Trial By Fire is another cowboy nā kids story similar to that group of books I recently talked about when I reviewed another similar novel by this author.
Two cowboys, this time one is from a large cattle station in Australia. Kid element is a baby whoās parents were the siblings of both cowboys, also a frequent pairing. And the siblings have just died in some accident, in this case a plane crash.
Here the story deviates as the men squabble over rights to the children (versus pulling together), warring parents, and almost immediate action and angst brought on by plot threads that seemed to arise out of nowhere. This on top of a surplus of storylines that just didnāt feel smooth and relatable.
That includes the romance between Holden Sheffield and Aussie Lachlan McCoughney. While both characters, indeed all the characters here are finely crafted, the author never really developed any real chemistry between the men. I never believed in an immediate attraction, let alone a ālove at first sightā dynamic.
Iām not sure if the issue was that Lachlan was a Aussie and missing that bone deep knowledge Tortuga has of her Texas/New Mexico/western cowboys .That entire Australian section,, from people to tiny things meant to be āAussie ā fell flat against a Texas sky.
Especially since some of the other secondary characters were fully realized, including one whoās death and funeral elevated this story for its sheer poignancy and depth of feeling.
That romance? It felt rushed and unrealistic, while there were so many other elements piled on top almost as distractions.
Another real issue for me was the nonchalant way the author treated the characters future plans. The 6 months in Australia or in US, with a baby whoās a US citizen with one openly gay parent who is the legal guardian. Then casually mentioning marriage and adoption for the Aussie boyfriend/partner. All without taking into consideration Australian visas, LGBTQIA marriage laws with regard (and consideration for) the LGBTQIA community there. Were there any then considering this is a re-release?
LGBTQIA marriage, adoption, and Australian laws has been written about more widely and in depth by Australian authors. Usually accompanied by pain, frustration, waiting, and angst. Same about visas. So this lack of research was puzzling and seemingly showed a lack of care towards this serious topic imo. Realistically not going to be the āsmooth sailing ā itās made out to be here, even for the wealthy.
This story has some solid elements, some wonderful characters but together itās never solidified. Just felt forced.
I love this author and have other books of hers to recommend. Iām just not sure this is one of them.
Great cowboy funeral though.
Synopsis:
One Aussie. One Texan. One baby. One hell of a fight.
When his sister and her husband are killed in an accident, Aussie cattle station owner Lachlan McCoughney rushes to Texas to rescue their infant daughter, Chloe. He expects to find his niece living in squalor with the Sheffields, a rodeo family.
Instead, Lachlan finds Holden Sheffield, a salt-of-the-earth cowboy running a huge business operation. They want to explore their mutual attraction despite the many problems thrown their way, and together, they must find a way to give Chloe a new family and find a love that spans thousands of acres and two continents
What a wonderful holiday romance from Annabeth Albert! And it starts with the names of the characters, Gideon Holiday and Paul Frost.
How absolutely perfect, especially for a story about a small town full of historic restored homes known for their holiday decorations . Itās preparing for Thanksgiving, and then for all the various holiday lights displays to start appearing on every house for all the tourists that come to enjoy the celebration(and donate funds).
Albert has chosen the perfect format for her book that lets her readers into this wonderful community and sense of belonging. Itās that the Whatās Up Neighbor app (or something similar) that many neighborhoods have in use these days thatās employed to connect neighbors to each other and the daily flow of their neighborhood. Iām on mine and my parents as well. Itās awesome.
Each chapter starts with a daily installment from their communityās Whatās Up Neighbor chatā¦ whether itās an update on the schedule for the holiday lights or a grumpy text from the neighborhood āScroogeā about the traffic or kids crossing the greenway. Itās brings us a perfect sense of community and the citizens we will meet along our visit here. Itās intimate, fun, and familiar.
Much like the characters and plot. Itās warm-hearted, personable, filled with lovely people with issues and conflicting feelings about the holidays. Everything about those elements will have the readers connecting with these men, their loneliness and their slow friendship as they make discoveries about one another over a crisis of house in need of a holiday makeover and a brother coming home to propose.
The story, the plot structure, the men, and communityā¦ it all grabs perfectly at your emotions.
