Wrecked by Jodi Payne & B.A. Tortuga

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Blurb

The call comes when Beckett Adler least expects it. He’s made a new life for himself in Vermont and has a law practice of his own. After four years he’s even stopped wearing his wedding ring. So when he finds out his husband, bull rider Skyler Paulson, has been seriously injured at an event, he isn’t sure what he wants to do. He knows what’s right though, so he heads down to Baltimore to bring his man home.

Sky knows his injuries are a career-ender, and he can’t believe Beck has come for him after all this time. He’s not a hundred percent sure what went wrong with their marriage and he has no idea how to be anything but a bull rider. But he wants this second chance, so he grabs at it with both hands.

There’s a lot Sky has to learn, from how to walk again to how to settle down with the man he loves. Beck needs to learn to open up and how to be more trusting. For their marriage to work again, both men will have to find a way to meet in the middle. Because neither of them wants to be wrecked anymore.

Review 

My Rating - 5 Stars!

Wrecked is a stunning second chance romance by Jodi Payne and BA Tortuga.

First of all, this book grabbed my attention with the estrangement of husbands Sky and Beckett. Second of all, a macho, gay bull-rider? I mean, really, a gay bull-rider? Hell yes! 

Estranged from his husband, Beckett gets a call that his husband, Sky, is injured. The call he's always dreaded, it doesn't matter than they haven't spoken in years, Beckett doesn't hesitate to run off to see Sky.

Their backstory is heavily rooted in trust, or lack there-of, as Beckett never trusted his husband with his co-worker, Peter. Beckett never wanted him out bull riding, in constant danger, as well as probably cheating on him.

It was an instant love back when, but they've been apart for four years now. What follows is an interesting second chance romance, as an injury reunites them. Though they quickly fall back into each other's lives, their problems still exist.

Their journey is full of complications, differences of opinion, and ultimately compromise and understanding. Sky lives a life of risk, which is their biggest problem, as Beckett hates Sky's dedication to his career. It's a story of the fine line between looking out for your husband and being true to yourself. It's about the fine line between wanting your husband to change and knowing that what you hate about him is what you love about him.


I absolutely love Wrecked. Jodi Payne and BA Tortuga have created this fantastic story of a love that never wavered, despite the pain and years apart. It's a complex story of trying to find a way to be together, despite strong differences in opinion on things that effect the heart of their relationship. It's beautiful, raw and gritty, and definitely worth a read when you're looking for something messy.  

Soft Place to Fall by B.A. Tortuga

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Blurb

Stetson Major and Curtis Traynor are about as opposite as two cowboys can get. Stetson is a rancher, tied to the land he loves in Taos, New Mexico, while Curtis is a rodeo cowboy whose wanderlust never could be tamed. But now Stetson’s momma is dying of Alzheimer’s, and she can't remember that Curtis hasn't been Stetson's boyfriend for a long time. Curtis's absence makes her cry, so Stetson swallows his pride and calls his ex-lover. To Curtis, Stetson is the one who got away, the love of his life. And Momma is his friend, so he’s happy to help out. Yet returning to the ranch stirs up all sorts of feelings that, while buried, never really went away. Still, the rodeo nationals are coming up, and Curtis can’t stay—even if he’s starting to want to, especially to support Stetson when he needs it most. Stetson and Curtis want to find a place where they both fit, to be there to catch each other when they fall. But family, money problems, and the call of the rodeo circuit might end their second-chance romance before it even gets started.

Review 

My Rating - 4 Stars!

Soft Place to Fall is a wonderful romance by BA Tortuga. It took me a while to get into this one. The writing style didn't allow me to connect to the men right away. But I am thrilled to have kept reading. At it's heart, it's a beautiful second chance romance.

Stetson's mother's sick and keeps asking to see Stetson's ex boyfriend, Curtis, setting the stage for a reunion and their second chance.

Stetson's family issues are heart-breaking. As anyone who's witnessed the tragedy of Alzheimer's in a family member knows, watching a love one struggle to remember anything, while also dying, is as tough as it gets.

If that wasn't bad enough, then he also has to face money problems, which is just an extra stress he doesn't deserve. The reunion of Stetson and Curtis is wonderful. They're just so damn sweet together. Watching them get another chance is fantastic.

Soft Place to Fall is a wonderful story of finding a way to make a relationship work. BA Tortuga excels with the exploration of realizing a couple changes and they're now ready to make the sacrifices.

Heart of a Redneck by Jodi Payne & B.A. Tortuga

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Blurb

Colby McBride is a blue-collar cowboy trying to make ends meet laying tile in Colorado. A loner by choice, Colby works hard with his hands and finds his peace camping in the mountains outside Boulder. Gordon James is a white-collar restaurateur who owns not one, but two successful establishments in downtown Boulder. He’s a sophisticated urbanite who is devoted to his work and is accustomed to getting what he wants.

The men are friends, but sparks fly when Colby falls in love and decides to show Gordon how much fun a good old boy can be. They’re just beginning to explore their relationship when Gordon’s sister’s suicide leaves him with custody of his five-year-old niece.

Colby comes from a huge family and is eager to help with the girl and to prove his worth to Gordon. But neither of them is ready for the tremendous changes to their already busy lives, or for how this new relationship with Olivia challenges them, complicating the way they interact with each other.

They say opposites attract, but can these two very different men work together to join their disparate lives and form a strong, if highly unlikely, family?

Review 

My Rating - 5 Stars!

I love Heart Of A Redneck by Jodi Payne and BA Tortuga. 

In the beginning, I was a little put off by the writing, as it seems jittery and gets off to a slow start. But, wow am I glad that I continued reading. The pace picked up and I soon found myself fully invested in these characters.

When we first meet Gordon and Colby, they're in a casual relationship, involved just hook ups, despite Colby wanting more. But things change immediately when Gordon becomes the guardian for his five year old niece.  Suddenly Gordon is thrown into instant fatherhood, just trying to survive day by day. Admittedly there were times I wanted to yell at Gordon, but I still came to love him. 

I can't praise Colby enough, as he is one of the most gentle characters ever. He is absolutely caring, loving and selfless. He is a rare gem of a man. I also adore Oliva, Gordon's niece, as she's adorable and well written.

Heart of a Redneck does an amazing job of demonstrating how quickly life can change. It's beautifully written and positively gripping. I am thrilled to have found this sweet romance.