Monday, May 5, 2014

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.

28 comments:

  1. I haven't read erotic westerns before, but I don't think they're quite for me. Thanks for such helpful reviews, Melissa!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It wouldn't have been half bad w/o the erotic scenes actually... :-/

      Delete
  2. I always think it a brave move to read outside of your preferred genres, its just a shame that these didn't quite hit the mark with you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I like to try different things but no, didn't hit that mark.

      Delete
  3. So is Bear sleeping around with all these women and Raven?

    I usually need some sort of connection with the charters and it doesn't sound there is one here.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yep.

      If you don't mind romance taken out of it, then it is okay... so there was only professional connections to me.

      Delete
  4. My maturity is not at its highest this morning so I apologize in advance for my comment, but I couldn't help but snort at an erotic series called the Bush Riders. *dies*

    Okay, moving on. I'm all for a guy the ladies find irresistible, but I need the author to give me some reasons for why they do, otherwise I'm just left scratching my head. I can't see him, so I need something else to go on to make him attractive to me:)

    Even though these books didn't quite work for you Melissa, I so enjoyed reading your thoughts!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jenny! I was trying not to state the obvious. LOL No, the series name didn't escape my double entendre vision. :D I was trying to ignore it. LOL Btw, combine the series name with the second book's title... :p

      Only one reason... and the dbl entendre name of the guy is the reason /hint.

      Delete
  5. Thank goodness I'm not the only one, LOL. I was just sitting here thinking that that name is positively obscene! *giggle snorts* And yeah, I've never been one to buy into the inexplicably irresistible man theory, so I don't think these would work any better for me than they did for you :(

    Jessica @ Rabid Reads

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No... I was trying to keep things a bit PG and not mention it... LOL

      Delete
  6. @Jenny: LMAO, I'm glad to know I wasn't the first one to think about the title.

    I realize erotica is all about the steam but I need a reason so yeah, I'll be skipping this one.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Seriously? The BUSH Riders?!? OMG. That's too damn funny. Oh, inexplicably irresistible Bear... he does sound delicious.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Replies
    1. Actually Savy, no romance so I don't think you'd enjoy these.

      Delete
  9. I would so love to see you giggle and blush when reading this! LOL

    ReplyDelete
  10. An erotic western? No not for me, I will pass. Thanks for the heads up.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Interesting... I think if it was less on the erotic side and had more story I might like these. But I'm thinking they probably wouldn't be for me. I'm surprised you picked up the 2nd one after not loving the first!

    ReplyDelete
  12. a western erotica..LOL Ye-ha.Too bad the characters didn't wow you. I think I will be skipping these.

    ReplyDelete
  13. eh... western, not really for me. :)

    ReplyDelete
  14. I don't think this one is for me as I'm not a huge fan of westerns or erotica, but thank you for sharing regardless, and, as always, BRILLIANT review! <33

    ~ Zoe @ The Infinite To-Read Shelf

    ReplyDelete
  15. The mix between erotica and western is interesting but I'm not into erotica so I think I'll pass.

    ReplyDelete
  16. LOL Melissa! Oh that comparison is too damn funny. I don't really think I'd be into these anyway. I like erotica and western, but these don't seem to hold up that well.

    ReplyDelete
  17. I don't think I'd ever pick up an erotic western, and from the sounds of it, I won't be missing much. I need a bit more emotional connection with the smexiness. Oh I love that friends clip! Takes me back :-)

    ReplyDelete
  18. Well, I can certainly see why Raven is so fed up with her life. Who wouldn't be! (he didn't sell that one real well to begin with) I would have to say kudos to you for actually reading these and not sending them back or shooting off an email with your real thoughts to the author. Not for me!

    ReplyDelete
  19. I am sure erotic western could have been done well..but a male perspective on erotic? I don't know...

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for commenting! I ❤ comments!