Working the Lode

Going for the Gold #1

by Layla Wolfe, Karen Mercury

Going to California. It's three thousand miles nearer to hell.
Mountain man Cormack Bowmaker meets up with Zelnora Sparks on the eve of California's great rush-the discovery of gold. Zelnora is fleeing from her mentor, the mighty businessman Brannagh. They are being shadowed by the most scandalous Spanish bandit in the frontier. Joaquin Valenzuela wants to rob them of their gold, but soon discovers a desire for much more.
Californians call for the pickled head of Valenzuela in a jar, but his passion for the two Americans overpowers his zeal for mayhem. They band together in their quest for riches, love, and the good life.
Bowmaker is a sharpshooter, his aim true. Valenzuela will slit the throat of anyone who wanders by. Zelnora knows where to find the gold. And Brannagh will do everything it takes to stop them.
They are about to discover the frontier—within themselves.

Publisher’s Note: Working the Lode is a gritty western MMF romance novel. Contains voyeurism, extremely explicit man-on-manlove action, and scorching hot scenes of historical menage. It is a 65,000 word story with no cliffhanger and HEAs for all.

Genres: M M Romance, Historical Romance, Romance

272 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

Bestselling author Layla Wolfe likes to bring you alpha males--sometimes two at a time--and the kick-ass women who love them. Her BARE BONES MC series explores the dark, disturbing life of the biker club in Arizona. Her spinoff series THE BENT ZEALOTS MC is a gritty MM saga. THE ASSASSINS OF YOUTH MC is a spinoff set in Utah. For a FREE COPY of THE BARE BONES #1, sign up for her newsletter at: http://www.subscribepage.com/d3s7p6

You can find her at:
www.laylawolfe.com
www.facebook.com/layla.wolfe
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/layla...
https://www.instagram.com/layla_wolfe...
www.twitter.com/LaylaWolfeAutho
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

Reviews

[Rachel]

I couldn't read past the first couple of pages, mainly because I never want to read the word "Quim" again, but more importantly, because I never want to hear the phrase "Spongy Quim" again so long as I live! Also "Slutty Fawn" was an odd one

[Sheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read books by this author before but this is something totally unexpected. the characters interaction was what I look for in a story and this book is on my top 10 list.

this is book 1 of the new series Going For the Gold by the author.

[Mandy Sawyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the humour that Layla has put into this book. It made the reading lighter. That said I’m not the biggest fan of historical however the storyline and characters were addictive.

[Ida Umphers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have enjoyed contemporary romances by this author and was very curious to see how this historical would be. I enjoyed it immensely. One thing I particularly enjoyed was the realistic descriptions of what regular life must have been like for people at this time. It always irks me when you read historical fiction and the people all seem to be clean and sweet smelling all the time. Here, the author's descriptions of how things feel and smell are never airbrushed. The three main characters fit together in their relationship well. It is clear why they are all attracted to each other's strength and resilience. The villain is suitably slimy and provides an excellent foil for our threesome. It is clear Wolfe had a blast writing this and I look forward to more work set in this locale and time period.

[Lorrie Gedert · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and it was HOT as well as Funny, I truly laughed my ass off! It's funny because not every author can write in every genre but Layla Wolfe manages to put you right in the middle of the story as if you are really present in the time the story is set in. That is a true gift!
I will always enjoy reading her books over and over again.😁😁😁😁😁😁📚🐛

[Coco.V]

🎁 FREE on Amazon today (5/4/2021)! 🎁

[Illusode · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars
Colorful prose, hard to understand.

ROTFLMAO... the pumpkins!

Fair warning: I DNFed this pretty early on. I just couldn't comprehend what they were thinking! This is full of strange idioms, what I can only assume are period-accurate turns of phrase that I'd applaude the author for including for realism and immersion... if I didn't have to wade through an ocean of them. There are just two many of them too densely packed into the text. And I say this as a dedicated fan of fantasy and science fiction that loves to make up words and names and concepts! I would call it purple prose, except that it's too prosaic LOL. Really lusty, earthy characters!

Regardless, my respect to the author for such attention to detail and language. It was nothing modern as i'd recognize it. Clothes, endearments, insults, prejudices, measurements, expectations, colloquialisms... all seemed related to THAT time, THAT place, THAT people.

Moreover, the characters seemed complex and realistic. I truly respect multifaceted characters that can interact realistically.

