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Copper Lake #1
Eight Seconds to Ride
A steamy one night stand in the bathroom of a bar in Las Vegas after a world championship win? Yes, please.
Meeting him again months later, only to learn he’s my newest competition? Not so much.
The weight of the legacy I carry is a constant tug in my mind, with the ghosts of the generations before me always whispering for me to push harder, train longer, be better.
In the eight seconds I have to ride, everything else falls away and my sole focus is on doing what I do best.
I am Shooter Graham, consecutive three time world champion bronc rider. No one has ever come close to taking the title since I’ve had it… until him.
Sterling Addams. The new cowboy in town with dark hair, eyes like honey, and a taste for me he likes to pretend he doesn’t have.
He’s green… but he’s good. Too good.
Suddenly, the already heavy pressure I’m under multiplies tenfold. The need to beat him, the uncontrollable urge to put him in his place, becomes almost an obsession.
The question is, how far will I go to prove I’m number one?
Meeting him again months later, only to learn he’s my newest competition? Not so much.
The weight of the legacy I carry is a constant tug in my mind, with the ghosts of the generations before me always whispering for me to push harder, train longer, be better.
In the eight seconds I have to ride, everything else falls away and my sole focus is on doing what I do best.
I am Shooter Graham, consecutive three time world champion bronc rider. No one has ever come close to taking the title since I’ve had it… until him.
Sterling Addams. The new cowboy in town with dark hair, eyes like honey, and a taste for me he likes to pretend he doesn’t have.
He’s green… but he’s good. Too good.
Suddenly, the already heavy pressure I’m under multiplies tenfold. The need to beat him, the uncontrollable urge to put him in his place, becomes almost an obsession.
The question is, how far will I go to prove I’m number one?
375 pages, Paperback
First published January 5, 2024
476 people are currently reading
3191 people want to read
About the author
Ashley James
27 books1,394 followersAshley James is a romance author who enjoys writing (and reading) LGBTQIA+ books. She is from Washington State—and no, not Seattle—and currently resides in South Carolina with her two kids and hairless kitties, Goose, Maverick, and Houston. Ashley is introverted and slightly (okay, majorly) awkward. She refuses to make this section sound like a tacky dating app profile, so she won't be telling you how much she enjoys music, how she thoroughly enjoys dancing and singing in her kitchen, despite not being able to carry a tune, and she won't be telling you about her love of toxic and broken fictional men.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 608 reviews
July 4, 2024
First and foremost, Shooter is DISGUSTING for 85% of the book.
If I met his ass in real life, I'd wanna smack him one.. What an absolute untitled word document.
But he did get some kind of character redemption.... I guess.......
However, he turned to romantic bullshit goop right at the end, and I wanted to throw up in my mouth. Don't be treating someone like an asshole, being a hot and cold toxic cockalorum mf, and then be all "omg my life is so amazing now I have found you, you are my one and only". 🤮🤮
Honestly......... I came here for the cowboy riding, and nothing else. If you go in with the attitude, you may like this?? 🤠🤠🤠 save a horse, ride a cowboy vibes ya know.
They enjoy a risky semi-public romp from time to time... and that floats my fucking boat, what can I say... ?? ⛵⛵⛵
Lets chant again......
Semi public sex! 👏
Semi public sex! 🎬
Semi public sex! 👏
Semi public sex! 🎬
Semi public sex! 👏
Semi public sex! 🎬
Semi public sex! 👏
Semi public sex! 🎬
RTC - this was a book club read and I’m ready to discuss all the public riding that occurred in the book, that didn’t involve any horses 🤠 MY YEE HAS BEEN HAWED
Chant with me. (I don’t know what you’d classify this as properly, don’t @ me)
Semi public sex! 👏
Semi public sex! 🎬
Semi public sex! 👏
Semi public sex! 🎬
Semi public sex! 👏
Semi public sex! 🎬
Semi public sex! 👏
Semi public sex! 🎬
If I met his ass in real life, I'd wanna smack him one.. What an absolute untitled word document.
But he did get some kind of character redemption.... I guess.......
However, he turned to romantic bullshit goop right at the end, and I wanted to throw up in my mouth. Don't be treating someone like an asshole, being a hot and cold toxic cockalorum mf, and then be all "omg my life is so amazing now I have found you, you are my one and only". 🤮🤮
Honestly......... I came here for the cowboy riding, and nothing else. If you go in with the attitude, you may like this?? 🤠🤠🤠 save a horse, ride a cowboy vibes ya know.
They enjoy a risky semi-public romp from time to time... and that floats my fucking boat, what can I say... ?? ⛵⛵⛵
Lets chant again......
Semi public sex! 👏
Semi public sex! 🎬
Semi public sex! 👏
Semi public sex! 🎬
Semi public sex! 👏
Semi public sex! 🎬
Semi public sex! 👏
Semi public sex! 🎬
RTC - this was a book club read and I’m ready to discuss all the public riding that occurred in the book, that didn’t involve any horses 🤠 MY YEE HAS BEEN HAWED
Chant with me. (I don’t know what you’d classify this as properly, don’t @ me)
Semi public sex! 👏
Semi public sex! 🎬
Semi public sex! 👏
Semi public sex! 🎬
Semi public sex! 👏
Semi public sex! 🎬
Semi public sex! 👏
Semi public sex! 🎬
January 22, 2024
This story has a slightly rocky beginning, but if you stick it out, the ending is beautiful.
Gay, cowboy romance
Heavy emotions
Push/pull
Virgin/manwhore
Smokin hot intimacy
Parental pressure
Drinking/smoking
No om
Beautiful hea
Shooter Graham (24) is a three-time bareback world champion. He’s beyond cocky, and has different male buckle bunnies at every stop.
“Well, what are you waiting for, baby?” His gaze jumps, meeting mine as I smirk. “It’s not gonna suck itself.”
Sterling Addams (22) is new to the professional rodeo circuit. He is a heavy competitor for the title Shooter has consistently won.
“What if I don’t have what it takes to treat him the way he deserves to be treated? What if I really am a selfish dick?”
The second half of the book was much better than the first. The author brought all of the emotions together and the ending was beautiful.
Gay, cowboy romance
Heavy emotions
Push/pull
Virgin/manwhore
Smokin hot intimacy
Parental pressure
Drinking/smoking
No om
Beautiful hea
Shooter Graham (24) is a three-time bareback world champion. He’s beyond cocky, and has different male buckle bunnies at every stop.
“Well, what are you waiting for, baby?” His gaze jumps, meeting mine as I smirk. “It’s not gonna suck itself.”
Sterling Addams (22) is new to the professional rodeo circuit. He is a heavy competitor for the title Shooter has consistently won.
“What if I don’t have what it takes to treat him the way he deserves to be treated? What if I really am a selfish dick?”
The second half of the book was much better than the first. The author brought all of the emotions together and the ending was beautiful.
![Profile Image for Carol [Goodreads Addict].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1626057011i%2F10717098._UX200_CR0%2C33%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
August 27, 2025
Eight Seconds to Ride is book one in the Copper Lake series by Ashley James. This is a new to me author. The amazing cover of this book first grabbed my attention. Then there is that pesky cowboy obsession I have! Along with a good friend’s recommendation, it was a must read for me. And I loved it!
Shooter Graham is twenty four years old and is the rodeo bronc rider world champion three years running. He’s cocky and seems to have a constant chip on his shoulder. He comes from a long line of bronc riders, his father, grand father, and uncles. But along with that legacy comes the pressure to live up to their reputations. To do better.
Sterling Addams is twenty one years old and is also a bronc rider entering the professional rodeo circuit for the first time. He’s a natural in the saddle. He just seems to know what the bronc will do before she does it. Sterling is a little more quiet, reserved, shy even. But in the saddle, he couldn’t be more sure of himself.
Shooter and Sterling have a very steamy first meeting. Sterling knows who Shooter is but to Shooter, Sterling is just another fan, although a very good looking one. They have a one night stand, or more like a one night encounter! But then four months later, Sterling shows up in Copper Lake as a new and upcoming bronc rider, preparing for the new season.
“Shooter has this way of watching me like I’m the only person in the room. He looks at me like I’m the only one who matters, like he has eyes for nobody else.”
Sterling fits in perfectly with Shooter’s friends, the gang that all travels the rodeo circuit together. They all become close friends. But that same sizzling attraction is always there lurking between Shooter and Sterling. It is so confusing to Shooter to be feeling these feelings since he’s never felt them before. Sterling soon becomes Shooter’s greatest competition and at the same time, the pressure builds and builds that he feels to always be the best.
“This thing with Sterling, whatever it is, I don’t understand it. At all. I don’t understand this pull I feel to him. I don’t understand the antsy feeling I get in my gut when he isn’t around or the flutter I feel when he shoots a look at me, or his arm brushes against mine.”
