Get ready for the ride of your life…A cowgirl at heart, Skye Martinez has a rebellious streak she’s determined to shake. Especially since she’s poised to take the reins of her family’s business at Briscoe Ranch Resort. It’s time for her to settle down and get serious about her future…right after one last night of fun with a handsome stranger she meets in the resort’s stable. But when a … resort’s stable. But when a midnight horseback ride turns into a red-hot weekend with one of country music’s biggest stars, Skye’s world is rocked beyond her wildest dreams…
Gentry Wells rode his bad boy image all the way to the top of the country music charts. But churning out hits has dried up his creativity, and he can’t remember the last time his life was his own. Skye is a sexy distraction he can’t resist, especially since she breathes new life into his music. They bring out the wild side in each other, which is great for Gentry’s career but a major threat to Skye’s. Too bad he’s fallen in love with her. With their hearts and futures on the line, can Gentry convince Skye to turn their joyride into a real chance to ride off into the sunset together?
“Melissa Cutler is a bright new voice in contemporary romance.” New York Times bestselling author Lori Wilde
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Very good story about two people at crossroads in their lives. Skye is the assistant manager of her family’s housekeeping business at the Briscoe Ranch Resort. She’s decided that she’s ready to settle down with a good man and have those children she’s always wanted. She’s desperate enough to let her mother cast a love spell to get her the perfect man. The problem is, there’s a wild streak inside her that keeps getting in the way of her good intentions. Just as she lectures herself about what she needs to do, she encounters a hot cowboy and decides to put off her plans for one more night. That hot cowboy is none other than Gentry Wells, country music star well-known for his bad boy antics and his belief that he is not the settling down type. But that life is starting to wear a little thin and has affected his songwriting mojo. A late night trail ride with a pretty woman provides him with a distraction and inspiration.
The first encounter between Skye and Gentry was great. Gentry is looking for some peace of mind, away from the current mess of his career. Riding has always been his escape, so he sneaks off to the resort stables for a late night ride, where he meets Skye. The sparks between them are strong, but Skye is determined not to give in. She doesn’t expect to see him again, but the next day they end up working together to help a desperate bride and groom elope. It doesn’t take much effort for Gentry to talk Skye into coming along. He senses the wild streak in her, even though she tries hard to deny it. He pulls out all the stops to give her that wild night. Skye feels safe giving in to Gentry because he doesn’t meet any of her requirements for her forever man. She can have her wild night and walk away with no regrets, and forget all about it. Only it doesn’t work out that way.
The development of the relationship between Gentry and Skye was not an easy one. In Skye, Gentry discovers the inspiration he needs to revitalize his music career. He can’t stop thinking about her, and the words and music flow. But the longer he’s away from her, the more the inspiration fades. He fights against the realization that Skye fills a hole in his life, one that he doesn’t want to admit to. Skye can’t forget Gentry either, and she fights it even harder. She continues to look for a man that meets all her qualifications, even though none of them come anywhere close to creating any passion in her heart. When Gentry unexpectedly returns to Dulcet, needing to reconnect with Skye, she can’t resist him. I loved seeing them reconnect, with the attraction between them burning as strong as ever.
But fate intervenes in a way that turns their lives upside down. I ached for both of them in this part. Skye is convinced that everything that happened is her fault because she went against everything that she had been raised to believe. Unexpected news sends her running scared, and she pushes Gentry away with every bit of determination she can. She doesn’t want to think about him or the mess that her life has become. Gentry’s life is also upended, throwing his entire future into question. It has also been a wake-up call for him, and he realizes that he wants more out of his life. I loved seeing him figure out what he had to do, and then follow through on that knowledge. I loved the way that he gave Skye the space that she demanded while continuing to prepare for his siege against her objections. The scene between Skye and her grandmother is great, as Skye finally realized that she’d been fighting against herself. I especially enjoyed her amazement at everything that Gentry has done to show his love for her. There’s still one more battle to fight, and that’s the one with her family, especially her mother. The scene at the church was fantastic with the way that Skye finally stands up to family expectations and goes after what she wants. There’s an incredibly emotional scene at the hospital that really showed the depth of the love between Skye and Gentry. The epilogue was a terrific glimpse into how their lives have changed.
Like the earlier books, this one has some really fun moments that lighten up some of the darkness. Skye’s grandmother, Mama Lita is a hoot with her anti-men attitude and attempts to get Skye to be herself. My favorite part was when Gentry was auditioning locals for his backup band. Mama Lita was a riot, as was Granny June. The guitar player was also unexpected, and Gentry’s reaction to the three of them was priceless.