Cowgirl Up and Ride [Paperback]

Amy Jo "AJ" has loved Cord McKay since he "rescued" her when she fell of a horse at 5 and he was 18. Since then AJ is best friends with Cords sister Keeley, and studying massage therapy in Denver. Now almost 18 years later AJ is home to help her sister help care for her mother after a accident on the ranch that borders the McKay ranch. AJ decides to take the Bull by the Horns and Bootscoot her way into Cords life and heart.

Cord McKay is the oldest McKay and feels the responsibility of helping the rest of the family on the McKay Ranch. He is defintely not looking for a relationship. Having already been married to a flighty girl from Seattle who up and left him 6 months after their son Ky was born. Now 4 years later the Mother is demanding visitation and Cord is free for the first time in years.

One night at the local watering hole Cord notices a pair of legs that lead to a way short mini skirt and can't take his eyes off her. When he realizes it's little Amy Jo, his sons baby sitter he can't believe it at first. After a light flirtation and AJ's request that he be her first they decide that until Cord's son comes home AJ will spend every night with Cord. The teaching is about to begin.

AJ is a likable character. I could totally relate to her vision that Cord was the one for her and that she was willing to sacrifice her heart to have what time she could with him.

Cord was just as easy to like. Pure ALPHA male through and through. This DOM/Submissive story was very tasteful and erotic. I never felt that he meant to hurt or humiliate her in any way. It was as much a learing experience for him as much as her. I could feel the love they had for each other through the whole book. She struggled with the fact that the relationship was only for a short time plus the fact that her whole life was changing around her (Sister's divorce and Mother selling the Ranch). Cord struggled with the obvious feeling he had for her right away and the fact he had already had one wife leave him so it was only right the AJ would too, not to mention the age difference.

The back stories were very interesting but could have been fleshed out a little more. Colt's struggles with his addiction would make a nice story and a little more explanation for Dag would work. Kane and Kade the twin cousins of Cord have their own problems and I can't wait to read their stories in much more detail. Not to mention Keeley. She is not going to fall lightly that is for sure. I can't wait to see her get her own story and can just imagine the pure Alpha male that awaits. Although why leave it with just one. She's strong enough for more. I personally can't wait for her story.

This is actually a sequel to "Long Hard Ride" and "Rode Hard and Put up Wet". So I would suggest you read the other two first.

Overall the story was good. The dialogue was snappy and real. Very sexy, steamy, and worth a permanent spot on my keeper bookcase. I will definitely be adding Ms. James to my Author list to keep track of.

You would not be disappointed with this story line or with the writing style. It seemed to flow very nicely for Ms. James. With a little more work I believe she could be the next Julie Garwood or Julia Quinn.

AJ is tired of her "good girl" image so when she comes home to help out her mother she decides to go after what she wants and what she wants is Cord McKay. AJ has been in love with Cord since she was 5 years old and wants him to be "her first lover".

When Cord first sees AJ at a local bar he can't believe how hot she looks or how hot she makes him feel. But, that's nothing compared to how he feels when she propositions him to initiate her into "hot sweaty no holds bared sex" At first shocked and later intrigued, Cord agrees until his son comes home from visiting his mom AJ will be his every night no strings no ties. Can AJ wins Cords Heart?

The interaction between characters is amazing. Lorelei weaves a spell around the reader and before they know it the characters are no longer characters but "very real" people with "real lives, desires, hopes, and dreams". I can't wait for the next book in this series. I do so love this family and do so want a Mckay man of my very own.

Amy Jo Foster, aka AJ, is known for being a good girl and always doing the right thing. So, when her mother needed her to leave school and come home to take care of her, AJ went without even thinking about it. But going home comes with a problem, not with school or her mother, but with the handsome rancher that lives on the next ranch. AJ has had a crush on him since she was 5 years old. Unfortunately, he still sees her as a little girl.

Cord McKay had his own problems. His wife left him with a small son and he's got a big ranch to run. Granted it's a family run ranch and he has plenty of family to help but he's still kept busy. Right now, he's having to adjust to his son visiting his mother for the first time in a couple of years. Cord isn't happy about it but his son seems to be adjusting well. When he bumps into AJ, he gets the shock of his life and only because his son isn't at home can he act on AJ's suggestion and desire.

AJ wants Cord to teach her all about making love. She can't think of anyone better and at 22 either she's going to get Cord to love her back or she's going to loose her virginity and gain a lot of knowledge. Cord strikes a deal with AJ fulling expecting her to back down but when she doesn't, things get interesting.

Though AJ's love life may be looking up, her home life isn't. Her much older sister has decided to divorce her husband of 12 years and the father of her 3 children. While she figures out what she is going to do, she moves home to the family ranch. AJ's mother finally decides that it's time to sell the ranch and move into an assisted living center. Suddenly, AJ's packing up the only home she has ever known and has no place to call home! Even her plans for after school change when her best friend and fellow classmates decides that she's not returning to open a business with AJ. With all the change and turmoil, AJ is holding on to what she has with Cord for all she's worth but even that will end when his son return home in a few weeks.

This is a book in Ms James's stories about the McKay family. They don't need to be read in order though the timeline would make more sense. This story is good all on its own though many characters from the first two books are also in this one.

AJ and Cord are well-developed characters. AJ has issues and problems that many people face in real life. She deals with them the best she can but not perfectly as none of us are perfect. Cord has major concerns. He has a young son whom he has primary care for. He doesn't want anything to hurt him. Cord also worries about the age gap between him and AJ. AJ is just starting out in life while he's been living it a while. Because both characters interact with their families on a regular basis, this adds dimention to them.

The love scenes, while containing some bondage, are just that love scenes and not just sex. Yes, AJ wants Cord to teach her about sex and even though he doesn't love her, he does care about her. Will he ever love her? Maybe. Regardless, the caring comes out and while not everything that Cord and AJ does would be considered normal sex, it works for them and their okay with it, which makes everything okay. If you don't like graphic sex scenes this may be a bit much for you.

By the end of the book, you're rooting for AJ and her love for Cord. And as it is a love story, you know how it's going to end.