Broncs & Bullies by Bailey Bradford

Broncs & Bullies by Bailey Bradford

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Because Broncs & Bullies is Duke and Frankie’s story and both played significant roles in Jody’s story, there is a bit of overlap in the timeline with this book and Riding & Regrets, but don’t fret because the author doesn’t recycle scenes. This book gives us a look at what Frankie was dealing with immediately after he broke up with Jody and we finally find out about his “dates” post-Jody. We also get more of a look into the events surrounding Duke’s concussion, or more accurately, what happened afterwards. But rest assured, Bradford managed to rip my heart out and ground into the dirt as per usual in this installment in the Mossy Glenn Ranch series. Thankfully, she put it all back together again by the final page too.

I really, really liked getting to know Frankie in this installment. Like most of the ranch hands, I thought what Frankie did by dumping Jody was a pretty crappy thing to do, but his continued presence in Jody’s life as a friend and him helping out with Prissy made it clear to me that there was more going on with Frankie than him being the shallow jerk the break-up made him appear to be. Once we got to see inside Frankie’s head and his reasons behind the break-up, I understood where he was coming from and I was relieved to know that he wasn’t as shallow as he seemed. That said, I was glad that Duke forced his way into Frankie’s life because the kid wasn’t as deserving of his self-recriminations as he thought. And Duke, being the man he was, set out to prove to Frankie that the kid was deserving of love. Once Frankie stopped using their age difference as an excuse, he and Duke were off-the-charts hot together. The inherent level of trust they found in one another – something neither had ever experienced before – allowed them to let go of their worries and just “be” in the moment … and there were some pretty freaking hot moments too. But even more important was how well they connected in their everyday interactions and it was Duke’s ability to be patient that enabled him to break down Frankie’s walls until Frankie realized AND admitted that Duke was exactly who he wanted to spend the rest of his life with.

Because of their developing relationship, Duke and Frankie both found the support they needed to deal with people from their past. Frankie not only had to deal with a creep from his recent past when one of the guys he was with after Jody tried to blackmail him to continue a sexually abusive relationship, but he also had to deal with his mother and stepfather. His bosses helped him deal with the creep, while it was Duke that accompanied him back home to visit his family so he could see his little sister. It’s not often that I want to beat the crap out of a fictional character, but what Frankie found when he went back home had my heartbreaking at the same time I was seething with anger. His mother is a despicable human being and it saddens me to know that there’s likely more than one woman in the world that has done something similar to their child. While Duke and I would not have blamed Frankie one bit for being unable to continue their trip, Frankie insisted that they continue on to see Duke’s brother and despite the brevity of their reunion, I cannot wait to see how that sibling relationship will be reestablished. Bradford has penned another excellent addition to the Mossy Glenn Ranch series and I cannot wait to squeeze Hay & Heartbreak into my schedule as soon as possible.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the Broncs and Bullies (Mossy Glenn Ranch #6) by Bailey Bradford blog post on Crystal’s Many Reviewers.


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Riding & Regrets by Bailey Bradford

Riding & Regrets by Bailey Bradford

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Riding & Regrets was a heartbreaker of a novel for me. I found myself wanting to cry for Prissy’s early years and being shuffled around by a mother who wasn’t prepared to be one. This, of course, made me want to bawl when Jody’s love for his daughter grew exponentially considering how little time passed from her sudden arrival in his life to the beautiful ceremony in the epilogue – yet another event that left teary-eyed. Also heart wrenching was Noel’s past and what he endured at the hands of a man who was supposed to love him. While there were plenty of tears to go around in this installment, they were both sad tears and happy tears and I found the overriding theme of the book to be extremely hopeful despite the heartbreak both men endured before finding their happiness.

I was excited to read this book after the way the ending of Fences & Freedom mentioned Jody’s previously unknown child showing up unexpectedly. It wasn’t the idea of a gay man having a child that caught my attention, but rather that the child’s existence was unknown AND unexpected. Granted the unknown wasn’t a total surprise because that kind of thing happens regularly, but the unexpected had my interest peaked and as the story played out I understood why Jody was so thrown by the appearance of his child – he didn’t remember having sex with the mother, or any woman for that matter. Fortunately, the child looked so much like him that he never disputed that he was Prissy’s father and he threw himself fully into being the best father he could be for his little girl. While his bosses and the other hands at the ranch were far more supportive than he ever could have hoped for, Jody understood that he was going to have to put Prissy in daycare while he worked at the ranch. Enter Noel, the nephew of the daycare’s owner, Ashville’s newest temporary (maybe) resident, and the man who may just save Jody from becoming an old fuddy-duddy.

