Strung Up: A Blacktop Cowboys Novella

5 stars *****

Amazing!! Strung Up is just another example of why Lorelei James is amazing. This book is a novella in the Blacktop Cowboy series and it is HOT!! ONE CLICK THIS BOOK NOW!!! I absolutely loved both of them and I was rooting for them from page 1.

Breck and Cres have a history of a week long love affair that ends when Cres realizes that he does not want to hide for the rest of his life like Breck does, so he sets out to change his future. Years later their pasts cross again and Cres discovers that he is not the only one that has changed. However, Cres has sworn that he will never love again and Breck refuses to put down roots. After weeks of a smokin’ hot whirlwind romance they both have to decide if they can take the final step in changing their lives forever.

If anyone knows Hot Cowboys its Lorelei James. If you have not read her cowboys before you are missing out. This is another great read in the Blacktop Cowboy Series. That being said this is a M/M story line.. If it isn't your cup of tea walk away now. If you can get past that and want to enjoy a funny and sexy story about two hot cowboys then this is the story for you.

This is a previously fling turned into something more that neither was looking for. Cres and Breck both have had their hearts broken in the past can they heal each other to find their own HEA.
You do not want to miss this one. I suggest that you go and read the previous stories in this series but it is not necessary. It can be read as a standalone and there is no Cliffhanger.

Lorelei James starts this wonderful story very emotional (yes, I had some tears in my eyes) and also ends it with beautiful words.
Cres and Breck once had a short fling that didn't end well. So when they meet again both their lifes had some big changes that also changed them. But their attraction hasn't changed one bit. So it's only a matter of wills and time if they find each other and their way back to life.

Two lost souls that haven't really lived in a while. Their story beautifully written by Lorelei James in this Blacktop Cowboy novella. With that special extra heat Mrs. James knows to put in so well.

Generally speaking, when I’m choosing a book to read, I prefer full-length novels over novellas. Sometimes though, I really love being able to take a few hours on a weekend afternoon and finish a book all in one sitting. Strung Up fit this bill nicely. Not only do we get to catch up with couples from previous stories, but we also get an up-close glance into the lives of two very special men, Breck and Cres.

Each has experienced life-changing turmoil. Each is hesitant to take a chance on love. Will they find their way back to one another, or is the risk to love again too much to overcome?

Overall, Strung Up is a delightful addition to the Blacktop Cowboys series.

Love Wins in the latest novella, Strung Up, by Lorelei James. This M/M romance has everything! Passion, lust, love and two of the hottest guys you could possibly imagine! Cres lost the love of his life and has shut down the last two years. With nothing but working to exhaustion to look forward to, his family finally drags him out to the opening of a new facility that will school new rodeo cowboys and cowgirls. He never dreamed he'd run into the fling he could have fallen for. Little does he know...the once cocky bulldogger, Breck, still holds a flame for him too.

I love Ms. James and her writing style and this book does not disappoint. She wrote this little nugget of perfection to compliment the Blacktop Cowboys series, but the nice thing is, if you haven't yet delved into the hotness of the BT Cowboys (which you will want to after reading this novella) it's not a prerequisite to understand this love story. I highly recommend this gem. It's a fast, sweet read, and you'll be looking for your own "farmboy" by the end!
Strung Up: A Blacktop Cowboys® Novella

Cres Grant is a heartbroken man who has sworn off relationships since his last partner passed away unexpectedly. He is determined to have 9 weeks of great sex with Breck Christianson and keep his heart all to himself.
Breck Christianson is a fallen cowboy who was outed by a past lover to the rodeo world. He has been shunned by his colleagues as well as his family and left to re-evaluate his life and pick up the pieces all on his own. Breck has changed his ways and become humble and adoring throughout this self discovery.
Breck and Cres meet up and reminisce about one week of lust filled heaven that they shared many years ago. Cres makes it perfectly clear to Breck that he can’t give him a relationship, so they decide to spend the next 9 weeks together heating up the sheets. Breck tells Cres that he is all in for a physical relationship for the specified time but truly wants more and needs to convince Cres that he can love again.
James does it again with these two hot cowboys. It is romantic and endearing and totally hot. You immediately fall in love with Cres as you watch him struggle to put one man in his past and another one in his future. Breck’s past actions are redeemed by his tragedy of struggling to find himself and the lonely battle leading him to Cres.
This is a must read. No one does HOT COWBOYS like Lorelei James. This is a great stand alone but will also turn you on to the series of Blacktop Cowboys.

