From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Lorelei James comes a crossover story in her Rough Riders/Blacktop Cowboys® series… locks horns (and lips) with the sexy, sassy Callie—a 22-year-old cowgirl set on seducing him. Discovering their age difference doesn’t deter Callie; neither does Justin’s warning that she deserves more than a busted-up former rodeo cowboy.
From the moment Callie Morgan encounters the hot-as-fire new ranch hand, she knows his gruff manner is an attempt to mask his attraction to her. But she’s never backed down from a challenge, especially not when Justin’s actions speak louder than his denials. Callie doesn’t give a damn that he’s older than her or what others might think of their relationship. The uptight cowboy needs to relax and she’ll do whatever it takes to loosen him up, proving there are no age restrictions when it comes to lust…or to falling in love.
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The sparks that fly between the retired rodeo cowboy, Justin, who is quite a bit older than Calliope, are not to be missed.
I couldn’t get enough of Justin and Callie. Justin’s baby doll Callie was a little spitfire! She was just what his “prude self” needed. The sparks that flew off them was like watching a Texas size firework show. I couldn’t get enough of these two. I enjoyed a peak at Jack and Keeley and their loving antics. I wanted more and more of Justin and Callie, and was sad when I came to the end. I am hoping that we will see glimpses of these two in the future.
Every time I read a short by this author I kick myself for not having gone back and completed her Rough Riders series. This author is one of the best out there when it comes to western/cowboy romance with a delicious wrap of sexy. *swoon* The age gap to this story is what drove me to put it on my review calendar and OMG i am so glad *more swoon* LOL
Justin, Justin, Justin ….. Callie just came right up into your life and disheveled it all to delicious pieces didn’t she? GAH, I wish I had more to read. These two were FAN.TAS.TIC. Everything from their characterization to their story-line to plot development/unfolding was just perfect. You will not be able to put this down once you pick it up #TRUST
Has anyone else been daydreaming about Justin Donahue since Tied up, Tied down? Just me? Or since he confronted his big brother about talking him away from Keely so he could have him to himself? No, nobody else? Well I never forgot about Jack’s hunky, blonde, little brother, and was overjoyed when I found out he was going to get his own book!!!
And what a story he got. It is sweet, sexy, vulnerable, hot, hopeful, and did I say sexy? Calliope is one lucky woman to get that man all to herself. She knows how to handle him though, and doesn’t let that charmer get away with anything. These two go together perfectly, and get their very well deserved HEA!
Oh boy this book. I have been a fan of Lorelei’s since the Rough Riders series started. I had to check this novella out and it was another one that I absolutely loved. If you haven’t read any of her series don’t worry because you will still enjoy this book as much as anyone.
Justin is trying to figure out what he wants in life. He isn’t on the circuit anymore and he doesn’t think he’ll ever find anyone that wants him for him.
Calliope hasn’t been handed anything in her life. She works hard and helps others when she can. She has goals and ambitions in life and that doesn’t include a relationship but…Justin is something that she can’t resist but he has hang ups so maybe a friendship is all they can have until things get too hard to resist for one of them.
This one is definitely worth the time to read. It is a book that will have you eating up every word and looking forward to more by Lorelei.
I love this book! It had a great storyline with strong characters.
I love the Rough Riders series and I love the Blacktop Cowboys series so I was so excited to find out they were getting a crossover, and Wound Tight did not disappoint! Callie and Justin had great chemistry, and you could feel the sexual tension coming off the pages. Another great addition to both of these series.
I forgot how much I love the May-December trope, but Wound Tight reminded me why! I loved the storytelling method that Lorelei James employed (the prologue drops us in the middle of the story and and then we start at the beginning) and I loved Callie and Justin. I did feel a bit lost in the world because I have absolutely no clue about anything rodeo or ranch related, but it did not detract from my enjoyment of the story. I was especially tickled when I realized that the timeline and characters intersected with Tripped Out and when I got to the scene overlap from that book it was so much fun! As with most 1001 Dark Night books I’ve had the pleasure of reading, my favorite part of the reading experience is being introduced to a new world and characters and finding that I want to delve further into it – so I will be reading the Blacktop Cowboy novellas (Roped In, Stripped Down, and Strung Up) ASAP since all of the couples from those books are in Wound Tight and I just have to know their full stories, and then I’ll probably move on and commit to reading the entire series – probably the Rough Riders series too! 4 out of 5 wine glasses.
