Ride

Hawkins Brothers/Quinten, Montana #4

by Cameron Dane

Bull rider Risa Forrester and Sheriff Duke Boone have been dancing around their attraction for the better part of a year now. Almost everyone in Quinten, Montana can see it, even though Risa and Duke have never so much as kissed, let alone anything more. Risa has been in love with the sheriff for a long time and senses Duke feels something for her too. He’s so damned rigid though and used to being in complete control that he won’t let go with her and act on the fire that burns between them.Duke knows he can never give in to the simmering lust he feels for the much younger Risa Forrester. Their age difference alone makes anything between them wildly inappropriate, and he will not invite small town gossip to his front door by engaging in a relationship with the vibrant young woman, who also happens to be his son’s best friend.But when Risa begins to seriously compete against men in her bull riding career, emotions long unused start to stir in Duke, ones he cannot ignore. Duke’s fear of Risa getting hurt drives the passion between them, and before Duke knows it, he is knee-deep in an affair with the hottest, most wildly engaging woman he has ever known. Duke finds himself almost obsessed with Risa, something he hates feeling, and is constantly fighting desire he swore he would never let in his life again.The need to keep Risa safe pushes Duke into a reckless ultimatum, and in doing so forces the independent Risa right out of his arms. Can Duke find a way to let go of the strict control he holds over his life and allow a woman back into his heart? And if he can, how much of his soul will he have to give to this fiery woman in order to convince her that she’s the only one he wants, forever?

Genres: Romance, Erotica, M F Romance, Westerns, Contemporary, M M Romance, Fiction

256 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

I am an air force brat and spent most of my growing up years living overseas in Italy and England, as well as Florida, Georgia, Ohio, and Virginia while we were stateside. I now live in Florida once again with my big, wonderfully pushy family and my three-legged cat, Harry. I have been reading romance novels since I was twelve years old, and twenty years later I still adore them. Currently, I have an unexplainable obsession with hockey goaltenders, and an unabashed affection for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.

Reviews

[Mspink · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have a new author to add to my faves. This is one good writer. Its not your typical quintessential romance novel. The writing was done in such a meaningful way, I was brought to tears more than once. The emotions that so clearly came through the pages were so vivid. You could feel how much these two individuals loved each other, as well as the other characters from previous stories. Even characters from future books in the series shined through in a way that makes you determined to read their stories as well.

I don't typically respond well to the female who so blatantly puts herself out there to get her man. It makes things seem so one-sided and often times just makes me cringe. However, Risa's strength and determination to give her heart to Duke and get his in return, was impressive. It was very moving.

SPOILER STATEMENT COMING*********** I have to say, I totally understood Duke's feelings about her bull riding. I even agreed to a point. How could she put her body at such risk.... chance not being able to bear children in the future.... and then when the other additions to her 'family' came later, risk orphaning them with such a brutal hobby. Honestly it seemed a little selfish. HOWEVER, I also agreed with her that she needed a partner to support her and let her be 'her'. She couldn't compromise who she was in her core and still be a whole person. Life is all about risks. So I had to see both sides. But there was a secret part of me that was on Duke's side more. Anyway, I absolutely loved Duke. He was so loving and protective and determined. But Risa was determined to win his soul. When he finally bared his soul to her and opened up fully, it was just beautiful.

You can feel the powerful emotions coming through the pages and you will not be disappointed when you read this story. All the characters are wonderful and you will immediately fall for every one of them.

[DaisyGirl · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5 Stars

I didn't like this book. It's sad because I had high hopes for Duke Boone and was looking forward to his story. Unfortunately, I didn't like how Duke was portrayed. His concern for Risa's safety while bull riding was well-founded but he vacillated from acting like a control-freak to a love-starved teenager. I thought he was better than that and he got ripped off. As for Risa? Well, I liked her even less. She was selfish, bitchy, and uncompromising. I believe and support chasing one's dream but I also believe that being a good "partner" in a relationship requires compromise and sacrifice. Risa's attitude was: 'I do what I want and you all (that's right, not just Duke ... EVERYONE) should love and adore me for it'. At the same time, she brought nothing to the proverbial table for Duke except great sex. So it was a hard sell for me. The last straw was when Risa didn't even consider Duke's feelings before deciding to adopt the kids. I get that they weren't together at the time but she obviously hadn't given up all hope yet because she took him back soon after. But rather than wait and talk it out with Duke to see how he feels, she just moved with it and expected him and everyone else to love and support her decision. It was a good decision and I liked it but her execution - once again - just highlighted her self-centered nature. And, that's just a turn off.

