Ho-down
“Cowgirl Up and Ride” by Lorelei James
Sheridan came tottering into the RMB office, arms laden with bags of Japanese take-out. “Lo, I’m back! It’s just us lunching in today, because Mimi muttered something about tracking down some Charles Manson memorabilia, so she’s AWOL for the next 2 days. So here’s your tonkatsu-don and…. Holy cow!” Sheridan stopped short at the sight of a cut-out cow wearing a diamond tiara. “Um, Lola? Why are there bales of hay and inflatable cactuses all over the place?”
“Well howdy Sheri! Don’t be mindin’ me, I’m just-a decoratin’ this here place so that it’ll look like the golden fields of home!” replied Lola.
“You lived in Holland for the first 4 years of your life,” muttered Sheridan.
“Details, little lady! Wyoming now is gonna be my spiritual home, the place where I long to be.”
“Wyoming?!” shrieked Sheridan, racing to Lola and putting her palm to her forehead. “Oh my God, you’ve been drinking the detergent again, haven’t you?! Goddamit Lola I told you that wasn’t lemonade!”
Lola batted Sheridan’s hand away. “Well shucks, why’d you gotta be doing that huh Sheridan? You’re a right dampener on a country girl’s spirit, you know that?”
“Lola, the last time you went to the ‘country,’ it was when you went on a wine tasting tour of Tuscany. I hardly think this qualifies you as Anne of Green Gables.”
“Well, I’ve just finished readin’ “Cowgirl Up and Ride” and let me tell you this, Wyoming puts out good cowboys. And I’m of a mind to be near where the action is! Take that Cord McKay, for instance. Well saddle him up girls, I’m-a takin’ that cowboy for a ride!”
Sheridan reached over for her whiskey and generally poured herself a double, muttering under her breath, “This is going to be a long day.”
“What’s that?”
“I said, looks like we need some more hay.”
“Huh. Anyway, Amy Jo Foster, aka AJ, has been hankerin’ after Cord McKay ever since she was five. She’s been babysittin’ his son, and tryin’ to get him to notice her but he’s sworn off women ever since his ex-wife done headed back to the city. But one day, he’s out at a bar blowing off some steam and he sees little Amy Jo, all grown up. (Mostly in the chest area). So he and AJ strike a bargain that they’ll have a no-strings attached romp in the hay, and Cord will introduce AJ into the ways of cowboy lovin’. And there was a lot more romancin’ goin’ on in this book, because Cord eventually done figures out that he loves AJ, and so tries to prove it to her. Lola melted into a little puddle of envious goo! But he’s one possessive cowboy woo-ee! Like when AJ attends a bachelorette party and gets a little too up close and personal with a male stripper, Cord was ragin’ like a bull!” shrieked Lola, who appeared to be showing a general disregard for the letter ‘G.’
“Anyhoo,” she continued. “Cord tries to fight his feelings for AJ because he thinks he’s too old for her. But really, a hott dish of man-love like that? Let me tell you, Lola’d lap it all up! And he’s always calling her and woe-betide her if she misses a meeting with him, because he gets all upset and missin’ her. SOB!
Unlike “Long Hard Ride,” Cord and AJ decide that this don’t have to be a team sport, so they’re pretty content with not invitin’ nobody else to their barnyard antics. But man, Sheridan. Obviously when you’re out ridin’ the open range all day, you got some time on your hands for thinkin’ up some mighty fine kinky games. Like tying up AJ with rope and hoisting her with a pulley, and doing a little lassoing. Although, I draw the line at the games Cord played with a popsicle because dude, you don’t wanna be explainin’ how you got frost bite there.”
A tumbleweed blew across the office as Sheridan eyed Lola steadily. “Really, spare me the details.”
“So I’m recreatin’ a little slice of paradise right here in our office, before I hightail it out to Wyoming and snare me a cowboy rancher!”
“OK, then can I have your shoes?”
“What shoes?”
“All your stilettos. You didn’t think you could wear them out in the fields with the cow patties and stuff did you?”
A second tumbleweed blew across.
“On second thoughts, New York is really more my kind of thing. You bought sushi you say?”
Sayuri said,
August 19, 2008 @ 3:27 am
Hahahahaha!
You’re so totally hooked. I love it. Pu-lease tell me you are reading the 4th one Lola… Kade is soooo yummy.
La Lola said,
August 19, 2008 @ 9:27 am
I have read it Sayuri! And my response is… *THUNK*
But I must confess, Cord is my favourite. Mmmm….
P.S, I skipped the 3rd book with Gemma and Cash. The whole cougar love thing is not for me.
Alice said,
August 19, 2008 @ 12:31 pm
I am both intrigued yet hesitant to read these really…er…uniquely styled…uh…erotic play type of stories. >_<
La Lola said,
August 19, 2008 @ 1:45 pm
Try “Cowgirl Up and Ride” Alice! I think it’s less of a shock to the system than “Long Hard Ride.” Sheridan kind of stumbled out of her office shell-shocked after “Long Hard Ride” I think!
Sayuri said,
August 19, 2008 @ 1:50 pm
TBH Gemma and Cash’s book is actually more about Cash’s daughter and Colby’s brother, Marcie and Carter. But it’s still my least fav. Not that it isn’t good, I just prefer other installments better….*g*
La Lola said,
August 19, 2008 @ 6:06 pm
Ooh I liked Marcie and Carter, and was wondering why they didn’t get a book of their own. Pray tell, which installments did you like more Sayuri? *wink*
Sayuri said,
August 20, 2008 @ 4:56 am
Lola,
Are you trying to get me to say something naughty? *g*
I just loved the whole of the 4th book. There wasn’t one chapter, one scene that didn’t work for me. All the ‘lovin’ was hawt. Usually there is one or two where I think…’well, ok, if that floats your boat, baby, whatever!’ But the whole of Tied Up Tied Down floated my boat…damn near capsized it! That Kade is one fine cowboy! *swoon*
Alice said,
August 20, 2008 @ 9:24 am
Just reading the post here about ‘Long Har Ride’ gave me a bit of a shock. LOL. I’m going to try that ballad series though. Hehehe.
All these tying up is…er…yeah.
Sayuri- naughty? *gasp*
Lady L said,
August 21, 2008 @ 12:04 am
I don’t think I’ve read anything from this author I’m gonna start with this one and probably go down the rest of the series.
BTW such devotion to your decisions Lola, lol loved this review.
La Lola said,
August 21, 2008 @ 10:19 am
Sayuri: Kade was totally the strong, taciturn cowboy. Still waters really do run deep with that one, and then some!
Hey Alice, the werewolf anthology was pretty good. Hot stuff and well, LOTS of primal mating there, so be prepared! Not that I was complaining or anything.
You are too kind Lady L. I remember you mentioned you only read books in order? In which case the first one is “Long Hard Ride,” but my favourite is really No. 2 (i.e this one)
Sayuri said,
August 21, 2008 @ 1:54 pm
Lola,
I’m thinking all the smexin has left you confused but this is bk. 3. *g*
It’s Long Hard Ride, Rode Hard Put Up Wet, Cowgirl Up And Ride, Tied Up Tied Down.
La Lola said,
August 21, 2008 @ 2:45 pm
I stand corrected. Number 3 it is!