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Long Time Gone Kindle Edition
An age gap, friends-to-lovers, forbidden love, right person/wrong time, small town romance from NY Times Bestselling author, Lorelei James.
The right love is worth the wait...
Calvin McKay can't understand his twin brother Carson's rush toward the altar—until he lays eyes on the bride's younger sister, Kimi. But at age sixteen, she's far too innocent for him to pursue…yet. Still, something about that little blonde tornado gets his blood pumping and his heart all twisted up.
Kimi West is used to boys chasing after her, but Cal McKay is a man—all man—and his hot kisses are like nothing she's ever experienced. But he's a rancher, tied to the land, and she can’t wait for the day she can escape from Wyoming and see the world.
After a tragedy sends Kimi running from her family two years later, Cal gives Kimi a place to stay—oh so many tantalizing reasons to stay with him—while she sorts out her plans. She'll have to decide whether the adventure she wants is away in a new frontier or right there by Cal's side.
And Cal has to trust that by letting her go, Kimi will find her way back to him.
- LanguageEnglish
- Publication dateJune 13, 2015
- File size427 KB
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From the Publisher
![couple hugging](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/S/aplus-media/kdp/eb1ce4d5-8715-4bfe-ac12-1427d2c98ee5.__CR0,0,1940,1200_PT0_SX970_V1___.png)
![tropes](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/S/aplus-media/kdp/ffdc2045-8ea7-4530-8cef-cac65d022304.__CR0,0,300,300_PT0_SX300_V1___.png)
Cal tugged her against him.
"I've been wrestlin' with how to say this, or if I oughta say it at all. I know you have to go, but when you get tired of the nomadic life, come back here. Come back to me. I'll be waitin' for you. For however long it takes."
Kimi lost the ability to breathe.
Editorial Reviews
From the Author
Book 1: Long Hard Ride
Book 2: Rode Hard
Book 3: Cowgirl Up and Ride
Book 4: Tied Up, Tied Down
Book 5: Rough, Raw and Ready
Book 6: Branded As Trouble
Book (6.5): Strong, Silent Type (novella)
Book 7: Shoulda Been A Cowboy
Book 8: All Jacked Up
Book 9: Raising Kane
Book (9.5): Slow Ride (short story)
Book 10: Cowgirls Don't Cry
Book 11: Chasin' Eight
Book 12: Cowboy Casanova
Book 13: Kissin' Tell
Book 14: Gone Country
Book (14.5): Short Rides Anthology (novellas)
Book 15: Redneck Romeo
Book 16: Cowboy Take Me Away
Book (16.5): Long Time Gone (novella)
Book 17:Silver Tongued Devil
Book (17.5):Back in the Saddle (short story)
Cowboy Bites: A Rough Riders cookbook with six short stories
About the Author
Website: loreleijames.com
Facebook: Facebook.com/AuthorLoreleiJames
Twitter: @loreleijames
Instagram: @authorloreleijames
Product details
- ASIN : B00ZNH6X3I
- Publisher : Ridgeview Publishing (June 13, 2015)
- Publication date : June 13, 2015
- Language : English
- File size : 427 KB
- Simultaneous device usage : Unlimited
- Text-to-Speech : Enabled
- Screen Reader : Supported
- Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
- X-Ray : Enabled
- Word Wise : Enabled
- Print length : 194 pages
- Best Sellers Rank: #287,217 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #2,103 in Small Town & Rural Fiction (Kindle Store)
- #9,719 in Women's Romance Fiction
- #11,635 in Contemporary Romance Fiction
- Customer Reviews:
About the author
![Lorelei James](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/S/amzn-author-media-prod/lavkorvjgp1ogfa7b1l3fh65r6._SY600_.jpg)
“Update your bio,” they said, “Make it fun and quirky.”
I’m relieved they didn’t request a kinky bio since I write erotic romance. So here’s a new bio for a writer who’s been published for TWO DAMN DECADES.
~Lorelei James knows too much about pop culture & little about math/science-y stuff which she blames on her GenX upbringing. She’s written a bunch of books in the Rough Riders series, the Blacktop Cowboys® series, the Mastered series, the Need You series, the Want You series, & several stand-alones. Many of those titles have hit the New York Times, USA Today & Wall Street Journal bestseller lists. Her books have won the Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice Award, the CAPA Award. In 2016, RT Book Reviews presented her with the Lifetime Achievement Award for Erotic Romance.
