Reviewed by Sarina
TITLE: Mud, Movies, Bullets and Bulls
AUTHOR: B.A. Tortuga
PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press
LENGTH: 206 pages
RELEASE DATE: June 24, 2016
BLURB:
2nd Edition
Four men in need of a helping hand….
When a cowboy finds he has grit in all the wrong places, what is he to do? Meet the man of his dreams, of course. But what will save two cowboys from getting bogged down in the mire?
An ex-rodeo cowboy who hates working with Hollywood actors meets a movie star who is looking for something real. Will they get a happy ending, just like in the movies?
A redneck ends up injured and stranded, and his old friend comes to the rescue. It’s the old story of the one that got away. What will they do to keep each other in their lives—and will it be too late?
A professional bull rider is starting to feel his age. When he’s injured far from home and his career is threatened, it’s up to his best friend to step in and point out the other options. Both men have plans—but will they include each other?
1st Edition of Mud on Tires published by Torquere Press, 2006.
1st Edition of Just Like in the Movies published by Torquere Press, 2007.
1st Edition of Ricochet published by Torquere Press, 2007.
1st Edition of No Bull published by Torquere Press, 2006.
ANTHOLGY REVIEW:
This was a really enjoyable collection featuring cowboys in a variety of situations. Each story is solidly written and features both first meetings and friends finally coming together after years of pining and there’s something appealing about each one. If you like cowboys or at least a good looking man in a pair of wranglers, you’ll probably enjoy this book; I thought it made for a great way to spend an afternoon. 🙂
Mud on the Tires
Any story that can make me laugh within the first few pages is a winner in my book! I found this well written and the characters were enjoyable, though their first meeting will forever be a favorite for me. There were quite a few details in this one that I really liked seeing that also made the characters more ‘real’ in a sense. The connection between the main characters was believable and I enjoyed seeing them doing everyday things outside of the bedroom. 4*
Just Like in the Movies
At the beginning of the story I had already figured it would by my least favorite in the anthology but I was proven totally wrong! The longest story in the collection, you get to see the main characters Dooley and Tyler over an 11-12 year span of time and it was great getting to see their relationship develop and change. Dooley’s ability and willingness to pop the bubbles of entitlement surrounding a lot of the actors he encounters was thoroughly amusing to me and it was nice seeing Tyler treat him as a person instead of a background accessory. Great story with a satisfying ending. 4.5*
Ricochet
There’s just something really satisfying about a friends to lovers story for me so I was looking forward to this one. I liked how the characters were older and even after spending so much time apart, they still connected as though they’d never been apart. I did find the story felt a bit rushed, however, and I really wish Holt and Teague had gotten around to the conversation about why Teague never confessed he was gay to Holt; I think it would’ve added a little closure to the divide that secret created. I liked the story but it wasn’t as satisfying as the previous two. 3.5*
No Bull
Another friends to lovers story, I found this one a great story to end the book on. Even though there had been no indication that either man found the other attractive in the beginning, it was easy to see how connected they were with how far they were each willing to go to help the other out when needed. Mac and Joss coming together felt really natural and easy, especially since they already pretty much just orbited around each other anyway. Solidly written with a good ending; I really liked it! 4*
RATING: 
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