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Cowboys Down
Previously published Stockbroker meets stock breaker. But who’s taming whom? London stockbroker Jasper Randolph flies to Jackson Hole with hopes as high as the Grand Tetons. Hope that the getaway will force him to let loose, get dirty, and overcome a deep-seated phobia about horseback riding. He hadn’t counted on an attraction to the dude ranch owner’s son, a man with sun-tousled hair, eyes bluer than Wyoming skies…and a father who’d rather eat tofu than accept his only son’s sexuality. The moment Calum lays eyes on the uptight, buttoned-down Brit, he’s lost. But with his own saddlebags full of emotional baggage, he knows he should be looking at anything but Jasper’s spotless riding boots and tight-fitting jodhpurs. Trouble is, Jasper makes his heart buck like a wild horse trying to break free. Despite the differences that set them oceans apart, they fall hard and fast. Trouble isn’t far behind, and they’re in for a rocky romantic ride. Especially since there’s growing evidence that someone is willing to do anything—no matter how dangerous—to poison their love. Mix one sun-bronzed cowboy with a yummy Brit who’d give Darcy in his wet shirt a run for his money. Mix gently. Try not to drool.
297 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 7, 2012
29 people are currently reading
636 people want to read
About the author
Barbara Elsborg
100 books1,677 followersBarbara Elsborg lives in Kent in the south of England. She always wanted to be a spy, but having confessed to everyone without them even resorting to torture, she decided it was not for her. Volcanology scorched her feet. A morbid fear of sharks put paid to marine biology. So instead, she spent several years successfully selling cyanide.
After dragging up two rotten, ungrateful children and frustrating her sexy, devoted, wonderful husband (who can now stop twisting her arm) she finally has time to conduct an affair with an electrifying plugged-in male, her laptop.
Her books feature quirky heroines and bad boys, and she hopes they are as much fun to read as they are to write.
After dragging up two rotten, ungrateful children and frustrating her sexy, devoted, wonderful husband (who can now stop twisting her arm) she finally has time to conduct an affair with an electrifying plugged-in male, her laptop.
Her books feature quirky heroines and bad boys, and she hopes they are as much fun to read as they are to write.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 139 reviews
May 14, 2016
3.5 Stars.
Jasper is a very uptight British Stockbroker.In a change from his usual vacation he decides to visit a ranch in Wyoming for a week.
Calum is a sexy as sin cowboy who helps run his father's ranch.Although his family know he's gay they refuse to acknowledge it.His father and some of the wranglers are extremely Homophobic.
I was very conflicted with this one.There were parts I loved and parts I didn't.
What really didn't work for me
Right from the start there's a vendetta against Jasper that was just ridiculous.Without going into detail the things that happened to him were just unbelievable.God,the poor guy was having the holiday from hell.
What did work for me
Jasper and Calum.I loved these two together.Yes it was insta lust and they get down and dirty pretty quickly but I actually found their love story quite believable.
Aside from the OTT drama it was an ok read.I read somewhere that this was one of the first M/M books by this Author and her subsiquent books are much better ........
Jasper is a very uptight British Stockbroker.In a change from his usual vacation he decides to visit a ranch in Wyoming for a week.
Calum is a sexy as sin cowboy who helps run his father's ranch.Although his family know he's gay they refuse to acknowledge it.His father and some of the wranglers are extremely Homophobic.
I was very conflicted with this one.There were parts I loved and parts I didn't.
What really didn't work for me
Right from the start there's a vendetta against Jasper that was just ridiculous.Without going into detail the things that happened to him were just unbelievable.God,the poor guy was having the holiday from hell.
What did work for me
Jasper and Calum.I loved these two together.Yes it was insta lust and they get down and dirty pretty quickly but I actually found their love story quite believable.
Aside from the OTT drama it was an ok read.I read somewhere that this was one of the first M/M books by this Author and her subsiquent books are much better ........
December 12, 2014
4 Stars!
Another great Barbara Elsborg read....not sure how I missed this one! She's definitely one of my go-to authors and this one had the banter and steam that I love.
Her books are always a bit angsty but I was glad this one didn't center around relationship drama but more outside drama...family, etc. Partly because there really was no relationship until the end.
Jasper is a stock-broker and has come to Jackson Hole, Wyoming for a much needed vacation. He's spending a week on a dude ranch hoping to battle some of his past ghosts and maybe meet a hot cowboy in the process.
Calum lives and works on his family's ranch. He's gay but not exactly shouting it from the rooftops. At times he was a bit of an ass to Jasper. For whatever reason he felt the need to placate his dickhead of a dad, who didn't support Calum being gay. I hated Calum's dad...along with a few other people on the ranch.
Jasper and Calum are of course attracted to each other....duh! They start to sneak around and fall for each other. Enter the suspense element of the story.
Things start happening to poor Jasper. A lot of things. Things that would have made me run far far away from that ranch regardless of my need to find a hot cowboy! A some point you have to say, enough is enough.
It really was the vacation from hell for Jasper but he stuck it out for Calum.
OTT drama aside, I liked this one. It had great banter and steam. It was certainly entertaing. There was never a dull moment on that dude ranch!
Another great Barbara Elsborg read....not sure how I missed this one! She's definitely one of my go-to authors and this one had the banter and steam that I love.
Her books are always a bit angsty but I was glad this one didn't center around relationship drama but more outside drama...family, etc. Partly because there really was no relationship until the end.
Jasper is a stock-broker and has come to Jackson Hole, Wyoming for a much needed vacation. He's spending a week on a dude ranch hoping to battle some of his past ghosts and maybe meet a hot cowboy in the process.
Calum lives and works on his family's ranch. He's gay but not exactly shouting it from the rooftops. At times he was a bit of an ass to Jasper. For whatever reason he felt the need to placate his dickhead of a dad, who didn't support Calum being gay. I hated Calum's dad...along with a few other people on the ranch.
