Love Means... Healing

Farm #4.5

by Andrew Grey

Seven months ago, Len Parker lost his partner of more than twenty years, and he isn’t sure how to feel about his blossoming attraction to Chris, one of his farmhands. Hesitant and still hurt, Len remains aloof and distant until he’s goaded into teaching Chris to ride. Fresh out of a thirty-year career with the Marines, Chris can explore his sexuality openly for the first time in his life, but what he needs more than anything is peace. He’s convinced Len doesn’t like him until he digs a little deeper, and then, armed with hope, Chris sets out to prove that love can provide the healing he and Len so desperately need.

Genres: M M Romance, Romance, Contemporary, Westerns, LGBT, Audiobook, Gay

68 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 22, 2011

Reviews

[Erth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful story about moving on after losing someone you love. The parts where Len was remembering Cliff never failed to bring tears to my eyes and it was beautiful to see Len and Chris find their way to one another. I do have one nit-pick, though. Len told Chris that Cliff was the first (and only, before Chris) man he had kissed. And the only man Len had been with. However, I seem to remember Len having a casual relationship with an older man (at the time) named Tim before Len got together with Cliff.

Anyway, I know that over the next few years Chris starts his new business and lets himself get a bit lost in it, leaving Len feeling a bit lonely at times. I hope that Chris realizes this and makes a real effort to let Len know that he is number one in Chris' life. Relationships can be complicated creatures, but I do like my HEA's.

[Deeze · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a lovely little read giving us the chance to see how Len started healing. A gentle but tearful read for me.

While it doesn't detract from the story, I do have a quibble. In this book we hear Len has never been with anyone other than Geoff, but in Len and Geoff's book we see Len had a semi relationship with a guy called Tim. Sorry if thats nit picking and I probably would of missed it if I hadn't just read the storys back to back, but it did kinda niggle at me.

[L-D · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

This was a sweet short read that gives us insight into the Len and Chris relationship that we've only caught glimpses of in past books. I wasn't sure what to expect in this book, but in a previous book we see that Len is sad that Chris is spending more time on his business than with Len, so because of that, I was thinking that this short was going to be how Len and Chris are coming to terms with the business taking too much time away from Len. This turned out to be a story about how they meet, which was not disappointing in the slightest. I enjoyed it. But because of that, for some reason I still have some anxiety at the back of my skull that Chris and Len are having some problems. I guess I don't know why that was brought up in past books without being fully resolved. Maybe I'm seeing conflict where it doesn't exist.

While I miss Cliff with every page of this series, I'm happy for Len that he's not alone and Chris seems like a really great guy. Hey, he's a marine, how could he not be? Semper Fi!

[Sadonna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is #6 in Andrew Grey's Farm series. It is the story of how Len met his new love, Chris, after the death of his first love, Cliff. We have already seen Len and Chris together in Love Means . . . No Fear, but this the story of how they met and got to know each other. Another sweet and romantic story from Andrew Grey set on the Michigan farm.

Chris is a former Marine who needs the peace and quiet of the farm after 30 years of active duty and Len is still grieving Cliff's death when they meet. While Len is attracted to Chris but has extreme guilt as Cliff has passed away within the previous year. Chris is determined to "court" Len and see where this will go. In the course of their courtship, we learn about the pain that Chris has had in his life as well.

As usual, sweet and touching and romantic. Lovely feel-good story just perfect for the day before Thanksgiving.

[Weinlachgummi · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Kurzmeinung*

Hierbei handelt es sich um eine Kurzgeschichte. Da ich im Vorfeld schon fast alle anderen Bücher der Reihe gelesen habe und so auch den Teil von Len und Cliff, war es eine ziemlich emotionale Geschichte für mich. Es ist nun nicht so, dass ich geweint habe, aber ich fand es schon traurig. Natürlich hat sie auch etwas schönes, da Len hier Chris kennenlernt, aber das ganze hatte doch auch etwas wehmütiges für mich.

Ich hätte mir hier etwas mehr gewünscht, gerne hätte ich noch mehr darüber gelesen, wie Len und Chris sich langsam annähern und wie es dann auch im Verlauf mit den beiden weiter geht. Klar, man erfährt es so ein bisschen Nebenbei in den anderen Geschichten. Aber da sind sie ja nur Rand Figuren.

