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mamareads82's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
atlantiareads's review
3.0
Started off a little slow, and was slow in other parts. Though I did enjoy India and Colt’s story. Very cute, and passionate. When it comes to the McKay family things are very complicated. Women must be accepted by the entire family before they can be happy with the men of their dreams. I guess it would go the same for men coming into the family. That’s one of the things I loved/hated about this book. The family was so blind to what was going on that it took the right woman to get them to open their eyes. That “right” woman just happened to be India.
Colt and India’s relationship keep the book smoldering hot all the way to the end. If you are a person that falls for the mysterious, and damaged cowboys then this book is definitely the one for you. With endless romance, and country life in a small town you can’t help but fall in love with these characters. I found myself wandering around after I finished reading Branded As Trouble, wishing that there were more to be read.
Colt and India’s relationship keep the book smoldering hot all the way to the end. If you are a person that falls for the mysterious, and damaged cowboys then this book is definitely the one for you. With endless romance, and country life in a small town you can’t help but fall in love with these characters. I found myself wandering around after I finished reading Branded As Trouble, wishing that there were more to be read.
bookaddict1975's review
5.0
🎧 Audio Review 🎧
I love a friends to lovers story! The friendship over 3 years between Colt & India really made this love story work for me. They knew each other more than anyone and they understood each other because of their mutual problems. India & Colt were both the wild child in their families. There story was hot and sweet and exactly what I wanted going into this book. After the previous books I was excited to see Colt figure his life out and find his happiness.
Again the narration was just ok, No accents!
I love a friends to lovers story! The friendship over 3 years between Colt & India really made this love story work for me. They knew each other more than anyone and they understood each other because of their mutual problems. India & Colt were both the wild child in their families. There story was hot and sweet and exactly what I wanted going into this book. After the previous books I was excited to see Colt figure his life out and find his happiness.
Again the narration was just ok, No accents!
mayasgroove's review
4.0
This is the book that I enjoyed most in the series. Minimal eye rolls on this and more giggles.
tasha_fullybooked's review
4.0
India has been Colt's AA sponsor and best friend for the past three years, but he feels more than friendship for her. It was interesting to watch their relationship turn into more than just two people trying to offer support to one another through their battle to stay sober.
Both India and Colt truly cared about one another even though they were not always open to admitting it to the other. It was as if they were concerned with scaring the other away. They did seem to have a lot of struggles with trust, but eventually seemed to get it together.
I could understand Colt's issue with trust because of the way his family treated him. I found myself angry with his brothers and father all on his behalf. Even though he cleaned up his act, they continued to treat him horribly. It made it understandable why he only let a few people in.
Colt and India's story was a great addition to the series; a definite must read. I've been a fan of Lorelei since reading book one of her Rough Rider series, and I will continue to be a fan with writing like hers.
Both India and Colt truly cared about one another even though they were not always open to admitting it to the other. It was as if they were concerned with scaring the other away. They did seem to have a lot of struggles with trust, but eventually seemed to get it together.
I could understand Colt's issue with trust because of the way his family treated him. I found myself angry with his brothers and father all on his behalf. Even though he cleaned up his act, they continued to treat him horribly. It made it understandable why he only let a few people in.
Colt and India's story was a great addition to the series; a definite must read. I've been a fan of Lorelei since reading book one of her Rough Rider series, and I will continue to be a fan with writing like hers.
leahkarge's review
5.0
As my second time reading this book, I can honestly say that I can appreciate it much more after having read the first five books. This time around I knew who everyone was and could understand the relationships and situations better.
There's nothing that I really disliked about this book, either times I've read it. The one thing I noticed this time around, though, was that I felt like this focused more on Indy and Colt's sex life than the building of their romantic relationship. It wasn't focused enough on that for me to end up disliking the book, but it was just an observation I made. It focused more on their relationship towards the end and it would have been nice to have more of that in the rest of the novel.
I love Colt even more upon reading this a second time. I loved seeing him grow in himself and accept himself for who he is. It was great to see that Colt really had changed after going to rehab and to watch him continue to grow in that. I loved his dominant, sexual side, but I liked that, just as Kade was, Colt wasn't an utter asshole with him dominance like his three other brothers (Colby, Carter, and Cord). Plus, he was just so damn adorable; I wanted him all to myself.
