I've had this book for nearly 6 months now and it has literally taken me this long to finish it. That says a lot when I read 250+ books a year and can easily finish one in a day or two. I love a great romantic suspense, no matter how dark it is (this one seemed mildly dark compared to some other authors who write in the genre), so the 'darkness' of this one didn't bother me one bit. I picked it up and began long ago, but lost interest after only a few pages. I eventually made it to the 75% mark where things really picked up and garnered my interest. But everything before that was a struggle to get into and that was the biggest disappointment. This felt like it was literally the book that would never end and just kept dragging. I think it was probably twice as long as it needed to be, but that's just me.

The whole landwoman part was just boring and foreign to me. I love to learn about new things, but this subject fell flat for me given how it was such a huge focus of the book and for those who aren't fascinated by the subject, it's really hard to get into and stay interested. I didn't mind Jase or Cassie as characters. I liked them for the most part, so I don't even really have an issue with the H/h, just the career focus of the book.

Cassie was dedicated to her job, although she was a bit stubborn and naive many times, especially when she was putting herself in danger. I appreciated her determination to help her mom out though and provide for her. I also like that she looked past Jase's persona to see the good man within. Jase was a great guy with a big heart, but he was just as stubborn as Cass. He loved big and did what he could to protect his family and Cassie.

Then there's the whole immaturity level of supporting characters. I felt like I was back in middle school with mean girls who had nothing better to do than make fun of others. Seriously, this was very annoying and the maturity was what I'd expect in a YA book. I get that it was done intentionally, but it was overkill when nearly every chapter had some new episode of someone calling someone else a name or trying to start a fight when they got mad and wanted to put on a show for their friends.

The suspense part of this was interesting and that's when I really got into it towards the end. But it ended pretty quickly and easily given all the hype and build-up, in my opinion, I'm glad it all worked out for them, but it just seemed too easy after all the imminent danger we were being warned of up until that point.

I really want to rate this higher, but given how long it took me to finish the book and that most of the book didn't hold my interest, I can't give it too much credit for the semi-redemption the last 30% of the book.

This one was a little darker than I was expecting... domestic violence, prostitution, and so much drama. It wasn't enjoyable drama, but the type that follows jealous women around. These were supposed to be adults, yet they were acting like hormonal teenagers and wild animals claiming their territory. It just wasn't a good fit for me from the start.

Also, if someone is a jerk... please don't swoon over them. I don't care what the flark their eyes look like, or whether or not their rough exterior makes you hot and bothered. Have more respect for yourself!

Mystery and intrigue are definitely the highlights of this book! Cassie is desperate to land a deal that will help her mother move out of the current assisted living home she is. Making one deal to lease oil wells on the Lucas land should be a breeze but she is denied at every turn. Something is going on and she needs to find answers and close the deal but time to close the deal is quickly approaching. Secrets run rampant in Marian county and her inquisitive nature might make her a target. Will Jason be able to keep the answers hidden while he explores a relationship with Cassie? This book will keep you captivated from the very first page and wondering why so many questions are left unanswered.

Had to stop at 40%. It just wasn't grabbing my attention. I don't know what exactly it was but something was seriously missing. I don't dislike it but I'm not liking it either

Lease negotiator Cassie Mitchum just wants to close the deal on the Lucas property. But when she meets Jason Lucas he reminds of everything she's always fantasized about.

Jase Lucas wants out too. He wants out of the decades-old land deal his dead father struck with an international smuggling ring. And Cassie Mitchum's lease offer might just be the key. The problem is, Cassie can't help sticking her pretty little nose where it doesn't belong, and in Jase's world, the price for opening the door to outsiders can sometimes be worse than death.

Surrounded by the corruption of land and power in the biggest oil and gas boom Texas has ever seen, Cassie and Jase must face his haunted past and the killer returned from it or risk losing everything they love...including each other.

Very well written! I enjoyed reading it very much and look forward to finding other books by Rya Stone.

Long and drawn out. That is what this story is. Way too long. While the premise is good, it became a bore. The “why” needed more presence. We needed to see more of the danger. Versus it being alluded to.

This story is definitely different from other books out there and with some tweaks I think it could be a real winner.

An okay story and was written quite well. I found the story be a little dark but not bad. An issue here or there with the plot but redeemed itself in the end.

