Riding Hard

The first thing you need to know is there may be some triggers in this story, (rough sex) so know this going in. Otherwise, this is an incredibly written story that captures you from the beginning! Super sexy cowboys, more heat than should be legal, grab and fan and a tall cool drink and hunker down for the ride of your life. Two people with walls and troubles find each other and break through them to give each other just what they need! Katelyn and Mark are perfect for each other, as Katelyn is able to break down the seemingly permanent walls that Mark has built! No spoilers here, but know that this works well as a stand-alone, so it’s okay if this is your first Bennett Boys book! I loved the first one, this one and can’t wait for the next one to be released in just a few more days! Lauren Landish is an amazing author and I just can’t get enough of her books. The Bennett Boys will embed themselves in you! I received an ARC from Net Galley and am providing my honest, unsolicited review.

I hate it for it to end it was really a good book I’m going to watch for Lauren books.

Riding Hard is the second book in the Bennett Boys Ranch series, and it’s the second book in the series I’ve read, as well as the second book I’ve read by this author, and since I have a weakness for sexy, broken, angst-laden heroes, I enjoyed this novel far more than I did the first book in this series, Buck Wild, and it gets 5 stars from this reader.

First, let me state that this novel is not your average cowboy romance, nor is it for the under 18 crowd, and if BDSM is an issue for you, I think you’ll find this novel closer to erotica than your standard romance novel. Personally, I loved discovering that Ms. Landish was willing to go there, and I’ll be reading more of her in the future. I should also state that this novel works just fine as a standalone–although the Bennett family members are featured in the first novel, the family relationships were thoroughly explained in this novel too.

The angst-laden hero in this novel is Mark Bennett, who, since his father’s all too early demise, has borne the weight of running the ranch on his broad shoulders. His younger brother, Luke, has an amazing proficiency at training and gentling horses, and his brother James has returned to the ranch after becoming a well-known, prize-winning rodeo star, after meeting and falling for Sophie, the love of his life in Buck Wild. Quite a bit of this novel centers on the preparations for James’ and Sophie’s wedding, and while marriage and family are something Mark once dreamed of, it’s now something that he can hardly bear thinking about. While Mark always loved working on the ranch with his dad, “Pops”, and knew that ranching would be his life, he also knows that his dad would have insisted on paying for the wedding, at an upscale resort, even though James’ bride comes from an extremely wealthy family. It’s when Mark goes to the resort to pay for the reception that he meets Katelynn, the new events/wedding coordinator at the resort, and although Mark is considered cold as ice, silent, and stoic by the folks in town, he’s instantly drawn to Katelyn’s feminine, perky, pretty, tough and in-charge nature.

Katelyn is new to town, and the Bennett wedding is the first major event at her new job. She spent over a decade in a bland, boring, beige relationship and when she realized that she wanted more out of life than just planning corporate events, birthdays and other such functions, she answered an ad for this job at the resort, was thrilled to be hired and grateful for the chance to prove herself. Her boring boyfriend had no intention of following her and leaving town so she could pursue her dream, and their relationship, which was already petering out, ended. A new town, new job, a new challenge, and new people to meet, were exactly what Katelyn needed to make a fresh start, and when she was hired for her dream job, she couldn’t believe her luck, or get there fast enough.

The moment Katelyn and Mark meet, they have off-the-charts chemistry, but Mark is and has been incredibly closed off, and silent for years, never dating anyone or pursuing a long-term relationship, although he’s a big, handsome hunk of a guy, and women are attracted to him. He’s been in self-imposed isolation ever since his previous relationship with a woman named Nicole ended badly. He’s always known that his sexual needs and desires weren’t typical or average, and Nicole’s reaction to Mark exposing just a tiny bit of his dominant sexual nature and immediately ending their relationship, made him believe that his needs and sexual desires made him a monster, and that no woman would ever want the real him, dooming himself to solitary, lonely life.

To his surprise, Katelyn isn’t put off Mark’s cold, stoic silence. She’s a bubbly chatterbox, tough when she needs to be, strong, outgoing and very much attracted to the handsome cowboy–and willing to act on that attraction. Katelyn “gets” Mark, seems to see the real man inside the cold shell he hides behind, instinctively knows that he’s hiding part of his nature, and that he has secrets, but she’s not put off at all by his stony looks or his silence and is willing to pursue whatever relationship she can with him, hoping to get to know what’s behind his outward facade, and when she does, and these two get together, turn on your air conditioning because Ms. Landish isn’t shy about writing extremely steamy and graphic sex scenes, including what this reader considers mild BDSM. Through it all, Mark is still holding a big part of himself inside and is terrified by his belief that when he does reveal his true nature, his relationship with Katelyn will be over–but Katelyn isn’t afraid or fearful of him, and he’s alternately frightened of and attracted to her open and accepting nature, but always afraid of pushing her too far.

