Short Rides (Rough Riders series)

This book was great, giving the reader an update on the McKay family. Hope Ms. James continues with the other McKays so that we know what is going on with them. The Rough Rider Series is a great read and I have spread the word about her books. Great, Great and Great!!!!!!

Loved getting an update on some of my favorite McKays. This is definitely a must read for fans of Ms. James' Rough Riders series. If you haven't already read the rest of the series, I highly recommend starting at the beginning with Long Hard Ride.

Short Rides is a compilation of 3 short stories. Each adding to their own story.

King of Hearts is the a story about Cam McKay having to deal with a murder/suicide case on Valentine's Day. Even though this subject is grim it shows the real life scenarios that Police Officers and their families have to face.But just like all of LJ's books this story has HEA.

Rough Road is about Chassie, Trevor and Edgard spending a romantic weekend away from the ranch and kids celebrating their anniversary. Only they have to come home to deal with their oldest being bullied at school. I really enjoyed how the conflict in the story was handled. This story was really well written. I love how the entire McKay/West family comes together.

All Knocked Up is a story about Keely and Jack having a baby. Just like the previous stories in this anthology the subject deals with everyday life and how the McKays handle it. I personal enjoyed reading about Keely in the delivery room having her baby, because she is a real spitfire so getting to see this glimpse in to her life was a great read.

I have thoroughly enjoyed all of the stories about the McKays’ and Wests’ love lives up to this point. These three follow ups concern Cam and Domini; Chassie, Trevor and Edgard; and Keely and Jack.

In King of Hearts Cam who works for the local Sheriff’s department sees things no one, not even an officer of the law, should see. What keeps Cam sane? Domini and their adopted children. The love they all share saves Cam from giving into his PTSD.

Rough Ride revisits the family of my favorite threesome. Living an unorthodox lifestyle can be difficult for the adults involved, but for their innocent son, Westin, who is bullied by a child two years older than him it can be horribly tragic. After Westin punches out the bully and gets expelled from first grade all of the McKay and West families step up to show Chassie, her two husbands, and young Westin that their family had their backs.

Last but not the least of these stories, we revisit Keely and Jack in All Knocked Up. After four years of marriage Keely is finally pregnant and she thinks she has it all under control. Wrong! Along comes Baby Girl #1 ... 9 months later her sister arrives ... then the twins arrive in a gush of blood that culminates in a C-section. Amongst all of this hormonal craziness we get a close-up of Keely’s dad’s love for his own baby girl, for whom he’d do anything in the world! Totally love these McKay men!

Short Rides gives us an opportunity to revisit some of our favorite people in the series.
In King of Hearts, Deputy Cam McKay finds himself at a crime scene involving the death of a former soldier, on Valentine's Day. As a wounded warrior himself, Cam must deal with his feelings in order to spare his family the grief the situation arouses in him.
In Rough Road, our threesome parents Chassie, Trevor & Edgard arrange a romantic weekend away from the children, only to arrive home and discover the effect their chosen lifestyle has on their children by members of the community.
In All Knocked Up, Keeley and Jack are having a baby, or two!
And all of them are having their usual very sexy moments! A fun read.

Love having this compilation of 3 stories to fill in some gaps and bring us even closer to the McKay family!! Keeping with the sexual heat & chemistry of the series, this one does not disappoint. Featuring stories about Officer Cam McKay and the reality of what our military go thru during times of War and PTSD, and the Chass/Trevor/Edgar trio and what their kids deal with having 3 parents in an open marriage and Keely & Jack having kids. The reality of the story lines pull at the heartstrings and the hot love scenes get your heart racing.

~Reviewed by FRANCESCA & posted at Under the Covers Book Blog

"It reminded me of everything that I love about this series." ~Under the Covers

Wow! What can I say? I knew I was going to love this, I just didn't know how much and how deep it would be. Ms. James blew me away with these stories! I think I could read about the McKays forever! As I was reading this book and chatting with a friend, I noticed I had a lot of *THUD* moments while reading. I guess, as she cleverly mentioned, this is an uber-THUD book. That alone should help make your decision on getting it. THIS IS MUST READ!