4 Stars
Headline:
As always with a LJ book it doesn’t disappoint
Justin is an old time cowboy who thinks he is way too old for Callie. Callie is an old soul based on having to grow up quickly due to her family life. They have a witty banter and when they come together it is explosive! This is a great read to get lost in for the end of summer.
This book is a fantastic introduction to Lorelei James’s writing. She has now got me completely intrigued in the Rough Riders
Once I started this book I was hooked, the prologue is very intriguing and makes you want to know what happened to get to that point.
Justin is one hell of a sexy AF cowboy. He is totally swoon-worthy and makes me want to go and move to the rodeo. He has played the part of the lone wolf for a long time but now hes met his match in Callie. She is such a whirlwind, she knows what she wants and goes for it, there are no pretences with her. The sexual chemistry and tension between them is off the charts.
I will now be going to check out her Rough Riders series
Wound Tight is a crossover between two series written by Lorelei James, Rough Riders and Blacktop Cowboys, it is also part of the 1,001 Dark Nights Series, you do not need to read the prior books in either series in order to read this book, this is the best part about the 1,001 Dark Nights Series it allows authors to write novellas about characters in their stories that may not have otherwise gotten their HEAs in order to give us readers a taste of their work or an extra bonus if we’re already fans. I LOVE THAT!!!!
Justin is going to grab your hearts ladies, especially if you like cowboys and lets be honest here who doesn’t 😉 The thing I loved most about Justin was that even though he was scared shitless about getting involved with Callie because of their age difference he was able to go about it in a way that made him feel more secure in their relationship. As for Callie, if it wasn’t mentioned that she was only twenty-two I would never have guessed it. This young woman was more mature than some in their thirties, and I really really liked her…like a lot.
If you happened to read Tripped out, Stirling and Liam’s story, you will be thrilled to know what happened with the crazy golf cart ride they had with Justin and Callie because now we get the same scene from the other couples POV and it was wonderful and makes much more sense now that I know the whole story behind it all.
I really enjoyed this quick and sexy read. My heart also melted when Justin told Callie he first realized he had fallen for her, I mean seriously ladies totally swoon worthy. I highly recommend this read to everyone that enjoys a good cowboy romance or even if you just enjoy the May/December Romance Trope. Happy Reading!!!
**I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Readers Copy of this book**
If I could give this book more than a 5 start rating, I would do it in a heart beat. I love all of Lorelei sexy alpha cowboys and it has been a very long time since I have been able to indulge in one of her books. I loved it so much and missed her writing. Callie is a firecracker and once she sets her eyes on something, she is not shy about getting what she wants. I loved her attitude and “Go Get ‘Em” persona. She is my favorite heroine.
Justin on the other hand was bull headed when it came to the girl. But I loved his personality as well. I was over the moon for this man, and even when he showed his flaws (acting like age matters), Callie showed him to open his mind and heart. The heat level was explosive! Wound Tight is a story that you will have a good time reading it. I loved the characters, story line, heat factor, and the feels that ran through me!
MY REVIEW:
YEE HAW! Justin Donahue we get to see you again in all your sexy Rough Riding glory!
I am so glad to see him again in the Blacktop world. I’m sure that Callie is too. Now, of course, we all impatiently wait for a cross-over novel and our favorite McKay’s visit with the Donahue’s or visa versa.
However, this book was about Callie and Justin. Their friendship, their differences and their instant attraction and Justin’s perceptions from past relationships. James has a unique talent to allow her characters to realize they are idiots and pull their own heads from their asses, at least in most cases. I was beginning to wonder and then we had a Facetime visit to Jack and Keely. Not to help Justin, but to reaffirm he was on the right path.
Although this is not my favorite book in the Blacktop Series, I’m thankful to the 1001 nights books to be able to have these short stories into characters we may never have had stories of, if not for the Prince and our need to stay alive. 😉
Justin Donahue is a former Professional Bull Rider who at the age of 40 decides to take a job at Grade A Ranch & Rodeo School.
Callie Morgan is 22 years old and works at the Ranch and also is a bartender in town.
The first time Callie sees Justin she knows she wants him and when he comes into the bar one night the two flirt up a storm and Callie challenges Justin and calls him out on everything.
But for Justin will their age difference cause him problems and will his secrets stay hidden or come out and wreck any chance the two can be together?
This was a great book about falling in love with someone that you don’t expect to.
I loved Callie and how she was just wise beyond her years and called everything out as she saw it. She was blunt but wise in her words and Justin was definitely not expecting that. I loved her words and how she made people think.
