A Courageous Ride by Andrew Grey review, guest post & giveaway {Song & Scene}

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.

Marshall is just going through the motions in his life, not truly committed to anything, although he wants to be. He is a trained Orchestra Conductor, but audition after audition yields the same results, thank you but no. A recently ended long term relationship left him in a bad way as well, he is seriously just burn out and at the verge. His best friend Terry finally convinces him that he needs a vacation and sends him off to a Ranch he’s recently heard good things about.

Indigo is a former bull rider that had to give up his dreams after an injury. He now runs a pretty successful Dude Ranch that is adjacent to Dante and Ryan’s place. {Fans of the series will remember Dante and Ryan from ‘A Wild Ride’, book 1 in this series.} While Indigo runs his ranch, renting out rooms and offering trail rides and such, Dante helps him out if needed by offering up his mechanical bull for Indigo’s guests. When Marshall shows up on the ranch exhausted but enamoured with his surroundings, Indigo can’t help but take notice of the beautiful man.

The two men are polar opposites, but they still manage to fall fast and hard for each other. Marshall sees something so lyrical in everything about Indigo. Whether it be his movements, his voice, a sexy moan or a deliberate groan. And Indigo sees the independence and exuberance that simmers beneath the surface anytime he’s with Marshall. Love at first sight doesn’t even begin to describe these two. But is a passionate love for each other enough to give up something that either of them has worked toward for as long as they can remember?

I really liked the musicality in this story. Marshall’s life is music, he’s a Conductor, so he translates the most mundane of movements and words into a song. And Indigo is his grand masterpiece. The rough and rugged cowboy that is most comfortable riding horseback under the stars, coupled with the gentle conductor that takes his violin on vacation was the perfect blend of delicate and passionate heat. Ah but then there is a scratch in the vinyl. Marshall’s ex no longer wants to be an ex, and one of those tryouts finally calls back. When given a choice between his dreams and the possibility of a life and love on the ranch with Indigo, what will he choose?

What I adore about Andrew Grey and look forward to with every new read is his ability to show vulnerability in his characters. The writing is always steady and the storylines flow like water. Of course, sometimes there is the rise and fall, like a wave.

Do I recommend this book? Two words.. one click! And while this is the third book in a series, and I always recommend reading series in order, this book does have legs to stand on its own.

Preorder your copy of A Courageous Ride through Dreamspinner Press now!
{click here to see my review of A Wild Ride, book 1 in The Bullriders series}
{click here to see my review of A Daring Ride, book 2 in The Bullriders series}

** I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through MM Good Book Reviews ** 

And now for the good stuff! Song and Scene guest post with Author Andrew grey..

A Courageous Ride

Indigo was injured in his last bull ride and he hasn’t been back on a bull since.  There is a scene in A Courageous Ride where aspiring orchestra conductor Marshall convinces Indigo that he needs to demonstrate how to ride the neighbor’s mechanical bull.  Marshall doesn’t realize that its Indigo’s first time, back on the bull, as it were.  Indigo’s ride sparks music in Marshall’s mind, original, energetic music.  During that scene with Indigo on the bull and Marshall being carried away on the sight of Indigo swaying his hips, hands in the air with music running through his head, I couldn’t help thinking of Aaron Copland’s Rodeo, specifically the portion entitled Buckaroo Holiday.

This piece of music is as energetic and lively.  As I was writing that section of the story, that music played in my head over and over.  I of course couldn’t have Marshall write Buckaroo Holiday, but he felt that same energy and vitality as expressed in Aaron Copland’s music. 

In the end, Marshall writes his own western symphony as a “musical portrait of the ranch and the family I share it with.”  I am always trying to find ways for my characters to express their love, and with this one I think I hit it out of the park.  Or more specifically, hit the exact right note.  I hope it does for you.

Another piece of inspirational music for this story was Hoe Down also by Aaron Copland and part of Rodeo as well.

What I heard in my head, or saw in my minds eye, while reading this story was a crisp violin. There is a scene where Marshall is watching Indigo riding the mechanical bull and he can hear the beauty in the movements Indigo makes. In another scene there is mention of Marshall taking his violin case out of the car. So this is a song I heard while I was reading this story. 

Thank you so much Andrew Grey for sharing some of the behind the scenes for this fantastic book with us. Until next time... 

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