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Clouds and Rain #2
Earth and Sky
A Clouds and Rain Story
Hunter Krause knows better than anyone that running a ranch is hard work. Wranglers are hard to find, and even with Hunter’s foreman and entire extended family on hand, the busy ranch is constantly short-handed. So when horses go missing, Hunter’s brother-in-law hires a man Hunter would never have considered: Grant Jarreau, a man Hunter can't forgive for leaving Hunter’s best friend Gable after an incapacitating accident.
Grant quickly fits in, befriending Hunter’s sister and making himself invaluable. Despite Hunter’s misgivings, he can’t quite control his body’s reactions to Grant, and he isn’t sure what to do about it. Then Grant saves Hunter’s young nephew from drowning and one thankful kiss opens doors Hunter never knew existed.
While Hunter and Grant tentatively move toward a relationship, the family’s in an uproar, the ranch is struggling, they can’t figure out what happened to the horses, and to top it all off, Grant is hiding something. Can Hunter learn to trust Grant, or will the turmoil already tearing up his family claim another victim?
Narrator: Paul Morey
Length: 10 hours and 30 minutes
Hunter Krause knows better than anyone that running a ranch is hard work. Wranglers are hard to find, and even with Hunter’s foreman and entire extended family on hand, the busy ranch is constantly short-handed. So when horses go missing, Hunter’s brother-in-law hires a man Hunter would never have considered: Grant Jarreau, a man Hunter can't forgive for leaving Hunter’s best friend Gable after an incapacitating accident.
Grant quickly fits in, befriending Hunter’s sister and making himself invaluable. Despite Hunter’s misgivings, he can’t quite control his body’s reactions to Grant, and he isn’t sure what to do about it. Then Grant saves Hunter’s young nephew from drowning and one thankful kiss opens doors Hunter never knew existed.
While Hunter and Grant tentatively move toward a relationship, the family’s in an uproar, the ranch is struggling, they can’t figure out what happened to the horses, and to top it all off, Grant is hiding something. Can Hunter learn to trust Grant, or will the turmoil already tearing up his family claim another victim?
Narrator: Paul Morey
Length: 10 hours and 30 minutes
Audiobook
First published June 9, 2011
11 people are currently reading
324 people want to read
About the author
Zahra Owens
64 books186 followersZAHRA OWENS is a multi-lingual globetrotter who loves big cities, but also has a weak spot for the wide-open spaces that are so rare where she lives.
She likes her men either tough on the outside but with a huge soft center, or strong, silent and damaged. She makes it her personal goal to find them their happy-ever-after, the road there often leading via hospital beds, villas with gorgeous vistas or ranges full of horses.
Zahra is a proud member of the Rainbow Romance Writers, the Romance Writers of America, and is also a member of RWA’s Professional Author’s Network.
If Zahra had her wish, a day would have at least 36 hours, because how else would she find the time to finish all the novels still inside her head?
Visit her web site at http://www.zahraowens.com/
and on Facebook or Twitter
She likes her men either tough on the outside but with a huge soft center, or strong, silent and damaged. She makes it her personal goal to find them their happy-ever-after, the road there often leading via hospital beds, villas with gorgeous vistas or ranges full of horses.
Zahra is a proud member of the Rainbow Romance Writers, the Romance Writers of America, and is also a member of RWA’s Professional Author’s Network.
If Zahra had her wish, a day would have at least 36 hours, because how else would she find the time to finish all the novels still inside her head?
Visit her web site at http://www.zahraowens.com/
and on Facebook or Twitter
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
June 28, 2011
I really wanted to give this more than 2 stars, but for me it just didn't do it. Overall I liked the story, just not the telling. It started off good but then seemed to take a turn into soap opera land.
June 11, 2011
3.5 stars
In book #1 (Clouds and Rain), we already know that Hunter (Gable's neighbor rancher) and Grant (Gable's ex) hook up. In this book, we read the process of them doing so. Starting from Grant taking the job at Hunter's ranch, the two of them acting on their attraction, until they settle down.
I have to say that I love their story better than Gable and Flynn. Not because it feels superior but because it's slightly "richer" in drama. Gable and Flynn are mostly alone in their ranch. No family for them, except for their friend, Calley and her husband Bill. So their story is a bit quiet (even if it has intense moments). While in this book, Hunter has three sisters, one brother-in-law, a nephew, and a mother still living in the ranch. Plus, Hunter has never been with a man before, even if he is attracted to Grant (while Grant was still working in Gable's ranch), so there is a progress from him acting on it, him realizing that he is in love with Grant and wants to be with a man, and comes out to the rest of the family.
Grant is also more "mysterious" than Flynn. He has the "bad image", of leaving Gable when Gable is in need. He has unexplainable leaves of absence. Two things that make Hunter sometimes worry about their relationship. Of course, when it comes to it, Grant has a good explanation. Grant is also not a man that easily says "I love you" to anyone. So, I definitely enjoy the two men finding each other, learning to be in a solid relationship.
So, this book feels livelier than "Clouds and Rain" ... By the way, Hunter's family is not without their own drama. Which adds the flavor to the story and is a GREAT plot for soap opera *lol*
PS: If I have complaint, it's probably the repeat use of nickname. Grant calls Hunter "Cowboy" even in the lovemaking scene (sometimes repeatedly). I always feel that calling nickname in that most intimate moments is like keeping a distance, not acknowledging who he is with. But it's small niggle, of course, and it's due to my own preference.
In book #1 (Clouds and Rain), we already know that Hunter (Gable's neighbor rancher) and Grant (Gable's ex) hook up. In this book, we read the process of them doing so. Starting from Grant taking the job at Hunter's ranch, the two of them acting on their attraction, until they settle down.