Probably my favorite part of this book, though, is when Cam finally defends Colt to Colby, Cord, and Carson and goes off at them about being asshats to Colt for some things that happened years before:
A beer bottle flew and crashed into the side of the barn, shattering the illusion of stillness.
All eyes zoomed to Cam.
“I’m so sick and tired of the ‘holier than thou’ attitude in this family. So Colt screwed up. Every one of us has screwed up at one time or another. How long are you gonna make him pay for it? Jesus, he hit the skids over four years ago. He’s been on the straight and narrow for the last three. During which time, he’s been busting his ass on this ranch, despite having to listen to you berate him and complain about him, or ignore him, or belittle him. None of you have ever been lily white and you’ve got no business judging him.”
“You weren’t here, Cam.”
Cam whirled on Colby. “Guess what? Neither were you! You were off rodeoin’ and playin’ cowboy while Colt was here, actually being a goddamn cowboy, day in, day out, for twelve fuckin’ years. Don’t forget you couldn’t do shit for months while you recovered from your rodeo injury—months in which, once again, Colt had to do not only his work, but your work.”
Holy shit. Colt had never seen Cam so furious.
But Cam wasn’t finished. He turned his ire on Cord. “Didja forget you got pissed off at Dad and left for a coupla years? Who picked up the slack then? It sure as fuck wasn’t Colby the rodeo king, or Carter the college boy, or Keely the baby girl or me.”
Without moving his angry gaze from Cord, Cam pointed at Colt. “It was him. But you forgot that little factoid, didn’t you? And isn’t it convenient that you all expect Colt to stick around, year in, year out, and do every shit job you don’t want to, because he doesn’t have a…family?” Cam faced Colby again. “That ‘you don’t have a family’ comment is the single shittiest thing I’ve ever heard anyone say. Ever. You’re supposed to be his family. So are you.” He pointed to Cord. “And you,” he said to Carson. “And me. But when Colt really needed his family to support him and help him? Were any of you there? No. The only person who gave a shit about him…was Kade.”
“That’s enough,” Carson said.
“How could you all rally around me, offering me support, when you didn’t do the same thing for Colt? When he was hurting just as bad? When he’s the one who’s always deserved it way more than I ever did. Because he had no choice but to stick around and live this life, when I had the luxury of leaving it behind.”
Colt’s eyes burned. Leave it to the one-legged man to make a stand for him when no one else in his family ever did.
Ugly, thick silence lingered.
“I’m not surprised you’ve got nothin’ to say. You oughta be hanging your heads in shame. I’m outta here.” Fabric snapped as Cam jerked his coat off the fence. He limped to his truck. After he opened the door he looked at Colt. “Sorry, bro, I know you didn’t ask for this, but it needed to be said. It needed to come from someone with an outsider’s perspective.”
It's about time someone opened their eyes to the horrible way they were treating their brother and son. And so I also love the parts of the book when Cord and Colby come and apologize, and then later when Carson comes to apologize to Colt.
Seeing as I'm half-dead right now, I don't know how eloquent this review is and I can't really think of what else to say. I just want to reiterate how awesome this book is and I'm glad that I read this book first because if I had started with Long Hard Ride I probably would not have continued with the series.
There's nothing that I really disliked about this book, either times I've read it. The one thing I noticed this time around, though, was that I felt like this focused more on Indy and Colt's sex life than the building of their romantic relationship. It wasn't focused enough on that for me to end up disliking the book, but it was just an observation I made. It focused more on their relationship towards the end and it would have been nice to have more of that in the rest of the novel.
I love Colt even more upon reading this a second time. I loved seeing him grow in himself and accept himself for who he is. It was great to see that Colt really had changed after going to rehab and to watch him continue to grow in that. I loved his dominant, sexual side, but I liked that, just as Kade was, Colt wasn't an utter asshole with him dominance like his three other brothers (Colby, Carter, and Cord). Plus, he was just so damn adorable; I wanted him all to myself.