[Adara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can always count on the Love Means series to be a sweet, low angst read. I love these stories. I had wondered about Len and Chris's story, and it was gentle and loving. This is set six months after Geoff and Eli's (first in the series) story, and before 3-5 in the series take place.

Len is still reeling from losing Cliff, and watching Geoff and Eli together causes some pain as he remembers being with Cliff. Geoff recently hired Chris, a retired Marine, to work on the ranch, and Len finds himself attracted to him and feeling guilty for it because he feels it's too soon after Cliff's death to think about someone else.

Chris is still suffering from PTSD and initially doesn't recognize Len's snappish and aloof attitude toward him as what it is. But when a quick episode for Chris causes Len to drop his guard, Chris begins to understand. He decides to court Len, albeit slowly and with some mystery. And though it takes a while, Len finally releases his guilt and melts in Chris's arms.

I really enjoy this series and can't wait to read the next one.

[Anita Bianchi · Rating 4 out of 5]

http://bianchianita1971.blogspot.it/2...

Con la delicatezza che lo contraddistingue, Andrew Grey ci racconta il dopo Cliff. Len è devastato dalla perdita ed è ancora più scioccato da ciò che inizia a sentire per il suo nuovo bracciante. Chris è un uomo che conosce perfettamente il dolore che sta attraversando Len, ha sofferto molto e, come se ciò non bastasse, continua ad avere dei flash-back della sua vita da marines. Chris, però, è un uomo deciso e ci si mette d'impegno per avere una possibbilità con Len: ho amato molto la sua delicatezza e la sua pazienza, e soprattutto il suo corteggiamento elegante e quasi di altri tempi. Le cose tra i due non guariscono magicamente il dolore, ma danno una possibilità ad entrambi per essere ancora felici. Adorabili poi gli amici e i parenti che fanno da contorno alla coppia.

[Tj · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love Means Healing is a short addition to Andrew Grey's Love Means series. This book is about how Len (one of Geoff's dads) and Chris (a former Marine) become a couple.

Len was with Cliff for over 20 years. They built a life together and raised their son Geoff. Cliff died of cancer and Len is trying to go on with his life. Chris retired after 30 years in the Marines. He has plans to start his own business. After his years in the service, he wanted to adjust to civilian life first and is working on the farm short term.

It was nice to read about two men who in their late 40s / early 50s find love. Len has to work through Cliff being gone and moving on. Chris has to be patient and let him. This short little read is a sweet addition to this series. Glad my library added it.

[Manfred · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very short and a little sad story, about Len who has lost Cliff, the love of his life. When he meets Chris he keeps his distance, although being attracted to the Ex Marine. However he feels is too early to love again and he also feels guilty for his attraction.
For me this was a perfect little story and I definitely enjoyed it, even if not much romance and even less sex (none to be exact) was included.
I am not sure if I want to read much more about those guys for now. I really liked the books, but I get the feeling most stories have been told and already the last one felt like a repeat performance, so I guess I will give it a break after this one. I would still rate it 3.5 stars and definitely recommend the series as a great read!

[Mirka · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have not read the first book from this series...the one about Len and Cliff...quite frankly, I am crying just thinking about it...I know it's life and I know the book is probably great...and I know he actually died in the second one, which I have read...it all makes little sense I know :D:D But I think about them getting together and then I think what happens and I just can't...anyways...this one was so sweet...I cried myself through it...Len deserved his second strike :)

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

devo dire che lo aspettavo da tempo,essendo questa serie un pò allegra nelle uscite con storie che saltano nel tempo e che non sò come numerare.
letto con piacere forse anche perchè i due protagonisti non sono più giovani,anzi hanno la mia età e devo dire che non se ne trovano molti negli m/m e non.

[adrienne · Rating 4 out of 5]

like the rest of this series, fairly predictable but catchy in how the characters reappear throughout the books. and yes, this is the same review for all books in the series.