I have to say that I love their story better than Gable and Flynn. Not because it feels superior but because it's slightly "richer" in drama. Gable and Flynn are mostly alone in their ranch. No family for them, except for their friend, Calley and her husband Bill. So their story is a bit quiet (even if it has intense moments). While in this book, Hunter has three sisters, one brother-in-law, a nephew, and a mother still living in the ranch. Plus, Hunter has never been with a man before, even if he is attracted to Grant (while Grant was still working in Gable's ranch), so there is a progress from him acting on it, him realizing that he is in love with Grant and wants to be with a man, and comes out to the rest of the family.
Grant is also more "mysterious" than Flynn. He has the "bad image", of leaving Gable when Gable is in need. He has unexplainable leaves of absence. Two things that make Hunter sometimes worry about their relationship. Of course, when it comes to it, Grant has a good explanation. Grant is also not a man that easily says "I love you" to anyone. So, I definitely enjoy the two men finding each other, learning to be in a solid relationship.
So, this book feels livelier than "Clouds and Rain" ... By the way, Hunter's family is not without their own drama. Which adds the flavor to the story and is a GREAT plot for soap opera *lol*
PS: If I have complaint, it's probably the repeat use of nickname. Grant calls Hunter "Cowboy" even in the lovemaking scene (sometimes repeatedly). I always feel that calling nickname in that most intimate moments is like keeping a distance, not acknowledging who he is with. But it's small niggle, of course, and it's due to my own preference.
June 14, 2011
Warning: This book reads like a soap opera, which means full of drama. Although it's family drama and not just added on for the sake of it. So i suggest reading it when in the right mood for that type of story.
It should be expected that the author writes about flaw characters and she tends to torture them some way or another with some physical injuries. While it's not always the main character, there seem to always have a scene with some character injured.LOL
I liked this book, even if not as much as the first. The plot was more interesting than the first book, but i wasn't totally taken with one of the main characters. It's more a personal preference though because i hated him in the first book, but here although i did not dislike him, i didn't warm up to him either.
Review to come soon!
It should be expected that the author writes about flaw characters and she tends to torture them some way or another with some physical injuries. While it's not always the main character, there seem to always have a scene with some character injured.LOL
I liked this book, even if not as much as the first. The plot was more interesting than the first book, but i wasn't totally taken with one of the main characters. It's more a personal preference though because i hated him in the first book, but here although i did not dislike him, i didn't warm up to him either.
Review to come soon!
May 4, 2012
This book is very well-written and I really liked the characters--which says a lot for the author, considering that I wasn't feeling at all sympathetic toward one of the protagonists when this book began, due to what I knew about him from the first book in the series. But I did come to care for both of the main characters very much.
Two things kept this from being a 5-star book for me. One was a scene in which a whole bunch of family drama suddenly happened all at once. And the other was a scene in which the coincidence was big enough to pull me out of the story. Also, the ending chapters seemed a bit rushed.
All in all, however, a truly enjoyable read and I recommend it.
Two things kept this from being a 5-star book for me. One was a scene in which a whole bunch of family drama suddenly happened all at once. And the other was a scene in which the coincidence was big enough to pull me out of the story. Also, the ending chapters seemed a bit rushed.
All in all, however, a truly enjoyable read and I recommend it.
July 1, 2022
3.5 stars
September 26, 2011
QGBC Q3 Challenge pick. This was intense, raw and emotional. An engrossing read. Hunter and Grant yanked you into their story and did not loosen their grip until they were sure you understood their love and their world. I also enjoyed the interweaving of Gable and Flynn from Clouds and Rain along with the other cast of characters. A great read.
April 2, 2012
This is probably one of the best cowboy series out there. Zahra gives the reader a full cowboy experience.
The story of Hunter and Grant was certainly a heart-wrenching experience. Once you read how tentatively the two start their affair and about all the obstacles in the way you'll understand.
Grant was a character you only got a glimpse of in Clouds and Rain, and your view of him is tainted by Flynn's POV. It takes a while for both Hunter and the reader to begin to understand and, yes, love Grant too.
Hunter's struggle to come to terms with falling in love with a man and knowing he'd never father children of his own is an emotional struggle for the reader as well.
But the journey these two men undertake together is well worth the read. Highly recommended!
The story of Hunter and Grant was certainly a heart-wrenching experience. Once you read how tentatively the two start their affair and about all the obstacles in the way you'll understand.
Grant was a character you only got a glimpse of in Clouds and Rain, and your view of him is tainted by Flynn's POV. It takes a while for both Hunter and the reader to begin to understand and, yes, love Grant too.
Hunter's struggle to come to terms with falling in love with a man and knowing he'd never father children of his own is an emotional struggle for the reader as well.
But the journey these two men undertake together is well worth the read. Highly recommended!
October 30, 2016
2.5 stars
It started out great but ended with too much unbelievable and unnecessary drama.
It started out great but ended with too much unbelievable and unnecessary drama.
April 5, 2015
J'avais apprécié le premier tome même si j'avais trouvé la romance entre Gabe et Flynn assez mélancolique, il y avait peu de passages gais entre les deux hommes, principalement à cause de Gabe, ce qui donnait un ton très sombre. Ce second volume est à l'opposé, la romance est éclatante, les personnages lumineux, et certains passages semblent même issus d'un soap opera avec un enchevêtrement dans les relations de la famille Krause qui dénote un sacré sens de l'humour chez Zahra Owens ! Le couple formé par Hunter et Grant est absolument délicieux et la construction de leur relation qui s'étend sur plusieurs mois est maîtrisée du début à la fin, cela tient surtout à la crédibilité des situations et des réactions des personnages.