This turned out to be so sweet and such a wonderful read! I was so proud of Shooter in the end. He was so much stronger than he gave himself credit for. And Sterling was the perfect match for him. He grounded him, settled him. I adored Sterling. For a twenty one year old, he was wise beyond his years. There was also a fun little bonus epilogue you can download. The next book in the series is called Dirt Road Secrets and is Cope and Xander’s book and I am starting it immediately. I can’t wait to get going and hope to see plenty more of Shooter and Sterling.
Shooter Graham is twenty four years old and is the rodeo bronc rider world champion three years running. He’s cocky and seems to have a constant chip on his shoulder. He comes from a long line of bronc riders, his father, grand father, and uncles. But along with that legacy comes the pressure to live up to their reputations. To do better.
Sterling Addams is twenty one years old and is also a bronc rider entering the professional rodeo circuit for the first time. He’s a natural in the saddle. He just seems to know what the bronc will do before she does it. Sterling is a little more quiet, reserved, shy even. But in the saddle, he couldn’t be more sure of himself.
Shooter and Sterling have a very steamy first meeting. Sterling knows who Shooter is but to Shooter, Sterling is just another fan, although a very good looking one. They have a one night stand, or more like a one night encounter! But then four months later, Sterling shows up in Copper Lake as a new and upcoming bronc rider, preparing for the new season.
“Shooter has this way of watching me like I’m the only person in the room. He looks at me like I’m the only one who matters, like he has eyes for nobody else.”
Sterling fits in perfectly with Shooter’s friends, the gang that all travels the rodeo circuit together. They all become close friends. But that same sizzling attraction is always there lurking between Shooter and Sterling. It is so confusing to Shooter to be feeling these feelings since he’s never felt them before. Sterling soon becomes Shooter’s greatest competition and at the same time, the pressure builds and builds that he feels to always be the best.
“This thing with Sterling, whatever it is, I don’t understand it. At all. I don’t understand this pull I feel to him. I don’t understand the antsy feeling I get in my gut when he isn’t around or the flutter I feel when he shoots a look at me, or his arm brushes against mine.”
This turned out to be so sweet and such a wonderful read! I was so proud of Shooter in the end. He was so much stronger than he gave himself credit for. And Sterling was the perfect match for him. He grounded him, settled him. I adored Sterling. For a twenty one year old, he was wise beyond his years. There was also a fun little bonus epilogue you can download. The next book in the series is called Dirt Road Secrets and is Cope and Xander’s book and I am starting it immediately. I can’t wait to get going and hope to see plenty more of Shooter and Sterling.
dropped
December 8, 2024***no rating***
dropped @20%
This is not doing it for me. *yawn
Honestly, my only experience with rodeo was watching Jimmy do it in several seasons of Yellowstone (Jesus, Kevin Costner in worn jeans was one hell of a view!), anyway, I thought I’d like it in a romance too. BUT…
I didn’t like Shooter, Sterling was bland, didn’t like the writing and the plot felt predictable. (Maybe it’s not but evidently I don’t know, nor do I care.)
Maybe this author and I won’t ever click.
*************
Copper Lake Series
Book 1 - Eight Seconds to Ride - dropped
Book 2 - Dirt Road Secrets
Book 3 - Burning the Midnight Oil
Book 4 - The History Between Us - 3.5 stars
Book 5 - Every Promise Broken - 4.25 stars
dropped @20%
This is not doing it for me. *yawn
Honestly, my only experience with rodeo was watching Jimmy do it in several seasons of Yellowstone (Jesus, Kevin Costner in worn jeans was one hell of a view!), anyway, I thought I’d like it in a romance too. BUT…
I didn’t like Shooter, Sterling was bland, didn’t like the writing and the plot felt predictable. (Maybe it’s not but evidently I don’t know, nor do I care.)
Maybe this author and I won’t ever click.
*************
Copper Lake Series
Book 1 - Eight Seconds to Ride - dropped
Book 2 - Dirt Road Secrets
Book 3 - Burning the Midnight Oil
Book 4 - The History Between Us - 3.5 stars
Book 5 - Every Promise Broken - 4.25 stars
June 16, 2024
enjoyed this rodeo book! I enjoyed seeing the character growth (although could have used a bit more from shooter- i was overall happy with his progression) loved the traveling/camping/rodeo vibes.
I do really hate the name shooter though.
Some good throbbing action in the campground bathroom's shower stall.
I do really hate the name shooter though.
Some good throbbing action in the campground bathroom's shower stall.
May 28, 2024
Audio - 5 Stars
Story - 2.5 Stars
This is my second book by this author. I have the same complaint...good start but gets long winded and sappy.
Story - 2.5 Stars
This is my second book by this author. I have the same complaint...good start but gets long winded and sappy.
dnf
March 23, 2024dnf @ 50% 😪😪😪 i can’t read anymore.
February 28, 2024
"I shouldn't have done it… and I shouldn't want to do it again. But I do. God, I do."
Shooter Graham is 3 time world bronco riding champion.
He's cocky. He's a winner and he knows it.
But there is one thing that hasn't been able to escape his mind.
That one night stand after his winning ride.
So imagine Shooter's surprise when the new bronco riding competition is no other than Sterling Adams.
As in the Sterling Adams from that bar in Vegas.
As in Sterling Adams, his new rival.
And the man he can't stop thinking about.
"Knowing he's more than likely going to be watching me makes me feel equal parts nervous and exhilarated."
Sterling Addams has never done anything like that before.
Let alone in a bar bathroom in Vegas.
And with THE Shooter Graham.
But it was one night. One night to get it over with and get it done.
But was it?
Because when Sterling gets to Copper Lake who else to great him but the champ.
But the championship is all that matters. Nothing else. No distractions.
Right?
"I'm a grown man. Surely, I can learn to be around him without becoming flustered and mindless… Right?"
I received an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.
💫 4.75 stars💫
Ashley James hitting us with another addicting book!!
I mean come on rivals to lovers? Asshole falls first? AND a cowboy romance? Just here ticking all of my boxes.
"Like I said, I've got nothing to be jealous of. But now that you mention it, you could be a nice guy and help me celebrate my win again. You know… like last time."
First lets start with Shooter Graham. Our resident champion and asshole. He knows he's good, but is it all just a mask for what is really happening? OMG I identified with Shooter so much!! I mean the family stuff alone made me SOB so hard!! And then his vibe with Sterling??? OMG gimme gimme gimme!! I was obsessed (just like someone else…) Anyway yes he is that cocky asshole and I loved that!
"Coming from a legacy family has its perks, but it also has its downfalls too."
And we have Sterling Adams. He is adorable. Honestly he was so cute but when Shooter was being Shooter trust me he can dish it out as well as take it. Sterling moves to Copper Lake to start his Rodeo career as a new up and coming rodeo star. And he's good. So good he might give Shooter a run for his money. Shooter better watch his back. And even his front. (love this line from me thank you very much 💅💅).
"He knows he's the best, and that nobody comes close to beating him. But I plan to."
Ashley James made a bomb-ass playlist but this is my version so please check out both 🤠🤠
(Link: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/44q... )
🎵 "Cowboy Casanova" - Carrie Underwood
🎵 "Whatever It Takes" - Imagine Dragons
🎵 "Lose Control" - Teddy Swims
🎵 "Do It For Me" - Rosenfeld
🎵 "Shoulda" - Kylie Morgan
🎵 "Hate Me" - Nico Collins
🎵 "Boys Back Home" - Dylan Marlowe, Dylan Scott
🎵 "Heather" - Conan Gray
🎵 "Drunk (And I Don't Wannna Go Home)" - Elle King, Miranda Lambert
🎵 "Little Toy Guns" - Carrie Underwood
🎵 "Still Into You" - Paramore
🎵 "Save A Horse (Ride A Cowboy)" - Big & Rich
🎵 "Cologne" - SM6
🎵 "THAT’S WHAT I WANT" - Lil Nas X
🎵 "Good Enough" - Little Mix
🎵 "Human" - Rag'n'Bone Man
🎵 "Coincidence - Sped Up" - Rosse
🎵 "Collide" - Justine Skye, Tyga
🎵 "Thnks fr th Mmrs" - Fall Out Boy
🎵 "t r a n s p a r e n t s o u l" - WILLOW, Travis Barker
🎵 "goosebumps" - Travis Scott
🎵 "I Feel Like I'm Drowning" - Two Feet
🎵 "Run Boy Run" - Woodkid
🎵 "Meant To Be" - Bebe Rexha, Florida Georgia Line
🎵 "Drinking With Cupid" - VOILA
🎵 "Under The Influence" - Chris Brown
🎵 "Hustler" - Zayde Wolf
🎵 "If I Didn't Know Better" - Sam Palladio, Clare Bowen
🎵 "K[no]w Better" - Spencer Crandall
🎵 "Back To Me" - The Rose
🎵 "Boy in The Bubble" - Alec Benjamin
🎵 "No Bad Side" - Connor Price, Nic D
🎵 "Shivers" - Ed Sheeran
🎵 "Wanted" - Todrick Hall
🎵 "Losing My Religion" - BELLSAINT
🎵 "Party For Two" - Shania Twain, Billy Currington
🎵 "One Thing Right" - Marshmello, Kane Brown
🎵 "Project" - Chase McDaniel
🎵 "Electric Love" - BORNS
🎵 "Me On You" - Muscadine Bloodline
🎵 "Gas Pedal" - Sage The Gemini, Iamsu!
