Corralled is the first book in the Blacktop Cowboys series. Not only are we introduced to Hank, Kyle, and Lainie, but also their friends and families. Many of these secondary characters are interesting enough to make me hope their stories will be told one day. Hank, Lainie and Kyle are all well developed in Corralled. Of the three, Lainie was more bland and one dimensional. Toward the end of the book when some revelations were made by Lainie I felt like her character was brought full circle and I understood why she seemed to lack a certain depth to her personality. Hank and Kyle were definite alpha males and their words and actions were all one would expect. Their competitiveness over Lainie mixed with their longstanding friendship and made the relationship between the three very believable. Vivid, imaginative, and erotic sex scenes carried forward their competitiveness and at times had me laughing out loud. With the central theme of the book being about cowboys and the rodeos, I felt like the author had researched the topic very well. The facts about the rodeo competitors and spectators and their lifestyles added depth and a realness to the plot that I found interesting. Corralled has a steady plot that won't leave you breathless but at the end you will realize you have read a wonderful romance full of heart and soul.

Overall rating:
Sensuality rating: Explicit

Reviewer: Lisa Freeman
September 15, 2010