Jasper and Calum are of course attracted to each other....duh! They start to sneak around and fall for each other. Enter the suspense element of the story.
Things start happening to poor Jasper. A lot of things. Things that would have made me run far far away from that ranch regardless of my need to find a hot cowboy! A some point you have to say, enough is enough.
It really was the vacation from hell for Jasper but he stuck it out for Calum.
OTT drama aside, I liked this one. It had great banter and steam. It was certainly entertaing. There was never a dull moment on that dude ranch!
June 10, 2018
I read two Barbara Elsborg books when I was new to the m/m romance genre. Although one sent me running for the hills, I enjoyed the other so much that it ranks in my top 10 m/m romantic suspense novels. Since I needed a contemporary western romance for a reading challenge, I decided to revisit Ms. Elsborg’s catalogue with Cowboys Down.
This...probably wasn’t the best place to revisit. 2.5 stars rounded down.
Elsborg is a good writer. Cowboys Down had absorbing and touching and funny moments. But there was too much stupidity (I could not handle that someone supposed to be on vacation would remain at a place where people were trying to MURDER him), and too much implausibility (I could not believe that a ranch dependent upon tourism to sustain it - a ranch whose owners had specifically articulated concerns about reputational damage, even citing a prior social media attack - would level such vitriol and abuse against its customers), and too much over-the-top drama (everything but the kitchen sink is thrown into our characters' backgrounds and at their relationship and I could not wrap my brain around most of it), and too much sex instead of communication and relationship-building.
I could go on, but I don't like leaving negative reviews and I tend to save rants for when they are deserved (e.g., good-for-nothing cheating scumbags). This doesn't deserve a rant. Elsborg is a talented writer who pens unique and emotional stories, and I most definitely plan to pick up another book by her. But I can't say that I would recommend this one. Your mileage will vary depending on your ability to not just suspend disbelief but throw it to the moon.
Read for SBTB Best Picture Quarterly Challenge: A contemporary western romance.
This...probably wasn’t the best place to revisit. 2.5 stars rounded down.
Elsborg is a good writer. Cowboys Down had absorbing and touching and funny moments. But there was too much stupidity (I could not handle that someone supposed to be on vacation would remain at a place where people were trying to MURDER him), and too much implausibility (I could not believe that a ranch dependent upon tourism to sustain it - a ranch whose owners had specifically articulated concerns about reputational damage, even citing a prior social media attack - would level such vitriol and abuse against its customers), and too much over-the-top drama (everything but the kitchen sink is thrown into our characters' backgrounds and at their relationship and I could not wrap my brain around most of it), and too much sex instead of communication and relationship-building.
I could go on, but I don't like leaving negative reviews and I tend to save rants for when they are deserved (e.g., good-for-nothing cheating scumbags). This doesn't deserve a rant. Elsborg is a talented writer who pens unique and emotional stories, and I most definitely plan to pick up another book by her. But I can't say that I would recommend this one. Your mileage will vary depending on your ability to not just suspend disbelief but throw it to the moon.
Read for SBTB Best Picture Quarterly Challenge: A contemporary western romance.
February 17, 2012
Story Rating 4 stars
Character Rating 5 stars
Romance Rating 5 stars
Heat Level 5 stars
Overall Rating 4.5 stars
This book could have easily been a 5 star read for me but some of the story line and the way it played out just did not fit the characters of the book.
This book had a lot of angst to it and it brought tears to my eye's a few times. The romance between these two men was really good and the love scenes scorched off of the pages some even leaving me breathless. I could feel the love between these two grow and enjoyed reading how they finally got their HEA ending.
Thank You Karla for recommending this book to me :)
Character Rating 5 stars
Romance Rating 5 stars
Heat Level 5 stars
Overall Rating 4.5 stars
This book could have easily been a 5 star read for me but some of the story line and the way it played out just did not fit the characters of the book.
This book had a lot of angst to it and it brought tears to my eye's a few times. The romance between these two men was really good and the love scenes scorched off of the pages some even leaving me breathless. I could feel the love between these two grow and enjoyed reading how they finally got their HEA ending.
Thank You Karla for recommending this book to me :)
November 22, 2019
Whoa! Very well done.
Barbara Elsborg always has those dark and dangerous touches in her romances that never fail to catch me off guard. I went into this one thinking "cute cowboy romance" and dang was I wrong! This one has serious steam and some very poignant darkness that works incredibly well with these characters.
Angsty romance, family drama, deliciously hot sex scenes, and I never wanted to put it down.
Barbara Elsborg always has those dark and dangerous touches in her romances that never fail to catch me off guard. I went into this one thinking "cute cowboy romance" and dang was I wrong! This one has serious steam and some very poignant darkness that works incredibly well with these characters.
Angsty romance, family drama, deliciously hot sex scenes, and I never wanted to put it down.
February 2, 2013
Note to Readers: Read this book!:)
Ahahaha:D Humor duringsex...
This book not only made me laugh out loud but also cried silently...
I love the chemistry between Jasper and Calum,you just feel the emotions between them and how they love each other. Their playful banter during sex was so funny haha but oh my goodness their burning the sheets it was HOT...Well how will you not take notice of the love scenes, if its in full graphic details...
both men have tragic past that make them very human and believable.you can't help but cry with them..
What I hate in the story were the wranglers who hurt Jasper more than once, the other reviewers were right it was too much and Calum's father who can't accept Calum's sexuality...that man is a bastard grrr:/
it was a fun read with lots of steam , lovable romance and some heart-breaking moments and the humor that catches you.And don't forget the two beautiful Hot men!:)
"know how to tell the difference between erotic and kinky?"
"No."
"When you want to go for erotic you use a feather. Kinky, use the whole the chiken."
Ahahaha:D Humor during
This book not only made me laugh out loud but also cried silently...
