This is the author I can always trust to write a wonderful M/M romance, and I love the setting and the close knit relationships between all the friends. I have found that she really draws you into a sweet setting that you just want to cheer this pairing on for. I don't read these type of relationships very often, but this is an author that I do love reading very often. And I highly encourage anyone to try out her stories. This review is short because I had forgotten to write the review for a book I read a while ago. But if you love M/M romance, this is an author you need to add to your list, and you can't go wrong with it.

I am a member of the American Library Association Reading List Award Committee. This title was suggested for the 2021 list. It was not nominated for the award. The complete list of winners and shortlisted titles is at <a href="https://rusaupdate.org/2021/02/2021-reading-list-years-best-in-genre-fiction-for-adult-readers/">

I really enjoy a fake relationship book when the story is done right and this one definitely delivers! A hook-up turns into a fake relationship situation for these two and then slowly becomes something more. It's clear there is an attraction between these two, one that they cannot deny.

These two really learn how to connect, reconnect and open up, building friendships and relationships. I enjoyed the way this story built, there are a lot of layers here and I loved exploring them with these guys!

Expecting mind reading or taking the coward's way out by not saying anything about feelings because the other person isn't saying anything is annoying. Unfortunately that ran rampant through this story and I wasn't a fan of it. I did, however, enjoy the steam. Man, their connection was pretty incendiary and when the love part of their relationship did get the right kind of focus and attention there were solidly wonderful moments in the story.

I enjoyed AM Arthur's Hard Ride, but I can't do it justice with a thorough review since I haven't read the previous books. But I love the authors writing, and this book is a fun fake boyfriend story

My heart breaks each and every time I read a Clean Slate Ranch book. But I know, in the end, it will be mended and I will be smiling. That is just one reason why I always look forward to the next book in the series. Each and every one of them have a story to tell, have a background that isn’t all hearts and roses but usually heartbreak and thorns. How they come through it all, change their lives and get through to the other side is heartwarming and gives us hope.

Derrick had a good life. A wonderful family and now a beautiful niece. But, he doesn’t trust easily. His past showed him that you can’t trust without having your heart broken. But, there is something different about Slater. It may have been a wedding hook-up but he can’t stop thinking about the chemistry, the man or what could be if given a chance.

Slater doesn’t deserve love, or so he thinks. When the unthinkable happens and he’s placed in a situation where he needs to depend on people, place his life and possible future in their hands, things change. He may have made an agreement with the one man who could change him and make him believe that things could be different. Derrick shows Slater that he can let people in, let them get to know him. He deserves love, his daughter and family no matter what happened in the past. Slater has decisions to make and isn’t sure where his life is supposed to be any more. It takes his 18 year old daughter to make him see what he’s doing, what he’s giving up by walking away and just what could be.

Both of these men know that there is something more there than casual. Too bad both men are stubborn, want the other to make the decision, to ask, to voice their feelings first.

A. M. Arthur knows how to tell a story. She knows how to draw us in and give us a gritty yet heartfelt story. She lets us feel the pain, the happiness, the confusion and the love. She writes characters that you can’t help but fall in love with, feel for and hope that they come through the other side unscathed. And, when they do, she lets us feel the elation of knowing that they found their true love.

Derrick Massey has visited Clean Slate Ranch a number of times and he’s there now to celebrate a double wedding. When his sister-in-law, Sophie, goes into labor, Derrick is restless waiting for news and wanders around the ranch. There he encounters cowboy Slater Stamos and the two men have a steamy encounter that they both enjoy. But neither man is looking for more than a one-time thing.

Slater found a new life for himself on Clean Slate Ranch, one where he could put his past behind him. He enjoys working on the ranch, though he hasn’t let himself get close to too many of the other cowboys. When Slater suffers a serious injury saving the life of one of the guests, he is out of commission for what could be months. He is surprised to hear from Derrick who offers him a proposition: pretend to be Derrick’s boyfriend for five summer weddings and help get Derrick’s meddling family off his back and, in exchange, Slater can stay in Derrick’s apartment where he can be close to doctors and have Derrick help take care of him. It seems like a great deal for both men, and the guys get Slater settled into Derrick’s apartment.