[☆ Todd · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ehhh. The bar was set really high for me with the first 5 books, so this one didn't really do much for me.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story and would have given it 5 stars but I was mostly disappointed that they list this book as 4.5 when it should have come right after book 1 since that was how the time line fell. Book 2 was 6 years after book 1 and this book is 7 months after book 1. By book 2 Chris and Len had been a couple for years. I actually am happy I realize this book worked that way so I read this one after book 2. I guess that Mr Grey must have decided after writing book 4 to write a story to tell us about how Chris and Len became a couple. Also something to note is that apparently Mr Grey forgot about Tim, the older man Len was involved with before Cliff when he tells Chris about how Cliff was the only other man Len had kissed before him. Also Geoff tells Chris about how Len was dating his Aunt when he met Cliff and decided he preferred Cliff since Cliff and Len went to high school together and Len joined the play because of his crush on Cliff.

[Christy Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emotional And Loving

Len lost his husband Cliff six months before this began. He's still missing him something fierce at beginning. I am too and I miss him so much. Its 4.5 rating because I didn't want Cliff be gone. Loved him so much seriously sad and heartbreaking.

The book stands months as Len starts healing and coming to terms with him being gone. Also has him finding the new hand Chris is courting him after some time. Geoff Cliff and Len's son along with Eli Geoff's partner and others from books .5 and 1 are in this as well.

Chris is sweet and patient and I do love him as well. Glad that Len and him are healing because Chris lost someone in the Marines as well. Can't wait for next book.

[Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

An extremely short story of how Len carried on after losing Cliff. I had wondered if Len and Cliff would get their own story since they kind of seemed to just happen among the other stories. It bugged me a little that there were a few small inconsistencies. But they were minor and most would over look them. (ex. that Cliff was Len's first everything and only one he'd been with. That isn't true bc in the first Courage Len is actually messing about with someone and their break up is right at the beginning of the story.) It was a good story and super fast/short read.

[KC · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this in the fall of 2020 when the audible escape package was wrapping up. I enjoyed the book and narrator(s). I am just catching up on my reviews, but I will say that I did read several of this authors works all in a row. I think for this series alone I listened to about 7 of them!! Some quicker readers than others, some better than others. All of them between 3.5-5 stars, but to ease the reviews for them all I will say an average of 4.5 Thanks!!

[Emmaali · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ci sono alcune cose che non mi convincono. Nella storia precedente Len aveva avuto una relazione con un uomo di vent’anni più vecchio, Tim se non ricordo male, qui invece viene detto che la storia col padre di Geoff era stata la prima e l’unica da lui avuta! Oltretutto non mi tornano gli anni che ha, infatti viene detto che ha 49 anni ma se lui è stato per vent’anni il compagno di G. e si sono messi assieme a 23 anni circa come è possibile che abbia 49 anni? Ho capito male io??

[Katy Beth Mckee · Rating 4 out of 5]

The only problem I had with this story as it seems like it should have come sooner in the series because we are already aware of Len and Chris. But it was still a great story. I liked the fact that they had to work towards each other and Len needed to come to gripes with moving on. The fact that some tried and true methods for getting noticed were reported was also a lot of fun.

[Gavin Stephenson-Jackman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two men both suffering loss, Len the loss of his partner, Chris the loss of his career, and his first love. When will it be time to heal, will they find that healing in each other. A very interesting short read.

[Sandy Lazarovici · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was just wrong. First, like others said, Len did have another relationship before Cliff. Second, the place of this novella was after book 1 (or 1.5), anyway not here? Why did we even need it now? And there was no sex. So just no.

[Cinzia · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stelle
Andrew Grey ha un vero e proprio dono nel saper raccontare in modo così delicato e dolce storie di amori così profondi e intensi come quello tra Cliff e Len, storie che, in alcuni casi, vengono interrotte da un destino avverso.

Quando muore una persona che si è amata così tanto ci si ritrova come Len: incapace di reagire, travolto dal dolore dell’assenza della persona amata, dalla mancanza di un suo tocco, di un suo abbraccio e i ricordi possono diventare più taglienti della lama di un coltello, perché in vent’anni le cose costruite e vissute insieme possono essere veramente tante e possono mostrare tutto il loro peso quando non si ha la forza di poterle affrontare “anche” come dei bei ricordi.

