Being a hard-core rodeo cowboy means getting by with little money and less of a future. But for two hardscrabble rodeo riders, that might change….
Dean’s been around the rodeo circuit long enough to know when a new kid is down on his luck. Giving young Will a ride to the next event is just the neighborly thing to do, passing on some of the kindness strangers have shown him over the years. Who’d expect Will to be such good company? So good in fact, that Dean figures he might just keep Will around—especially since Will feels the same.
Traveling from rodeo to rodeo, enjoying all the fringe benefits they can, is a dream come true for Dean and Will. Troubles with Dean’s family and Will’s stubborn pride separate them for a while, but they always come back together when the chips are down. These two cowboys are a match made in heaven—now they just need to convince everyone else to let them live the life they love and find their future together.
Latigo first published by Torquere Press, July, 2005.
Bits of Leather first published by Torquere Press, July 2007. Buy links: Dreamspinner | Amazon
Cat gives this one 3 Meows with a 5 Purr heat index..
I jump every time BA Tortuga has a new release especially cowboys. I know this is one of her older books re-released that had missed. I was both happy and disappointed in the book.
I loved both Dean and Will. enough to add them to a favorite character list for the year. I enjoyed their camping while on the road and how they were living. This sounds so very cowboy. I liked how it started out they formed a great friendship then became friends to lovers and I LOVE May/December. I do wish I knew the age difference but as long as it was May/December I was a happy camper. The characters were awesome, the settings awesome.
I guess my biggest issue was there were so much sex scenes once they started the book felt like erotica. I caught myself skimming through to the story. Another thing was there were no rodeo events. They were off page and flash to the aches and pains.
Now having said that There were scenes I loved like the one that ignited the fire between them and there was dancing.. sweet and in private not some club or bar. For some reason this just made me swoon!
We also got Bits of Leather as a bonus so we got more Will and Dean which I was glad to get.
If you like rough and tumble rodeo cowboys, May/December, friends to lovers, and very hot erotica you will love this book.
Excerpt...
DEAN THREW the last bit of tack into the trailer, popping his neck with a sigh. Second all-around wasn’t bad. Wouldn’t make his retirement, but he’d make Lufkin okay, maybe even put new tires on the Dodge.
The damp spring air made him feel creaky, older than he ought to. Well, that tumble off Bess’s Last Ride didn’t help either, did it? Made him eager to get on the road, head south to bluebonnet country, though, whether it was weather or stud.
Gypsy’s soft nose nudged at the trailer bars, his new girl ready to get up and get going. Dean chuckled and nodded. “Yeah, girl. We’re fixin’ to head out. Let me sweep this old bitch out and we’ll load you up.”
The pretty little paint nickered, shuffling and pushing at Blueboy’s flank, trying to get the stubborn old gelding to scoot.
“Hey.” He looked over to see who else was around so early and caught a tall, skinny kid walking toward him, looking bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. “Don’t suppose you need any help cleaning out that trailer in exchange for a ride to the next town over?”
He gave the kid a once-over, trying to place him and failing. “That depends on which town you’re headed for. I’m headed south toward Dallas. You wanting to hit Tulsa?”
“Doesn’t matter to me. Wherever I can afford to pay the entry fees.” The kid grinned, and it lit up his face, changing his whole look. Well, except for the shiner around his left eye.
It was the shiner that did it. The good Lord knew, Dean had been loaded in the down-and-out chute once or twice. He nodded and pulled out the extra broom. “You got yourself a deal. Name’s Haverty. Dean Haverty.”
The grin got so wide that the kid winced as it stretched the bruise. “Will Benton. Nice to meet you.” Kid looked at him, head tilted. “You did all right this weekend. Just a quick once-over?”
“Yeah.” He nodded, starting to clear the floor. “Can’t be too careful with their hooves. Damned vets will take your winnings in a heartbeat. You the one who pulled Devil’s Luck? I heard the cowboy on him took a header.”
“You know, that damned gelding lives up to his name. And he has a pretty hard head.” Will fell in beside him, working easily, really doing his share, which made Dean feel good about giving the kid a chance. “Smacked right between his ears and went ass over teakettle.”
“That’s a bitch. Rick Freemont did that two years ago, and that nasty son of a bitch broke Rick’s hip and shoulder. Hear he’s done retired. Shame, that. He was a good’un.” Sadie limped her way up the ramp, snapping at Gypsy’s tail and giving him a long-suffering look. “Hey, darlin’. You ready to hit the road?”
“I assume you don’t mean me.” Will turned. “Well, hey there, missy. Aren’t you a pretty lady.” Kid bent and held out a hand for Sadie to sniff.
Dean chuckled, shook his head. “This here’s Miss Sadie. She’s the mistress round here.”
