Sunday, December 20, 2009

Review: Rough, Raw, and Ready by Lorelei James

Torn between the love he has-and the love he's always wanted. A Rough Riders book. Chassie West Glanzer hasn't been a stranger to drama and tragedy. A year of wedded bliss to sexy-as-sin cowboy Trevor Glanzer has brought her the happiness and contentment she never thought she'd find, and mellowed Trevor's rodeo wanderlust.

Then Trevors old roping partner ambles up the driveway and Chassie's life changes drastically. Trevor never expected to see Edgard Mancuso again, after it became clear he couldn't be the man Edgard needed. Now Edgard is back from Brazil to sort out their tangled past, and Trevor is plagued with feelings he thought he'd buried over three years ago.

Although Trevor is hat-over-bootheels in love with his sweet, feisty wife, the sense his life is missing a piece has always gnawed at him. Chassie's shock that Edgard and Trevor were once lovers turns to fear of losing her husband. Or worse, fear that Trevor will stay with her only out of a sense of duty. Yet as the three of them spend time together, the sins of the past blur and fade, leaving raw emotion and unbridled passion. Passion that could heal-or cause irreparable damage to their future.
The story of Chassie, Trevor and Edgard is an excellent M/M/F by Lorelei James. All three characters in this book have been introduced in previous books. Trevor & Edgard were an integral part of the plot in Long Hard Ride, Book #1 Rough Rider series, and we know from that story the two of them had a long 2 1/2 year M/M relationship. Their relationship ended when Edgard could not deal with Trevor's bi-sexuality and lack of commitment to their relationship. At the end of that book, Edgard returned to his home in Brazil.

In the ensuing years, Trevor met and married Chassie West, a cousin to the McKades, and he loves her passionately. The book begins when Edgard returns from Brazil and shows up at Trevor and Chassie's ranch. Edgard needs to know if there is anything left of the love he and Trevor shared. However, Trevor has not been truthful with Chassie and Edgard comes as a shocking surprise to her. Trevor, Chassie and Edgard have some tough decisions to make.

I was pleasantly surprised in how well James captured the turmoil and emotions that these characters go through. All three of them go through many changes in this story, yet nothing seems rushed or left hanging. The plot is developed slowly and sure enough by the end of the book, these three people become a unit. Trevor works through his ambivalence, Chassie through her doubts and Edgard through his feelings of regret. There is no question in my mind at the end, that they are one happy threesome.

This is not easily accomplished in an M/M/F. I've read quite a few and usually the males, especially if (as in this case) they've had a previous relationship, seem to have the strongest attraction, while the female is usually kept on the periphery. She usually is attracted or attractive to one of the males, but not the other. I thought that's what was going to happen here, and for a while it did. However, by the end, Ms. James had skillfully made me believe in this threesome.

James did a very good job of balancing the emotions and the erotic in Rough, Raw, and Ready -- the erotic part of the book is hot, hot, hot - all of it -- the M/F, M/M and the M/M/F. But as much as I enjoyed all the sexual scenes in this book, where James is once again at her best, the development of the emotional relationship is what really kept me invested in the story. Another favorite in the Rough Rider series by Lorelei James, this installment convinced me to go on to read the next in line, Branded as Trouble, Book #6.

Rough Rider Series by Lorelei James:
Long Hard Ride, #1
Rode Hard, Put Up Wet #2
Cowgirl Up and Ride #3
Tied Up, Tied Down #4
Rough, Raw and Ready #5
Branded as Trouble #6
Shoulda Been a Cowboy #7
All Jacked Up #8

Visit the author here.

7 comments:

  1. Yay!! I love this book. I was really happy Edgard (especially) got his happy ending. My favorite characters by far from this series.

    Oh and LOVED Rough Cut. What fantastic stories.

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  2. Thank you Hilcia! I can't wait to read this - it's on my TBR list!

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  3. Mariana, I loved this book too, and I was SO happy for Edgard. I was so happy for all 3 of them, actually. :)

    I'm so happy you LOVED Rough Cut! Yay! I just loved Diamond's writing and the stories. I wish she would write more.

    Orannia, I hope you like this one. Definitely one of favorites (if not my favorite)in this series so far. :)

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  4. A series I'm putting on my reading list for next year!

    The one thing that bugged me was this part-

    "The book begins when Edgard returns from Brazil and shows up at Trevor and Chassie's ranch. Edgard needs to know if there is anything left of the love he and Trevor shared."

    To me it sounds like Edgard had every intention of breaking up the marriage if Trevor still had feelings for him. I could be totally reading too much into it but if that's the case then I don't like Edgard and I think I would have a hard time getting past that.

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  5. Leslie, I see why this would bother you. I'll give you a couple of clues.
    1) Edgard was suprised Chassie didn't know about him. He thought Trevor had been honest.
    2) Edgard's intention was more about finding out if HE felt the same about Trevor, than how Trevor felt about him. It was all about closure for him.
    3) Edgard was a doll & not willing to hurt Chassie... you'll have to read it. :)
    Ultimately you would have to make up your own mind about this. I thought Trevor bore the responsibility on this one.
    :(

    These 2 characters appear in Book #1, which I didn't enjoy as much as the other ones, although it was great getting to know them before reading this installment. :)

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  6. Thanks Hils - that makes more sense. Edgard's intent being that then yes, I can see Trevor being in the wrong.

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  7. Cool, Leslie, glad that helped. :)

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