Reviewed by Vicki

 

TITLE: A Courageous Ride

 

SERIES: The Bull Riders #3

 

AUTHOR: Andrew Grey

 

PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press

 

LENGTH: 204 pages

 

BLURB:

The Bullriders: Book Three

Aspiring orchestra conductor Marshall is exhausted after months of auditions without a single job offer. Marshall’s friend, Terry, recommends a change of scenery and points Marshall in the direction of a dude ranch run by former bull rider Indigo Santana. Marshall is understandably skeptical, but his friend is convincing, and Marshall needs a break, so he agrees to go.

Indigo captures Marshall’s attention but leaves him confused. Indigo’s confidence is shot after an injury ended his rodeo career, and he walks with a slight limp. He hasn’t been anywhere near a bull since he was hurt, and he’s not the most accommodating host. After all, the only reason he keeps guests is because his family ranch is all but bankrupt.

Marshall’s attraction doesn’t go unanswered, which leaves him with a huge dilemma. He’s torn between the possibility of love, something he’s searched for all his life, and the career he’s worked toward for as long as he can remember, which is miles away. From his side of the fence, Indigo doesn’t see how the ranch could ever be enough.

 

REVIEW:

Marshall Harrington is a wealthy but surprisingly not spoiled man from New York, wanting to make a name for himself as a conductor. He’s auditioning for a position with orchestras around the country and he is tired…. The travel and stress have gotten to him and he just wants to rest. His mom would LOVE to have him come back to New York, give up his dream and get a real job at his fathers firm. Marshall stands his ground with his mom, but decides he needs a vacation. His friend Terry suggests a dude ranch outside of Houston, suggesting that Marshall might appreciate looking at the tight cowboy butts! Marshall isn’t sure but decides to give it a try and makes a reservation at the Circle R Ranch for the next day.

 

Indigo Santana has inherited the Circle R Ranch from his parents and is struggling to keep it going. He’s opened it up to tourists, keeping it as a working ranch as well. Things are starting to pick up, but it’s a close run business. He has a few visitors and booking Marshall Harrington in to his big guest cabin will help immensely. Indigo is a former bull rider and is friends with Dante and Ryan, from the previous Bull Rider books. With their help, Indigo is trying to keep his guests entertained and coming back.

 

Marshall arrives at the ranch and settles in well, and soon the sparks fly between the two men. They resist for a very short time, neither wanting to get involved despite the attraction. Marshall is on vacation and not looking for love. He’s also got some baggage in the form of a cheating ex boyfriend named Harold. He’s still dealing from his breakup with Harold, and a potential health issue Harold may have gifted him with. Indigo is a loner. He’s a gay cowboy/bull rider in Texas… He’s got some family drama in his past as well. His parents have died, and his older brother was chased away and hasn’t had any contact with the ranch in ten years. Now he is struggling desperately to keep the family ranch going. So they both come in to this with issues, neither is looking for a relationship. Not to mention their lives are world’s apart.

 

But there is a lovely connection between the two men. They spend a lot of time together, both as a couple, but also around on the ranch. Horseback riding, an overnight camping trip (Marshalls first!), having meals together, and even riding a mechanical bull! Spending time with the men on the ranch and the other visitors. There are some nice sex scenes between them, naughty outdoors sex, and sweet indoors sex. It’s hot but very nice as well, the physical connection is evident!

 

What really got me with this story was how good of a person Marshall is. He’s genuinely a good guy. He helps Sam, one of the men on the ranch with a girl issue. He offers advice to a kid that works there as well. And he’s so good to and for Indigo… Encouraging him to get back on the mechanical bull, encouraging him to find his brother, and getting him to open up emotionally. It was wonderful to watch. Indigo is very connected to his ranch and the people that work and live there. He needs it to be successful for himself but also for the men as well. Marshall, in his own way, enhances that connection, and builds one of his own. He is accepted, not considered the outsider from New York.

 

So I expected it to have a good romance story and it does, but the stories surrounding the two main characters are as good as the main story line its self. The conflict between Marshall and his mom over his job. The conflict surrounding Harold. Marshalls whole job situation. Indigo and his brother. Indigo trying to keep the ranch alive. Jimmy, his kid, and his exwife. Sam and his lady love. All of that adds so much to this story, aside from the basic romance between the two men. It’s a very sweet romance, but much more than that. Sometimes Andrew Grey’s stories are so focused on the couple that there isn’t much going on around them. Occasionally I have wished a story or two had more to it, more characters, more background, something. This book was not like that! This had a great main story line, good additional characters with their own stories, nice sex scenes with lots of physical and emotional connection, and a happy ending. It’s a very good book!

 

RATING:

 

BUY LINKS: Dreamspinner press