🎵 "Someone To You" - BANNERS
🎵 "The View Between Villages" - Noah Kahan
🎵 "Northern Attitude" - Noah Kahan, Hozier
🎵 "Life Is A Highway" - Rascal Flatts
🎵 "Hermit The Frog" - MARINA
🎵 "Come With Me Now" - KONGOS
🎵 "Surface Pressure" - No Resolve
🎵 "Need You Now" - Lady A
🎵 "Lean On Me" - Bill Withers
🎵 "SKIN OF MY TEETH" - Demi Lovato
🎵 "In My Blood" - Joel Smallbone
🎵 "Ain't That Some" - Morgan Wallen
🎵 "Bad To The Bone" - George Thorogood & The Destroyers
🎵 "Boulevard Of Broken Dreams" - Green Day
🎵 "Cowboy" - Kid Rock
🎵 "I Only Date Cowboys" - Kylie Morgan
🎵 "Shower" - Becky G
🎵 "Touch" - Little Mix
And trust me, Ashley James has done it once again with the dirty talk…
"Well, what are you waiting for, baby? It's not gonna suck itself."
"Come on, Addams. I know you can do it for me."
🐎 Tropes 🐎
🪢 Rivals to Lover
🪢 Small Town Romance
🪢 Cowboy/Professional Bronco Rider (Both)
🪢 Virgin MC
🪢 Forced Proximity
🪢 Playboy falls first
https://www.instagram.com/p/C1HtmcWIn...
Shooter Graham is 3 time world bronco riding champion.
He's cocky. He's a winner and he knows it.
But there is one thing that hasn't been able to escape his mind.
That one night stand after his winning ride.
So imagine Shooter's surprise when the new bronco riding competition is no other than Sterling Adams.
As in the Sterling Adams from that bar in Vegas.
As in Sterling Adams, his new rival.
And the man he can't stop thinking about.
"Knowing he's more than likely going to be watching me makes me feel equal parts nervous and exhilarated."
Sterling Addams has never done anything like that before.
Let alone in a bar bathroom in Vegas.
And with THE Shooter Graham.
But it was one night. One night to get it over with and get it done.
But was it?
Because when Sterling gets to Copper Lake who else to great him but the champ.
But the championship is all that matters. Nothing else. No distractions.
Right?
"I'm a grown man. Surely, I can learn to be around him without becoming flustered and mindless… Right?"
I received an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.
💫 4.75 stars💫
Ashley James hitting us with another addicting book!!
I mean come on rivals to lovers? Asshole falls first? AND a cowboy romance? Just here ticking all of my boxes.
"Like I said, I've got nothing to be jealous of. But now that you mention it, you could be a nice guy and help me celebrate my win again. You know… like last time."
First lets start with Shooter Graham. Our resident champion and asshole. He knows he's good, but is it all just a mask for what is really happening? OMG I identified with Shooter so much!! I mean the family stuff alone made me SOB so hard!! And then his vibe with Sterling??? OMG gimme gimme gimme!! I was obsessed (just like someone else…) Anyway yes he is that cocky asshole and I loved that!
"Coming from a legacy family has its perks, but it also has its downfalls too."
And we have Sterling Adams. He is adorable. Honestly he was so cute but when Shooter was being Shooter trust me he can dish it out as well as take it. Sterling moves to Copper Lake to start his Rodeo career as a new up and coming rodeo star. And he's good. So good he might give Shooter a run for his money. Shooter better watch his back. And even his front. (love this line from me thank you very much 💅💅).
"He knows he's the best, and that nobody comes close to beating him. But I plan to."
Ashley James made a bomb-ass playlist but this is my version so please check out both 🤠🤠
(Link: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/44q... )
🎵 "Cowboy Casanova" - Carrie Underwood
🎵 "Whatever It Takes" - Imagine Dragons
🎵 "Lose Control" - Teddy Swims
🎵 "Do It For Me" - Rosenfeld
🎵 "Shoulda" - Kylie Morgan
🎵 "Hate Me" - Nico Collins
🎵 "Boys Back Home" - Dylan Marlowe, Dylan Scott
🎵 "Heather" - Conan Gray
🎵 "Drunk (And I Don't Wannna Go Home)" - Elle King, Miranda Lambert
🎵 "Little Toy Guns" - Carrie Underwood
🎵 "Still Into You" - Paramore
🎵 "Save A Horse (Ride A Cowboy)" - Big & Rich
🎵 "Cologne" - SM6
🎵 "THAT’S WHAT I WANT" - Lil Nas X
🎵 "Good Enough" - Little Mix
🎵 "Human" - Rag'n'Bone Man
🎵 "Coincidence - Sped Up" - Rosse
🎵 "Collide" - Justine Skye, Tyga
🎵 "Thnks fr th Mmrs" - Fall Out Boy
🎵 "t r a n s p a r e n t s o u l" - WILLOW, Travis Barker
🎵 "goosebumps" - Travis Scott
🎵 "I Feel Like I'm Drowning" - Two Feet
🎵 "Run Boy Run" - Woodkid
🎵 "Meant To Be" - Bebe Rexha, Florida Georgia Line
🎵 "Drinking With Cupid" - VOILA
🎵 "Under The Influence" - Chris Brown
🎵 "Hustler" - Zayde Wolf
🎵 "If I Didn't Know Better" - Sam Palladio, Clare Bowen
🎵 "K[no]w Better" - Spencer Crandall
🎵 "Back To Me" - The Rose
🎵 "Boy in The Bubble" - Alec Benjamin
🎵 "No Bad Side" - Connor Price, Nic D
🎵 "Shivers" - Ed Sheeran
🎵 "Wanted" - Todrick Hall
🎵 "Losing My Religion" - BELLSAINT
🎵 "Party For Two" - Shania Twain, Billy Currington
🎵 "One Thing Right" - Marshmello, Kane Brown
🎵 "Project" - Chase McDaniel
🎵 "Electric Love" - BORNS
🎵 "Me On You" - Muscadine Bloodline
🎵 "Gas Pedal" - Sage The Gemini, Iamsu!
🎵 "Someone To You" - BANNERS
🎵 "The View Between Villages" - Noah Kahan
🎵 "Northern Attitude" - Noah Kahan, Hozier
🎵 "Life Is A Highway" - Rascal Flatts
🎵 "Hermit The Frog" - MARINA
🎵 "Come With Me Now" - KONGOS
🎵 "Surface Pressure" - No Resolve
🎵 "Need You Now" - Lady A
🎵 "Lean On Me" - Bill Withers
🎵 "SKIN OF MY TEETH" - Demi Lovato
🎵 "In My Blood" - Joel Smallbone
🎵 "Ain't That Some" - Morgan Wallen
🎵 "Bad To The Bone" - George Thorogood & The Destroyers
🎵 "Boulevard Of Broken Dreams" - Green Day
🎵 "Cowboy" - Kid Rock
🎵 "I Only Date Cowboys" - Kylie Morgan
🎵 "Shower" - Becky G
🎵 "Touch" - Little Mix
And trust me, Ashley James has done it once again with the dirty talk…
"Well, what are you waiting for, baby? It's not gonna suck itself."
"Come on, Addams. I know you can do it for me."
🐎 Tropes 🐎
🪢 Rivals to Lover
🪢 Small Town Romance
🪢 Cowboy/Professional Bronco Rider (Both)
🪢 Virgin MC
🪢 Forced Proximity
🪢 Playboy falls first
https://www.instagram.com/p/C1HtmcWIn...
July 31, 2024
This was my first book by Ashley, and I found myself ordering the rest of the series and pre-ordering the next two. I REALLY liked this as an intro to the series. The characters were great. I found myself trying to figure out who everyone would end up with or how their story would go. I of course loved the world. We were in rodeos and traveling with the rodeo folk and horses and mountains and pretty views and sexy AF cowboys. I really thought that Ashley did a great job with the mental health struggles that Shooter has been dealing with and letting us see that what people see on the outside might not always be what is happening underneath. I liked their meet cute and that it wasn't in fact a meet cute. I liked how they circled around each other for a while before things came about. I also enjoyed how much Sterling did not put up with Shooter's sh*t. He wasn't here for games. He wanted things to be genuine. I also loved how much he helped Shooter. It is so amazing when you find that person and things just click where you don't feel alone anymore.