Probably my favorite part of this book, though, is when Cam finally defends Colt to Colby, Cord, and Carson and goes off at them about being asshats to Colt for some things that happened years before:
A beer bottle flew and crashed into the side of the barn, shattering the illusion of stillness.
All eyes zoomed to Cam.
“I’m so sick and tired of the ‘holier than thou’ attitude in this family. So Colt screwed up. Every one of us has screwed up at one time or another. How long are you gonna make him pay for it? Jesus, he hit the skids over four years ago. He’s been on the straight and narrow for the last three. During which time, he’s been busting his ass on this ranch, despite having to listen to you berate him and complain about him, or ignore him, or belittle him. None of you have ever been lily white and you’ve got no business judging him.”
“You weren’t here, Cam.”
Cam whirled on Colby. “Guess what? Neither were you! You were off rodeoin’ and playin’ cowboy while Colt was here, actually being a goddamn cowboy, day in, day out, for twelve fuckin’ years. Don’t forget you couldn’t do shit for months while you recovered from your rodeo injury—months in which, once again, Colt had to do not only his work, but your work.”
Holy shit. Colt had never seen Cam so furious.
But Cam wasn’t finished. He turned his ire on Cord. “Didja forget you got pissed off at Dad and left for a coupla years? Who picked up the slack then? It sure as fuck wasn’t Colby the rodeo king, or Carter the college boy, or Keely the baby girl or me.”
Without moving his angry gaze from Cord, Cam pointed at Colt. “It was him. But you forgot that little factoid, didn’t you? And isn’t it convenient that you all expect Colt to stick around, year in, year out, and do every shit job you don’t want to, because he doesn’t have a…family?” Cam faced Colby again. “That ‘you don’t have a family’ comment is the single shittiest thing I’ve ever heard anyone say. Ever. You’re supposed to be his family. So are you.” He pointed to Cord. “And you,” he said to Carson. “And me. But when Colt really needed his family to support him and help him? Were any of you there? No. The only person who gave a shit about him…was Kade.”
“That’s enough,” Carson said.
“How could you all rally around me, offering me support, when you didn’t do the same thing for Colt? When he was hurting just as bad? When he’s the one who’s always deserved it way more than I ever did. Because he had no choice but to stick around and live this life, when I had the luxury of leaving it behind.”
Colt’s eyes burned. Leave it to the one-legged man to make a stand for him when no one else in his family ever did.
Ugly, thick silence lingered.
“I’m not surprised you’ve got nothin’ to say. You oughta be hanging your heads in shame. I’m outta here.” Fabric snapped as Cam jerked his coat off the fence. He limped to his truck. After he opened the door he looked at Colt. “Sorry, bro, I know you didn’t ask for this, but it needed to be said. It needed to come from someone with an outsider’s perspective.”
It's about time someone opened their eyes to the horrible way they were treating their brother and son. And so I also love the parts of the book when Cord and Colby come and apologize, and then later when Carson comes to apologize to Colt.
Seeing as I'm half-dead right now, I don't know how eloquent this review is and I can't really think of what else to say. I just want to reiterate how awesome this book is and I'm glad that I read this book first because if I had started with Long Hard Ride I probably would not have continued with the series.
gems_31's review
5.0
This is my third book by this author and I admit I'm hooked.
These type of bboks are my guilty pleasure and though I know I wouldn't like to partake in half of the shennanigans that the characters get up to, its a nice bit of escapisim and this author, so far is my favourite.
I love the leads in this. Both are struggling with their own demons. India has been Colts sponcer at AA for the last three years and this has developed into a frienship of sorts, until she accidently shoots him in the butt with a nail gun.
Then things take a turn and we are on a rollercoaster ride.
It was really well written as both characters have had their flaws and both admit that they have not had the usual dating life due to their respective addications (India is also a recovering alcholic and drug addict) I loved the fact that the author shows that this isn't easily cured and that both characters show the signs of battling the call of their addictions at various points in the book.
I also loved the fact that though it was a HEA for each of them, it didn't end in the usual "Wedded bliss" that the other two books did.