At first things are a little awkward as the men barely know one another and now they are pretending to be boyfriends. But as time passes, Slater and Derrick realize just how well they get along and begin to really enjoy each other’s company. Things become easy and domestic as they share a home and a life. Slater also realizes that he is really enjoying living in the city much more than he expected, and begins to meet new friends and discover new hobbies. As the end of the wedding circuit draws to a close and Slater heals, both men realize they are interested in continuing living together and becoming real boyfriends, but both men are also afraid to put pressure on the other by asking. Now Slater and Derrick have to take a leap and be honest with each other about their feelings, and they may just be able to turn their charade into something real.

Hard Ride is the fifth book in A.M. Arthur’s Clean Slate Ranch series. Though we have met Derrick as a side character in previous books, this story itself stands alone just fine. But, as with all the books, the various characters appear across each other’s stories, so being familiar with the other books will enhance your reading here.

I like fake relationship stories and have been enjoying this series, so I was eager to pick this one up. Arthur does a nice job building the connection between the men, showing their progression from awkward strangers to men who clearly care about one another. Slater, in particular, has a nice journey here as he grows more comfortable opening himself up to other people and being a part of their found family. I enjoyed seeing him learn crafting and build a friendship with one of their neighbors. I also enjoyed the group interactions, both with the gang from the Clean Slate Ranch, as well as with Derrick’s neighbors and family. There is also a nice element here with Slater reconnecting with his daughter and his character has some great growth.

I did struggle a little here as I didn’t feel the chemistry between the men quite as much as I would like. I could totally see how they were bonding and their connection was growing, but I didn’t really feel the intensity of their romance as much as I would have liked. I was also looking for a little more from the fake relationship storyline. We do see the men attending a couple of the weddings, but some of them aren’t even shown, and that “secret relationship” dynamic just didn’t come through with as much energy and fun as I would have liked. I also found it confusing why they had to lie to everyone they knew about the fake boyfriend thing. I get why Derrick’s family couldn’t know, and even why the guys at the ranch couldn’t know either, as Derrick’s family is connected to the ranch. But I am not sure why they had to tell Derrick’s other apartment tenants this big lie also, especially considering how close Derrick is with two of his neighbors. I mean, they aren’t going to tell Derrick’s family, so why the need to lie? I was also uncomfortable that Slater lies about Derrick being his boyfriend to his family, including his child, with whom he is trying to rebuild trust. The two families were never going to meet; what is the benefit to lying and potentially damaging an already fragile relationship? It just made the plot feel more contrived than it needed to be.

My last issue is that the conflict really rests on lack of communication. Both Derrick and Slater know from fairly early on they really like each other and want to stay together once the agreed upon period is over. But neither one is willing to actually talk about it. This just seems to drag on for a lot of the story and it was frustrating to read. Slater also makes a decision toward the end that left me literally going “what?” and while the guys end up working it out fairly easily, I was thrown off by his behavior.

Despite some issues, I do continue to enjoy this series. I particularly like the found family aspect and the way this group all supports one another and I found the connections in this story to be particularly good. Some new side characters are introduced here, so I am curious to see if they will be integrated into the bigger story as potential love interests going forward. I will be keeping my eyes open for more.

Oh Derrick how you and Slater both surprised me! For real this series has kept me coming back again and again and has not disappointed at all! Wonderful characters, that have revealed bits and pieces at a time to finally get their chance in the story spotlight. Derrick was first introduced in book 1 and I've been curious since then what his story would be. He and Slater connect as a random hook-up, but the attraction between them morphs first as a fake relationship/roommate situation. However, these two can only fight their attraction and the memory of their one encounter for so long. There were so many layers to this story and I really loved watching the both of them connect and heal, to allow each other to feel. I really love A.M. Arthur's writing style and general storytelling. Clean Slate is definitely a setting I would be happy to keep returning to as a reader.