Told in alternating narration, a literacy device I’ve come to love, we get a good look inside these two main characters. We see and feel Mark’s self-imposed isolation, loneliness, self-doubt, and deeply held belief that he truly is the monster his ex-girlfriend claimed he was. We also get inside Katelyn’s head, come to know her need for something more than a “beige” life, her ambition to succeed at her dream job, her enjoyment of the new people she’s coming to know, her willingness to delve into Mark’s deepest secrets, unafraid of him, brave enough to accept whatever parts of himself he’s willing to show her, and eager for him to fully open up to her, stop hiding part of himself away, and encouraging him to truly be himself around her. Will her plan work? Will Mark open up his deepest secrets and greatest fears? You’ll have to read this novel for the answers to those questions.

This well-written, hard to put down novel grabbed me from the start, and it was an excellent, compelling, and deeply heartfelt story about how we see ourselves, how others perceive us, how love can heal the brokenness we feel inside ourselves, and how a willingness to be open and honest with the people in our lives can make life more meaningful and rewarding. It was an excellent read and I highly recommend it. Kudos to Ms. Landish for this fabulous novel.

I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this novel. The opinions expressed are my own.

Katelyn is the new event coordinator at Mountain Spirit Hotel & Resort and she’s really excited about starting. Her first job is working the Bennett wedding. Its to be on major event because the groom is a famous bull rider. When Katelyn meets Mark the groom’s older brother sparks fly between them She tries to keep things professional between them but every time she is near him its harder not to want him. Mark thinks Katelyn is all wrong for him and that they couldn’t possibly work. However when she is in his arms it doesn’t seem to matter to him. Will he claim Katelyn for his own?

This is a great story that will captivate you from beginning to end. The chemistry between them is off the charts hot. This is a well written and very entertaining story. I would recommend this book to any book lover.

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book.

I personally loved this book! One review I read the person got tired of Mark grunting instead of talking. Yes, Mark does not talk a lot. Yet when he found the one for him, then he found a reason talk more. In my opinion Mark is a diamond in the rough, yet I kind of liked him. In my opinion Katelyn chases Mark a little too much for my taste, yet if she didn’t push him they may never get together. In my opinion Lauren Landish did a good job of handling Mark’s issues with himself. I could feel Mark’s struggles, insecurities and fears. I loved this book but some things are a little redundant, I was okay with that. I read this on Kindle Unlimited.

Riding Hard is book 2 in the Bennett Boys Ranch series by Lauren Landish. This book is Mark and Katelyn’s story and I was hooked from the first page. This author never disappoints with her writing and she defiantly takes you on a hard ride with this one. I loved this book and can’t wait for the next one.

Mark is the eldest of the Bennett brothers, and takes his role very seriously leaving him no time for relationships. Katelyn is an events planner, and from the moment these two meet the chemistry is explosive and undeniable. This is a beautifully written story which is flawless, and with witty banter, which all leads to an all round entertaining read. I was totally captivated throughout this addictive page turner, and I cannot wait to read more from this exceptionally talented author, whose work I highly recommend for all.

Down they go, first James in “Buck” and now oldest brother Mark. His and Katelyn’s story is my favorite so far. Mark is afraid to “unleash” his dominate personally, afraid of hurting Katelyn, but that person is who she wants…the real Mark. I liked the conflict in him and how she helps him be himself. Fast, fun, and oh so sexy read!! Well done.

I really enjoyed this story. Stoic rancher that everyone but his family thinks is cold and emotionless meets an event planner who has recently decided to live her life in full color. She is the only one who really sees the guy underneath and he sets her on fire. I love how aware she becomes of him and how he sees her and she understands he can’t do the same. I love them, her friend and his family.

Wowza! This book was phenomenal! One of the best I’ve read to date and certainly the best I’ve read so far this year. Words cannot even begin to describe how much I enjoyed this story. The chemistry between Mark and Katelyn was off the charts! This story was an intensely wild ride from start to finish. It’s not often that I suffer from a book hangover but wow this one still has me reeling. I suspect there is a re-read in my not so distant future.