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Ranch Hands #1
Ranch Hands
Sid was in trouble; he'd be wronged in every way one could be. His farm was failing, his lover had left with no warning, and the mortgage is 6 months overdue.
Desperate and pushed by the bank, he hires a live-in boarder, Roger. Unbeknown to Sid, Roger has just escaped his own personal hell and is grateful for the opportunity and new surroundings.
Things are not rosy, however. Neither man will tell the other their secrets due to a huge lack of trust of people in general, especially other men. They have a few incidents, including a couple with the town deadbeat, Jerry.
Finally, an ultimatum is issued. Will things turn around? What will become of the farm and all the hard work? Can these two work past the problems and sow the seeds of love instead of anger?
Desperate and pushed by the bank, he hires a live-in boarder, Roger. Unbeknown to Sid, Roger has just escaped his own personal hell and is grateful for the opportunity and new surroundings.
Things are not rosy, however. Neither man will tell the other their secrets due to a huge lack of trust of people in general, especially other men. They have a few incidents, including a couple with the town deadbeat, Jerry.
Finally, an ultimatum is issued. Will things turn around? What will become of the farm and all the hard work? Can these two work past the problems and sow the seeds of love instead of anger?
Nook
First published March 24, 2010
55 people want to read
About the author
S.L. Danielson
28 books85 followersaka Stephanie L. Danielson. I've been an avid reader since a small child. My first loves were science fiction as well as general fiction books.
Later, I began writing my own stories with a romantic flavor to them.
With influences running the gamut from romance,sci-fi, and drama, my muse was found.
In 2007 I was first published with Love Resurrected, and have since released over a dozen other books, mostly in the contemporary gay romance genre. I am particularly fond of young adult/college age boys to write about.
When not working on a new book, I can be found shooting pool and darts, hanging out with my husband, parents, and cat, cycling, skating, or spending way too much time playing computer games.
Later, I began writing my own stories with a romantic flavor to them.
With influences running the gamut from romance,sci-fi, and drama, my muse was found.
In 2007 I was first published with Love Resurrected, and have since released over a dozen other books, mostly in the contemporary gay romance genre. I am particularly fond of young adult/college age boys to write about.
When not working on a new book, I can be found shooting pool and darts, hanging out with my husband, parents, and cat, cycling, skating, or spending way too much time playing computer games.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
June 12, 2010
^^QUITE A HANDFULL!^^
I will say this Ranch Hands is not one of the worst books out there and neither can it be considered one of the best, it's right smack in the middle between “what the heck was this” and “ That wasn’t very bad”. I am caught in limbo right now, I like it but then I feel like the writing fell short, but in the end it was a sweet story about two sad individuals finding love again.
Sid’s ranch is having a hard time with failed crops and no money coming in, he might very well lose what is most precious to him. The mortgage is 6 months overdue, he is suffering from a broken heart, lets just say things aren’t going his way. Sid decides he needs help and takes on a live-in-boarder and hopefully with his help they can bring the farm around. He hires Roger explaining all the hard work and that there would be no pay, what then begins is a discovery in trust and letting go of the past.
Roger has his own dark past, running from an abusive lover, working on a farm is just what he needs to clear his head and begin anew. Well he has feelings for his boss, and not the general feelings you usually have for an employer, these feeling are the I wanna get you naked feelings. Well the naked part seems far off in the distance, because Sid and Roger can never see eye to eye, they constantly fight and mostly they just ignore each other.
When Roger starts snooping he finds the name of the man who broke Sid’s heart and this pushes them further apart but in the end they resolves their issues. They share the past and the feelings they have for each other, and they begin their lives together. Things don’t remain peachy and the villains of the past pop in for a visit. I had my issues with that, it was kind of expected that past loves would appear, but consecutively, that just threw me for a loop.
Overall, it’s an ok story and the characters are likeable, and the plot is very touching. Told in third person, you get a glimpse of what both Roger and Sid is feeling. There was lots of drama, and for a book with only 111pages believe me when I say a whole lot happens, but it gets resolved. There were a few times when I felt like certain conversations just jumped from one topic to the other, and that left me a little confused, its still quite and easy story line to follow. Another issue was I could never figure out if they had sex or not, and when they did, easily forgettable and not the least bit sexy. This is one of those books where you have to draw your own conclusion, for me it was just ok.
