Title: Tied Up, Tied Down (Rough Riders)
Author: Lorelei James
Publisher: Samhain Publishing, Ltd. (July 2008)
ISBN: 9781605040646
What is it about men who work the land, round up cattle, and ride horses? Cowboys, in a word. Why is it that they’re so compelling? Is it because they seem capable? In touch with nature? Able to withstand the elements and whatever other hardships are thrown at them? Whatever the source of their appeal, Lorelei James captures the essence of the modern cowboy in her Rough Riders series and Tied Up, Tied Down features one of my absolute favourite Rough Riders characters, Kade McKay.
A brief synopsis … Skylar Ellison is a transplant from California, having moved to Wyoming to start a skincare manufacturing business on land left to her by her maternal grandmother. Bright and savvy, she’s determined to make a go of things despite having suffered recent traumas in her personal life, including the breakup of her marriage and the death of her mother and grandmother. But an encounter in a carpark with local cowboy Kade McKay leaves her with a baby to manage as well as a company, and when she can’t find Kade to tell him she’s expecting, she resigns herself to raising the child on her own.
Kade he has no idea that he’s got Skylar pregnant and, having left town for a year to run a cattle grazing experiment, is knocked for a loop when he returns and realises he has a three-month-old daughter. Cue a concerted effort on his part to become part of the lives of both Skylar, whom he has deep feelings for, and Eliza, his daughter.
The thing I love most about this book? Kade. He’s awesome. James somehow manages to make him compassionate, thoughtful and kind, while at the same time giving the reader the sense that he’s a little rough and ready. In no sense is he a broody hero – he goes out of his way for both Skylar and his daughter – and his commitment to them both is lovely to see, as demonstrated by this passage where Skylar realises that Kade is driving one hundred and twenty miles a day just so that he can see her and Eliza after he finishes work on his family’s farm:
Skylar got right in his face. ‘You’re driving that many miles? Every day?’
‘Yeah.’
‘Why didn’t you tell me?’ Bewildered, she could only stare at him and feel more guilty. ‘I didn’t know. No wonder you’re so tired. You shouldn’t have to–’
‘Have to don’t enter into it at all.’ He lowered his voice so only she could hear him. ‘Because it don’t matter. I want to. I’d drive twice that to be with you and Eliza every night.’
But in addition to being caring and considerate, Kade is also determined, stubborn and sexy. He’s not in the least inclined to let Skylar walk over him at will and although he’s a modern guy, his preferences in the bedroom lean very decidedly towards being in the driver’s seat – and he makes sure Sky realises that.
‘Your days of controllin’ our sexual encounters end now’
‘But–’
‘Ah-ah-ah. I ain’t done. If you say yes to me havin’ complete control over everything sex-wise, you don’t get to change your mind. And you sure as hell don’t get to say no, at any point, to anything I tell you to do once we start this.’
‘You’re joking.’
‘No, ma’am. I’ve never been more serious in my life.’
Skylar is likeable foil to Kade’s easygoing nature. She’s stubborn, determined and likes to be in control of all aspects of her life. Kade’s thoughtfulness and desire for her is a hard pill to swallow and watching her flounder in the face of his freely given affection and raw sexuality is both enjoyable and compelling. Her conversations with her sister, India, who is fiercely protective of Skylar are equally engaging. Like Kade, she provides a counterbalance to Skylar’s self-reliant personality and her familial relationship gives her the ability to (bluntly) point out things to her sister that she is not willing to hear from him.
‘Kade mentioned he thinks I have control issues.’
‘He’s right.’
India’s automatic agreement jarred Sky. ‘You’re siding with him?’
‘I’d never side against you, Sis. Never. I am really proud of you for being such a great mom, even if I’m surprised you aren’t more controlling and psycho when it comes to Eliza.’
Tied Up, Tied Down clicks along at a good pace for over three hundred pages and as you read you get a wonderful sense of the Wyoming landscape, the rural community and the extended McKay family. Make no mistake, though: although the main focus of the story is the burgeoning relationship between Sky, Kade and their daughter, this is an erotic romance. If you are at all uncomfortable with blunt language, swearing, or anal sex this may not be for you.
Any downsides to Tied Up, Tied Down? Well, I found the dropping of the letter ‘g’ from the ends of words, e.g. ‘darling’ becoming ‘darlin’’, a bit difficult to contend with at first, but then I got sucked into the story and it didn’t matter. Same goes for the use of slang (‘I ain’t done’ versus ‘I’m not done’). Lorelei James actually has a note about this very thing on her website:
As far as language issues — and I’m not talking about the curse words I use without apology or the fact I don’t use euphemisms for parts of the male and female anatomy — a few critics/reviewers are skeptical that people “really” talk like that. Again, not grammatically correct, but we do drop most of our g’s out here in the Wild West. I ain’t kiddin’.
For example:
Grammatically correct: Do you plan to go hunting?
Proper western phraseology: You goin’ huntin’?
Another thing I should mention is that this book is part of an ongoing series (Tied Up, Tied Down is book four in the Rough Riders lineup) and both Skylar and Kade – and their initial meeting of one another – is actually depicted in book three, Cowgirl Up and Ride. Although you don’t have to have read the earlier books to enjoy this one, you will get a much better sense of the backdrop, Sundance, Wyoming, and the McKay family (who the series follows) by doing so.
Tickle you fancy? Click on the following links to buy Tied Up, Tied Down from: Amazon.co.uk (Kindle ; Paperback), Amazon.com (Kindle ; Paperback), Kobo (eBook).
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