The Art of Husbandry

Mackenzie Country #1

by Jay Hogan

When life drowns you in lemons, to hell with making lemonade. I wanted to burn the whole world. But eighteen months from the day my life was torn apart, I’m tired of the anger. Tired of the nightmares. Tired of putting one foot in front of the other just trying to survive. Three months on a high country sheep station in the middle of nowhere is exactly the reboot I need. A chance to break free. To breathe again. To find a way forward.

I put my entire life on hold and head south to Mackenzie Country. But falling for the captivating young station boss was never part of the plan. Holden Miller might be smart and sexy and push all my dusty buttons, but we come from two different worlds. I’m not looking for a relationship. I’m not interested in love. I’m done with all that.

But Holden doesn’t care about my rules. Nestled safely in the arms of the spectacular Southern Alps, on an isolated sheep farm at the top of the world, Holden begins knitting my battered heart together one careful stitch at a time. And with every pass of the thread, every braid of the river on our doorstep, I catch a tantalising glimpse of something I’d almost given up on.

Happiness, and maybe even love.

If I have the courage to reach out and grab them.

Note: This book contains references to the past death of a child and PTSD.

Genres: M M Romance, Romance, Contemporary, LGBT, Audiobook, Forced Proximity, Gay

368 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2023

About the author

Heart, humour and keeping it real.

I am a two times Lambda Literary Award Finalist—2020 for DIGGING DEEP and 2024 for THE ART OF HUSBANDRY.
I have also received the The Romance Writers of New Zealand 2021 Romance Book of The Year Award for OFF BALANCE.
I am a New Zealand author writing mm romance and romantic suspense primarily set in my home country. I write character driven romances with lots of humour, a good dose of reality, and a splash of angst. I’ve travelled extensively, lived in many countries, and in a past life I worked as a critical care nurse and a counsellor. My family love and somehow put up with me, and my gorgeous Cocker Spaniel thinks I spend too much time at my desk but keeps my feet warm.

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Reviews

[Florence . · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 “ If I lost this man, it would rip me in two” stars

I’d started to live again. And I’d loved again. And I’d found a home and a place where I could laugh again. And a man that I could laugh with.

Jesus. Fucking. Christ.

I needed this. I haven’t rated a book 5 stars since a couple of months ago and I was getting a little desperate that I would ever enjoy a book again. I tried so many books over the last few months, but nothing really got to me and had an impact on me. I enjoyed the books just fine, but they just did nothing for me and I haven’t felt big feelings while reading in months. But this book was the outlier in the middle of everything, because this book made me feel absolutely everything.

So I did a little 9 hours bus ride, and I had nothing to do during it, so I opened this book and I just totally lost myself in it. I didn’t even see the time go due to how focused I was. All that mattered to me was this book and this book only.

It’s no secret that Jay Hogan is one of my favourite and that I have read all of her books, so I was very much anticipating this new one and waiting for it anxiously. I was just so excited to read this book, but I don’t think that even that could have prepared me for how much this book hit me. I’m pretty sure that if someone threw a brick in my face, at full speed, it would have the same effect on me as this book did. This book just knocked me off my feet and all that was left of me was a wreck who couldn’t stop talking about how much she loved this book.

Also, friendly advice for you, if you want to read this book, please don’t read it while you’re on public transport, unless you want to have to have tears running down your face in public, because this book just hits, in all the best ways.

Brief Summary
Gil had a car accident 18 months ago, during which he lost his 10 years old daughter. His marriage didn’t survive the aftermath of the accident. So he is lost and trying to rebuild his life and find a new purpose in life. He applies to be a cook at a high country sheep station in a small mountain town to try to find a purpose to his life. But not only does he find a purpose, he also finds the love of his life, Holden, the station’s boss.

I will admit, as soon as I was at like 5% in the book and realized that Gil has PTSD, I knew that this book would murder my soul. Jay Hogan writes the best PTSD rep that I have ever read, but it’s also super vivid and descriptive and you truly feel like you’re the characters and like you’re feeling their thoughts and their emotions at every moment. And I was so right. I just have no words to describe how much I loved how the PTSD was done in this book, it just took my breath away due to how masterful it was. I just loved everything about it in this book. I loved how Gil seemed to be in a fog and nothing could break it for him. I loved how he had nightmares and flashbacks about the event and panic attacks when he didn’t have a good day. I just loved how it was such a part of Gil’s every day life because that felt the most realistic to me. I loved how the description of ptsd in this book was super gritty and vivid and showed every facets of it, that is always appreciated. I just thought that it was masterfully done and I love reading all about it, even if it made me cry every tear in my body when I did.

I can’t even tell you how much I loved the setting in this book. It’s all set on a sheep farm in a super small town at the top of mountains and it was the perfect setting to me. Every place in the book was just so perfectly described and it really made me feel like I was there with the characters admiring the views with them. I have never been to where they were, but I truly felt like I had lived there all my life. The book took so much time and effort to explain to me how everything was, that I just felt like I lived in their little town, and I absolutely adored that. This book made me feel like I traveled, without ever having to buy a place ticket. Also, this book is all about sheep farming and it is full of so much information about sheep and the farming process and I just adored reading all about it. I knew nothing about this topic when I first started the book, but I feel like the book just including so many fun little morcels of information that were just an absolute joy to read about. I could go on and on about those sheeps and the setting for this book, i’m just in love with both of them, so much.

Also, there is so much found family vibes in this book and those are my favourite vibes. I just loved how everyone was part of a big family that always took care of each other, thats was just so lovely to read about.

I just cannot put words unto how much I loved the relationship between Gil and Holden. Gil hadn’t felt one once of attraction to anyone since his accident, and Holden didn’t think that he wanted to settle down and find his person, but none of that mattered when it came to how strong their attraction to each other was. There was nothing that could keep them apart, they were just made to be together. I just loved how perfectly suited they were for each other, they really were the perfect compliment for each other. I just adored their interactions. They were full of banter, but also so much honesty and so much want to make things work between them, which made all of their conversations feel like the most important moment in the world. Which I just found so lovely to read about, as it made me that much more invested in their romance. I loved how they were both super stubborn and didn’t let people take care of them, but when it came to each other, none of that mattered and they supported each other no matter what. Gil and Holden’s interactions were just so pure and so full of comfort. All that they both wanted was to be there for each other and to support the other, so all they did was laced with so much love and support for the other. Which was just so lovely to read about. I honestly just adored everything about their relationship. They were just such a strong couple who always dicussed their issue and had so much chemistry that I could feel it pooring out of my kindle. They were just so perfectly suited with each other and all of their scenes together brought the biggest smile to my lips because they were some of the best scenes that I ever read in books.

I just adored the relationship progression in this book. They meet, then they become friends, then they try to stay away from each other but they are miserable, then they finally decide to try to be together, but it’s tentative and they are too affraid to say that they want more, but they are still trying. To them finally admitting their feelings so that they can move on with their life, together. This pacing just seemed perfect for the book and the events in it. And it was just so lovely to follow. I loved seeing all of their interactions and what got them to be so love with each other. I just thought that everything was built up super nicely and it just fit the story so much.