Nous connaissons un peu le personnage de Hunter qui est le meilleur ami de Gabe (héros du premier tome), à la mort de son père Gabe avait remplacé la figure paternelle pour Hunter. Il dirige son ranch où vivent également ses trois sœurs et sa mère, ainsi qu’avec son beau-frère qui est également son contremaitre. Quand celui-ci engage Grant, Hunter grince des dents, car il a beaucoup de mal à oublier que Grant est l’ex-amant de Gabe et qu’il avait disparu brutalement lorsque Gabe avait été blessé. Si au départ, les deux hommes s’évitent, ils sont assez matures pour comprendre qu’il existe entre eux une certaine attirance.
J’ai beaucoup aimé la manière dont Zahra a traité la romance entre Hunter et Grant, il n’est pas évident de faire croire au changement d’orientation sexuelle d’un hétérosexuel. Sauf qu’elle a fait de Hunter un homme intelligent, franc et stable, si jusqu’à sa rencontre avec Grant, il a toujours fréquenté des femmes, il a toujours su qu’elles ne le comblaient pas vraiment. Simplement, par facilité et peut-être un peu de peur vis-à-vis de son entourage, il n’a jamais réfléchi vraiment à ce besoin. Mais quand il se rend compte de l’évolution de ses sentiments et de leur profondeur, il va les accepter et faire tout ce qu’il peut pour convaincre Grant qu’ils ont un avenir ensemble. Grant est plus complexe, on se doute vite qu’il ne montre pas vraiment qui il est, en fait c’est un homme foncièrement gentil, prêt à beaucoup pour ceux qu’ils aiment, son passé dévoilé peu à peu par l’auteure va nous le prouver de plusieurs façons.
Ce qui fait également beaucoup pour cette histoire, ce sont les relations secondaires dans l’entourage de Hunter, et je dois dire que Zahra a un sacré sens de l’humour. Les amours des sœurs de Hunter sont compliquées et un vrai vaudeville, c’est la touche «feuilleton» du récit Vous y rajoutez une histoire de vol de bétail avec un voleur pas très futé, un soupçon de drame avec un enfant surprise, et vous obtenez une comédie familiale excellente avec en prime une superbe romance.
Nous connaissons un peu le personnage de Hunter qui est le meilleur ami de Gabe (héros du premier tome), à la mort de son père Gabe avait remplacé la figure paternelle pour Hunter. Il dirige son ranch où vivent également ses trois sœurs et sa mère, ainsi qu’avec son beau-frère qui est également son contremaitre. Quand celui-ci engage Grant, Hunter grince des dents, car il a beaucoup de mal à oublier que Grant est l’ex-amant de Gabe et qu’il avait disparu brutalement lorsque Gabe avait été blessé. Si au départ, les deux hommes s’évitent, ils sont assez matures pour comprendre qu’il existe entre eux une certaine attirance.
J’ai beaucoup aimé la manière dont Zahra a traité la romance entre Hunter et Grant, il n’est pas évident de faire croire au changement d’orientation sexuelle d’un hétérosexuel. Sauf qu’elle a fait de Hunter un homme intelligent, franc et stable, si jusqu’à sa rencontre avec Grant, il a toujours fréquenté des femmes, il a toujours su qu’elles ne le comblaient pas vraiment. Simplement, par facilité et peut-être un peu de peur vis-à-vis de son entourage, il n’a jamais réfléchi vraiment à ce besoin. Mais quand il se rend compte de l’évolution de ses sentiments et de leur profondeur, il va les accepter et faire tout ce qu’il peut pour convaincre Grant qu’ils ont un avenir ensemble. Grant est plus complexe, on se doute vite qu’il ne montre pas vraiment qui il est, en fait c’est un homme foncièrement gentil, prêt à beaucoup pour ceux qu’ils aiment, son passé dévoilé peu à peu par l’auteure va nous le prouver de plusieurs façons.
Ce qui fait également beaucoup pour cette histoire, ce sont les relations secondaires dans l’entourage de Hunter, et je dois dire que Zahra a un sacré sens de l’humour. Les amours des sœurs de Hunter sont compliquées et un vrai vaudeville, c’est la touche «feuilleton» du récit Vous y rajoutez une histoire de vol de bétail avec un voleur pas très futé, un soupçon de drame avec un enfant surprise, et vous obtenez une comédie familiale excellente avec en prime une superbe romance.
September 23, 2013
1 1/2 Hearts
Review written for MM Good Book Reviews
You know I read the first book Clouds and Rain and loved it, so I was looking forward to this one as well but My God what were you thinking casting Grant as Hunter’s love interest.
This book seems to run parallel to Clouds and Rain but there are mistakes during the times that the books coincide and that is really annoying, Grant is the big baddie in Clouds and Rain, he was Gable’s lover who ran out on him when Gable was injured, he also slept with anything that didn’t move fast enough and oh so helpfully slept with a married woman because she wanted a baby.
In this book he is a misunderstood generous man who made a few mistakes, never cheated on Gable, try’s to blame Gable for what happened between them and he’s just helping his friends out when he sleeps with them to get them pregnant behind their husbands backs. I can’t stand this character because he has no redeemable qualities no matter how I look at it.
Now Hunter on the other hand is a great character, he has hidden his ‘gay’ side from everyone even himself, he finds himself attracted to one of the hands, acts on it and then needs to come to terms with what they had done. He then explores his feelings and continues to act on it while still trying to deny that he is gay. He also has to deal with his family’s dramatics and a revelation from his ex-girlfriend.
