Joint Review – Rocky Mountain Rebel (Six Pack Ranch #5) by Vivian Arend

Rocky Mountain Rebel cover image
Publisher: Samhain
Publish Date: Out now
How we got this book: ARC from the author via Novel Sidekick

The best type of growing up involves getting down and dirty

Vicki Hansol made different choices than her less-than-reputable mom and sister, yet her fiery temper has left her branded with the same town-bad-girl label. When she desperately needs a change of scenery, her get-out-of-town-free ticket arrives—and requires she face down one of her deepest fears.

Easygoing Joel Coleman has nothing to complain about, but he’s never really done anything to brag about either. The youngest member of the Six Pack Ranch is looking to make some changes in his life that include stepping out from under his twin brother’s shadow.

So when the bold beauty with the smart mouth approaches him with a proposition, Joel is intrigued. Her request for him to teach her to ride soon takes on a whole new meaning. All that passion in his arms, his bed, in the barn…hell, anywhere he can get it? Bring it on.

But tangling the sheets leads to unanticipated complications, and by the time the dust settles, everything family means is going to be challenged.

Caution: Saddle up for some youthful vigor applied with great enthusiasm. Ropes, rails and raunchy sex—there’s more places to get dirty around the ranch than first meets the eye.

E: Arend is one of those authors that she writes and I read it. I have been following the Six Pack Ranch extended family since the beginning. In fact they were my introduction to her writing. Joel has played a supporting role in several installments and each time I have caught glimpses that he wasn’t as satisfied with the wild life as his twin Jesse but he didn’t have a reason to change. Then one day, he felt the urge to protect a girl, one who was rumored to have a bad reputation along with the rest of her family and that was really the beginning of the end to more than his wild life.

One of the things I love about Arend’s writing is that she doesn’t shy away from making her characters work for their HEA not just with each other but with their respective families. Rocky Mountain Rebel is no exception. Joel and Vicki had to fight for their relationship and determine what they really thought was important. I also enjoyed seeing some people who had fought for their relationships earlier in the series have to take a step back and remember to judge by the individual not by the family.

MinnChica: I adore the Coleman brothers and cousins and extended family. They are the kind of family that you can get behind, they care they love one another, and they aren’t afraid to get right up in one another’s face. I just love that. I fell in love with these books from the first moment I cracked open Rocky Mountain Heat, and haven’t looked back yet. I was excited to read about Joel, because I was so hoping that he and his twin brother Jesse would really get the chance to spread their own wings and fly their separate ways. I love that Arend let them do just that, and that we got the chance to see Joel really take a chance with love. I adored him and Vicki together, and can’t wait for more!

E: Oh the Joel/Jesse separation was EPIC! I am glad that they separated because I felt that Joel was overshadowed and dragged into things by Jesse. I wanted to see his sweet personality that occasionally peeked out get a chance to shine. When he let it out my heart completely melted. I loved the way that Joel was so gentle and patient with Vicki as he coaxed her into trusting not just him but into achieving her goals. He had a very effective method of bribery and rewards that I think would inspire any woman to achieve miracles. He was also very determined to continue protecting and including Vickie in activities with his family.

MinnChica: I also thought that Jesse overshadowed Joel, and was so glad we got to see Joel come into his own. I loved the way that he treated Vicki. For someone who had to live through such horrible adversity as a young girl, Joel was there to pick up the pieces and help Vicki put herself together again, separate from the family that defined her most her life.And yes, he did have some very sexy ways of getting Vickie to overcome her fears. One of the things that I think Arend does so incredibly well is draw out the sexual tension, and then have her characters burn so hot they singe the reader’s hands. I love it. Every book, every hero and heroine, they are all sexy to the core!

E: fans self* Yes the tension is incredible and when she finally provides a temporary release of tension it is as worthy as the build-up. I felt so bad for Vicki who did so much to try to protect her family and all she received was abuse and ugly speculation from others. Watching her work for her future and never give up was very impressive. As a result she never took acceptance for granted so when Joel and his family started to open up to her it was wonderful seeing her respond. I loved seeing Vickie come into her own across a number of different areas. She became comfortable in her own body, comfortable interacting with others, and proved to herself that she was worthy and could achieve her dreams.

MinnChica: I adored Vicki, she might be one of my favorite heroines. Like E said, she did so much for her family, despite the things that people said about them and her. She loved them unconditionally, despite all the negativity. But I also loved seeing her get accepted into the Coleman family. They are just so wonderful and sweet and caring, so watching them all struggle with and finally accept Vicki for who she was inside, was wonderful to see. I have to say, I am extremely excited and anxious to see where Arend goes with Travis’ story. That man has intrigued me from the first moment he stepped onto the page, and I am so anxious to see where exactly his story unfolds to.

E: YES! Travis has been on my mind since the very beginning. The secrets he has been keeping, whatever caused him to keep those secrets and the sudden end to what appeared to be a relatively stable relationship. I also want to see Jesse get what is coming to him and an epic groveling scene. I am sure that Arend will deliver satisfactorily **no pressure on her** as I continue to love reading about the Six Pack Ranch and their extended family.

Once again Arend provided a great installment to this series. I think each book gets better and better. I loved Joel and Vicki’s interaction together and how they both grew and took things slowly.

I give Rocky Mountain Rebel an A

MinnChica: All in all I continue to fall more and more in love with this series as it progresses. I can’t wait to see what Travis’ deal is, and like E said, Jesse better have a damned good reason for acting like a huge d-bag. I loved Joel and was so glad we got the chance to really see him spread his wings. I thought Vicki was such a strong and fabulous heroine, and their romance was sexy and steamy and sweet and wonderful. Everything I could have hoped for!
I give Rocky Mountain Rebel a B+

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