This book just set the setting for you and completely wraps you in it and makes you feel everything that the characters are feeling, and I am not mad about that, but you should have said so before, because I think that I need to buy stock for a tissue company after how much I cried while reading this book, because it made me feel so many emotions.

I have said this before, but no one does descriptions like Jay Hogan. Expecially when it comes to the feeling of falling in love and kissing. And these scenes in the book were just so vividly and wonderfully done. I just loved how evocative they were and how they allowed me to just full in love with these two characters. Mostly, i’m just in love with their love. The descriptions in this book made all of their small little moments together sound super epic, so the way that they were described just sounded so important and meaningul, and I loved reading about it so much. I don’t think that there is a writer that I find their writing more evocative than Jay Hogan, but I really feel like she was on another level for this story. Everything about their interactions was just the best thing that I read in months.

In conclusion, I absolutely adored this book. This was just such a breathtaking story and every little aspect of it was just absolutely delightful and I was so happy to read it. I read this entire book (that is almost 400 pages) in one sitting because I just couldn’t stop reading it. It really grabed me tightly and wouldn’t let me go. This book just left such a big hole in my life, but a good one, one full of laughter and really good memories.

I received an arc of this book and this is my honest opinion.

[Carol [Goodreads Addict] · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Art of Husbandry is book one in the “A Mackenzie Country Story” series by Jay Hogan. This is a story of finding hope, the light at the end of a very long and dark tunnel, of finding joy again, and yes, of finding love again. I also want to add that this cover is absolutely perfect!



First, I’ll introduce you to Holden Miller. He is thirty years old and is the man in charge of Miller Station, a huge sheep and cattle station in Mackenzie Country in New Zealand. Thirty is a young age to be in charge of such a huge operation but Holden has lived all his life on the station. He knows every nook and cranny of the land. It’s the job he has always been in line for. He just didn’t think it would be his so early. The one thing Holden isn’t interested in is a relationship. But Holden never anticipated Gil coming into his life.



Gil Everton is thirty nine years old. Eighteen months prior, Gil’s life was forever changed in the worst of ways. He has spent the last year and a half trying to overcome his grief as well as the ending of his marriage. When he learned about a job as a domestic manager on a sheep station down south he thought maybe this is what he needed. A complete change of scenery. Something that completely took him out of his comfort zone. It’s only for three months and Gil is willing to do anything to try to turn himself around.

“The high country works it’s own kind of miracles.”

Gil hasn’t felt physical attraction for over eighteen months. So, to all of a sudden feel it towards the station master, he is completely shocked. But he doesn’t want that. He wants to concentrate on getting better. But the chemistry between Gil and Holden can’t be ignored and it doesn’t take long for them to give in.



First, this book was beautifully written. I loved seeing how Holden was able to slowly help Gil’s heart to heal. And at the same time, Gil really found his strength. He was capable of so much more than he ever thought. And his support of Holden really helped Holden through some rough times. There were some of the sweetest moments that made my heart do that flippy floppy thing. But...there was so much description in this book. The country sounds beautiful from Jay’s descriptions, truly breathtaking. But I just didn’t need so much of it. These two men were so amazing together but I kept losing my swoony connection to them with all the landscape talk. It was a wonderful story of healing and finding love when you never thought you’d have it. But I think I would have enjoyed more of the couple and less of the countryside. The next book in the series will be on Gil’s ex, Luke, in the book, The Mechanics of Lust.

For more about this book and so many others, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Carol...

[Mila · Rating 4 out of 5]

***4.0 rating***

"Grief was a bitch that way. You never quite knew when it was going to rise up and bite you in the butt. It was never done with you, and no matter how much work you did on yourself, it always had something to say."

TW: Contains reference to past loss of a child, grief, and PTSD

What a ride it was with this book! So many emotions felt and so many great moments as well.

The story follows the journey of Gil (Gilbert) Everton a 39-year-old psychologist from Wellington, New Zealand, and his path to healing from the tragic loss of his 10-year-old daughter, Callie.

The prologue shows the reader how Gil's life crumbles after the loss of his daughter. In fact, it was not just his daughter that he had lost in that car accident but also his marriage. After they lose Callie, Gil and his then-husband, Luke struggle to stay together. Luke leaves Gil when he needs his so-called husband the most. But Luke's leaving was not surprising to Gil, their marriage had run its course long before the death of their daughter. It seemed that Callie was the glue that was holding their marriage together. With her gone, so was the marriage.

Gil is a devastated man, a mess, grieving two losses. He needs an escape, an outlet to get away from the mess that is his life. He is drowning in grief and Mackenzie Country seems to be the answer to his problems, at least temporarily. Indeed, it has been 18 months since Callie's death and the high country seems to be the better option than a lonely life in Wellington where Gil has isolated himself from anyone who cares for him.

Taking the role of a domestic manager at a sheep station doesn't seem so bad, especially when he meets the young charming station owner, Holden Miller.

Holden Miller is everything Jay Hogan describes him to be; charming, young (30), handsome, and of course, Gil's new boss.

Gil and Holden start as friends, even though the attraction between them is visible to even a blind man. This story is a slow burn and as a reader, you come to appreciate that. Jay executes their relationship development beautifully. Gil's hesitancy, for example, to give into lust or Holden not wanting to pursue a fling with an employee, are the little details that set the mood for the tension that is between these two.

The slow burn along with the tension, makes the reader eager for these two to give in to their passions, which they do eventually. But when they do, the romance is sweet and unexpected for both parties. Gil was not looking for love and well neither was Holden. They don't disregard whatever it is between them. Their romance is sweet and built on friendship. Sex is not the main focus of this story. There is some steam sure, but not the sole focus of the relationship. However, the relationship is not without its flaws. Gil is still very much mourning the loss of his daughter and suffers from PTSD. Emotionally and mentally he is a mess. He struggles to believe in life after grief and takes a while to give a chance at happiness with Holden.

No relationship is perfect but these two communicate well and their relationship flows organically. Gil's grief is unspeakably sad and heartbreaking. Holden is his chance at happiness and I love that he realizes that there is life after loss. The author portrayed loss, grief, and healing realistically. Gil was not completely healed by the end and I appreciate a realistic portrayal of grief. Because you never really get over such loss but learn to cope with it in healthier ways. As was the case with Gil.

Anyways I could go on about their relationship, but I enjoyed this story. My only niggle with this was that I caught myself at times drifting away and skimming the details about New Zealand's high country life and scenery. The author certainly did her research and you get a glimpse of how beautiful Lake Tekapo may be, but I was more invested in Gil and Holden than the high country life and its gorgeous scenery. Apart from that, many interesting side characters in this story live in Mackenzie Country, such as Holden's mom Emily, Zack (Holden's former situationship), Tom, Alek, Charlie, Sam, and so on. Luke also makes an appearance in this book. I wanted to hate him but I couldn't. He was just so nice and probably dealing with his grief. The second book is about him and Zack. Can't wait to see how that will unfold. The only hateful character is Zack's dad, whatshisname (not important to be remembered, we hate him).