I disliked Callie and the mother of Grant’s children just on principle, as both these women find it acceptable to sleep with another man behind their husbands backs just to get pregnant.
This book would have been a lot better if Grant was not in it and Hunter actually met a man he deserved and not the sleaze that is Grant.
My honest opinion is this… stick with Clouds and Rain because honestly any decent human being will be disgusted with some of the characters morals in this one.
Review written for MM Good Book Reviews
You know I read the first book Clouds and Rain and loved it, so I was looking forward to this one as well but My God what were you thinking casting Grant as Hunter’s love interest.
This book seems to run parallel to Clouds and Rain but there are mistakes during the times that the books coincide and that is really annoying, Grant is the big baddie in Clouds and Rain, he was Gable’s lover who ran out on him when Gable was injured, he also slept with anything that didn’t move fast enough and oh so helpfully slept with a married woman because she wanted a baby.
In this book he is a misunderstood generous man who made a few mistakes, never cheated on Gable, try’s to blame Gable for what happened between them and he’s just helping his friends out when he sleeps with them to get them pregnant behind their husbands backs. I can’t stand this character because he has no redeemable qualities no matter how I look at it.
Now Hunter on the other hand is a great character, he has hidden his ‘gay’ side from everyone even himself, he finds himself attracted to one of the hands, acts on it and then needs to come to terms with what they had done. He then explores his feelings and continues to act on it while still trying to deny that he is gay. He also has to deal with his family’s dramatics and a revelation from his ex-girlfriend.
I disliked Callie and the mother of Grant’s children just on principle, as both these women find it acceptable to sleep with another man behind their husbands backs just to get pregnant.
This book would have been a lot better if Grant was not in it and Hunter actually met a man he deserved and not the sleaze that is Grant.
My honest opinion is this… stick with Clouds and Rain because honestly any decent human being will be disgusted with some of the characters morals in this one.
May 28, 2016
I quite enjoyed getting to know Grant and Hunter better. Especially since Grant wasn't well-loved in
. Grant used to work and have sex with Gable but the relationship ended badly.
When he starts working on Hunter's ranch, things are tense at first. But their attraction is unstoppable and pretty damn hot.
I liked that the timeline overlaps some events from book 1 and we get Grant and Hunter's perspective.
. Grant used to work and have sex with Gable but the relationship ended badly. When he starts working on Hunter's ranch, things are tense at first. But their attraction is unstoppable and pretty damn hot.
I liked that the timeline overlaps some events from book 1 and we get Grant and Hunter's perspective.
September 22, 2012
I like this author, but unfortunately this book was really unfocused: too much telling instead of showing, way too much family/baby drama, plot lines that came out of nowhere, strange leaps in the timeline. It also seemed much longer than it really was. I didn't hate it, but the problems prevented me from loving the characters, even though I wanted to. I started the series with the second book, since it's the first one chronologically; maybe the first and third are better.
November 23, 2012
I was afraid I wouldn´t be able to like this book because of Grant being portrayed as a bad guy in the previous book. It has been a pretty long time since I read the first book, so I could start reading this without the details of the first book making me dislike Grant. I thought that the relationship between Hunter and Grant was interesting. The rest of the family melodrama I could have done without.
Read
February 21, 2015This was ok. It tended to drag in places. I had a difficult time getting into it at the beginning. Then it got a bit dull. I think it could have ended long before it did without the added melodrama.
May 9, 2013
Not as bad as the first book...
January 14, 2016
Bello il libro e bella la serie. Peccato per i tanti refusi...
June 30, 2018
Hunter struggles to keep the family ranch running despite his best efforts and the efforts of everyone around him. And those struggles become more complicated when his brother-in-law hires Grant, the man who left Hunter's best friend alone and heartbroken after a tragic accident. Even though there's a lack of trust, Hunter needs the help and can't turn Grant away. But as Hunter's wall starts to come down, he sees a side of Grant he hadn't seen before. But can Hunter forgive Grant for what he did? And does Hunter really know everything there is to know about his new employee?
A bit of a slow burn here at first, especially considering the animosity between these two in the beginning. But when things do finally spark, there's an intense fire that I was fairly certain was never going to go out.
A bit of a slow burn here at first, especially considering the animosity between these two in the beginning. But when things do finally spark, there's an intense fire that I was fairly certain was never going to go out.
May 1, 2019
Rolled my eyes a lot in this book. I don’t love sequels that cover the same time period as the first book.
Also “Hunter knew that a house full of women meant hysteria was never far away anyway”. 🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄
Also “Hunter knew that a house full of women meant hysteria was never far away anyway”. 🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 19, 2025
Fan Kindle
Me encantó la novela los personajes increíbles se pueden ver el amor y la pasión de los protagonistas en esta segunda entrega de Nubes y Lluvia la autora no defrauda la recomiendo 💯
Me encantó la novela los personajes increíbles se pueden ver el amor y la pasión de los protagonistas en esta segunda entrega de Nubes y Lluvia la autora no defrauda la recomiendo 💯
April 18, 2018
Audiobook
Lots of family drama in this story, it reminded me a lot of Amy Lane's Promises series. Even the narrator Paul Morey was the same and followed the same style of narration.
Lots of family drama in this story, it reminded me a lot of Amy Lane's Promises series. Even the narrator Paul Morey was the same and followed the same style of narration.
December 4, 2013
We first met Grant Jarreau and Hunter Krause in book one. Grant is Gable’s former lover and Hunter is the owner of the ranch that borders Gables. Hunter and Gable are also long time friends. Everyone, including me, has preconceived notions about the type of person that Grant is. We are all about to be proven wrong.
