Ride Book Review - No Spoilers
Last month I was at the farmer's market browsing the produce stands. I noticed one vendor selling beautiful tomatoes. Something about him seemed familiar but I couldn't place it. Then he smiled and I realized he was someone I'd met years ago at a party. We'd had a brief connection but never followed up. Standing there surrounded by vegetables, I remembered why I'd been drawn to him. That's exactly what happens in Ride by Roxie Noir. This steamy cowboy romance is about second chances and forbidden attraction.
Plot Summary
Mae Guthrie is a photographer who gets a last-minute assignment to cover the World Rodeo Championships for Sports Weekly Magazine. She needs to photograph Jackson Cody, a rising bull riding star. There are strict rules. Don't get in the way. Don't get trampled. And absolutely don't get involved with the cowboys. Mae has no problem with that last rule. She tried the cowboy thing once when she was eighteen, drunk, and naive. No matter how good it felt, she's not making that mistake again. She's there to build her career, not become another buckle bunny. But when she meets Jackson, something about him feels familiar. She can't quite place him. Jackson recognizes her immediately. Five years ago at a house party, they almost had a night together before cops showed up. He's never forgotten her. The organizers have warned him to stay away from the photographer. This is their chance to get recognition for their rodeo and they can't have him messing it up. Jackson promises to behave. But the attraction between them is impossible to ignore. They start sneaking around, stealing moments together. What begins as physical quickly becomes something deeper. But Mae's job depends on keeping things professional. If anyone finds out, her reputation could be ruined. They have to decide if what they're feeling is worth the risk.
Why I Love This Book
I love how Roxie Noir writes Jackson. He could easily be a walking cowboy cliche, but he feels real. He's charming and confident without being arrogant. He genuinely enjoys life and his positive energy is infectious. The book mentions he whistles through his day and that detail made me smile. Mae is strong and focused on her career. She knows getting involved with Jackson could cost her everything she's worked for. I appreciate that the conflict isn't manufactured drama. The stakes are real. Her job is on the line. The tension between wanting to be professional and wanting to be with Jackson feels authentic. The rodeo setting is well done. You can tell Roxie Noir did her research. The descriptions of bull riding are vivid without being overly technical. The spice level is solid. There are several intimate scenes that are detailed and hot. The phone sex scene is particularly well-written. There's also a memorable scene in an unusual location that shows their chemistry. What really makes this book work is how you watch them fall in love. It's not just lust. You see them connecting emotionally, learning about each other through their stolen moments.
Who Will Like This Book
This book is perfect for readers who love cowboy romance with a modern twist. If you enjoy forbidden workplace romance where the stakes feel real, this delivers. The rodeo setting is authentic and adds great atmosphere. Fans of second chance romance will appreciate how Mae and Jackson reconnect years after their first meeting. The spice level is moderate to high with several explicit scenes. If you like your cowboys charming and positive rather than brooding and grumpy, Jackson will win you over. The book has good pacing and no major angst. It's a feel-good romance with enough conflict to keep things interesting. This is a standalone, so you get the complete story without needing to read other books.
Trigger Warnings: Explicit sexual content, alcohol consumption (past reference to underage drinking), workplace forbidden romance, no major trigger warnings
Tagged As
Cowboy Romance, Bull Rider Hero, Second Chance Romance, Forbidden Workplace Romance, Rodeo Setting, Secret Relationship, Contemporary Romance, Standalone Romance, Spicy Romance
