Opposites don’t just attract in the West—they sizzle—and Wyoming has never been hotter than in this sexy Blacktop Cowboys® novel from New York Times bestselling author Lorelei James.Growing up with three older brothers, Larissa “Riss” Thorpe defines the term tomboy—a moniker that never mattered to her until she crossed paths with sexy cowboy player Ike Palmer. Seeing him in action on the road, … in action on the road, Riss can tell that Ike prefers his women soft-spoken and feminine. And since Riss is obviously not his type, it’s unlikely that they’ll mix business and pleasure when they’re in close quarters together.
Former cattle broker Ike Palmer was ready for a new chapter in his life as a stock contractor when he started working with Riss, a sassy truck driver who gets under his skin at every turn. But Riss is unlike any woman he’s ever met and her candor inflames him in the most unexpected ways.
After circumstances force a truce between them, Riss and Ike will have to choose to maintain the stubbornness that keeps them apart or take a chance on the fiery attraction that could lead to something more….
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Riss and Ike were a lot of fun to read about! They both have a wicked sense of humour, an innate ability to set each other off, and great big hearts. Riss is used to living life her own way, on her own terms, but once she gets to know Ike, she really starts to like him. Ike has always put his family first, but with Riss, he wants explore the sparks between them. Neither has had experience with this, and both make their share of mistakes. They also learn a whole lot about themselves, and each other, and the factors that have shaped their lives
Both also have their own share of insecurities, and that was another aspect I loved about them. This book handled so clearly that men also get depressed, about life, about who they are. Ike had buried himself for so long, kept to himself, he didn’t see this. It also pointed out that men also have pressure to look a certain way, and could have body image issues as well. These aren’t preached, they are woven into the story, and I loved that they were there. Larissa was happy with who she was, how she was, but always felt less than. She also felt bossed around, and rebelled just the sake of rebelling sometimes. She learns, he learns, that they compliment each other perfectly, and their relationship is going is going to be a wild ride!
Lorelei James is a master at writing cowboy romance novels. You won’t be disappointed with the Blacktop Cowboys series. Every book in the series is amazing.
I loved Ike and Rissa. Racked and Stacked is an enemies to lovers story with plenty of sass, and a slow burn romance.
The characters were interesting and their dialogue was steamy, funny and very entertaining! Loved it!
An enemies to lovers, nursemaid/roommate to lovers, work together to lovers novel. Yes, this sounds like a lot in one novel, but when you know that Larissa “Riss” Thorpe and Ike Palmer have been building to this storyline, like an eruptive volcano, than this novel is perfect.
Their obvious hate, which they had to call a truce to, all in the name of their best friends wedding since they were the best man and maid of honor. For those who haven’t read the previous novels in the Blacktop series, Lorelei James isn’t one to leave you hanging, (although I do highly recommend reading the other books because Lorelei is a master in her field) but back to my point of discovering Riss and Ike’s hate for one another like most things in life it stems from a lot of misconceptions and grudges best left in the past.
However, with their truce firmly in place and working together in the name of their wedding duties, for the first time ever Rissa and Ike both begin seeing each other through new eyes vs. the antagonistic goggles they’d been wearing for years. They shed a lot of misconceptions once their instant hate barbs and deflections go away
Now to add to the storyline, because theirs is a juicy bit of fodder that has been building for years, just ask the Mud Lillies who has the best backstory for these two, this whole enemies to lovers bit is just the cherry on top of a delicious Lorelei sundae. Her worlds are lush, character rich and always leave you feeling rode eight ways till Sunday and hung up wet and I love every moment since I’m back on Monday begging for more!
So, as I was saying, Larissa “Riss” Thorpe is known for her independent, stubborn, tomboy streak which runs a mile wide. As one of a few women in the trucking industry she’s worked hard and taken no prisoners to get where she’s at. It’s probably why Ike’s easy demeanor known as “Palmer the Charmer” irritates her so much. She’s clawed her way into everything she’s ever owned and done while Mr. Easy-Go-Lucky just has to charm his way into what he wants and life’s a breeze. She hates him on principle alone.
If only Riss knew the truth.
Ike isn’t the man everyone believes he is. His easy going personality is just that a personality that he puts on, especially when Riss is around. She brings something out in him and it’s something he can’t define, but he is hoping she can help him because Palmer the Charmer needs the get up and go that Riss has going on in her life. Perhaps having her under his roof is the inspiration he needs because, yes, if there wasn’t one more layer added to this book, it’s the nursemaid/roommate factor.
Riss has a serious accident that requires someone to care for her and due to the predicament that Ike has put himself in (don’t worry, I won’t give everything away, you’ll need to read why and how this all takes place) he is the perfect choice to become the one to help her out. As it turns out Ike also becomes the perfect choice to help Riss out when she is in a tight spot with her employer.
Two souls down on their luck breathe life back into each other, unknownst to those poor souls how much their differences would mean and inspire one another when they crossed paths so long ago. Racked and Stacked is beautiful, funny, sexy and Lorelei James excellent!!
It’s not role-playing, it’s alternate reality according to Larissa “Riss” Thorpe. That’s how Riss explains her “not-so-truthful” adventures in Ike Palmer or Clem from Texas as Riss claims his name is when in Runnings, a ranch supply store in Casper, Wyoming on their “first date.” Riss identifies herself as Clem’s wife Bootsie who busted her arm (see the full cast on her right arm) chasing coral snakes in Texas. She explains to the clerk that she even asked her surgeon to create a fake snakeskin cast; to no avail. How’s that scenario for a first date?
Racked and Stacked is the latest addition to Lorelei James’ Blacktop Cowboys series. It’s chock full of fun with witty bantering between heroine, Riss Thorpe and Hero, Ike Palmer, poignant scenes where the hero and heroine have revelations of past life mistakes, some “sweet” hugs and also sexy times. I really like these two characters and thoroughly enjoyed their definite up-hill climb to a Happily Ever After. Come join the sexy times and fun battles between Riss and Ike. You’ll be glad you are along for the ride.