Cool, right? But Lorelei also has a secret identity (technically it’s not a secret since it's her real name)~as Lori Armstrong, she writes dark, gritty mysteries. She’s been nominated for 5 Shamus Awards—won 2—for books in her Julie Collins series, Mercy Gunderson series & a short story, earned nominations for a High Plains Book Award, won a Willa Cather Literary Award. Lorelei lives in western South Dakota with her husband, their corgi Copper, more craft projects than she’ll ever finish, more books than she’ll ever read & all those pesky fictional characters residing in her head.
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the book easy to read and engaging. They praise the well-written story with heartwarming moments and intense passion. The characters are described as sweet, charming, and endearing. Readers enjoy learning about Cal McKay and the other twin West sisters. Overall, they love the series and find the pacing fast and enjoyable.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers enjoy the book and find it engaging. They say it's a great addition to the series and a must-read. Readers mention the book grabs them right away and is worth reading.
"...Although short, this is a satisfying read in James’ Rough Riders series that further explores the McKay/West dynamic...." Read more
"...Lorelei James is a "must read" and her various series are always enjoyable. Believable characters with distinct personalities...." Read more
"...With that being said, this is one of my favorite series of all time. This book was a pleasant surprise...." Read more
"I loved this book!..." Read more
Customers enjoy the engaging story and find it a pleasant surprise. They appreciate the love story and glimpses into the couple's life. Readers also mention that the book is a fast read and looks promising for the new series.
"...The open and honest nature of their relationship was refreshing, as was the lack of unnecessary drama, and the chemistry between them as hot as Kimi..." Read more
"...I enjoyed this novella and was sorry to see it end. The epilogue was a treat." Read more
"Fun, fast read. Lorelei James is a "must read" and her various series are always enjoyable...." Read more
"...This book was a pleasant surprise. Although not one of my favorites in the series, it was still a great read...." Read more
Customers appreciate the writing quality of the book. They find it well-written, humorous, and engaging. Readers praise the author's writing style and encourage her to continue writing.
"...Interesting and informative dialogue. Easy to follow story lines. Keeping with the times the story takes place: &#..." Read more
"...It's a short novella and I don't want to provide any spoilers so I'm not going to retell the story...." Read more
"...AGAIN LOVE ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING SHE WRITES. If you haven't read her full Rough Riders series, you need to. I mean you really need to." Read more
"...This novella was so enjoyable and I fell in love with Cal, another one of those McKay men, what can I say...." Read more
Customers enjoy the emotional content of the book. They find it heart-tugging, intense, and full of passion. The characters are engaging and sexy. Readers appreciate the author's caring and observant writing style. The story is fast-paced, exciting, and enjoyable with real families and characters that readers wish were real.
"...her mind, knows who she is and what she wants ~ she is also a deeply caring and observant woman, even when we meet her at the tender age of..." Read more
"...She delves deeply into family members’ personalities and gives insight into their strengths and failings...." Read more
"...I LOVED this story so much. It's steamy, sweet (without the sap) heart-tugging, and fun...." Read more
"...They are intense. Love the McKay & West romances and am so very happy that we will have more stories from these families, third generation...." Read more
Customers enjoyed the book. They found the cowboy sweet and loving. The story was enjoyable and a satisfying sample of Lorelei James' romance fiction.
"...Oh well. It was nice and I will read the novellas on the past characters but will pass on the new adults. I prefer the more established characters...." Read more
"...I LOVED this story so much. It's steamy, sweet (without the sap) heart-tugging, and fun...." Read more
"...Kimi fit together beautifully from the start, their HEA so real and sweet...." Read more
"...Long Time Gone' is a satisfying sample of the tasty that is Lorelei James romance fiction...." Read more
Customers enjoy the book's engaging storyline and insightful characters. They find the dialogue informative and easy to follow, providing a nice glimpse into Kimi and Cal's lives. The story provides an interesting look at their personalities and strengths and failings.