Jay Hogan certainly has a gift for writing and that is evident in this book from her descriptions of the gorgeous scenery of Mackenzie Country to the way she makes you feel the characters' emotional turmoil and trauma, she will take you on an emotional rollercoaster in a good way. I am looking forward to Luke and Zack's story.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Rain · Rating 3 out of 5]

A New Zealand sheep farm setting.

Gil Everton (39) is psychologist who is recovering physically and emotionally from a car accident that resulted in the death of his 10-year-old daughter. He is married to Luke. The tragedy destroyed each of them and their relationship. Gil decides to take a 3 month job working on a sheep farm

Holden Miller (30) is a love 'em and leave them kind of man. He's been in a six year friends-with-benefits relationship with his neighbor Zack, that is, until Zack asks for more. Within a week of Gil arriving on his farm, Holden begins to catch feeling for Gil.

Gay contemporary romance
PTSD, night terrors & anxiety
Lots of side characters
Slow-ish burn
Emotional/sappy

I was coming alive in a smelly, dusty, cobweb-strewn woolshed. I was feeling something more than grief and anger for the first time in forever.

Luke and Zack's story is next. Please note that Luke is Gil’s ex husband and Zack is the man that Holden spent 6 years having casual sex with. What an interesting partner swap.

TW: Death of a child

* Gary Furlong did an ok job, but there wasn't much of a difference in the men's voices so listening to this audiobook was a struggle at times.

[Heather K (dentist in my spare time) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heartbreaking, emotional, and looooooong

[Drusilla · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a sweeeeeeeet story and so painful.
Oh, it took me a few weeks to read this book. But not because it's bad, but because I had to keep taking breaks.
At first, it was painful to get to know Holden and especially Gil, then it was sooooo damn good that I had to slow myself down so I wouldn't read through it too quickly, then it became extremely painful again, and if you know this author, you know that it gets a little dramatic, and I had to pause there too.
So for me, this book is a bit of a patchwork in my head, but it was incredibly good.
I'm also endlessly grateful that the melodrama was fairly harmless and rather short; I was really afraid of the last hundred pages, but that was completely unnecessary.
God, these two are so super cute together, I'd like to squeeze them until they pop.
As always with this author, the descriptions of the landscape and all the life in nature were magnificent. I now know things about sheep farming that I will probably never need, but it was still very enriching to read.
The supporting characters are also interesting, and I would like to learn more about some of them.
I particularly liked the way this book deals with the subject of grief. It is a really difficult topic, and I shed many tears while reading, but the way it is described and how Gil and those around him deal with it is simply amazingly beautiful.
Overall, it's really well balanced between normal plot, relationship building, romance, and sex scenes. Well, it's just an outstanding author.

“Tuck . . . are you . . . crying?”
“No.” He sniffed thickly, underlying the lie. “Of course I’m bloody not.”
Which made me smile.
“Do you know how long I’ve waited to hear something more than a flat nothing in your voice? I’ve been so fucking worried. And just to hear you say this guy makes you laugh . . . God, Gil, I think I can breathe again.” 😭😩😪🤧

“I’ll have you know I aced animal husbandry at university. The human version might need a little fine-tuning but I think you’re safe in my experienced hands.” I counted off on my fingers. “Food, water, shelter, managing stress, and a good . . . breeding program.” I waggled my eyebrows suggestively. 🤭❥♥️❥🤭

“That’s better. Now, did I hear you say you wanted three?” He arched a brow.
“Yes, arsehole,” I growled. “Three.”
He grinned and squeezed in the tip of a third finger, his eyes scanning my face, watching, checking. He must’ve been happy with what he saw because he slid a little deeper and twisted them a fraction, and I’m pretty sure I keened. He groaned and kissed my face. “You are so fucking sexy. Does that feel good, baby?”
I grunted something—I wasn’t sure what since I could barely form words let alone string any together, blissfully riding that fine line between pain and pleasure, my absolute favourite journey. The surge and crest as one fell into the other. The blur. The light and the dark. I held on to that knife-edge as my body adjusted and the sting edged over into deep fucking need. 🤤🤤🤤

[Sheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes, love finds you when you least expect it.
Gil is not looking for love; he’s looking for oxygen.
He’s not broken-hearted; he’s broken.
His body is running on automatic and his breath only fills his lungs from muscle memory.
Grief has left him a shell of the man he once was.
A year and a half after a tragic accident that forever altered his path, a year after his husband left him, he knew something had to give. So, he packed up and fled to high country. Yes, he fled. It’s not cowardly to admit defeat, often times it takes more courage and strength than winning. And he’s so very defeated. How can he go on when surviving the crash means living without his reason for life? His precious daughter, his sunshine, his purpose, is gone.
No, perhaps he wasn’t completely “happy” before, but he can’t see ever being happy again. That is until the universe tosses him into Mackenzie Country. Happiness comes out of nowhere, sneaks up, and bites him. Now, the question is, what will he do with it?!

It takes a powerful book to erase the world around you. Within the first few pages, I knew this story was going to rattle my bones, flay my skin and eventually, hopefully, put me back together again. Hogan did exactly that. We have electronic rules in my house, having a teenager it’s necessary. I’ll be the first to admit I broke all the rules while reading this poignant story. I was glued to the pages. I couldn’t do anything without my nose in my Kindle and if multi-tasking wasn’t an option, the other things were put on hold. I read until my eyes were blinking long past my bedtime and woke before the alarm, blindly reaching under my pillow, desperate to continue. I was so caught up in Gil and Holden’s world, I swear I could feel the cool mountain air on my face and could smell the sheep if I tried hard enough. Hogan not only eloquently paints the background, she transports you to the high country in New Zealand. She doesn’t just tell you about Gil’s grief, she pulls you in so you feel every razor-sharp cut on your heart. And when the sexy shepherd accidentally falls in love with Gil, my knees felt every bit of jelly too.

Parents are not supposed to outlive their children. If you’ve lost a child I would caution you before you embark on the journey. However, I could also see this tragically beautiful tale being therapeutic and comforting for anyone who has experienced a fate similar to Gil’s. Gil had little expectations when he took a short-term position as ‘temporary domestic manager” at Mackenzie Station. As a psychologist, he’s feeling especially out of sorts, unable to follow his own advice in navigating through his grief. He lost both his parents at a young age and when his marriage falls apart, he feels very much like a man on his own island. An ocean of tears has separated him from his old life, a life he barely recognizes anymore. He’s looking to find himself, accept his new path, and ease from the iron-grip clutches of PTSD. He is definitely not looking for love. But as it turns out, fate is not done with him yet, and love is exactly what he finds.