Boy, oh, boy, does Lorelei James know how to write a steamy hot M/M cowboy romance. This is not the first time she's dipped into this arena - her first was the M/M side story of Trevor and Edgard in "Long, Hard Ride." Having not read any of the other Blacktop Cowboys 1,001 Dark Nights novellas, I can't gauge how "Strung Up" is in comparison. I can tell you that this novella contains all that James is famous for (and what I love about her work) - smexy cowboys, explicit/raunchy lovin', tender moments and a HEA. This is a must-read for all Lorelei James fans!

I have been looking forward to Breck and Cres story. It was awesome. They had great chemistry and I loved how they found their way back to each other. Lorelei James is able to take a group of people and make a community out of them. Breck and Cres were a great addition to that group. I would have liked to see Celia and Kyle but that is a minor point.I would have liked for the story to have been longer becuase it was so great. . This was a wonderful addition to the Blacktop series. I am hoping that Stirling's book is the next novella in the series.

When I get notification that Lorelei James has a new book coming out, I will automatically pre-order. With this one I was a little leery Bc M/M is not a genre I usually read. But she turned up the heat again. Everyone should be able to find that heart stuttering, gut wrenching love in their life. This is raw emotion that makes you gasp and squirm (not in a bad way). Should all of us be so lucky to find someone in our lives like Breck and Cres found in theirs. One click this one. You won't regret it.

Just finished reading Strung Up and LJ has delivered another great duo to root for. Love is love....it doesn't matter if it is between a man and a woman or two women or two men. The love story of Cres and Breck is at times heart breaking, but mostly heart warming as two people who long to have the one they love the most work hard at getting their happy ever after. This is a stand alone story and can be enjoyed as such, but it may be helpful to learn a little more about the characters' backstory which can be found in other books from James' Blacktop Cowboys series. People who have read Lorelei James before won't be disappointed with this novella.... and new readers of James will be hooked.

Cres and Breck's story was heartfelt and beautiful. I have only read a few books in the m/m category just because the authors that I enjoy have only written one each. It was hot and sexy as well as a wonderful story of overcoming loss and hardship and finding each other. Lorelei James is truly a wonderful writer and really knows how to tell a love story and suck you in. This is part of the Blacktop Cowboys series but can be read on its own. I recommend reading all of her work though as it is truly heartfelt and amazing.

I absolutely loved this novella! This is the first book I've read in Lorelei's Blacktop Cowboys Series and I will definitely have to read the other books! I don't read a lot of m/m books, but Lorelei is such a great writer I had to read it. I wasn't disappointed with Cres and Breck's story of love, loss, tragedy, romance, healing, and second chances. These two have sizzling chemistry and this is a very hot, steamy read, but it is also a love story and I love these two hot cowboys!

WOW! What an amazingly sweet romance! Don’t get me wrong, it’s also got super hot sex scenes. I loved seeing more of Cres & Breck even though the loss and bigotry they endured broke my heart. One of my favorite things about Lorelei James’s writing is that she takes smoking hot sex scenes an intertwines them with romance and a vain of real life. Resulting in an awesome well rounded story. I love the Blacktop Cowboys Series and this story meshes perfectly into it! If you haven’t read the series this is also a great stand alone book.