I'm noticing a pattern with this author and though the activity doesn't appeal to me in the slightest, I can see why its included even if it is a bit.... how do I put this... unnecessary in my opinion. This is the third book I've read in this series where the characters partake i nanal sex and it always seems to be "No other man has had you here, so I'm going to lay claim." It did annoy me but I can now see why its included. With modern women and modern society most women are no longer virgins. This new area is almost always uncharted territory for the female and this appears, at least to me, the new losing virginity area. By looking at it this way, it doesn't make me as uncomfortable, but I would rather the author take a different approach.
There is two groundbreaking scenes for me in this book. One is the frankness at which India discusses her past love life and a certain "Friend" that had me laughing out loud due to the fact that before I came to this site I had no idea what it meant and also a couple actually watching porn together. It broke down some barriers for me as reader and it made the story more real.
I can't wait to read another of this series and I noticed that there is also some books about the Mckay cousins, the Wests. These will be going on my wish list!!!!
These type of bboks are my guilty pleasure and though I know I wouldn't like to partake in half of the shennanigans that the characters get up to, its a nice bit of escapisim and this author, so far is my favourite.
I love the leads in this. Both are struggling with their own demons. India has been Colts sponcer at AA for the last three years and this has developed into a frienship of sorts, until she accidently shoots him in the butt with a nail gun.
Then things take a turn and we are on a rollercoaster ride.
It was really well written as both characters have had their flaws and both admit that they have not had the usual dating life due to their respective addications (India is also a recovering alcholic and drug addict) I loved the fact that the author shows that this isn't easily cured and that both characters show the signs of battling the call of their addictions at various points in the book.
I also loved the fact that though it was a HEA for each of them, it didn't end in the usual "Wedded bliss" that the other two books did.
I'm noticing a pattern with this author and though the activity doesn't appeal to me in the slightest, I can see why its included even if it is a bit.... how do I put this... unnecessary in my opinion. This is the third book I've read in this series where the characters partake i nanal sex and it always seems to be "No other man has had you here, so I'm going to lay claim." It did annoy me but I can now see why its included. With modern women and modern society most women are no longer virgins. This new area is almost always uncharted territory for the female and this appears, at least to me, the new losing virginity area. By looking at it this way, it doesn't make me as uncomfortable, but I would rather the author take a different approach.
There is two groundbreaking scenes for me in this book. One is the frankness at which India discusses her past love life and a certain "Friend" that had me laughing out loud due to the fact that before I came to this site I had no idea what it meant and also a couple actually watching porn together. It broke down some barriers for me as reader and it made the story more real.
I can't wait to read another of this series and I noticed that there is also some books about the Mckay cousins, the Wests. These will be going on my wish list!!!!
chloemaee's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
emilyhei's review
4.0
India Ellison is a fighter, after a troubled life in her younger years she has fought hard for sobriety and to always be herself, tattoos, piercings, colored hair and all. Her only vulnerbility is the close friendship with Colt McKay, her feelings for her longtime friend has shifted to a more intimate feeling but Colt's recent reactions to her leave her a bit baffled.
Colt has never been able to lose his reputatin as a player who likes to party, even after three years of sobriety people still see him as the town bad boy, everyone except India. Colt has been in love with India for years, now that she is looking to start dating he wants to be the only one in her arms but communicating that is a bit tougher than he thought, instead he is mucking it up and fighting with his best friend. After a new strategy is planned to get the girl of his dreams, Colt sets out to win her heart.
I don't know why it took me so long to pick this one up. A really good story, I felt for India during a couple of the scenes when she is judged by how she looks. Colt is fantastic, and you see a bunch of Cam and Domini in this one which I need to pick up now that I know more about their story.
Colt has never been able to lose his reputatin as a player who likes to party, even after three years of sobriety people still see him as the town bad boy, everyone except India. Colt has been in love with India for years, now that she is looking to start dating he wants to be the only one in her arms but communicating that is a bit tougher than he thought, instead he is mucking it up and fighting with his best friend. After a new strategy is planned to get the girl of his dreams, Colt sets out to win her heart.
I don't know why it took me so long to pick this one up. A really good story, I felt for India during a couple of the scenes when she is judged by how she looks. Colt is fantastic, and you see a bunch of Cam and Domini in this one which I need to pick up now that I know more about their story.