Sunset Ridge

by Carol Lynne

After the death of his father, Grayson Conner finds himself running, Sunset Ridge Stables, a prosperous horse breeding operation just outside of Wellington, Arkansas. Since riding a horse for the first time, Gray has known running the ranch would be his destiny. Years spent watching his father negotiate and build the ranch into a highly respected operation prepared him well.

In need of a manager to oversee the hired hands, Gray hires Jack “Ram” Ramsdale, a sexy temptation that could spell nothing but trouble. For years, Gray managed to keep his sexual preferences away from the ranch, but the introduction of Ram into his life changes everything.

Ram fell in love with Sunset Ridge Stables the first time he stepped foot on the ranch with its rolling green hills and views to take a person’s breath away. The handsome ranch owner is definitely a bonus, but more than anything Ram is searching for a place to belong.

With temptation at his fingertips, Gray gives in to his feelings and begins an intense affair with his new manager. For a few blissful months he believes he can have it all, the ranch and a man he loves at his side. When local gossip threatens the reputation of the Sunset Ridge, Gray and Ram are forced to make an important decision. Give up their relationship or lose everything they’ve worked for.

Genres: M M Romance, Westerns, Contemporary, Romance, Novella, Gay, Erotica

95 pages, ebook

First published October 31, 2011

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

erotic & gay romances

Reviews

[Andrea AKA Catsos Person · Rating 2 out of 5]

NTS: Lendable Kindle borrowed from Ali.

Thanks Ali.

I don't care for relationships between employer and employee.

Also, there was a sort of "off page" romance between an 18 year-old high school student and a veterinarian.

It takes 8 years of education to become a vet, even without the vet profession version of a medical residency making this minor character (the veterinarian) to Old in age, experience and situation for a high shill student.

Why did the author have to include this in the story?

This would have been a good story.

NTS: MMRG Ultimate Challenge February 1, 2017 -January 31, 2018, February/March Bonus: State Arkansas.

[Mandy*reads obsessively* · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice story about Gray, a totally closeted cowboy and his new ranch manager Ram.
It was a sweet story, but in the beginning the female character was so annoying I almost didn't read on, thankfully she changed for the better.
I would read a story aout Ben and Jesse if it comes out.

[Lena Grey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes people don't even know that they are missing something major in their lives; then something will happen that causes them to feel a need they'd not even acknowledged. In 'Sunset Ridge' by Carol Lynne, Grayson Connor thinks he's leading a full life, running his horse breeding ranch and raising his sister's child. But when he meets Jack 'Ram' Ramsdale, he realizes he was wrong. Being with Ram causes Gray to feel an emptiness he didn't even know was there, and it takes him completely by surprise. Fortunately, Ram comes to the same conclusion simultaneously; there is an attraction between them that makes them both realize that they long for an intimate relationship with each other, but neither has ever wanted one before. Therefore, these two strong-willed men need to search their souls to discover just how much they want to be together and how hard they are willing to work to make this happen.

I admired Gray right away, particularly for taking on the task of raising his niece, Rebecca, after she was deserted by her mother. It isn't easy raising a teenage girl and even more difficult for a single man who has no children of his own. Although he loves Ram and really doesn't want to keep their relationship a secret, Gray hesitates to come out. He's afraid that it will cause his business to fail. It takes Ram's cool head to help him come up with alternatives showing him that there's always another way. Gray realizes that Ram is the most important thing in his life and nothing is worth losing his love.

Ram is awesome. His patience with Gray's fear of coming out is extraordinary. He loves Gray and wants to be with him, but not at the cost of his own integrity. For each problem Gray foresees, Ram offers a solution. I love his compassion and nurturing side, shown not only with Gray, but with the time and effort he spends with Joey, their neighbor's boy and ranch hand, trying to help him come up with a solution to his problems not only at home, but in his life. Also Ram is the one who helps Rebecca have a breakthrough with her many unresolved feelings about being abandoned. Ram's clear perception ultimately leads to positive changes for everyone.

'Sunset Ridge' is a straightforward love story with a heartwarming plot, two hot men, and even hotter sex. It's about finding love unexpectedly and making it work, priority setting, and self-discovery. Most important of all is its message reminding us that being a family means more than sharing the same genes. Being a real family involves devotion, nurturing, togetherness, and love. I'd recommend reading this book if you want to escape from the real world into an easy-going, but satisfying love story.

NOTE: This book was provided by the publisher for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.

[Kristy Maitz · Rating 1 out of 5]

I hoped, I really did that this book would be good one.

But, No! Plot is to easy..... There is no attraction to feel between main couple and there is a lot of sexs, sexs, sexs.

Plots are more then just sexs scenes. Someone like Carol Lynne should know that by now.

[Tamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the blurb I thought it would take a little time for Gray to admit he wanted Ram so I was surprised that they were on each other like flies on... well you get the idea. Zero to sex in the barn in 60 minutes :)

Liked the characters and the story. It could have used a little more depth... as in one minute Raleigh is a hater and then after one conversation with Ram she is all sweet and cooperative. But it wasn't a long story, so guess we needed to infer the rest.

Overall the story was enjoyable, the characters were likable and the ending was a good one! What more can you ask for?

Recommended

[Bookbee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although this book can't seem to make up its mind what state it is set in, I'll go with Arkansas for my challenge.

[Barb Manning · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sunset Ridge by Carol Lynne is a fine tale about two lonely cowboys, Gray Connor and Jack "Ram" Ramsdale living and working in Wellington, Arkansas. Gray owns a successful horse breeding ranch and Ram hires on as the new manager. The attraction between these two strong men throws off sparks immediately.

