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The Cowboy: Wild Ride / Cowboy in Paradise / Saddle Sore / Rodeo Man
Tyler Last has had enough of chasing steer - and women - on the rodeo circuit. It's about time he changed his ways. That is, until he catches sight of sexy Meg Holder, and all he can think of is wrapping her up with his lasso...Stoic Arizona horse rancher Dean McCabe is all business with anyone who gets in his way - and with anyone who interferes with his work. But when sultry conservationist Cassandra Darling comes into town on a mission to save the Mexican Gray Wolf, he discovers there's nothing better than sleeping with the enemy..."L.A." magazine writer Anna Hartley is on assignment in Wyoming when she meets champion rodeo rider Grant Olson. Lean, blond, rugged, and sexy as hell, he's enough to make a city girl trade in her high heels for a wild ride in the saddle, Western style...
326 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2006
3 people are currently reading
158 people want to read
About the author
Vonna Harper
151 books143 followersUnder her "real" name, Vonna Harper has published more fiction than she can keep track of . These include category romances for the major players as well as the 'juicy' stuff. She also penned a series of well-received Native American historicals. One earned her finalist status in both the Women Writing the West Willa award and Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association. Before discovering romances, both erotic and otherwise, Vonna 'confessed' all kinds of nonsense for the confession magazines.
When asked about erotica research, she insists, "Of course I've time-traveled to the ancient Everglades, infiltrated bondage strongholds, done wilderness search and rescue, and spent a night trapped in a workout gym with Mr. Universe. How can I possibly write about something I haven't experienced?"
As for day jobs, "I've been a commercial pilot, brain surgeon, worked as a white-water river guide, bee keeper, snake charmer, and garbage collector."
When asked about erotica research, she insists, "Of course I've time-traveled to the ancient Everglades, infiltrated bondage strongholds, done wilderness search and rescue, and spent a night trapped in a workout gym with Mr. Universe. How can I possibly write about something I haven't experienced?"
As for day jobs, "I've been a commercial pilot, brain surgeon, worked as a white-water river guide, bee keeper, snake charmer, and garbage collector."
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
May 2, 2013
As much as I would love to be able to give this book more than one star because PJ Mellor and Nelissa Donovan really wrote cute stories, I just cannot. The first story, Wild Ride by Vonna Haper, was absolutely RIDICULOUS and that's paying it a compliment. And as for the last story, Rodeo Man by Nikki Alton, there are just NO WORDS. And THAT is a compliment as well.
PJ Mellor's story, Cowboy in Paradise, was cute as can be and very well written with lots of humor and hot romance that actually made some common sense...for a shot novella, that is. And same goes for Nelissa Donovan's story, Saddle Sore.
PJ Mellor's story, Cowboy in Paradise, was cute as can be and very well written with lots of humor and hot romance that actually made some common sense...for a shot novella, that is. And same goes for Nelissa Donovan's story, Saddle Sore.
December 28, 2009
This was a pretty bad anthology. None of the stories were very good. I thought Harper's story was crude; it was not in the least bit romantic or sexy. Mellor's story was forgettable. I kept having to read the synopsis to remember what it was about. Donovan's was the best of the worst, but the main couple had zero chemistry. Alton's story was the worst. The writing style was very juvenile; it seemed as though it was written by a teenage boy guessing what sex is like between adults. I do not recommend this.
April 17, 2013
This was my first attempt at reading heterosexual erotica. This collection of four stories centers on "Cowboys" as the theme and the women the guys come to "know". I was surprised at the rough language that the women used in these stories, though as a gay man, maybe I'm just naive in that respect. It wasn't offensive, just surprising. Anyway all the stories are good fantasy material, though I quickly got bored with the erotic passages, so much so, that by the time the fourth story arrived, I was skipping over large parts of the passages.
August 3, 2015
Overall, I gave this book 2.5 stars. This is an anthology featuring four short stories (less than 100 pages). Each story would have been better as full length novels. This would have made the character development better and allowed for more in depth plot development. Also the stories would have benefited if the authors had more pages to work with to to add more depth and detail to the conflicts.
Story #1 - Wild Ride by Vonna Harper: 2 Stars
This story was just plan dull. I would have loved to see a more in depth explanation about Jordan and Cougar's past together. The only thing we are told is that he worked for her father on a ranch.
Story #2 - Cowboy in Paradise by P.J. Mellor: 2.5 stars
This had so much potential of becoming a pretty good enemies to lovers story because Meg did not want the luxury housing to be built of the beach and Tyler's grandmother went into business with the man who is building the housing. However, this is not what happened. It was basically instant love between the characters and the conflict was resolved way too easily and quickly like this plot point was an after thought.