I liked Justin but I was mad at him for sure when I had thought he got over his age issues but then he didn’t at a really bad moment! I was glad when he realized his mistake and how he began making up for it.
There was so much chemistry in this book and the two were HOT!!!
I hated how Callie felt after Justin’s secret was revealed after she had helped him out. I loved how he admitted right after that he was in love with her which seemed to help the situation!!
Great read!
****4.5 STARS****
****ARC Received for Honest Review****
First of all….Lorelei James and her cowboys is a combination to not be missed. This was a great read, that just made me realize what I always knew about Ms. James, she can always make you not put a book down. This was a one sit read. The sparks the fly between the retired rodeo cowboy, Justin, who is quite a bit older than Calliope, are not to be missed.
As much as Justin tries to keep his boundaries, Calliope won’t have any parts of that and will get him to be hers and at her mercy one way or another. You have to heck this one out…so worth the read.-Review by Catherine(Catty)
Hot, sexy 40 year old cowboy, Justin, meets sassy, beautiful, 22 year old bar server, where they also dance on the bar, Callie. From there, Lorelei James writes a hot, sexy, sassy story that is so good, I did not want to put it down. 18 year age difference a problem? Maybe, but this is only one part of the story. There are lots of other parts, along with some big surprises. I really enjoyed reading this, so I highly recommend it.
Wow! Little Callie is all grown up!! I love each of these stories! I feel like I’m visiting old friends!! Callie turned out to be quite the pistol that I knew she’d be!
Justin and Callie’s story sure made for an awesome book, that sucked me in from the beginning! Her sassy mouth and him in all his hotness!
Wound tight had all the elements of a story that I love! Sexiness, sweetness, cockiness and love!!! It was also wonderful to visit with the McKay’s!!
Sassy Callie meets hottie cowboy Justin and is taken by his looks and his talk..and then to find out they work at same place… Things heat up but Justin runs….he is around to be friends with Callie until he admits his struggles.. Sassy Callie let’s him know she thinks he’s worth it all! The two world of cowboys collide when Callie remembers the McKay wedding and how it involves Justin! The banter and chemistry is hot, hot, hot!
WOUND TIGHT is a cross-over novella from two of Lorelei James’ contemporary, adult, erotic, cowboy romance series- Rough Riders and Blacktop Cowboys, as well as being the latest addition into the multi-authored 1001 Dark Nights novella series. This is forty-year old retired bull-riding champion Justin Donahue, and twenty-two year old bartender Calliope ‘Callie’ Morgan’s story line. WOUND TIGHT can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary. Justin Donahue is Jack Donahue’s brother –ALL JACKED UP (Rough Riders #8).
Told from dual third person perspectives (Justin and Callie) WOUND TIGHT follows the May-December romance and relationship between forty-year old retired bull-riding champion Justin Donahue, and twenty-two year old bartender Calliope ‘Callie’ Morgan. Justin Donahue is the newest bull-riding instructor at the Gradsky Ranch, a ranch where Callie works days cleaning before heading into town where she works another eight hours at the local bar. Meeting bartender Callie Morgan, throws Justin for a loop, when he can’t get past their age difference, and his need for the woman that calls to his heart. What ensues is the back and forth, acrimonious relationship between Callie and Justin, and the potential fall-out as Justin continues to struggle with the difference in their ages.
WOUND TIGHT is a fast-paced, sexy and sassy story about one man’s battle between head and heart as the woman he loves pushes all of his buttons. Lorelei James writes a realistic and passionate, spirited and edgy tale that is sure to please romantics, and cowboy lovers at heart.
Dear lord, a May to December COWBOY romance? That it’s a Rough Riders/Blacktop Cowboy® series crossover? I’ve died and gone to heaven!
*fans self*
Goodness, I was sucked in to the hot, sexy, smart, snarky, fun romance between Justin and Callie from the first words of Wound Tight. I loved Callie’s fierce independence, her sass and her ability to still see the best in people and her situation. She did not wallow or feel one bit sorry for herself for the hand that life dealt her.
And Justin. Whoa, cowboy! He is the perfect match for Callie—once he got out of his head and realized it too! I loved how he loved much like he lived—simple, fiercely, deeply and honest . . . err . . . mostly.
Wound Tight is a quick and fantastic read. A perfect addition to the wonderful Rough Riders/Blacktop Cowboy® series. I couldn’t read it fast enough to see how they found their happily ever after. And it was perfect.