Caught Up is Book 1 of the Roughneck Series by Rya Stone. Dark, gritty, and plenty of twists and turns in this contemporary romance to keep a reader hooked! This is a riveting debut by a clearly talented author who I can’t wait to see more from...*does a happy dance* got myself a new author to add to my go-to list!

Please note that an ARC was generously provided in exchange for an honest review of which this is both honest and completely voluntary.

This is the first time I've read this author and I liked this it is well written and the characters are likeable

I received a copy and I am voluntarily leaving my own honest opinion

This is book is full of action suspense contemporary romance, that is is little on the dark side. The love scenes is hot, and it’s fast paste read. So if you like this kind of book then this is a book for you.

I was given this ARC from netgalley to give an honest review.

When I first started to read this book I thought what in the .... is this but deeper I got in the story and in characters more I liked and I was positively surprised. It is a mystery story with well-developed characters Cassie and Jason. I liked that we discover through reading what is happening and the story is full of twists and surprises. I liked Cassie and Jason especially his alpha male side. They had so great chemistry and the scenes between them are from the first touch and on beyond steamy. A great mystery with the intense powerful attraction between great characters.
I volunteered to review an ARC of this book for Netgelly

This is an intense and drama filled contemporary romance, with some super sexy scenes and lots of action. It's a bit darker than I anticipated, with human and drug trafficking forming a large part of the suspenseful plot. Cassie is a landwoman hoping to lease parts of the Lucas land for oil drilling which will give her some bonus pay to help provide for her mother who suffers from Parkinson's disease and is in a nursing home. Jason Lucas is a sexy roughneck, working on an oil rig but also dealing with the darker legacy of his family's land use. As secrets get revealed, the danger rachets up. I wasn't overly keen on the parts of the plot that center on ex-partners, both Cassie's and Jason's making trouble for the new couple. Some of that drama was a combination of high school/small town gossip and jealousy and was too over the top for my tastes. But Jason and Cassie definitely have chemistry and their love scenes and developing relationship lead to a happy ending. There's a lot going in this novel but it's an entertaining read.

Thought I would try this new author with something that I do like to read in the formula. Suspense and romance is a great one that captures my attention. This one centers around Cassie and Jason who have their own dance going on. The needs and wants in this one will do the tug of war that have you going back and forth. The slow roll heat and the suspense will take you through this with at times though too much drama in one direction. Over all though you start and want to see it through to the end.

This is a fast-paced read with loads of drama. Cassie and Jase both have issues of their own but the chemistry between them is steamy. This was a good read for me, some of the drama could have been cleared up a bit quicker. Overall, I liked the characters, and the story held my interest throughout. A good read.

Caught Up by Rya Stone is a romantic suspense that took me to places I’d not been to before. I liked learning about oil country and the roughnecks that work there. I liked Jase and Cassie. I had a bit of a problem with the pacing but all in all an interesting read.

Review: CAUGHT UP (A Roughneck Romance) by Rya Stone https://wp.me/p3d0RZ-aFp
Publication Date: March 26, 2018
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Reviewed by: Reading in Pajamas/ Donna
Rated 4 Stars

I enjoyed Rya Stone’s debut novel. I did wish Jase’s thoughts were more clearly explained sooner in the story. His behavior and romantic intention toward Cassie may have flowed easier for me. That being said, he was a macho-sexy man with a mysterious threat that kept dogging him and his brother. Cassie’s motivation was much easier to understand, as well as her attraction to the sexy roughneck. CAUGHT UP is a hot romantic suspense with a nice teaser for book two.

*Review copy provided by Entangled in exchange for an honest review.

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Kindle $3.99 https://amzn.to/2G1KL7t

I could deal with Cassie and I liked Jase, but come on the drama was just too much drama. At some point I was hoping that it stopped and it dragged, and dragged some more, if it had not been for the ridiculous amount of ex-woman issues I would have enjoyed it more, but again it actually worth mention or shall I say warning it was just too much.

Cassie Mitchum is determined to get Jason 'Jase' Lucas's signature to seal the deal she's looking to close on the Lucas property. However, the moment she meets Jase, she knows closing the deal isn't going to be easy, especially with his reaction to her presence. Yet, the more time she spends with him, the harder they both find it not to give in, to get what they both want -- a date in exchange for his agreeing to the lease agreement. But when the danger Jase has been trying so hard to keep her from closes in, will Jase be able to keep her safe or will the pair lose their shot at happy ever after?