King of Hearts - 4 Feathers

I had already read this story last year in the GUNS AND ROSES anthology. A bad day in the life of Cam McKay as a cop. He's called in to the scene of a murder/suicide on Valentine's Day. He went to school with the husband. They seemed like such a happy couple just days before. Cam has to deal with the parents, the investigation, and the fact that the reason why this all might've happened is because the husband never recovered mentally after coming back from war. A lot of the issues hit home for Cam. But at the end of the day when he gets to go home, the love of his family pulls him through.

Rough Road - 5 Feathers

Holy hell let the waterworks begin. This story was so emotional because it centers on the problems that Chassie, Edward and Trevor face in their everyday lives while trying to lead their alternative lifestyle in a small town, full of close minded people. These things will take a toll on all of them, and that includes children. In just a few pages it managed to show so much of their daily lives and their emotions. Their bond as a family, and their bond as a triad. Chassie, Ed and Trevor are still orgasmicly good! HOT HOT HOT! But not only do they still work after all these years together, and still love and respect each other, but they stand together against anything they have to face. Head on and strong. And the McKays made it a point to remind them that family sticks together. Yeah, I got a bit teary eyed to see the massive support and love that came through with this story. It reminded me of everything that I love about this series.

"Sweet words won't get you sweet lovin', my man." Edgard kissed him hard and snatched the lube. "Hands and knees."

All Knocked Up - 5 Feathers

Jack and Keely have always been a favorite couple of mine. Jack has also been on my top five men of this series even though he's not a McKay. In good Jack and Keely fashion, this story made me both love and hate both. Keely is pregnant and lets just say a tad touchy and scary. Jack hasn't been handling that the best way possible. ALL KNOCKED UP takes us on a ride through Keely's three pregnancies, the ups and downs. The happy and the scary. And the freaking HOT. Another one that tugged at the strings of my heart. I got the unexpected with this story.

"Jack grabbed a handful of her hair and tugged her head back. "Behave. My way. Or no way. Understand?"

*Review copy provided by author

Rating: A ... Heat: Warm/Sizzling

I am in love with this anthology! Miz James does cowboys - and she does them right! (That came out dirtier than I intended...*cough*) The Rough Riders series is a perfect mix of western charm and kinky lovin' - with a heavy dose of heart. And I love how Miz James never holds back on giving her characters a big heaping helping of reality. Or flaws and quirks. We get all that and we also get to see the after their happily ever after's.

In King of Hearts, Cam McKay has had a bad day. A very, very bad day. On Valentine's Day, no less. But Domini, Leisl, and the other McKay kids aren't about to let their dad stay sad for long.

This story hit me with the sadness from page one. This was the shortest and the darkest of the three stories, and was more sweet and tender than sizzling and erotic, but I loved seeing Cam and Dom. Even under these circumstances. It took a dark subject and gently made it brighter. Miz James infused a lot of heart in these pages.

In Rough Road, we get to see Chassie, Trevor, and Edgard again. As the only monogamous ménage in the RR bunch, it took a lot of extra work for them to get their HEA. And, even though they're happy as a tripod, it was pretty obvious that life wouldn't always be easy for them. Not in small-town Wyoming where there are also a lot of small-minded people. With their eldest son in school, they expected him to start having questions about his parents unconventional lifestyle. What they didn't expect was for their kid to be bullied because of it.

The worn out parents could use some TLC alone time to reconnect and regroup. And, oh, their romantic getaway is tender and loving and little bit naughty. But, good lovin' aside, after their vacation is over, life won't be ignored. I love the way Miz James handled the sensitive topic of bullying... and how it brought all the McKays, far and wide, together in support. It was awesome to see Chassie, Trevor, and Edgard - and their kids - happy and healthy and well-loved.

