Review: Quick and steamy - beneficial to read with series.
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 02 17, 2012
For full review including excerpt and dialogue highlight, please visit Reader's Edyn at:readersedyn (dot) blogspot (dot) comReview:I chose to read this book because it was a FREE read. It still is, by the way, so feel free to pop on by Amazon, B&N;, Samhain, wherever you can find it and download it. I had just gotten my Droid and was beyond excited to find that Kindle had an app for Droid. I mean BEYOND excited people. I loaded up with FREE reads and went nuts! Nuts I tell you! I have a huge list of books I still need to read .. . and I will ... I just. Need. More. Time. ACK! Anyhow ... I digress.At the time, I had heard nothing about Ms. James or her Rough Rider series. I am a sucker for romance, and who in all of anywhere doesn't love the cowboy twist? *swoon* SO based on the description, I thought I would give this novella a try, knowing from the reviews that it was part of a series. Well, I have to say that series knowledge would be highly beneficial. In fact, I probably would have enjoyed this story more had I already read the series. However, this is not to say that I did not enjoy the story - just that I would have enjoyed it MORE with series knowledge in my back pocket.This novella picks up at Keely and Jack's wedding. The blushing bride ... well that is a terrible description because clearly Keely doesn't have an inclination toward embarrassment ... wants nothing more than to escape her wedding with her husband and get down to having sex hours ago! Jack is nothing but patient, having planned a surprise for his new wife, and is driving Keely to madness. She walks in on relatives getting' some at her own wedding and that about does it. She then decides to take matters into her own hands to drive her dear husband to madness. So the story follows them from their wedding reception to their honeymoon destination. And I would venture to guess that they lean toward a bit of a volatile relationship at times. Keely knows what she wants and when Jack does not deliver, look out!I noticed that some have rated this story low. To them I say, pay attention to the reviews before you buy it then. It was very obvious to me that Slow Ride was part of a series. I read the reviews and I knew this much before cracking the virtual cover. And sometimes, let's face it, mid-series just doesn't work. So the lack of story line in this book and the less than endearing characters are described as such only by those who have failed to read the series. In total, I think the story was less than 20 pages. That should tell you a lot right there. I think that this story was intended not so much as a whetting of the appetite for non-readers, but a bit of fun for the readers who are already committed and involved in Ms. James work. Why bash a story because you failed to read the rest of the series first? Seems rude. Therefore, I am rating this story 3 wings because I am on the fence. I didn't love it and I didn't hate it. Knowing my personal tastes and tendencies, I believe I would have enjoyed it quite a lot had I read the series first. It is a personal handicap - not one that should reflect on the author - at least not until I read a full-length novel to better judge my thoughts on her work. I will say that as a Samhain author, Ms. James stands a good chance that I will approve. *whispers* I yet to dislike an author from Samhain.Also! Check the author's note: "This short story takes place between the epilogue of Rough Riders book 8, All Jacked Up, and the second chapter of Rough Riders book 10, Cowgirls Don't Cry. Enjoy a sneak peek of Jack and Keely on the road to their happily ever after..." So you see? It's all right there on the first page before the story even begins.So for those who have a compulsive tendency toward reading in order, skip this book until you are ready to read it. For those who don't care and just want a quick, fun, sexy read loaded with characters getting down and dirty, read it. It's fast, it's fun, and it's stimulating. If you are not into cowboys, romance, and smoking hot sex scenes - you are in the wrong place! I do know that at some point I would like to read the Rough Rider series in order and then read this novella again. I am thinking that my view would likely change. But worry not ... I will be sure to let you all know when I do.(Digital copy purchased for personal library.)