Its more like a 2.5 but, I liked their dogs and the town drunk.
I will say this Ranch Hands is not one of the worst books out there and neither can it be considered one of the best, it's right smack in the middle between “what the heck was this” and “ That wasn’t very bad”. I am caught in limbo right now, I like it but then I feel like the writing fell short, but in the end it was a sweet story about two sad individuals finding love again.
Sid’s ranch is having a hard time with failed crops and no money coming in, he might very well lose what is most precious to him. The mortgage is 6 months overdue, he is suffering from a broken heart, lets just say things aren’t going his way. Sid decides he needs help and takes on a live-in-boarder and hopefully with his help they can bring the farm around. He hires Roger explaining all the hard work and that there would be no pay, what then begins is a discovery in trust and letting go of the past.
Roger has his own dark past, running from an abusive lover, working on a farm is just what he needs to clear his head and begin anew. Well he has feelings for his boss, and not the general feelings you usually have for an employer, these feeling are the I wanna get you naked feelings. Well the naked part seems far off in the distance, because Sid and Roger can never see eye to eye, they constantly fight and mostly they just ignore each other.
When Roger starts snooping he finds the name of the man who broke Sid’s heart and this pushes them further apart but in the end they resolves their issues. They share the past and the feelings they have for each other, and they begin their lives together. Things don’t remain peachy and the villains of the past pop in for a visit. I had my issues with that, it was kind of expected that past loves would appear, but consecutively, that just threw me for a loop.
Overall, it’s an ok story and the characters are likeable, and the plot is very touching. Told in third person, you get a glimpse of what both Roger and Sid is feeling. There was lots of drama, and for a book with only 111pages believe me when I say a whole lot happens, but it gets resolved. There were a few times when I felt like certain conversations just jumped from one topic to the other, and that left me a little confused, its still quite and easy story line to follow. Another issue was I could never figure out if they had sex or not, and when they did, easily forgettable and not the least bit sexy. This is one of those books where you have to draw your own conclusion, for me it was just ok.
Its more like a 2.5 but, I liked their dogs and the town drunk.
Read
June 24, 2010Ranch Hands is a novel with the taste of an homemade apple pie. Sid Rosen is the only owner, and worker, of a ruined ranch in an farm county. He has no money to hire an help and neither to pay the mortgage, but he doesn’t want to give up. The only one to answer his ad for a ranch hand is Roger: not much experience, but willing to help in exchange of only border, Roger is Sid’s only chance.
They start a cohabitation that is at the same time easy and awkward: it’s clear that both of them have secrets to hide, and it’s also clear that they are drawn to each other, but neither of them is willing, or able to do the first step. I had the feeling that both Sid and Rog are quiet men, plain and homely, not really the hard core type; together they are able to do something and go on, but alone they would probably give up. Due to their submissive character, they are also easy prey, for unscrupulous men; their past history is quite similar, and for this reason they have in common also a future development; I’m not sure to find believable that both of them had almost the same “accident” with a past lover, but then, that is also a point that bond them together, so maybe it was a necessary twist in the plot. For sure it gave me the idea that Sid and Roger have to be really careful in the future, since, as I said, together they can face adversity, but alone they are not much of an opposition against fate.
I wondered also on the place where they live; it was a throughout idyllic farm place, and for idyllic I’m not referring to the life condition, that were hard and dry, as most of the farm town nowadays, but on the acceptance that both men find with townsfolk and families: I’m not sure that is possible, at least not in US, not even in those countries where same sex marriage is legal, but at least it didn’t distract the reader from the relationship between Sid and Rog; acceptance was not one of their problem, building a common life in an difficult environment, when both of them were not exactly “macho men”, that were their obstacles.
Ranch Hands is a nice and sweet western romance, but two unexpected main heroes: those cowboys are not your usual imaginary of Marlboro man, but they are more, as the title says, ranch hands, simple, and average, men.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003DZ1M2E/?...