This is the fifth book in a series, and is probably best enjoyed when read in order but is still enjoyable on its own.

Derrick Massey is a young urban professional running a non-profit business that assists families and ex-convicts trying to rebuild their lives. He's in his late 20s and a suave black man. His brother Conrad is married to Sophie Bentley--Wes Bentley's younger sister. Wes is married to Mack Garrett who runs the Bentley Ghost Town attraction, and his grandfather owns Clean Slate Ranch. Derrick likes the ranch, but mostly he likes the cowboys. While mooning over his single state in the wake of the two weddings he'd attended the day before, Derrick runs into Slater, a ranch hand, in the small gym at the ranch. And boy do they hook up. It's perfect, and over too quick for Derrick's taste.

Not long after, Slater is running an overnight camping ride with a bunch of dude ranch guests. One of the children wanders off and Slater falls off a cliff trying to save the boy. The injuries which could have been life-threatening amount to a leg surgery that keeps Slater in a cast for what looks to be months. And, that means he can't work as a cowboy until he's healed. He's sure down on his luck and won't be able to send much money back to his parents who barely get by and are currently raising Slater's teenaged daughter, Rachel. What few people know about Slater--including his actual name--is he's an ex-con who'd served time for aggravated battery. He's a super private guy, and still ashamed of his time in prison.

Derrick has a slew of weddings to attend in the summer season, and desperately wants a date. Slater's out of work and his bunk at remote Clean Slate is not amenable to recovery or making regular therapy appointments. So Derrick makes a fake-boyfriend pact with Slater--in exchange for living at Derrick's city apartment and getting rides to therapy and doctor appointments, Slater will come to the weddings with Derrick as his plus-one. Slater agrees, reluctantly, and adds his own caveat: Derrick needs to drive him up to his parents home one specific week. Derrick later learns this trip is to see Rachel's high school graduation.

I always enjoy a good fake boyfriend story, and this one is really sweet. Derrick's home is a bit spare, but he makes it as comfy as he can. We get neighbor drama and new friendships which all support Slater's growth from isolated ex-con into friendly entrepreneur. The chemistry between the men is high, and they eventually decide some sexual benefits can come from their arrangement. They learn a lot about one another, and their vulnerable moments strengthen their growing bond. As the days and weeks pass, both Derrick and Slater come to appreciate the general kindness the other has. They genuinely like each other and it doesn't take long before the "fake" part of the arrangement is starting to look less and less real.

Naturally, there is a bit of separation in play, to create the climactic tension, but it does get resolved without too much stress. Derrick and Slater lean on their best friends/confidantes to help guide their way back to one another. It's a sweet reunion, and I wonder if we don't have a spin-off story that features Derrick and Slater's twin neighbors. O.O

This is book no. 5 in the Clean Slate Ranch book series and I’m still loving these books. Hard Ride is about Derrick Massey, who you’ll recognize if you’ve read the rest of the books, and Kendall “Slater” Stamos. Slater is injured and could use a place to rest away from the ranch, and closer to physical therapy, and Derrick could use a fake boyfriend for the five upcoming weddings he has to attend. Enter the agreement: Slater and Derrick pretend to be boyfriends over the summer, attending the weddings together, and sharing Derrick’s apartment. I love a good fake boyfriend trope, and this was a really enjoyable read. I think the secondary characters – many of whom were new to the series – were so well done! Hopefully Arthur will have more books for us at the Clean Slate Ranch.

I don’t think I could pick a favorite book in this series if I was pressed, but I can say that Hard Ride would be among my top choices. I can even forgive the fact that very little time was spent at the ranch. That’s mostly because the visits from all the “crew” made up for it… at least a little 😉

Slater and Derrick’s initial hook-up was casual, but it took them both a little off guard. It was something that neither one of them ever really forgot, especially when they were around each other. It made Derrick’s offer to give Slater a place to stay and recover easy. It also made Slater’s acceptance somewhat easy to accept.