Hunter inherited his ranch when his late father passed. He lives there and runs it with his family. It is his life. When his foreman hires Grant on as a wrangler, Hunter is less than pleased. This is the lying, conniving bastard that left his best friend at the worst of times. Grant always ducks and runs at the first sign of trouble, and Hunter doesn’t want him around. As the days pass and Hunter gets to know the man better, he learns Grant is not what he seems. There are two sides to every story. And the overwhelming attraction he has for Grant leaves him breathless and confused.
Grant had his reasons for leaving Gable’s ranch when he did, but in order to keep his secret he lets everyone continue to assume the worst about him. Besides, he and Gable were never in love, they were just in lust. Now he finds himself actually falling for his boss, the boss that can’t stand to be in the same room with him. Fate and circumstance keep pushing these two together, and soon enough a rainy day leads to some experimenting. But they have a long, hard road to travel before they can even resemble a couple. Someone is stealing horses from the ranch, add to that Hunters wariness with Grant who keeps asking for time off, but not telling anyone where he’s going. There is a lot of mystery and intrigue, and just when you think they are finally going to pull it off another bomb is dropped.
Oh how I loved this book! The romance between the two ML was realistic and electric. Hunter doesn’t turn gay overnight, he struggles with his growing feelings for Grant and the author conveys that beautifully. They share some passionate kisses and a lot of heavy petting before they find their way to the bed, well, hay loft actually. But it’s so sexy I listened to it twice!! Hunter’s insecurities balance perfectly with Grant’s assuredness, so neither one comes across as brash or fake. And Paul Morey stepped up to narrate again, Oh yes he did! The voice he uses for Hunter is so Rhett Butler it hurts, I loved it!!
Hunter is so very “Pardon me Grant, did I leave my boots under your bed?” and you couldn’t help but cheer for him and Grant to find that balance and get their much deserved HEA. There are a lot of twists and turns in this one, but I loved the added suspense. And this is not a sequel per say, it more runs alongside Clouds and Rain than comes after. I highly recommend this book, I’m certain that reading it will be just as good as listening, if not better. I will revisit this one again, and again.
*I received a copy of this audio book from Dreamspinner Press in exchange for an honest review through MM Good Book Reviews*
http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com
Hunter inherited his ranch when his late father passed. He lives there and runs it with his family. It is his life. When his foreman hires Grant on as a wrangler, Hunter is less than pleased. This is the lying, conniving bastard that left his best friend at the worst of times. Grant always ducks and runs at the first sign of trouble, and Hunter doesn’t want him around. As the days pass and Hunter gets to know the man better, he learns Grant is not what he seems. There are two sides to every story. And the overwhelming attraction he has for Grant leaves him breathless and confused.
Grant had his reasons for leaving Gable’s ranch when he did, but in order to keep his secret he lets everyone continue to assume the worst about him. Besides, he and Gable were never in love, they were just in lust. Now he finds himself actually falling for his boss, the boss that can’t stand to be in the same room with him. Fate and circumstance keep pushing these two together, and soon enough a rainy day leads to some experimenting. But they have a long, hard road to travel before they can even resemble a couple. Someone is stealing horses from the ranch, add to that Hunters wariness with Grant who keeps asking for time off, but not telling anyone where he’s going. There is a lot of mystery and intrigue, and just when you think they are finally going to pull it off another bomb is dropped.
Oh how I loved this book! The romance between the two ML was realistic and electric. Hunter doesn’t turn gay overnight, he struggles with his growing feelings for Grant and the author conveys that beautifully. They share some passionate kisses and a lot of heavy petting before they find their way to the bed, well, hay loft actually. But it’s so sexy I listened to it twice!! Hunter’s insecurities balance perfectly with Grant’s assuredness, so neither one comes across as brash or fake. And Paul Morey stepped up to narrate again, Oh yes he did! The voice he uses for Hunter is so Rhett Butler it hurts, I loved it!!
Hunter is so very “Pardon me Grant, did I leave my boots under your bed?” and you couldn’t help but cheer for him and Grant to find that balance and get their much deserved HEA. There are a lot of twists and turns in this one, but I loved the added suspense. And this is not a sequel per say, it more runs alongside Clouds and Rain than comes after. I highly recommend this book, I’m certain that reading it will be just as good as listening, if not better. I will revisit this one again, and again.
*I received a copy of this audio book from Dreamspinner Press in exchange for an honest review through MM Good Book Reviews*
http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com
September 16, 2013
REVIEW OF AUDIO & EBOOK; 15 SEPT 2013: 3 STARS
Narrator: Paul Morey
When it's an author who's new to me or not on my auto-buy list, I'm always leery when the book starts well, and seems to trot along nicely. Why, because invariably it trips and often falls down on its ass. Earth & Sky is a classic example.
Warning: this is another 'everything including the kitchen sink' book.
At around 20%, I was happy with it and there were enough moments for me to feel that it was a 5-star read/listen as far as MM non-suspense romances go. I even smiled at the thought of the two lusty cowboys making out in the open and the poor horse getting sprayed by cum (it was not intentional. This is not that type of book). Somewhere in the second half of the story, however, it went down to 4 stars because Grant allows himself to be used as a stud for a woman friend whom he barely knew (he's a drifter, never in a place or holding a job long enough to form any meaningful relationship).
This is just personal, of course, but I do have a dislike of MCs being used or offering themselves as stud service. Eg, in Special Forces, the seminal work (as far as free MM fic is concerned), Dan is used for that very purpose and I hated Katya because of that. Here, I didn't hate Christie since this isn't a book that delves very deeply into the characters, unlike SF where even the secondary characters evoke strong reactions from its fans.