"...deeply into family members’ personalities and gives insight into their strengths and failings. I enjoyed this novella and was sorry to see it end...." Read more
"...Interesting and informative dialogue. Easy to follow story lines. Keeping with the times the story takes place: &#..." Read more
"...It was also fun and fascinating to get to know Cal McKay. Their story was so well written, fun and endearing...." Read more
"...I loved getting the details to Cal and Kimi's story!!! It is well written, funny, and the romance is HOT!!!..." Read more
Customers enjoy the series. They praise the Rough Rider's series and Lorelei James books.
"Love Lorelei James, love her Rough Rider series, love everything she writes, but I especially love this series...." Read more
"I love the Rough Rider's Series Long Time Gone is Awesome. Seeing how Cal and Kimi met was great. It is a great love story...." Read more
"Love the rough riders series...." Read more
"I have loved all of the Rough Rider books. I can't wait to keep reading about the characters and wishing a new book would come out soon!!!" Read more
Customers enjoy the book's pacing. They find it fast-paced, exciting, and enjoyable. The author delivers quick wit and panty-melting stories. Readers appreciate the historical background on older couples and find the novella fun and nostalgic.
"Fun, fast read. Lorelei James is a "must read" and her various series are always enjoyable...." Read more
"I love the Rough Rider's Series Long Time Gone is Awesome. Seeing how Cal and Kimi met was great. It is a great love story...." Read more
"This novella was both fun & nostalgic...." Read more
"Lorelei James always delivers quick wit, and panty melting stories! This one will have you laughing out loud as well as dreaming about a cowboy!" Read more
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on June 16, 2015I’m pretty much a fan girl of the Rough Riders series and even after sixteen books Kimi and Carson have always been the couple that I wanted to know more about. Part of it is due to the fact that the Wonder Twins aka Kade and Kane are my favorite McKay’s and wanting to know more about their parents goes hand in hand. The other is that whenever Kimi was apart of a scene she always captured my attention and after Cowboy Take Me Away, I really, really wanted to know more about Kimi and Cal, so you can just imagine how excited I was when it was announced that they would be getting their own book. It didn’t matter that it was a novella, I just wanted something and I was in no way disappointed!
I thought I loved Kimi and Calvin before, but now I absolutely adore them and they may just be my favorite couple of the series or at least top three. (It tends to change when I start a re read). But regardless, I loved that while Kimi is definitely a Blonde Tornado in every way ~ firey, speaks her mind, knows who she is and what she wants ~ she is also a deeply caring and observant woman, even when we meet her at the tender age of sixteen.
Calvin is all sexy charm and charisma, something that we’ve come to expect and love about all the men in the Rough Rider world, but his runs on the calmer, more relaxed side of the coin though he’s just as sly, intense and determined as the rest of them.
I loved how their relationship progressed. Having known already that they’d had that instant connection from reading Cowboy Take Me Away, it was fun to watch how they handled it. The open and honest nature of their relationship was refreshing, as was the lack of unnecessary drama, and the chemistry between them as hot as Kimi’s fiery personality.
As for that excerpt about Sierra and Boone? What a perfect start (continuation?) of their story and it looks like it’s going to be a wild ride.
The Bottom Line: I loved this glimpse into the beginning of Kimi and Calvin’s relationship and though I do want more, I’m satisfied...for now.
- Reviewed in the United States on August 24, 2015When Calvin McKay meets Kimi West at his twin brother and her sister’s wedding, she’s sixteen. He’s drawn to her like no other woman he’s ever met, but knows she’s jail bait. She lives a sheltered life in a convent and wants to run free. Her father has other ideas and wants to chain her to a life of servitude. Kimi and Cal exchange passionate kisses, but he knows he must let her go. She escapes to the convent and bides her time until she’s eighteen. When she returns after her mother passes, Kimi discovers her whole family has lied to her. She finds solace in Cal’s arms. Will he let her go to find her dreams?
Although short, this is a satisfying read in James’ Rough Riders series that further explores the McKay/West dynamic. She delves deeply into family members’ personalities and gives insight into their strengths and failings. I enjoyed this novella and was sorry to see it end. The epilogue was a treat.
- Reviewed in the United States on June 21, 2015Fun, fast read. Lorelei James is a "must read" and her various series are always enjoyable. Believable characters with distinct personalities. Interesting and informative dialogue. Easy to follow story lines.
Keeping with the times the story takes place:
"After taking one last drag of her cigarette, Kimi flicked the butt out the window."