“Amore significa… guarigione” è un racconto breve che ci mostra il momento in cui Len prova a mettere da parte il dolore della perdita di Cliff, il suo compagno, e provare a ricominciare, a sentire qualcosa che possa essere diverso dal dolore. È la storia di un nuovo inizio per lui, o almeno dell’accettare che ci possa essere un nuovo inizio insieme a un altro uomo: Chris.

Nella serie “Farm” è il libro 4.5, ma in effetti Len e Chris li avevamo già visti insieme nei libri precedenti, ambientati nel ranch di Len e del figlio cresciuto da lui e Cliff, Geoff. Questo è una sorta di tuffo nel passato, per farci vedere come erano iniziate le cose tra Len e Chris, bracciante del ranch ed ex marine.

Mi viene un po’ da sorridere perché uno a mente fredda potrebbe dire: beh sí un uomo a cinquant’anni è giovane, ha diritto di rifarsi una vita, bla bla bla e non deve sentirsi in colpa nei confronti del compagno che ha perduto. Questa è la teoria…

Vale anche per noi lettori, quando una coppia che abbiamo amato non c’è più? Perché sinceramente anche io non faccio i salti di gioia quando i componenti di una coppia che mi è piaciuta molto si “riaccompagnano”, o meglio, mi sono ritrovata a capire benissimo quello che passava per la testa di Len, i suoi sensi di colpa, perché adoravo Len e Cliff, ma Chris mi stava piacendo tantissimo in questo libro.
E poi, come ciliegina sulla torta, adesso, mi trovo invece a pensare che mi sarebbe piaciuta una storia ancora più lunga e approfondita su Len e Chris, soprattutto per sapere di più sul passato di quest’ultimo.

Chris mi ha letteralmente conquistato, per il suo modo di saper entrare in punta di piedi nella vita di Len, per come è riuscito a capirlo e a dargli spazio senza fare troppa pressione. Dopo un primo momento di incertezza, creato dal comportamento un po’ scontroso di Len nei suoi confronti, Chris ha capito di avere una possibilità, ma di dover fare del suo meglio per non rovinare le cose. Il suo è stato un vero e proprio corteggiamento vecchio stampo, che non mi sarei mai aspettata da un ex marine, con trent’anni di servizio nel suo passato e che ha visto cose terribili, che hanno lasciato in lui ferite profonde. È un uomo sorprendente e alcune scene tra di loro sono state così romantiche da farmi leggere le pagine con i cuoricini al posto degli occhi.

Bello, bello, bello. È “solo” l’inizio della loro storia e senz’altro il loro rapporto non è destinato a essere semplice e facile da costruire, sia per Len che per Chris, ma come hanno detto loro sono due uomini speciali e meritano questa possibilità.

[Nikyta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whenever I'm looking for a story that's sweet and cute, I know I should read an Andrew Grey book. And that's exactly what I did and I loved the it.

Len has been in the whole Farm series and has made probably just as big an impact on all the characters are Eli and Geoff have. I was glad to finally get his story at a second chance because I think Len deserves to be happy.

In the first book Love Means... No Shame, I was curious about Len and Chris so I was extremely happy to finally get their story!

I adore Len because he's so simple and doesn't expect much. He just lives his life the way it is and he's content and happy about it. He still grieves, though, over his lost lover, Cliff, and when Chris shows up and makes Len feel things he doesn't think is appropriate it causes some friction between them. Chris is definitely a great guy. Former marine, he likes a simple life with peace and quiet. The two are great together and I loved this story because of how they heal each other.

The only thing I had a problem with was the inconsistencies. More than once I picked out the little details that, in passed books, made Len's statements incorrect. Say, for example, the fact he says Cliff was his first and only lover. The beginning of Love Means... Courage starts off with Len in another guy's bed (this is before he meets Cliff) so that proves his statement false. There were also a few other things, like how the ending of Healing Len wakes up without Chris on Christmas morning and not seeing him until late afternoon when in Simple Gifts Geoff walks in to find Len and his 'still-sleepy partner Chris' in his kitchen on Christmas morning. There were a few other ones I noticed as well but I think I got my point across with those.