Sorry, back to E&S...so this Grant fella, he's dropped a few notches in my estimation after lending out his studly cock BU..UTT I find out later he's done it again! To another woman. He's got 2 kids by the first woman and he had to fuck the 2nd woman for a whole year before she got pregnant. Eww. Yes, it's a personal ewww. I accept rentboys with more ease than studs but I'm still holding on to the 4 stars because I'm still interested in the story even if I've lost respect for Grant.
Unfortunately, it's a weak 4 stars and when the story morphs into a soap opera with a gleeful cackle in my earphones, believe me you have to read it for yourself to understand why my concluding description of said book is "as if Amy Lane went to bed drunk and woke up having written a cowboy book for Siren Publishing".
By the time I reached the last couple of chapters, I was tired of the melodrama, the absurdity, the pack of kids sired by Grant that descended on Hunter's ranch, the women, (oh, the women...no wonder they get called 'breeders' by snide twinks) the everything! I didn't even bother to finish those 2 chapters for fear of finding out Grant has sired more brats or the kitchen sink claims to be pregnant.
Narrator: Paul Morey
When it's an author who's new to me or not on my auto-buy list, I'm always leery when the book starts well, and seems to trot along nicely. Why, because invariably it trips and often falls down on its ass. Earth & Sky is a classic example.
Warning: this is another 'everything including the kitchen sink' book.
At around 20%, I was happy with it and there were enough moments for me to feel that it was a 5-star read/listen as far as MM non-suspense romances go. I even smiled at the thought of the two lusty cowboys making out in the open and the poor horse getting sprayed by cum (it was not intentional. This is not that type of book). Somewhere in the second half of the story, however, it went down to 4 stars because Grant allows himself to be used as a stud for a woman friend whom he barely knew (he's a drifter, never in a place or holding a job long enough to form any meaningful relationship).
This is just personal, of course, but I do have a dislike of MCs being used or offering themselves as stud service. Eg, in Special Forces, the seminal work (as far as free MM fic is concerned), Dan is used for that very purpose and I hated Katya because of that. Here, I didn't hate Christie since this isn't a book that delves very deeply into the characters, unlike SF where even the secondary characters evoke strong reactions from its fans.
Sorry, back to E&S...so this Grant fella, he's dropped a few notches in my estimation after lending out his studly cock BU..UTT I find out later he's done it again! To another woman. He's got 2 kids by the first woman and he had to fuck the 2nd woman for a whole year before she got pregnant. Eww. Yes, it's a personal ewww. I accept rentboys with more ease than studs but I'm still holding on to the 4 stars because I'm still interested in the story even if I've lost respect for Grant.
Unfortunately, it's a weak 4 stars and when the story morphs into a soap opera with a gleeful cackle in my earphones, believe me you have to read it for yourself to understand why my concluding description of said book is "as if Amy Lane went to bed drunk and woke up having written a cowboy book for Siren Publishing".
By the time I reached the last couple of chapters, I was tired of the melodrama, the absurdity, the pack of kids sired by Grant that descended on Hunter's ranch, the women, (oh, the women...no wonder they get called 'breeders' by snide twinks) the everything! I didn't even bother to finish those 2 chapters for fear of finding out Grant has sired more brats or the kitchen sink claims to be pregnant.
May 24, 2015
Vale la pena resaltar que esta nueva entrega ha sido incluso aún mejor que la anterior, los personaje fueron muy bien desarrollados, mostrándonos a Hunter, un hombre lleno de responsabilidades desde los catorce años, quien tuvo que asumir las riendas de su familia y tierras, ocupando el lugar que su padre dejó al morir tan joven. Hunter es un hombre completamente enterrado en el armario, tanto que ni siquiera ante sí mismo ha aceptado que es homosexual y prefiere hacer lo “correcto”, saliendo con diferentes mujeres y en especial con Miranda, una amiga con la que tiene sexo pero sin tener ninguna clase de compromiso serio, ocasionándose más insatisfacción y soledad.
Al rancho de Hunter llega Grant cuando Hugh, el cuñado de Hunter, lo contrata sin pedir su consentimiento, al necesitarse mano de obra extra. Con respecto a este personaje debo decir que lo odiaba desde el libro anterior, me parecía un tipo sin principios y ventajoso, pero a medida que leí la historia mi parecer fue cambiando. Grant es un tipo que si bien es cierto no se sabe exactamente qué piensa y que se trae al actuar de esa manera, a medida que avanza la historia conoceremos las razones por las cuales se convirtió en un hombre tan introvertido, lleno de secretos y con una coraza tan gruesa para así evitar ser lastimado aún más.
Ambos personajes viven sus infiernos personajes y a medida que interactúan van abriéndose el uno al otro, dándose cuenta que a pesar de la desconfianza de Hunter hacia Grant por lo que éste le hizo a Gable y los muchos secretos que Grant guarda, se sienten atraídos el uno al otro, dando lugar con los días al amor verdadero.
Tendrán que pasar por muchos obstáculos, principiando por el hecho de que Hunter acepte ante sí mismo y ante su familia que es homosexual y que ama a Grant, el enorme secreto que Grant esconde y que con los días se convertirá en una enorme piedra en el zapato para Hunter y los muchos problemas que tendrán que sortear en el rancho a causa de la pérdida de valiosos caballos, haciendo tambalear la estabilidad de éste.
Es una novela realmente encantadora, muy bien contada y los personajes han sido magistralmente desarrollados. No pueden dejar de adquirirla simplemente es genial.