Holden Miller is everything Gil didn’t know he was missing. Vibrant, young, and bursting with life, he sparks something in Gil. Gil is his employee and to be blunt, still quite a mess. The very last thing Holden needs is the complication of falling for his employee. His short-term employee. But their attraction cannot be ignored. The air around them is heavy like a ferocious storm is rolling in. The life of a sheep farmer is full of hard work, often exciting but almost always lonely. There are dangers as well as rewards. The station’s crew is imperative to its success. They are a finely tuned unit, each as important as the other. Even the dogs are vital to maintaining the station’s seamless flow. Change has come for Mackenzie Country and Holden is struggling to accept them. As next in line to run things, Holden is feeling a sizeable weight on his shoulders. His best friend has thrown him for a loop, his grandfather’s dementia is getting worse, and his mom might have fallen in love. It’s time for him to take point, but for the first time in his life, his steps are unsure. Then Gil appears, slips into his heart and everything clicks into place. His unasked question is answered. Love is the answer and he’ll do anything to hold onto it…and Gil.

I want to gush and tell you about charismatic shepherds, charming mothers, and possibly not evil exes. I want to rave about the gorgeous countryside and tell you all about an incredible dog. I want to share all the secrets about a sweet farmer and how he lost his heart for the first time. I want to gossip about the delightful crew dedicated to the Miller family. I want to squeeze Gil with all my might. And then I want to hug Holden too. It’s been a few days since I was immersed in their world and they haven’t left my mind. I simply adore them and can only hope you will take a chance on this story…I promise it’s worth it.

Beware of: The emotional turmoil is intense. Mackenzie Country is gripping and enchanting. And the unexpected romance will take your breath away!

This book is for: If you’re looking for a story with compelling characters with a touching story full of heart, heat, and healing, a visit to Mackenzie Country is exactly what you need!!

Book UNfunk

[Cyndi (hiatus) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the version of Jay Hogan that makes my heart sing. While other authors have been cranking out cookie cutter romance novels, Jay Hogan has been immersing herself in the culture of New Zealand sheep farming and writing a book so softly beautiful that I wanted to curl up within its pages and settle in for life. The sense of place she cultivated felt like virtual reality, like if I looked up from my Kindle I would see the braided rivers and mountain peaks and starry skies of Mackenzie Country. This truly is Jay Hogan at her very best. If you liked the Southern Lights series, I really think you'll like this book too.

Gil and Holden made me smile from the very first second they met. They had an instant rapport that was fairly unshakeable throughout the entire story. That's not to say that they didn't have imperfect moments, but there was no drama between them even when a situation cropped up that lent itself to it. The pacing of their relationship was perfection. There was instant attraction, but each step towards being together was taken with caution. Gil had been through so much and was still grieving, still experiencing nightmares and panic attacks. I loved how Holden wanted so badly to be there for him and how special he felt every time Gil allowed him to be. The intimacy between them made me melt. And the kissing! God, every variety of kissing. I would have hated to be in a room with those two men, but I loved reading about them.

The side characters were also fantastic. I loved Charlie, who could not only hold her own with all of those rugged men but was the crudest of the bunch. I also enjoyed scouting out potential MC's for future books in this series. I had my fingers crossed about who would get coupled up next and was more than ecstatic to have my suspicions confirmed at the end of this book.

The epilogue was so perfect. It was an amazing portrayal of love and trust and acceptance, but also bittersweet closure. The found family vibes were strong and it was heartwarming to see the people of Miller Station comfort, support and protect each other. I'm really looking forward to the rest of this series. This was a great start to it.

[Cat the bookworm (semi hiatus ish) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars and a one way ticket to New Zealand, please 🥰

I confess, after reading the blurb, I didn’t expect this book to be so… wholesome. Comforting. And happy.

It starts with a scene that WILL break your heart, especially if you have children: Gil, in the car with his daughter Callie, making a detour to pick up something he’d forgotten at home, only to have a car (driven by a drunk/high driver) crash into them. Callie dies, and Gil is left behind - full of grief, self loathing, and having to deal with PTSD all on his own, because his already dicey marriage to Luke didn’t survive the tragedy that hit them, either.

"When life drowns you in lemons, to hell with making lemonade. I wanted to burn the whole world.”

18 months later, he’s on his way to a sheep farm in Mackenzie country, to get away from everything, hoping to find some peace - even if only for the 3 months he’s hired as an domestic manager. There, he meets Holden Miller, the young (ish) owner of the homestead.

And even though neither of them expected it, they both find comfort and happiness with each other.

It really broke my heart what happened to Gil, witnessing the intense grief he had to deal with. And I loved seeing how he opened up to Holden (and vice versa).

”I kissed Gil’s head and anywhere else I could reach, murmuring reassuring nothings against his damp skin, telling him I’d be there, that I wouldn’t leave him alone. That I cared. That he meant the world to me. And in time the shaking stopped, his breathing evened, and he fell heavily into my arms. And as he slept with his eyelashes laced over his cheek, his heart beating strong against my chest, and his arm still tight around my waist, I whispered, “I love you.”

“I want you. I want us.” I pressed our foreheads together. “I love you and I want you to come back and stay with me, running this place however you see your part in that happening. I know that last bit is a problem, but I’m going to trust that the fucking universe hasn’t thrown you into my life just to yank you away.”


Jay Hogan certainly knows how to write characters who deal with emotional trauma, and draws you right in the middle of it all, making you unable to put the book down once you started reading it. And to my surprise, it was mostly light hearted, and I found myself laughing more than once while reading. The only reason I didn’t rate it with full 5 stars is that -occasionally- I found myself skipping the sometimes very lengthy descriptions of mountains, pastures and lakes. I still want that one way ticket to New Zealand, but reading about it was a bit much, I’d rather have focused more of Gil and Holden (and Zach. Luke. Alek. And even Tom, whom I suppose will get his own book later on, too.)

Still - a very enjoyable read, with a beautiful, soothing and hopeful ending.

Looking forward to Luke&Zach’s book!

[Cadiva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jay Hogan has such a deft hand when it comes to exploring the ways life can change unexpectedly.

Here we see two seismic shifts which occur in the life of Gil Everett, a 39-year-old psychologist based in Wellington, New Zealand.

The first occurs in the Prologue, when his 10-year-old daughter is killed in the same car accident which leaves him with relatively few injuries in comparison.

The second is 18 months later, when he retreats to Mackenzie County, high in the Southern Alps to take up a role as domestic manager on a sheep station and to try and escape the anger and rage he's feeling at his marriage breaking down on top of everything else.

We get to see the aftermath of this trauma in all its vicious rage, the panic attacks, the nightmares, the despair and the lost hope.

But then, slowly, we also get to see an awakening as the almost 10 years younger station owner Holden Miller lets Gil open his eyes to new horizons.

The first is his sexual re-emergence, the attraction to the rangy shepherd is as unwelcome as it is unexpected.

But, of course, this is a romance and where would we be without that attraction sparking a flame that just begins to burn brighter and brighter.

I think what I loved the most about this book is how it is so firmly rooted in its landscape. It's not just falling in love with Holden that sets Gil on his road to recovery and acceptance.

It's finding his place within the vastness of the New Zealand mountains, the monotony of daily station life, in the small things which begin to heal the broken parts of his life.