Shooter is the NRA world champ AGAIN. He is on cloud nine and ready to party. He ends up at a bar in Vegas with his friends when someone catches his eye. He finds himself having a time in the bathroom with said stranger. Normally he doesn't think twice about on the road hookups, but for whatever reason he finds himself thinking about this guy long after their one night together. So isn't he shocked when he finds out that the stranger is Sterling Addams. His new competition. The same competition that his dad can't stop talking about and comparing him to. So Shooter does what he always does he trains. He ignores it, but he can't ignore this draw to Sterling. Even though he knows he shouldn't, he makes moves. But then Sterling starts doing the unthinkable- he starts winning. And Shooter finds himself on a downward spiral and the one person he wants to turn to is in fact Sterling. He pushes him away for as long as he can until he almost gets hurt and he realizes he might not want to do this anymore. He is finally honest with Sterling about all he has been struggling with and instead of the judgment he is expecting, he gets nothing but support. So Shooter decides to start making new moves and new plans. Plans that might be different from what he thought his dreams were but as long as Sterling is by his side, he can do anything.
Sterling is questioning a lot of recent decisions he has made most importantly the one night stand with Shooter Graham. THE Shooter Graham. The man he has been idolizing for forever. The man he will be competing against next season. The man he now calls a neighbor in this small town they live in. The man he can't ignore anymore. He tried to. He really does. He puts up walls but they get torn down. There is something about Shooter that makes Sterling want to learn more about. He wants to know what makes him tick. He wants to know how to make him smile. He wants to know if he enjoys what he is doing and why he acts the way he acts. When he finally finds out, he is heartbroken. He wants what is best for Shooter, but does Shooter want what is best for himself? All Sterling can do is be by his side and help him through it, if he will let him.
There were definitely times where I was annoyed by Shooter's behavior and his temper tantrums, but I can also recognize someone when they are deflecting the pain they are feeling. I also listened to half of this book on audio and have to say that the narrators did a FANTASTIC job. The tension and inflection was done perfectly. I can't wait to read more about these cowboys and meet new characters, and I sincerely hope our main men (you know who I mean if you have read this) get the second chance romance they deserve- pretty please Ashley!!!
Shooter is the NRA world champ AGAIN. He is on cloud nine and ready to party. He ends up at a bar in Vegas with his friends when someone catches his eye. He finds himself having a time in the bathroom with said stranger. Normally he doesn't think twice about on the road hookups, but for whatever reason he finds himself thinking about this guy long after their one night together. So isn't he shocked when he finds out that the stranger is Sterling Addams. His new competition. The same competition that his dad can't stop talking about and comparing him to. So Shooter does what he always does he trains. He ignores it, but he can't ignore this draw to Sterling. Even though he knows he shouldn't, he makes moves. But then Sterling starts doing the unthinkable- he starts winning. And Shooter finds himself on a downward spiral and the one person he wants to turn to is in fact Sterling. He pushes him away for as long as he can until he almost gets hurt and he realizes he might not want to do this anymore. He is finally honest with Sterling about all he has been struggling with and instead of the judgment he is expecting, he gets nothing but support. So Shooter decides to start making new moves and new plans. Plans that might be different from what he thought his dreams were but as long as Sterling is by his side, he can do anything.
Sterling is questioning a lot of recent decisions he has made most importantly the one night stand with Shooter Graham. THE Shooter Graham. The man he has been idolizing for forever. The man he will be competing against next season. The man he now calls a neighbor in this small town they live in. The man he can't ignore anymore. He tried to. He really does. He puts up walls but they get torn down. There is something about Shooter that makes Sterling want to learn more about. He wants to know what makes him tick. He wants to know how to make him smile. He wants to know if he enjoys what he is doing and why he acts the way he acts. When he finally finds out, he is heartbroken. He wants what is best for Shooter, but does Shooter want what is best for himself? All Sterling can do is be by his side and help him through it, if he will let him.
There were definitely times where I was annoyed by Shooter's behavior and his temper tantrums, but I can also recognize someone when they are deflecting the pain they are feeling. I also listened to half of this book on audio and have to say that the narrators did a FANTASTIC job. The tension and inflection was done perfectly. I can't wait to read more about these cowboys and meet new characters, and I sincerely hope our main men (you know who I mean if you have read this) get the second chance romance they deserve- pretty please Ashley!!!
June 14, 2024
This book made me yee my last haw.
So here are my thoughts: 🐎👍🤠🍆💦🤭🐎👎🙄🤢🚩🚿💦🥵🌎🌎🤷🏻♂️🙄🌵🧘🏻♂️🐎👎🙄🚩🤢🍆💦🙄😒🚩😡🥺🥹🫶🛌💕🐎👎🥲😒🥰🦗🚿💦🌎🌎💆🏻♂️🤭💕🚣🏻🤠🫶🤠💦💦, get it?
Probably would have dnf’d if it wasn’t for my Book Club girls, but I’m glad I pushed through! The last 30% was delicious, but the frustration in the first 70% was real.
So here are my thoughts: 🐎👍🤠🍆💦🤭🐎👎🙄🤢🚩🚿💦🥵🌎🌎🤷🏻♂️🙄🌵🧘🏻♂️🐎👎🙄🚩🤢🍆💦🙄😒🚩😡🥺🥹🫶🛌💕🐎👎🥲😒🥰🦗🚿💦🌎🌎💆🏻♂️🤭💕🚣🏻🤠🫶🤠💦💦, get it?
Probably would have dnf’d if it wasn’t for my Book Club girls, but I’m glad I pushed through! The last 30% was delicious, but the frustration in the first 70% was real.
November 20, 2024
The book gives you a good setting, the side characters are good and I'm intrigued but this story in particular wasn't anything special.
I messed around with my chat gpt a bit and this is what it came up with. I have to put something in here to make it more interesting, because the book really wasn't. And a cowboy one at that.
Also, a question : how is this a world championship when it's happening only in the USA and only Americans participate? How are these guys world champions?
🟣 Bronc riders
🔵 Both gay
🟢 Age gap 21/24
🟠 Good side characters, potential
🔵 Love story somewhat unconvincing
🟡 A bit of family drama, nothing much
🌶️ Some smut, not that much; virgin; oral, some rimming, penetrative; t/b
So Sterling and Shooter (one would think those are the names of their horses, right) are bronc riders who become rivals - but not really. I didn't really feel the rivalry, it was more the sexual tension between them, I think they dealt with that supposed rivalry pretty good. Nothing came of it.
They're both connected to Copper Lake, a small town known for its renowned bronc champions and where Sterling used to live as a kid, but now comes back to train and compete.
They hook up and it's good, it's interesting, the tension between them later down the line is quite good, but it somehow doesn't evolve into that full-blown passion you'd expect. They're simple, comforting, familiar and everyday and I guess that's good too, but that hype that's usually connected to cowboy books, especially the rodeo, isn't there.
Sterling and Shooter have this hot-cold-confused thing going on that didn't quite engage me, they weren't interesting enough. Also Sterling's virginity wasn't really a good addition to the story, at least for me.
Shooter's sister Daisy was a good character in the story, but apparently went on Shooter's nerves all the time, I don't know why, it made no sense, and also
"And now he’s sitting ten feet away from me, but I’m not even on his radar, that kiss probably long gone from his mind while he flirts with my fucking sister. What the fuck does she have that I don’t? A vagina?"
and this was after Shooter already hooked up with Sterling once or twice, so I don't know, it painted Daisy in this negative light while she was far from it, she was Sterling's friend. Pointless.
The story isn't that good, to be honest, I expected more, but I'm interested in other couples, especially Boone and Grady.
I messed around with my chat gpt a bit and this is what it came up with. I have to put something in here to make it more interesting, because the book really wasn't. And a cowboy one at that.
Also, a question : how is this a world championship when it's happening only in the USA and only Americans participate? How are these guys world champions?
🟣 Bronc riders
🔵 Both gay
🟢 Age gap 21/24
🟠 Good side characters, potential
🔵 Love story somewhat unconvincing
🟡 A bit of family drama, nothing much
🌶️ Some smut, not that much; virgin; oral, some rimming, penetrative; t/b
So Sterling and Shooter (one would think those are the names of their horses, right) are bronc riders who become rivals - but not really. I didn't really feel the rivalry, it was more the sexual tension between them, I think they dealt with that supposed rivalry pretty good. Nothing came of it.
They're both connected to Copper Lake, a small town known for its renowned bronc champions and where Sterling used to live as a kid, but now comes back to train and compete.
They hook up and it's good, it's interesting, the tension between them later down the line is quite good, but it somehow doesn't evolve into that full-blown passion you'd expect. They're simple, comforting, familiar and everyday and I guess that's good too, but that hype that's usually connected to cowboy books, especially the rodeo, isn't there.
Sterling and Shooter have this hot-cold-confused thing going on that didn't quite engage me, they weren't interesting enough. Also Sterling's virginity wasn't really a good addition to the story, at least for me.
Shooter's sister Daisy was a good character in the story, but apparently went on Shooter's nerves all the time, I don't know why, it made no sense, and also
"And now he’s sitting ten feet away from me, but I’m not even on his radar, that kiss probably long gone from his mind while he flirts with my fucking sister. What the fuck does she have that I don’t? A vagina?"
and this was after Shooter already hooked up with Sterling once or twice, so I don't know, it painted Daisy in this negative light while she was far from it, she was Sterling's friend. Pointless.