Por cierto... si observan el cover Hunter está para comérselo a cucharita. Dios, se me hace agua la boca y con las descripciones que hace Grant en la novela uffff ...
Al rancho de Hunter llega Grant cuando Hugh, el cuñado de Hunter, lo contrata sin pedir su consentimiento, al necesitarse mano de obra extra. Con respecto a este personaje debo decir que lo odiaba desde el libro anterior, me parecía un tipo sin principios y ventajoso, pero a medida que leí la historia mi parecer fue cambiando. Grant es un tipo que si bien es cierto no se sabe exactamente qué piensa y que se trae al actuar de esa manera, a medida que avanza la historia conoceremos las razones por las cuales se convirtió en un hombre tan introvertido, lleno de secretos y con una coraza tan gruesa para así evitar ser lastimado aún más.
Ambos personajes viven sus infiernos personajes y a medida que interactúan van abriéndose el uno al otro, dándose cuenta que a pesar de la desconfianza de Hunter hacia Grant por lo que éste le hizo a Gable y los muchos secretos que Grant guarda, se sienten atraídos el uno al otro, dando lugar con los días al amor verdadero.
Tendrán que pasar por muchos obstáculos, principiando por el hecho de que Hunter acepte ante sí mismo y ante su familia que es homosexual y que ama a Grant, el enorme secreto que Grant esconde y que con los días se convertirá en una enorme piedra en el zapato para Hunter y los muchos problemas que tendrán que sortear en el rancho a causa de la pérdida de valiosos caballos, haciendo tambalear la estabilidad de éste.
Es una novela realmente encantadora, muy bien contada y los personajes han sido magistralmente desarrollados. No pueden dejar de adquirirla simplemente es genial.
Por cierto... si observan el cover Hunter está para comérselo a cucharita. Dios, se me hace agua la boca y con las descripciones que hace Grant en la novela uffff ...
June 5, 2015
Questa recensione è presente sul blog.
https://emozionifralepagine.wordpress...
Eccomi qui a parlare finalmente dei due personaggi che amo di più di questa splendida serie, Hunter e Grant. Che dire, forse la storia non è intensa o drammatica come quella di Flynn e Gable, ma adoro questi due. Insieme fanno scintille, fin dal primo incontro l’attrazione è palpabile e i loro scontri sono a dir poco accattivanti. Grant è un personaggio ambiguo, misterioso, appare e scompare come niente fosse e questo rende Hunter ancora più sospettoso nei suoi confronti, ma è anche l’uomo che gli fa capire una volta per tutte che le donne non fanno per lui. Per anni Hunter si è ostinato a nascondere la propria omosessualità o meglio a rinnegarla, quando si ritrova a offrire un lavoro all’ex di Gable i dubbi diventano certezze. Lo detesta per ciò che ha fatto all’amico, ma non può fare a meno di pensare a lui e di cosa sarebbero capaci di fare le mani grandi e grosse dell’uomo sul suo corpo. Niente, la sua testa dice di no, ma altre parti della sua anatomia dicono che Grant è colui che vuole. Come dicevo prima non è drammatico come “Nuvole e pioggia” ma ci va molto vicino. Problemi su problemi mettono a dura prova la coppia e Grant per una volta dovrà prendere un decisione: fuggire o restare? Hunter è un libro aperto, mi piace proprio per questo, riesce a esternare i propri sentimenti e combatte per far sì che vengano rispettati, Grant invece è molto più chiuso, ha bisogno di fare mente locale riguardo a ciò che prova per il suo compagno, lo ama, lo desidera, ma non è mai stato tanto a lungo in un posto, non ha mai messo radici in nessun luogo, dalle responsabilità lui fugge. Però c’è anche da dire che Hunter non è un uomo qualsiasi, lui non si arrende e mette Grant con le spalle al muro. Sì, decisamente è il mio preferito e quindi… ve lo consiglio!
https://emozionifralepagine.wordpress...
Eccomi qui a parlare finalmente dei due personaggi che amo di più di questa splendida serie, Hunter e Grant. Che dire, forse la storia non è intensa o drammatica come quella di Flynn e Gable, ma adoro questi due. Insieme fanno scintille, fin dal primo incontro l’attrazione è palpabile e i loro scontri sono a dir poco accattivanti. Grant è un personaggio ambiguo, misterioso, appare e scompare come niente fosse e questo rende Hunter ancora più sospettoso nei suoi confronti, ma è anche l’uomo che gli fa capire una volta per tutte che le donne non fanno per lui. Per anni Hunter si è ostinato a nascondere la propria omosessualità o meglio a rinnegarla, quando si ritrova a offrire un lavoro all’ex di Gable i dubbi diventano certezze. Lo detesta per ciò che ha fatto all’amico, ma non può fare a meno di pensare a lui e di cosa sarebbero capaci di fare le mani grandi e grosse dell’uomo sul suo corpo. Niente, la sua testa dice di no, ma altre parti della sua anatomia dicono che Grant è colui che vuole. Come dicevo prima non è drammatico come “Nuvole e pioggia” ma ci va molto vicino. Problemi su problemi mettono a dura prova la coppia e Grant per una volta dovrà prendere un decisione: fuggire o restare? Hunter è un libro aperto, mi piace proprio per questo, riesce a esternare i propri sentimenti e combatte per far sì che vengano rispettati, Grant invece è molto più chiuso, ha bisogno di fare mente locale riguardo a ciò che prova per il suo compagno, lo ama, lo desidera, ma non è mai stato tanto a lungo in un posto, non ha mai messo radici in nessun luogo, dalle responsabilità lui fugge. Però c’è anche da dire che Hunter non è un uomo qualsiasi, lui non si arrende e mette Grant con le spalle al muro. Sì, decisamente è il mio preferito e quindi… ve lo consiglio!