It was fun watching these two men avoid the obvious. Neither one of them wanted their time to end, but Derrick was a little bit more than reluctant than Slater. He held secrets close to his chest that kept him from committing to anyone.

Once again, the sense of family in Clean Slate Ranch makes every book in this series a must read. It was especially true in Hard Ride, because with his found family, Slater found the acceptance that he needed and didn’t even know he craved. ❤

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is the fifth book in the series, and I would say that you would benefit from having read them in order, as you would understand better the dynamics between the men, but it is a good read that I think you could enjoy as a standalone too. To those of us who have read the earlier books, we don't really have a great opinion of Derrick, in particular as he didn't react all that well to Robin moving on, but at the same time did feel quite sorry for him too.

Slater is very much the loner on the ranch, and although we get to know why quite early on, it is not common knowledge. He has, for the most part, found peace at the ranch and even his hookup with Derrick has not disturbed his equilibrium. Then an act of heroism where he decides that his life can end results instead in him needing to recuperate, and Derrick offers him a chance at something new for a while. As they play act at being boyfriends, Derrick gets a summer free of matchmaking by his family and Slater gets somewhere more restful to get better.

I loved how we see into Derrick's life and meet his friends and family. Slater finds something he has missed out on, and realises what a gift he has been given by Derrick and those who accept him so easily. He also recognises that he is happy, really happy, and wishes that Derrick would ask him to stay for real. Of course Derrick is feeling pretty much the same way, but doesn't want to pressure Slater... so we then have the fun of seeing how on earth the author will resolve the issue!

I loved Slater's rude cross stitch creations – such a fun way to pass the time as he gets better.

As well as enjoying these two men find themselves and each other, we also catch up with the other couples from Clean Slate ranch, and I am already looking forward to the next installment from this lovely series.


Angie – ☆☆☆☆
This series is a series that just makes me feel comfortable. It feels like home, we see new couples in every book, but we also see established ones from previous books. I feel like I know these guys, they feel like family.

You could read this as a standalone but would get a better perspective if you read the previous books. This one starts out with a nice hot sex scene... my favorite! Derrick and Slater both want casual, no strings attached. We all know how that goes. Then throw in the fake boyfriend scenario and we all know what's gonna happen. I loved getting to know Slater and Derrick, I'll admit Slater was my favorite. Add in an injury, lots of weddings, and family, and you have a good addition to the series.


Shannan – ☆☆☆☆
Hard Ride is the fifth installment in the Clean Slate Ranch series. It can be read as a standalone, but it is better to read in order to completely understand the character interactions.

Derrick has mixed feelings going to Clean Slate Ranch for another wedding. He had a rough time when Robin moved on and found the love of his life. He hasn't been a favorite, but somehow this interaction with Slater changes my opinion of him. Derrick and Slater have a quick hit it and quit it in the ranch gym. Slater is a loner and isn't looking for a relationship, so the one-time hook-ups work best for him. When he suffers an injury on the ranch, something has him accepting the offer of a "fake" relationship – wedding dates for help healing.

I am a huge fan of Clean Slate Ranch. I love seeing past characters, the interactions, seeing the growth of their relationships, etc. but it wasn't something you really got in this one. It takes place ninety percent off the ranch, even though some characters do make cameos, it just wasn't the same. That doesn't mean I didn't completely enjoy it, but it wasn't one of my favorites.


Sarah – ☆☆☆☆
3.5 stars

This is a sweet and sexy read that takes the series in a whole new direction. This story takes readers away from the ranch and the ghost town and into the city. The tropes are a little tired but both Derrick and Slater are immensely likeable, and I love the characters that surround them.

The fake boyfriend thing has been done to death in contemporary romance, but it works quite well here. It’s the secrets and feelings the men keep from each other that I didn’t enjoy. Derrick and Slater both present as full-grown men – well into adulthood – who have very little emotional intelligence and very poor communication skills. There are several things which provide genuine barriers to a relationship between Derrick and Slater so I kinda hate that the author relies on miscommunication for conflict. The result is more unnecessary angst than I like and a book that happens mostly inside the two men’s heads. This is a slice of life romance without any of the action or excitement I’ve come to expect from the series.

