Hmm, cowboys? Cowboys??? Really? Now you have me wondering. I've never had an interest in them…what would you recommend for someone like me who should start off with something a little big tamer…?