18+ Reads: The Bush Riders #1 and #2 by O.A. Brand

Title: High and Wild
Series: The Bush Riders #1
304p.
Publisher: Pocket Books
Available Now
Source: From publisher for review

The first exciting novel in a series of erotic westerns featuring two undercover agents, Bear Haskell and his sometimes sidekick, Raven York. 

Bear Haskell is a rough and tumble Texan and veteran of the Civil War who fought on the side of the Confederacy. Raven York is a proud Yankee from a wealthy eastern family with aristocratic ties to Scotland. Dissatisfied with her life as a rich, well-traveled, and educated heiress, Raven headed West against her family’s wishes and went to work for Allan Pinkerton as an undercover agent. 

As Pinkerton’s top agents, Bear Haskell and Raven York get all the toughest assignments: tracking down killers, kidnappers, con artists, bank robbers, and train bandits of every stripe throughout the West. But the two couldn’t be more different and are constantly at odds with each other. While they do not care for each other personally, they respect each other’s work. And, they hunger for each other in the bedroom.

Conflicted by their professional and ravenously sexual relationship, Bear and Raven do not confine their sexual adventures to each other. In fact, Pinkerton strictly forbids his agents from becoming personally or sexually involved with each other. Still, their paths are clearly intertwined, and the two must find a way to work together as they navigate—and trip over—the often humorous muddle of sexual temptation against the backdrop of the late-nineteenth-century West.

My thoughts:
This is a erotic western, a bit different than what I usually read so I thought I'd give it a try. The story is centered around Bear Haskell, a Pinkerton solving mysteries across the west. The adventure had a few twists and turns and even though the mystery is easily solved, it is entertaining. The smexy parts were written by a man. It is his perspective and he is a womanizer who women seem to want even if it isn't in her personality. His smexy scenes top every section with every curvaceous woman. No romance and no real connection. So, if you are looking for that kind of book, you might want to pass. If you want a book where the women just can't resist, then this is your book.

I did appreciate that the book didn't seem to demean women despite their inability to resist Bear. Still, I would have liked at least Raven to be able to deal with him on more than one level. This was attempted, but didn't quite connect to that level. The only other problem I had was that despite the background characters having many ethnicities, he did use the term half-breed more than once which bothered me. It is still considered a derogatory term.

I give this book 2 1/2 stars. I recommend it to those that want a male perspective on the erotic genre.

Wild to the Bone
Series: The Bush Riders #2
304p.
Publisher: Pocket Star
To Be Published: 5/26/14
Source: From Publisher for review

Following fast on the tail of High and Wild, this second book in the erotic historical western Bush Riders series offers some rough-and-tumble fun, featuring two undercover agents who are wild for each other. 

Bear Haskell, a Texan veteran of the Civil War who fought for the Union, can’t stand that he has to work with Raven York, a proud Yankee and wealthy heiress who went against her family’s wishes to become an agent. But as Allan Pinkerton’s top two undercover agents, they must set aside their differences and learn to work together.

Tracking down killers, kidnappers, con artists, bank robbers, and train bandits throughout the entire Wild West isn’t easy. And constantly being at odds with each other only fuels the tension—sexual and otherwise—between Bear and Raven. Conflicted by their professional and ravenously sexual personal relationship, the two decide to see other people. But, unable to keep completely out of the way, Raven’s path intertwines with Bear’s on a job, and together they must navigate the often humorous muddle of temptation against the backdrop of the late-nineteenth century West.

My thoughts:
The second installment is pretty much like the first book. However, it seems like this one takes a slightly more adventurous tone. Yes, every smexy woman still can't resist Bear Haskell... for unknown reasons. Yes, he is probably the nicest guy around (which isn't saying much) but I still don't get why he is so irresistible. However, the adventure outside the smex is a bit more twisty than the last one. In fact, I would have probably enjoyed the book much more if the erotic sections were taken out and the adventure was worked on a bit more.

In this book the author seems to have a problem with any woman deemed middle age. Granted, there was some of that in the first book, but there is so much more with this theme in the second book. Seriously, don't get it and it actually got on my nerves a bit. On the positive side, I did like Raven as I did in the first book and there are some strong women here. So that was nice to read.

In the end I give this book 2 1/2 stars. It is much like the first, but with a bit better adventure. What these books remind me of is the episode of Friends where Joey and Chandler discover they have porn on the tv. To me, Bear Haskell in the real world would suddenly discover that women don't suddenly throw themselves at him for no reason. That gave me a chuckle and reminded me of the vid below. I will say this... if you take it tongue in cheek kind of read you might get a kick out of these books.