While the attraction between the two men was obvious, Bradford didn’t allow the men to hook-up immediately. The author actually keeps their early interactions true to form for a new parent by Jody being so busy that days and days pass between conversations, dates, and taking it further with Noel. I loved this. Yes, Jody is only twenty, but he’s a new father working full-time who is now a single parent as well. It stands to reason that he would be too tired to go trolling for dates as well as having no time for them either. But when Noel finally makes his move on Jody, oh my goodness was it hot! I enjoyed the symmetry between Noel’s inability to forget the horrors of his nightmare relationship and Jody’s inability to remember the events of the night he conceived Prissy. It enabled them to provide a level of comfort and understanding to one another that I think helped cement their relationship. Watching Jody and Noel fall in love and build their family was a wonderful experience, which was topped off by getting to see Jody threaten Noel’s tormentor and Noel face down his tormentor. And I must say that I loved how that whole scenario played out. Watching the entire ranch fall in love with Prissy was so sweet too. I’m looking forward to reading Broncs & Bullies soon because I’m dying to see what’s up with Duke and Frankie.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the Riding and Regrets (Mossy Glenn Ranch #5) by Bailey Bradford blog post on Crystal’s Many Reviewers.


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Fences & Freedom by Bailey Bradford

Fences & Freedom by Bailey Bradford

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Finally!!! I finally know how old Barney is. Yes, that elusive tidbit of info has been annoying me because when he “distracted” Will after Troy’s attack in Chaps & Hope he seemed as though he was close to their age. Yet when Salt talked about him in Saddles & Memories I got the impression he was younger than I first surmised. As it turns out, Barney is only twenty but as we learn more about him in Fences & Freedom, I understood my confusion because Barney’s past meant he had to grow up fast and assume adult responsibilities sooner than he should have when his father died. No, Barney wasn’t abused or anything like that. Well not in the sense we tend to think of because he was ridiculed by his peers for being poor and it was his mother’s financial woes that resulted in him growing up fast as he began doing what he could (legally) to bring in money to help his mom pay the bills. Yep, Barney is a keeper and it just so turns out that Ramsey, the Mossy Glenn’s least-liked hand, may just be the one to keep him.

As we find out in Fences & Freedom, Salt had every reason to be wary of Ramsey because he was not who he purported to be. But as the book unfolds and we learn who Ramsey really is, why he’s at the Mossy Glenn Ranch, and the reason behind it, I found myself sympathetic to his plight – especially after seeing how his father treated him. But of course, this is after I was annoyed with him for trying to stake his claim on the “new guy” when Barney started on at the Mossy Glenn. However, my annoyance was short-lived when I realized that Barney had taken a shine to Ramsey and the “hunter” soon became the “hunted” with practically no one being aware of it because nearly everyone underestimates Barney. While Barney is most definitely sweet and comes off as naïve due to his age and inexperience, he’s accustomed to working hard for what he wants and being patient as he works to obtain it. Because of this, he does a fine job of indulging his curiosities about sex, breaking down Ramsey’s defenses, and making Ramsey his without being used by Ramsey or going all the way before he was ready. Barney’s inexperience is easily outweighed by his enthusiasm and this makes for some really steamy scenes that left me chuckling at times.

I really enjoyed watching Barney break down Ramsey’s walls simply by being himself. Barney is a good kid with a good heart and while Ramsey set out to scratch his itch with the dumb young thing, he soon found that he not only underestimated Barney’s intelligence, but also what being around Barney’s inherent goodness would do to him. Barney made Ramsey want to be a better man – a man deserving of someone as good as Barney. This is what made his conscience rear its ugly head and led him to try to make things right. While most underestimated Barney’s intelligence, few underestimated his goodness and it was his willingness to stand with Ramsey that made Carlos, Troy, and Will give Ramsey the second chance he needed. Fences & Freedom is yet another enjoyable addition to the Mossy Glenn Ranch series and I’m glad I still have more of them to read.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the Fences and Freedom (Mossy Glenn Ranch #4) by Bailey Bradford blog post on Crystal’s Many Reviewers.