The writing is sharp, the characters beautifully crafted, and everything is marvelously wrapped up ina way to make a Scrooge want to celebrate his best Christmas ever!
If youāre into your holiday reading or just enjoy a great contemporary romance, either way The Geek Who Saved Christmas by Annabeth Albert
Is a book for you.
Itās one Iām highly recommending.
Synopsis:
His grumpy neighbor needs some holiday sunshineā¦
Gideon Holiday is the perfect neighbor. Need a cup of sugar? Spare folding chair? Extra batteries? Heās always ready to help. And heās waited years for his hot, grumpy, silver fox neighbor, Paul, to need him. For anything. But this December, Gideon would be happy if he could just get the Scrooge-like Paul on board with the neighborhood holiday lights fundraiser.
Paul Frost has no intention of decking his halls or blazing any Yule logs. Even if his spunky bowtie-clad neighbor does look perfect for unwrapping, Paul would prefer to hide away until December is done. But when his beloved younger brother announces an unexpected visit, Paul needs all the trimmings for a festive homecomingāand fast.
Luckily, Gideon is there with a color-coded plan to save Christmas. Soon Paulās hanging lights, trimming trees, and rolling out cookies. And steaming up his new flannel sheets with Gideon. How did that happen?
Itāll take some winter magic to preserve their happiness and keep these rival neighbors together longer than one holiday season.
The Geek Who Saved Christmas is a low-angst m/m holiday romance with a guaranteed happy ending. This grumpy/sunshine, neighbors-to-lovers, found family tale features two heroes in their forties figuring out that maybe their sexily-ever-after was right next door the whole time. It stands alone and is not connected to any of the authorās other universes. However, it does contain a heaping helping of the same emotions and steamy moments readers have come to expect!
Fast upon the heels of my discovery of Ariana Nash and her urban fantasy series, Iāve stumbled across another story and urban fantasy series thatās threatened to have the very same effect upon me.
Itās straight away captivating me with its expanding universe, a mixture of things modern and mythic as well as swelling cast of characters to engage both heart and mind.
by Kai Butler . So far Iāve found 5 stories, releases and intended to be published (more on the later) and my investment in this series is all but cemented by the end of the story.
Apparently I love to smack myself in the head repeatedly because this also look to be fitting the same pattern as that other series, although Iāll just have to wait to February for book 3.
No, Butler has a way of starting with already complex characters and a baseline twisty storyline and then proceeds to up the game by leading us all through ever increasing labyrinthine corridors, peeling back layers to characters histories and personalities along the way.
I truly love books like that. This has witches, alchemists, werewolves, dragons, cops, forensics, zombies, murder, politics, high mystery and yes romance. And oh, yes, found families.
And it works so beautifully and smoothly as the angst, bewilderment, anxiety, and body count add up.
Parker Ferro, foster kid, part Fae, PI, down on his luck , soon to be evicted , with more problems than he wants to face is such an incredible character. He establishes himself as someone worthy of your compassion and commitment immediately,. Parker then goes onto grow during this tale into someone whoās strengths and new dimensions reveal him to be someone he never suspected. That steers him and his group towards a new path that will be fantastical and yes, perhaps heroic. And our hearts will be along with the ride.
Everything here , each new element offers up a springboard towards exciting new revelations and twists. All while Butler works their characters towards goals only the author is aware of.
I canāt wait to see what new beings, obligations (Fae after all), drama, and exciting adventures lie ahead.
I really need to track down those prequel books too.
Yes, Iām highly recommending this story and letting you know in advance that book 3 wonāt be out until February 2022.
I can work with that. Happy reading!
San Amara Investigations Series:
ā¦ A Haunting at Midnight #0.5
ā¦ A Debt Unpaid #0.75
ā¦ Wormwood Summer #1
ā¦ A Belated Burial #1.5
ā¦ The Oak Wood Throne #2
ā¦ A Gilded Iron Blade #3 – not yet released, publication date in February 2022.
Synopsis: Parker Ferro owes the fae his life. Theyāve come to collect.
When the Summer Queen summons Parker to her court, the private investigator knows thereās trouble brewing. Trapped into compliance by his past debt to the fae monarch, heās tasked with locating a missing girl in San Amaro. Now he has to find the girl or give up his life.