Sadie smelled the kid and then offered her dark ears to be scratched, tail wagging slow and easy.
“Yeah. You’re a sweet lady, aren’t you?” Looked like Will liked dogs, which would make it easier to ride with him. The kid scratched ears for a few moments before getting back to work, finishing up his side of the trailer with quick, efficient motions.
Together they made short work of the cleaning, and he tucked the brooms away, then climbed down to unfasten Blueboy and load the stubborn beast. Gypsy’d go easy, after. Will patted Gypsy’s nose and stayed out of Dean’s way, staying quiet too, which he appreciated.
The damp spring air made him feel creaky, older than he ought to. Well, that tumble off Bess’s Last Ride didn’t help either, did it? Made him eager to get on the road, head south to bluebonnet country, though, whether it was weather or stud.
Gypsy’s soft nose nudged at the trailer bars, his new girl ready to get up and get going. Dean chuckled and nodded. “Yeah, girl. We’re fixin’ to head out. Let me sweep this old bitch out and we’ll load you up.”
The pretty little paint nickered, shuffling and pushing at Blueboy’s flank, trying to get the stubborn old gelding to scoot.
“Hey.” He looked over to see who else was around so early and caught a tall, skinny kid walking toward him, looking bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. “Don’t suppose you need any help cleaning out that trailer in exchange for a ride to the next town over?”
He gave the kid a once-over, trying to place him and failing. “That depends on which town you’re headed for. I’m headed south toward Dallas. You wanting to hit Tulsa?”
“Doesn’t matter to me. Wherever I can afford to pay the entry fees.” The kid grinned, and it lit up his face, changing his whole look. Well, except for the shiner around his left eye.
It was the shiner that did it. The good Lord knew, Dean had been loaded in the down-and-out chute once or twice. He nodded and pulled out the extra broom. “You got yourself a deal. Name’s Haverty. Dean Haverty.”
The grin got so wide that the kid winced as it stretched the bruise. “Will Benton. Nice to meet you.” Kid looked at him, head tilted. “You did all right this weekend. Just a quick once-over?”
“Yeah.” He nodded, starting to clear the floor. “Can’t be too careful with their hooves. Damned vets will take your winnings in a heartbeat. You the one who pulled Devil’s Luck? I heard the cowboy on him took a header.”
“You know, that damned gelding lives up to his name. And he has a pretty hard head.” Will fell in beside him, working easily, really doing his share, which made Dean feel good about giving the kid a chance. “Smacked right between his ears and went ass over teakettle.”
“That’s a bitch. Rick Freemont did that two years ago, and that nasty son of a bitch broke Rick’s hip and shoulder. Hear he’s done retired. Shame, that. He was a good’un.” Sadie limped her way up the ramp, snapping at Gypsy’s tail and giving him a long-suffering look. “Hey, darlin’. You ready to hit the road?”
“I assume you don’t mean me.” Will turned. “Well, hey there, missy. Aren’t you a pretty lady.” Kid bent and held out a hand for Sadie to sniff.
Dean chuckled, shook his head. “This here’s Miss Sadie. She’s the mistress round here.”
Sadie smelled the kid and then offered her dark ears to be scratched, tail wagging slow and easy.
“Yeah. You’re a sweet lady, aren’t you?” Looked like Will liked dogs, which would make it easier to ride with him. The kid scratched ears for a few moments before getting back to work, finishing up his side of the trailer with quick, efficient motions.
Together they made short work of the cleaning, and he tucked the brooms away, then climbed down to unfasten Blueboy and load the stubborn beast. Gypsy’d go easy, after. Will patted Gypsy’s nose and stayed out of Dean’s way, staying quiet too, which he appreciated.
Texan to the bone and an unrepentant Daddy's Girl, BA spends her days with her basset hounds, getting tattooed, texting her sisters, and eating Mexican food. When she's not doing that, she's writing. She spends her days off watching rodeo, knitting and surfing Pinterest in the name of research. BA's personal saviors include her wife, Julia, her best friend, Sean, and coffee. Lots of good coffee. Y'all know that song, The Happiest Girl in the Whole USA? That's me, down to the bone.
Having written everything from fist-fighting rednecks to hard-core cowboys to werewolves, BA does her damnedest to tell the stories of her heart, which was raised in Northeast Texas, but has heard the call of the high desert and now lives the good life in the Sandias. With books ranging from hard-hitting GLBT romance, to fiery menages, to the most traditional of love stories, BA refuses to be pigeon-holed by anyone but the voices in her head.
Thanks for the good review, Cat. I too like by Tortuga cowboys, and May/Dec. - Purple Reader,
ReplyDeleteTheWrote [at] aol [dot] com
great review and excerpt
ReplyDeleteThank you for the excerpt and review!
ReplyDelete