The story isn't that good, to be honest, I expected more, but I'm interested in other couples, especially Boone and Grady.
March 8, 2024
Tropes: failed one night stand, rival bronc riders
Feels: 4/5
Steam*: 4/5
Kinks: dirty talk
Angst: low
HEA: yes
Pairing: MM
Triggers/potential icks/content warnings: toxic parent, mental health issues
3.5 stars. Would have been four stars if the sister interference and Whit/Conrad stuff hadn't tainted in a bit.
Sterling is 21. He's from Texas and he has a supportive family. He wants to be a professional bronc rider and he's been moving up the ranks and working hard to make opportunities for himself.
Shooter is 24. He's a three-time world champion bronc rider from a family of past champions. His mom and sister are supportive, but his dad is awful to him. He's extremely critical and always putting him down and pointing out flaws and things he has to improve. It's given Shooter a mental complex, it's made him unable to enjoy what he used to love, and he's so riled up and antsy that he can't sleep at night.
After a big win last season, Shooter and Sterling met by chance at a bar and hooked up in the bathroom. 4 months later they meet again because Sterling has moved to Shooter's hometown to pursue bronc riding and now Sterling is the up and coming rookie that Shooter is compared with. They exchange barbs and s*** talk each other. But they have this sexual chemistry between them that keeps pulling them together. They're more interested in having each other than they are in being rivals. The rival thing quickly becomes a non-issue because Shooter is hating his life because of his father and needs to step away for his mental health for a bit.
This is a lovely story. There's a great push and pull dynamic between the MMCs. There's great chemistry between them. And it's not just sex, they understand one another and they support and care for one another. There's not a lot of negative emotions between them, they are positive influences in each other's lives.
The conflict in the book largely comes from Shooter's relationship with his father. But also Sterling is an inexperienced virgin who becomes friends with Shooter's sister and she's protective of him. She kind of interferes in their relationship a little bit. I was actually a bit annoyed with the author's plot decisions around the sister's interference. It just was a little over the top, a little too much. We knew Sterling's attitude towards his own virginity and how it wasn't a big deal to him. We didn't need the sister imposing her views and expectations on their relationship, it was annoying.
It was nice that there wasn't any OM drama in the book. I liked the drama between shooter and his dad. I liked that it was a conflict that wasn't pitting Sterling and Shooter against each other. I liked how relatable the idea was that parents can accidentally mess with your head so much. It was tough to get him to understand what he was doing to his son. But the author really described it well, what kind of ripple effect that interference has on your psyche. And I liked that Shooter stood up for himself and put in the work with his mental health with therapy.
There was something about this book that I thought was a really poor strategic choice on the author's part. She makes multiple references to a divorced couple, Conrad and Whit. They have a 15-year age gap between them and one of the reasons they referenced as to why they broke up was because Whit had never been with anyone else, he didn't know who he was outside of that relationship and he didn't know what else was out there. These references to that failed relationship being sprinkled throughout as we're hearing that Sterling is a virgin and hearing Shooter say that he loves being Sterling's only just seems like it was setting up that Sterling and Shooter needed time apart. The difference in their experience didn't end up being an issue for Sterling and Shooter thankfully. So why did the author feel it necessary to mention Conrad and Whit so much? Probably for the sake of getting readers excited for a future book about one or both of those characters. But I think get accidentally backfired on the author. Including that came at the cost of making readers feel like there was a parallel to Sterling and that Sterling wasn't ready for a serious relationship, it literally made me anxious and antsy about the Sterling/Shooter relationship, and there wasn't even any plot purpose to this so it riled me up unnecessarily.
Some notable moments:
"He isn’t even that funny. I’d even go as far as to say he’s actually even maybe a little boring. With his dumb curly brown hair that never seems to sit right that I definitely don’t ever fantasize about threading my fingers through. His annoyingly gorgeous honey-colored eyes. His dimples that definitely don’t make my stomach flutter when he smiles with how deep they are. The idiotic way he always has a handkerchief in his pocket, like he’s a seventy-year-old man. It’s not endearing or cute or sweet. It’s obnoxious."
"“Fuck, you’re so tight, dirty boy,” he grunts out between each punishing thrust. “The way you squeeze the life out of my cock every time I plunge inside of you.” Thrust. Thrust. “The way you stretch to take all of me like such a good.” Thrust. “Fucking.” Thrust. “Boy.” Thrust."
*FYI about steam: I rate steam based on a combination of quality & quantity. I note kink separate from steam because I don't want to underrate steamy reads that don't have much kink.
**Note about spoilers: I like to comment on the plot of a book in reviews, so I almost always mark my reviews as containing spoilers. But I try to avoid spoiling the big dramatic moments! As a reader, I personally like to know what I'm getting into before I read a book so I know more about the content and if it's to my taste/mood, so I try to give that information in my reviews for myself when I'm considering rereading and also for other readers.
Feels: 4/5
Steam*: 4/5
Kinks: dirty talk
Angst: low
HEA: yes
Pairing: MM
Triggers/potential icks/content warnings: toxic parent, mental health issues
3.5 stars. Would have been four stars if the sister interference and Whit/Conrad stuff hadn't tainted in a bit.
Sterling is 21. He's from Texas and he has a supportive family. He wants to be a professional bronc rider and he's been moving up the ranks and working hard to make opportunities for himself.
Shooter is 24. He's a three-time world champion bronc rider from a family of past champions. His mom and sister are supportive, but his dad is awful to him. He's extremely critical and always putting him down and pointing out flaws and things he has to improve. It's given Shooter a mental complex, it's made him unable to enjoy what he used to love, and he's so riled up and antsy that he can't sleep at night.
After a big win last season, Shooter and Sterling met by chance at a bar and hooked up in the bathroom. 4 months later they meet again because Sterling has moved to Shooter's hometown to pursue bronc riding and now Sterling is the up and coming rookie that Shooter is compared with. They exchange barbs and s*** talk each other. But they have this sexual chemistry between them that keeps pulling them together. They're more interested in having each other than they are in being rivals. The rival thing quickly becomes a non-issue because Shooter is hating his life because of his father and needs to step away for his mental health for a bit.
This is a lovely story. There's a great push and pull dynamic between the MMCs. There's great chemistry between them. And it's not just sex, they understand one another and they support and care for one another. There's not a lot of negative emotions between them, they are positive influences in each other's lives.
The conflict in the book largely comes from Shooter's relationship with his father. But also Sterling is an inexperienced virgin who becomes friends with Shooter's sister and she's protective of him. She kind of interferes in their relationship a little bit. I was actually a bit annoyed with the author's plot decisions around the sister's interference. It just was a little over the top, a little too much. We knew Sterling's attitude towards his own virginity and how it wasn't a big deal to him. We didn't need the sister imposing her views and expectations on their relationship, it was annoying.
It was nice that there wasn't any OM drama in the book. I liked the drama between shooter and his dad. I liked that it was a conflict that wasn't pitting Sterling and Shooter against each other. I liked how relatable the idea was that parents can accidentally mess with your head so much. It was tough to get him to understand what he was doing to his son. But the author really described it well, what kind of ripple effect that interference has on your psyche. And I liked that Shooter stood up for himself and put in the work with his mental health with therapy.
There was something about this book that I thought was a really poor strategic choice on the author's part. She makes multiple references to a divorced couple, Conrad and Whit. They have a 15-year age gap between them and one of the reasons they referenced as to why they broke up was because Whit had never been with anyone else, he didn't know who he was outside of that relationship and he didn't know what else was out there. These references to that failed relationship being sprinkled throughout as we're hearing that Sterling is a virgin and hearing Shooter say that he loves being Sterling's only just seems like it was setting up that Sterling and Shooter needed time apart. The difference in their experience didn't end up being an issue for Sterling and Shooter thankfully. So why did the author feel it necessary to mention Conrad and Whit so much? Probably for the sake of getting readers excited for a future book about one or both of those characters. But I think get accidentally backfired on the author. Including that came at the cost of making readers feel like there was a parallel to Sterling and that Sterling wasn't ready for a serious relationship, it literally made me anxious and antsy about the Sterling/Shooter relationship, and there wasn't even any plot purpose to this so it riled me up unnecessarily.
Some notable moments:
"He isn’t even that funny. I’d even go as far as to say he’s actually even maybe a little boring. With his dumb curly brown hair that never seems to sit right that I definitely don’t ever fantasize about threading my fingers through. His annoyingly gorgeous honey-colored eyes. His dimples that definitely don’t make my stomach flutter when he smiles with how deep they are. The idiotic way he always has a handkerchief in his pocket, like he’s a seventy-year-old man. It’s not endearing or cute or sweet. It’s obnoxious."