And Holden, he's an absolute gem of a man. He's felled like a log when Gil arrives, his has been a life of no strings, hook-ups with his best mate and a plan for zero commitments other than that to his sheep station.

But he steps up when he realises how much Gil is changing the way he thinks about things. He wants a lifetime of early mornings on the porch as the sun rises, he wants chats over coffee and cake, he wants Gil in his bed but also in his heart.

Be aware, this book tackles tough and heart-breaking subjects, it doesn't skirt around the trauma, nor is it a magic dick solves all romance where as soon as Gil realises he might love Holden back, all is well.

They work hard for their happy ending, and it's worth all the more for it.

Jay also lays down the intriguing narrative for the second book in this series and I have to say, while I had an idea it might go that way, I am so looking forward to seeing how she's going to pull it off!

No hints here, you'll have to read The Art of Husbandry to find out!

#ARC kindly received from the author in return for an honest and unbiased review

[Dani · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so hard to read for me, but also such a beautiful story about grief and learning how to live with it. Child loss is something I unfortunately have experience in, so it was extremely easy for me to empathise with Gil because I've lived it too.

The journey Gil goes on to make changes to his life just so that he can feel anything other than numbness and grief was super familiar - I did exactly the same thing and ended up moving there too - and I loved his relationship with Holden and the way they complemented each other so well.

I loved the entire community and lifestyle of the station, and honestly if I'd had the opportunity to go there I would have snatched it up too!

My favourite quote (because mine never work on Goodreads...) was:
Grief was a bitch...You never quite knew when it was going to rise up and bite you in the butt. It was never done with you, and no matter how much work you did on yourself, it always had something to say.

This is exactly true. I also loved that Gil's reaction to returning home and seeing his daughter's things everywhere was included. It felt so raw and realistic and I cried along with him. It's definitely true that time helps, but more so that time gives you the opportunity to learn how to live with your grief alongside everything else. But if you stop and let yourself really feel it, grief feels exactly the same as the day it first started. I don't know if that makes sense, but this book did such a good job of portraying that and it didn't let a new romantic relationship become an easy fix, which I really appreciated.

The scattering of their daughter's ashes in the river also had me bawling my eyes out - we did this with my Grandad and then it was like a double dose of remembered grief, but it was such a beautiful scene and it felt really rewarding to have been on this journey with Gil.

Very much looking forward to reading Luke's book and following his own journey of grief and acceptance.

[LifeReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this is hands down my fave book by Jay so far for so many reasons. It’s perfect and this kind of book I would love to see made into a film.

I really connected with this book, this was due to the all consuming grief and loss that Gil has suffered. Jay has written his side with such honesty and tenderness, it just brought all the emotion from me. That inner turmoil you go through, shit, this book was so cathartic.

Gil is one big mess and it’s completely understandable. But when he meets and falls hard and fast for Holden, I can’t describe the emotion it brings as a reader as you can see him healing page by page but in such a realistic way. I loved him.

Then there is Holden, what a joy and special character this guy is. Just goes to show when that one person turns up in your life making your single guys ways change overnight, it’s beyond love, it’s finding your soulmate and the love of your life. Thees 2 together on page was magic, they were tender, hot as hell and completely open to one another. The honesty between them was so refreshing.

Yes I love dark reads and this is a super sappy review from me but sometimes I want realism in my books, and this one just hit me as I identify so much with some of the topics.

The plot, the setting, the side characters, the families, grieving ex husbands, a dog that provides unexpected support, it’s just wonderful and I cannot sing higher praises for it. For me, it was perfect.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 - I normally avoid stories with the death of a child but I trusted Jay Hogan would do it well. This was sensitively written, there was no unnecessary angst or shock value graphic descriptions. The grief was real and painful but it didn’t encompass the whole story. The emotional side of things was offset by a strong cast of likeable secondary characters and a beautiful setting in the high country of NZ. And lots of details about sheep. It was very descriptive, at times possibly a little too much. I found myself drifting a bit through the descriptions of the beautiful countryside and the sheep farming but this wasn’t detrimental to my reading, you can easily skim or fully immersive yourself in the image it creates. I was certainly able to vividly picture the locations and scenes. Towards the end their loveyness made me want to push them down a ravine at times but I guess I can’t complain about that too much in a romance book. I tossed up between 4-5 stars for a while but ultimately this is a lovely story.

I really felt for both side characters Luke and Zach and their situations. I think I’d prefer them to have their own separate stories with different people but still am happy to get them in any way.

[Kati *☆･ﾟ]

***no rating***
dropped @50%


This was my second attempt with this audio/book and I'm sure, in the right mood, this is a beautiful read. But, I don't know, I'm bored. (And I feel like Gary Furlong is just not doing it for me.)

[Papie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t know what to say. It was cute and sweet. The most interesting part for me was that I read it while travelling Scotland and there were sheep everywhere. 🤷‍♀️

[Drache.... (Angelika) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've loved books by Jay Hogan, but didn't like her last book Foxed very much and I hate to say that I was didn't love The Art Of Husbandry as much as I had hoped.

I fear I'm slowly turning into a cynical bitch... This book was just sooo sappy.. both MMCs were sweet, perfect and wonderful, there didn't seem to be any flaw in their characters at all.
Gil and Holden fell deeply in love within 10 days of meeting.
Everyone accepted their relationship, even Zach accepted Gil after some time and even stood up for him in one situation (Zach being Holden' s best friend and friend with benefits for years, until at the beginning of the book after a night of amazing sex, Zach admitted to Holden that he had developed feelings for Holden, but Holden didn't feel more than friendship.. this happened the same day Holden later would meet Gil and fall for him).
Luke, Gil's ex husband accepted their relationship, too, even said that Gil and Holden's relationship was better for Gil than Gil and Luke's had been.
The only one being negative was Zach's hateful and homophobic father (obviously).
Every little issue seemed to be resolved neatly, and after only 6 week Gil and Holden had their hea.

I loved many things (how they called each other baby and sweetheart, how the nature surrounding them had a central part in finding peace, for example) but the rushed falling in love, their flawless characters, the constant intense feelings, and everyworking out, didn't resonate with me.
3,5 stars.

[Ariana (mostly offline) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5 stars


I thoroughly enjoyed this one.
This reminded me vividly of Jay Hogan’s ‘Southern Light’ series which I adored.

What I loved:

.) two fabulous MCs I could totally relate to. I really loved sunny Holden, and trying-to-find-himself-again Gil.

.) age gap which is dealt with fabulously

.) a sensitive and approachable look at grief, PTSD and anxiety.

.) guys who talk to each other and act like adults

.) no weird ‘misunderstandings’ to create tension in the last third of the book. The appearance of Gil’s ex could have gone down in a very predictable way, but it was resolved beautifully.

.) Loved the wonderful family feel of the station and all the 'secondary' characters!

.) excellent banter and humour! So many chuckles.

I also really enjoyed reading about all the details about the life of sheep farmers high up in the mountains of New Zealand. But whilst fascinating I thought there is maybe too much ‘information dump’ at the beginning making for a slow start.

