Reviewed by Kat
TITLE: And a Smile
SERIES: Roughstock #2
AUTHOR: BA Tortuga
PUBLISHER: Turtlehat Creatives
LENGTH: 222 pages
RELEASE DATE: December 30, 2025
BLURB:
It’s Fearless Coke Pharris’ job to save bull riders from two-thousand pound bulls, and he takes his work super seriously. Which is why he’s devastated when one of his favorite riders gets hurt, and he’s determined to help one of his favorite cowboys ride again.
Dillon Walsh is the arena entertainer for the bull riding tour, and he wants to help get his buddy Jason back on his feet. He also wants Coke, who he’s admired from afar for a long time. He hasn’t made a move on Coke for fear of messing up their friendship, but when he finds out Coke might feel the same way, Dillon has to try to win Coke over.
Coke thinks he’s too old for Dillon, too beat up and scarred, but he can’t resist when Dillon finally makes a play for him. Dillon is like a fever dream for Coke, and the two of them have a great time getting to know each other better, at least until the danger of their job threatens to come between them. Will Dillon and Coke be able to help their friend and deal with all the trouble that comes their way?
This is a previously published title. The publisher has changed.
REVIEW:
I am lovin’ on this series big time!
Coke Pharris is “Gramps” to the bullfighters and bull riders in the arena. He and his team do their hardest to protect the riders from those massive beasts and sometimes things just go badly. Case in point…Jason Scott. Jase was his good buddy Danny’s boy and the top rider on the circuit. But rides can finish very badly and Coke is still blaming himself for the young man being blinded. Something that nobody could even know about. Dillon Walsh is the top arena entertainer. He gets the big bucks for his act but he knows he wants something more…and that more is head bullfighter Coke. That man is his but he just has to convince him so. Coke thinks he’s too old for the beautiful Dillon but they are much closer in age than Coke thinks. And Dillon is going to prove to him that they will be just fine together if the gruff cowboy will just give them a chance.
I love that we get Coke’s story. And that he got his hard earned and well deserved HEA with Dillon. This group/series is all centered on Jason and his return to bull riding. But, without all the bullfighters and riders help, Jason would never get a chance again. I hadn’t realized how hard or why Jason’s tragic injury affected Coke so hard. I just knew that boy was dear to him. That back story now makes everything more understandable.
One of the parts that just tickled me something fierce was when Dillon went to get Coke’s lube from the drawer and there, in that plastic bag, was a “well-used tube of KY and a dildo” and “there was a picture. Of him.” too! Coke got all embarrassed but Dillon took it as a complement. These poor men could have been together a lot longer but sometimes the timing has to be perfect for things to work out.
I was greatly disappointed that all the bullfighters immediately jumped to the wrong conclusion about Dillon with his ex. They didn’t even give him a chance to explain. That is except the triplets and Coke. Coke just assumed but he gave Dillon the chance to explain when Dillon finally found him. Dillon fought through pain and travel difficulties to find his man. That should have proved to the rest that he and Coke were solid. And Coke’s trust in and love of Dillon, to give him a chance to tell his side of the story, spoke volumes. These two were made for each other.
As I stated, I’m loving his series and can’t wait for more of Coke and Dillon, Jade and Andy and all their friends stories woven together. These men are made of honor, loyalty and true grit. They love and support their loved ones and found family unconditionally.
RATING: 
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