An individual review for each book is below, but in short, I very much enjoyed this collection and highly recommend it for all contemporary romance fans.
Book 1: "Saddle Up"
Clint Ryker, the eldest of the five Ryker siblings and majority owner of Ryker Ranch, is doing his best to hold everything together after a heartbreaking betrayal by his ex-girlfriend, Jess. The ranch is in dire financial straits after Jess stole most of the Ryker family's money and disappeared, and if they can't find a way to increase their revenue, they may be forced to sell. Without her children's knowledge, Clint's mother arranges a meeting with reality TV producer Ever Wilson, who's looking for a place to film her new reality show, described as a cross between "City Slickers" and "Survivor." Clint and his brothers are concerned about the prospect of allowing untrained workers to try their hand at potentially dangerous ranch work, but Ever is offering a lot of money, which the ranch desperately needs. Clint finally agrees to Ever's proposal, but only if she can get through two weeks as a ranch hand first.
Even though he swore off relationships after Jess's betrayal, Clint couldn't help being drawn to Ever as soon as they met, and their feelings for each other grew quickly in spite of his fears. Surprisingly, it was Ever who panicked as they started to grow closer, running back to Los Angeles and using a no-fraternization clause in the reality show contract as an excuse to break things off. Clint wouldn't let her go without a fight, however. It was sweet how protective he was of her, even though at first he tried to pass it off as concern for the ranch and their liability if she got hurt while working there.
Clint Ryker, the eldest of the five Ryker siblings and majority owner of Ryker Ranch, is doing his best to hold everything together after a heartbreaking betrayal by his ex-girlfriend, Jess. The ranch is in dire financial straits after Jess stole most of the Ryker family's money and disappeared, and if they can't find a way to increase their revenue, they may be forced to sell. Without her children's knowledge, Clint's mother arranges a meeting with reality TV producer Ever Wilson, who's looking for a place to film her new reality show, described as a cross between "City Slickers" and "Survivor." Clint and his brothers are concerned about the prospect of allowing untrained workers to try their hand at potentially dangerous ranch work, but Ever is offering a lot of money, which the ranch desperately needs. Clint finally agrees to Ever's proposal, but only if she can get through two weeks as a ranch hand first.
Even though he swore off relationships after Jess's betrayal, Clint couldn't help being drawn to Ever as soon as they met, and their feelings for each other grew quickly in spite of his fears. Surprisingly, it was Ever who panicked as they started to grow closer, running back to Los Angeles and using a no-fraternization clause in the reality show contract as an excuse to break things off. Clint wouldn't let her go without a fight, however. It was sweet how protective he was of her, even though at first he tried to pass it off as concern for the ranch and their liability if she got hurt while working there.
Overall, "Saddle Up" was a great start to the Ryker Ranch series and I enjoyed it. It will be very interesting to see what happens with Clint's siblings as the reality show begins filming over the next few books of the series. 4 stars.
Book 2: "Bucked Off"
When middle brother Buck Ryker learns that producers of the reality show being filmed on his family's ranch plan to script a "romance" between him and one of the show's contestants, he's determined to avoid it by any means necessary. His younger brother Tristan suggests that Buck find a fake fiancee to take himself off the market. At first, Buck doesn't take the idea seriously, but when he runs into his teenage crush Penny Callahan, now a recently unemployed massage therapist, he quickly realizes that a fake relationship would be beneficial for them both. In exchange for acting as his fiancee for three months, Buck offers Penny a place to live, a job in the new Ryker Ranch spa, and a share of his earnings from the reality show, which Penny plans to use to buy her dream house and start her own business after their "relationship" ends. Living together proves to be more of a challenge than either of them expected when their long-simmering chemistry finally ignites. Will they really be able to walk away when their agreement comes to an end?
I loved Buck and Penny as a couple and thought that their relationship development was perfectly paced. As much as they tried to
tell themselves they were only friends with benefits, it was
obvious that they had a deeper connection from the start. Their banter was a ton of fun, and I also enjoyed how sweetly Buck cared for Penny after she was thrown from her horse and injured. He even read her romance novels and seemed to enjoy them - be still, my heart!
Overall, I enjoyed "Bucked Off" even more than the first book of the Ryker Ranch series and highly recommend it for all contemporary romance fans. I look forward to finding out what happens in the next book. 5 stars.
Book 3: "Ridden Hard"
Overall, I enjoyed "Bucked Off" even more than the first book of the Ryker Ranch series and highly recommend it for all contemporary romance fans. I look forward to finding out what happens in the next book. 5 stars.
Book 3: "Ridden Hard"
While out with her twin sister Erin for a night of fun following a tough divorce, nurse practitioner Hazel meets and has a one-night stand with Tristan Ryker, who's in town to see his older brother Sam compete in a rodeo competition. Several weeks later, Hazel is shocked to learn that she's pregnant. She and Tristan didn't exchange phone numbers or even last names, so she has no way to contact him at first. She finally figures out his identity after she and Erin watch the first episode of the Saddle Up reality show, which is filmed at Ryker Ranch. Afterwards, Erin decides to book them a stay at the ranch so that Hazel can share the news with her baby daddy. Hazel doesn't expect anything from Tristan, but he surprises her by insisting on being there for her and his child.
There was a lot more to Tristan than it seemed based on his playboy reputation, and as Hazel's week on the ranch
progressed, she found it increasingly difficult to resist him. Still recovering from the trauma of her divorce, Hazel was understandably afraid of making a mistake that would result in her getting hurt again. However, Tristan knew that Hazel was special, and I loved how patient and understanding he was in his efforts to prove that he was worthy of her trust.
Overall, "Ridden Hard" was another excellent addition to the Ryker Ranch series, and I highly recommend it for all contemporary romance fans. 5 stars.
Overall, "Ridden Hard" was another excellent addition to the Ryker Ranch series, and I highly recommend it for all contemporary romance fans. 5 stars.
*Review copy provided by the author/publisher via Grey's Promotions. All opinions expressed are my own.
About The Ryker Ranch Collection
Three swoony cowboys, three bestselling standalone romances, one collection from Kim Loraine's Sunrise, Montana world.
SADDLE UP
He's a handsome cowboy trying to save his family's ranch.
I'm a reality TV producer with a brilliant plan.
Sparks fly when Clint Ryker strikes a deal with me that brings me to the ranch to learn the ropes. But when we get snowed in together, with only one bed, everything changes.
BUCKED OFF
A word of advice. Don't fall in love with your fake fiancée.
When the producer of my family's reality show, Saddle Up, tried to get me to participate in an on-screen scripted romance, I saw only one way out. I told them I was unavailable--engaged, to be exact. That meant I needed a fake fiancée, pronto. Enter spitfire, and the girl who got away once upon a time, Penny Callahan. It should be harmless. Pretend to be together until the show is done shooting, then move on with our lives. But living with the woman of my dreams and playing the part of lovesick fool is easy for reasons I don't want to admit. And I don't want to let her go.
RIDDEN HARD
Baby daddy (noun)
slang
The cowboy who knocked me up after one night together.
They call me the wild one.
The Ryker brother who'd rather have more notches on his bedpost than rodeo championships.
I'm good with horses, even better with women. I've been warned that sowing my oats might have consequences, but I'm always careful. And there's nothing wrong with having a little fun.
But the truth is, I want more than fun. I want it all. With the right girl.
So when the most beautiful woman I've ever seen shows up at my ranch, it should all fall into place. Except she's got a big surprise for me. She's pregnant, and the kid is mine, but she wants nothing to do with me.
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