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Ride the Thunder

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From the gilded glamour of Manhattan's penthouses to the untamed beauty of Idaho's mountains, a passionate romance blazed. Jordana was wild and willowy, a globe-trotting huntress, socialite daughter of a man whose equal she never dreamed she'd find. Until the night a bronzed, rugged stranger brought her desire to a frenzy she had never known. Fleeing to Idaho to forget his fiery touch, she joined her father's hunting party -- only to find the stranger there, acting as a guide. Again, their primitive passion burned. But a dark secret, born of jealousy, betrayal and murder, threatened to destroy their newfound love.

384 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1980

99 people are currently reading
229 people want to read

About the author

Janet Dailey

396 books1,846 followers
Janet Anne Haradon Dailey was an American author of numerous romance novels as Janet Dailey (her married name). Her novels have been translated into nineteen languages and have sold over 300 million copies worldwide.

Born in 1944 in Storm Lake, Iowa, she attended secretarial school in Omaha, Nebraska before meeting her husband, Bill. Bill and Janet worked together in construction and land development until they "retired" to travel throughout the United States, inspiring Janet to write the Americana series of romances, where she set a novel in every state of the Union. In 1974, Janet Dailey was the first American author to write for Harlequin. Her first novel was NO QUARTER ASKED.

She had since gone on to write approximately 90 novels, 21 of which have appeared on the New York Times Bestseller List. She won many awards and accolades for her work, appearing widely on Radio and Television. Today, there are over three hundred million Janet Dailey books in print in 19 different languages, making her one of the most popular novelists in the world.

Janet Dailey passed away peacefully in her home in Branson on Saturday, December 14, 2013. She was 69.

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5 stars
250 (42%)
4 stars
184 (31%)
3 stars
105 (17%)
2 stars
34 (5%)
1 star
12 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
Profile Image for Jul.
145 reviews9 followers
July 2, 2013
In some ways, this has everything you'd expect from a class Janet Dailey: tough but tender hero, delicate but strong heroine, daddy/mommy issues for one of the main characters, wild wilderness and horses, privileged upbringing for one of the main characters, smoking, vague descriptions of sex...

First published at the end of the 70s, Ride the Thunder is the story of Jordanna, beautiful socialite who spends her time being Daddy's girl on big game hunts with him throughout the world, and Brig, former soldier-for-hire in desperate need of funds to keep his ranch afloat.

When Brig goes to New York to squeeze some money from his cousin who's been running the family company into the ground, Brig meets Jordanna's father. He wants to hunt a rare wild ram and decides Brig is just the man to be their guide. While at a party, Brig comes across Jordanna and they share a one-night stand without even exchanging names (though Brig thinks Jordanna is her father's mistress, not his daughter). So imagine their surprise when Jordanna shows up with her father to start the hunt. After a bit of noise about Brig not wanting her around, Brig and Jordanna end up sharing a bed and a tent throughout the trip.

Unfortunately, it's not smooth sailing. Especially when Brig's cousin, who came along to sell Jordanna's father company stocks, dies. Was it accident or delibrate? And what danger are Brig and Jordanna in when Brig starts investigating?

The ending is abrupt, the characters never quite as deep as I would like (comparing to Dailey's The Rogue, which is my favorite of her older books), and the relationship skates more on lust than love for the grand majority of the book. But the story is engaging and it's an enjoyable read on a lazy day.

Grade: B-
Profile Image for Lillsa.
100 reviews2 followers
September 25, 2016
Rugged, experienced man and privileged, but strong!, woman meet, do vaguely sexy things, squabble, go hunting, and get wrapped up in family drama and muuuuurder.
Profile Image for Priscilla.
1,928 reviews16 followers
July 12, 2023
Amor Proibido foi o primeiro livro que li de Janet Dailey e ainda o tenho guardado em algum lugar.

Brig é um fazendeiro que precisa de dinheiro e é contratado para servir como guia de Smith e seus dois filhos - Jordanna e Kit - e um amigo. Todos partem para as montanhas do Idaho que se torna palco para uma caçada humana e um romance.

Há uma boa ênfase erótica nas cenas entre Brig e Jordanna, porém nada explicíto. O casal porém perde espaço para Kit, que mesmo odiando caçadas os acompanha, e que sofre o desprezo do pai por ser homossexual.

A descrição da floresta e mesmo das cenas de ação é muito boa, e faz pensar porque Dailey não continuou com esse estilo em seus outros livros. A história aqui não é muito desenvolvida porque não é essa sua proposta, a ideia é uma aventura com algumas cenas mais adultas.

