BUCK ME by Andrew Grey

Fiction, Gay Contemporary Romance, 251 pages

4****

Blurb: Emmett McElroy is the cowboy horses hate. When his heir apparent brother dies and his father has a heart attack, he does his duty and steps up as head of the family ranch, but he wishes things were different and his life choices were his own. Just when he begins to get his legs under him, he arrives home to find his high school crush has been hired as ranch foreman. Ex-rodeo cowboy Nathaniel Zachary desperately needs work. When Mrs. McElroy offers him a job while her husband recovers, he jumps at it. The only issue is Emmett… because Nathaniel has never been able to get his best friend’s brother out of his mind. Tensions only increase when, after drowning his sorrows, Emmett foolishly agrees to enter a bucking bronc contest at the local rodeo. The attraction that grows as Nathaniel helps prepare Emmett for the contest is something neither of them expected, but as Emmett’s father’s health improves, the happiness they’ve built may break faster than a cowboy thrown from the meanest bronc.

Thoughts: This was a good read. There are numerous moments (the horses constantly biting Emmet), tense ones, romantic ones, and more. The setting is well-done and the characters realistic. The author puts me right there, on the ranch, with Emmet. His frustration with his family comes across perfectly and I love the way he finally sends a very strong message to his mother that he is gay and will not have her continue to throw women at him. The relationship between Emmet and Nate grows through their continued working together and blossoms into real romance. There is some heat, but not over the top for this story.

Recommendation: Recommended.

Disclaimer: Disclosure of Material: I received a final and/or advanced reader copy of this book with the hope that I will leave my unbiased opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… My Opinions. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”