In All Knocked Up, well, I just have to say: Jack Donahue - I love yoooou! As my absolute favorite, McKay or no, I couldn't wait to read Jack and Keely's pregnancy story. And while we don't get to see baby D's conception - the time leading up to the birth is fiery and passionate and temperamental as only Keely and Jack can do.

Their story melted me. Everything we love about these two in one hyper-sensitive and uber-hormonal novella. I loved the highs and the lows, the sweet moments and the embarrassing ones. How Jack and Keely are a solid unit. A team. So glad we got to be a part of GQ and his cowgirl becoming a mommy and a daddy.

Thank you Lorelei James for bringing us back into the lives of some of our favorite characters! It's good to be back in Wyoming!!

King of Hearts ~ 5 Stars!
Cam's story was very moving and touching. The investigation surrounding a murder/suicide dredges up some bad memories for him and information about one of the victims leaves him asking questioning his own stability. But the beautiful Domini and his own clan of kids bring him back around, and he realizes that their love for him as well as his for them, will see him through the dark times. It was lovely to see this imposing man, that hurt so much in Shoulda Been a Cowboy, have the beautiful life he was so deserving of!

Rough Road ~ 4 Stars!
In this one the author deals with the issue of prejudice and bullying in this powerful novella. Little Winston, Chassie, Trevor and Edgar's oldest child comes home asking what a `faggot' is, and this sets off a chain of events that has Chassie wanting to home school her precious son. They are an unconventional family, and they've shielded themselves pretty well, but now with the children going off to school, they all fear the ridicule their children might face. When it comes to the McKays and Wests, family is everything, and they step up to show their support for the Glanzers in a big way!

My only problem with this novella was the sex felt very orchestrated on their weekend getaway, and I didn't get that connection between Chassie, Trevor and Edgar, like I did in Rough, Raw, and Ready. Overall though a great addition to this series!

All Knocked Up ~ 5+ Stars!
Keely and Jack are one of my favorite couples in the Rough Riders series and their book All Jacked Up was a standout read for me on so many levels, as is this novella. These two are passionate about everything; the way they live, the way they fight and most especially the way they love!! Watching them on the road to parenthood was some sexy good fun!! Ms. James hit a home-run with this unbelievably heart-warming novella. Fans of this series and Jack and Keely, are in for a real treat. I didn't want to let them go!

My Final Thoughts
I'm not normally a fan of anthologies, but when it's done like this, where each story involves a couple in a series, one series by one author, then I'm on board. I love these updates and I wish more authors would take heed and release books like this. It makes me want to go back and read the whole series all over again.

Thanks Lorelei James for this fun self-published venture and giving your readers what they want....keep `em coming!!

*Speechless*

This short stories have me sitting here in front of the computer thinking..."What can I say besides WOW?"...

Okay lets take this one at a time. First King of Hearts. Although this book was previously previously published in the Guns and Roses anthology in 2012 I had not read it.

So my thoughts here? WTF!! Can't this people give poor Cam a break. How is he suppose to know who does or did what? He is not a god. And then when he comes home to he's family? Again WTF!! Cam got me so mad that I wanted to slap him in the face for doing that to his children and for bottling all that stuff up instead of letting at least his wife in so she can help. But in the end everything went it's own course and Cam finally understood that his family was his salvation and that no matter what might come they'll always have his back.

Next comes Rough Road. This one got my attention more because of the situation with Westin that the trio in their anniversary getaway. Bullying is a situation that is growing in the real world at an alarming rate. And this story shows us that we have to take actions and stay united as a strong family in the worst of times.

And last All Knocked Up which I still think is the best couple in the series. Or at least the hottest one. Even when pregnant Keely wanted nothing more than to jump her hubbies bones. Well at least one bone I know of! In this story there are unexpected but not unpleasant surprises. And then there is more McKay family support and unconditional love. Which is one of the reasons I love this family. They remind me of mine although we are not that many, I think?!

Over all it was an amazing book even when it had some errors here and there. But as it was self published Lorelei did an excellent job. I just can't wait for Dalton's book and keep praying that Chet, Remy and assorted West others get a story two even if it's a short one like Nick's and Blake's.