Parenting:
“Wrong,” she said with a sharp edge. “Kids are innocent. And just because someone was raised by s***ty parents, that doesn’t mean they’ll automatically be s***ty parents themselves. I’d never treat my boys the way we were treated.”
Kimi set her hand over Carolyn’s clenched fist, shocked that her sister had cursed. “I’m sorry. I didn’t say that to piss you off. There’s no doubt in my mind that you’re a wonderful mother, and heaven knows you didn’t have a great example.”
"Thank you. Aunt Hulda said to me once that it’s more important to be a good parent when you’ve had a lousy one just so you know it’s a choice, not an inherited tendency.”
I will re-read this story as I do her other works always look forward to more by this author.
- Reviewed in the United States on June 21, 2015First off, I will admit that I am a huge fan of Lorelei's work so this may seem somewhat biased. I am an avid reader so I read A LOT of books. With that being said, this is one of my favorite series of all time. This book was a pleasant surprise. Although not one of my favorites in the series, it was still a great read. I felt as if it took forever to bring these two together for good, but I guess it was worth the wait. I have been so sad to not know how Boone's story plays out, so to find out that we will finally know make me oh so happy. If you have not read this series , you are missing out. They should be read in order, and there are a lot of them, but so worth the effort.
- Reviewed in the United States on June 19, 2015I loved this book! Kane and Kade are two of my favorite McKays in the Rough Rider series and I loved reading about how their parents Cal and Kimi met and fell in love. I can also see where the boys got their patience from, which was their dad.
I am so amazed at how the author Lorelei James can keep writing books about the McKays and they never get old. Many times after the reading the first few books in a series, the next books become expected and I can pretty much guess the storyline without reading the whole book. Ms. James books are not that way, and after reading all the books in the Rough Riders series and the Wild West Boys, I still anxiously wait and hope for the next one to come out. That's amazing considering that there are 20+ books in the series.
Top reviews from other countries
- DebbieReviewed in the United Kingdom on June 11, 2016
5.0 out of 5 stars Cowboy up!
Hmm haven't picked up a Rough Riders book for quite a while, been distracted by other things! This popped up and I thought why not for a hot sunny sunday read.
Calvin McKay is watching is his twin brother race to the altar and cannot understand the rush. That is until he meets his soon to be sister in law Kimi. But Kimi is only 16 and he has to rein in his feelings.
Kimi West with help from her Aunt pulls herself out of Wyoming and her controlling family to finish school. Returning briefly for her mothers' funeral she ends up staying a week with Cal where they explore what is between them. Cal makes her leave him and take up the job offer for a year she has in Alaska, 4 more years pass before she receives the telegram that tells her to come home now!
- TanyaReviewed in Australia on June 15, 2015
5.0 out of 5 stars Love, love, loved Cal & Kimi's story!!!!!!!
Another big THANK YOU to Lorelei James for sharing Cal & Kimi's love story!!!!!! It was everything I could have imagined if not more.l!!!!! I was drawn in like all your books after reading the first page and to be able to travel their journey with them and cheering for them on the sidelines that their love, passion, loyalty and friendship will get them their happily ever after😍😍 thanks again Lorelei for being the inspiring author that you are and looking forward to Boon and Sierra's story next year.
- Anne MilneReviewed in the United Kingdom on June 16, 2015
5.0 out of 5 stars Short But Sweet Addition To The Series
This is a short but beautiful addition to the series. Kimi and Calvin meet and sparks fly, they have an instant connection but they meet at the wrong time in their lives, Kimi is only 16. It's a story about meetng ' the one ' and staying true to the belief that you are meant to be together.
- Shannon BReviewed in Australia on June 17, 2015
5.0 out of 5 stars A beautiful heartfelt story
I was beyond thrilled when this book came out. Cal and Kimi's story is beautiful and everything you would hope it to be. After reading the entire series it was a real privileged to finally learn about both of the characters from them and not just as passing characters in someone else story.
if you are after a good heart warming story I would recommend this book!!! Thankyou Lorelei James for creating this amazing story.
- Kindle CustomerReviewed in Australia on October 28, 2020
4.0 out of 5 stars I enjoyed this book
I enjoyed this story about Calvin McKay and Kimi West. I enjoyed their journey to them finding their happy ever after.