April 6, 2015
Vous vous souvenez que j'avais eu un avis mitigé avec le premier tome, et bien ce second tome m'a réconcilié avec la série. La plume de Zahra y prend vraiment toute sa dimension et elle nous offre une belle romance.
Hunter et Grant nous offre une relation qui se construit sur la durée. La romance en est ainsi beaucoup plus tangible et crédible. Même le revirement de sexualité de Hunter est traité de manière si réelle qu'on y croit. D'habitude dans les romances on a du mal a croire à un revirement de sexualité et pourtant la belle plume de Zahra réussie là où beaucoup ont échoué.
La romance est belle comme je le disais mais il y a aussi une maitrise de l'humour qui est propre à l'auteur. Les situations nous font sourire et on aime tout simplement les personnages, autant les principaux que les secondaires. J'ai vraiment été conquis du début à la fin. Il est étrange de voir comment deux tomes peuvent être si différents. Autant le premier tome était très sombre et centré sur les deux héros autant le second s'ouvre au monde et fait participer tous les personnages, La romance y est gaie et ensoleillée.
En résumé un livre que je recommande et surtout à ceux qui ont été un peu bloqués aux entournures avec le tome 1, vous allez vous régaler avec ce tome ci.
Hunter et Grant nous offre une relation qui se construit sur la durée. La romance en est ainsi beaucoup plus tangible et crédible. Même le revirement de sexualité de Hunter est traité de manière si réelle qu'on y croit. D'habitude dans les romances on a du mal a croire à un revirement de sexualité et pourtant la belle plume de Zahra réussie là où beaucoup ont échoué.
La romance est belle comme je le disais mais il y a aussi une maitrise de l'humour qui est propre à l'auteur. Les situations nous font sourire et on aime tout simplement les personnages, autant les principaux que les secondaires. J'ai vraiment été conquis du début à la fin. Il est étrange de voir comment deux tomes peuvent être si différents. Autant le premier tome était très sombre et centré sur les deux héros autant le second s'ouvre au monde et fait participer tous les personnages, La romance y est gaie et ensoleillée.
En résumé un livre que je recommande et surtout à ceux qui ont été un peu bloqués aux entournures avec le tome 1, vous allez vous régaler avec ce tome ci.
April 16, 2015
Et bien moi qui hésitais, j'ai beaucoup aimé. Je craignais ne pas pouvoir l'apprécier n'ayant pas lu le tome 1, mais finalement, c'était une bonne surprise.(Et j'ai deviné de quoi il en retournait pour les chevaux dès le premier coup ! Nomé !)
J'ai vraiment apprécié tous les détails concernant la vie dans les ranches et des chevaux donnés par Zahra Owen dans ce livre. Mais bon, cette dame a déjà fait ses preuves et ses livres sont vachement bons.
Par contre, si on est censé détester Grant dans le premier tome, ça va juste être pas possible. C'est mon personnage préféré avec Izzie.
Hunter quant à lui, je l'ai trouvé plutôt mou au départ. Heureusement que ça s'arrange par la suite.
Bref, cet enchaînement de phrases n'est surement pas une digne chronique de ce livre, mais je voulais quand même souligner que j'avais apprécié vraiment très beaucoup.
En attendant que quelqu'un me dise les âges de Gabe et Flynn, je crois que je lirais volontiers le tome 1
J'ai vraiment apprécié tous les détails concernant la vie dans les ranches et des chevaux donnés par Zahra Owen dans ce livre. Mais bon, cette dame a déjà fait ses preuves et ses livres sont vachement bons.
Par contre, si on est censé détester Grant dans le premier tome, ça va juste être pas possible. C'est mon personnage préféré avec Izzie.
Hunter quant à lui, je l'ai trouvé plutôt mou au départ. Heureusement que ça s'arrange par la suite.
Bref, cet enchaînement de phrases n'est surement pas une digne chronique de ce livre, mais je voulais quand même souligner que j'avais apprécié vraiment très beaucoup.
En attendant que quelqu'un me dise les âges de Gabe et Flynn, je crois que je lirais volontiers le tome 1
August 11, 2016
Much like Clouds and Rain I felt a bit detached from the emotional side of things. I enjoyed the build-up of Hunter and Grant's relationship, but the never ending issues going on around certainly have that soap opera quality. We get some follow-through of the side mentions in the other book, but if you hadn't read that first there's a bunch of stuff touched on in this one that would seem completely random and incomplete. I really wanted to see the scene where Grant appologizes to Gable if for no other reason than I wanted further justification for Grant's total acceptance afterwards.
October 8, 2012
I cant believe I didn't see any reviews mentioning that every convo from clouds is not only changed in earth but the context of the convos is also changed and events that happen are also slightly altered ...
For example in clouds gable was crazy jealous when hunter was first meeting Flynn and acted like a jerk but in earth he was all warm and sunny and the convo was different
Another example is when flynn punchs grant at the hospital he also acts like an ass to calley but in earth he is all hi honey and doesn't act like that at all
Ummm what????
But besides that I enjoyed the story and it was filled with drama which I love in my books =]]]
For example in clouds gable was crazy jealous when hunter was first meeting Flynn and acted like a jerk but in earth he was all warm and sunny and the convo was different
Another example is when flynn punchs grant at the hospital he also acts like an ass to calley but in earth he is all hi honey and doesn't act like that at all
Ummm what????
But besides that I enjoyed the story and it was filled with drama which I love in my books =]]]
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