The dilemma of their attraction arises out of the insular culture they're living in and Gray's reluctance to reveal his sexuality and risk the success of his ranch. Lynne populates Sunset Ridge with some interesting characters, including young Raleigh, Gray's rebellious teenage niece, Jesse Franks, a new ranch hand with problems of his own, and Ben Moore, the new veterinarian.

Sunset Ridge paints a colorful picture of life in a small western town and what can happen when two men face their attraction to each other and act upon it. The sexual tension is fiery between Gray and Ram. There are a number of sweaty clenches and burning kisses shared between Gray and Ram as they figure out how to have an open and honest relationship for the first time in their lives.

The question of revealing their sexuality underpins the entire plot of Sunset Ridge. How many people Gray's known all of his life will desert him once they find out he's gay? How many of his clients will take their business elsewhere once they know? Sunset Ridge is an entertaining tale about cowboys and horses and romance worth 4 stars.

Review originally appeared on Blackraven's Reviews

[Dutchgirl · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first half of the story wasn´t that good. I almost didn´t finish.

The main characters are both likeable but just not believable. I just can´t believe that two closeted cowboy´s (one is the boss who just hired the other as a manager) would jump in bed with each other. It was sex, sex, sex. I have no problem with hot sex in a book but i do like it when there is more depth in a story.

Near the end the story did get better but it was to late for me.

I just couldn't get into this book. I've read better story's by this author.

[Karen K · Rating 4 out of 5]

**3.5-4**
Carol's books are an automatic buy for me and I liked this one that went away from her all her series for a bit. I fell for the characters right away, especially Ram. It was a little typical cowboy but with some twists and turns to hold my attention. The addition of the sister and the gay teenager made it more interesting. I wouldn't mind seeing some more of Gray and Ram.

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I like the story here but the transition Ram makes from "I have no friends" so I can up and move to Arkansas to the "troubled teen whisperer" and the guy who wants Gray out of the closet... it's a bit quick. The dialogue is a little cheesy. More an issue with how difficult it is to pull off a short story.

[jules0623 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Typical of Lynne's style - over the top characters in cliched situations. I thought perhaps I was being fussy when I first read this author's stories but I'm sure I'm not missing out on anything after a second read.

[MsMiz (Tina)]

Yummy cover!

[Lily · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a nice story although the niece got on my nerves for the first half or so of the book.

[Alina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely story!
Hot sex, very likeable both characters and overall sweet and heartwarming book. I enjoyed it very much!

[Eyre · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet story with kissing cowboys.

[Leslie Stama · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED it!!!

[MyzanM · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wasn't that a sex-fest?!

I had a real hard time getting into the story. The sex (I can't believe I'm saying this...) got in the way!

Normally I'm not opposed to a book filled with hot sex scenes, but when I pick up a book where the blurb gives away hints about some sort of plot, then no. I expect a PLOT not a string of sex.

I would also suspect it would take two closeted gay cowboys some time and suspense before they fall into the hay together... Everything went to fast. Ther was no time for chemistry to develop.

[Hrtnsoul28 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am really getting into Carol Lynne books of late and I enjoy them. They are the perfect combination of steam and sweetness. This was no exception. Grey and Ram were practically setting the book on fire from the first chapter. I loved the tie in with Jesse and Ben, the horses and a meddlesome but sweet niece.

[Kelly (Maybedog) · Rating 3 out of 5]

** spoiler alert ** VERY raw notes, may contain spoilers but probably nothing major. I write my reviews on my smart phone so autocorrect sometimes does interesting things. You've been warned.

3.45 stars



Asking Tam to work for him because he's hot was out of the blue. He didn't know anything about his work--they'd just met--and he had no idea if He am were looking for a job. He didn't even live in the state!

He needs to take away the niece's car keys for her behavior. He needs to stop getting into power struggles with her. Talking to her like he did when she was calm is really good, though. Praising her for doing something right without argument, even something as minor as taking her dirty dishes to the kitchen, was good too. Focusing on positive behavior and praise and rewards when you can is the best way to handle a kid like that who has it in her to do well being a good student and all.

WAY too much sex.

So far the sister is a child abandoning loser and the niece is a spoiled brat. There's also an older housekeeper No other women. Wait! In the epilogue they have troubled kids working in the ranch including a teenage girl! She's learning how to weld!!

Error: said moving back to Texas when he meant Arkansas.

When the niece continued to called the housekeeper for permission to be elsewhere, he should have given her one warning about what he was going to do and the next time get in his car, go pucks her up, and ground her. She didn't have permission because the housekeeper couldn't give permission. A short grounding at first would be fine since she would also have the consequence of having to leave and being embarrassed in front of her friends, but then it would have to get more serious. The girl is out of control and there wasn't much time for her to learn self-discipline before she left the house for college. She was acting like her mother which was a seriously bad thing. That's a nightmare waiting to happen. You give kids as much freedom as they can handle and if they can't handle any you don't give them any. Setting appropriate boundaries and being consistent is how you develop kids with appropriate behavior. You expand those boundaries as they earn those rights.

Listen to me. I'm giving advice to a fictional character.

Ram needs to understand that when you're responsible for a kid, you need to take phone calls unless you've left another responsible adult clearly in charge.

As for leaving her in jail overnight, it would depend on what she did, what kind of jail (city vs small little town jail, adult or Juvy so you know what other kind of people are there) etc. Withput children, Ram doesn't really have the right to judge.

Ewwwwew. The kid who's just finishing high school and the veterinarian, who has to be a lot better left considering how much schooling it takes, are making googly eyes at each other. Oh. They're actually in a relationship. Yuck. He was upset with the 17 year old girl in the same grade was dating a 24-yr-old, also completely legal. (The age of consent in Arkansas is 16 as it is in the majority of states.) that's not as big of an age difference.

You don't need insurance to be picked up by an ambulance if you're severely injured and it's illegal for a hospital to turn you away.

It was fine but nothing special.