I love the chemistry between Jasper and Calum,you just feel the emotions between them and how they love each other. Their playful banter during sex was so funny haha but oh my goodness their burning the sheets it was HOT...Well how will you not take notice of the love scenes, if its in full graphic details...
both men have tragic past that make them very human and believable.you can't help but cry with them..
What I hate in the story were the wranglers who hurt Jasper more than once, the other reviewers were right it was too much and Calum's father who can't accept Calum's sexuality...that man is a bastard grrr:/
it was a fun read with lots of steam , lovable romance and some heart-breaking moments and the humor that catches you.And don't forget the two beautiful Hot men!:)
February 19, 2012
4.5 Stars!
This is a beautiful romance filled with so much emotion, it jumps off the pages. From the moment Jasper and Calum lay eyes on each other, you feel how much they’re drawn to one another. They are both devilishly sexy and their playful teasing…so sensual.
Jasper is a reserved Englishman on holiday at the dude ranch owned by Calum’s family. Calum, a hot cowboy and gifted artist, is devoted to his family and works on the ranch, although his heart longs to pursue other endeavors. Both of them have had tragic events that shaped their lives and neither can seem to escape the ghosts of their past. There were no hurdles to overcome when it came to where these men stood as far as their sexuality. Jasper was more open, and Calum knew what he liked and wanted, but family and setting had keeping his preference under the radar.
I did some eye rolling at the some of the things that played out with Jasper. He was a targeted by some of the wranglers, guests and particularly Calum’s father, because he was gay. That man was an ass! There is an attempt on Jasper’s life and when it’s brought to light who did it and why, well, in my opinion the explanation was weak at best. Now on to the juicy stuff and boy did the juice flow! Calum and Jasper melded so well together, they fit perfectly, in more ways than one…HOT stuff!! Jasper was putty in Calum’s hands, in the emotional sense; sexually he was stiff as a statue…all the time! Sex aside, it was the relationship that develops between Jasper and Calum that had me drawn into this heartwarming love story. They help each other overcome the agonizing weight of past tragic events, and the love that ensues is raw and real. This is a book that CAN be judged by its cover…in this case it speaks volumes and that is the image you will walk away with when you are done with this book. Every time I see it, it stirs up the emotions I felt when I read Jasper and Calum’s story.
I want more of Jasper and Calum, and I would love a novella that would bring us back into the lives of these charming men. I would say Barbara Elsborg’s first venture into M/M romance is a success.
This is a beautiful romance filled with so much emotion, it jumps off the pages. From the moment Jasper and Calum lay eyes on each other, you feel how much they’re drawn to one another. They are both devilishly sexy and their playful teasing…so sensual.
Jasper is a reserved Englishman on holiday at the dude ranch owned by Calum’s family. Calum, a hot cowboy and gifted artist, is devoted to his family and works on the ranch, although his heart longs to pursue other endeavors. Both of them have had tragic events that shaped their lives and neither can seem to escape the ghosts of their past. There were no hurdles to overcome when it came to where these men stood as far as their sexuality. Jasper was more open, and Calum knew what he liked and wanted, but family and setting had keeping his preference under the radar.
I did some eye rolling at the some of the things that played out with Jasper. He was a targeted by some of the wranglers, guests and particularly Calum’s father, because he was gay. That man was an ass! There is an attempt on Jasper’s life and when it’s brought to light who did it and why, well, in my opinion the explanation was weak at best. Now on to the juicy stuff and boy did the juice flow! Calum and Jasper melded so well together, they fit perfectly, in more ways than one…HOT stuff!! Jasper was putty in Calum’s hands, in the emotional sense; sexually he was stiff as a statue…all the time! Sex aside, it was the relationship that develops between Jasper and Calum that had me drawn into this heartwarming love story. They help each other overcome the agonizing weight of past tragic events, and the love that ensues is raw and real. This is a book that CAN be judged by its cover…in this case it speaks volumes and that is the image you will walk away with when you are done with this book. Every time I see it, it stirs up the emotions I felt when I read Jasper and Calum’s story.
I want more of Jasper and Calum, and I would love a novella that would bring us back into the lives of these charming men. I would say Barbara Elsborg’s first venture into M/M romance is a success.
April 30, 2012
God that was one horrible and plain idiotic story. Jasper was poisoned two times, nearly killed and then been told from Calum father, that he was sorry, Jasper wasn't killed at their ranch. I mean really ? What kind of attitude is that to a tourist at a dude ranch. And this romance between Jasper and Colum...that I don't start with the sex between them.... HORRIBLE....
July 24, 2022
Homophobic trash.
Elsborg gets better, but oy!
This is offensive.
So much was wrong with this book--homophobic characters, and their homophobia is excused by everyone. Both MCs don't want to be with someone who "looks gay." Mockery of slightly effeminate gay character. Horribly grasping, flighty, horny women. And, the pervasive belief that both MCs need to bottom in order to ... be equal and not have one stuck as "the girl?" So gross, and even grosser is one MC pressuring and pouting when the other MC (who of course has been raped and didn't ever get therapy and has internlized it as "weakness") stalls.
I know some of all y'all liked it, but I really found this offensive.
Elsborg gets better, but oy!
This is offensive.
So much was wrong with this book--homophobic characters, and their homophobia is excused by everyone. Both MCs don't want to be with someone who "looks gay." Mockery of slightly effeminate gay character. Horribly grasping, flighty, horny women. And, the pervasive belief that both MCs need to bottom in order to ... be equal and not have one stuck as "the girl?" So gross, and even grosser is one MC pressuring and pouting when the other MC (who of course has been raped and didn't ever get therapy and has internlized it as "weakness") stalls.
I know some of all y'all liked it, but I really found this offensive.
August 15, 2013
Well sh*t..
Now let me tell you how pissed off I am.
I have never encountered a more f*cked up and disgusting assortment of secondary characters in my entire reading life. I mean, everyone gets a bit angry from time to time by idiotic people but this was something else. This was the wishing-they-were-real-so-as-to-bash-in-their-skulls kind of pissed off.