So, even though I couldn't finish the story right now, I admire the craft involved and will keep it aside for another day. I really would like to see where it goes.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Linda Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

MMF (my favorite!) romance among an unlikely threesome during the California goldrush
For me this was a different kind of story than expected from Ms. Wolfe…a goldrush western no less! I will admit it took a bit to get accustomed to the writing in pioneer language, I assume. The wording is very different from todays “American.” Anyway, loved Zelnora Sparks, Cormack Bowmaker and even Joaquin Valenzuela after a bit. Valenzuela starts off being a bad guy but before the book is done, he is likeable. All these characters and others are running from something, which is part of the intrigue of this story.
As for steam, it took a while but by the time it occurs you know these people very well and can see this new development being in character. Their back stories will amaze you. This is a well-written study of a unique time and place. Ms. Wolfe likes to read non-fiction so I do not doubt that much of what she has written is accurate for the time. I loved it. I volunteered to review an ARC of this book for the author and I give it 4.5 very steamy stars. If this is any indication, I plan on reading any other MMF books she writes. Pssst…cover model is the perfect Cormack.

[Roger R · Rating 4 out of 5]

’ve started to enjoy these MMF type of trope for some reason. I never thought I would…but I am. I’ve really enjoyed Layla Wolfe’s MFM stories. The book cover may be misleading since it only features a hot stud but don’t even worry about it.

The story focuses on Zelnora, who’s a young vivacious lady and she’s stuck working for a slimeball. One day she came face to face with Cormack, a Mountain trapper who was in town to purchase some stuff. That was when Zelnora’s heart started beating fast. You get the idea. He had eyes for her and she knew it. They agreed to meet in secret and had a hot tryst. In the meantime, the atypical villain, Joaquin Valenzuela had been terrorizing different towns and such. But is he really the villain? After Zelnora left the slimeball she worked with Cormack mining for gold. When this was happening, Valenzuela stumbled upon them and had the hots for both of them. That’s where I’m going to stop and have you read to find out what happens and whether Valenzuela is the villain everyone kept saying.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having read this author before and liked it so much so that when I seen this one had to dive in. Do not read many westerns so this was also a refreshing change. Yeppie it is also a start of a series which I prefer to begin at the first one. Having had lived many years in California could easily picture this one and relate to alot of the historical time having been to a couple of ghost towns. The characters in this are a colorful band that get together after we see a bit about them. Their quest will take them on the search for much more than the gold they want. That is what makes this one that keeps you into it by the story it weaves around its readers. The romance is such that it seals you in not to let loose anytime soon. The thing about this one is that it is a page turner that feeds your search for riches also. What a beginning for us to savor.

[Danial · Rating 5 out of 5]

An enjoyable book that starts off slow but picks up to an enjoyable pace a few chapters in

Exact Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

It took me a while to get into this book. It takes some time for the story to reach its MMF romance part. The story starts to get interesting and picks up in pace following Joaquin's introduction. The s*x scenes were certainly steamy. I enjoyed the plot and events that follow after Cormack & Zelnora leaves their former home. The final fight scene was simply amazing. I will admit, the language used threw me off a bit as the author used words that I believe to be common at the time setting of this story. I was blown away by the accuracy of the story with events occurring during the time period.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Tanya Rae ~ TaSTy WordGasms · Rating 4 out of 5]

Working the Lode: an MMF Western Menage Romance is the first book in the Going for the Gold series. This is a western romance. The trope may be different in that this is a western romance. But the raw, grittiness that this author puts into her writing hasn’t changed. Make sure to read the Publisher’s Note: there is a lot of sexual activity happening and it is explicit.

This is Joaquin Valenzuela, Zelnora Sparks and Cormack Bowmaker’s story. If you like MMF romance and a highly erotic & very explicit read. Then I would say this book is for you!

Oh and an added benefit is that I felt like I learned a little history while reading Working the Lode.

I got Working the Lode from Kindle Unlimited.

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unique time period for a MMF romance

Joaquin is a bandit, Cormack is a frontiersman, and Zelnora is a divorced woman with an eye for geology. Together they make the unlikeliest of couples (and then a trio), but somehow, it seems to work. It doesn’t seem equal - the connection between Joaquin and Zelnora is the least developed - but it is three-ways. I found the language in this story quite flowery, occasionally over descriptive and filled with odd turns of phrase. Maybe this is reflective of the time period, but I found it off-putting (I almost put the book down). Once I got into the story, I got used to it, and enjoyed this story set in the Old West.

[Momma Hellmouth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m a huge fan of historical romance and the fact this one is a historical western romance that is set during the gold rush I couldn’t have been more excited to read and then add the MMF to the read and I was stoked to read this series.
I loved the grit and how authentic it was to the ole gold rush days. As always it was impeccably written with just the right amount of sexy. I really enjoyed the journey that Cormack, Zelnora, and Joaquin went through to become a happy threesome. Set in a time when MMF was more than likely never thought of and definitely would have been frowned upon. Can’t wait to see what’s next!

[Charlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Working the Lode, book one in the Going for the Gold series follows divorcee Zelnora Sparks, frontiersman Cormack Bowmaker and bandit Joaquin Valenzuela and set during the California goldrush.
As the three eventually get together to look for their piece of the goldrush, things between the three of them eventually heat up, and in a time when a relationship with two men and one woman would most likely be frowned upon, they still manage to heat things up and let their new feelings take over. It was a little hard to follow at times since it’s written in the old dialogue of the Wild West of the 1800s, but it is still a great story to read.

[Stephanie W · Rating 4 out of 5]

Historical romances should be entertaining and this one was written with a real world building of the California Goldrush.

Joaquin, Cormack and Zelnora, add health dose of steam between them without feeling overbearing. The female character does not become lost among her male counterparts, and the chemistry could be felt off the pages.

One of the few MMF books that I've read, thoroughly enjoyed and would recommend.

**I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.**

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first book in the Going for the Gold series, a well written gritty western MMF romance novel that kept me turning pages. Mountain man Cormack Bowmaker, Zelnora Sparks, and scandalous Spanish bandit Joaquin Valenzuela's story of suspense, drama, danger, twists, turns, a villain, and romance. I enjoyed reading this book. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Marilyn Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a wonderful story telling of three people who are going to the California gold rich. Two are going together and one wants to rob them! It tells and describes the times very well and doesn’t gloss things over as it was a rough time. It tells about the people’s past and how they want to hope that finding gold will give them what they truly want, wealth and happiness.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC from the author thru Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving my review. This is a historical western romance that is set during the gold rush. It is also a bisexual menage between Joaquin, Cormack and Zelnora. The danger, suspense and steam between the characters will keep you turning the pages. It was not my favorite book by this author but it was a good story

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[stardragon · Rating 3 out of 5]

First I would like to state the wording used was a bit unusual. This is a story of a mountain man, a smart woman and an outlaw whom end up cozy together. It is also about surviving in the 1800’s during the gold rush and hard times. The extreme differences between then and now are what I saw more, but also how vulnerable emotions make us. It was a very interesting book and suggest if you like historical books to pick it up and start reading

[Dawn Bade · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great read. It was a little hard to follow as it was written in old west dialogue. Once you get to the language down it is good. It is not like the usual MMF romance. It also has male on male romance in a way that you get the true feeling behind it. I am not usually one to read these books but I will be looking for more by this author.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Shifty Bugger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the book it was great, the story was written well and the characters were interesting. This book is a Historical Weston and the description was phenomenal for that era. The story of how the three people Cormack, Zelnora and Joaquin, they really did complemented each other. Loved the steamy scene, not over the top.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kkhmonrai · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first western-themed read from this author, and it felt very authentic from the people to the places, the sounds and the smells. The three people felt genuine and the attitudes toward same-sex relations was accurate. The action, adventure, and love felt gritty and realistic for the times, too. This was a steamy and engaging read and I look forward to more in this genre from the author.

I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving this honest review.

[Rhonda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love MMF and I love historical so when these are put together in one story, I'm there! I really enjoyed the journey that Cormack, Zelnora and Joaquin went through to become a threesome. Set in a time when MMF was more than likely frowned on, the story was very well written. Just like with the authors MC series, I got sucked into this book!!! I hope there will be more like this!

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

They are going to try to find gold but things between all three of them may just become more sexual between them. What is going to happen? Will they become a trio? How is life going to treat them? See how they all get on

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jennifer Grimm · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book very much. I am used to the MCs written by Layla Wolfe, but this was a great change! Zelnora gives the book lots of spunk, Cormack gives the book something to drool about, and Valenzuela brings his Spanish hotness some badness to the book. It is definitely something I would recommend!

***I received a free copy of this book and am writing this review voluntarily.***

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can smell the dirt, the unwashed bodies of desperate men, hear the stomping of boots as they travel. Desperados and gunslingers looking for quick riches. Add in a bandito who has a hankering for something a little wild, a little untamed, a little naughty, and you have Working the Lode. Take a walk on the wild side wild west style.

I read and reviewed a copy of this book.

[Tinna Edna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was as different style from the MCs the author usually writes but she did not disappoint. The attraction between Joaquin, Zelnora and Cormack was off the charts resulting in some steamy scenes. reader be warned.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jeanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

The storyline was good, the sex was hot, the writing style just didn’t work for me. The pumpkin references didn’t make sense to me. Neither did the “child” references.

I received a free copy of this book.

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fast-paced steamy menage read that takes place during the California goldrush. Zelnora, Cormack and Joaquin are great characters with lots of depth and the chemistry is very steamy. Loads of drama and intrigue and the characters have lots of depth. I liked it.