ARC Review: Gone Country by Lorelei James

“Not like any other McKay…and still ohhhhh so good!” ~Under the Covers

After Tell’s story, which was a bit younger in tone and totally bad boy McKay, it was a very nice change of pace to read about Gavin.  Gavin is the long lost McKay brother.  Vi had given him up for adoption without telling anyone that she was pregnant when she was 16.  And now after Gavin is 40+, he comes back in their lives.  He is a McKay by blood, but so not your typical McKay by actions.  He’s divorced, he has a teenage daughter, and he’s bought the ranch next to Ben that used to be owned by Rielle.  Now that he wanted to bring their daughter to Wyoming to help her with some behavior issues, he will have to adjust to country living, McKay relatives, and living with Rielle for a while.

Rielle was an amazing and so strong heroine.  I have to give her props because she’s devoted her life to her daughter, even after she had gotten pregnant at 16 and being raised by hippie parents in a commune.   She has made something of her life with strength and hard work.  And she’s always put work and being a mother first.  So that means relationships with guys have not been a big priority in her life.  It’s hard to believe that, in her forties and with her daughter away to college, she’s just now developing feelings and attraction for the first guy in what could be the first time in her life.

Gavin, on the other hand, was just amazing.  In a way he reminded me of Jack (Keely’s husband) and has a lot of the qualities I liked in him.  I liked the fact that he comes back to Wyoming slimmer and taking better care of himself.  It wasn’t love at first sight with Gavin and Rielle.  They’ve both made some changes and now that attraction is blooming.   I find that a big part of it was how different Rielle was from Gavin’s ex wife.  She might not be the refined woman he is used to deal with, but that’s exactly the type of woman he needs.

Gavin and Rielle as a couple were great.  Both had their own insecurities.  They had to deal with the issues that single parents have to, even though their kids were not so little.  With one living with them, they had to have a certain amount of discretion in their encounters, but they made it work.  Still building their relationship in a way that progressed slowly and was very believable, as well as dealing with both their kids and family life.  Their chemistry was off the charts!  I just wish we would’ve gotten more details on the sex in the office against the windows.  *waggles eyebrows*  I have to say though, at times I felt Rielle could’ve been more involved and shouldn’t have put so much distance between her and the relationship they were building and the rest of Gavin’s life.

Then there’s the kids.  I cannot wait to see what happened between Dalton and Rory.  I’m biting my nails in anticipation!  Then Sierra, Gavin’s daughter.  I really loved her character up until the very last bit of the book.  When you read it you will know why at that point I wanted to bash her head against the wall.  But, typical teenage behavior I guess.  Of course there is Boone West *sigh*.  Is it bad to say I have a crush on a teenager?  Well, I do!  Are we going to get a Sierra and Boone’s story?  Pretty please with a cherry on top!  I also enjoyed all the McKay interactions and bits and pieces of their family life, as usual.

This book was not like any other McKay…and still ohhhh so good.  I think it’s a nice change of pace in the series.  Even though it’s bittersweet because we are one book closer to the end. 🙁

“If it looks like a McKay, acts like a McKay…then it is a McKay.”

“Did you happen to bring a condom with you?”
“Nope. I brought two.”

*ARC provided by publisher

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[about-author author=”Lorelei James”]