Bottom line: Since I didn't care for either protagonist, this one didn't work for me.

[luv2reed · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hmm, well I really wanted to like this book, because I LOVED the rest of the series. I really liked Risa's character, very strong together person. Gave that bonehead way to many chances. For being a guy twice her age he acted like an immature self indulgent child. All I kept thinking - girl you need to kick that ass to the curb. And btw - NO foreplay - none, nada. Wham bam thank you ma'am. I don't think they even got their jeans off half the time. I don't know about anyone else but I want some sensual kissing, some biting, some sucking - you got to lick it before you stick it if you know what I mean. Halfway through I was contemplating DNFing the book, but I really hate doing that so I pushed on. I ending up skimming the rest to finish. I'm so glad I saved this one till the end because I may not have read the rest of the series and Becoming Three was my absolute favorite and on my keeper list.

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

SOLID five stars, and I'm definitely a big fan of Cameron Dane , effective immediately...I loved "The Ultimate Kink" to pieces, and "Ride" is no exception. I don't read m/m-stories, unfortunately, but I hope she will write more m/f...and I found out that there's a big advantage in reading the occasional m/f-book by an m/m-author: Cameron Dane is corageous enough to write men not afraid to let women play with their butts...and thta's so H-A-W-T, dammit...
What's even more important: Dane writes a CONVINCING emotional arch and creates BELIEVABLE, LOVEABLE characters- Damn, did I want Risa and Duke to get their happy end!
All in all, a wonderful book with scorching sex scenes- please, Cameron Dane, write more m/f!!!! And if you include a lot more anal play female to male- I'm not angry :D!

[Michelle [Helen Geek] · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 stars - maybe less. I really liked a short story I read by this author, so thought to give the longer format a try. Not impressed. Not much to this one really. I liked the story line ... a young female bullrider and an older man -- small town northwest. Sounded good for a change, so why not. It started good and had some hot romance, but about half way through, the story became tedious and the only real difference was an increase in the kink factor.

Erotica, if in a good story, I'm fine with and enjoy. Sex for the sake of ... doesn't interest me at all. So, unless you want to read something with little creativity, but a whole lot of thoughtless sex [and not particularly good at that], then I'd stay away from this one.

Happy Reading with the caveats above!

[Emmie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I guess, meh-ish with moments where I thought I would like it more. It stayed pretty one note, and the author occasionally made Risa sound like a muscle beast a few times. Which was weird. I don't think they had to emphasize her physical strengths so much, that started to be her defining factor to me. I felt like it was used to represent her internal toughness and resilience which is frustratingly blatant. Also- I would have liked her to acknowledge that 20 yrs is a legit age difference and then the Sheriff could have stopped muttering on about it. But-it's still a fun read.

[Kickhy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Isn’t it the best when the woman gets her man!!! Risa was a paragon of patience and I wish I had her kind of wisdom at 24 but, I digress! This book was so good it had me laughing, frustrated and just about ready to deliver a throttling to fictional characters and that fantasy involving chaps? Uuf 🔥

[Kazza · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another 4 star read from Cameron Dane. I love this Quinten/Montana/Hawkins Ranch series.

Both characters are already familiar through Falling onwards and I'm glad to see them get their own book.

Sheriff Duke Boone is 44 and still recovering from his marriage to Brenda. We get to see Brenda's damaged ways in Renecade and more snippets in Ride. He's a very good man, he raised Brenda's son Ren (his non-biological, adopted son) and now it's his turn to get some good sexual healing and loving in his life.

Risa Forrester has been in love with Duke Boone, her best friend Ren's dad, for the last 7 years, since she was 17. Risa has had some heartache in her life but she has moved on and developed into a very strong and capable young woman. Now 24 she really wants to try to get this relationship with Duke started.

I liked the story, it's not atypical in romance/erotica, younger partner with older partner, someone has the hots for someone for the longest time. There's not much new under the sun, but there is just something in the way Cameron Dane puts her books together, the love and emotion she invests in her characters that make her books a cut above. I always want to progress quickly through the book to see what happens. I know realistically that the HEA is coming but there are always hurdles aplenty. I love that I never fail to feel emotionally invested in her books and characters. I cheer for them or hurt for them.

