** I WAS GIVEN THIS BOOK FOR MY READING PLEASURE **
Copy received through Netgalley

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Ponyboy (The Braided Crop Ranch, 02) by A.E. Lister
★★★★★
300 Pages
1st person, one character POV
Content Warning: pony play, puppy play, as well as consensual sharing, humiliation, degradation, and D/s aspects of BDSM


Ponyboy takes place the summer after Stable Hand, continuing the story of the BCR and it's members. Only, this time, we see the ranch from the perspective of a new pony, rather than the stable hand that Jensen showed in Book 1. And that is a huge difference.

Book 1 taught us how the ranch functioned, in terms of legalities, behind the scenes, and their rules and processes involved in making the ponies feel welcome and loved. Book 2 goes more into the emotional and mental challenge of changing your mindset from regular human working a day-to-day life, to a ponyboy learning how to be the best pony ever.

Owen, the MC, is bored with his life. His extensive forays into kink have led him nowhere good, and he's sulking after a recent break-up that was inevitable. When a hook-up tells him about a pony ranch in the middle of nowhere, he's instantly intrigued and makes an impulse decision to investigate. Along with bestie, Tamara, Owen delves into the BCR website and all it offers, submits an application...and fate takes a hand. There's an instant spot on the next session, due to a cancellation.

Owen is off to the Braided Crop Ranch. With no experience of animal-play, and no idea how his six weeks there will change him forever. He's sweet, charming, a little feisty, and I love how his mental confusion over being a pony really shines throughout his sessions with Kamal. Yet, although he sometimes acts out, sometimes misbehaves, he wants to do well, and when he really can't abide something, he's not afraid to use his safeword or put his foot down. And Kamal isn't afraid to let him.

The chemistry and dynamic between Kamal and Owen is palpable, bursting off the page. Though they can't break the BCR rules, there is a lot of action between them that is often far more enticing and evocative than what could happen if they broke the rules. I loved seeing Owen break down in front of Kamal, and how eagerly and sweetly Kamal took care of him. I loved that they leaned on each other, bickered and bantered, but ultimately understood each other.

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The usual cast are all back, with the exception of the ponyboys from Book 1. This book offers a new group of six recruits, including Owen, and effectively shows how each have a different experience, different backgrounds, and each want different things from their stay. Each character is interesting in their own way, providing support and friendship for Owen, who is a bit of a lost boy, mentally. While Owen is adorable, he's lost in life and looking to expand his kink-experience, while also being obstinate, in a far more playful way than Luke ever was. Though there are some small similarities in their personalities.

Jensen is back, but training under Kamal as a trainer at the BCR. He's still with Luke and Noah, who make a small appearance. Adam is, as ever, enigmatic and wonderful. Connor was briefly on page, as were some of the trainers. I loved seeing more of the next cast, as well.

While this is Book 2 in the series, it could effectively stand on its own as a solo novel. Though far more enjoyable knowing the story of Book 1, there's nothing here too heavily relying on Book 1 that you would have to have read it first.

I can't say too much about the plot itself, because I feel I'd be wading deep into spoiler territory, but...I loved Owen. I loved seeing a new side of Kamal. I loved that the story explored another side to the ranch, that I hadn't realised I was missing from Book 1. I love that Adam will get his story next. And I love that though each book ends with a HFN, I always feel hopeful and confident they're on their way to a HEA.

I can't wait for Book 3.

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Favourite Quotes

“I whimpered at the sheer vulnerability I felt, knowing he could see into my soul just like I'd suspected. He knew me. He saw me. And he wouldn't let me deny myself.”

DNF @ 30%
This is definitely something out of my normal comfort zone but it sounded fun so I figured I’d give it a shot - I definitely realized it wasn’t for me pretty quickly. I’ve never really tried a straight up erotic book, but since this one sounded super gay I wanted to give it a chance. Unfortunately I realized this genre just isn’t my thing, it made me a little too uncomfortable. A neutral 3 stars

I was hoping for a steamy romance book. Unfortunately this wasn’t it. I was a bit bored with the story. Each scene of play was very detailed but there was no emotions behind it. So I couldn’t believe the love story between the two guys. I feel bad so I’m giving an extra star just because of it.
I received this ARC from the publisher and Netgalley for my honest review.

Woah, Ok, Ponyboy was a seriously sexy book and I couldn't get enough off. First off all it was so much more then just a Dom/sub or ponyplay book. Owen was a fantastic main character. I loved all of his complexities. There was so much friendship, love and sweet and tender moments throughout the story. With that being said, the sexy moments, holy crap! They were so well done! I seriously could not get enough of everything this book had to offer. I will definitely be reading the other books in this series!