But this is my only little niggle, I really had a great time with this one.
Already looking forward to the next one.

[ivanareadsalot · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was pretty cute 🥰

[Alisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

It’s time I admit this author’s Painted Bay series was a one off for me. I’ve tried all her other series now and I just don’t like them. They’re all so sappy.

Oh honey, baby, snookims. I love you so much
*insert crying*

No, pumpkin, sugar, sweetie pie. I love you more
*insert more crying*

*sex*

*fricking more crying*

*more sex*

*more I love yous*

**you guessed it…..more crying**

Plus, this one was boring and I had to skim through endless pages of talk about sheep. It was baaaad for me.

[Caz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've given this an A at AAR.

Jay Hogan kicks off her new  Mackenzie Country  series, set amid the spectacular scenery of New Zealand’s Southern Alps, with The Art of Husbandry, a beautiful story in which she skilfully and sensitively balances a storyline involving grief and terrible loss with the development of a deeply emotional romance.

After the death of his ten-year-old daughter and the collapse of his marriage, Wellington-based psychologist Gil Everton falls into a spiral of anger, grief, panic attacks, and PTSD. When, eighteen months later, he realises he’s tired of just going through the motions and being stuck in a kind of limbo, he decides he needs a drastic change, something that will give him a short, sharp shock into feeling things again and to help get him out of the rut he’s fallen into. To this end, he arranges, via a friend of a friend (of a friend, etc.), to take a three-month post as domestic manager on a remote sheep station in Mackenzie Country in the Southern Alps. Nothing could be more different to his city life, and he looks forward to the hard work and fresh air giving him the time and space he needs to think and decide on his next steps.

Holden Miller had thought he’d have a few more years learning the ropes of merino farming under his grandfather’s tutelage, but three years earlier, the older man developed dementia and at just twenty-seven, Holden found himself in charge of thirty-five thousand acres of land, ten thousand sheep, three hundred head of cattle and a handful of staff. He’s still feeling his way – being the boss is hard when most of the staff know a lot more about running the place than he does – and he’s also having to deal with the fact that his grandfather made some very bad decisions in the past few years as a result of his illness. Gaining back that lost ground is going to be incredibly difficult, but is imperative if the business is to survive.

Gil and Holden both have very good reasons for not wanting to become involved with anyone. Holden has never been interested in romantic relationships; his life is busy enough as it is and is busier than ever now he’s taken over the running of the station, and he’s always preferred things to be casual, hook-ups here and there, and a friends-with-benefits arrangement with local vet, Zach, whom he’s known since they were kids. Gil is still struggling under the weight of grief and loss – for his daughter and for his marriage – and isn’t in a place where he’s ready to start anything new.

Yet the spark of attraction that flares between them at their first meeting just refuses to die. Their chemistry is pretty intense from the get-go, and the author develops a strong friendship and a deep emotional connection between them that is completely organic and genuine. One of Jay Hogan’s many strengths is her ability to write mature relationships in which the characters communicate effectively while still being able to create realistic obstacles and conflict for them to overcome, and that’s no more true than here. Gil and Holden are honest with each other about their mutual attraction early on, but decide, given how complicated and stressful their lives are, it’s probably not a good idea to pursue it further. But as they get to know each other better and work alongside each other, it becomes very clear – to them and to us – that there’s more going on between them than sexual attraction, that there’s a growing understanding of who and what the other is about, and a willingness – a need – on both sides to help and support the other however they can.

Needless to say, it isn’t long before Gil and Holden are revisiting their decision not to act on their attraction. Holden is the first man Gil has been remotely interested in in a long time, and it takes him a while to come to terms with that, but once he does, once he he lets himself want again, he and Holden agree to just… see where things go. No promises, no expectations. And in any case, whatever is between them has a built-in time limit and Gil has a lot of unfinished business in Wellington – not least of which is finalising his divorce – and he always planned to return there.

The way Jay Hogan presents Gil, as someone exhausted under the weight of so much grief, guilt and pain, is incredibly vivid and very real. The reader feels all his conflicting emotions, his vulnerability and fears of opening himself up to life and love again – and also his determination to find a way forward. His growing happiness at finding purpose and joy in his work at the station is palpable, and I liked that he learns to let himself accept help and support. The author leaves him in a good place – ready to embrace life and move on – but also makes it clear that he’s still working through the healing process and has a way to go.

Holden’s journey is more subtle, and is mostly about his finally stepping out of his grandfather’s shadow when it comes to running Miller Station. When the book begins he’s at an awkward ‘in-between’ stage – struggling to find his feet as the boss of the place, and also to maintain the courage of his convictions in the face of his grandfather’s constant criticism. But with Gil’s support and encouragement, he’s finally able to cast aside his doubts about his suitability for the job and to grow into the man he’s meant to be.

While Gil and Holden are at the heart of this book, there’s a terrific group of superbly-drawn secondary characters around them that you can’t help but connect with, too, from the shepherds Tom, Sam and Alek, to Holden’s mother, Emily, and Zach, and Gil’s ex, Luke. At first, Luke seems to have behaved really badly; he and Gil had hit a rough patch, and after Carrie died, Luke became involved with someone else, so it’s easy to dislike him and apportion most of the blame for their break-up to him. But Jay Hogan doesn’t go in for two-dimensional villains, and shows us that there’s a lot more to what happened than that in a superbly written scene between Gil and Luke near the end of the book, in which Gil starts to understand that he wasn’t the only one who was drowning in grief and guilt. Holden’s ex, Zach, is also sympathetically written; when we meet him he’s closeted (his dad is a raging homophobe) but is considering coming out because he hopes to make a future with Holden. Holden had no idea Zach felt that way and lets him down as gently as he can, but obviously, seeing Holden with Gil doesn’t go down well and he’s a bit of an dick to Gil to begin with. Again, however, there’s no two-dimentionality here; Zach is well-rounded and easy to understand despite his behaviour (and it will probably come as no surprise to learn that Zach and Luke are the protagonists in the next book in the series).

The author does a fantastic job of portraying the highs and lows of life on a remote sheep station, weaving in what has obviously been very detailed research (she says in her acknowledgements that she spent time at two South Island high country stations) in a way that permeates the story rather than making obvious info-dumps. The isolation, the camaraderie between the tight-knit group of workers and their dependence on one another, the detail about the importance of the upcoming muster and how it all works – it’s fascinating and never teach-y or overdone, and the descriptions of the wild, rugged landscapes are – as I’ve said before – so incredibly evocative as to make you start searching for a plane ticket.