Calum's father.
A piece of work. No wait. Take the word "work" and change it with the second word of my review. Now that's more appropriate.
So what this guy does, is demean his son every chance he gets, treat him like a piece of furniture and uttelry disrespecting him while giving more importance to stupid moronic a**holes who think themselves cowboys, blame the man his son loves for every good he has done and finally, when aforementioned stupid moronic a**holes attempt to murder the man his son loves, wish that they'd actually succeeded.
Jasper's mother.
I'm not going to be insensible. Perhaps grief makes you say terrible things. Perhaps you never recover from something traumatic. Perhaps you feel that the only person left alive is the one to be blamed for everything. But come on. The father tries to avoid hitting one of his children by swerving the car and hitting the other and suddenly it's the kid's that wasn't hit fault? Am I the only one missing the logic behind this? And then the father kills himself out of guilt and grief and again it's Jasper's fault. I mean WHAT THE EVERLOVING F*CK? I know she has Altzheimer's but she developped it years after the accident and the suicide. You can't just say to your kid that you wish he had died instead of the other. It is INEXCUSABLE.
Calum and Jasper.
I love them. They are perfect.
Balanced.
Funny.
Loving.
Heartbreaking.
“We’re all going to die one day.” Calum slid his fingers into Jasper’s hair. “Which is why it’s important not to let something die inside you while you’re still alive.”
Now let me tell you how pissed off I am.
I have never encountered a more f*cked up and disgusting assortment of secondary characters in my entire reading life. I mean, everyone gets a bit angry from time to time by idiotic people but this was something else. This was the wishing-they-were-real-so-as-to-bash-in-their-skulls kind of pissed off.
Calum's father.
A piece of work. No wait. Take the word "work" and change it with the second word of my review. Now that's more appropriate.
So what this guy does, is demean his son every chance he gets, treat him like a piece of furniture and uttelry disrespecting him while giving more importance to stupid moronic a**holes who think themselves cowboys, blame the man his son loves for every good he has done and finally, when aforementioned stupid moronic a**holes attempt to murder the man his son loves, wish that they'd actually succeeded.
Jasper's mother.
I'm not going to be insensible. Perhaps grief makes you say terrible things. Perhaps you never recover from something traumatic. Perhaps you feel that the only person left alive is the one to be blamed for everything. But come on. The father tries to avoid hitting one of his children by swerving the car and hitting the other and suddenly it's the kid's that wasn't hit fault? Am I the only one missing the logic behind this? And then the father kills himself out of guilt and grief and again it's Jasper's fault. I mean WHAT THE EVERLOVING F*CK? I know she has Altzheimer's but she developped it years after the accident and the suicide. You can't just say to your kid that you wish he had died instead of the other. It is INEXCUSABLE.
Calum and Jasper.
I love them. They are perfect.
Balanced.
Funny.
Loving.
Heartbreaking.
Calum’s gift sat on the coffee table in the lounge. A clay model of the two of them making love. Jasper on top. Oh fuck. Where had Calum found time to do that?
A piece of paper had been pushed under one corner and Jasper pulled it out.
"Hey Dude, don’t be sad. It’s your smile that lights my world even if I can’t see it.
I love you.
Calum."
December 10, 2014
4.5 Stars
November 10, 2018
If I'm correct, this is the author's very first book. I haven't read her recent books, so I couldn't track her progress over the years, but the writing itself was really good in my opinion. That wasn't the problem.
I liked the steamy scenes, even though it was a bit too much toward the end.
I liked...
Well, that's about it unfortunately.
There was just too much happening all at once, and everything was so far fetched, and just plain stupid, unbelievable and ridiculous. Too many problems stuffed into this long book. From the moment Jasper gets on a plane to spend a week on a ranch in Wyoming, everything goes downhill for him. I would say the poor guy has bad karma or something for all his troubles. He wanted to get away from the city and relax, he got exact opposite.
And also instalust is so not my favorite. Unless it's an ABO book, and the MC's are fated mates.
I liked the steamy scenes, even though it was a bit too much toward the end.
I liked...
Well, that's about it unfortunately.
There was just too much happening all at once, and everything was so far fetched, and just plain stupid, unbelievable and ridiculous. Too many problems stuffed into this long book. From the moment Jasper gets on a plane to spend a week on a ranch in Wyoming, everything goes downhill for him. I would say the poor guy has bad karma or something for all his troubles. He wanted to get away from the city and relax, he got exact opposite.
And also instalust is so not my favorite. Unless it's an ABO book, and the MC's are fated mates.
October 31, 2012
I read a lot. I review a lot. If I love a book, I make that very clear in my reviews and then I push it on others. If I don't like a book, I try to be as fair as possible because I know that we don't all share the same likes and dislikes. I rarely do status updates on here unless it is to mark my place in a book. This book is an exception and I'm not sure where to begin.
I will try to bracket spoilers but some may be missed, so keep that in mind before reading what I have to say.
Jasper Randolph is a stockbroker in London. He has a stressful job that he hates. He has no social life and very few close friends. His entire life is his job and taking care of one of his parents. A former rider who was forced to stop as a result of a tragedy, he takes a vacation... holiday... and flies to Wyoming to stay at a dude ranch for a week. The holiday is supposed to be relaxing and it is to help him conquer his fear of horses.... the fear that reared its ugly head after the above tragedy. Mostly it is to get away from the hustle and bustle of his busy life in London.
Calum McNeil is the son of the owner of the dude ranch. He is gay and his parents know this, but he has been forced to keep that part of himself quiet because his father (a homophobic bastard) does not approve and voices his lack of approval... often and loudly.
Calum picks Jasper up from the airport and sparks fly. It does not take long before both men are trying their damndest to get together... even for a few minutes... but that is difficult because Calum's father and others go out of their way to make sure they are not left alone together.
There are so many things about this book that rubbed me the wrong way.
- It was too long.