BDSM fans, and lovers of kink: Ponyboy should be at the top of your TBR shelf. AE Lister writes one of the all-time hottest puppy play scenes I’ve ever read, and the ponyboy training scenes are delectable. It’s not all sex though, AE Lister explores this ponyboy’s character in great depth. This is a story of soul searching and exploration, and one man’s journey toward uncovering the person he’s meant to be.

Owen has a notion that there’s something missing in his life. He's craving to experience true domination, and a safe place to explore his desires. This leads him to the Braided Crop Ranch. He knows if this doesn’t work for him he can walk away, but hopefully learning about pony play will be a step in the right direction.

AE Lister does a marvelous job of expressing Owen’s emotions throughout the story. From the moment he steps foot on the ranch, through his interactions with the folks at the BCR, we experience each sensation, reaction, and response with him. The sex scenes are gorgeously sensual, and we’re treated to stunning descriptions of Owen’s physical responses. Ponyboy is seriously smoking hot.

When Owen meets his trainer, Kamal, there’s an immediate spark between them. The momentum builds steadily, and their scenes are intimate and emotional. We get everything from Owen’s point of view, and I found this makes the interactions between Owen and Kamal that much more intense.

There’s marvelous detail about the early weeks of Owen’s training session, but I’d have happily read a hundred more pages to get the stuff we don’t see *wink*! Plus the final weeks wrap up so quickly, and I would have loved a few more pages of the epilogue.

At the end of Ponyboy Owen has come to a crossroads in his life. Knowing he doesn’t want to return to his old life, he’s faced with making some difficult decisions. He has no idea what’s going on in Kamal’s mind for their future; and Adam, the ranch owner, has presented some appealing options which could offer Owen a brand new life. I’d have loved to get deeper into Owen’s thought process as he really works this all out.

Ponyboy is an absolutely wonderful addition to AE Lister’s BCR series, and I hope we see more of Owen and Kamal some day. The final book in the series, Ranch Boss, is due out October 2021. We’re getting Adam’s story and I can hardly wait!

** I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.**.
I admit that I requested this book partly out of homage to my favorite Ponyboy (Curtis) and partly out of shear curiosity.
I really expected it to be one of those reads that end up being WTF? Boy was I wrong.
My experience with pony play was limited to Real Sex on HBO (?). I may have seen it briefly in a movie somewhere, but it was always presented in an “OMG, can you believe these people kind of way?” I admit to thinking it was one step too far.
Although, I am much more live and let live, this was still something I could not fathom.
However, this book was so good. The way this author takes you right into this world with plenty of showing but not in either a militant look at this or a voyueristic giggly way. I feel like I have an understanding why this works for people.
I loved these characters. I loved watching Owens journey. He knows there is something missing in his sex life. He’s tried D/s but he has not found a fit. He hears about a ranch that specializes in pony play and something in his brain lights up. He applies to go and a last minute cancellation sends him quickly.
There is an immediate click with his assigned trainer, Kamal.
The seriousness that this environment has for pony play is apparent. I loved seeing all of the prep and care taken with the pony boys.
In ways I never expected, this book really worked for me.

I can honestly say I have never read a book pertaining to pup play or animal play. I always enjoy a good Dom/sub duo, but this one was so intriguing. All the characters sound hot. I think I would pick Adam since it seems he has the daddy complex going for him. It was a very interesting and unique book to read.

I actually picked this book on accident, and wasn't sure that I would really enjoy it since I definitely don't read pet play stories. I am shocked and excited to report that I really loved it!! The characters are reasonably well written, and there is genuine humor in it. I especially liked the main character Owen's friend Tamara, and would read a story about her.

I also didn't know at the time that this was the second book in a series, but you don't need to have read the other to understand this book. If you have read and enjoyed the first one, you will be pleased to know that there is a cameo from the previous book!

I'm not sure where the author is planning to take this series but I hope it includes a novel from the sister ranch, and maybe about Adam, the Daddy Dom owner of the BCR? Either way, I am going to read the first book and any others books that come after.

Four stars instead of five because while the main couple obviously had chemistry in their BDSM scenes, I wasn't convinced about their relationship outside of kink. And Hot Craig's dialogue was kinda weird.

I'm really sorry but I had to DNF this because I low-key skimmed the plot before requesting and it seems some very key information was left out of that skim-to-brain transfer😭 I will rate it 5 stars though because I want to help you guys out it just wasn't my cup of tea!! I should've paid closer attention to my requests!!