"“Fuck, you’re so tight, dirty boy,” he grunts out between each punishing thrust. “The way you squeeze the life out of my cock every time I plunge inside of you.” Thrust. Thrust. “The way you stretch to take all of me like such a good.” Thrust. “Fucking.” Thrust. “Boy.” Thrust."
*FYI about steam: I rate steam based on a combination of quality & quantity. I note kink separate from steam because I don't want to underrate steamy reads that don't have much kink.
**Note about spoilers: I like to comment on the plot of a book in reviews, so I almost always mark my reviews as containing spoilers. But I try to avoid spoiling the big dramatic moments! As a reader, I personally like to know what I'm getting into before I read a book so I know more about the content and if it's to my taste/mood, so I try to give that information in my reviews for myself when I'm considering rereading and also for other readers.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 16, 2024
When I think of a typical Kindle Unlimited book this is exactly what I imagine. Not a literary masterpiece, not particularly deep or fantastic in terms of character development or plot. A fairly light, tropey, easy to read story with a healthy dose of sex scenes and the promise of a whole series that will likely all be released in the space of a year. Great at the time as long as you don’t analyse things too closely, probably forgettable by next week.
Initially I thought this was just going to be all cowboys riding cowboys but it turned out to be quite sensitive in the end. The character development was more than I expected and despite things that personally irritated me like “dirty boy” as the pet name, all the crying that went down and the name Shooter for one MC, I found myself enjoying this quite a lot.
Initially I thought this was just going to be all cowboys riding cowboys but it turned out to be quite sensitive in the end. The character development was more than I expected and despite things that personally irritated me like “dirty boy” as the pet name, all the crying that went down and the name Shooter for one MC, I found myself enjoying this quite a lot.
January 24, 2024
I have mixed opinions of this book.
I would say 2.5 stars
So you know how when you read a book about the main character being an asshole because he has a messed up home life, you expect him to have the beautiful development where he shows his true side - soft side. Well, it takes a little too long here.
For most of the chapters I was fully convinced that Shooter was just an asshole and nothing more. He acted spoilt, arrogant, entitled and annoying cocky. His father constantly criticised his work and never truly appreciated him, even when he won world champion for bronco riding and he basically took that out on everyone. In most of the books that I’ve read, the assholery is usually a cover and the inner monologues portray a more vulnerable side of the character. But in shooter’s case, he was just plain rude. It took close of 70% for him to get a hold of himself and improve.
But the relationship between Shooter and Sterling was nice to read? It wasn’t anything special but sterling was a very sweet and soft character and I loved their dynamic.
I would say 2.5 stars
So you know how when you read a book about the main character being an asshole because he has a messed up home life, you expect him to have the beautiful development where he shows his true side - soft side. Well, it takes a little too long here.
For most of the chapters I was fully convinced that Shooter was just an asshole and nothing more. He acted spoilt, arrogant, entitled and annoying cocky. His father constantly criticised his work and never truly appreciated him, even when he won world champion for bronco riding and he basically took that out on everyone. In most of the books that I’ve read, the assholery is usually a cover and the inner monologues portray a more vulnerable side of the character. But in shooter’s case, he was just plain rude. It took close of 70% for him to get a hold of himself and improve.
But the relationship between Shooter and Sterling was nice to read? It wasn’t anything special but sterling was a very sweet and soft character and I loved their dynamic.
June 23, 2024
Note to self - an egotistical tosser with a less than satisfactory redemption arc isn't a preferred trope.
Sterling deserved better but he knew that dick wasn't gonna suck itself, the dirty boy. Gross.
Did I like it? Nope.
Are cowboys my catnip? Yes.
Am I reading the next one? Yeehar-yes!
Sterling deserved better but he knew that dick wasn't gonna suck itself, the dirty boy. Gross.
Did I like it? Nope.
Are cowboys my catnip? Yes.
Am I reading the next one? Yeehar-yes!
May 8, 2024
While it had a good start up, it fell flat in the middle for me, picked up at the end. I was bored at parts not gonna lie. But still a solid story.
May 28, 2024
4/4⭐ 4.5/5🌶️1/5😱 3.5/5🎧
Not me THOROUGHLY enjoying a COWBOY / Sports Romance???
This was lovely.
And by lovely i mean f*cking hot 🥵and sweet.
Look, i dropped many Cowboy romance series, because they were about men in chaps and horses and shit. I just don't get the appeal. But this is, on top of it being a small-town, cowboy sub-genre m/m romance, also a sports romance.
All the buckle (or puck) bunnies, jersey chasers, and whatever the f*ck else the gals and guys call themselves make me stop caring about them from the start. If your entire personality is formed by you wanting to ride that D because he's an athlete, then i don't wanna read about you. Or your troubles.
But Sterling and Shooter (the NAMES, squeeeeeeeeal) were darling! They are both pro rodeo cowboys, in their 20s, Shooter is a f*ckboy, and Sterling is endearingly inexperienced (or plainly put a virgin). This has been clearly written for the girls who read
STFUATTDLAGG/B and soak through undergarments. Shooter literally says this to Sterling.
Am i that girl? Jury is still out.
Also,
[...]"This D won't suck itself"
on their first hook up
I mean, GASP & SHRIEK!
The sub-tropes are so on the nose:
- Playboy falls first
- Virgin MC
- Rivals to lovers
- Family troubles / light mental health rep
- DIRTY TALK (Look how good you're taking ... so responsive for me ... and many many variations of this)
The story is very straightforward, there is no real angst or separation, it's sweet, hot and not much else to say about it really.
You can definitely Audio this, and while i was not on board with some of the moaning and panting, most of it is okay, Shooter was pretty much written for Teddy Hamilton, but hey, Alex Kydd and Aaron Shedlock both do very well here.
Does the song "Save a horse ride a cowboy" make you cringe?
Still go ahead and read this sweet entertaining and HOT as hell m/m romance.
PS: thinking about their friend group, i always have to chuckle - and this comes from a reader who almost exclusively reads romance with M/M pairing. And yes i know it's fiction, but there is literally one (UNO) straight relationship in Copper Lake, and i always wonder, how realistic is that? Like, how realistic is it that this small town populated by cowboys is gay through and through? I mean, it ain't no Brokeback Mountain i get that, but still really? Are all of them cowboys gay? 95% of them? Okay.
Not me THOROUGHLY enjoying a COWBOY / Sports Romance???
This was lovely.
And by lovely i mean f*cking hot 🥵and sweet.
Look, i dropped many Cowboy romance series, because they were about men in chaps and horses and shit. I just don't get the appeal. But this is, on top of it being a small-town, cowboy sub-genre m/m romance, also a sports romance.
All the buckle (or puck) bunnies, jersey chasers, and whatever the f*ck else the gals and guys call themselves make me stop caring about them from the start. If your entire personality is formed by you wanting to ride that D because he's an athlete, then i don't wanna read about you. Or your troubles.
But Sterling and Shooter (the NAMES, squeeeeeeeeal) were darling! They are both pro rodeo cowboys, in their 20s, Shooter is a f*ckboy, and Sterling is endearingly inexperienced (or plainly put a virgin). This has been clearly written for the girls who read
STFUATTDLAGG/B and soak through undergarments. Shooter literally says this to Sterling.
Am i that girl? Jury is still out.
Also,
[...]"This D won't suck itself"
on their first hook up
I mean, GASP & SHRIEK!
The sub-tropes are so on the nose:
- Playboy falls first
- Virgin MC
- Rivals to lovers
- Family troubles / light mental health rep
- DIRTY TALK (Look how good you're taking ... so responsive for me ... and many many variations of this)
The story is very straightforward, there is no real angst or separation, it's sweet, hot and not much else to say about it really.
You can definitely Audio this, and while i was not on board with some of the moaning and panting, most of it is okay, Shooter was pretty much written for Teddy Hamilton, but hey, Alex Kydd and Aaron Shedlock both do very well here.
Does the song "Save a horse ride a cowboy" make you cringe?
Still go ahead and read this sweet entertaining and HOT as hell m/m romance.
PS: thinking about their friend group, i always have to chuckle - and this comes from a reader who almost exclusively reads romance with M/M pairing. And yes i know it's fiction, but there is literally one (UNO) straight relationship in Copper Lake, and i always wonder, how realistic is that? Like, how realistic is it that this small town populated by cowboys is gay through and through? I mean, it ain't no Brokeback Mountain i get that, but still really? Are all of them cowboys gay? 95% of them? Okay.
May 8, 2024
Audio: 3 stars… idk I didn’t really like either narrator. Both Aaron Shedlock didn’t do a good job changing voices and when he did they weren’t consistent. And Alex Kydd was alright.
Book: 2.5-3 stars
Sterling deserved better than Shooter. And idk while it was interesting reading about bronc riders, it somehow was boring at the same time! Haha
Idk I didn’t really feel the chemistry between either characters, I mainly read this because I wanted to read book 2 (and Blake Lockheart is one of the narrators in that book!!!) and people said that it’s better to read book 1 before that… now I think I should have just jumped in to book 2… ugh wasted a little over 3 hours of my life to this haha
Now idk if I want to even read/listen to book 2😢
Book: 2.5-3 stars
Sterling deserved better than Shooter. And idk while it was interesting reading about bronc riders, it somehow was boring at the same time! Haha
Idk I didn’t really feel the chemistry between either characters, I mainly read this because I wanted to read book 2 (and Blake Lockheart is one of the narrators in that book!!!) and people said that it’s better to read book 1 before that… now I think I should have just jumped in to book 2… ugh wasted a little over 3 hours of my life to this haha
Now idk if I want to even read/listen to book 2😢
January 17, 2024
Sterling Addams and Shooter Graham
”He's dressed plainly in a white tee, a pair of dark denim Wranglers, brown boots, and a Smoky Boy Whiskey trucker hat.”
Yeah, I’ll take one Sterling Addams, please. ☝️
3.5 stars
”He's dressed plainly in a white tee, a pair of dark denim Wranglers, brown boots, and a Smoky Boy Whiskey trucker hat.”
Yeah, I’ll take one Sterling Addams, please. ☝️
3.5 stars
May 10, 2025
Every now and then, I feel like reading a steamy cowboy romance. As far as those are concerned, this one was pretty good. I've never read one that followed competitors in a rodeo championship before, so that was something new.
Shooter Graham (24) is a cocky three time world champion in bareback bronc riding, and Sterling Addams (22) is a talented up and coming rider who wants to take that title from him. Shooter wants to hate him but finds it hard to do given how attractive he finds Sterling and the fact that he can't stop thinking about the one night stand they shared a few months earlier.
Shooter has filthy mouth and I fucking loved it. The narrator for his character, Alex Kydd, did an amazing job bringing his character to life. He broke down Sterling's resolve to distance himself from him, at least until the competition was over. I loved their push and pull, their mutual desire, and their competitiveness.
For the most part, I really enjoyed this, though I thought the ending dragged quite a bit. Shooter went through this transformation by then, and I sort of missed his earlier bravado and cocksure personality. I'm all for acknowledging your feelings and letting out pent-up frustrations, but it was a little much. Otherwise, I loved the chemistry between the main characters, I thought the side characters were great, the smut was on point, and I appreciated that, given the subgenre, homophobia wasn't used as a plot point. 3.5 stars 🤠
Shooter Graham (24) is a cocky three time world champion in bareback bronc riding, and Sterling Addams (22) is a talented up and coming rider who wants to take that title from him. Shooter wants to hate him but finds it hard to do given how attractive he finds Sterling and the fact that he can't stop thinking about the one night stand they shared a few months earlier.
Shooter has filthy mouth and I fucking loved it. The narrator for his character, Alex Kydd, did an amazing job bringing his character to life. He broke down Sterling's resolve to distance himself from him, at least until the competition was over. I loved their push and pull, their mutual desire, and their competitiveness.
For the most part, I really enjoyed this, though I thought the ending dragged quite a bit. Shooter went through this transformation by then, and I sort of missed his earlier bravado and cocksure personality. I'm all for acknowledging your feelings and letting out pent-up frustrations, but it was a little much. Otherwise, I loved the chemistry between the main characters, I thought the side characters were great, the smut was on point, and I appreciated that, given the subgenre, homophobia wasn't used as a plot point. 3.5 stars 🤠
Read
January 21, 2024Think I’m in a ruthless mood because this is my second dnf of the day at 35%.
I have never rooted less for 2 characters to get together. I spent the entirely of my time wanting Sterling to gather enough self esteem to see that he deserves a lot better than shitty shooter.
Shooter is an overgrown man child who has never heard the word no in his life and is actually so embarrassing that I couldn’t even fathom what Sterling saw in him.
He wasn’t cocky and arrogant in a hot way, he was petulant and pathetic. Sterling made it clear that he wanted them to remain professional and Shooter just keeps pushing until he gives in and it was just icky.
Aside from the fact that I HATED shooter, the writing was a bit immature. There was some sections of dialogue that felt like they were 15 not in their 20’s and there was a paragraph that had 6 and’s in it. Plz use commas for lists. I was already struggling in the prologue to be honest because Shooter orders a tray of shots, him and Sterling have one each before they go into the bathroom and the rest of the shots are seemingly abandoned at the bar with no explanation.
I was honestly more intrigued by Conrad and Whit’s story than by Shooter and Sterling’s. Also I spent a while thinking Colt and Cope were the same person 😂
I have never rooted less for 2 characters to get together. I spent the entirely of my time wanting Sterling to gather enough self esteem to see that he deserves a lot better than shitty shooter.
Shooter is an overgrown man child who has never heard the word no in his life and is actually so embarrassing that I couldn’t even fathom what Sterling saw in him.
He wasn’t cocky and arrogant in a hot way, he was petulant and pathetic. Sterling made it clear that he wanted them to remain professional and Shooter just keeps pushing until he gives in and it was just icky.
Aside from the fact that I HATED shooter, the writing was a bit immature. There was some sections of dialogue that felt like they were 15 not in their 20’s and there was a paragraph that had 6 and’s in it. Plz use commas for lists. I was already struggling in the prologue to be honest because Shooter orders a tray of shots, him and Sterling have one each before they go into the bathroom and the rest of the shots are seemingly abandoned at the bar with no explanation.
I was honestly more intrigued by Conrad and Whit’s story than by Shooter and Sterling’s. Also I spent a while thinking Colt and Cope were the same person 😂
October 31, 2024
♾️⭐️
Love love love! Perfectly written. Very satisfying ending.
All the swoon, spice, and feel goods!
"I don't know what I'd do without you... You're my lucky cowboy hat, my earning morning sunrise, my even thinking, and my deep breaths when my mind can't settle down."
⚠️possible spoilers below in trope list
Tropes:
Rivals to lovers
One night stand to more
"I didn't know where else to go"
Taming a fuckboy
Virgin mc
Strict roles
Love love love! Perfectly written. Very satisfying ending.
All the swoon, spice, and feel goods!
"I don't know what I'd do without you... You're my lucky cowboy hat, my earning morning sunrise, my even thinking, and my deep breaths when my mind can't settle down."
⚠️possible spoilers below in trope list
Tropes:
Rivals to lovers
One night stand to more
"I didn't know where else to go"
Taming a fuckboy
Virgin mc
Strict roles
June 26, 2024
Did someone say cowboys???
My book besties kept telling me I needed to read this one and I consumed in within a day. I couldn’t put this one down, I was so captured by the raw pain Shooter felt and the comfort, shyness and vulnerability Sterling offered.
Shooter Graham (24) is a three time world champion bareback bronc rider. He comes from a long line of champions in his family. Rodeo is in his blood, it’s deeply ingrained into his DNA. He comes off as smug, cocky and arrogant. He lets his a**holeism fly. Underneath the attitude, and arrogance, he struggles with being enough for his dad and the pressure of carrying a legacy on his shoulders.
Sterling Addams (21) is the new guy in town and it’s his first year of being in the pro bronc riding circuit. With his honey colored eyes, reserved and quiet personality, shy sweet smile, he struggles with making friends.
Shooter and Sterling met for the first time at a bar. Let’s just say their first encounter, well it’s extremely steamy. Fast forward a few months and they run into each again, when Sterling moves to town.
This was so good. I loved Sterling and Shooter. Shooter’s internal struggles, his insecurities and his doubts, plus his father, I felt his pain and that kind of resonated with me. I loved the build up as these two explored together and fell into each other. There is a fine line between love and hate and these two walked it.
If you love rivals to lovers, cowboys, first times/virgin mc, a filthy dirty talker, steamy moments, mental health rep, then you’ll love this one.
Ashley is a new author to me and I am so excited about this series. Can’t wait to read more.
My book besties kept telling me I needed to read this one and I consumed in within a day. I couldn’t put this one down, I was so captured by the raw pain Shooter felt and the comfort, shyness and vulnerability Sterling offered.
Shooter Graham (24) is a three time world champion bareback bronc rider. He comes from a long line of champions in his family. Rodeo is in his blood, it’s deeply ingrained into his DNA. He comes off as smug, cocky and arrogant. He lets his a**holeism fly. Underneath the attitude, and arrogance, he struggles with being enough for his dad and the pressure of carrying a legacy on his shoulders.
Sterling Addams (21) is the new guy in town and it’s his first year of being in the pro bronc riding circuit. With his honey colored eyes, reserved and quiet personality, shy sweet smile, he struggles with making friends.
Shooter and Sterling met for the first time at a bar. Let’s just say their first encounter, well it’s extremely steamy. Fast forward a few months and they run into each again, when Sterling moves to town.
This was so good. I loved Sterling and Shooter. Shooter’s internal struggles, his insecurities and his doubts, plus his father, I felt his pain and that kind of resonated with me. I loved the build up as these two explored together and fell into each other. There is a fine line between love and hate and these two walked it.