Unlike previous books, this one takes place in the city and I really enjoyed the change of scenery and all the new characters. However, we still see lots of the guys from the ranch so there are possibly too many characters to keep track of in this book. This is a slow read and it feels a little bit like a series filler at times. I like Slater and Derrick, but after some excitement and a very sexy scene at the start of the book, their story is a quiet, slow burn. Some readers will love this story, others will want a little bit more from a romance novel.

2.5 stars
This series has been a bit of hit or miss for me, and I left the last book leaning toward being done with it. Nevertheless, I do love cowboys, so I dove back in one more time. The result is that I do like Hard Ride better than the last book, but only just. This one moves a lot like the others, so in other words, it's too slow for my taste. It starts off with a fan yourself steamy scene between Slater and Derrick, and the thing that leads to the boyfriend arrangement certainly had potential, but that potential isn't quite realized. The angst is largely based on a serious lack of communication. Everyone is having feelings, but no one is willing to say so. Instead, we just keep plodding along with a bit of steam and a few amusing dates and social engagements. Fortunately, both characters are likable enough, but I guess it's more a lack of any feeling about Derrick because there isn't much character building where he's concerned. He has trust issues and a thing for cowboys. That is pretty much it, which is surprising considering the length of the book. Slater, on the other hand, gets the lion's share of page time and I really did like him. I just didn't care for the way the romance developed.

‘Tis a good day to be a romance book reviewer; A.M. Arthur hath stole my heart. (Post-reading afterglows bring out the poet in me.) I’m not sure how Arthur’s Clean Slate Ranch series has escaped my notice, but now that I’ve found her, I shan’t let her go.

Sweet ‘n’ steamy gay interracial romance Hard Ride opens with a lustful one-nighter between Clean Slate Ranch cowboy Kendall ‘Slater’ Stamos (fun nod to #80s90s #popculture) and weekend wedding guest Derrick Massey. This impromptu hookup comes on the heels of Derrick’s realization that he wants to find a committed partner, but neither Derrick nor Slater regrets their brief but passionate encounter.

While protecting a young camper in his charge, Slater sustains a serious injury that sidelines him from working on the ranch. A concerned Derrick, spurred on by genuine caring and by the dread of attending five family weddings solo, proposes a fake-dating arrangement. The plan is decidedly beneficial to both parties. Derrick gets a hot plus-one and a ‘boyfriend’ who will appease his family who wants him to settle down, and Slater gets to convalesce at Derrick’s comfortable apartment in the city. It doesn’t hurt that he finds Derrick adorable. As the pretense plays out, the faux couple’s physical attraction heightens and deeper feelings develop, but although a bona fide ‘DerrickSlatership’ is a tempting proposition to both men, they each have their reasons for preferring the fantasy to reality. The conflicted lovers must ultimately decide whether or not sharing their lives together is worth the potential rejection and heartbreak.

Arthur writes a well-paced, captivating romance that scores high in protagonist likeability. Derrick and Slater are decent, honorable men whose differences beautifully complement each other. Derrick is a sweet, open-hearted extrovert, while Slater is a salty introvert with a heart of gold. Their thoughtful deeds, romantic gestures, and playful humor lead to swoony moments that caused my inner cheerleader to raise her arms in a high V motion. And as for Derrick and Skater’s off-the-charts chemistry, it runs the gamut from chaste forehead kisses to ‘wrestle-each-other-to-the-ground’ amazing sex. #rideemcowboy

While Arthur deserves praise for writing a compelling relationship, I do admit that her decision to write Derrick and Slater as an interracial couple is curious. While a few issues pertaining to sexuality are discussed, the fact that Derrick is black and Slater is white is barely mentioned. I had fully expected the author to raise the stakes by writing either a set of racist parents, or other racist relative to vehemently disapprove of the mixed-race couple, but that doesn’t happen. By omitting real-world racism from the story, the author perhaps misses an opportunity to deepen Derrick and Slater’s respect and love for each other in the face of injustice. Nevertheless, I appreciated the reprieve from the bigotry and intolerance of the non-fictional world.