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Saddles & Memories by Bailey Bradford

Saddles & Memories by Bailey Bradford

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Truth be told, I wasn’t the least bit sure of what to expect from this installment in the Mossy Glenn Ranch series. While we’ve seen Salt around quite a bit in the previous books due to him being one of the first hires, I hadn’t really formed a strong opinion of him. Yes, I liked that he was protective of Drake when Ian first showed up, even if it was misguided, but other than that he’s been a bit of a mystery. In Saddles & Memories we learn far more about the weathered cowboy than I expected and the man’s layers are far deeper than he likes to let on, especially his sensitive side.

As an older cowboy, Salt is quite relieved to have found his place at the Mossy Glenn Ranch. Having spent most of his life in the closet, the sense of peace he feels for being accepted for who he is rather than being judged for his homosexuality is welcomed. Like his bosses, he doesn’t make a big deal of his sexual orientation when in town, but it’s no longer a secret that the Mossy Glenn tends to hire from the LGBT community. It’s because this is becoming common knowledge that Andy Calder takes a chance on approaching the cowboy while in town trying to make news sales contacts for his company’s organic feed line. Long since resigned to a life of one-night stands, Salt is ready, willing, and able to show Andy just how well this old cowboy can ride. And their night together is hot, so hot in fact that the men break their personal rules and agree to a repeat performance, well several repeat performances. As they spend more and more time together, they both begin to want for more than their current arrangement but neither is willing to say anything in fear of scaring the other man off. Just as things begin to get serious, Andy gets a call about a family emergency that sends his life spinning out of control and Salt proves to be the stabilizing force in his life he didn’t realize he needed. But with all the changes facing Andy in his personal life, the two men have to decide if what they have is strong enough to endure the storm.

I loved Saddles & Memories! Watching Salt and Andy cruise each other in the feed store was both amusing for a southern girl and hot to watch. The attraction between the two men was intense and I found myself caught up in their passion when they were able to act upon it. Seriously squirm inducing cowboy lovin’ going on in this installment. As their relationship progressed from just sexual to more, it was sweet to watch the two men fall in love – not because it was sappy, but because both men had faced obstacles in their past that left me feeling as though they were perfect for each other. I really, really liked how Salt not only accepted Ty as a package deal with Andy, but that he embraced and cherished the chance to have the family he never expected to have as a gay cowboy. Gotta love a man who’s not afraid of his emotions. Saddles & Memories is only the third book in the series, but each book is better than the last. I can’t wait to start Fences & Freedom to find out whether or not Salt’s concerns about Ramsey are justified.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the Saddles and Memories (Mossy Glenn Ranch #3) by Bailey Bradford blog post on Crystal’s Many Reviewers.


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Ropes & Dreams by Bailey Bradford

Ropes & Dreams by Bailey Bradford

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I was quite excited when I learned that Ropes & Dreams was Drake’s story as he managed to worm his way into my heart in Chaps & Hopes. Considering the news he got at the end of that book, I was curious to see how Bradford would have him find his match. As it turned out, the author handled a tough subject with sensitivity and a strong, informed dose of reality that made me admire her writing even more. In addition to Drake’s romance, fans are also treated to a bit of intrigue and suspense as an arsonist appears on the scene.