Things only get more complicated when a very familiar cop asks Parker for his help on a case involving murdered magic users. With the victims completely drained of their magic, the San Amaro Police Department needs Parkerās special skill set to track down a killer. Navigating through San Amaroās paranormal underbelly while dealing with his own past and this new case is the last thing Parker wants or needs.
Now Parkerās stuck trying to locate a missing girl, stop a paranormal war, find a killer, and resist Detective Nicholas Kingās many charms. Hereās hoping he doesnāt die trying.
Wormwood Summer is a 107,000 word MM urban fantasy with a HFN ending.
B.A. Tortuga writes a whole group of books I fondly call her cowboy nā kids stories. They contain usually a cowboy, maybe two, oneās possibly a rodeo man. One or both with a loose connection to a passel of kids or just one in need of a family.
Throw in some adorable animals, wide open spaces out West to serve as a background for a simmering passion between these men and path to love for each other and, boom, you have the main elements for this heartwarming and sweet bunch of romances.
Of which Cowboyās Law is one. One I really loved. As I do just about all of these books.
Found families is a trope thatās a top five favorite genre. This author excels at this.
Her knowledge of cowboys, that hard scrabble ranch lifestyle and rodeoing is almost cellular at this point. As is her vernacular. Her dialogue is so spot on, so localized to the area, and type of people it helps the book sing with life.
Same goes for the small town lifestyle of Friday night high school football, band dadās jobs, and near constant family schedule demands. Of 4H, dance class, homework, and home chores. The tears, the laughter, the Wonder Woman bandaids, and the love that holds everything and everyone together.
Thereās nothing about this book, from the kids to the weary men that reads anything less than flat out real and downright human.
Tortuga even covers the injured soldier here in Low and friends. Another group she pulls in and understands so well. The mixture of the cowboy and vet is perfect and their romance and path to love and family is a story you will want to read.
I donāt know if BA is figuring on giving Hunter his own story but I hope so. He too deserves a HEA. As does Win and Moose.
Meanwhile, if you love found families, cowboys and weary ex soldiers looking for love, you look no further then Cowboyās Law.
Iām definitely recommending it.
Synopsis:
When rodeo cowboy Sethās best friend dies unexpectedly from cancer, he finds himself taking on a ranch and a bunch of his friendās younger siblings, because they have nowhere else to turn. Seth loves those kids like theyāre his own, and he settles in well to his new life, which is why heās pretty wary when his buddyās older brother finally makes it home from a long stint in the military.
Law knows he might get a chilly reception at his brother Pistolās old ranch, even if the kids living there are his half-siblings. He didnāt make it to his brotherās funeral, after all, but to his credit, he was blown up trying to come home to do just that. Heās fighting injuries and insecurity, but when Seth welcomes him to the family ranch, Law knows heās pretty much in love. Even if he thinks Seth was his brotherās lover. Can these two find a way to let their emotions out before tragedy strikes their family again?
Not every 5 star read has to be deeply complicated or filled to the brim with characters in need of therapy.
Nopes. Sometimes youāre gifted with a 5 star ticket joy ride of an adventure journey, full of snappy on point dialog, charismatic characters to die for and full out sexy magical fun.
Yeah I needed that so bad.
I want to see it filmed, I want it in a RPG, and Iām Garen btw. I just want this anyway I can have it. And itās book one in a series with the first story wrapping up itās own storyline while clearly setting up a potential mystery and danger to come.
For those of us who devour fantasy, supernatural, sci-fy, anything of a mysterious and suspenseful albeit magical nature, certain elements will be telegraphing the hell out of this to you.
Wonderfully so. Much like Wicky and Nico with their light sabers! Itās wicked fun. We sort of know where the bad guys might be coį¹ing from but who cares! Bring them on! Our guys got this!
All while Sherwood uses this remarkable romance and bonding to further the adventurous, magical and wildly anticipatory tale sheās crafting along with Belās team. That will include the amazing Chadwick āWickyā Santosās, Fire Mage and his partner, Zia Garzon, rounder mage.
Each mission Bel gets called on is used to explore his background, reveal more of his talents and emerging personality. We also get the same for everyone along as part of the temporary team by mission element going on at first.
As Nico and Garen come into Belās world and understand not only that they work well with other MAD operatives like Wicky and Matt, they are happy and belong. To Bel. As well as once again to each other.