The cast of secondary characters creates a cozy atmosphere of security and comfort. My hands-down favorite of the group is Dez, Derrick’s non-binary neighbor-friend. Dez is a “clothing designer-slash-upcycle blogger” who breaks down gender stereotypes, and is a source of unwavering support and encouragement to Derrick and Slater. (Honorable mention goes to Lucky, the toilet-trained stray cat.) A slew of random characters, some with inordinately detailed backstories, overcrowd the pages now and again. I’m not a fan of ‘character dumps,’ but I’ve come to understand why later books in a series, such as Hard Ride, contain them. But, seriously, there are only so many cool cowboy names that I can remember in one sitting.

Character dumps aside, I took my time reading each chapter because I simply didn’t want it to end. A.M. Arthur’s Hard Ride is an unputdownable, super sexy read with lots of personality and a ton of heart. I enthusiastically recommend it to all readers, especially to those who may not normally read m/m romance. #bestof2020sofar

The fifth book in Clean Slate Ranch, Hard Ride is Derrick’s story. We venture from the ranch to the city in this one and a number of other characters appear. I enjoyed both Derrick and Slater, but I found I struggled with the connection at times. Overall this is a good read and addition to the series

**4.5**
I love this series from A.M. Arthur. We have met quite the range of characters so far, with quite a variety of histories and this happens again with Slater and Derrick.
They meet at the ranch as Derrick's sister gets married there. A sleepless night leads to an unexpected interaction at 3am in the ranch's gym between the two that neither can forget but both refuse to admit how much it means to them. A heroic moment leads to Slater falling down the side of a cliff and incurring injuries that will take a couple of months to recover from and Derrick offers his home as an easier place to recuperate in exchange for a date to several family weddings in the coming months. What follows in a friendship that grows in trust and strength with a new sense of home for both men leading to questions as to what both men want in their futures.
Slater has worked hard to move on from a big mistake he made in his past but he has learned not to allow people close in case they hurt him or vice versa. The connection he feels to Derrick comes as a big surprise, along with the support and friendships that he builds whilst staying with him. As well as the group of men he worked with at Clean Slate Ranch, we get to meet the people who live in the same house as Derrick and they're bring a real sense of acceptance and friendship that Slater isn't used to. The trust that each man feels with the other is a rarity for them after they both have bad experiences in their past
There's a definite attraction right from the start on both sides with a connection that they're not sure how to feel about. It only strengthens over time but with neither man willing to say anything it just.... falters. It gets a little frustrating with how long it happens for but the journey they have to take, especially Slater. His history is marred with drama and fallouts but the way he has moved forward and wants to be a better man is inspiring to Derrick and those who are allowed to know his true self. Derrick quickly becomes attached to having Slater in his home and the way it feels comfortable to have him around. His parents and brother are wonderfully supportive and I love how he dotes on his new baby niece.
Slater gets talked into some new hobbies/interests by Dez, one of the neighbours and I love that he has such confidence in doing them, things considered activities for only women but it helps his mind settle, keeps him busy and maybe even have an impact on his future.
Definitely a recommended read for me. I love how this author develops the characters and gives them something to work towards through the story. There are some surprising revelations and good relationships started and rebuilt that are heartwarming to read. I love that we get to interact with the group from the ranch as well, the place that started it all and built a foundation for people to rebuild or settle in their lives.
I received an ARC and am happily giving a review.

Derrick is swamped with invites as wedding seasons approaches with no date to attend with means getting hassled and set up from well wishers. Slater and Derrick have a hot night together and pretty much left it there. But when Slater ends up with an injury that leaves him out for work for a bit of time while healing. Derrick ends up coming up with the idea of giving Slater a place to stay to heal but also help out by being his fake boyfriend while he gets. They got enough chemistry to convince those around them but its going to be hard to break it off once the arrangement ends.

Not sure how I got an ARC of this book. I think it was a random pick for me when I chose it, I like western books so it was probably the cover that interested me. I don't remember reading the description or anything and wasn't expecting an lgbt book. But I will say that once I started the book I really couldn't put it down. I was enjoying the characters and getting to know them. Then there was that undeniable chemistry between the two and you really can't help but root for the characters to end up together. There are plenty of steamy scenes, I'm not really into any steamy scenes in general but if your into that then you might enjoy the ones here. Overall just a enjoyable contemporary romance.

Once I received an advance copy of this title, I realized this was a series. At this point I decided to read the preceding books prior to this new release. Like the ever diligent little Girl Scout I used to be as a kid, it’s best to be prepared.

Well.

Maybe they’re better not read back to back? Each couple pops up in the following book but they could easily be read as stand alone novels.

The books are very formulated and this was no exception. One character with a painful secret in their past, their new love sets them free through honest and acceptance ... yeesh. But this takes the entirety of each book as the characters DO NOT COMMUNICATE.

In this latest book in the series, I can say that Derrick is actually my favorite character and the one I was most looking forward too. UNFORTUNATELY, we learned absolutely nothing about Derrick other than he’s a relationship-phobe after previous cheating partners. That’s the summation of his character development. 😟 We instead spend the entirety of the book with two grown men who walk on eggshells around each other, eating take out and frotting.

This entire series is very quick easy reading that attempts to bring about discussion of more serious topics. Unfortunately l, the overall tone comes across as caricatures vs fully developed characters.

I will not be posting a review of this title to my blog.

When I wrote my review for the previous book of the series I promised myself I wouldn't request another one for review... I caved. As you can see by the title I absolute caved and hit request again. But hear me out, I had a reason. My reason being that this was A.M. Arthur's first (!) fake boyfriend book. I never realised that she never featured that trope in one of her other books. All other series by A.M. Arthur I love, this one though is a hit and miss series for me but I definitely liked Hard Ride more than the previous book in the series.

I struggled a bit with the beginning because they had sex right at the very start and I'm not really a fan of that. I like semi-slow-burners. Thankfully it turned more into friendship and than lovers after that.

I liked the story, characters and writing style but if you were hoping for an original fake boyfriend book, you won't find it here. Hard Ride hit every criteria for a fake boyfriend clichee story in its relationship development. At least in my book. Even the "conflict" at the end. But to be fair, you can only do so much with the trope before it turns completely unbelieveable.


I liked it and I had fun reading it but I will probably stay true to my promise now and won't request or read the next book in the series.


Rating: 3,5 stars

I'm so happy to be back at Clean Slate Ranch! Well, OK, I'm happy to be reading about it again. 😊

Hard Ride is A.M. Arthur's first "fake boyfriend" book and she did right by this trope. Kendall "Slater" Stamos works at Clean Slate Ranch and he gets injured doing something heroic (but he doesn't like being called a hero). He has a lot of secrets and he never lets himself get closed to anyone. Before he's injured, an unexpected encounter in a barn gym late one night leads to one of the best hookups he's ever had.

Derrick Massey could hardly believe how fantastic his hookup with Slater was and he'd like to get to know him better. His family is constantly after him to settle down and he's dreading the upcoming wedding season where he has to attend five different family weddings. After Slater is injured, he offers to take him in. Slater will be closer to his doctors and all Derrick wants in exchange is for Slater to attend the five family weddings with him.

It shouldn't come as any surprise to readers that what starts out as a mutually beneficial arrangement turns into something more. The biggest problem is that both men keep their growing feelings to themselves and don't communicate with each other.

When Derrick learns the secrets that Slater has kept from him, he is shocked and his trust is also shaken a bit. These two guys will need some help from their friends to sort out the problems between them.

One of the things I loved about this story is that Slater takes up needlework to help ease his boredom while he recovers. Real men do needlework and I think it's kind of sexy! ❤ I'm so happy to know that there will be more books set in this world.

A review copy was provided by the publisher via NetGalley but this did not influence my opinion or rating of the book.