Long Time Gone (Rough Riders)

Cal and Kimi aka "The Blonde Tornado" have a special place in my heart. The little spitfire mom who managed to raise twin sons, live with a grumpy father in law and still be the sweet person she is to everyone. Cal is a hunk of a man. Face it. He is Carson's twin! Every time I read about Cal I can't help but remember the scene in Carson and Caro's book where he gets angry at Kimi and tells her he will take her apology on her knees. Oh how I love those sexy raunchy McKay men!
Great book to go with the series you learn some things about them that you didn't expect and fall in love with the McKays all over again!

This is the final book of the Rough Riders Series and I wish it would never end!! Can't wait to here the next generations stories!!!

I thought I loved Kimi and Calvin before, but now I absolutely adore them and they may just be my favorite couple of the series or at least top three. (It tends to change when I start a re read). But regardless, I loved that while Kimi is definitely a Blonde Tornado in every way ~ firey, speaks her mind, knows who she is and what she wants ~ she is also a deeply caring and observant woman, even when we meet her at the tender age of sixteen.

Calvin is all sexy charm and charisma, something that we’ve come to expect and love about all the men in the Rough Rider world, but his runs on the calmer, more relaxed side of the coin though he’s just as sly, intense and determined as the rest of them.

I loved how their relationship progressed. Having known already that they’d had that instant connection from reading Cowboy Take Me Away, it was fun to watch how they handled it. The open and honest nature of their relationship was refreshing, as was the lack of unnecessary drama, and the chemistry between them as hot as Kimi’s fiery personality.

Calvin McKay and Kimi West meet two days before Carson and Carolyn’s wedding. What is it with the oldest McKay men and the West women? It’s love at first sight for Cal and Kimi, too! And Kimi is only 16 years old. A fact Carolyn takes great glee in pointing out to Cal.
The two meet up after the wedding and Kimi goes home with Cal. Even though Cal would like nothing more than to dive right into Kimi he respects her too much to do anymore than kiss her silly. Kimi returns home late to find her father waiting for her. He informs her she’s not going back to school in Montana, instead she’ll stay at home and take care of her invalid mother and keep house for her father and brothers. There is a huge fight and Kimi leaves with Aunt Hulda.
A year later Kimi is called home to her mother’s funeral. She didn’t even know her mother’s health was failing. Needless to say she is beyond angry! Her plan is to attend the funeral then head off to Alaska where a job awaits her. Instead she gets sidetracked by Cal. A week later Cal puts her on the bus to Alaska. He knows she has adventuring to do.
Kimi returns to Sundance and marries Cal, but she’s already carrying their first child. A lovely love story!

Sometimes you read a book and it just sticks with you no matter how you feel about the subsequent books you read after. But, for me, it has always been this entire Rough Riders series. It's just something so exceedingly special, you have to read it to understand where I’m coming from. I just can't quite put into words to tell you all just how much I absolutely adore it. The series warms my heart in ways that no other book or series has ever been able to accomplish, so I can’t highly suggest enough that you need to take the time to read it. I promise you won’t be disappointed.

Long Time Gone is a sexy and extraordinarily sweet novella that gives us a glimpse back into the history of Cal and Kimi McKay’s relationship and how it all started. From the moment these two meet in the ice cream parlor, there is no turning back for either one of them. They are undeniably perfect for one another, despite the West/McKay complications, and I absolutely adore these two. I love and respect Cal even more so now after learning the way he allowed Kimi to spread her wings. He knew if you love something with the desire to be free, that you need to let it go so it comes back to you strong than ever before. I seriously don’t know how Cal, or Kimi for that matter, managed those years while she was gone. I was amazed at the determination and strength of their love, because this is what pulled them through. Let me put this quite simply for all of you guys, Cal McKay is nothing short of amazing. It’s no wonder his sons are two of my favorite guys from the McKay clan, because the apple didn’t fall far from the tree there.

With all that said, I’m sure you know I’m going to tell you that this is a MUST read. Their relationship is complicated, but yet also so simple in the purity of the love they have for one another. I have to say it again because it bares reminding, but I just love these two. So read this book, but more so read the whole series. When you are invested in it like I am, each time you get to revisit with your favorite family becomes such a treat. I can’t wait for what Lorelei has in store for us next.

After reading Turn and Burn, which belongs to another Lorelei’s series, I remembered that she had written a short story about the other parents in the Rough Riders series, so I decided to read it. And let me tell you, it was fantastic!

Long Time Gone is the story of Calvin McKay (the funny and smokin' twin brother of Carson) and Kimi West (the fiesty younger sister of Carolyn, Carson’s wife). Also, if you have read this amazing series, you may know them as the parents of the McKay twins: Kade and Kane.

“Please tell me you’re not my future brother-in-law?”
“I’m not. But darlin’ girl, I’m da** near certain I’m your future husband.”

