4 Heart Review: Love with a Perfect Cowboy by Lori Wilde

Love with a Perfect Cowboy (Cupid, Texas #4)
Lori Wilde

Page Count: 384
Release Date: May 27th 2014
Publisher: Avon (Harper Collins)
Source: Complimentary copy provided by publisher via tour publicist in exchange for an honest and unbiased review (thank you, Harper Collins and Tasty!)
Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

New York Times bestselling author Lori Wilde returns to Cupid, Texas, and asks the question: Do you ever forget your first love?

Melody Spencer had long-ago wiped the dust of Cupid, Texas, off her cute shoes... and done her best to forget the chiseled jaw and strong arms of cowboy Luke Spencer. Their families might be part of a long-time feud, but he was her very first love, even if it turned out they never wanted the same things.

But now Luke's come striding back into her life, tempting her with the memories of long, lazy evenings and hot, passionate kisses. And he has an ulterior motive—as Mayor of Cupid, he knows Melody's business savvy can help save their beloved hometown. His smooth talking might get her to Texas, but that doesn't mean he'll get her in his bed. Still, people do say love can be more perfect the second time around...

Buy the book from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository | Books-A-Million | iTunes | Kobo | Google Play | Publisher

Review

Look what had happened when [Luke had] tried [dating Melody] fifteen years ago.
Ah, crap, he was setting himself up for a hard tumble down a rocky cliff.
Yeah? Guest what? He didn't give a good damn. He wanted her and that's all there was to it.

This is one of those second-chance love stories that I thought I'd enjoy—I mean, cowboys? Texas? A forbidden relationship? What's not to love?—but there are so many issues I had with it. It's not a complete carwreck, I'll admit; it has a linear plot, characters easy to sympathize with, and the occasional witty line. But overall, I just didn't find it a very palatable novel.

Melody Spencer traded the wide skies of Cupid, Texas for the bright lights of New York City fifteen years ago, and hasn't looked back since. When her first love—the one with whom things never worked out because of a family feud—shows up in the Big Apple at her weakest moment, begging for her help, she can't help but remind herself that—even though she left Cupid behind—it is where her roots are, and she needs to do her part to save the crumbling town.

The aspect of a family feud keeping the two once-lovers apart attempts to create a modern-day Romeo and Juliet story, but it just didn't seem very complicated or tragic to me. I know the taboo aspect of the relationship is supposed to be sexy, but because Lori Wilde gave no depth to either character, it was hard to follow the romance.

Melody and Luke's cheesy instalove is also a huge problem. The moment Melody lays her eyes on Luke—again—her knees weaken, she swoons, she realizes she still loves him, etc. etc. etc. Every other line in the book is Luke noticing Melody's beauty or intelligence or kindness, which isn't only irritating, but also detrimental to the story because it reduces Wilde's style to simplistic telling, not showing. The dialogue and superfluous descriptions are not only stilted, but they're also ridiculous; I was literally laughing at the writing.

A few examples of the cringe-worthy dialogue and wording:

"You're a terrific catch. Looks like someone would have snared you by now."
"Thanks for the compliment," he said. "But I could ask you the same thing."

...how romantic, how smoldering, how smooth!

A seductive purr hummed over her lips, and a heavy breath drove her exquisite tits straight up into his chest. Through flaring nostrils he inhaled her feminine aroma, the flirty flavor of spice, licorice, and kiwi perfume permeating his olfactory receptors, sailing into his brain, flitting between neurons and skimming over synapses, firing off a timeless male response.
Exotic.

...flaring nostrils? Olfactory receptors?? A timeless male response???? What the fuck!!

God, she was beautiful and sexy and irresistible. Luke genuinely liked her. She was quick-witted and professional, eager, goal-oriented, a real-go-getter. Beautiful and self-confident in maturity. Multifaceted.

...why don't we just put the thesaurus down, Lori, and stop going on like this..

