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kazen's review against another edition
3.0
Not bad, but I skipped a whole bunch of books in the middle and the family is way too big now. I skimmed bits talking about previous HEA couples' honeymoons and babies and didn't miss a thing.
conniejoy529's review against another edition
3.0
Ok, so I really should not read BDSM books, they just are not for me. I didn't expect this to be full on D/s because Lorelei James hasn't had that in any of her previous RR books (or Blacktop Cowboys books that I'm aware of). That being said I tried not to let that influence how I rated the book overall. I have to say that LJ books are pretty much hit or miss for me. They all have various levels of kink (which I can deal with and find entertaining at times and I certainly enjoy the Alpha male thing to a degree) but I will never be able to wrap my brain around the psychological stuff that she attempts to delve into about the BDSM lifestyle in Cowboy Casanova. While the sex scenes are frequent and heavy, the psychological aspect also makes up a big part of the book. In fact it is the basis of the storyline.
Bennett is a Dom and has been for years, in fact he was a founding member of the local private BDSM club, where the population of dominants is 100% male and the subs are 100% female (this just irked me to no end)so of course when he sees Angel (real name later discovered to be Ainsley) in the club proclaiming herself to be a Domme he of course sets out to prove that she is in fact deep down a submissive (this made every part of my femisinst being cringe). Ainsley, who has been through a very rough divorce from a husband who saw her desire to spice up their sex life disgusting, is really only at the club to observe for the weekend and see if this lifestyle could possibly be for her, but because of the clubs "you pay, you play" policy she has to agree to Domme for Bennett (remember none of the other male members of the club would ever consider subbing) with the agreement that she sub for him the following night (Bennett is not a sub or even a switch, he only does this because he is confident that Angel will not be able to go through with it and allow him to dominate her).
Monday rolls around and to their surprise Bennett and Ainsley discover they live in the same town. Since they both enjoyed their experience at the club so much they come to an agreement that they will have a month long D/s relationship to see if this is right for Ainsley. Things get complicated because Ainsley is the president of the new bank in town and Bennett is suddenly offered a business opportunity that requires him to apply for a loan.
Bennett and Ainsley both have to decide what is truly important in their lives and what they are willing to give up to find true love.
Overall I would have to say that I found this book to be meh. I read it in one sitting but by the end I really just wasn't drawn in by the characters. I am a sucker for a happy ending, I'm also a sucker for a grand gesture. At the end of this book there was an attempt at a grand gesture but to me it was rather anti-climatic. I really wasn't sure what was motivating the characters throughout. I hated that Ben/Bennett presented himself as though he was two different people( or one person with multiple personalities) yet wanted Ainsley to accept him as a whole.
For me, I didn't really feel any chemistry between the characters, there was no build up, no getting to know one another before they went at it. I remember a scene from the book where Ainsley referred to herself as a "sure thing" and that is what it felt like, I didn't really see a lot of romance or emotions, mainly a cloud of lust and self doubt, and it seemed as though that was something that the characters worried about as well, and it was something that I felt was never fully addressed. If you have a nonrelationship based solely on sex, that you can't talk to anyone about and have to keep a total secret, and you are not really sure of your feelings and you don't want to talk to your partner to see if they are having those same feelings. . . It just didn't seem probable that there was any real emotional connection.
I give this book three stars because I do enjoy James writing style, like I said I read this in one sitting so it was extremely easy to read. But I've read much better from her.
Bennett is a Dom and has been for years, in fact he was a founding member of the local private BDSM club, where the population of dominants is 100% male and the subs are 100% female (this just irked me to no end)so of course when he sees Angel (real name later discovered to be Ainsley) in the club proclaiming herself to be a Domme he of course sets out to prove that she is in fact deep down a submissive (this made every part of my femisinst being cringe). Ainsley, who has been through a very rough divorce from a husband who saw her desire to spice up their sex life disgusting, is really only at the club to observe for the weekend and see if this lifestyle could possibly be for her, but because of the clubs "you pay, you play" policy she has to agree to Domme for Bennett (remember none of the other male members of the club would ever consider subbing) with the agreement that she sub for him the following night (Bennett is not a sub or even a switch, he only does this because he is confident that Angel will not be able to go through with it and allow him to dominate her).
Monday rolls around and to their surprise Bennett and Ainsley discover they live in the same town. Since they both enjoyed their experience at the club so much they come to an agreement that they will have a month long D/s relationship to see if this is right for Ainsley. Things get complicated because Ainsley is the president of the new bank in town and Bennett is suddenly offered a business opportunity that requires him to apply for a loan.
Bennett and Ainsley both have to decide what is truly important in their lives and what they are willing to give up to find true love.
Overall I would have to say that I found this book to be meh. I read it in one sitting but by the end I really just wasn't drawn in by the characters. I am a sucker for a happy ending, I'm also a sucker for a grand gesture. At the end of this book there was an attempt at a grand gesture but to me it was rather anti-climatic. I really wasn't sure what was motivating the characters throughout. I hated that Ben/Bennett presented himself as though he was two different people( or one person with multiple personalities) yet wanted Ainsley to accept him as a whole.