Uma história para ler comendo pipoca.
128 reviews
May 27, 2024
Frustration - typos were extensive

Whoever is publishing electronic versions of older Janet Dailey books is not taking the time to fully review them. The typos are extensive and this book was frustrating to read. It is not the only example of the rush to sell an electronic version. I've bought 1 other and found the typos as extensive. I won't buy any more!!!
Profile Image for Joan.
513 reviews9 followers
January 23, 2025
I enjoyed this book, but really thought there’d be a twist that redeemed the heroine’s father, but not the case. He was bad until the very end. I’ve never been a fan of people who hunt just for trophies, but understand those who hunt and use the pelts, eat the meat, and do not waste the life of an animal. Hunters will probably always exist but hopefully will learn to hunt as humanely as possible.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
301 reviews3 followers
March 10, 2025
Money and Power

Money can make some people want more and more power. The story was a mix of believe and unbelieve. The hate the parents had for each other. The children were so messed up too. It was hard to put down, because I wanted to find how it all turned out.
Thanks for a couple of good days reading.

32 reviews
January 14, 2025
Wonderful Book, Lots of suspense BUT

There are too many typos and they ruined this book for me. Please get a good proof reader and release this book the way it should be.

















34 reviews
April 19, 2025
Family , Money and Hate

This story is riveting with a powerful man out to kill his wife’s lover and wound up dying himself and destroying his family in the process
Profile Image for Adriana Fogaça.
560 reviews6 followers
July 4, 2013
Amor Proibido.
Janet Dailey

Este foi o segundo livro que li da Janet Dailey. Como li primeiro "A Carícia do Vento" e sabia o quanto ele era um livro intenso. Já esperava que "Amor Proibido" fosse tão intenso quanto. Mas, não imaginava que livro fosse tão rico em reviravoltas.

As situações foram acontecendo e mudando de rumo com uma velocidade assustadora. Até o momento que você acredita ter identificado o vilão, mas aí, vc ainda não tem o que motivou tal situação. Então, você fica na duvida pq o mocinho tem motivos e poderia ser o vilão.

Na realidade, não há mocinho e bandido na estória, na verdade os personagens são bem realistas, sem aquela fantasia dos romances, onde os personagens principais são ou muito maus ou muito bons. Aqui eles demonstram suas qualidades e principalmente seus defeitos.

Para fechar, é uma estória que tem crime, traição, ardor, desejo, erotismo e também violência. Todos os ingredientes para um romance espetacular!!!

RECOMENDADÍSSIMO!!!

ADORO!!!
1,520 reviews2 followers
December 19, 2013
A story of passion, greed, jealousy, betrayal and murder. Among the wild beauty of the mountains of Idaho, a hunt for the elusive Big Horned Sheep turns into murder. Brig McCord owner of a ranch in Idaho is talked into being a guide for a hunt for the trophy ram. He needs the money to keep his ranch afloat. The hunter Fletcher Smith has contracted him to take himself, his lovely daughter Jordanna, his son Kit, and Brig's cousin Max on this hunt. Brig is drawn to Jordanna, with a desire he's never known before and the story continues from there..................

I liked the story!
Profile Image for Cris.
25 reviews1 follower
June 4, 2014
Muito bom livro!!!! Além do romance, tem um clima de suspense no ar. Várias perguntas foram surgindo na minha cabeça ao longo da leitura, e eu fui tirando minhas conclusões, que se confirmaram no fim do livro. O único ponto negativo, foi justamente o final. De repente o livro acaba, e pronto!!! Se resolvem todos os problemas, e ponto final, sem nenhum comentário a mais!!! Fiquei frustrada!!!!
Profile Image for Raine.
Author 2 books13 followers
August 8, 2013
This book is a timeless classic and inspired me to become a writer. I have probably read it at least thirty times. I hope someday that I can write something ageless with the artistry of Janet Dailey
Profile Image for Sandie.
588 reviews14 followers
Want to read
December 26, 2015
Currently putting this book on the back burner as I have not been able to get into it. I read it once before and remember enjoying it, but this time its not reading as smoothly for me.
Profile Image for Cath.
95 reviews1 follower
February 7, 2016
It ended very abruptly.
I felt like the writer had enough of the storyline end made a swift end to it.
Overall the story was good. I liked the fact the hardened Brig fell in love with Jordanna.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews

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