Guest Review: Dark Horse (The Braided Crop Ranch #3) by A.E. Lister

Adam Marsland has a plan.

He’s been managing the Braided Crop Ranch for six years and wants to bring everybody he can find back for a week of games, competition, and celebration.

Henry Swift was a ponyboy at the BCR during its very first year. He learned to trot, pull a cart, and submit to his trainer. He’s never quite left the experience behind and is excited to receive Adam’s invitation to return.

But it’s not only the Ranch and its sex-positive atmosphere pulling Henry back to the seclusion of the Muskoka wilderness.

Ever since their first frantic and lustful encounter in the woods, Henry’s had a thing for Adam Marsland and his memories of his tumultuous time on the ranch have haunted him for years. Adam’s still at the ranch, and now Henry can go back and discover if the older man has any regret for the way things turned out in the past.

But the gymkhana Adam’s planning means the return of a plethora of ponyboys and trainers and Henry wonders if he will have trouble reminding Adam how much they wanted to be together back then, and how possible it might be for them now, in the midst of the excitement and testosterone.

No one ever said love was easy, but Henry is determined to make the most of his chance.

Reviewer: Shee Reader

Adam is a big part of the success of the ranch, and in the first two books he is the boss but is separate from the staff and the guests. He facilitates the whole complicated and intricate retreat, but is very much alone. With the exception of Henry.

When Henry attends the ranch as one of the very first guests, he has an encounter with Adam that stays with him, and the opportunity to return for the gymkhana is just the chance Henry needs. Will Adam remember him at all?

The kinky goings on at the BCR is a wild and powerful thing. The gymkhana brings back our main characters from the previous books and I was delighted to see Adam getting his story. Henry is new to us, but not to Adam! Of course our stoic boss-man tries to resist the allure of the handsome pony boy but of course with many meddlesome people who care for Adam (and Henry) there is no chance he is going to be able to resist!

The sexy interludes are scorching and the love is powerful. This is a fitting HEA for Adam and his man.

Highly recommended.

I was given a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.