- Jasper spent a small fortune to escape his busy life in order to fly to the states for what he hoped would be a relaxing vacation. He arrives at his destination only to be treated with hostility from the very first moment. Calum's father and his employees basically take turns calling Jasper homophobic slurs and they go out of their way to make sure that he knows that he is not welcome. This is the entire time he is in Wyoming. This is after it is mentioned in the book that the family (Calum's) is worried about lawsuits and the fact that they aren't booked to full capacity. You aren't booked to full capacity and you are worried about lawsuits, yet you treat one of your PAYING guests like dirt? Seriously? I kept thinking that Jasper would be better off just packing up and finding a beach somewhere. :) ... after he got his money back of course.
- Jasper is treated to the above-mentioned homophobic slurs at every turn, he's poisoned twice, his room is broken into, he is beat up and literally left for dead.
- Calum. Where to begin? He's a 30-year-old man who refuses to stand up to his father. When he finally gets around to doing so, it's too late. His father knows he's gay. It's not like he is in the closet. Everyone knows he's gay. But yet when his father gets started on him about it... and about his relationship with Jasper..., he sits back and says nothing. Not only does he not defend himself, he refuses to defend Jasper as well. I do not like reading about wimpy men in books and Calum is the epitome of that in my opinion. I never saw him as a tough cowboy. Trying to keep peace, I get. Allowing the man you are falling for to be subjected to abuse? THAT, I don't get.
- Fast forward. Something happens that makes Jasper leave earlier than planned to return to London. Something happens that finally, FINALLY pushes Calum in the right direction. They finally meet up again (after MONTHS of zero contact) and it's all about the sex. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the sex in my books but when the two characters obviously have a lot to talk about and they even say they need to talk and it turns instead into yet another long sex scene? I skimmed over that toward the end. I was no longer interested in WHY Calum wouldn't do certain things sexually nor did I care to read the "Will he let me?" or "Won't he?" (<-- Jasper) or "What if I can't?" or "Should I try this?" (<-- Calum). I seriously had stopped caring about all of that after the first 100 or so times that Calum and Jasper had their internal dialogues about it. Yes, Calum had his reasons for not being able to do it. I get that. But (to me) Jasper was a bit selfish in regards to that so I lost interest in all of it. By that point, I was simply rushing to finish the book.
- Note to self: Sure, that was kind of cute at the end of every chapter early on but the cuteness wore off quickly.
- The book is long, as I mentioned above. So long that I expected more at the end. What I got instead was a rush, rush ending that showed what may or may not happen between Calum and Jasper. They get their HEA, don't get me wrong, but there were quite a few details left out of the ending that I would have liked to have seen and not been told about after the fact. With all the other details in the book, I expected more.
I don't type bad reviews often and I hate doing them. I could have simply marked this one as "read" and let it go but I couldn't because certain things bugged me too much. I'm going with 2 stars instead of 1 because I finished it and there were a couple of things that I DID like about the story.
This is my first by this author. I will not allow my lack of love for this one prevent me from reading more.
I will try to bracket spoilers but some may be missed, so keep that in mind before reading what I have to say.
Jasper Randolph is a stockbroker in London. He has a stressful job that he hates. He has no social life and very few close friends. His entire life is his job and taking care of one of his parents. A former rider who was forced to stop as a result of a tragedy, he takes a vacation... holiday... and flies to Wyoming to stay at a dude ranch for a week. The holiday is supposed to be relaxing and it is to help him conquer his fear of horses.... the fear that reared its ugly head after the above tragedy. Mostly it is to get away from the hustle and bustle of his busy life in London.
Calum McNeil is the son of the owner of the dude ranch. He is gay and his parents know this, but he has been forced to keep that part of himself quiet because his father (a homophobic bastard) does not approve and voices his lack of approval... often and loudly.
Calum picks Jasper up from the airport and sparks fly. It does not take long before both men are trying their damndest to get together... even for a few minutes... but that is difficult because Calum's father and others go out of their way to make sure they are not left alone together.
There are so many things about this book that rubbed me the wrong way.
- It was too long.
- Jasper spent a small fortune to escape his busy life in order to fly to the states for what he hoped would be a relaxing vacation. He arrives at his destination only to be treated with hostility from the very first moment. Calum's father and his employees basically take turns calling Jasper homophobic slurs and they go out of their way to make sure that he knows that he is not welcome. This is the entire time he is in Wyoming. This is after it is mentioned in the book that the family (Calum's) is worried about lawsuits and the fact that they aren't booked to full capacity. You aren't booked to full capacity and you are worried about lawsuits, yet you treat one of your PAYING guests like dirt? Seriously? I kept thinking that Jasper would be better off just packing up and finding a beach somewhere. :) ... after he got his money back of course.
- Jasper is treated to the above-mentioned homophobic slurs at every turn, he's poisoned twice, his room is broken into, he is beat up and literally left for dead.
- Calum. Where to begin? He's a 30-year-old man who refuses to stand up to his father. When he finally gets around to doing so, it's too late. His father knows he's gay. It's not like he is in the closet. Everyone knows he's gay. But yet when his father gets started on him about it... and about his relationship with Jasper..., he sits back and says nothing. Not only does he not defend himself, he refuses to defend Jasper as well. I do not like reading about wimpy men in books and Calum is the epitome of that in my opinion. I never saw him as a tough cowboy. Trying to keep peace, I get. Allowing the man you are falling for to be subjected to abuse? THAT, I don't get.
- Fast forward. Something happens that makes Jasper leave earlier than planned to return to London. Something happens that finally, FINALLY pushes Calum in the right direction. They finally meet up again (after MONTHS of zero contact) and it's all about the sex. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the sex in my books but when the two characters obviously have a lot to talk about and they even say they need to talk and it turns instead into yet another long sex scene? I skimmed over that toward the end. I was no longer interested in WHY Calum wouldn't do certain things sexually nor did I care to read the "Will he let me?" or "Won't he?" (<-- Jasper) or "What if I can't?" or "Should I try this?" (<-- Calum). I seriously had stopped caring about all of that after the first 100 or so times that Calum and Jasper had their internal dialogues about it. Yes, Calum had his reasons for not being able to do it. I get that. But (to me) Jasper was a bit selfish in regards to that so I lost interest in all of it. By that point, I was simply rushing to finish the book.