When I started reading this book I couldn't decide whether I was going to like it, but I'm glad I gave it a chance because I found it to be a really good read in the end, as the hero and heroine clash in the beginning because the hero is determined to protect her from the reasons he wants her to stay off his land and the heroine is determined to get her way by making her presence known and spelling out the terms she wishes for him to accept. Will he give her a chance to explain what she wants? Will the heroine give up on getting what she wants? Who will win the battle in the end?

As for the dialogue, it was intense due to the main characters back stories and the danger that is closing in around the pair, as Jase is determined to finally right the wrongs of the past; wrongs that had to do with his family. Will the hero's brother fall in line? Furthermore, with the main characters, I liked how the heroine challenged the hero. She's feisty, resilient and I liked how determined she was to secure the hero's signature, even if it means agreeing to his terms. Yet, what I liked most of all about the heroine is that she would do anything for family, which is proven by her reasons for needing to secure Jason's signature. While the hero, he's confident, driven, and I liked how persistent he was in his pursuit of the heroine, especially once he realized there was no way he could stay away with her. I also liked the decisions the hero made when it came to righting the wrongs of the past because no way can he continue to look over his shoulder, especially because of the way he lost his father. Yet, what I liked most of all about the hero was how protective he was of the heroine and the lengths he goes to in order to keep her safe, even if it means making someone very annoyed with him; someone who would love to get revenge no matter who they hurt to get to Jase.

Overall, Ms. Stone has delivered a really good read in her debut book where the chemistry between this couple was strong and spills over onto the pages in very hot sex scenes that had me loving the hero's need for the heroine; and the ending had me worried for the main characters because of the danger, but had me loving the hero's determination to make things right with the heroine, especially after what he does that causes their relationship to go awry. However, it was the epilogue that wrapped this story up nicely, as the hero has the best surprise for heroine. I would recommend Caught Up by Rya Stone, if you enjoy contemporary romance with a good dash of suspense, especially suspense that keeps you guessing as to how many people are causing trouble for the hero; or if you enjoy books by authors Claudia Shelton, Jenna Ryan, Tessa Bailey and Sidney Halston.

Received in exchange for a honest review.

I really liked this book. I liked how there was that mystery about the Lucas brothers and what was going on at the house. How they were rough on the outside but really were sweet marshmallows. Don’t get me wrong Jason and his brother weren’t all cuddly and mushy but they were caring under those rough exteriors. Heck Jase’s brother did everything possible to protect Jase even pushing him away and that is something that hurt Jase. It was Cassie that brought them back together.

Cassie is a woman who is trying to make a better life for her mom. She wants her to get the treatment she deserves and to do this she is in a job she isn’t excited about. He latest job brings her in the path of jase and his brother and a town that is just odd. She needs Jase’s signature on a lease and is determined to get it.

When she first meets Jase he is gruff and scary to her but she is oddly attracted to him. His brother not so much he is the big scary cowboy who keeps that concept of danger surrounding him. Jase has the air of mystery bad boy. Except he isn’t really a bad boy only perceived as one. He is a hard working man who is just trying to do what is right. He has a past with a girl who has burned him and now many are trying to protect him from Cassie. I like that they look out for him.

Jase tries to protect Cassie from the happenings on his land as well. He pushes her away but also keeps her close. Their attraction is palpable and he loves to push her buttons as well. As they learn about one another and she pursues the lease with him, we find these two get closer and we see the kind sweet and tender side of Jase. We learn of his past and his family skeletons. We learn about Cassie and her past as well. ONly for Jase the past catches up to his family and puts Cassie in danger and he does something to protect her that breaks the heart but is also sweet. It doesn’t come off that way but is. when Cassie is in danger, Jase is there and so is his brother and they do what is needed to help her.

The story is fast paced, full of danger, adventure, witty and sarcastic banter and a romance that is steamy. We see Jase show Cassie that she is a woman to worship and love and not someone to toss aside. We see them work together to explore their feelings and confide in each other. They support one another and respect one another as well. We see them be there for each other when needed and fight for each other. A story with intrigue and intimacy but also second chances for family and love. A great beginning to the series. Can’t wait to read about Jace’s brother next.