If I have a criticism, it’s that Holden abandons his ‘no relationships’ stance really quickly, but that’s my only real niggle. The Art of Husbandry is a gorgeous romance and a superbly written story about grief and loss and heartbreak and hope that will tug at the heartstrings and bring a tear to the eye. It’s another fantastic read from Jay Hogan, and I’m really looking forward to reading more about the goings-on in Mackenzie Country.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gil is grieving after an accident that took the life of his 10-year-old daughter and has devastated his own life. It also had been the final straw to end his and his husband's 10- year marriage. Depression has driven him to seek out a drastic change of pace. A temporary position out in Mackenzie Country offers him the chance to get away from the reminders of life and love lost, but the farm presents an interesting conundrum in the form of the man who runs the operation. Holden...who is young, handsome and blustery. He sparks something in Gil that he hasn’t felt in many long months, attraction. These are never essay subjects to read about and I doubt they are any easier for an author to put on paper, but this book gives the heavy subject matter the breathing room and reverence it needs and deserves. Everyone’s journey through grief is going to look and be different... Gil is psychologically literate enough to know this, and yet his apparent lack of progress over the course of eighteen months still silently angers and frustrates him. Now he's faced with something he wasn't expecting...his attraction to Holden and Holden's attraction to him. Holden isa man who’s never been interested in anything but casual fun. Gil has to decide if the potential pain once his job comes to its end is worth exploring his newfound ability to feel something other than grief again. This story just felt good, right, appropriate and sincerely heartfelt. It was very much worth the time to listen and the beautiful audio rendition by Gary Furlong was an added bonus.

[AngelFire · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF @ 35%

Despite having quickly DNF'd the only other book I've tried by this author, the stunningly high average rating combined with the rural setting and the mature themes of grief and PTSD made me give this one a try. I was wary because I didn't trust that the author would handle the serious topics to my liking and I was also put off by the unusual length (400 pages). Well, it turned out that everything I feared came to pass and my number one sheep shearing MM romance set down under still remains Renae Kaye's The Shearing Gun.

To the author's credit, I did appreciate that she didn't hold back on the NZ slang in the book and I liked that Gil's newbie status gave the author the excuse to explain the sheep-related terminology but I would have appreciate a glossary similar to the one Renae Kaye included in The Shearing Gun, since I was completely lost with some of the terminology and had to look some up for myself. Here are some of my favorites:

+ Jandals (I thought the 'j' was a typo, but no, this is the Kiwi word for flip-flop sandals)
+ Higgledy-Piggledy (an adverb meaning confusion/disorganization)
+ Chilly Bin (I propose that all English speaking nations adopt the use of chilly bin and replace boring old 'cooler')
+ Spit the Dummy (to overreact in a childish way)

Info-Dumping

At the start, I was very excited about the rural setting the author chose. It's a sheep station (a ranch for my fellow North Americans) located in the South Alps in New Zealand, where life is very different from anywhere else on earth. The low level areas are criss-crossed with glacial-fed rivers, which literally form part of the 'roadways'. The higher levels are extremely steep mountain ranges that are impassable for anything or anyone except sheep and the humans brave enough to care for them. These shepherds have been battling the harsh elements and inhospitable terrain for hundreds of years and I was thrilled to get the chance to learn more about this lifestyle. Holden runs a station that's 35,000 acres and he looks after 10,000 sheep and 300 cattle with less than half a dozen staff.

When Gil is hired to be their new cook, I was thrilled because Gil is a city-slicker who knows nothing about ranch life. So I was hoping for a fish-out-of-water progression where the author will use Gil's ignorance as an excuse to teach readers about life on the station. While that was the case, the author seemed to get over excited about sharing everything she knows about this lifestyle and would dump enormous amounts of information on Gil and the readers when it wasn't required. Explaining what certain terminology means as it comes up is great. But having Gil and Holden meet up in the shearing shed and then having Holden spent several pages teaching Gil about wool quality and shepherding economics was boring. That information wasn't required at that point and it should have been shared during the actual shearing where Gil could have learned it through seeing how it's done and by talking to different characters. The wool discussion was just one example of the author putting the narrative on hold to give long lectures about station life, which was interesting but that's not why I picked up the book.

Gil = Gary Stu

Gil rubbed me wrong right from the start. The guy is a psychiatrist and he has this smug attitude in the way he approaches his own mental health issues. For example, the casual way he explained the details of his PTSD to Emily (Holden's mother) during the hiring process was bizarre to me. I know that the current generations of young folks embrace the idea of telling strangers intimate details about their issues and identity, but I don't jive with it. In addition, Gil had a really casual attitude towards his PTSD. I can't really explain it but it felt like he used it to brag about how much of an epic victim he was or something like that? It was very weird to me how he kept bringing up his PTSD in casual conversation, as if that's a normal topic to chat about in the first 5 minutes of having met somebody.

I also hated that Gil wasn't the fish-out-of-water city slicker character that I like. I wanted him to struggle to fit in with station life and I wanted to see him slowly grow to appreciate that lifestyle. Instead, the guy is comfortably cracking jokes with Holden and Emily as soon as he meets them, he easily settles into his role as a cook (despite not having been in a professional kitchen for decades) and whatever the station throws at him, Gil easily adapts to it. Not only that, but he has a bit of a smug attitude about it - like he's humoring everything and everybody, amused by the idea that they would think he couldn't keep up with sarcastic zingers or wouldn't go for a swim in freezing cold water. It made him seem arrogant and I didn't like it. I'm sure that wasn't the author's intent but that didn't change the outcome.

Fluffy Themes

In a book that deals with grief, PTSD, financial hardship, having a patriarch suffer from dementia and there's a character who can't seem to stop talking about having PTSD, you'd think those themes would be front and center, right? Well, they aren't. To my surprise (and confusion), Holden and Gill tell each very personal information within the first hour of knowing each other. Holden tells Gil about his grandpa suffering from dementia and how that has negatively impacted the station for the last few years and Gil tells Holden about the car accident, his daughter's death and his PTSD. So that left no secrets between them and I was confused what the author's plans for conflict would be. Well...Gil decides not to tell Holden that he's gay because of...reasons. Holden told him within the first 5 minutes of meeting him but Gil decides to keep it to himself. That means the only conflict between these guys for over 100 pages is the boring old I-like-him-does-he-like-me, with the exciting added bonus of Holden thinking Gil's straight. Are you kidding me? You have such an interesting setting that's filled with unique plot opportunities and you give both characters such interesting backstories, yet they spend ages doing the same old blushing/avoidance/pining routine that's found in hundreds of other romance novels? What a disappointment.

What was even more disappointing was that Holden acted much younger than his 30 years and I really struggled seeing Gil as a 39 year old man. He was arrogant, but he had that same immature attitude towards romance that Holden had, which is common for characters in their early-20s. The point where I DNF'd is a scene where both of them realize the other has a crush on them and they spend ages blushing and talking about it, which made the book seem like YA romance.

Focus On Side Characters

Since the author shot themselves in the foot by having the MCs reveal important information right off the bat and had the only conflict between them be mutual pining, the author had to find something else to fill the endless pages with...and the chosen focus was side characters. Yaaaayyyy....