I liked both characters, they were annoyingly stubborn and fought a hell of a lot, but bloody hell the sex was, as per usual, hot, hot and then hot again. There was just the right amount of angst and conflict for me and the making up that comes with it. There are also appearances from other characters that have had their HEA. I like that, like seeing how others are going, it keeps you connected to the series. I also like to think that this series can keep going, so new characters that could perhaps get a book makes me hopeful for this series continuation.

Even though there is a theme and a connection to previous books, each book is written in such a way that they can be read as a stand alone. So anyone liking a particular books concept more than another can read them individually or even out of order.

I have just bought the rest of this series and will now be happily reading a Cameron-Dane-athon over the next few days. If you have never tried one of her books and want to read a good hot, hot romance (be warned they are, delighfully, sexually explicit) then pick one of these books up and give it a try they are very, very good.

[Lenore · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was going to give this a solid 4 stars but I changed my mind because of the last part of the book. The reason? 24-year-old Risa deciding to adopt a 16-year-old runaway and his 10-year-old sister, two kids she just met, simply because they reminded her of the situation she and her brother had gone through as children? It was a dumb and immature decision by a character whom, up to that point, the author was striving (and had managed) to convince us was very mature and level-headed for their age. If that was what the author was planning for Risa, I would very much have preferred her to have taken that decision AFTER she got married to Duke. That would have made much more sense.

Apart from that, I loved the chemistry between Risa and Duke. It felt real. I also understood both characters, their thoughts, their fears, the whys of their decisions.

The more intimate scenes could be more detailed but the verbal parts were good and they counterbalanced the lack of real foreplay. Most of the time anyway.

All in all, I find that this author knows how to build interesting characters and absorbing stories and I will be reading more of their work.

[Judith · Rating 4 out of 5]

We often encounter the "cougar" stories these days, but here you have a romance which involves a sheriff that is nearly twenty years older than a young woman who is a semi-professional bull rider and who owns the local general story/western wear store. She has been in love with the sheriff for years and he has consistently pushed her away citing age, etc. The road to true love for these two is never easy as he cannot seem to get past his opposition to her bull riding and his fear for her safety. Even after they acknowledge their mutual love, he puts a great many objections in their path, one or two which almost derail the whole deal. A very good story and so well written. I have put this one on my re-read list.

[Karyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Considering how much i look forward to reading this one given the little hints in the previous books, it turned out to be one big disappointment.
There is nothing more annoying than female characters living out the 'i understand him the best, better than he knows himself. He's suffering deep down inside even though he doesn't know it. All he needs is the LOVE OF A GOOD WOMAN (me) and he'll attain nirvana'

Fuck.

[Frances McNeal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great book in the Hawkins Ranch series. I love Risa again in this book. She is one strong woman who knows what she wants. Duke really fought his feelings throughout this whole book and I'm glad he was able to make it work. I ended up reading the book in one sitting because it was killing me to read what Duke was doing to their relationship. I had to keep going to see how it would end.

[Renee · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was my absolute least favorite of the series. I guess it's too much to ask that all the hot cowboys in this small town be gay, huh? Oh well one can dream.

And why throw in a word like "snogged". I believe it went like this " she snogged the underside around the base and licked... Bla bla bla. What cowboy or cowgirl is gonna use the term snog referring to kissing.

[Andy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Awww man, how disappointing, I really liked Duke but when it finally came to writing his love story it was just a big disappointment, which is shocking because I like Dane's other stories. :( It was like seeing an awesome slice of chocolate cake that looks super yummy, but when you bite into it you find it has very little flavor and when you're finished you feel totally cheated and unsatisfied!

[Juniper · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another m/f mixed within in a series of m/m - I feel I have to read them as I worry that I may miss out on info that may have relevance later in the series. I do, however, like Cameron Dane & so this wasn't too much of a hardship. Likeable characters.
3½

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

not a bad book at all, dealing with a younger heroine-24-and the older man she is in love with-44-who has rouble dealing with both the age difference between them and her choice of recreation--she's a pro bull rider! and the smex wasn't bad either!

[Jessie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just rereading this book. I like Rise for most part... I like that she stands up to Duke and doesn't take his shit, but I thought she was hasty in many of her decisions. Over all I think this is a great addition to any library.

[Manda · Rating 2 out of 5]

family and bull riding (not pnr)

[Noor · Rating 4 out of 5]

i loved the story.... i love the whole falling for the older man thing... ,the book was very real and fantasy at the same time..=)

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Risa and Duke are one hot couple.