ARC provided by the author, but that has not influenced my review

Just finished reading Strung Up and LJ has delivered another great duo to root for. Love is love....it doesn't matter if it is between a man and a woman or two women or two men. The love story of Cres and Breck is at times heart breaking, but mostly heart warming as two people who long to have the one they love the most work hard at getting their happy ever after. This is a stand alone story and can be enjoyed as such, but it may be helpful to learn a little more about the characters' backstory which can be found in other books from James' Blacktop Cowboys series. People who have read Lorelei James before won't be disappointed with this novella.... and new readers of James will be hooked.

Cres and Breck's story was heartfelt and beautiful. I have only read a few books in the m/m category just because the authors that I enjoy have only written one each. It was hot and sexy as well as a wonderful story of overcoming loss and hardship and finding each other. Lorelei James is truly a wonderful writer and really knows how to tell a love story and suck you in. This is part of the Blacktop Cowboys series but can be read on its own. I recommend reading all of her work though as it is truly heartfelt and amazing.

I absolutely loved this novella! This is the first book I've read in Lorelei's Blacktop Cowboys Series and I will definitely have to read the other books! I don't read a lot of m/m books, but Lorelei is such a great writer I had to read it. I wasn't disappointed with Cres and Breck's story of love, loss, tragedy, romance, healing, and second chances. These two have sizzling chemistry and this is a very hot, steamy read, but it is also a love story and I love these two hot cowboys!

WOW! What an amazingly sweet romance! Don’t get me wrong, it’s also got super hot sex scenes. I loved seeing more of Cres & Breck even though the loss and bigotry they endured broke my heart. One of my favorite things about Lorelei James’s writing is that she takes smoking hot sex scenes an intertwines them with romance and a vain of real life. Resulting in an awesome well rounded story. I love the Blacktop Cowboys Series and this story meshes perfectly into it! If you haven’t read the series this is also a great stand alone book.

ARC provided by the author, but that has not influenced my review

What an incredible super hot romance story!!! Cres and Breck are two powerful passionate men that after going threw hard times in their separate lives are reunited again. One who lost the love of his life and the other hitting the lowest point of his life will seek friendship in each other that will lead to hot passionate lovers. This story will have you flipping threw pages to see what comes next and have some tissues ready.

I want more..such a great story of reconnecting after feeling broken. Crest met Breck on Rodeo circuit. What he did not plan was to wake up one day and Breck was gone...
Crest has dealt with heartbreak and his brothers try to get him out a little..Crest did not think when he went for a breath of fresh air he would left breathless.
Breck and Crest reconnect and find what they left behind all the years ago

I've just begun reading the Blacktop series, but I'm eager to read them all! Even though I've only read the first few, I was able to fully enjoy Strung Up as a stand alone. However, it was so good, I'm back to working my way through the others! Cres and Breck jumped off the pages with an instant connection! I had to read in one sitting because I couldn't put it down! This is a must read!

Holy Moly!!! Another read from Lorelei to gobble up! This is a novella that is part of her Blacktop Cowboys series. She is such a phenomenal story teller and this novella doesn't disappoint. My heart broke for both Cres and Breck with what each had gone through. I wasn't sure if I would like m/m aspect but as usual LJ writes a hot and sexy story. Two unbelievably strong Cowboys that will break your heart, make you laugh, and want to cry. Great read!!

I absolutely loved Strung Up. It was a great romance between two men who were broken in some way and through their relationship found something completely unexpected that allowed them to heal. While I am not usually fond of novellas, Lorelei James is able to include hair right amount of detail to make the story believable.

Another good book by Lorelei James! I know it will hot a hot, steamy ride with her!

This is a M/M cowboy book, which I've not read one like this before. I still prefer my hot cowboys with women, but this was a nice emotional, sexy book. Can't go wrong with two hot cowboys. Cres and Breck were a couple meant to be!

A good short read!

Lorelai James is one of my favorite authors. She creates characters that you wish you could meet and have in your life. Cries and Breck are no exception. This story has it all--humor, emotion, and a plot that will keep you wanting more. I only wish there was more of this story. I would love to see what the future holds for these two.