Toward the end of the previous book, Drake received a call from his ex-boyfriend telling him that Rigo had tested positive for HIV. Obviously Drake was devastated by this news and continued to worry about his status even after the first negative results knowing that it could still be too soon for a positive result on a test. Considering his history of poor choices in men, Drake swears off men deciding that he’d rather be safe and alone than with someone and abused. But Officer Ian McCain soon has him rethinking his new vow, because despite the man’s cold eyes and stoic personality, Drake finds himself attracted to the man. Once Drake finds out that the attraction runs both ways, he knows he has to reveal his possible HIV exposure and is surprised when it doesn’t send Ian running. It was Ian’s initial reaction to the news and the way in which the men embarked upon a SAFE sexual relationship that left me admiring Bradford’s writing even more. Rather than treating Drake as a diseased and unlovable being (as his ex was attempting to do), Ian shares his personal history with an HIV+ individual and not only explains to Drake that a sexual relationship isn’t off the table, but proceeds to show him that he is not only lovable and touchable, but also deserving of love. I really liked how Bradford used Drake and Ian’s relationship as an opportunity to educate readers within the context of the story, keeping to the flow of the storyline and avoiding the “soapbox” feel that can too easily occur. If the sex scenes weren’t hot enough, the added BDSM elements ratcheted the eroticism up as Drake learned even more about himself under Ian’s guiding hand.

There was actually more than one romantic suspense angle in Ropes & Dreams. The main one involving the arsonist certainly shocked me as I was not only surprised by the arsonist’s identity but also the way in which his arrest scene played out. Bloody heck that scared me! The minor suspense elements involving Drake’s ex and Ian’s stepbrother not only helped to explain why both men behaved the way they did, but they both served as plausible suspects for the arsonist, and this kept me guessing as to who it was. Watching Drake and Ian fall in love and in bed, the BDSM elements, the sensitivity regarding the subject of HIV, the romantic suspense angles, and catching up with Carlos, Troy, and Will made Ropes & Dreams a thoroughly enjoyable read for me and secured it a spot on my reread shelf. I’m ready for Saddles & Memories.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the Ropes and Dreams (Mossy Glenn Ranch #2) by Bailey Bradford blog post on Crystal’s Many Reviewers.


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Chaps & Hope by Bailey Bradford

Chaps & Hope by Bailey Bradford

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Although I haven’t read Bradford’s Love in Xxchange series in which Carlos, Troy, and Will met, I wasn’t all that worried about being lost as my experience when reading this author is that the books within a series stand well on their own and when needed, the pertinent information is shared. Chaps & Hope reaffirmed my faith in the author’s ability to write books that are related to others without you having to read all of the prior ones in a series (or the series it spun off of). That said, as a fan of Bradford’s work I do hope to go back at some point to read the Love in Xxchange series as I can only imagine just how hot it is.

Being as it was made clear in the blurb that Carlos, Troy, and Will were already in a well-established ménage relationship, I was only mildly surprised with just how quickly the author opted to show the reader why their relationship has been successful. Boy howdy! These are some seriously hot cowboys that have no qualms about letting one another know how much they love each other and just how much they are attracted to one another. And there is a LOT of horse saving going on in Chaps & Hope and I loved it! But all that cowboy lovin’ doesn’t take away from the fact that the guys are there to resuscitate the Mossy Glenn Ranch and due to the nature of their relationship they decide to make it a safe haven of sorts for the LGBT community. While they don’t hide their relationship, the guys also don’t go out of their way to publicize it when in town – but the bigots always seem to know and the guys find the ranch being targeted by vandalism. When Troy is attacked by a local business owner, the guys find out that their community is far more supportive than a few bigots made it seem.

I really enjoyed Chaps & Hope. Despite the fact that Carlos, Troy, and Will had met and fallen in love in Where There’s a Will, Bradford showed the continued development of their relationship. Not having read the previous book didn’t prevent me from seeing how their relationship continued to progress as there was still obvious baggage from their pasts that was addressed in this novel. With this being the first book in the Mossy Glenn Ranch series, the author does spend some time laying the foundation for the series through the everyday tasks of repairing the ranch, hiring staff, interacting with townsfolk, dealing with the vandalism, and each man finding his place on the ranch. I loved Drake and cannot wait to read his own book (at least I’m assuming he gets his own). I will admit that I was surprised when the identity of the vandal came out and my heart actually broke for the guy; I really hope that we see more of him in the series. I also enjoyed how the townsfolk rallied around the guys after Troy’s attack and I’m looking forward to seeing how that bodes for the ranch’s future. Chaps & Hope was an enjoyable read and I’m ready for Ropes & Dreams – which I just peeked and saw is Drake’s story. YAY!

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the Chaps and Hope (Mossy Glenn Ranch #1) by Bailey Bradford blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


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