They start a cohabitation that is at the same time easy and awkward: it’s clear that both of them have secrets to hide, and it’s also clear that they are drawn to each other, but neither of them is willing, or able to do the first step. I had the feeling that both Sid and Rog are quiet men, plain and homely, not really the hard core type; together they are able to do something and go on, but alone they would probably give up. Due to their submissive character, they are also easy prey, for unscrupulous men; their past history is quite similar, and for this reason they have in common also a future development; I’m not sure to find believable that both of them had almost the same “accident” with a past lover, but then, that is also a point that bond them together, so maybe it was a necessary twist in the plot. For sure it gave me the idea that Sid and Roger have to be really careful in the future, since, as I said, together they can face adversity, but alone they are not much of an opposition against fate.
I wondered also on the place where they live; it was a throughout idyllic farm place, and for idyllic I’m not referring to the life condition, that were hard and dry, as most of the farm town nowadays, but on the acceptance that both men find with townsfolk and families: I’m not sure that is possible, at least not in US, not even in those countries where same sex marriage is legal, but at least it didn’t distract the reader from the relationship between Sid and Rog; acceptance was not one of their problem, building a common life in an difficult environment, when both of them were not exactly “macho men”, that were their obstacles.
Ranch Hands is a nice and sweet western romance, but two unexpected main heroes: those cowboys are not your usual imaginary of Marlboro man, but they are more, as the title says, ranch hands, simple, and average, men.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003DZ1M2E/?...
May 4, 2013
Review on The Blog of Sid Love
I have read works of this author before (Read Book Review: Love By The Numbers by S.L. Danielson) and I must say this is many times better than her other works. In Ranch Hands, her writing has matured and character development is fantastic!
Sid Rosen is a farmer who is in deep shit trouble as his farm has turned almost barren – the farm that had been mortgaged by his father before he had died and now without making the payments, Sid could lose the only thing that is left with him. He is advised to get some helping hands for his farm but the farmer is hesitant because of what had happened the last time he had hired a man. But left with no choice, he finally gives in.
Enter the hot and hunky Roger Laramie. He calls up in response to the ad posted by Sid for help. Roger is in as desperate situation as Sid is, which is why even when the farmer mentions that there would be no pay, he takes the offer. Both of them meet and there’s an instant spark there – you can tell and they know it too, yet would play around each other for a long time before they could actually do anything about it.
Seriously it was so exasperating at times – huff – I bet their dogs (Caeser and Shirley) could sense the sexual tension between them but these two? Man! They would bicker like old couple and fight like real men – here, I just wanted to hold them by their (soft) hair and collide their faces together already (and maybe, while they are busy sucking each other’s faces, I could just maybe get to touch those hot bodies they keep complimenting each other for).
There are some seriously hot scenes in this book! The one worth mentioning is the shower scene – where Roger is taking a bath outside (exposed) and Sid is watching him. Kudos to the author for that one epic scene! Their first kiss is no less hot either. I loved the way that scene was led to, but the fight before had me laughing out loud. These boys are silly, but definitely in love.
By the way, Roger is quite younger than Sid but has a lot of know-how on what works for the farm better and he advices so too. However, Sid is not the one who could trust easily. This particular situation kept reminding me of a situation my friend and I were in – the friend I am sure must be reading this right now, so I am just going to drop my decency in hell and stick my tongue at them. You guys can ignore (ha!)
Sid and Roger aren’t really the plastic dolls that they seem to be. Both of them are burnt by their past relationships, which obviously affects their present situations and holds them back – makes them stop to think ‘what if this isn’t any different like the previous one?’ The back-stories, when narrated by each of them, break your heart but the most I was affected by was the time Sid spoke of his past agony – even though it was Roger with a horrible past. It is just the way the author has written that scene - I really hated Roger during that particular scene, but I can understand why he did it.