Story #3 - Saddle Sore by Nelissa Donovan: 3 stars
This was the best story out of the four, but still lacking. This was another story that had potential for a good enemies to lovers story which is the kind of story I love. However, again this potential was not fulfilled. The resolution of the conflict seemed like an afterthought and I would have loved to see this plot point stretched out over several more chapters.
Story #4 - Rodeo Man by Nikki Alton: 2.5 stars
This was a real quick read. I read it faster than the other stories. Another story that was dull. The conflict and resolution took up a few pages at the end and should have taken up more space.
Story #1 - Wild Ride by Vonna Harper: 2 Stars
This story was just plan dull. I would have loved to see a more in depth explanation about Jordan and Cougar's past together. The only thing we are told is that he worked for her father on a ranch.
Story #2 - Cowboy in Paradise by P.J. Mellor: 2.5 stars
This had so much potential of becoming a pretty good enemies to lovers story because Meg did not want the luxury housing to be built of the beach and Tyler's grandmother went into business with the man who is building the housing. However, this is not what happened. It was basically instant love between the characters and the conflict was resolved way too easily and quickly like this plot point was an after thought.
Story #3 - Saddle Sore by Nelissa Donovan: 3 stars
This was the best story out of the four, but still lacking. This was another story that had potential for a good enemies to lovers story which is the kind of story I love. However, again this potential was not fulfilled. The resolution of the conflict seemed like an afterthought and I would have loved to see this plot point stretched out over several more chapters.
Story #4 - Rodeo Man by Nikki Alton: 2.5 stars
This was a real quick read. I read it faster than the other stories. Another story that was dull. The conflict and resolution took up a few pages at the end and should have taken up more space.
September 6, 2013
I expected sooo much more from this book considering Vonna Harper wrote one of the stories and the limited reviews I had read.
I forced myself to keep reading after the second story hoping it would get better, I was wrong. Wild Ride seemed to try to add in a decent story line but it didn't work, the whole story was beneath the Vonna Harper I've read.
Cowboy in Paradise, lacking,lacking, lacking. The sex was fairly decent, the whole idea of this guy just deciding not to continue using condoms after sleeping with her a couple times because he could be in love with her and her too ready to get it on to realize he wasn't slapping on a raincoat made me cringe.
Saddle Sore- the only story I almost enjoyed.
Rodeo man DID make me cringe, the repetitive mentioning of his entire hand inside her kinda ruined whatever moment they could have pulled you into. The writing on this one was childish at best. I honestly skimmed the rest of this story, it was just too much after the first three failures to finish properly.
This is one book I won't be reading again, it turned me against my other short stories for the time being, I'm going back to Jaci Burton atleast I know I'll get a good read from her.
I forced myself to keep reading after the second story hoping it would get better, I was wrong. Wild Ride seemed to try to add in a decent story line but it didn't work, the whole story was beneath the Vonna Harper I've read.
Cowboy in Paradise, lacking,lacking, lacking. The sex was fairly decent, the whole idea of this guy just deciding not to continue using condoms after sleeping with her a couple times because he could be in love with her and her too ready to get it on to realize he wasn't slapping on a raincoat made me cringe.
Saddle Sore- the only story I almost enjoyed.
Rodeo man DID make me cringe, the repetitive mentioning of his entire hand inside her kinda ruined whatever moment they could have pulled you into. The writing on this one was childish at best. I honestly skimmed the rest of this story, it was just too much after the first three failures to finish properly.
This is one book I won't be reading again, it turned me against my other short stories for the time being, I'm going back to Jaci Burton atleast I know I'll get a good read from her.
January 23, 2011
Lots of wild sex in these stories, it that is what you are after!
"Wild Ride" by Vonna Harper
Jordan Shore has the hots for an Idian bull rider Cougar Lighthorse - he helped save her life 12 months earlier when one of his bulls attacked her, they have known each other for a long time. I didn't really enjoy this story.
"Cowboy in Paradise" by PJ Mellor - Tyler Last meets Meg Holder at the beach near his grandmothers home - they are into each other straight away but Meg won't tell him her name. She is trying to stop contstruction of a development that would close off the beach to the locals. I enjoyed this story.
"Saddle Sore" by Nelissa Donovan - Cassie Darling has come to town as a representative of the US Fish & Wildlife Service - to help with the problem of wolves killing off stock. She meets Dean McCabe, a rancher and they are drawn to each other immediately. This story was even better than the last.