- Note to self: Sure, that was kind of cute at the end of every chapter early on but the cuteness wore off quickly.
- The book is long, as I mentioned above. So long that I expected more at the end. What I got instead was a rush, rush ending that showed what may or may not happen between Calum and Jasper. They get their HEA, don't get me wrong, but there were quite a few details left out of the ending that I would have liked to have seen and not been told about after the fact. With all the other details in the book, I expected more.
I don't type bad reviews often and I hate doing them. I could have simply marked this one as "read" and let it go but I couldn't because certain things bugged me too much. I'm going with 2 stars instead of 1 because I finished it and there were a couple of things that I DID like about the story.
This is my first by this author. I will not allow my lack of love for this one prevent me from reading more.
February 27, 2012
This was a wonderful romance filled with tenderness and attraction between Jasper and Calum. There were such heartbreaking and then heartwarming parts, that it keeps you wondering how it is going to turn out. The mystery and intrigue was a little far fetched and wrapped up with not a real good explanation or follow through. However Jasper and Calum captivated me and for that I enjoyed this book.
April 30, 2012
DNF.
I feel REALLY cheated by this one because the sample was quite good. But then, after I bought it, it went downhill quickly.
First of all, I don't get the chemistry. Probably because all the characters are extremely one-dimensional, especially the main characters.
Second, the ranch owners and hands are DICKS to the guests. I don't understand the guests being frightened of the staff? Why stay there?!
WTFery abounds.
I feel REALLY cheated by this one because the sample was quite good. But then, after I bought it, it went downhill quickly.
First of all, I don't get the chemistry. Probably because all the characters are extremely one-dimensional, especially the main characters.
Second, the ranch owners and hands are DICKS to the guests. I don't understand the guests being frightened of the staff? Why stay there?!
WTFery abounds.
March 9, 2012
What a wonderful book. Thank you, Lynley, for recommending it to me. Without you I would have missed out on a great read. I started reading and couldn't put it down, only this pesky RL forced me several times to do so:) In the middle it was just a bit over the top, but then it returned to a touching love story.
March 20, 2012
3.5 stars
I'm not quite sure how to describe this book. It's kind of like controlled chaos I guess. There were so many elements and conflicts within the story that it was almost too much but they all pretty much had their own window. Once one issue was brought in and finished, another one would pop up and cause more conflict. It was both entertaining and exhausting.
The plot revolves around Jasper, a London stockbroker, looking to learn how to unwind and relax on a ranch in Wyoming. Instead, what he encounters is Calum, the ranch owner's son, a bunch of verbal abuse, threats, danger, and disappointment. Calum was just looking to stay on rocky ground with his father. When he meets Jasper, all his hopes of being the best son go out the window and he realizes what it's like to have something you truly desire. Doesn't take long for their fledgling relationship to get damaged, though, when Jasper's vacation turns fatal. Now their feelings and emotions are tested to see if they stand the vast expanse of the ocean.
I really liked Jasper as a character. He's uptight, prissy and a neat freak. He's aggressive with his job but hesitant when it comes to intimate relationships. He's afraid of what might happen if he makes the first move on a guy. Calum is the exact opposite. He's rough, loose and brash. But Calum is also conflicted. He likes Jasper enough to withstand his father's wrath but he's afraid of letting Jasper in, which causes tension between them. They are both likable characters, I mean cowboys and Brits! How can you not like that? Although I liked Jasper more than Calum. Although, I did enjoy the art Calum made.
Like I said, the book is like controlled chaos. There are a lot of conflicts and resolutions which kind of took away from the story, IMO. I think I would have enjoyed the story more if it would have stuck to one conflict throughout the whole book instead of adding so many littler issues. Not to say they weren't entertaining just that it got a bit annoying to be hit, yet again, with another issue.
With that said, I did like the book. Mostly. There was a point (probably between mid-beginning to mid-end) where I got so caught up in reading I didn't want to put it down. But the beginning was hard for me and it seemed like the end was almost all sex. That's in the addition to the already too much sex there was. I felt like whenever Jasper and Calum promised to talk, they ended up having sex instead and didn't talk until it was almost too late. I also wasn't very satisfied with the ending because I was expecting a bit more on where Jasper and Calum would end up and how they'd cope but instead got a small scene of what would happen. I'd have like to see it happen instead of being told more was going to happen. Especially with how much stuff Jasper went through (which, by the way, I'd have been way passed pissed off if I was treated like Jasper on my vacation... I mean holiday).
Overall, it's an okay story. Some parts I loved, some parts I didn't. There were too many conflicts brought in for me to absolutely adore the story, though. I liked the characters and it was nice seeing them both in their own elements and different worlds. Oh, and if you like a lot of smexing in your story, you'd enjoy this one. As it was, it was too much for me to the point I ended up skimming some.
I'm not quite sure how to describe this book. It's kind of like controlled chaos I guess. There were so many elements and conflicts within the story that it was almost too much but they all pretty much had their own window. Once one issue was brought in and finished, another one would pop up and cause more conflict. It was both entertaining and exhausting.
The plot revolves around Jasper, a London stockbroker, looking to learn how to unwind and relax on a ranch in Wyoming. Instead, what he encounters is Calum, the ranch owner's son, a bunch of verbal abuse, threats, danger, and disappointment. Calum was just looking to stay on rocky ground with his father. When he meets Jasper, all his hopes of being the best son go out the window and he realizes what it's like to have something you truly desire. Doesn't take long for their fledgling relationship to get damaged, though, when Jasper's vacation turns fatal. Now their feelings and emotions are tested to see if they stand the vast expanse of the ocean.
I really liked Jasper as a character. He's uptight, prissy and a neat freak. He's aggressive with his job but hesitant when it comes to intimate relationships. He's afraid of what might happen if he makes the first move on a guy. Calum is the exact opposite. He's rough, loose and brash. But Calum is also conflicted. He likes Jasper enough to withstand his father's wrath but he's afraid of letting Jasper in, which causes tension between them. They are both likable characters, I mean cowboys and Brits! How can you not like that? Although I liked Jasper more than Calum. Although, I did enjoy the art Calum made.
Like I said, the book is like controlled chaos. There are a lot of conflicts and resolutions which kind of took away from the story, IMO. I think I would have enjoyed the story more if it would have stuck to one conflict throughout the whole book instead of adding so many littler issues. Not to say they weren't entertaining just that it got a bit annoying to be hit, yet again, with another issue.
With that said, I did like the book. Mostly. There was a point (probably between mid-beginning to mid-end) where I got so caught up in reading I didn't want to put it down. But the beginning was hard for me and it seemed like the end was almost all sex. That's in the addition to the already too much sex there was. I felt like whenever Jasper and Calum promised to talk, they ended up having sex instead and didn't talk until it was almost too late. I also wasn't very satisfied with the ending because I was expecting a bit more on where Jasper and Calum would end up and how they'd cope but instead got a small scene of what would happen. I'd have like to see it happen instead of being told more was going to happen. Especially with how much stuff Jasper went through (which, by the way, I'd have been way passed pissed off if I was treated like Jasper on my vacation... I mean holiday).
Overall, it's an okay story. Some parts I loved, some parts I didn't. There were too many conflicts brought in for me to absolutely adore the story, though. I liked the characters and it was nice seeing them both in their own elements and different worlds. Oh, and if you like a lot of smexing in your story, you'd enjoy this one. As it was, it was too much for me to the point I ended up skimming some.
Read
February 18, 2024DNF at 10% - this is one of Elsborg’s first MM books, I think originally published in 2010. Let’s just say her stories and writing have come soooo far. I’m going to pretend this just doesn’t exist. You should too.
May 1, 2014
I decided it was time to clean up my TBR list, when we started talking about Spring Cleaning, so I went back to the first stories I added when I started reading m/m and this was one of them. I will be honest that the cover drew me in, I mean look at it, but the premise of a British man on an American ranch with a cowboy? You couldn’t have picked a better book for someone like me.
From the first time we meet Jasper on the plane I was interested and a bit confused as why he would come to the states for a vacation but I soon forgot about the “why’s” when he gets his first glimpse at Calum? Hello insta-lust and insta-lust done well…it would have to be to pull it off between this seemingly uptight British man and the rough cowboy from the ranch. These two had the attraction and I felt it immediately; they were hot for each other fast but they had these moments where they talked, even laughed (which I loved) at times that brought a level of intimacy I was not expecting so soon.
I wish I could blabber on about everything that happened in this book and I am having a hard time reviewing with without saying anything so I will keep this one short.
I loved that we got bot POV’s in this story and that both men had run away inner dialogues. Even though they started to sound alike at times, the boys were enjoyable. The beginning of the book was a lot of fun, but I have to say that this book had the quite the despicable cast of side characters that almost took me out of the story. They were absolutely horrible but Calum and Jasper had enough attraction to keep me going. So, yeah, the beginning was fun, then the middle happened and these shenanigans took place that weren’t really believable but I was still reading for the boys. But the last part, the part after the possibly unbelievable story? Oh My! That…that was worth it all. I loved seeing the boys together like this, I think they fit beautifully through the last half of the book and I have a new love for boardrooms in London.
Cowboys Down was a lovely read. The moment we get the meaning of the title made me “aww” with my hand on my chest and I love when a book can do that. The beginning was fun, the end was amazing and that middle was over the top but that hasn’t stopped me from going back to read a few of the great scenes between Jasper and Calum.
3.5 stars
This is your vacation and we aim to please. We want you to forget your troubles and enjoy yourself.
From the first time we meet Jasper on the plane I was interested and a bit confused as why he would come to the states for a vacation but I soon forgot about the “why’s” when he gets his first glimpse at Calum? Hello insta-lust and insta-lust done well…it would have to be to pull it off between this seemingly uptight British man and the rough cowboy from the ranch. These two had the attraction and I felt it immediately; they were hot for each other fast but they had these moments where they talked, even laughed (which I loved) at times that brought a level of intimacy I was not expecting so soon.
I wish I could blabber on about everything that happened in this book and I am having a hard time reviewing with without saying anything so I will keep this one short.
I loved that we got bot POV’s in this story and that both men had run away inner dialogues. Even though they started to sound alike at times, the boys were enjoyable. The beginning of the book was a lot of fun, but I have to say that this book had the quite the despicable cast of side characters that almost took me out of the story. They were absolutely horrible but Calum and Jasper had enough attraction to keep me going. So, yeah, the beginning was fun, then the middle happened and these shenanigans took place that weren’t really believable but I was still reading for the boys. But the last part, the part after the possibly unbelievable story? Oh My! That…that was worth it all. I loved seeing the boys together like this, I think they fit beautifully through the last half of the book and I have a new love for boardrooms in London.
Cowboys Down was a lovely read. The moment we get the meaning of the title made me “aww” with my hand on my chest and I love when a book can do that. The beginning was fun, the end was amazing and that middle was over the top but that hasn’t stopped me from going back to read a few of the great scenes between Jasper and Calum.
3.5 stars
Want to read
August 18, 2013DNF at 50%
Gosh I swear I am a fussy reader :( :( :( as I know it is yet another DNF but it was only because the story read just like a normal average life story. I want more from a book. I want to escape the boredom of real life and everyday things and become excited by the book I am reading.
But sadly I felt this book didn't have it.
The SEX WAS HOOTTTTT though hahahahaha! Just a shame I didn't connect with the characters as I wanted to do :(
But that cowboy butt pic cheered me up and gave me hope for a better cowboy read next time.
Thanks Blacky for buddying with me :) mwah I feel better knowing you felt the same
Gosh I swear I am a fussy reader :( :( :( as I know it is yet another DNF but it was only because the story read just like a normal average life story. I want more from a book. I want to escape the boredom of real life and everyday things and become excited by the book I am reading.
But sadly I felt this book didn't have it.
The SEX WAS HOOTTTTT though hahahahaha! Just a shame I didn't connect with the characters as I wanted to do :(
But that cowboy butt pic cheered me up and gave me hope for a better cowboy read next time.
Thanks Blacky for buddying with me :) mwah I feel better knowing you felt the same
August 21, 2015
This was both highly entertaining and frustrating for me. I just couldn't figure out why Jasper didn't hightail it away from his shitastic vacation spot. Good Lord, they were trying to kill him! And everyone except Vera and Calum were mean as hell. And Calum's dad! That asshole really should have been killed off. He offered nothing positive to the story whatsoever. I loved, loved, loved Jasper though. The poor Brit was terrorized his whole trip and then he leaves alone. Poor thing. He lives in nothing but misery. The ending didn't make a whole lot of sense to me because I never understood why Calum would want anything to do with douchebag daddy but at least they got their HEA....I guess.
May 17, 2020
I didn't find even one thing that worked in this book.
The characters are unrealistic, too bad, almost pure evil, the situations are unbelievable and the pure hatred toward Jasper is absolutely ridiculous, he's supposed to be a paying customer, c'mon! (The other mc has the dept of a puddle. nothing else to add). Also the pace isn't right, the time span is a week and more events happen than in six months.
Wouldn't recommend.
I've read other books by this author and liked them a lot (like 5 stars rating), but this one was a fail for me.
The characters are unrealistic, too bad, almost pure evil, the situations are unbelievable and the pure hatred toward Jasper is absolutely ridiculous, he's supposed to be a paying customer, c'mon! (The other mc has the dept of a puddle. nothing else to add). Also the pace isn't right, the time span is a week and more events happen than in six months.
Wouldn't recommend.
I've read other books by this author and liked them a lot (like 5 stars rating), but this one was a fail for me.
August 8, 2013
When the sex started I thought to myself, 'Here we go again, another vehicle for gratuitous porn' but I actually quite liked the plot and the characters in this story.
Certain things grated. Being in the hospitality industry myself it is just not feasible the way Jasper, the English Stockbroker is treated by the Ranch owner. Jasper is a paying guest for one weeks vacation/holiday and is systematically, kicked, bucked from a horse purposely, poisoned...twice! bashed on the head, bound and gagged and dumped in a corn silo! Hhhmmm!
So saying, I actually did enjoy it. A nice sweet read with a HEA.
Certain things grated. Being in the hospitality industry myself it is just not feasible the way Jasper, the English Stockbroker is treated by the Ranch owner. Jasper is a paying guest for one weeks vacation/holiday and is systematically, kicked, bucked from a horse purposely, poisoned...twice! bashed on the head, bound and gagged and dumped in a corn silo! Hhhmmm!
So saying, I actually did enjoy it. A nice sweet read with a HEA.
August 23, 2015
Two different people from two different worlds. And when those worlds collide you can't pull them apart. That is what happens to Calum and Jasper. A Brit meets a Cowboy, what can be better than that.
June 25, 2017
I am really torn on what I think about this book. It was way way way too far fetched in the drama parts that happened, I mean come on! The way that all the guests acted towards him too, that is really really unlikely to happen, and the dad - omg what a huge asshole. I hated the gay bashing parts and how that was apparently ok with EVERYONE there. Does no one have an ounce of common decency or morals? Who just watches that stuff happen and think, yep I'm good with that and hell I'll even go along with it?!
The whole do I want him or do I stay was a bit too much too.
The whole do I want him or do I stay was a bit too much too.
December 6, 2014
It has cowboys in it so that makes it a winner for me already. Set in Wyoming on a dude ranch. Calum works hard but can never please his father who refuses to accept his sexuality. Along with the latest holidaymakers arrives Jasper an English businessman who appears a little uptight and gives off no vibes as to his sexual orientation. There's an attraction there from both men but Calum knows his father's views on him getting involved with their customers. Jasper is there in the hopes of overcoming some of his demons and it appears that no matter what he does, someone is trying to sabotage his trip and cause him harm. The men act on their attraction and can't believe what they feel for each other but an attempt on Jaspers life and the end of his week means he is returning home having been given no reason to stay. He cuts off ties with Calum and heads home. From two different worlds both with a lot of baggage they're made for each other. There's hot guys, hot sex and a happy ending here so what more could you ask for....
August 13, 2013
I really don't know how to rate this book or what to say in this review. I liked both the MC's very much, and the love story between them was sweet and tender. I enjoyed that part of the book. The problem that stopped this from being a full five stars was that some of the story was just a little too over the top for me. If this had been kept a little more realistic, I would have enjoyed it more, but I did enjoy reading this, and Barbars Elsborg will remain an auto buy for me.
March 19, 2012
2 - there was such potential with this book. It had all the ingredients to start. Then it seemed like there were too many ingredients and it was every cliche you could think of being thrown at me.
With that said, I really did love Jasper, but I still did not think that I connected well with most everyone in this book.
With that said, I really did love Jasper, but I still did not think that I connected well with most everyone in this book.
Read
May 25, 2012I've been denying to myself that I have a cowboy kink, but clearly I do as I keep buying cowboy romances. This one was a great deal of fun. Some of the early occurences seemed OTT, but then everything was explained in a really satisfying way. I love it when writers do that :)
April 23, 2017
The father/son murder plot was a little too much melodrama, so one star off for that, but otherwise, I loved this!
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