What I loved the most about this series is these two last stories about the parents of this amazing family. I mean, I loved Cowboy Take Me Away and now, I loved this novella as well. I actually wanted more!! I loved the relationship that grows between Cal and Kimi and their instantaneous chemistry and funny moments.

“Get in the truck or I’m going to f*** you right here, in the parking lot, Kimi. Where anyone can see just what you do to me.” He nuzzled her ear. “And how godd*** much I missed you.”
“That sounds like a threat, cowboy.”
“No, sweet darlin’ mine. It’s a promise.”

Still, James’ had time to make me laugh and also cry, and I love that. So sad when they are apart!

He rested his forehead to hers. “I don’t think my heart was beating at all until the moment I saw you again.”

And well, I still cannot believe this series is finished. HOWEVER, GREAT NEWS!!: at the end of the book, Lorelei annouced that she is starting a spin-off series (The Rough Riders Legacy) and I am crazy ecxited about it because the first story is about Sierra and Boone (who started their story in the 14th book, Gone Country).

Therefore, my rating is 5 STARS because simply this was a fabulous read! I love everything about it: the couple, the secondary characters, their smokin’ chemistry and the emotions that they produced in me. Totally recommend if you are into western romance!

Reviewed by Francesca and posted at Under The Covers Book Blog

Another look back in time to the origins of some of my favorite heroes in romance. Yes, after the epic story of Carson McKay and Carolyn West in COWBOY TAKE ME AWAY, Ms. James goes back in time to show us how Calvin McKay and Kimi West got together.
I’ve always been intrigued by the fact that twins Calvin and Carson McKay ended up marrying the West sisters. I had already fallen in love with Carolyn, and it was fun to see the differences between the brothers as well as the sisters.
LONG TIME GONE gives us that glimpse. And where COWBOY TAKE ME AWAY was more tumultuous and heart wrenching, LONG TIME GONE was easy going, a slow burn that once it gets going it quickly sparks.
Calvin falls in lust with Kimi at first sight when he meets her just before his brother’s wedding. At the time she was a week shy of 17. She may be young, but she knows what she wants. She has a big personality with a side of rebel. She’s been repressed by her family and just wants to forge her path on her own. Even if that path leads her away from home. Or maybe in hopes of that.
Calvin shocked me with his cool and calm demeanor, his patience and his determination to get the girl he had his heart set on. Kimi doesn’t make things easy but somehow Calvin is just that strong, silent type that works perfectly to reel her in and tame her. They are almost complete opposites and complement each other so well. Reading these stories now almost makes me forget about any of their interactions I’ve read in the series. And definitely makes me want to do a whole series re-read!
For long time lovers of the series (like me!), this is a must read. Everything you love from Ms. James is here, and I can’t help but want to gobble up anything new about the McKays to fit in my puzzle. For new fans? It may just be a glimpse into the big McKay world that you MUST get into. This might just be the best western erotic series out there. So do yourself a favor and pick it up right away.
Now the elephant in the room? The Boone and Sierra story excerpt. I refuse to read it, because it will only highten my anticipation and I don’t think I can handle that right now. But if you don’t mind the itchy grabby paws it’ll give you by reading it, then go for it! Ms. James gave us some exciting news about the “placement” of this story in the Rough Riders universe. I think you’ll be happy with the news, as much as I am.

I've always been curious about Calvin "Cal" McKay and Kimberly "Kimi" West story since their introduction. I'm happy to report their story is just as good as the rest of the books in The Rough Riders Series. You're probably wondering why I'm not doing my normal style of reviewing~using that format doesn't work for this book and I'm considering changes in my reviewing style. Cal and Kimi often remind me of Carson and Caro along with Colby and Channing. I completely love this series more and more. Lorelei James has promised as spin-off series call Rough Riders Legacy. I'm so excited I can't wait to get my hands on the first book called Unbreak My Heart. Ready for a hot cowboy then Long Time Gone is the book for you. Happy Reading!

long time gone was a wonderful novella, the last in the rough rider series.. I was besotted with Cal ability to let Kimi experience life before they settled down. I was so sad she had actually left to travel. Letting go when you love someone even to find yourself is a hard thing to do. This has been a wonderful series to read and I recommend you read all the stories in this series.

Cal McKay didn’t understand his brother’s sudden fall for his bride-to-be until he met her younger sister. But Kimi West is only 16 so after sharing a kiss that shows her the difference between boys and men, Cal has to let her go back to boarding school. When they meet again a year later, Cal realizes that he needs to let Kimi fulfill her desire to travel.

This is a short but beautiful addition to the series. Kimi and Calvin meet and sparks fly, they have an instant connection but they meet at the wrong time in their lives, Kimi is only 16. It's a story about meetng ' the one ' and staying true to the belief that you are meant to be together.