"Rodeo Man" by Nikki Alton - Anna Hartley meets champion rodeo rider Grant Olsen when he helped her when her car broke down on a lonely road, after that she was his to do with as he pleased and pleased he was. This was another good story.
"Wild Ride" by Vonna Harper
Jordan Shore has the hots for an Idian bull rider Cougar Lighthorse - he helped save her life 12 months earlier when one of his bulls attacked her, they have known each other for a long time. I didn't really enjoy this story.
"Cowboy in Paradise" by PJ Mellor - Tyler Last meets Meg Holder at the beach near his grandmothers home - they are into each other straight away but Meg won't tell him her name. She is trying to stop contstruction of a development that would close off the beach to the locals. I enjoyed this story.
"Saddle Sore" by Nelissa Donovan - Cassie Darling has come to town as a representative of the US Fish & Wildlife Service - to help with the problem of wolves killing off stock. She meets Dean McCabe, a rancher and they are drawn to each other immediately. This story was even better than the last.
"Rodeo Man" by Nikki Alton - Anna Hartley meets champion rodeo rider Grant Olsen when he helped her when her car broke down on a lonely road, after that she was his to do with as he pleased and pleased he was. This was another good story.
February 10, 2014
Wild ride, this was such a difficult story to follow, almost painful. I was confused. Cowboy in paradise was alright but unrealistic and short. Short stories seem too fast paced and unrealistic. Cute story though. Saddle sore was the best of all the stories. Hot, cute, but of course unrealistic. I mean, doesn't everyone meet a complete stranger never know anything more than a name and have sex? Lastly rodeo man, that was weird, his whole hand? Nope didn't like it. The covers photo was false advertising compared to the stories. Great photo though.
April 16, 2009
Wild Ride
Dull and dry. The characters were annoying and had no depth or feeling...comparable to cardboard (flat and boring).
Cowboy in Paradise
Better than the first story. Some humor and pretty hot. Characters had some depth--good for the story's length.
Saddle Sore
Probably the most depth in a story. Not a bad one.
Rodeo Man
Ok, but I finally got to the point where I just skimmed to finish it.
Dull and dry. The characters were annoying and had no depth or feeling...comparable to cardboard (flat and boring).
Cowboy in Paradise
Better than the first story. Some humor and pretty hot. Characters had some depth--good for the story's length.
Saddle Sore
Probably the most depth in a story. Not a bad one.
Rodeo Man
Ok, but I finally got to the point where I just skimmed to finish it.
December 20, 2010
Wild Ride:
0 Stars : Absoutly Terrible...I barely made it thru this story...It made me want to give up on the whole book.
Cowboy in Paradise:
3 Stars : This story was a thousand times better than the 1st "Thank goodness" but I have to wonder if I hadn't been comparing it to the 1st story if I would have felt the same...hmmm...Still I gave it 3 stars for the fact that at least there was some story line even if it felt hurried and forced to me.
0 Stars : Absoutly Terrible...I barely made it thru this story...It made me want to give up on the whole book.
Cowboy in Paradise:
3 Stars : This story was a thousand times better than the 1st "Thank goodness" but I have to wonder if I hadn't been comparing it to the 1st story if I would have felt the same...hmmm...Still I gave it 3 stars for the fact that at least there was some story line even if it felt hurried and forced to me.
Currently reading
January 3, 2013This book had three different readings in it and I am on the 3rd story I think. Just when you are getting into the story it ends, so I don't like that part. If you like cowboys like I do you will love these short stories. Vonna Harper is a very good writer and man if you can't handle very naughty words don't read it.. LOL..
October 3, 2009
So far, I've only read "Wild Ride" by Vonna Harper. Cute short story, lots of steam. Cougar is a real sexpot!
March 12, 2010
loved it
June 8, 2010
The Vonna Harper story was the best of the bunch.
November 29, 2010
The cover is hot, but the book is not. I somewhat liked the 2nd story and that was about it.
did-not-finish-skimmed-to-end
September 3, 2012I couldn't connect to any of the stories in this anthology. Probably just me.
November 6, 2011
This book of short stories was all about getting randy with cowboys. Lol. Not bad though.
September 24, 2012
Highly recommended.
June 6, 2013
UGH!! My ratings for each story:
Story 1 = 0
Story 2 = 4
Story 3 = 3.5
Story 4 = 2
Total = 9.5 average = 2.375
My rating = 2
Story 1 = 0
Story 2 = 4
Story 3 = 3.5
Story 4 = 2
Total = 9.5 average = 2.375
My rating = 2
September 23, 2011
Hot cowboys, do I really need to say more?? ;)
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews