2.75 ( )

I've been looking for a chance to read something by AM Arthur, and this one made a good impression.

The premise is common enough - the gay man who is out, and the bi guy who isn't. He's in a male dominated profession, he works for his father, and in one small twist, his older brother is out and gay - none of which was easy - so the bi guy, Brand, feels extra pressure not to disappoint the family, believing that gay relationships don't usually have children.

Hugo and Brand have both had fairly traumatic young lives. Hugo from an abusive older half brother. Brand for the reasons above. Plus, he wanted to be a teacher, but when his older brother left Woods Ranch, Brand felt the ranch's and the family's future all fell on his shoulders.

At times it felt like the anxieties of the characters, especially the burdens that Brand was carrying, were hammered home too much, repeated to overkill. That was a detraction, but I can't score the novel less than 4 stars because it still kicked it out of the park in its compassionate portrayal of two people trying for love.

There's no doubt that these "tender, sexy cowboy romances" are special and they certainly seduce me. Not that any "tender, sexy" novel doesn't! But I am attracted to the cowboy/ranch settings. Can't say why they have a particular appeal for me, except that who isn't entranced by big skies, stars, horses, handsome cowboys, and the nobility of hard work.

There's an unforgettable camping trip to the far corner of the ranch, which of course recalls Brokeback Mountain.

This audiobook is read beautifully by Michael Dean who I don't think I've heard before. I've no idea where his accent would be from - Texas? - but it totally suits this novel. I hoped to find that he's read lots in my library, but doesn't look like it. ( )

3/5 stars!

This second-chance romance features a cowboy hiding his sexuality and the younger cowboy who shakes his world. The younger hero returns to Texas to face his past, especially the situation with his crush. Said crush doesn't want to face his own feelings for the younger hero at first, but love has other ideas. How can this couple get their happy ending when personal issues and other obstacles are tearing them apart?

This is my first A. M. Arthur book and the first in the Woods Ranch series. I liked the ranch setting and the small-town vibes. Out of all the characters, my favorite ones are the younger hero and the pets. There was a good mix of likable and detestable secondary characters that helped move the story along. However, the story needed some more details about this particular couple to satisfy my preference for a good book. And some details pertaining to the older hero made me not like him as much as the younger hero. So with me not clicking with the older hero it definitely affected my reading enjoyment. Yet this A. M. Arthur book has a good start to this Woods Ranch series and features complex characters that readers will enjoy.

**Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy. All opinions and thoughts in the review are my own.** ( )