If you love rivals to lovers, cowboys, first times/virgin mc, a filthy dirty talker, steamy moments, mental health rep, then you’ll love this one.
Ashley is a new author to me and I am so excited about this series. Can’t wait to read more.
September 29, 2024
“So, let me hear it, baby. Let me hear you be bad for me, like I know you can.”
Well, this is a little different than I thought it would be. I have had this book on my TBR for some while, I dont know what I was expecting but this was a little different. Lets get this out 1st, I did actually enjoy this book and I had a good time reading it. I liked both our main characters and they had some really nice emotional and sexual chemistry. Shooter was a cocky son of a bitch, and I can see why some people might not like him as character, but I actually enjoyed him. Of course he had me rolling my eyes at him at times, but I just kind of got him. Like I get his cocky attitude is a cover for all the pressure he feels from being a champion and his daddy issues, so I never really was angry at him. I like a grumpy boy. I dont think he treated Sterling THAT bad. Shit Ive read other books where one of the main characters treat the other like complete and utter trash, and people still eat that shit up. I dont think Shooter was that awful and he felt bad about it and Sterling understood him for the most part. Sterling on the other had is a sweet dude but I also think he can be an ass as well, he isnt the all sunshine and rainbows. He can have an attitude too , and maybe its because of Shooter but still he can be just as much of a dick. I think they just even each other out and thats why it works. Now Shooter does do a 180 when it comes to Stirling and I can see where that can be a little jarring but given he is working out his emotional trauma via therapy I dont think its a bad thing. I will say we dont get much of the side characters but I did like Cope, he seems like a good dude bro, and even though Daisy made me want to slap her and say shut the fuck up and mind your business, she came around a little in the end. Over all, it isnt the biggest most romantic emotional journey of a romance between two cowboys (rodeo cowboys) but it was hot and steamy with just enough emotional ties to feel good about reading and making me want to continue the series later on down the road. I wasnt disappointed.
Well, this is a little different than I thought it would be. I have had this book on my TBR for some while, I dont know what I was expecting but this was a little different. Lets get this out 1st, I did actually enjoy this book and I had a good time reading it. I liked both our main characters and they had some really nice emotional and sexual chemistry. Shooter was a cocky son of a bitch, and I can see why some people might not like him as character, but I actually enjoyed him. Of course he had me rolling my eyes at him at times, but I just kind of got him. Like I get his cocky attitude is a cover for all the pressure he feels from being a champion and his daddy issues, so I never really was angry at him. I like a grumpy boy. I dont think he treated Sterling THAT bad. Shit Ive read other books where one of the main characters treat the other like complete and utter trash, and people still eat that shit up. I dont think Shooter was that awful and he felt bad about it and Sterling understood him for the most part. Sterling on the other had is a sweet dude but I also think he can be an ass as well, he isnt the all sunshine and rainbows. He can have an attitude too , and maybe its because of Shooter but still he can be just as much of a dick. I think they just even each other out and thats why it works. Now Shooter does do a 180 when it comes to Stirling and I can see where that can be a little jarring but given he is working out his emotional trauma via therapy I dont think its a bad thing. I will say we dont get much of the side characters but I did like Cope, he seems like a good dude bro, and even though Daisy made me want to slap her and say shut the fuck up and mind your business, she came around a little in the end. Over all, it isnt the biggest most romantic emotional journey of a romance between two cowboys (rodeo cowboys) but it was hot and steamy with just enough emotional ties to feel good about reading and making me want to continue the series later on down the road. I wasnt disappointed.
March 19, 2025
I've kept putting this book off because I don't like the cover, it reminds me of books we had to read at school that were always so stale and boring, but I was so pleasantly surprised that I'm kinda kicking myself now😂 I'm also finally accepting that I'm a mood reader, not just a feelings reviewer, and reading books that really fit my mood this week has given me so many high ratings!
I really enjoyed the character growth that Shooter goes through. Yes he's still cocky and overly confident by the end of the book, but he's happier in himself and he's not just putting on an act to hide how much he's falling apart. He has more true self-belief and he's worked through his issues to become healthy mentally as well as physically. The way he falls in love with Sterling too was so cute, I loved how he saw him as his safe space and the effort he put in to make sure Sterling was happy was really nice to see. Their attempts to stay away from each other were so funny and I loved that they were pretty much like magnets that couldn't control the pull between them at all.
Sterling has a smaller amount of change, but seeing him come into his confidence in his everyday life, not just rodeo life, was really fun to watch. I really enjoyed the way he made Shooter work for things, and even though his boundaries did crumble he was able to make Shooter aware of what it was going to potentially cost him. I liked the respect and care that grew between them, and Sterling being the person to really take care of Shooter and his wellbeing definitely had me smiling a lot.
I am presuming we get to see Shooter's final decision on the next rodeo season in book two, because it was a little ambiguous around if he had made a certain decision.
Definitely keen to read the rest of this series though because although there were a lot of characters introduced, it wasn't overwhelming and they were only brought up when it was relevant to the story, so it didn't feel jarring like it can do sometimes to have so many other people on the periphery of the story.
I really enjoyed the character growth that Shooter goes through. Yes he's still cocky and overly confident by the end of the book, but he's happier in himself and he's not just putting on an act to hide how much he's falling apart. He has more true self-belief and he's worked through his issues to become healthy mentally as well as physically. The way he falls in love with Sterling too was so cute, I loved how he saw him as his safe space and the effort he put in to make sure Sterling was happy was really nice to see. Their attempts to stay away from each other were so funny and I loved that they were pretty much like magnets that couldn't control the pull between them at all.
Sterling has a smaller amount of change, but seeing him come into his confidence in his everyday life, not just rodeo life, was really fun to watch. I really enjoyed the way he made Shooter work for things, and even though his boundaries did crumble he was able to make Shooter aware of what it was going to potentially cost him. I liked the respect and care that grew between them, and Sterling being the person to really take care of Shooter and his wellbeing definitely had me smiling a lot.
I am presuming we get to see Shooter's final decision on the next rodeo season in book two, because it was a little ambiguous around if he had made a certain decision.
Definitely keen to read the rest of this series though because although there were a lot of characters introduced, it wasn't overwhelming and they were only brought up when it was relevant to the story, so it didn't feel jarring like it can do sometimes to have so many other people on the periphery of the story.
December 21, 2023
It’s only book one and I am absolutely obsessed with this series already. Ashely James really outdid herself with this one! I love Shooter and Sterling so much. Shooter with his cockiness and filthy mouth and Sterling with his innocence and more reserved nature made the perfect couple. The chemistry and tension between these two was off the charts HOT. If you’re looking for a great small town, rodeo cowboy MM romance with plenty of steam this is for you!I really enjoyed getting to know all the side characters in this book as well. I already can’t wait for the next book.
February 20, 2024
3.5 stars
I liked the story overall but the author writes so much flowery prose that it feels like she’s trying too hard. The book could’ve been shorter and it would have worked better for me. I liked it more than I expected though and I will maybe try the next one. I wanted it to be about Conrad and Whit (or one of them) so I’m not sure I’ll read it.
I liked the story overall but the author writes so much flowery prose that it feels like she’s trying too hard. The book could’ve been shorter and it would have worked better for me. I liked it more than I expected though and I will maybe try the next one. I wanted it to be about Conrad and Whit (or one of them) so I’m not sure I’ll read it.
January 10, 2024
Yessss. New to me author and I loved every minute of this book. MM/cowboy/rivals-to-lovers? Yes.
September 11, 2024
3,5⭐️
Rounded up. Although I couldn’t decide if I wanted to round it up for a few days.
Personality of MC is something that rarely bothers me. I accept that people are different so MC in books can be all kinds of people too. Mature and juvenile, kind and cold blooded. They all are people and I don’t judge them. Usually.
But here. I can’t. Shooter was such a bratty, egotistical, spoiled peace of work. And he didn’t feel consistent. One moment he can’t get over his pettiness, another he is just proud for the success of the other MC. Meh.
That said. The book wasn’t bad and I enjoyed reading it (more or less).
Usually this author’s work isn’t my cup of tea so to speak but this one felt better than the others I’ve tried. Also, it has an audiobook version. And that was a plus.
Rounded up. Although I couldn’t decide if I wanted to round it up for a few days.
Personality of MC is something that rarely bothers me. I accept that people are different so MC in books can be all kinds of people too. Mature and juvenile, kind and cold blooded. They all are people and I don’t judge them. Usually.
But here. I can’t. Shooter was such a bratty, egotistical, spoiled peace of work. And he didn’t feel consistent. One moment he can’t get over his pettiness, another he is just proud for the success of the other MC. Meh.
That said. The book wasn’t bad and I enjoyed reading it (more or less).
Usually this author’s work isn’t my cup of tea so to speak but this one felt better than the others I’ve tried. Also, it has an audiobook version. And that was a plus.
Read
January 18, 2024dnf at 20% lmfao im sorry but i am bored to death
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