For me, I didn't really feel any chemistry between the characters, there was no build up, no getting to know one another before they went at it. I remember a scene from the book where Ainsley referred to herself as a "sure thing" and that is what it felt like, I didn't really see a lot of romance or emotions, mainly a cloud of lust and self doubt, and it seemed as though that was something that the characters worried about as well, and it was something that I felt was never fully addressed. If you have a nonrelationship based solely on sex, that you can't talk to anyone about and have to keep a total secret, and you are not really sure of your feelings and you don't want to talk to your partner to see if they are having those same feelings. . . It just didn't seem probable that there was any real emotional connection.
I give this book three stars because I do enjoy James writing style, like I said I read this in one sitting so it was extremely easy to read. But I've read much better from her.
kindleandbook's review against another edition
5.0
Another great read in this series. Loved Ben's story!
jkh107's review
2.0
Meh. I think if I never read another BDSM book it will be too soon. I liked it except for the smutty parts, which I suspect was half the point. Apparently whips and chains really don't excite me at all.
mafemoreno's review
5.0
Before you begin a McKay book you always wonder if this is the McKay that will tick you off...or if finally after more than 10 books you'll grow tired about hearing about the boisterous family, and every time Ms. James wraps you around her little finger and you fall in love with another McKay. This time around I truly enjoyed the interaction between Ben and Ainsley, both of them are mature...they have been around the block, yet have failed to find that true relationship that satisfies a void within them both. Regarding the bdsm aspect of the story, this could truly be one of my favorite Dom/sub book, the chemistry was scorching and the scenes even more so. As always after finishing a McKay book I'm now anxiously awaiting the release of the next one!!
samanatha's review
4.0
4/5
This was a story that stuck with me long after I finished reading it. [a: Lorelei James|541293|Lorelei James|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1391020452p2/541293.jpg] adds elements of BDSM into many of the books in her Rough Riders series, but this one takes it to a different level. LJ is great at molding concepts that should be harsh or hardcore and gentling them for the masses. She does that well with the BDSM in this book. It is much more palatable in this book than some others I've read. For those readers who may be unfamiliar with this type of romance, [b: Cowboy Casanova|11094758|Cowboy Casanova (Rough Riders, #12)|Lorelei James|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1320528946s/11094758.jpg|16016711] would be a good way to put their proverbial toe in.
Bennett is delicious in this book. He is so fine I can barely stand it. Whereas Ainsley is just 'fine' and she is a good match for him, but she does not stand out against all the other strong women of this series. While she does not drag the book down, neither did she add much to it. I liked her, but I would not want to hang out with her.
Now, Bennett, on the other hand . Bennett I wanted to spend time (lots of it) with . I like the dichotomy between someone who can lay low, but knows how to take control. That worked for me in a big way with this story. While this book is not my favorite in the series, I did highly enjoy it and would recommend above many of the others.
Reviews for other books in the Rough Riders series:
My review for Long Hard Ride
My review for Rode Hard, Put Up Wet
My review for Cowgirl Up and Ride
My review for Tied Up, Tied Down
My review for Rough, Raw and Ready
My review for Branded as Trouble
My review for Strong Silent Type
My review for Shoulda Been a Cowboy
My review for All Jacked Up
My review for Raising Kane
My review for Cowgirls Don't Cry
My review for Cowboy Casanova
My review for Kissin' Tell
My review for Gone Country
My review for Redneck Romeo
My review for Cowboy Take Me Away
This was a story that stuck with me long after I finished reading it. [a: Lorelei James|541293|Lorelei James|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1391020452p2/541293.jpg] adds elements of BDSM into many of the books in her Rough Riders series, but this one takes it to a different level. LJ is great at molding concepts that should be harsh or hardcore and gentling them for the masses. She does that well with the BDSM in this book. It is much more palatable in this book than some others I've read. For those readers who may be unfamiliar with this type of romance, [b: Cowboy Casanova|11094758|Cowboy Casanova (Rough Riders, #12)|Lorelei James|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1320528946s/11094758.jpg|16016711] would be a good way to put their proverbial toe in.
Bennett is delicious in this book. He is so fine I can barely stand it. Whereas Ainsley is just 'fine' and she is a good match for him, but she does not stand out against all the other strong women of this series. While she does not drag the book down, neither did she add much to it. I liked her, but I would not want to hang out with her.
Now, Bennett, on the other hand . Bennett I wanted to spend time (lots of it) with . I like the dichotomy between someone who can lay low, but knows how to take control. That worked for me in a big way with this story. While this book is not my favorite in the series, I did highly enjoy it and would recommend above many of the others.
Reviews for other books in the Rough Riders series:
My review for Long Hard Ride
My review for Rode Hard, Put Up Wet
My review for Cowgirl Up and Ride
My review for Tied Up, Tied Down
My review for Rough, Raw and Ready
My review for Branded as Trouble
My review for Strong Silent Type
My review for Shoulda Been a Cowboy
My review for All Jacked Up
My review for Raising Kane
My review for Cowgirls Don't Cry
My review for Cowboy Casanova
My review for Kissin' Tell
My review for Gone Country
My review for Redneck Romeo
My review for Cowboy Take Me Away
bookishlyruby's review
5.0
I looooved this book! Completely awesome! I know I've said it before, but I feel the need to repeat myself: I don't think I've ever read about cowboys that are sexier than those from Ms. James' stories. I'm actually sure of it. That being said, I have to say I'm in a very happy place right now and I'm sure I'm not the only reader out there feeling the same way. I mean, let's face it! A McKay story is more than good. Two McKays getting their HEAs and I for one am in heaven! Yes, I'm addicted. There, I said it!
Read the full review here
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