Pulling Leather

By: L.C. Chase

Narrated by: Dorian Bane

Length: 6 hrs

Publisher's Summary

The toughest ride of his life is all in his head.

Bull rider Scott Gillard has a reputation for quick fists and harsh words. What no one knows is where that anger comes from. After a shocking incident sends him into a tailspin, he knows he needs help: he's been fighting a battle he could never win. Now he's trying to navigate a new life and embrace his true self, but some days are easier than others.

Pickup man Cory Ackerson has suffered his share of harassment, but his light still burns bright. He doesn't let anything or anyone keep him down, so when he meets the rugged cowboy with a battered chip on his shoulder and regret in his dark eyes, all he wants to do is help.

As their unlikely friendship grows into something deeper, Scott must overcome his past to be the man Cory deserves, or lose his best chance at his own happily ever after.

©2014 L.C. Chase (P)2016 Riptide Publishing

Great narration, not my favorite in the series

Scott has been fighting his sexuality his whole life. As a result he’s been a raging homophobe as well. He’s picked fights and supported bigots. When Tripp ends up losing his career after being bashed, Scott has a bit of a wake-up-call and begins to see the light.

Cory has been picked on all his life for being slight. He’s an out and proud gay cowboy, mostly because he just can’t hide it. He’s bright, sunshiny, and full of fun.

Scott can’t help but be drawn to Cory’s enthusiasm. He wants what Cory has to offer but can’t force himself out of the closet. Cory wants Scott fiercely but won’t be kept a secret forever.

**

I laughed when I saw that I originally posted this book on Good Reads in September 2014. It’s taken til now and an audio book review to get me through this book. *sigh

I wanted to love this book. I really loved the first two books in the series.

LC Chase is a great writer. It’s not that there are technical difficulties with the story – it just made me so frustrated!

Scott and Cory just danced around and around and around and around one another. Will he, won’t he, I want him, I can’t have him, he’s awesome, he’s a jerk… on and on. Then there’s a bit of drama with Scott’s father. Cory finally has had enough. POW – Scott can’t live without him and they’re together.

I was disappointed by the amount of time in limbo. I was frustrated by Scott’s continual denial despite his own mind having accepted his sexuality. I didn’t like the lack of a relationship – both sexual and in person – on page between Scott and Cory. (The couple goes on a couple dates, has a couple make out sessions, and the rest of the time they’re separated. There’s very little sex and not even one “I love you” amazing HEA sex scene.) I thought the situation with Scott’s dad wasn’t handled with enough on page discussion. (It felt contrived, though I can tell it was planned all along as a plot point, it wasn’t dealt with much after the big reveal and I really think this could have been a nice way for Scott to learn more about himself and his sexuality and it could have been a nice bridge from “I can’t come out” to “There’s nothing wrong with me”.)

All in all I just didn’t care for this story much at all. (I loved Cory and was happy to see our other MCs again, but they weren’t enough to elevate the rating for me.)

Story 2 of 5 stars

Audio

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Dorian Bane has the BEST cowboy voice out there! I absolutely adore his dialog and loved listening to him voice this story. I don’t love his non-dialog narration – he tends to lilt at parts that don’t need it – so many sentences end on an up swing and that gets repetitive. But… that doesn’t hamper my enjoyment of his narration overly much and I really think cowboys are his “thang”!

Narration 4.5 of 5 stars

Overall 3.25 of 5 stars

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Made Me Not Just Like Him But Love Him-Great Story

Would you consider the audio edition of Pulling Leather to be better than the print version?

Yes. Though that said, I haven't read the books. But Dorian Bane's storytelling is not to be missed. The story comes alive when he is telling it.

What did you like best about this story?

I loved seeing a guy struggle from dark and pain into light and joy. Loved seeing Scott get his second chance to start over with much of his life and get it right.

Which scene was your favorite?

I loved the scene when Scott was back up on a bull and got his ride, but the best was that epilogue. Totally loved that one.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Well, yes and no. It had a slow-paced quality that doesn't lend itself to needing to devour it all at once, but yet, I found myself being reluctant to switch it off when I need to.

Any additional comments?

This is book three in the Pickup Man series and really needs to be read in order.

I rec'd this book from Riptide Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Redemption, Second Chance, Coming out, hot Cowboys

Scott is struggling not only with his part in what happened to Tripp but his own sexuality. With the help of his dear friend and beard Brandy he has made some decisions. First: to confront Tripp and Marty. Tripp gets him to work in the LGBT rodeo circuit helping him train bull riders and to perhaps work back into getting ready to ride himself again after being out of the rodeo for over 2 years.
When Scott meets Cory, a sweet pickup man that battles harassment but still holds his own and never seems down. They develop a fast friendship. Scott soon feels more but isn’t quite ready to deal with it yet.
I have been waiting for Scott’s story. He was the man you loved to hate through the entire series so far. Now to see why he was so angry and full of hate was intriguing. I liked that there was so much going on here. I liked finding out why Scott had a thing against being gay and that he faced that as well as Tripp and Marty. I liked the slow burn between Scott and Cory and the friends to lovers plot.
Dorian Bane is a great choice of narrator for this series. He has a deep rustic voice for Scott, yet he was able to pull off Cory’s sweeter, softer voice as well. He makes it easy to follow all the characters and pulls you deep into the story.
I you like rodeos, pickup men, coming out, friend to lovers and second chances (at friendships and other relationships) you will love this!
This is a book three in the series You can read or listen as a standalone as the backstory is worked in well but I highly recommend reading (or listening to the other two books first.) If you like cowboys, you won’t be sorry!
* I received a copy of this audio in exchange for an honest review *

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Similar to the previous 2 stories, great narration

The first Pickup Men book is still my favorite, but I enjoyed this third one over the second. This time it's Scott's turn to battle his internal demons - and oh boy, not only do they echo Tripp's, Bridge's, and Eric's fears from the previous books, he has additional family issues and shame to work through - all while falling for the irrepressible Cody, who is obviously gay, out, and proud.

I thought it would be hard for me to like Scott after his behavior towards Tripp and Marty in the first book, but being inside his head won me over as he struggled towards redemption.

Dorian Bane's narration is what hooked me into this series and kept me listening, despite the repetitious storylines. He breathed life into the characters and took them beyond their stock personalities, making me care and want to see them happy. He did a great job voicing many different cowboy drawls and non-cowboy voices with consistency across three books - not easy to do!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Again Dorian Bane

What did you love best about Pulling Leather?

everything

Any additional comments?

This is one of my favorite series. Mr. Bane does not disapppoint

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Decent story. Great narration.

Enjoyed the audio book overall, but had a few moments of "yeah, I get it he has issues. Let's mosey along now". The story could use a ruthless editor to clear up some superfluous content.

What kept me listening was the way that the author created an emotional connection to the characters. I felted invested in Scott's personal development.

Acceptance

Sometimes the hardest thing to learn is to accept himself. I always find it interesting in stories where one of the MC has been working so hard at hiding from themselves that they have been a real a**h*le. They have to work so hard in not only accepting who they are but who they were. Corey is strong enough to try to help him for the most part. But restarting a life is not always easy and takes some hard work and forgiveness of self and others.

Emotionally enjoyable

I have to say that this series is definitely one I would recommend. The struggles of being who you truly are and finding the strength to take that step. The hesitation and uncertainty and the fear. Very true in all life.