Title: Booted
Series: Trails of Sin
Author: Pam Godwin
Designation: Book 3 of Series, Full-Length,*Not Recommended As A Standalone, NO Cliffhanger, #dark #enemiestolovers #contemporary #western #cowboys #familysaga
My Rating: Five Sexy, Deliciously Heartwrenching Stars*****
*Although Booted could probably be read as a standalone, there is an interconnected conflict that progresses through all three books, therefore this reviewer recommends reading the books of the series sequentially to enrich the reading experience and avoid spoilers.
WOW - AGAIN! I loved, loved, loved Booted! I've been hooked on the Trails of Sin Series since reading Knotted, the first release of the trilogy, which coincidentally was also my first time reading the work of Pam Godwin and loved it so much that I raced back to purchase the remaining two books, Buckled and Booted. And the verdict is finally in, Pam Godwin is definitely no one-hit-wonder! This woman can write. Every once and a while, a book or series comes along that catches me completely off-guard and totally rocks my world, and that's exactly what happened with the Trails of Sin Trilogy. I found myself in awe of the raw, unbridled power of Godwin's passionate prose, a willing prisoner held captive by the strength of her words, experiencing a plethora of irrepressible emotions - amusement, anger, contempt, confusion, apprehension, anticipation, surprise, shock, anxiety, frustration, sadness, heartache, happiness, and loathing, each mounting in intensity as the story of the Holsten and Cassidy families unfolded. I snickered, snorted, sniffled, sobbed, shouted, fumed, shook my fists in anger, and outright ugly cried through the entire book. Let's be honest, it was actually through the entire series. There were even a few times I wanted to throw my Kindle against the wall, but absolutely nothing could pry my ereader from my desperate, possessive grip! I was a total wreck and loved every single second! And more importantly, I never wanted it to end! I think I fell in love with 18-year-old Lorne Cassidy when he was introduced in the first book of the series as the older brother of Conor Cassidy and best friend to twins Jake and Jarrett Holsten. I waited with bated breath for Lorne's story, but the hardened, troubled 26-year-old who returned home to Julep Ranch after being incarcerated for second-degree murder in a maximum security prison was not the same young man that left 8 years earlier. And what do I even say about poor 24-year-old Raina Benally, a Native American beauty forced to resort to prostitution for survival at age 14? Her entire life had been nothing but a nightmare with a drug-addicted mother, a terminally ill young sister, and an older man who only wanted to use and abuse her. My heart shattered for Lorne and Raina, both having experienced unimaginable horrors in their short lives. These two characters were like fire and gasoline, combustible together, yet each holding the key capable of healing their ravaged souls and unlocking the door to love and happiness. Their journey was gut-wrenching, filled with pain and peril, but it was also beautiful and satisfying. Lorne and Raina were strong, brave, loyal, selfless, and independent but were also flawed characters, living difficult lives in an impossible situation, with very few choices. A few times, I wanted to strangle them both, but I trusted Godwin and her vision for this couple, and she delivered, in spades, with a story that was imperfectly perfect and so much more than I could have ever imagined. Sigh... So dreamy! So, buckle up, folks; Lorne Cassidy is about to meet his destiny, his imperfectly perfect match, the one woman who will revive his cold, damaged heart and bring this sexy, broody, sinfully dominant cowboy to his knees. Now, that I've told you how much I enjoyed Booted, let me tell you why.
Booted is a riveting, perfectly-paced, easy to follow, exceptionally well crafted, full-length, standalone, contemporary cowboy/western family saga filled to the brim with pulse-pounding danger, heart-wrenching drama, spine-tingling suspense, agonizing angst, steamy passion, and dreamy romance. The narrative is beautifully written in the first person with clearly defined his and her perspectives. The dialogue is smart, snappy, gritty, emotional, well executed, and flows effortlessly. But my favorite component of this moving tale is the cast of intriguing characters, many of whom were introduced in the first book of the series, and this is where Pam Godwin truly shines. Don't get me wrong, I love the interconnected world and conflict for this entire series. The entire trilogy is compelling and frighteningly realistic. I've read thousands and thousands of books and can usually ascertain, before finishing the first chapter, whether a book is plot or character driven and normally, it's one or the other, one component being the strongest driving force for the story, but not with Knotted, Buckled, or Booted. Each element is well presented, skillfully developed, and equally strong throughout the entire series. Never has it been more apparent that Godwin is not only a gifted storyteller and skilled wordslinger, but also a master of her trade who possesses the unique ability to make her words flow effortlessly with a poetic, almost hypnotic quality. Her sultry, sensual prose is nothing short of spellbinding, enriched and enhanced by her cast of instantly engaging and endearing characters who truly captured my heart. They literally exploded from the pages, ensnared my imagination, and held me prisoner from the first page till the last. I was immediately smitten with the male protagonist Lorne Cassidy who was introduced in the first book as Conor Cassidy's older brother and best friend to the Holsten twins. Lorne was such a tortured soul, and who wouldn't be after being sent to a maximum security prison only a month after his eighteenth birthday and then having to defend himself from hardened criminals for eight long years. Lorne's life was irrevocably changed when he killed a man after he, Jake, and Jarrett were forced to watch the brutal rape of his sister Conor on her sixteenth birthday. If you've read the first two books of the series, you know the shared nightmare of that horrible night was even more insidious than Loren, Conor, Jake, and Jarrett could imagine, but it set in motion a chain of events that