To speak of which character I liked the most? Well, I really can’t decide! But the character worth mentioning here is Jerry. He is first introduced as a famer from a neighboring ranch who is blond and handsome, but disheveled and an asshole. His behavior pushes Sid’s button up and they even end up in a bar brawl once. However, by the end of the book, he comes off as a star, who you will love and pity at the same time. S. L. Danieson has written a sequel to “Ranch Hands” and the book is called “Ranch Hands: Jerry’s season“.
There were things that really didn’t appeal to me while reading this book, which has actually had the ratings go down than it otherwise deserved. The first third of the story was a bit off with respect to descriptions or the dialogues used, but it kicked off later. The shower scene, for one, is perfect! The other thing that turned me off was for the scenes when these boys didn’t seem as masculine as they are portrayed in the rest of the story. I mean Sid wondering about how Roger would manage to keep his skin so soft and then actually asking him about it … not so cool. Plus, the talk on each other birthdays right after they met – I can’t imagine Ranch boys running out of manly talks so much that they speak birthdays.
Otherwise, though, the characters of Sid Rosen and Roger Laramie are amazing. Together, they create heaven!
This story is definitely to be read at least once by those who don’t just love Ranch boys, but wish for more of a plot revolving around them. It is a goodie bag with hot and sweet romance stuffed in it for you.
I have read works of this author before (Read Book Review: Love By The Numbers by S.L. Danielson) and I must say this is many times better than her other works. In Ranch Hands, her writing has matured and character development is fantastic!
Sid Rosen is a farmer who is in deep shit trouble as his farm has turned almost barren – the farm that had been mortgaged by his father before he had died and now without making the payments, Sid could lose the only thing that is left with him. He is advised to get some helping hands for his farm but the farmer is hesitant because of what had happened the last time he had hired a man. But left with no choice, he finally gives in.
Enter the hot and hunky Roger Laramie. He calls up in response to the ad posted by Sid for help. Roger is in as desperate situation as Sid is, which is why even when the farmer mentions that there would be no pay, he takes the offer. Both of them meet and there’s an instant spark there – you can tell and they know it too, yet would play around each other for a long time before they could actually do anything about it.
Seriously it was so exasperating at times – huff – I bet their dogs (Caeser and Shirley) could sense the sexual tension between them but these two? Man! They would bicker like old couple and fight like real men – here, I just wanted to hold them by their (soft) hair and collide their faces together already (and maybe, while they are busy sucking each other’s faces, I could just maybe get to touch those hot bodies they keep complimenting each other for).
There are some seriously hot scenes in this book! The one worth mentioning is the shower scene – where Roger is taking a bath outside (exposed) and Sid is watching him. Kudos to the author for that one epic scene! Their first kiss is no less hot either. I loved the way that scene was led to, but the fight before had me laughing out loud. These boys are silly, but definitely in love.
By the way, Roger is quite younger than Sid but has a lot of know-how on what works for the farm better and he advices so too. However, Sid is not the one who could trust easily. This particular situation kept reminding me of a situation my friend and I were in – the friend I am sure must be reading this right now, so I am just going to drop my decency in hell and stick my tongue at them. You guys can ignore (ha!)
Sid and Roger aren’t really the plastic dolls that they seem to be. Both of them are burnt by their past relationships, which obviously affects their present situations and holds them back – makes them stop to think ‘what if this isn’t any different like the previous one?’ The back-stories, when narrated by each of them, break your heart but the most I was affected by was the time Sid spoke of his past agony – even though it was Roger with a horrible past. It is just the way the author has written that scene - I really hated Roger during that particular scene, but I can understand why he did it.
To speak of which character I liked the most? Well, I really can’t decide! But the character worth mentioning here is Jerry. He is first introduced as a famer from a neighboring ranch who is blond and handsome, but disheveled and an asshole. His behavior pushes Sid’s button up and they even end up in a bar brawl once. However, by the end of the book, he comes off as a star, who you will love and pity at the same time. S. L. Danieson has written a sequel to “Ranch Hands” and the book is called “Ranch Hands: Jerry’s season“.