Even with that said, I still enjoyed the book. Len and Chris are definitely a great couple and I've enjoyed their interference in previous books with other characters. And it was definitely awesome to see a still young Joey again! Looking forward to reading more of the series. Recommended.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Für Len Parker muss das Leben weitergehen. Irgendwie. Und er gibt sich große Mühe. Doch die große Liebe seines Lebens kann er nicht vergessen. Monate nach Cliffs Tod trauert er noch immer um ihn. Gleichzeitig gibt es einen neuen Mann auf der Farm, der ungebetene und verwirrende Gefühle in ihm auslöst. Aus Scham und Schuldgefühlen heraus, meidet er den neuen Farmarbeiter Chris; zeigt ihm meist die kalte Schulter. Dabei ist Chris ein guter und verlässlicher Kerl, der nach seiner Karriere als Marine einen Ort sucht um sich selbst wiederzufinden.

Chris weiss um Len's Trauer und den Verlust des Lebenspartners. Doch der frühere Marine kann Len's Ablehnung ihm gegenüber nicht verstehen. Da braucht es erst einen kleinen Wink von Geoff, der seinen Dad einfach nur wieder glücklich sehen möchte. Chris kämpft mit eigenen Problemen und Verlusten. Doch er ist ein sehr charakterstarker, aber auch geduldiger Mann. Und je mehr er von Len erfährt, desto entschlossener ist er, auf Len zu warten und ihm Zeit zu geben. Denn dieser Mann ist es wert.

Len und Chris befinden sich im Herbst ihres Lebens und blicken auf gute und schlechte Zeiten zurück. Sie müssen beide mit der Vergangenheit abschließen und sich entscheiden welche Richtung sie ihrer Zukunft geben möchten. Andrew Grey erzählt ihre Geschichte behutsam, ohne Hast und berührend. Er gibt ihnen viel Zeit sich kennenzulernen und sich anzunähern. Für mich war die Geschichte sehr intensiv und intim, ohne jedoch ins Detail zu gehen.

Manchen Lesern könnte sie zu romantisch sein, doch ist Romantik und eine neue Lebe nur das Vorrecht der Jugend? Ich denke nicht. Für mich war diese Geschichte sehr stimmig und wunderschön erzählt. Die Trauer um geliebte Menschen und der Verlust ziehen sich zwar wie ein roter Faden durch die Geschichte, doch die Zeit heilt wirklich alle Wunden und macht irgendwann Platz für neue Hoffnung und neue, positive Gefühle. Ohne jedoch Len oder Chris in ihrem Verhalten oder Wesen zu verändern.

[Lisa Lambson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Six months after the death of his partner of twenty years, Len still misses Cliff every single day, but he is beginning to be able to smile while thinking of him rather than crying. The only comfort Len has is remaining at the farm and working with the horses and the people who work there. He wasn't quite sure what he felt about the newest person hired, Chris. Chris was an ex-Marine with zero farm experience, but wanted the peace and calm the farm job could offer him.
To say that he made Len uncomfortable would be an understatement. Not sure that he should be feeling attraction for another man so soon, Geoff makes it clear that it is alright for Len to move on with his life and that Cliff would want him to be happy. Chris understands that Len isn't ready to jump into anything and begins to secretly court him with little gifts that just show up on the table for him.
Eventually, Chris comes clean and lets Len know that the chocolates had been from him; he is interested in a relationship with him. Their relationship builds while Len continues to heal from his loss and is ready to move on with his life.
Andrew Grey makes the world a little bit better place with the kindness and generosity of his characters despite their faults. They make mistakes just like everyone does but the character they show with the gentle acceptance of anyone, and the support they provide for each other can make you remember all the good that is still in our lives.
Book 2.5 in the Love Means series is an amazing novella that falls into place to show the beginnings of Chris at the farm and how Len moves on past Cliff, is death and learns to love again. This quick little side note was a great way to keep Len a strong party of the general background and storyline of the whole series. So glad I didn't miss this one.
 