Hot cowboy? How can a story get better? Oh... Two hot cowboys!
Strung Up is a steamy read LJ fans will love. We already knew Breck was naughty and now he's met his match. Cres has a broken heart just waiting for that right person to heal it.
Can these two make it happen? Yes!!!! And these two will heat up the pages!!

I greatly enjoyed this novella by Lorelei James. This is a great story of two strong men who rekindle their attraction and as it turns into love. This story was so good that I wish it could go on and on.

When you are crying in the first chapter you know it is going to be a great book! The loss that Cres has to deal with when his lover Mick is killed is so heart breaking, you can't help but want to hold him while he try's to find himself again. When Breck comes back into Cres life you know from the start that it is going to be passion filled book. If you don't love M/M books then this is not the book for you. I love watching as both men work through their life issues and find there way back to each other. The sex scenes in this book are hot and leave you wanting more. I only wish that it was longer and had a glimpse into the future. I would recommend this book to all of my friends and have. Strung Up is one of the best romance novella's I have read in a while and I read a lot of them you won't be disappointed.

Fanning myself, What an enjoyable read, as with all of Lorelei James' books, I was hooked in the first chapter. Cres and Breck's characters are so well developed, honest, hardworking, sexy men, that have matured enough to not accept anything less than what they truly want and give love a second chance. Hot, sexy, assertive alphas, with a side of sweet and the courage to see it through. Loved it!!

Cres Grant is the youngest of his brothers, whom you get to know better in the previous novella's Roped In and Stripped Down. However, what I love most about Lorelei's writing is her knack to incorporate prior characters into the story so flawlessly that it is an integral part of the story and not just a quick update like a band-aid that needs to quickly be pulled off so she can move on to the main story line. Even though you might have met Cres before this is the first real glimpse into his private life. Lorelei doesn't pull any punches when the story first begins. You are pulled immediately into Cres Grant's world where he has just lost his long time lover in an accident. Years go by and Cres is still just living day to day. Thanks to some intervention by his family he finally is drug, pretty much kicking and blustering, out of the house. He finally concedes to a night out, but Cres never expected to run into an old flame.

Meet Breck Christianson and BAM! WHACK! What is Lorelei trying to do to me? So I have to admit I didn't remember Breck, but from what I'd been reading even before the book came out, several readers mentioned that they weren't happy that Cres would be paired up with Breck. Those comments intrigued me since I seriously couldn't remember Breck, so instead of going back and rereading the books to see if Breck really was a total dick I went into the story blind and I was blown away with how much Breck's story moved me. Breck's fall to the very pit of life is heartbreaking to read. Actually his life goes beyond falling into a pit, it goes to hell, but it says a lot about a man in how he picks himself back up after he falls so far and comes out on the other side. I hope anyone who felt he wasn't good enough for Cres can now agree that Breck is an amazing man.

Strung Up is a beautiful story of redemption. Two broken men who both needed a big do over. A complete reset. A chance to heal.

The love scenes are hot, but I expected nothing less from Ms. James. Aside from the steamy hotness, the story itself is just a beautifully crafted story. It will make you believe not only in love, but also in second chances.

Absolutely loved it! The entire story flowed from that to finish. The relationship as to how they came together was written so realistically that you almost feel like you are listening to a friend tell you how they came to be. Their story is about hope, not to settle for less; and that people can change and grow as individuals. Live, laugh, love!!!

Lorelei managed to swoop in and steal my heart completely with this steaming hot novella. When an author can manage to tackle all feels possible into a novella, you know that is one author you will forever one click.

My heart broke for Breck and Cres. They have had so much pain and sorrow in their lives that they needed each other more than they knew. They were like a balm to each others soul. But both are hesitant to grasp ahold of each other permanently so they make a deal that they will be with each other for the 9 weeks that Breck is committed to teaching for. They have no clue what fate has in store. Will they walk away or realize that they are “it" for each other?

This is definitely a highly recommended read. I had every intention of just picking it up to start and come back later to finish. NOPE! There was no putting this one down. It's riveting and addictive and I want more!!!!