Thereās just so many fun beings (love Grandpa, just sayinā) to meet and plain hilarious outstanding stuff here. I just curled up , grabbed a bowl of popcorn, and happily read into the night, not stopping until the book was done.
Thereās a satisfying ending that sets up our guys and team with , if youāre like me who has a sneaking suspicion or three, a bad guy on the horizon and a new fight on their hands.
I canāt wait. They got this. It will be so much fun. And Grandpa has to bring back the hellhounds, right?
My happy anticipation is high!
Yes! You in need of something to make you laugh? Smile? Shake your head at characters antics and revel in their joyā¦ at kicking ass? Love spot on dialogue?
One mage, Bel Adams ā needs a familiar, gun shy about being rejected by one again.
One familiar, Nico di Rossi ā Army Ranger, needs a change of pace and a new purpose in life.
Plus one familiar, Garen Adan ā Secret Service, needs his ex-lover Nico back.
One second chance ā all for the taking.
Tags:
Mages, BOGO familiar, familiars as bodyguards, familiar bond, M/M/M, second chances, workplace romance, fated mates, magical shenanigans, Garen is part gargoyle, Bel part demon, Nico is a golden retriever in human form (though not literally), idiots in love, seriously I don’t know what to do with them, Bel loves Garen just because he wants to love him, possessive behavior, not a single degree of chill from any of them, Nico is not allowed caffeine, Nico loves swords, Wicky is his supplier, lightsaber sounds, competency kink, Garen cannot be moved, he moves when he wants to, evil cults strangely don’t clean up after themselves, absolutely no one’s surprised, Nico thinks a magically booby-trapped cave is a theme park, cuz he cray cray, Demon Grandpa is also cray cray and approve.
Iāve been thinking about this book, itās elements, and my review.
Why? Because it contains that one element guaranteed to bring me back to a basic argument I have, as a reviewer and for myself as a reader. Simply put, it is how do I feel about the cliffhanger?
Yes, Tide of Tricks, book 2 of Shadows of London, a fantastic tale of magic and mystery, has the most outrageous of all cliffhangers and THE key series/story revelation all at the same moment. Right at the end of the story! DO NOT READ the ending first. You wonāt even understand it anyway.
This is a heartbreaking, mindblast of a problem for several reasons, at least for me. I trust it will be for you all as well.
And I can tell you , if we were talking over tea or coffee? The expletives would be flying!
So let me dive into the why this cliffhanger is going to be so mind boggling awful.
It starts with Ariana Nashās character of John āDomā Domenici. His character, his personality and background is so densely layered, like a ābloom inā onionā as it were. The author has crafted Domās past with bagged filled hidden years that get revealed only through times of immense stress or threatened violence, that the reader and his associates never know whatās coming. Dom is a man whoās means of escaping his crime-filled East End childhood was to join the Army. That also turned out to be something far more torturous and disturbing (Iāll leave that to the book). Tragically from his start in Pretty Twisted Things , we now watch a man weāve come to greatly care about, slowly destabilize. With devastating results. And someone has planned this.
Nash has written a terrifying authentic example of a man being driven almost to the brink by forces unknown. We will feel every bit as helpless as Dom is to stop the events around him.
The people who work with him who we āthinkā care for him realize the dangers but thereās multiple targets. No one knows whoās the mastermind. And those who are acting on the mastermindās orders?
A shock or two there.
This is a veritable Minotaurās labyrinth of a plot and series arc. Bodies are falling, shadows are everywhere, magical objects of destruction of appearing all over London to destabilize people like Dom, and revelations about the primary characters start to pop like narrative gun fire. Nothing can be counted on except that everyone is in danger. And we have no real idea who everyone truly is.
Cliffhanger. In a beautifully written, outstandingly executed and almost flawless book.
Second stories are almost always a bridge book. They carry the plot and characters safely over from the foundation novel to the third book, which might be the end or even penultimate story in the series. Here Nash not only shoots out the lanterns our characters are carrying to light the way across the bridge but Nash is stranding them there before they reach the end. The bridge is going to break and all is darkness.
The third book in the series? Trial by Fire? Doesnāt come out until next May 2022. Ffs. Yup. Next year.
So back to my ongoing dilemma. When it comes to series and cliffhangers, do you (if given advance notice, clearly not here) wait until you have the entire series and read right through?
Or do what Iāve done, repeatedly, give in and read the book 1 in series after series, hopefully not to see a cliffhanger, and just go with it.
Knowing full well that come next May Iāll have to reread books 1 & 2 before diving back into this series, because the author has made it just that involved and convoluted. My mind will just not be able to hold onto all the details of this arc and plot and multiple characters until May 2022.
Sigh. Itās a old argument. Iāll probably still plow onwards. This author has me so hooked itās unreal.
So yesā¦ absolutely read this book and series. You decide when. If you want to wait until the series is complete, then read all the stories go for it. Read them as they come, waiting along with me? Ok weāll suffer together.
Either way, put it on your TBR list. Iām highly recommending it.
Shadows of London series:
ā¦ Twisted Pretty Things #1
ā¦ Tide of Tricks #2
ā¦ Trial by Fire #3- coming May 31st, 2022 argh! The wait will kill me!
Reeling from recent revelations and forced to lie for Kempthorne, the unthinkable happens: Dom fails the latent competency test. One more strike and heāll be deemed unstable, have his registration stripped, and the life he’s come to love at Kempthorne & Co will be over.
If that weren’t bad enough, someone is stalking him, taunting him. Someone who knows what Dom did all those years ago.
While Dom juggles Kempthorne’s lies and his own shady past, latents are being murdered. The police won’t help, so it’s up to Dom, Kempthorne & new-recruit Kage (Hollywood) to find the killer, before they strike too close to home.
Dom soon finds himself at the heart of it all with his control slipping, his trick breaking free, and the shadows rising.
He’s coming undone. And for unstable latents, there’s only one way outā¦..
Please note, this is an adult urban fantasy, so there are multiple swears, some darker themes and scenes, and on-page sex.
Black Tie is that lovely macaroon, light, colorful, sweet, a perfect bite! Here the novella is a delightful send off to the Overtime series by giving Jackie Blue and Martin their intimate family wedding and a goodbye to everyone as they sail off, or in this case fly off to their honeymoon and new life together.
Thereās nothing especially angst filled, no real drama, just a final look at the characters, as families and friends gather for a simple, quick ceremony and a flurry of laughter as everyone waves them off.
Itās a closure and a love letter by the author to fans of these men and at least two series.
I happen to love macaroons and think this was charming.
If youāre a fan of this series, you will too.
Synopsis:
Falling in love was easy. Saying āI doā is proving to be the tricky part.
Now that heās lived with the man of his dreams for close to two years, Jackie Blue Kalinski is finally ready to tie the knot. Itās not that he didnāt want to walk down the aisle sooner, but life kept putting obstacles in the way of the nuptials. A big move from Boston to Brooklyn, changing colleges, family being family, and juggling school while working in New Yorkās fashion district have stifled wedding plans. Add in that Martin seems to be speeding headlong into a midlife crisis, and itās no wonder itās taken them this long to get things moving. But now that the final stitches have been made on the wedding outfits, itās full steam ahead to that happily ever after
I have long needed another urban fantasy author (can never have too many) and now I have one. And a great new series to boot!
I stumbled upon Ariana Nash when I found this urban fantasy story, Twisted Pretty Things. Itās the first book in her Shadows of London series and itās a grand adventure and showstopper of a stage to a series.
It has a overall series arc of maze like proportions, continually looping back onto itself, then threading through the most obscure of narrative keyholes to keep the readerās mind throughly boggled and trying to see where this intriguing plot and deeply layered characters will lead us next.
Ah these insanely wonderful characters. All smoke and mirrors, deceptions laid upon deceptively clever and devious personalities. Just when you think you have one completely figured out, wham, thereās a complete turnaround in what you perceive in character.
I love that. Pull that emotional rug out from all of us repeatedly.
All it does is deepen our connection in an odd empathetic way to the people in front of us instead of pushing us away. We need to know more about these obviously tormented individuals and the paths that brought them here.
And the horrors that are about to come. For they are indeed coming.
All the main characters such as the cockney born John āDomā Domenici who now, through a convoluted journey, to his boss he works for , the elegant, wealthy Alexander Kempthorne , everyone here is fascinating and evolving.
The company, Kempthorne & Co, the main jobs revolve around retrieving magical objects imbued with dangerous powers. However, nothing is even that simple, as serious as it seems.
This story is steeped in British history and culture, including some of its most brutal and painful historical eras.
The authorās talent in using just a few phrases to telegraph something wordlessly barbaric is incredible. Itās used here to great emotional impact over and over.
The characters need to be read to be appreciated. Their growth, the revelations that are sprung on you as a reader cannot be put into a review yet itās so much a part of them and this increasingly fantastic urban fantasy tale of romance and a fight for survival.
But against what?
Thatās whatās coį¹ingā¦..
I was up late finishing this story and immediately grabbed up the next in the series. Itās plain addictive.
I can see several sleepless nights ahead.
Iām absolutely recommending this author and stories.
Start here! Itās a must read!
Synopsis:
Something wicked is moving in the shadows of Londonā¦
In the underground world of glitzy illegal auctions, fast cars, and stolen magical artifacts, John āDomā Domenici knows heās out of his depth. But he needs the job at Kempthorne & Co like he needs to breathe. The alternativeāgoing back to the organized crime gangs of Londonās East Endāis unthinkable.
So when Alexander Kempthorne, boss of Kempthorne & Co Artifact Retrieval Agency, wants him on a special case to track down an illegal artifact dealer, Dom canāt say no.
It shouldnāt matter that Kempthorneās world is full of deadly secrets. It shouldnāt matter that the billionaire is sexy as sin, and it really shouldnāt matter how thereās an American agent stalking Dom, an American who knows more than he should about Domās case, including the real reason Alexander Kempthorne hired Dom.
The only thing that really matters to Dom is solving the case and finding the artifact dealer. Because there are worse things in London than a conflicted billionaire and a trigger-happy American. Something wicked is stalking Londonās streets, and if Dom doesnāt stop it, its shadows will rise and consume them all.
***
Twisted Pretty Things is the first book in the all-new Shadows of London MM urban fantasy series. Action, mystery, and MM romance combine in this fast-paced adventure from the author who brought you the award-winning Silk & Steel series and the best-selling Prince’s Assassin series. Coming August 2021.
Triggering content: mention of past mental and physical abuse.
Please note the Shadows of London series is set in London and the characters are all British (so is the author). Although the series has been edited in US English for the larger US market, to include US spelling and grammar, many English slang words and spelling remain as part of the character of the work
Shadows of London series:
ā¦ Twisted Pretty Things #1
ā¦ Tide of Tricks #2
ā¦ Trial by Fire #3- coming May 31st, 2022 argh! The wait will kill me!
Jackie Blue Kalinski has been a strong favorite character of mine in this series and the Cayuga Cougars series since I met him.
Uniquely awesome, endearing, funny, and able to be the focal point of every scene, regardless of the nature, Jackie Blue grew up through these books and is now a 19 year old ready for his future.
In other stories a 19 year old seems young, but Jackie is in college, is sure of what he wants out of life and who he is personally. Heās a centered being with the full support of his family.
Then he meets Martin McKittrick, Marine fire chief , 45, divorced father of two adults,soon to be grandfather. Martin is also a player on the gay hockey team that Vic, Jackieās dad, coaches.
Itās a moment of intense instantaneous connection between them, making any differences in age vanish. At least for them.
The main thread is the intense romance and immediate bond between Jackie Blue and Martin. Itās also how their families and friends respond to them as a couple, see that 25 age gap as a factor as a part of a realistic relationship, and if itās possible to have real acceptance for such a May/December couple.
Having a 19 year old and a 45 year old as a couple and the heart of your story is a risk. Having it be successful really hinges on the writer being able to make each of those characters a completely fleshed out person whoās personality is set out in depth for the readers across the storyās pages so we believe each manās passion for the other. Including the fact that age has both been factored in, discussed, and then discarded, because itās about the inner connection here.
Locey also is aware that there are readers that are looking at this couple and that age gap with real misgivings. Itās a honest reaction and one of many that finds itās way into the mouths and dialogue of Jackie Blueās dads (yep, Vic went off the rails) or one of Martinās adult children. The characters for whom acceptance was not an easy road stood in as a family Greek Chorus of questions and honest disapproval, voicing thoughts that Iām sure there were readers out there thinking.
And as both the couple weathers obstacles, Jackie and Martin continue to communicate with each otherās families and inner circles. The couple talks to them about their relationship, allowing those close to see into their dynamics, and slowly the disapproval and misunderstandings dissipate. Each point that had been a major misgiving had been dissected through honesty and open communication in scene after scene. Great job by the author.
There are other elements to this story as well. Jackie adjusting to life as a partner of a firefighter and the stress that comes with that. That felt very well done.
Also the joyous aspect of Jackie Blue pursuing his career as a clothier and designer. This section I could see so clearly. His drive , the love of the clothes as well as fashion. It was perfect.
Draw turned out to be just like Jackie Blue. Unusual, unanticipated, unconventional, wildly moving, as well as satisfying. Turns out just what Jackie Blue hoped for and what he got. In every way.
V.L.Locey wrote an intelligent, beautifully crafted book. It had a risky premise but in her hands it turned into a gorgeous love story.
One Iām recommending.
Thereās one last novella in this series. Thatās Jackie Blue and Martinās wedding. How could you miss that?
Now on to Black Tie (Overtime #3.5)
Overtime Series complete:
Rebound #1-Vicās story
Final Shot #2 -Danās story
Draw #3 – Jackie Blueās story
Black Tie #3.5 – a Overtime novella
Synopsis:
They say first loves never last. Jackie Blue Kalinski was about to show themāwhoever they areāthat the word never is not in his vocabulary.
From the time Jack Kalinski was a preschooler he had a good sense of who he was and where he wanted to go in life. His childhood was spent drawing beautiful dresses for pretty people, male and female alike. Growing up with two dads who played hockey wasnāt exactly conducive to late night talks about tulle or tailorās chalk, but he never let that stop his dreams of becoming a fashion designer or expressing the genderqueer heart that beat in his chest. His familyās love and support helped him through some painful losses that shaped him into the strong, vivacious, and charismatic college student he is today. Life hasnāt been a smooth ride, but Jack has persevered and is about to take the fashion world by storm.
Little does he suspect that his tidy life is about to be scorched by a chance meeting with one of the men playing hockey on the gay team his father coaches. Martin McKittrick not only catches Jackās eye, but the much older man wins his heart. The passionate affair with the captain of the Marine Unit of the BFD burns red hot until the new couple run into a few snags that might dampen the inferno: Jackās ascent into the fashion world, Martinās job and the inherent dangers that come with it, and the fact that the well-kept secret romance has just been exposed to the world in a rather big way.
I have enjoyed this series immensely. Which is why Iām so surprised and puzzled over the characters and storylines of The Wrangler and the Orphan , the 4th in the Farthingdale Ranch series.
Unlike the others, this book has some major elements and characters which unfortunately didnāt work for me and in cases actually, had me thinking of cautionary flags.
And it starts right with the main characters. And their dysfunctional backgrounds as well as current histories.
The charactersā¦..
šKit Foster. Abandoned teen, last enrollment and safe structure was middle school, regularly beaten as well as emotionally traumatized by his mother and her endless line
of temporary āboyfriendsā to the point thatās Kitās normality.
His mother repeatedly moves him, eliminating any support or security other than her, who again abandons him after stealing money from her latest target and taking off to Las Vegas.
So basically, Kit is a mass of Insecurities , unable to trust, a scared kid of scarred body and young unformed abused mind. Without even an abusive mother to hold onto, heās desperation personified.
Worse, Kit has just escaped ,after being severely beaten by bar owner Eddie Piggot, and imprisoned in the barās basement. Heās got Victim written all over him.
Heās rescued by Brody, the ranchās wrangler.
That would beā¦..
šBrody Calhoun, almost 30. Ranch Wrangler. Son of an abusive father who whipped , beat and starved him. Ran away with a older carny man, still suffers PTSD from his upbringing, nightmares which he treats with CBD oil. Which is fine except it would get him fired and the ranch in trouble if found. So heās not exactly dealing well with his own past.
Brody never got the real help for the issues his brutal adolescent and background still causes him but looses himself in training horses for the ranch. And self medicating when necessary when the past catches up, including his nightmares.
Brodyās rescuer , the man who took him away from his abusive father, also works with him. His history is never far away.
He sees himself in Kit. And wants to take care of him? Finds the teen attractive in his totally needy, abused way? Everything about this , including keeping it a secret that Kitās even at the ranch at the beginning starts the questions popping up in my mind about the relationship and storyline.
Kit is regularly referred to a ākidā and acts like one. Although itās made a point thatās heās of ālegal ageā, nothing in this story, from the descriptions to his behavior will ever be anything that resembles something close to an adult. Instead Kit just presents as a somewhat broken, utterly youthful ,uneducated if eager youngster. One in desperate need of therapy and stability.
What he gets a older man whoās been as much if not more abused than he was, who decides how to fix and take care of the kid. Not as a family but as a lover. Hmmmm.
One of Kitās few happy memories of one of his motherās temporary boyfriend was a cowboy, a bronc rider. Now Kit is rescued by a cowboy. Can we say transference? Kitās now isolated on a ranch, with someone who just rescued him, who āglows heroā, but not once does anyone mention what specifically Kit has undergone or that he needs therapy to understand just what his past history has done so he can better understand the choices made going forward.
Things just continue to add up, and not in an enjoyable way.
The author uses terms such as ākid, scared kid, scared foal, young animal, torn sneakers, skittishā over and over , adjectives used to describe very young people or animals when referring to Kit. These are not words Iād choose when applied towards adults or anyone of legal age.
Example of elements I found problematic. One scene that threw up a big question for me. Brody turns grooming a horse into a sexual/comfort effort after Kit ends up in a fetal position just from enforcing close proximity to a horse. FYI Kitās informed Brody heās terrified of horses.
The author/Brody says heās soothing him like he would a skittish young animal. Hmm. Putting your arms around him and your groin up to his ass while someone is in a fragile emotional state? I know what I call that outside of this novel. Taking advantage of someone in a shaky state. Maybe something harsher.
Also thereās that weird element that the ranch hands refer to Kit as a orphan and he tells them heās not. Truth. You may not like that heās got an abusive mother but thatās downright odd denying someoneās truth.
Where during the rest of the story Kit is still making impulsive āyoung ā decisions based on his abusive upbringingā¦.because youād expect a teenager to at this point. Heās still new to the situation and people.
But why is the author not addressing this ?
Kitās damage from his mother and upbringing doesnāt disappear nor should it. Brodyās scars are inward as well as laid across his skin. So why is there no real acknowledgment that healing for something of that pain and depth is more than to ācowboy upā and a quick romance.
By the end Brody takesā the place of his mother in Kitās eyes . Kitās wordsš¤¦š¼āāļø. In the epilogue, Kit is comparing his life he had with Katey(his mother) versus the life he has now with Brody, how ones so stable. SMH.
As readers how are we supposed to feel about this? In another age gap novel I just finished, where the gap between lovers was larger, the author used other characters as stand-inās for readers perspectives who might feel uncomfortable, voicing various opinions. Allowing us to think about the pros and cons of such a romance through multiple characters.
But also those characters werenāt damaged and knew fully who were supporting them.
Here, we are supposed to connect with a brutalized teenager and a damaged man, both of whom need help to deal with their traumatic memories and childhoods. But instead dive immediately into a romance.
For this reader? Doesnāt feel healthy.
Several times this came close to a DNF as it was just an uncomfortable read. Trust me, not the age gap but the characters, their issues as well as their ages. It was everything here I found challenging.
It was odd because it felt as though this did not fit in among the other stories.
And as such, I just canāt recommend it.
Synopsis:
Some scars run soul-deep. Some scars only love can heal.”
Brody is the wrangler at Farthingdale Ranch. He knows a lot about horses, but not a whole lot about people.
He is so broken, he cannot imagine anyone would want to love him. Then along comes Kit, a young man in need of shelter, searching for a forever home.
In Kit, Brody sees the scared young man he used to be. In caring for Kit, Brody is in over his head.
But as Brody makes room in his heart for Kit, both their lives begin to change.
A gay m/m cowboy romance with hurt/comfort, rescue, age gap, fish out of water, opposites attract, midnight rendezvous. A little sweet, a little steamy, with a guaranteed HEA
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 