[Romance and Fantasy for Cosmopolitan Girls · Rating 3 out of 5]

Romance and Fantasy for Cosmopolitan Girls
Per gli appassionati della serie “Amore significa…” che si erano chiesti come fosse nata la storia tra Len e Chris, finalmente con questo racconto, breve ma emozionante, avranno la loro risposta.
Temporalmente, questo racconto, andrebbe letto dopo “Amore significa… nessuna vergogna” in quanto è ambientato sei mesi dopo la morte di Cliff e la storia tra Geoff ed Eli. Rivediamo Joey che è ancora un ragazzino e che guarda a Len come la figura paterna che non ha mai avuto.

Chris è un ex marine che ha dedicato tutta la sua vita al “Corpo”, ma che ora desidera solo pace e tranquillità. Non si aspettava di incontrare una persona come Len, né tanto meno di infatuarsene. All'inizio crede che Len lo odi visto che gli si rivolge a mala pena e cerca di evitarlo, ma con lo zampino di Geoff capisce che quello immaginava fosse odio è tutt'altro.
Il corteggiamento di Chris è tenero e leggero, ricorda un po’ quello di Eli nei confronti di Geoff.
Len, dal canto suo, è estremamente combattuto. Dopo vent’anni d’amore, vede quasi come un tradimento alla memoria di Cliff la sua attrazione per un altro dopo soli sei mesi dalla perdita.

Len e Chris sono due uomini molto diversi, entrambi temprati dalla vita, che a cinquantanni vedono la possibilità di un nuovo inizio, ma che ne sono spaventati, anche se in modi diversi.

Una storia delicata e tenera che affronta temi importanti come il lutto di una persona amata, ma che allo stesso tempo apre la porta della speranza per una nuova felicità.

[Dany Mclean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un autre tome extrêmement bien écrit de la série Amour !!

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book set on a horse farm in Michigan. it checks in on Len, Cliff's husband from the first book in the series.
This book takes place six months after Cliff dies from cancer and his son returned home, took over the family horse farm and fell in love, deciding to stay. It is almost Thanksgiving, Len's first once Cliff's death. He is feeling very lonely, still anger with Cliff for leaving him, and also starting to get sexual feelings again. This time for Chris, a retired Marine that now works on the farm. He is almost 50 and thinks he is too old for these feelings, and that it is too early he is somehow being unfaithful to Cliff.
Chris was a Marine for 30 years, he is used to facing his fears and leading the charge into battle, going toward the bullets and not away from them. At first he thinks Len dislikes him for some reason, but then he realizes that it is not dislike, or even hatred that Len is feeling. Can Len lay seige to Len's lonely heart and get him to open it again? Mayhap with a little old fashion wooing, and a patience he just ein this battle after all.

[Neet · Rating 4 out of 5]

THis is 4.5 in the Love Means series.In this story we find Len still mourning the loss of his beloved Cliff from cancer.Len is trying to move on with his life, but after 6 months he still dreams of Cliff is angered that at 49, there should have been more time and years with his man.ENter into life on the farm is Chris, rugged, a hard worker, and former marine (retired after 30 years of service) Len finds it hard not to notice this handsome man . That's the problem for Len, he feels 6 months is too short a period to be attracted to another man.He spent 20 years with Cliff, and though he knows Cliff would want him to find love again, he feels that this is too short of a time frame. Geoff even tells Len that it's okay with him to find love again, he just wants his dad to be happy and he knows that Chris is a good man. Len stills feel guilty, and refuses to give into the attraction, and is distant and down righr rude to the man.I won't say more, but this is a sweet little novella of learning to love again and healing a broken heart.....it is indeed a good read!

[Jerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Glad to have this story to fill in how Len and Chris's relationship began. Loved the old fashioned wooing. Loved the resistance and difficulties to their seeing each other as they really are. Some might question how much time is needed after one loses their partner of 20 years, yet it is all so individual as how we deal with grief. A friend who lost her husband of 40 years is now remarrying and all her friends are just overjoyed for her. I don't think one of us thought for a moment as to it being too soon.
What was actually more difficult for me to see happen was for Len to turn over the house he called home to his son and then to see that young man take on a partner and "take over" what was his life for so long. Change is inevitable and it's how we approach it and work with it that shapes who we are.