would tear apart two families, separate two lovers, and forever change the lives of many others. Upon his release and return to Julep Ranch, Lorne found himself facing debilitating symptoms of PTSD, a drastically changed world, a beautiful but very unwelcome house guest occupying his room, and a dangerous threat from the past determined to seek revenge and forcibly reclaim the beautiful, brave Raina Benally, now living and working at Julep Ranch. But Lorne was no longer the caring, compassionate, loving brother and best friend who entered prison at 18. He was now a hardened, cynical, untrusting, unfeeling man, as well as a formidable opponent, determined to protect his family and Raina, the woman who soothed his ravaged soul, and no one would take her from him. But there were still flashes of his old persona, desperately struggling to be set free. Lorne could also be devilishly charming and toe-curlingly sexy when he wanted to be, a real heartbreaker with a sexy swagger and a fabulously filthy mouth. And OMG, Lorne and Raina were brilliant together! They were like fire and gasoline, volatile, combustible, and an explosion waiting to happen, but they also complemented each other brilliantly. It was beyond entertaining watching Lorne and Raina dance around each other, desperately trying to deny their attraction. But some things are unavoidable. Fate is inescapable and these two lost, damaged souls were just meant to be together. Godwin did a remarkable job of showing the growth of these two characters over the progression of the story, both personally and as a couple. Lorne and Raina may have started out as adversaries, both with dangerous secrets, but the spark between them was glaringly evident in their first meeting and believe me, sparks did fly. Each encounter became more intense and more sexually charged until this unlikely relationship between two potential enemies exploded into a fiery blaze of undeniable passion and sensuality which came as a shock to everyone, including Lorne and Raina. This new unexpected depth of emotion was new to them both. Lorne had encased his heart in ice and Raina hid behind a mask of indifference. At first, neither seemed to know what to do about their undeniable attraction, and it was so much fun watching them try to run from the inevitable. I couldn't wait to see who would blink first. Lol... But their fate was written in the stars and so was their love. We all know the heart wants what the heart wants, and when Lorne Cassidy finally realized he wanted Raina Benally forever, nothing would stop him from having her. Godwin literally ripped my heart out - again - with Lorne and Raina's impossible journey to find happiness and kept me on the edge of my seat, wondering and waiting to see what the future would hold for them. Through the entire book, I kept thinking Lorne and Raina would never be able to overcome the horrible violence of their past. I was certain Godwin would never be able to give this couple the happy ending they deserved, but she did and did it exceptionally well. An unexpected plot twist here, a shocking revelation there, a few painful secrets confessed, long overdue truths revealed, and voila! Oh, and let's not forget some steamy, dream sex! And it was all done perfectly! No spoilers from me but I will say this... A beautiful Native American young woman determined to seek payback for the death of her family-check! A handsome but hardened cowboy trying to fight PTSD, protect his family, and regain his old life-check! A fabulous cast of characters including a return appearance from an adorable pet calf named Chicken-check! A malevolent, old enemy seeking revenge and determined to reclaim what isn't his-check! Danger, drama, lies, deceit, secrets, heartache, suspense, and a few unexpected plot twists - check! Heated attraction, steamy passion, and a love that refuses to be denied - you bet! That and a whole lot more!
So, did I like this book? No, I loved it! Would I recommend it? You bet, and I am but only for adult readers since it does contain explicit language, sex, violence, and may contain triggers to those readers sensitive to rape and abuse. Booted is a dark romance with a violent theme and not for the meek of heart, but what lies at the heart of this story is a heartachingly beautiful story, heralding a love so strong, it conquers all. Sigh... So dreamy! Booted is the third release in the Trails of Sin Series and should only be read after first reading Knotted and Buckled. Although this book could be read as a standalone, this reviewer recommends reading the books sequentially to avoid spoilers. Will I read this author again? Absolutely! It's official - I'm a fan for life! But truly, I think the best compliment any reader can give an author, as well as the best testament to their work, is to buy and read more of their books, and I was so impressed with Knotted that I purchased and read all three books in the series. And finally, was I entertained? Completely! Once I started reading, I couldn't stop. I was riveted to my seat, white knuckling my ereader, my heart fluttering wildly in my chest as the pages flew as quickly as the time! Fabulous entertainment and an awesome read!
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Booted: Trails of Sin, Book 3
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Reviews with images
I read this first and I still loved it! The whole series!
Lorne and Raina begin as enemies. She is an unwanted house guest to him. He doesn't trust her because of where she came from. But he can't overlook her pain and agony.She had one saving grace to hold her through her torment and torture but even that did not hold.The secrets of Julep Ranch are many and dangerous to all involved but now it's time to lay the to rest. There is only one way to do that. Protect the ones you love against all enemies.In teaching Raina to protect herself he finds his mistrust waning and his hard heart softening. She is a tough cookie but even the toughest can crumble.You will find anger, vengeance and vindication in this final book of the Trail of Sins. No one comes out unscathed but they hold together and love hard. A marvelous ending to a fabulous and heart wrenching series!
Top reviews from other countries
Kindle-Kunde
The whole series is a highly entertaining and at times heartbreaking read!
Reviewed in Germany on May 5, 2020
