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A review by kathydavie
Branded as Trouble by Lorelei James
4.0
Sixth in the Rough Riders erotic romance series revolving around the extended McKay family of Wyoming ranchers. The couple focus is on Colt McKay and India Ellison.
My Take
It started out fun and kept going. Well, except for a few little hiccups along the way. If James is going to make an issue of India's esteem issues, then do it. Instead, she treats it in a very low-key manner and ya barely notice it.
Hah! Seems Colt had the last laugh on his family...good on him. Especially when you keep reading and see just how the McKays treated their brother/son. Hmmph.
We do get a ringside seat for the backstory on both Colt and India. What likely led to Colt's downhill spiral and India's addiction history. Not pretty. But ya gotta be impressed by the grit each has demonstrated with their recovery. A lifetime of recovery.
Oh man...an erotic romance in which the focus couple is celibate. That's one for the books!
James has inserted a bit on how the finances for the McKay spread works...I got a headache trying to figure it out…
Ohhh, the ending is so incredibly sweet and so incredibly true...it's the best way to develop a relationship.
The Story
Oops…seems India shot Colt in the ass with a nailgun and now he's recuperating at her place. With time on his hands and Cam's encouragement to think about taking his friendship with India to the next level.
Except for that date she accepts with Blake West! WTF?!?
The Characters
India Ellison is Colt's AA sponsor and has her own tattoo business in town. Colt McKay has been clean for three years now and best friends with India all that time. Trying to figure out how to get in her bed.
Cameron McKay was invalided out of the military and is now a Crook County Deputy. And very supportive of his brother, Colt. Doctor Monroe is a friend of Cam's and will make housecalls for him. The former Kane, now-Buck McKay is helping with Little Buddies, one of whom is Hayden. Carson and Carolyn West McKay are their parents. The rest of the family includes Colby, Cord, Carter, and sister Keely.
The girl Cam is sweet on, Domini Katzinski, works at Velma and Macie (she's pregnant again) McKay's diner, the Dewey Delish Dish. Cat is Domini's boss at the diner. For the moment. Dr. Jay and Susie Brewer. The doc is a veterinarian and an old schoolfriend of Colt's. A very competitive friend.
Blake West is doing the remodeling on India's shop and he's been asking India to go out with him. Chassie West Glanzer is pregnant and, along with Trevor and Edgard, giving India some useful advice (and Edgard changed his last name legally to Glanzer).
Skylar and Kade don't participate much socially these days. Not since the twins, Shannie and Peyton, came along. Eliza Belle is their oldest daughter.
The Cover and Title
It's the Rough Riders trademark cover with its carved leather floral scroll separating the base beige border from the sepia-toned black-and-white photograph. I'm guessing it's bad boy Colt McKay holding the woman up against his chest, one huge hand twisted in her T-shirt while the other hand is against her stomach with her hand on top of his. Too bad it's not India Ellison.
I suspect the title refers to India, Branded as Trouble with all her tattoos. Ahem...unlike the model on the cover.
My Take
It started out fun and kept going. Well, except for a few little hiccups along the way. If James is going to make an issue of India's esteem issues, then do it. Instead, she treats it in a very low-key manner and ya barely notice it.
Hah! Seems Colt had the last laugh on his family...good on him. Especially when you keep reading and see just how the McKays treated their brother/son. Hmmph.
We do get a ringside seat for the backstory on both Colt and India. What likely led to Colt's downhill spiral and India's addiction history. Not pretty. But ya gotta be impressed by the grit each has demonstrated with their recovery. A lifetime of recovery.
Oh man...an erotic romance in which the focus couple is celibate. That's one for the books!
James has inserted a bit on how the finances for the McKay spread works...I got a headache trying to figure it out…
Ohhh, the ending is so incredibly sweet and so incredibly true...it's the best way to develop a relationship.
The Story
Oops…seems India shot Colt in the ass with a nailgun and now he's recuperating at her place. With time on his hands and Cam's encouragement to think about taking his friendship with India to the next level.
Except for that date she accepts with Blake West! WTF?!?
The Characters
India Ellison is Colt's AA sponsor and has her own tattoo business in town. Colt McKay has been clean for three years now and best friends with India all that time. Trying to figure out how to get in her bed.
Cameron McKay was invalided out of the military and is now a Crook County Deputy. And very supportive of his brother, Colt. Doctor Monroe is a friend of Cam's and will make housecalls for him. The former Kane, now-Buck McKay is helping with Little Buddies, one of whom is Hayden. Carson and Carolyn West McKay are their parents. The rest of the family includes Colby, Cord, Carter, and sister Keely.
The girl Cam is sweet on, Domini Katzinski, works at Velma and Macie (she's pregnant again) McKay's diner, the Dewey Delish Dish. Cat is Domini's boss at the diner. For the moment. Dr. Jay and Susie Brewer. The doc is a veterinarian and an old schoolfriend of Colt's. A very competitive friend.
Blake West is doing the remodeling on India's shop and he's been asking India to go out with him. Chassie West Glanzer is pregnant and, along with Trevor and Edgard, giving India some useful advice (and Edgard changed his last name legally to Glanzer).
Skylar and Kade don't participate much socially these days. Not since the twins, Shannie and Peyton, came along. Eliza Belle is their oldest daughter.
The Cover and Title
It's the Rough Riders trademark cover with its carved leather floral scroll separating the base beige border from the sepia-toned black-and-white photograph. I'm guessing it's bad boy Colt McKay holding the woman up against his chest, one huge hand twisted in her T-shirt while the other hand is against her stomach with her hand on top of his. Too bad it's not India Ellison.
I suspect the title refers to India, Branded as Trouble with all her tattoos. Ahem...unlike the model on the cover.