Title: Cowboy Up
Author: Mary Winter
Publisher: http://ellorascave.com
Genre: Contemporary, GBLT (M/M)
Length: Short Novel
Rating: **** ½ (out of 5)
Rock Brennan was at the top of his game on the rodeo circuit when an affair with another cowboy ruined his career. Now he’s training for one more shot at the big time in another discipline – reining, in a bid to reclaim his position of top dog in his chosen sport. He’s all set to focus on his riding when he arrives at the US Equestrian Team’s training camp until he meets his room-mate, hotter than hell dressage diva Andreas Thorpe.
Andreas takes one look at Rock and decides that the sexy cowboy is just what he needs for the duration of training camp. They start a torrid affair and both men figure on having a good time until camp breaks. But something happens on the way to a fun affair, they fall for each other which screws up everything because neither one wants to complicate his life with feelings and thoughts of happy ever after.
In addition to providing some of the hottest sex I have read in a while, this book gave me a tremendous amount of information about these two disciplines in equestrian sports. Mary Winter wove the information about dressage and reining seamlessly into the story in such a way that it was always enlightening but never became the focus of the story.
Andreas’ and Rock’s love story plays out against a background of horses, sweat, competition and hot looking men. The sex in this book is scorching and the two characters are quite believable in their roles as major league dressage rider and a cowboy working his way back to fame and fortune. I liked the dialogue between them and the vulnerability they showed when they realized that their affair could be over because there were more than enough reasons why it wouldn’t work in the real world.
Mary Winter has written another wonderful story where her main strength is her characters who are so believable that they could walk off the pages of the book. Both Rock and Andreas were strong and focused on their career but when it came to a choice between love and sticking with their chosen profession it was time to Cowboy up.
I recently read this book and really liked it. Rock and Andy are both very strong, well written (and Hot) men. This is the second book by Mary Winter that I’ve read and I enjoyed both books very much.
Lily
Hi Lily
I really love her writing. The sex in this book was enough to scorch the pages. Have you read her action figure heroes series? Mission: Raw and Mission: Carnal are the first 2 books and I quite enjoyed them.
Did you get your prize from Anne?
Gay cowboys…mmmmm.
SOLD!!!
You gotta love those cowboys. Can’t resist them especially if they’re gay LOL
Yes, I did get the book from Anne. Still excited about that. The other book I read from Mary was Riding Partner, which also featured Hot guys and horses, I haven’t read the Mission books yet. I’ve got about a ton of books on my ebook reader waiting to be read still.
As for the sex, yeah, scorching is right *grins*
I’m really happy you got your book.
Riding Partner is on my list to review within the next week or so. I have only about 200 on my TBR list and it’s very hard to choose which ones to review.
Gay cowboys! Jen, why did that make me think of you? :-p
Great review. I feel like I’ve heard of Mary Winter before except I can’t remember where. I’m pretty sure it wasn’t about any of the other books you mentionned in the comments and I’m too tired (ok, lazy) to look it up right now.
And good luck with that TBR pile of yours! I don’t know that many people whose TBR pile is bigger than mine ;).
Hi Mary
You’re such a wonderful friend of the blog. Who is going to critique my reviews for the 2 months you’ll be away touring Europe?
Mary Winter’s has written a number of books but I have only read the M/M ones. Jen just can’t resist those gay cowboys – that’s why she’s such a fan of J.L. Langley!!
My TBR pile just keeps getting larger every week and that’s not counting the paperbacks – I’m going to have to find a home for some of them soon. When you return if they’re still sitting there I’ll email you the names and if you want any of them just let me know.
Ooooooh…!! Like I’d refuse an offer like that? Thank you! I’d offer to reciprocate but I doubt that would help you clean up your shelves :-DD
And I’ll do what I can about the reviews while I’m abroad 😀 I shouldn’t get that many e-mails, and if I have time to browse, there are five main sites I want to check on and your blog is one of them :).
You’re welcome to any of the books you want.
I’m looking forward to your comments from abroad. Check in on Monday, July 21 when I’ll have a special announcement. Can’t wait and you’re not allowed to guess 🙂
Lol. I don’t have much time to try guessing anyway :-DDD
Mary & Wave – I like *all* cowboys. But gay ones? Hello, TWO sexy cowboys for the price of one???
Yes, I am shallow, and I EMBRACE it!! LOLOL
Hey Jen
Did we say you were shallow :)? Never. I believe you are a very discerning individual who knows what she likes.
I too love all cowboys, but gay cowboys WOW.