Hot Cowboys, lots of books, great stories…what more could you ask for?
If one quote could sum up the series, it would be this:
“You are so bossy, Mr.McKay.”― Lorelei James, Cowboy Take Me Away
Warning: These books are rated extra spicy hot salsa, so be prepared for hot, steamy scene overload.
Long Hard Ride: Rough Riders 1 – The book that started the obsession. Colby McKay is loving the wild life on the rodeo circuit until he meets Channing. He convinces her to be wild with him for awhile. The chemistry in this book is off the chart. This isn’t your typical boy meets girl, and rates extra spicy on the charts. Channing and Colby forever!
“Why haven’t you ever let me love you like this? Face to face? Heart to heart? So I can look in your eyes while I’m makin’ love to you?” – Colby
Rode Hard, Put Up Wet: Rough Riders 2 – Alternates between Cash and Jemma’s story and Macy and Carter’s story. This may be my least favorite of the series, but I do consistently revisit a few of Carter’s tortured artist/cowboy scenes.
Cowgirl Up and Ride: Rough Riders 3
– The first book in the series that takes you back to the McKay family homestead and starts to introduce a lot of the characters that will have their own books later. It’s an age-difference story plot with Cord being a decade older than AJ. I enjoy AJ’s sassy independence and it’s fun to watch Cord learn how to be slightly less of a jerk face.
Tied Up, Tied Down: Rough Riders 4 – Skylar drove me nuts and Kade made an adorable daddy.
“You ever heard the phrase ‘nice guys finish last’? It’s true. Been true my whole life. So, maybe it’d be nice for me for a change, if someone thought I was worth fightin’ for.” – Kade
Rough, Raw, and Ready: Rough Riders 5 – Trevor, Chassie, Edgard – When the past and the future collide things can get messy. Trevor and Chassie get thrown for a loop when Edgard shows up after a long absence. What is possible when love doesn’t follow tradition? There is so much hotness and angst in this one. I love it.
Branded As Trouble: Rough Riders 6 – Colt and India – I cried. This is a touching story about sobriety and how complicated family relationships can be.
“I missed you, you dickhead. I missed you so goddamn much. Don’t you ever ever ever take off and leave me like that again, do you hear me?” – Indy
“You probably weren’t even sleepin’, Little Miz Troublemaker,” Colt drawled. “I can’t believe you left a message on my cell phone callin’ me a dickhead.” – Colt
Strong, Silent Type: Rough Riders 6.5 – Quinn and Libby – The first novella in the series. I loved how different this was. We start in the middle of Quinn and Libby’s marriage and get to watch them go through the struggle of trying to have a family and fighting through those common, yet tough, marriage issues.
Shoulda Been a Cowboy: Rough Riders 7 – Cam and Domini. Cam is more Cop than Cowboy and maybe that’s why this isn’t one of my favorites. Cam and Domini have a lot to deal with in this book. They both have physical and emotional issues that make them feel unworthy of a relationship and isolated from everyone else in the world. It’s a good story, but high drama.
“Because I’m an idiot. I tried to protect my heart from you, but it’s safe with you, isn’t it?” – Domini
All Jacked Up: Rough Riders 8 – Keeley and Jack – Can the baby girl of the family get her happy ending? It’s a fun ride watching independent Keely butt heads with businessman Jack. I love that she calls him GQ. Keeley was so spoiled in some of the earlier books that I found it difficult to be excited about her story. In the end it was fun seeing her grow up and all her brothers struggle with letting her go.
Raising Kane: Rough Riders 9 – Kane and Ginger – Can the former hell-raiser convince the gun-shy single mom to look beyond his past – toward a shared future?
Slow Ride: A Rough Riders 9.5 – Short story about Jack & Keeley’s honeymoon plans.
Cowgirls Don’t Cry: Rough Riders 10 – Brandt and Jessie – I found this one a little frustrating. Brandt is one of the nicest guys ever and it was almost painful to see him taken advantage of. I didn’t like all the story around Brandt and his brothers, but it was nice getting to know some new family members.
Chasin’ Eight: Rough Riders 11 – Ava and Chase – An emotional roller coaster, funny and poignant. A great story of second chances and not taking people judging people at first site.
“Back off, perv! I have a black belt in taekwondo and I will f-ck you up if you take another step toward me.” Chase raised his hands in surrender, trying really, really hard to keep his eyes on hers. “Whoa, there, crouching tiger. Let’s just take this down a notch.”
Cowboy Casanova: Rough Riders 12 – Ben and Ainsley – While all the McKay’s seem to be uber dominate men, this is the only book that is explicitly explores BDSM themes.
Kissin’ Tell: Rough Riders 13 – Tell and Georgia – High school crush meets middle child syndrome. It’s a good one. My favorite title of the series.
Gone Country: Rough Riders 14 – Gavin and Rielle – The McKay brother no one knew existed meets the Wyoming hippie. Throw in two step daughters and money troubles and you’ve got yourself some serious drama.
Short Rides: Rough Riders 14.5 – Three short stories – First is Chassie, Trevor and Edgar. Second is Cam and Domini. Third is Jack and Keeley. All very good.
Redneck Romeo: Rough Riders 15 – Dalton and Rory. Sierra and Boone. OMG – Boone…what were you thinking?!
Cowboy Take Me Away: Rough Riders 16 – Carson and Caroline – I wept. A lot. In a way this is the finale of the series. You get a peek into not only their romance but their lives raising some of our favorite characters.
Long Time Gone: Rough Riders 16.5 – Cal and Violet – this one took me surprise, Violet ended up being very different than I thought she seemed in other books. It was good to see these two quiet characters get some closure to many of the questions raised in Gavin’s book.
