Hard Ride
A Gay Cowboy Romance
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4.4 • 15 Ratings
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- $4.99
Publisher Description
“An unputdownable, super sexy read with lots of personality and tons of heart.” —All About Romance
Welcome to Clean Slate Ranch: Home of tight jeans, cowboy boots and rough trails. For some men, it’s a fantasy come true.
Five Weddings and a Fake Boyfriend
City slicker Derrick Massey has always had a thing for cowboys. So a roll in the hay with Kendall “Slater” Stamos during a rustic weekend wedding is more than A-OK. But when Slater’s forced to hang up his saddle for the season, Derrick surprises even himself with his proposition: be my fake boyfriend and get my family off my back about finding a permanent partner.
Though unexpected, the arrangement is a win-win. Derrick gets a plus-one for a slew of summer weddings and Slater gets a place to stay while he recuperates…with lots of casual fun in between. Which is just how the sexy cowboy likes it: casual. Yet it’s obvious the chemistry between them is anything but.
With the countdown to their “breakup” on, the more time the two men spend together. And the more it becomes clear that what they have could be real, if only they let it be.
Clean Slate Ranch:
Book 1: Wild Trail
Book 2: Roped In
Book 3: Saddle Up
Book 4: Lucky Break
Book 5: Hard Ride
Book 6: Right Move
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Scintillating romantic tension and steamy sex scenes redeem the jumbled contrivances that lead the heroes of Arthur's fifth Clean Slate Ranch cowboy romance (after Lucky Break) to pretend to date. Derrick Massey's sister-in-law goes into labor while the Massey family is visiting the ranch for a wedding. While anxiously awaiting news from the hospital, Derrick hooks up with ranch hand Slater Stamos. They agree it's a one-off, but three weeks later Slater breaks his ankle saving a child from falling off a cliff, and Derrick unexpectedly visits him in the hospital. Derrick offers Slater the chance to recuperate in the comfort of his San Francisco Bay Area apartment if Slater will pretend to be his boyfriend at five upcoming weddings, hoping to convince his relatives that he's settled down. The tale hits its stride once Slater agrees and opens up to Derrick about his time in prison and the child he fathered at 17, but the lead-up to their arrangement is unnecessarily convoluted. In a quirky subplot, Slater befriends Derrick's nonbinary neighbor, Dez, who teaches him the art of profane needlecraft to occupy his hands during his convalescence. Cameos by characters from previous installments will please fans, but confuse newcomers. This passionate, trope-heavy romance is entertaining but uneven.
Customer Reviews
Excellent!
Emotions of characters particularly well portrayed. Story is just the right length. Very plausible. Could have used a bit more steam, but that made me enjoy the offerings even more. You’ll love this book!