She wriggled beneath him and he was instantly hard enough to cut sheet metal with his dick.

...well, at least it's original.

"Do you have any idea how damn sexy you are?" he whispered.
She laughed. (I would have laughed too.)
Of course she did, the seductive wench.

...seductive wench???/ ?? Is that normal??

Did she have any idea what she did to him? Wearing that little red dress held up by strips of material no thicker than a strand of linguini?

...beautiful and poetic, as you can see.

He imagined chewing those straps right off her body, and licked his lips.

...okay, this is where I lost it. As did Lori Wilde.

Pros

An okay standalone novel, although it's the fourth (and last) in the series // Quick read; fast-paced

Cons

Romance is hardly romantic // Even the plot outside the romance, regarding saving Cupid, isn't well done // Both characters are idiots—no character development or depth at all // Instalove... or re-instalove? // Everything, from the flirting, the backstory, and the sex, is stilted, rushed, and just hard to get into // Unrealistic // Annoyingly repetitive

Verdict

While the author hasn't committed any major crimes in Love with a Perfect Cowboy, it was a sore disappointment because of how shallow and lacking the characters, the romance, and the subplots were. The synopsis seemed intriguing, but the "forbidden relationship" isn't explored deeply and just comes off as outrageously ignorant, and the forced dialogue and laughable descriptions don't help its case either. Maybe diehard Lori Wilde fans will be able to enjoy this last installment in the Cupid, Texas series, but I sure don't recommend it 

4 hearts: So-so; reading this book may cause wrinkles (from frowning so much)(x)

Author: Linda Lael Miller Interview and Giveaway!

Brought to you by the fabulous Little Bird Publicity...

It's my pleasure to welcome one of the most widely recognized names in the Western romance, Linda Lael Miller, to the blog today to celebrate the release of the fourth installment of her Swoon-Worthy Cowboys series! Welcome to Books à la Mode, Linda! Let's get this interview started.

Will you please share a brief bio with us?

As the daughter of a town marshal, Linda has come home to the western lifestyle that gave birth to one of today’s most successful authors. She left Washington years ago and pursued her wanderlust, living in Arizona and London and traveling the world. Now the author of more than 100 novels, the “First Lady of the West” is glad to be back home, writing contemporary and historical stories that have earned her awards and placements on all the national bestsellers lists.

Linda traces the birth of her writing career to the day when a Northport teacher told her that the stories she was writing were good, that she just might have a future in writing. Later, when she decided to write novels, she endured her share of rejection before she sold Fletcher's Woman in 1983 to Pocket Books. Since then, Linda has successfully published historicals, contemporaries, paranormals, and thrillers before coming home, in a literal sense, and concentrating on novels with a Western flavor. For her devotion to her craft, the Romance Writers of America awarded her their prestigious Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007.

It's really incredible to feature you—and to hear about your journey as a writer—today! Could you tell us a bit about your newest release, Big Sky Summer, which hits shelves today?

Series: Parable, Montana #4
Page Count: 320
Release Date: 1 June 2013
Publisher: HQN (Harlequin)

The "First Lady of the West," #1 New York Times-bestselling author Linda Lael Miller, welcomes you home to Parable, Montana—where love awaits.

With his father's rodeo legacy to continue and a prosperous spread to run, Walker Parrish has no time to dwell on wrecked relationships. But country-western sweetheart Casey Elder is out of the spotlight and back in Parable, Montana. And Walker can't ignore that his "act now, think later" passion for Casey has had consequences. Two teenage consequences!

Keeping her children's paternity under wraps has always been part of Casey's plan to give them normal, uncomplicated lives. Now the best way to hold her family together seems to be to let Walker be a part of it—as her husband of convenience. Or will some secrets—like Casey's desire to be the rancher's wife in every way—unravel, with unforeseen results?

Buy the book at: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository | Books-A-Million | Kobo | Publisher

You come from a Western family—you grew up on a ranch and love the outdoors. How have your real-life experiences helped make your Parable, Montana series come to life? Are there any parts of your personal life in this newest book?

My books are always very organic, growing out of the characters and the initial situation they find themselves in, so it would be difficult to pinpoint any single incident that might inspire a story.

I think my feelings and values come through in all the Parable, Montana books—things like taking care of your own, lending a helping hand when it’s needed, keeping your word, going out of your way to stick up for children and animals and folks who find themselves sick or in trouble, and never turning your back on what’s there to be done because, in the words of my old daddy, "it ain’t gonna go nowhere, so you might as well deal with it."

Does the title "#1 Bestselling Author" put extra pressure on you when you're writing new novels? Or do you have a writing groove you get into where you can just shut the rest of the world out and immerse yourself in the book you’re working on?

Australian cover

I’m very proud of this moniker, of course, since I spent years earning it. However, it does increase the pressure to produce a really fine story, and it can throw a person off. Still, if that pressure causes me to work a little harder, well, I think that’s a good thing.

Absolutely! Motivation, if anything. Do you write every day? Do you have a writing routine?

Yes, mostly. I write five days a week, from about 9 am, stopping at 1 or 2 pm because by then my brain starts turning to jelly. I am definitely a morning person. Sometimes, when a deadline is pressing hard, I’ll put in longer hours and work weekends, but mostly I avoid that. I need time to refill the well by reading, doing art, puttering in the yard and playing with the pets.

Glad to see you know to find balance between work and play. Can you give us a little sneak peek of the next book in the series, Big Sky Wedding, which is due to hit stores in August?

Brylee Parrish, Walker’s younger sister and the jilted bride from Big Sky Mountain, has a few trust issues, as you might imagine. She’s especially not inclined to trust Zane Sutton, the famous movie star settling on the ranch nearest her company headquarters—but what she’s supposed to do about the attraction?

Zane didn't come to Parable for love—but count on a spirited woman to change a jaded cowboy's mind. Problem is, Brylee's not convinced he's here to stay. Good thing he's determined to prove to her, kiss by kiss, that she's meant to be his bride.

Lovely! I love how we get to see Brylee's story fall into place. Where can you be found on the web?

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Harlequin Page

It was absolutely delightful getting to know you and your marvelous series, Linda! Thank you so much for joining us, and a BIG congrats on the books x

Giveaway!

We've a terrific giveaway just for you readers! Thanks to the publicist, there's one print copy of Big Sky Summer up for grabs—I know y'all are just dying to try this one! To enter the giveaway, fill out the Rafflecopter form below.

For extra entries, leave me a comment about Big Sky Summer, Western romance, putting your personal values into your writing, series whose books follow different (recurring) characters, and/or baby daddy romance stories.

Please make your comment MEANINGFUL—comments only consisting of "I like Western romances" or "Thanks for the giveaway!" will not be considered for entry!!!! I really want to hear you guys' thoughts! :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Rules and Disclosure:

Giveaway ends 15 June 2013 at 11.59 PM (your time).

Open to US readers only. Sorry, international! Check my sidebar for international giveaways.

Winners have 48 hours to claim their prize once they are chosen, or else their prizes will be forfeited.
Although I do select winners via Rafflecopter (Random.org), I am in no way responsible for prizes, nor for shipping and handling.

As a reminder, you do not have to follow my blog to enter, though it is always very much appreciated ❤ Plus you get extra entries ;)

Good luck!

A Romance Author's Real-Life Romance Story by Cynthia Woolf and Giveaway!

Brought to you by Black Lion Virtual Book Tours...

Heiress Bride (Matchmaker & Co. #2)
Cynthia Woolf

Heiress Ella Davenport survived a carriage accident that killed her father. Her life was saved in exchange for savage scars that marred her beautiful face. Her friends—socialites—showed their true colors, casting Ella aside like damaged goods and leaving her a social pariah. Even her wealth can’t buy her the kind of marriage she wants. Desperate to find a husband who can accept her despite her scars without knowing about her money, she seeks to become a mail-order bride. Matchmaker & Co. is her one chance to start over and leave the pain and betrayal far behind.

Ten years ago, Nathan Ravenclaw was run out of town by the father of the girl he was courting once he discovered Nathan’s Arapaho heritage. It didn’t matter that Nathan was a successful rancher, businessman, and a positive member of society. The white community suddenly saw only a half-breed; even his money couldn’t buy him a wife. He moved and rebuilt everything that had been taken from him. He has it all... except a wife. Matchmaker & Company promises to send him a woman willing to start a new life with him, but Nathan's battered heart lacks the ability to trust. He longs for children, not romance. His new bride, scarred and cast aside like himself, promises to be perfect for him. until he actually meets her. Fierce desire and an even more dangerous hope roar back to life within him—two things he swore never to indulge in again.

As for love? For these two battered souls, that's the biggest risk of all.

Buy the book at: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository | Sony eStore | Kobo | Smashwords

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥: Betrayal by Robin Lee Hatcher

Betrayal (Where the Heart Lives #2)
Robin Lee Hatcher

Page Count: 255
Release Date: 13 November 2012
Publisher: Zondervan
Source: Complimentary copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest and unbiased review (thank you!)

Can two wounded hearts find a way to trust again?

It's the turn of the twentieth century and drifter Hugh Brennan is a man well acquainted with betrayal. Hugh finds himself drawn to the attractive widow, Julia, yet when he looks into her eyes, he recognizes the same hurt that haunts him. 

Julia Grace has little reason to trust men, but she's going to have to trust someone if she's to keep her ranch from the clutches of her dead husband's half-brother. Is it possible God had a hand in bringing Hugh to her door? 

The latest historical romance from award-winning author Robin Lee Hatcher and the second book in the Where the Heart Lives series, Betrayal will take you to the high desert of western Wyoming, through the crags of the Rocky Mountains, and into the hearts of two seekers learning to trust God's love no matter the circumstances.

Review

On the small farm of Sage-hen, off of Pine Creek, Wyoming, God tests the bonds of love on two broken, desperate individuals: Hugh Brennan and Julia Grace. Both have troublesome pasts that still haunt them, and both are clinging onto their faiths as tightly as they can... because they know that if they don't, they just might let go.

Hugh is burdened by an unjust accusation of a crime; he served the sentence he didn't deserve, and now he wants a fresh start. By fate, he meets Julia, who can both give and accept the help Hugh needs and has, allowing the two to slowly, steadily depend on each other. In a stormy battle between desire and committal to God, painful, unfair pasts are slowly and elaborately unraveled. I loved being able to get each Hugh and Julia's backstories little by little; it definitely kept me reading. I found it very admirable how both characters' faiths remained solid even after all they went through. They're strong people—good people—and for sticking with the Lord even when betrayed by those they loved most, they deserve each other in every aspect.

Julia is not likable. Her work offer to Hugh very generous, considering the financial situation she is in her late husband, Angus's, wake, but she's unaffectionate, which I think transpires largely due to the stiff, unfeeling dialogue. I found this to be the case in the first book in this series, Belonging; all the conversations are weak, often one-worded, and sometimes just plain unfriendly. 

Hugh, on the other hand, I liked. He's charming and the perfect gentleman, though not much of a swoon-worthy masculine hero. He's kind and virtuous, though, so I couldn't ask for a better protagonist. Through all of the characters—minor ones included—and especially through Hatcher's gorgeous, literary voice, I really felt an emotional resonance from all the relationships. Unfortunately, Julia and Hugh's "romance" was a little lacking because it's very chaste and there's no specific indication of more-than-friends feelings until the last few pages, but as a Christian novel, it successfully portrays love from all perspectives. Love isn't about being sexual or romantic; it's about finding oneself, and better yet, finding a better self within another person. In each other, Hugh and Julia find an escape from lonely childhoods, abusive pasts, and the pain of loss—an escape from the normal; such abnormality is absolutely wonderful.

My main issue with the book is the central conflicts: they're too stale. They revolve around the impending threat of Julia losing Sage-hen due to an uncertain investment, as well as the relationship with her mother that she still has the power—but not the courage—to repair. There is plenty of rising tension, but both are resolved way to quickly, way too easily; essentially, there is no climax, which is something I feel every story needs. I would have liked to see a bit of suspense, a bit of a struggle!

Betrayal makes the perfect stand-alone novel because there are no recurring situations or main characters from the first book in the series, but readers of Belonging will rejoice Hugh's reunion with his sister, Felicia, whom he has not seen since their separation upon being orphaned. This part was heartwarming, but very brief and hasted. There's no jubilant meeting scene, only a few sentences describing how Hugh finds her in Frenchman's Bluff, Idaho. I wish their reunion would have been elaborated upon.

Pros

Beautiful writing style and flow // Grounded, moral characters // Hugh is good-natured and a great character // Great cast of secondary characters // Livable, breathable historical setting // Strong Christian undertone // Not preachy // Tragic pasts are slowly revealed, which makes the reader holding on // Hugh reunites with his long-lost sister, Felicia

Cons

Passive conflicts // Julia lacks compassion // Very little romance // Said "romance" isn't very believable // Dialogue is too cool and clipped

Love

[Julia] swallowed the questions. She would let [Hugh] keep his secrets so she could keep hers.

Verdict

While the main conflicts are weakly resolved and the dialogue tends to flatten out, the emotional turmoil, unfaltering faith, and wild determination in Betrayal will strengthen readers' trust and warm their hearts. This is a story about renewal, about redemption, about leaving the things of the past in the past, and focusing on God and on the future; Hatcher's silky, glimmering prose leads it on seamlessly.

7 hearts: Not without flaws, but overall enjoyable. ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥: Belonging by Robin Lee Hatcher

Belonging (Where the Heart Lives #1)
Robin Lee Hatcher

Page Count: 277
Release Date: 23 August 2011
Publisher: Zondervan
Source: Complimentary copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest and unbiased review (thank you!!)

Can two bitter pasts make one sweet future?

In the high desert town of Frenchman's Bluff, Idaho, Felicia Kristoffersen has set out to create a future for herself that is better than her painful past. Alone in the world with only her faith to sustain her, she must prove herself as this tiny community's new school teacher. She cannot, must not, fail. But, there are those who never wanted her there to begin with.

Five years after the death of his wife, local merchant Colin Murphy cares about just one thing: raising his daughter, Charity. Colin wants to give her the educational advantages he never had. The new schoolmarm's inexperience doesn't sit well with him, and if this teacher up and marries like the last one did, Charity's heart will be broken once again.

A woman who hasn't known love. A man who lost the love he had.

In the midst of the wide, sage-covered plains, each is about to discover that life's bitterest circumstances truly can work together for good.

Review

At ten, Felicia Brennan Kristofferson was orphaned; at twenty-six, she was orphaned for the second time. The deaths of her adoptive parents leaves her completely independent—save the malicious "cousin" who wants her to marry into the Kristofferson family to face the fate of inevitable domestic houselife—so the teaching job that brings her to Frenchman's Bluff, Idaho, is a haven—a godsend. 

The small, close-knit town welcomes Felicia with open arms, but there are a few who underestimate and actually disapprove of her position. Their suspicions are not without reason, however; the previous two schoolteachers each stayed less than one year each, before marrying off and ditching the children completely, so some parents are concerned she just may be taking advantage of the job, as the others did.

Felicia's incredible dedication to her career, her students, and to God, however, proves that she only has one motive to be in Frenchman's Bluff, and that is to serve the Lord and the children. Her heart contains nothing pureness, and maybe a few nostalgic bruises; she is determined to take this fresh start and make it right. I was amazed at how well and how deeply her character is explored. All of the characters are remarkably well-developed, secondary characters included. I loved the good guys and hated the bad; Hatcher makes it very easy to tap into the minds of each cast member, from the main character, to the antagonist, which I know is not an easy feat in and of itself.

The plot is tasteful and well-crafted, incorporating bits of Christian values smoothly. The storyline is not terribly exciting, but it's planned perfectly, and mighty clever. The development of Felicia's relationships with all the townspeople, as well as with Colin and Charity, is a real treat. While I did like how the inspirational messages weren't forced, I did feel sometimes the book was unreasonably preachy. Felicia silently prays or makes a plea to God at every ill thought and every remote turn in plan; not only is this slightly annoying, but it's also unnecessary. As a character, she's irritatingly sensitive; she tears up at every reminder of her past. I know it's sad, and I know she's a fragile woman, but that kind of behavior is girly (in a bad way) and weak. I would have liked to have seen more strength from Felicia—the kind of strength acquired over ten years, of overcoming the heartbreak of being torn apart from family at a young age. Colin's character is a bit more relatable; he too, has an upsetting past, but his safe, widowed, day-to-day life is his own way of recovery. His dedication to his daughter, especially, is incredibly real and hits close to home.

Stylistically, Hatcher is a gem. Her words flow smoothly and beautifully. The procession of the story moves seamlessly; I didn't have to plod through it at all! One thing that did irk me was the curtness of the dialogue: lots of one-worded responses from not just one, but all of the characters. Maybe this was the norm in 1897, but to me, it just sounds unwelcoming. The deep probing of—the scars, fears, and secrets of—each of the characters' minds makes up for it, though. I really have no complaints on how Hatcher chose to portray her characters fully.

I cannot confidently classify this as a romance novel. In the traditional sense, yes, it's a romance in that boy meets girl on the first page and boy gets girl by the last, but it's rather unorthodox. There is no attraction—in fact, there is unattraction—until about halfway throughout. Then small, totally non-sexual, tingly feelings rise in Colin and Felicia's stomachs whenever they see each other—more than a several times—and then they abruptly SPOILER get married and live happily ever after. I will say their relationship is complex, especially with Colin's initial reservations and Felicia's interaction with his young daughter, but it just didn't seem at all romantic to me. It bothered me that Colin's character is compromised when it is revealed that he never was in love with his wife. He loved her, of course, and is still grieving her death, but his marriage to her is described as "practical." I feel this is uncharacteristic and was only included so that his relationship could further with Felicia. Again, this makes the so-called romance unrealistic and a bit stilted. For a content advisory, there isn't one; the romance is 100% chaste (absolutely no sex, absolutely no physical interaction except at the end—in hindsight, this may be why I didn't enjoy it as much) because it sticks to traditional 19th century Christian values.

The power of staying faithful to God and leading life with a pure, wholesome outlook prove to be the key to happiness in Belonging. Through Felicia, readers understand and rejoice because, no matter what troubles and turmoils arise, God always saves and protects. Accidents will occur, plans will be ruined, and people will try to get in the way, but in the end, maintaining a loving, kind heart is what makes individuals truly belong.

Pros

Amazing character development // Easy, smooth flow to story; book moves and finishes quickly // Well-penned writing style // Colin and Felicia have a strong rapport, though not necessarily a romance // Strong morals on family and love // Believable situations and characters // Not too dense with historical information; fictional town and setting actually quite charming

Cons

Slightly preachy in religious message // Felicia is pathetic at times // Romance is poorly developed // Dialogue sometimes unrealistic and lacks emotion

Love

Kathleen could scarcely believe those words had come out of her mouth ... She must be losing her mind.

Or perhaps she was beginning to find it.

Verdict

Belonging is a heartwarming, clean, and gorgeously-crafted Christian historical that encompasses an absence—and a discovery—of belonging, a passion for God, and a huge misunderstanding, or rather: several small misunderstandings that constitute for one conflict of fate. By demonstrating the importance of determination, dedication, and faith, Belonging conveys the almighty power of love—for God, for family, and for oneself through one woman's search for a place to belong. The religious undertone is strong, and the characterization, stronger; Hatcher has succeeded in telling an inspirational, absorbing, and completely feel-good story. 

8 hearts: An engaging read; highly recommended. ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥: Lorcan's Desire by SJD Peterson

Lorcan's Desire (Whispering Pines Ranch #1)
SJD Peterson

Release Date: May 30th, 2011

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

Page Count: 184

Source: Complimentary copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest and unbiased review (thank you!)

Despite the loving support of his family, Lorcan James wants to try life on his own, so at twenty-one, he finds himself walking halfway across the country in search of adventure. What he finds is desperation, desperation that leads him straight to Whispering Pine Ranch and right into the path of its strong, arrogant, gorgeous owner, who awakens something in Lorcan he didn't even know existed.

Quinn Taylor is up to his neck in grief and frustration dealing with a neighboring rancher who wants nothing more than to see him go belly-up. He doesn't need more complications, but from the moment he lays eyes on Lorcan, his world turns upside down. Despite finding in Quinn what his heart craves, Lorcan refuses to be Quinn's dirty little secret—and Quinn isn't the only one vying for Lorcan's attention. Ranch hand Jess will happily declare his love for Lorcan to the world, something Quinn won't offer—something Lorcan needs above all else.

What Stephanie Thinks: Burning passion, yet also skeptic true love, scathe the pages of Lorcan's Desire. Quinn is everything Lorcan wants—handsome, brooding, salacious—and he can tell Quinn wants him too (telltale signs of male body language, hello!) but his moodiness expresses otherwise. Lorcan has done everything to be kind, helpful, and sometimes even flirty around the strong cowboy who has taken him in and offered him a generous ranch job, but he's not exactly getting friendliness in return.

While Lorcan wants to have a public relationship with Quinn, Quinn is afraid of coming out of the closet, from old, nostalgic fears of his past that have to do with gay bashing. He knows his revelation will taunt him, and it may even make him lose his ranch.

There's lots of sexual frustration in this gay romance novel, but I can't say I feel any chemistry between any of the characters. Yes, some of the things lovers whisper to each other in the dark make my heart squeeze, and some of the sex scenes are fiery hot, but I just don't feel that zing I should feel between characters who are attracted to each other. This applies to both Quinn and Lorcan, and Jess and Lorcan: the two main relationships this book centers around.

To put it pleasantly, Peterson writes aggressively. The plot is aggressive, the characters aggressive, the sex aggressive. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but I like to save intensity for necessary moments, rather than throwing it around every other approach. The straightforwardness of the story also makes for profound emotion, rawness, and haste because of the fast pace.

In the end though, the indispensable message Lorcan's desires reveals, is that love should be uninhibited, not restricted by society's expectations and standards. I felt lots of frustration myself, while reading about Quinn's inability to truly express his love for Lorcan. It was like I know the love is there—Quinn knows the love is there—he just refuses to display it because he fears what others will think of him for being gay. As a believer of true love, no matter what the gender, race, age (except pedophilia; ick), and religion, I totally sympathize with Lorcan's heartbreak about the man who will forever be unavailable. The ending is extremely dissatisfying; it's one of those tragic conclusions where one lover has a happily ever after, while the other doesn't. Very depressing. It shows what results from following the rules at the expense of following the heart, and makes me never, ever wish that sort of decision on anyone.

Stephanie Loves: "Sometimes being in love hurts. Hiding it or denying it causes the greatest hurt of all." — Pretty much sums up the most important part of this book!

Radical Rating: 7 hearts: Not without flaws, but overall enjoyable. ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