Pickup Men (Pickup Men, #1) in Riptide Publishing

May 24, 2014 Ery rated it it was ok

I think this one was just not for me- too much drama; didn't pull me in. ...more

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Jun 25, 2013 Shirley Frances rated it liked it

Shelves: mm-series, 2013, mm-read, read-2-review, reviewed, glbt

When I read the blurb for this book, the premise of the story caught my eye. I love my cowboys and I love my drama and this book seemed like it would have plenty of both. However, I have to admit that although I got my cowboys, I didn't get enough of the drama. Well, okay, maybe that's not completely true. There was plenty of drama, I just feel like the wasn't enough 'ufff' behind the story to live up to my expectations. Maybe the story should have been longer, maybe they needed to fight the obs When I read the blurb for this book, the premise of the story caught my eye. I love my cowboys and I love my drama and this book seemed like it would have plenty of both. However, I have to admit that although I got my cowboys, I didn't get enough of the drama. Well, okay, maybe that's not completely true. There was plenty of drama, I just feel like the wasn't enough 'ufff' behind the story to live up to my expectations. Maybe the story should have been longer, maybe they needed to fight the obstacles thrown at them a bit more. I don't know, I just feet like the story lacked something and I can't put my finger on it so bear with me!

Tripp loved Marty, but he was in the closet and afraid to come out. Mind you, his fear was completely understandable. I admired how he admitted to his feelings for Marty and his determination to make things right. I especially enjoyed his time in San Francisco, but I can't help but think that his struggles were neatly wrapped up to give us the HEA that came in the end. He was a mess in the beginning and I find it hard to believe that he could let that fear go so suddenly. Later on he was a bigger mess and still everything was worked out without a lot of fuss.

Marty, on the other hand, was a sight for sore eyes. Openly gay and fully backed by his friends and family, he accepted whatever repercussions came from being openly gay in the rodeo. I admired his strength to give up the man he loved and be himself. He was honest and real and those were the traits that endeared him to me. I loved that he loved Tripp so fiercely, but I loved more that he stood by his decision to let Tripp make his own decision about coming out.

L.C. Chase did a great job of bringing Tripp and Marty's connection to the page in a way that made it feel like these two had a chance to be together, I just wish that she would have approached it differently. There were things that worked for me, but there were just as many things that didn't. Tripp and Marty's interactions were both sincere and emotional which I liked, but sometimes they bordered on unbelievably cheesy. This I could mostly overlook and I did. But although Tripp and Marty's chemistry was clearly palpable through the page (which I also liked!), some of their sex scenes fell flat for me. It was hard for me to believe that Tripp and Marty were the ones participating in them. It was a bit too much for me, especially coming from these two cowboys. It was more like reading and M/F love scene (which I also like), but not when it's between two cowboys.

So as you can see, it's a mix of good and bad.

All in all, Pickup Men was a sweet, romantic story that tells the journey of two men coming together after overcoming some difficult issues. It may not have been everything I was expecting, but it was an okay entertaining read nonetheless. If you like cowboys stories this give one a try. Maybe what didn't work for me, works for you.

I received this title from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange of my honest opinion.
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Aug 25, 2013 Page Crusherz rated it really liked it

4.5

I read a few negative reviews of this book but I loved it. I really empathized for Tripp while I still wanted to smack him. I felt like Marty was a strong enough MC that I didn't pity him, but I felt for him.
Im dying for the next one! ...more

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Apr 06, 2013 Tina rated it really liked it

The job of the pickup man in a rodeo is to manage the horses and bulls and rescue bronc and bareback riders from their horses after they make a ride. They are the men trusted to get the riders to safety after the ride and to escort the horse, bull or bronc out of the ring. Sometimes a pickup man has to put himself between a 2,000 pound animal and the rider trying to get over the fence. It is a dangerous job and the cowboys appreciate their pickup men and make sure to tell them that every day. So The job of the pickup man in a rodeo is to manage the horses and bulls and rescue bronc and bareback riders from their horses after they make a ride. They are the men trusted to get the riders to safety after the ride and to escort the horse, bull or bronc out of the ring. Sometimes a pickup man has to put himself between a 2,000 pound animal and the rider trying to get over the fence. It is a dangerous job and the cowboys appreciate their pickup men and make sure to tell them that every day. Sometimes pickup men get injured. Badly.

In Pickup Men LC Chase brings the rodeo to life. You can practically smell the dust and hear the grunts and thuds as the men and animals collide. She introduced us to Tripp Colby, a championship bull rider. He is gay and deeply closeted. He fears, no he is terrified, to come out due to some things that he did and were done to him as a teenager.

LC Chase has also created Martin Fairbanks. Marty is Tripp’s pickup man. He is also his lover. Marty is out and proud. He wants nothing more than for Tripp to publicly acknowledge their love.

When Marty is seriously injured while saving Tripp’s life after a ride, the only thing he wants to see is Tripp’s face above his asking how he is doing, showing that he cares. Any other rider would have the courtesy to check on his pickup man, not even thinking about what others thought, but not Tripp. He walks away with his homophobic friend instead.

While in the hospital, Marty waits for Tripp to visit. He finally sneaks in after visiting hours are long over. Marty tells Tripp that they are done. If Tripp can’t even acknowledge Marty as a friend after his being injured while protecting Tripp, there is no hope he will ever come out of the closet as Marty’s lover.

A series of events set up wonderfully by LC Chase, eventually leads to many truths coming out. Tripp is beaten terribly and hospitalized for a week with no identification. When Marty eventually finds Tripp, he won’t leave his side. Men being men and love being love, Pickup Men takes some twists and turns that I won’t spoil for you. This is a romance novel, after all.

In Pickup Men, LC Chase has created an entire little world inhabited by cowboys, pickup men, ranchers and their families. She makes the reader feel drawn in to become a part of this world. The characters are realistic, flaws and all. The friends are loyal to a fault. They are the kind of friends we all wish we had. There are two in particular that have the potential for a sequel, should muse decide to take that path. And I sincerely hope she does. Highly recommended for lovers of hot cowboys!

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Sep 20, 2013 Susan Laine rated it it was amazing

Shelves: top2bottom-reviews

This story is filled with melodrama and hindrances of all kinds. Marty’s a pickup man, rescuing rodeo cowboys from bucking bulls and raging horses, and he’s also out and proud. Tripp, his secret lover of many years, is a rodeo champion, so deep in the closet he can barely see daylight. Not even Marty’s accident can prompt him to leave the safety of his self-imposed exile. Marty decides then to cut him loose, a lost battle. Yet they’re in the same business, and can’t avoid one another. Their pass ...more

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