Whenever a new side character is introduced, the author gives them way too much narrative space; physically describing them, telling us their history and their current personal problems. I won't bother going into detail but the MCs don't meet until Chapter 3 and the reason why is because it takes Holden FOREVER to leave the station to pick him up that morning because he keeps getting dragged into the role of narrator when different side characters cross his path and the author insists we need to learn all about them at that very moment. When I realized this was a continuous problem, I started skimming through scenes with any side characters and I wasn't surprised when it turned out that I didn't miss anything important.

Conclusion

While I love the premise and setting of this novel, this author's approach to romance novels isn't my cup of tea. The very high bar that's been set by The Shearing Gun remains untouched.

[Ky · Rating 3 out of 5]

* 3.5 stars *

Jay Hogan's stories are usually a hit or miss for me but this one was somewhere in the middle.


What I loved
The setting. A remote sheep station in New Zealand where a handful of people lived permanently and a few more stayed temporarily to help with short-term jobs. I'm a fan of this trope, especially if it's a big ranch/farm/station which employs more people than just the owners.

The descriptions. It felt like I could actually see the station and the mountains near it, the lake with the little church on its shore, and the buildings that made up the station.

The characters.
Gil had been through something horrible not so long ago and was still struggling to cope with it, hence his decision to leave everything for three months and work at a sheep station away from everything and everyone he knew.
Holden was the newly appointed owner of the station and he was still trying to fix the mess he found when he stepped up. He has a complicated relationship with his grandfather, who has dementia, but a very close one with his mother.
Zack was Holden's friend and occasionally they added benefits to that. He was in love with him but knew he had to move on because Holden didn't feel the same. His family owned one of the neighboring stations but he wasn't out to them. He was also working as a dog trainer.
Luke was Gil's estranged husband. He was a pilot. Their marriage was on rocky ground for some time but after the accident and the loss of their daughter, they spiraled completely and drifted even further apart.


What confused me
How the station operated and what exactly was Gil's job. I know nothing about sheep or their wool but the information in the book was enough to get a slight idea of some of the labor that went into caring for the animals. What went completely over my head was how Gil was needed to feed the people working there when most of the time they seemed to fend for themselves. Was it only dinner he had to provide for everyone and only cook the rest of the meals for Holden? I guess I couldn't figure out why a station manager was needed if everyone working there cooked for themselves with the exception of Holden. Or did Gil prepare meals for everyone and then drove out to wherever they were to deliver them? I couldn't figure out how that worked.


What missed the mark
Well, when you want the MCs to get together with a different secondary character instead of each other, I consider that a miss. I liked Gil and Holden together just fine but throughout the book, I kept hoping that this was either about Holden and Zack (a friends-to-lovers story) or about Gil and Luke (a second chance one). I knew who the main couple was so it wasn't a surprise, but I was irrationally disappointed when they didn't end up with who I wanted them to be with.


Why 3.5 stars
There are a lot of great points in favor of this book but a very big one against it for me, as it concerned the basis of the story. It was my own issue and entirely subjective, but this is also my rating so it affects it.


The next book will be about Zack and Luke, which gives me more mixed feelings as I'm worried I'll have the same issue as I did with this story. I'll wait for the full blurb to decide if I'll read it, but it looks like an enemies-to-lovers story, which sounds very interesting. Plus, I have a feeling that Zack's dogs will be very present and I can never resist that.



~ Copy provided by Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure. A review wasn't a requirement. ~

[KaylaMarie · Rating 5 out of 5]

✰4.75 stars✰ rounded up

Well, fuck. This is gonna be one I constantly think back to.
You could tell that Jay Hogan really took the time and did their research here. They didn’t just haphazardly pick a location they aren’t familiar with and hope the story fit, they really took the time to understand some intricacies of sheep farming in the Southern Alps. I think that made the book so much better.

My heart really tugged for Gil. His past and what he had been going through. It’s kind of perfect that he never saw Holden coming because Holden being the anti-relationship man we was never saw Gil coming either.

I was coming alive in a smelly, dusty, cobweb-strewn woolshed. I was feeling something more than grief and anger for the first time in forever.

These two men were just the sweetest combo and I loved seeing the healing and the growth here.

This is the perfect cozy, pull at your heart strings without debilitating angst, romance novel.

[Ele · Rating 3 out of 5]

The bones of the story were good and I loved the secondary characters. But I can't get past how insta-lovey it was, especially at a time Gil was so vulnerable. Also, I felt that a lot of important scenes were skimmed over while others, not as significant, took forever. This is an ongoing problem I have with this author although I have loved some of her work.

[Amy Aislin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Possibly Jay Hogan's best novel to date.

[Trio · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a fan of Jay Hogan mostly because of the variety of their stories. You never get the same thing twice, and it's so refreshing.

The Art of Husbandry is a mellow hurt/comfort story which really focuses on the development of the relationship at the healing of the MC. There are lots of warning tags about "death of a child", and the main character and his ex explore their feelings deeply.

There's also a beautiful romance for the MC, and signs of a budding one for the ex (which is the subject of the next book in the series, so I'm looking forward to that one!).

Slow paced, with lots of gorgeous descriptions of New Zealand sheep farming land. Beautifully written, as all of Hogan's stories are.

[Kirsten · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 rounded down

Always great landscapes,
mature MCs, hot sex, but
always too damn long.

[Marthea · Rating 5 out of 5]

4+
Tak!!!
Tego mi brakowało.
Prawdziwych ludzi, prawdziwych emocji, prawdziwych uczuć.
Wiarygodnych zachowań i dialogów.

Nie było magicznych kutasów, które leczą.
Uczucie, które się pojawia, nie wymazuje żałoby po śmieci dziecka, PTSD czy ataków paniki.
Po prostu pozwala ponownie oddychać i żyć.

Wiem, że sporo osób nie lubi książek Jay Hogan.
Ale ja nic nie poradzę - do mnie przemawia na każdym poziomie i po prostu ją uwielbiam 💙

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's taken me a couple of days to put my thoughts in order so I could write a good enough review that showed how beautiful this book was for me. It made me feel a lot and I enjoyed it very much.
Both the MCs won me over from the beginning. Gil was grieving and trying to get out of the dark hole he had followed into after the loss of her young daughter. Holden was trying to prove he was capable of managing his family's sheep farm. They were so human and easy to relate to, that I had my heart hurting for them both. These are two characters that deserved so much to be happy, the best that happened to them was that Gil started working at the farm as the domestic manager (temporary, as he insisted on pointing out, but that it turned out to not be so temporary).
This book is long, so be prepared to read many pages. I must admit I found myself sometimes getting lost among so much information on farming in the high country of New Zealand and, maybe, the author could have skipped some parts of that. To be honest, that didn't stop me from loving this book from beginning to end.
The way Gil and Holden become friends first and how their relationship evolved was beautiful. They both had so much to lose if things didn't work out and I fell in love with Holden, because even though he was younger than Gil, he was a responsible and patient guy. Their love grew up slowly but steadily, their encounters were very sweet and so hot at the same time.
This story is about loss and learning to love again. About overcoming the past and proving a person is capable of loving more than once in their lives. About taking responsibility and not letting others tell you what you can or can't do. This novel is everything a romance book should be about and I've loved it immensely.