There were things that really didn’t appeal to me while reading this book, which has actually had the ratings go down than it otherwise deserved. The first third of the story was a bit off with respect to descriptions or the dialogues used, but it kicked off later. The shower scene, for one, is perfect! The other thing that turned me off was for the scenes when these boys didn’t seem as masculine as they are portrayed in the rest of the story. I mean Sid wondering about how Roger would manage to keep his skin so soft and then actually asking him about it … not so cool. Plus, the talk on each other birthdays right after they met – I can’t imagine Ranch boys running out of manly talks so much that they speak birthdays.
Otherwise, though, the characters of Sid Rosen and Roger Laramie are amazing. Together, they create heaven!
This story is definitely to be read at least once by those who don’t just love Ranch boys, but wish for more of a plot revolving around them. It is a goodie bag with hot and sweet romance stuffed in it for you.
March 30, 2010
It's in actuality a 3.5. The stories not bad and filled with non stop drama.
August 7, 2011
Sid Rosen’s in a world of trouble. The farm is mortgaged to the hilt thanks to the gambling habits of his late father, and the payments are six months overdue. A terrible drought has more than taken its toll on everyone, and Sid is a desperate man. He can’t work the farm alone, and he can’t afford to hire anyone. Catch 22—what’s a guy to do?
Sid lives alone on the ranch, with only his dog for company, and has ever since his last lover took off for parts unknown a year before, without a word or a note of good-bye. Forced into the only solution that he can see, Sid places an ad for a live-in ranch hand, whose only recompense will be room and board: it’s all that he can afford. Not surprisingly, he doesn’t receive any takers, until Roger Laramie spots Sid’s ad and calls.
Roger and his own dog join Sid at the ranch, and the two men start working to salvage the farm. Roger’s a hard worker, but the trouble is, he’s also more than a pretty face—he has ideas about how to bring the ranch back to life. Sid resents his ideas, and resents being told what to do with his land, so they butt heads. But with time comes wisdom, and the two form a partnership—in more ways than one—working together to bring the ranch to fruition once more.
A loud-mouthed slutty town drunk, the hardships inherent in farming, unwelcome blasts from the past as well as the trials of beginning a relationship where trust is essential but also hard to give push Sid and Roger to the limits. Will they work past their issues, or will they succumb to them, and the ranch as well?
Ranch Hands is a love story, but it’s also a story about survival, and doing what you have to do to get by. Nothing comes easy, and everything has a price. S.L. Danielson draws her characters in broad strokes. She isn’t one for details, more of a cut-to-the-chase kind of writer. So if you’re looking for finesse, or subtlety, don’t look here. But if you like a story that gets to the heart of the matter, and doesn’t waste time with getting there, you’ll like her style.
Sid and Roger could be any other two people in love. Love stories are universal, and it doesn’t matter what gender the couple involved is, whether two men, two women, or a man and a woman. It’s what’s in the heart that counts. S.L. shows us what is in the hearts and minds of Sid and Roger; by the end of the book we feel as if we’ve come to know and like them, and you’ll find yourself cheering them on through all the difficult times and difficult people.
I give this 4.5 ☆s.
Sid lives alone on the ranch, with only his dog for company, and has ever since his last lover took off for parts unknown a year before, without a word or a note of good-bye. Forced into the only solution that he can see, Sid places an ad for a live-in ranch hand, whose only recompense will be room and board: it’s all that he can afford. Not surprisingly, he doesn’t receive any takers, until Roger Laramie spots Sid’s ad and calls.
Roger and his own dog join Sid at the ranch, and the two men start working to salvage the farm. Roger’s a hard worker, but the trouble is, he’s also more than a pretty face—he has ideas about how to bring the ranch back to life. Sid resents his ideas, and resents being told what to do with his land, so they butt heads. But with time comes wisdom, and the two form a partnership—in more ways than one—working together to bring the ranch to fruition once more.
A loud-mouthed slutty town drunk, the hardships inherent in farming, unwelcome blasts from the past as well as the trials of beginning a relationship where trust is essential but also hard to give push Sid and Roger to the limits. Will they work past their issues, or will they succumb to them, and the ranch as well?
Ranch Hands is a love story, but it’s also a story about survival, and doing what you have to do to get by. Nothing comes easy, and everything has a price. S.L. Danielson draws her characters in broad strokes. She isn’t one for details, more of a cut-to-the-chase kind of writer. So if you’re looking for finesse, or subtlety, don’t look here. But if you like a story that gets to the heart of the matter, and doesn’t waste time with getting there, you’ll like her style.
Sid and Roger could be any other two people in love. Love stories are universal, and it doesn’t matter what gender the couple involved is, whether two men, two women, or a man and a woman. It’s what’s in the heart that counts. S.L. shows us what is in the hearts and minds of Sid and Roger; by the end of the book we feel as if we’ve come to know and like them, and you’ll find yourself cheering them on through all the difficult times and difficult people.
I give this 4.5 ☆s.
April 10, 2010
Ranch Hands by S.L. Danielson is an exceptional book. It is the story of two men mistreated by past lovers willing to take a chance on real love. Sid Rosen is a 34 yr old rancher who inherited financial trouble along with his father's ranch. Roger Laramie is a younger man fresh from an abusive relationship and whose heart is as big as all outdoors. When these two men's lives come together to save Sid's ranch so do their hearts. The passion each feels for the other begins as a banked fire but as they get to know one another that fire begins to grow. This story is not science fiction or paranormal it is a story of redemption, understanding, trusting and above all these love. When Sid and Roger finally open their hearts to one another and confess their love the reader begins to see where this extraordinary, everyday life, couple are headed and that is of course to their happily ever after. **As a side note, each man has a dog and each of these animals is treated with love, affection and kindness. It was an extra treat to find the master/pet combination so well presented.
February 27, 2012
This is the story of two men, both damaged souls who desperately need each other. Sid is about to lose his farm. He's had a couple bad years in love and life. He needs help to get his farm back in the black as well as he needs someone to help him release his pain and anger in order to let love back in his life.
Roger is a young man who's running away from an abusive relationship. He's hiding, but his heart opens for Sid.
These two heal each other and grow in love and respect for one another. It's a great heart felt story. I loved it.
Roger is a young man who's running away from an abusive relationship. He's hiding, but his heart opens for Sid.
These two heal each other and grow in love and respect for one another. It's a great heart felt story. I loved it.
April 27, 2012
This was an incredible bad read! I can't understand the average rating for this book at all. It was like reading a book in fast forward mode - the commonn thread of the story was connected with short, cheesy an incredibly bad dialogue. The behaviour of the main characters Sid and especially Roger totally random, sometimes on the border of insane. When it came to the big love confession I even had to laugh shaking my head in how bad this had been pulled of. I at leat will make a wide bearth around this author in future.
April 20, 2011
This was a great read about Sid and Roger and things they overcame to be together both coming from bad relationships of violent natures They end up together saving the farm that Sid's dad had basically destroyed. They find themselves falling more in love with each other and it was great to see good things happen to both of the men. What a great read, really would love to see what happens to their friend Jerry.
June 13, 2010
2.5 stars
September 25, 2019
I hate leaving bad reviews. I really do. But...
I must have gotten a different version of the book than what others read because I can't understand how it got the high rating it has. The writing is poor, the characters are caricatures and sometimes I felt this had been a re-worked M/F story. It did make me laugh sometimes though. Unfortunately, I don't think it was meant to be funny.
I must have gotten a different version of the book than what others read because I can't understand how it got the high rating it has. The writing is poor, the characters are caricatures and sometimes I felt this had been a re-worked M/F story. It did make me laugh sometimes though. Unfortunately, I don't think it was meant to be funny.
September 3, 2014
An entertaining story. It moved fast, sometimes too fast and I wish there were more pages so the author could have taken more time in the details and the story could have been longer. Unique characters, interesting story and some hot sex!
There is a sequel out there starring Jerry but I have had no luck finding a copy yet.
There is a sequel out there starring Jerry but I have had no luck finding a copy yet.
August 13, 2010
It's back!!! due to a publisher snafu...it is back in my hands and on those virtual shelves!
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June 10, 20134 Stars
Please read review at The Blog of Sid Love
Please read review at The Blog of Sid Love
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews