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Paw Prints #1
Daisy, Yellow
an alternate cover edition can be found here
After inheriting his grandfather's farm, Noah packs his bags, buys a dog, and moves onto the property. Once there, he discovers rural life is full of unexpected surprises. Like snakes.
And gorgeous vets who live nearby.
Hunter is everything Noah's not - messy, relaxed, comfortable with animals. And at 39, he's still a virgin who has never told anyone he's gay.
When the little country town figures out Hunter's secret, both men are forced to choose between being comfortable and being happy.
Daisy, Yellow is a stand alone MM romance featuring a 39 year old virgin, some hurt/comfort, a naughty puppy, and a very bossy cat.
After inheriting his grandfather's farm, Noah packs his bags, buys a dog, and moves onto the property. Once there, he discovers rural life is full of unexpected surprises. Like snakes.
And gorgeous vets who live nearby.
Hunter is everything Noah's not - messy, relaxed, comfortable with animals. And at 39, he's still a virgin who has never told anyone he's gay.
When the little country town figures out Hunter's secret, both men are forced to choose between being comfortable and being happy.
Daisy, Yellow is a stand alone MM romance featuring a 39 year old virgin, some hurt/comfort, a naughty puppy, and a very bossy cat.
Kindle Edition
First published June 23, 2018
70 people are currently reading
166 people want to read
About the author
Angelique Jurd
43 books288 followersPeople driven stories. Slightly broken boys. Safe space MM Romance fiction.
After getting a degree in languages, travelling the world, raising a family, and working as a business journalist, she went back to school and studied English Literature and Media Studies.
In 2018, she published her first novel Jesse’s Smile with Small Black Cat Media. Since then, she’s continued to write contemporary gay (MM) romance and her academic research in fan studies and the queerification of popular fiction characters by fans.
Angelique is owned by three cats, three adult children, two temperamental computers, and a very patient boyfriend (not a partridge in a pear tree). She’s also pierced, painted, pansexual, and proud AF. When she’s not writing (or swearing at her computer) she likes cold champagne, hot coffee, neat whiskey, loud Springsteen, and the Winchester brothers kicking butt.
Stay up to date with new releases and other news by getting Angelique's newsletter: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/636945...
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After getting a degree in languages, travelling the world, raising a family, and working as a business journalist, she went back to school and studied English Literature and Media Studies.
In 2018, she published her first novel Jesse’s Smile with Small Black Cat Media. Since then, she’s continued to write contemporary gay (MM) romance and her academic research in fan studies and the queerification of popular fiction characters by fans.
Angelique is owned by three cats, three adult children, two temperamental computers, and a very patient boyfriend (not a partridge in a pear tree). She’s also pierced, painted, pansexual, and proud AF. When she’s not writing (or swearing at her computer) she likes cold champagne, hot coffee, neat whiskey, loud Springsteen, and the Winchester brothers kicking butt.
Stay up to date with new releases and other news by getting Angelique's newsletter: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/636945...
Find online:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Angelique-Jurd...
Instagram: angeliquejurd
Facebook: http://facebook.com/AngeliqueRJurdWriter
FB Reader Group:
http://facebook.com/groups/cocktailsa...
Bookbub:
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/angel...
Ratings & Reviews
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
March 26, 2019
2.5 Stars
I’m obviously the rare dissenting opinion when it comes to this story so please read all the other glowing reviews!
Oh yes, that sweet adorable cover hides a more serious book, something I wasn’t quite prepared for. Beware very strong in the closet overtones with small town bigotry that comes with so much hate.
Points for featuring a too cute for it’s own good puppy and an almost 40 year old ginger virgin who is ripe for the picking.
I wanted something fluffier and my rating reflects that. Sadly for me, the yummy premise of a city boy falling for a country boy was dampened by the angst and the abrupt ending. No one is more disappointed than me. However, it looks as though this is going to be a series so a more concrete HEA is sure to be coming!
I’m obviously the rare dissenting opinion when it comes to this story so please read all the other glowing reviews!
Oh yes, that sweet adorable cover hides a more serious book, something I wasn’t quite prepared for. Beware very strong in the closet overtones with small town bigotry that comes with so much hate.
Points for featuring a too cute for it’s own good puppy and an almost 40 year old ginger virgin who is ripe for the picking.
I wanted something fluffier and my rating reflects that. Sadly for me, the yummy premise of a city boy falling for a country boy was dampened by the angst and the abrupt ending. No one is more disappointed than me. However, it looks as though this is going to be a series so a more concrete HEA is sure to be coming!
Want to read
August 12, 2018Yes, I totally picked this book up because of the super adorable cover. Yes, I'm a sucker for puppies - especially when they are cute Labrador Retrievers, lol! It also didn't hurt that it's free on Amazon right now ;)
August 14, 2018
A Joyfully Jay review.
4 stars
I picked up Daisy, Yellow because I thought it would be a bit of fluff to entertain me while on vacation. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find it to be a well written, character-driven book. The author perfectly captured small town life, Hunter’s genuine fear of what would happen if his sexuality was exposed, and Noah’s complete devotion to little Daisy. I was charmed by them and their sweet (and eventually hot) moments together. I was also delighted with both men’s interactions with their pets. There was Daisy, of course, but Hunter has a grumpy cat named Rosie. He confides in her, and even argues with her when he thinks Rosie is judging him. I found myself relating with the men because, as the mommy to five fussy but adorable furbabies, I have the same total devotion to them.
There was a nice chemistry between Noah and Hunter. They were attracted to each other right off the bat, and it was cute how they flirted at the clinic. They were immediately comfortable with each other, and I liked that. When they were ultimately intimate, it was equal parts sweet and sexy…and when I say sexy, I mean sexy. Noah was very gentle with Hunter after he shared he was a virgin. There was also a nice bit of dirty talk. I’m a big fan of dirty talk. Hehe. There are several hot scenes between the men, but they weren’t gratuitous, and they never lose their intensity.
Read Kenna’s review in its entirety here.
4 stars
I picked up Daisy, Yellow because I thought it would be a bit of fluff to entertain me while on vacation. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find it to be a well written, character-driven book. The author perfectly captured small town life, Hunter’s genuine fear of what would happen if his sexuality was exposed, and Noah’s complete devotion to little Daisy. I was charmed by them and their sweet (and eventually hot) moments together. I was also delighted with both men’s interactions with their pets. There was Daisy, of course, but Hunter has a grumpy cat named Rosie. He confides in her, and even argues with her when he thinks Rosie is judging him. I found myself relating with the men because, as the mommy to five fussy but adorable furbabies, I have the same total devotion to them.
There was a nice chemistry between Noah and Hunter. They were attracted to each other right off the bat, and it was cute how they flirted at the clinic. They were immediately comfortable with each other, and I liked that. When they were ultimately intimate, it was equal parts sweet and sexy…and when I say sexy, I mean sexy. Noah was very gentle with Hunter after he shared he was a virgin. There was also a nice bit of dirty talk. I’m a big fan of dirty talk. Hehe. There are several hot scenes between the men, but they weren’t gratuitous, and they never lose their intensity.
Read Kenna’s review in its entirety here.
July 15, 2018
*ARC provided by the author*
Contrary to what this cover would have you think, this is not a fluffy read. True, it has plenty of fluff- but there's more to it than that.
Noah and Hunter's story balances fluff, angst and the ever-present healthy dose of sexy. To be completely honest, I could have done without the sexy, but it was nicely excecuted, so I'm not really here to complain.
As every story taking place in a small town, it has its due amount of angsty prejudice (taken a bit too far sometimes, but I won't expand on that cause spoilers). However, it's always challenged, it's always presented as wrong. On the other side of the "argument", the MCs have a great support group, there's a really nice depiction of loving, supporting friends and family who want only the best for those they care about.
Now, for a plethora of reasons, the MC's journey isn't an easy one- not even themselves making it easy sometimes- but they prove time after time to be a strong team that is hellbent on making things work. Even when their relationship could have been much harder due to both personal experiences being somewhat incompatible, these two characters are written to be mature about it all (and them being almost forty, it would have been weird- but not unheard of-if they hadn't been mature).
One of the strongest traits that both MCs share is their ability not to stay passive about their circumstances: they are both thrust into situations that aren't easy to deal with, but they still struggle to get through; they are strong and determined enough to know what they want and work for it even when the universe seems to keep telling them no.
True, the pace of the story seemed pretty odd and sometimes some events were anticlimatic, but overall, it wasn't imposible to read. Just a bit stuttery at times. No big deal.
Contrary to what this cover would have you think, this is not a fluffy read. True, it has plenty of fluff- but there's more to it than that.
Noah and Hunter's story balances fluff, angst and the ever-present healthy dose of sexy. To be completely honest, I could have done without the sexy, but it was nicely excecuted, so I'm not really here to complain.
As every story taking place in a small town, it has its due amount of angsty prejudice (taken a bit too far sometimes, but I won't expand on that cause spoilers). However, it's always challenged, it's always presented as wrong. On the other side of the "argument", the MCs have a great support group, there's a really nice depiction of loving, supporting friends and family who want only the best for those they care about.
Now, for a plethora of reasons, the MC's journey isn't an easy one- not even themselves making it easy sometimes- but they prove time after time to be a strong team that is hellbent on making things work. Even when their relationship could have been much harder due to both personal experiences being somewhat incompatible, these two characters are written to be mature about it all (and them being almost forty, it would have been weird- but not unheard of-if they hadn't been mature).
One of the strongest traits that both MCs share is their ability not to stay passive about their circumstances: they are both thrust into situations that aren't easy to deal with, but they still struggle to get through; they are strong and determined enough to know what they want and work for it even when the universe seems to keep telling them no.
True, the pace of the story seemed pretty odd and sometimes some events were anticlimatic, but overall, it wasn't imposible to read. Just a bit stuttery at times. No big deal.
July 20, 2018
Yes, M/M romance books that have one of the main characters very closeted tend to irk me a bit, but in the case of Daisy, Yellow, the more narrow-minded small town setting does a lot to temper that ire. I can’t imagine how Hunter must feel, especially in one of the more dramatic and upsetting scenes late in the story.
Hunter is 39 and has always been in that closet—and has never done much physically with anyone…man or woman…in all that time. This gives his character an touch of innocence when it comes to interacting with others on a romantic level, but also makes him very skittish once he and Noah start seeing each other (all on the very down-low of course).
Noah is that adorable city guy who’s suddenly in the middle of a bit of country life, which does make for some funny moments. He and Hunter have excellent chemistry together, and their relationship unfolds slowly since Noah doesn’t want to push Hunter due to Hunter’s lack of experience. During that relationship development we get to see the deep bond that forms between the two, and the whole time I was waiting for the other shoe to drop when it came to Hunter having to decide between Noah and his current life.
There are some very distressing scenes that come up once word somehow gets out about the two of them, ones that sadly are still very prevalent in many areas (and not just small towns), and in this case those scenes broke my heart. But I did like to see how Hunter reacted to what came about, coming out a stronger character in the end. And speaking of the end…the way things wrapped up at the end of the story felt a bit too quick for me, and it did leave things open making it feel more like a happy-for-now (HFN) ending then a fully resolved HEA (happily ever after).
As for Daisy? I'm about ready to go pick out my own Daisy after reading this. I love pets in books, but especially dogs and Daisy was absolutely adorable!
Though I would have liked a more solid ending, Daisy, Yellow was still a very solid 4-star read for me, and my curiosity is piqued for whatever the author has in store for this series. This book is meant for readers 18+ for adult language and sexual content.
Hunter is 39 and has always been in that closet—and has never done much physically with anyone…man or woman…in all that time. This gives his character an touch of innocence when it comes to interacting with others on a romantic level, but also makes him very skittish once he and Noah start seeing each other (all on the very down-low of course).
Noah is that adorable city guy who’s suddenly in the middle of a bit of country life, which does make for some funny moments. He and Hunter have excellent chemistry together, and their relationship unfolds slowly since Noah doesn’t want to push Hunter due to Hunter’s lack of experience. During that relationship development we get to see the deep bond that forms between the two, and the whole time I was waiting for the other shoe to drop when it came to Hunter having to decide between Noah and his current life.
There are some very distressing scenes that come up once word somehow gets out about the two of them, ones that sadly are still very prevalent in many areas (and not just small towns), and in this case those scenes broke my heart. But I did like to see how Hunter reacted to what came about, coming out a stronger character in the end. And speaking of the end…the way things wrapped up at the end of the story felt a bit too quick for me, and it did leave things open making it feel more like a happy-for-now (HFN) ending then a fully resolved HEA (happily ever after).
As for Daisy? I'm about ready to go pick out my own Daisy after reading this. I love pets in books, but especially dogs and Daisy was absolutely adorable!
Though I would have liked a more solid ending, Daisy, Yellow was still a very solid 4-star read for me, and my curiosity is piqued for whatever the author has in store for this series. This book is meant for readers 18+ for adult language and sexual content.
probably-not-but-freebie
August 12, 2018Freebie at amazon.com right now: https://www.amazon.com/Daisy-Yellow-P...
May 19, 2019
New to me author this is a mm contemporary story set in the USA. Vet Hunter and Civil Engineer Noah have a rocky time in small town USA. Labrador puppy Daisy steals the show!!!
July 20, 2018
Daisy, Yellow is the first book by Angelique Jurd that I've read and I really liked it. I will also say that I had to read and digest this book, flopping between 3.5 stars and 4 stars until I decided on 4. I'll explain. The book was well written, although there were some slow parts to it, parts that seemed to drag a little too much for me, but the story as a whole was really good. I also feel like the end just ended. It didn't wrap everything up, but that is just my opinion. It didn't really leave anything open, it just felt lacking. That said, this is book one of a series, so I'll definitely be reading the next book. I really liked how real it was, especially the ending. I know that some people won't like it, but honestly, it's sadly the truth many times. If you want to know what I'm talking about, you'll have to read the book for yourself. I applaud the author for writing it the way she did because she could have taken the easy way out.
Two men. One hiding who he is and one trying to escape, to find a new life. They meet each other with the help of a puppy, and the door is opened. It was sweet, romantic, and had some heat. 4 stars and I recommend that you one click this book today.
Two men. One hiding who he is and one trying to escape, to find a new life. They meet each other with the help of a puppy, and the door is opened. It was sweet, romantic, and had some heat. 4 stars and I recommend that you one click this book today.
July 21, 2018
4.5 stars
This is just overall a super sweet book. At first, I thought it started a little abruptly but after the first couple of paragraphs, I was incredibly invested in this story. Noah and Hunter are both very genuine and their story was refreshing. There was a good balance of the MCs getting to know each other and us getting to know the MCs. The pacing was good and while the story was on the shorter side, I did not feel like there was a lack of details or that anything was rushed.
The author did a good job of building the relationship build between Noah and Hunter. Generally, this book was pretty fluffy but there were a couple of small angsty parts that I appreciated just for keeping things interesting and really a segway into the next book.
I wanted more at the end of this story! I felt like the epilogue gave us a teaser with a slight conclusion. I know book 2 is about the same couple and I am eager as heck to read it. If there was not a book 2, I would have been upset because I feel like these guys have more story to tell. I definitely recommend this book for anyone looking for a sweet fluffy read with a little bit of angst and a cute pup that helps keep things light.
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
This is just overall a super sweet book. At first, I thought it started a little abruptly but after the first couple of paragraphs, I was incredibly invested in this story. Noah and Hunter are both very genuine and their story was refreshing. There was a good balance of the MCs getting to know each other and us getting to know the MCs. The pacing was good and while the story was on the shorter side, I did not feel like there was a lack of details or that anything was rushed.
The author did a good job of building the relationship build between Noah and Hunter. Generally, this book was pretty fluffy but there were a couple of small angsty parts that I appreciated just for keeping things interesting and really a segway into the next book.
I wanted more at the end of this story! I felt like the epilogue gave us a teaser with a slight conclusion. I know book 2 is about the same couple and I am eager as heck to read it. If there was not a book 2, I would have been upset because I feel like these guys have more story to tell. I definitely recommend this book for anyone looking for a sweet fluffy read with a little bit of angst and a cute pup that helps keep things light.
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
June 25, 2018
💕Another romantic gem from author Angelique Jurd, with the most adorable 🐕pets🐈!
June 24, 2018
Format: Kindle Edition
👍👍I loved this story, half due to the adorable pets and half thanks to the developing romance between new-in-town bachelor Noah and deeply closeted veterinarian Hunter. It's also well-written and the author knows how to tell a good story about complex characters that draws you in.
Daisy, the Yellow Labrador featured on the book cover, is Noah's quintessentially rambunctious and curious 🐕pup. She is not only the catalyst for Noah and Hunter to meet; Daisy repeatedly brings them back together. Time and again she brings mayhem and joy to Noah's life on the farm. Rosie, Hunter's 🐈cat, contributes to a string of humorous moments as Hunter constantly consults her and seeks her approval, and Rosie teaches Daisy a few things about sharing space with a supremely confident cat! I fell for both pets in a big way:-) .
For me, love stories work best with at least a bit of conflict and this one had more than its share. I was happy that, despite the knocks they suffered, Noah and Hunter's relationship was strong enough to withstand discrimination, hatred and violence. The HFN ending was hopeful, but I am anxious to read more of this foursome and how life treats them down the line.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
June 24, 2018
Format: Kindle Edition
👍👍I loved this story, half due to the adorable pets and half thanks to the developing romance between new-in-town bachelor Noah and deeply closeted veterinarian Hunter. It's also well-written and the author knows how to tell a good story about complex characters that draws you in.
Daisy, the Yellow Labrador featured on the book cover, is Noah's quintessentially rambunctious and curious 🐕pup. She is not only the catalyst for Noah and Hunter to meet; Daisy repeatedly brings them back together. Time and again she brings mayhem and joy to Noah's life on the farm. Rosie, Hunter's 🐈cat, contributes to a string of humorous moments as Hunter constantly consults her and seeks her approval, and Rosie teaches Daisy a few things about sharing space with a supremely confident cat! I fell for both pets in a big way:-) .
For me, love stories work best with at least a bit of conflict and this one had more than its share. I was happy that, despite the knocks they suffered, Noah and Hunter's relationship was strong enough to withstand discrimination, hatred and violence. The HFN ending was hopeful, but I am anxious to read more of this foursome and how life treats them down the line.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
June 27, 2018
This is a delightful, entertaining, thought-provoking story that I loved and I could not put it down. It is well-written with amazing characters, a somewhat domineering cat and a lovely puppy. There are some very disturbing acts of discrimination that unfortunately are only too real and I love how the author gives a realistic portrayal of how hard it can be to live your life openly and honestly with the person you love. Noah and Hunter come from very different backgrounds and while Noah has been out for many years Hunter has never had a relationship and no one knows that he is gay. His fear of the repercussions he would face from the residents of the small town he grew up in if they find out he is gay is not unfounded. Noah doesn't want to be a secret or be pulled back into the closet but he wants to build a life with Hunter. The obstacles they face seem to be insurmountable but they will find that not everyone will hate them just because of who they love. This is a beautiful love story that shows the reality of some of the ugliness in the world. I can't wait to read the next book in this excellent new series.
October 14, 2019
3.5 ⭐️
July 21, 2018
Review in English and Polish || Recenzja w języku angielskim oraz polskim
Not so long after the stormy breakup with his unfaithful boyfriend, Noah Jenkins decides to start a new life. That's why he buys a full of energy and curiosity Labrador puppy and moves to the farm he inherited from his grandfather. Although he doesn't have the slightest idea how to deal with all the new responsibilities he accepted, he has enough determination and enthusiasm to try to settle down in the new place and take care of the farm. Daisy's – his puppy's – little accident puts Hunter Ross, a local single and extremely attractive vet, in Noah's path. Although Noah interest in Hunter is quickly reciprocated, it turns out that a 39-year-old veterinarian not only doesn't openly admits his sexual orientation but also is not willing to do it for fear of the townsfolk's reaction. For Noah it's something inconceivable but for Hunter this secret is already an integral part of him and it's a guarantee of security. The question is, for how long will they be able to hide their deepening with every moment feelings and whether this lack of honesty will not affect their relationship.
I'll be honest. When I decided to read "Daisy, Yellow" I didn't know what to expect, as it was my first contact with Angelique Jurd's works. I wasn't even sure if it was a novel for me. However, I decided to take a chance and see for myself. Now I know that it was a very good decision, because I fell in love with this book from the very beginning and with every chapter my feelings were stronger and stronger. "Daisy, Yellow" is a perfect combination of a love idyll with a brutal reality. Our adventure with this story gently begins from the accidental meeting of the two main characters and their shy, innocent attempts to get to know each other better and to check their chances. Then begins a truly sweet love story that warms the reader's heart. And just then, at the moment when we start to think that it's probably a bit too fluffy, some dark clouds gather over our lead characters. The author reminds us that her novel, although creating the impression of a fairy tale, is set in our reality where every moment of happiness has to be purchased by an equal moment of drama. At some point, the plot takes on such a pace that when we reach the epilogue, we simply can't believe that this is the end of this volume. I literally stared at the last chapter with my mouth open and didn't want to accept the fact that I finished reading and the next volume is not written yet. In truth, it still can't believe it.
It should be noted that in her novel about sweet love and bitter reality, Angelique Jurd raises the extremely important subjects of tolerance and its lack, homophobia and small-town small-minded people. This is all the more important because it sketches a picture of the world as it is in most cases. In the end every day we hear about some smaller and bigger victories of the LGBT + community but let's face it, our world is still far from complete acceptance of people with non-heterosexual orientation. The author combined these two faces of reality using her characters – Noah who bloomed in the sun of sincerity and openness and Hunter who was hiding in the shadow of secrets. At the same time, the contrast between the mentality of people in a large city and those in a small town is outlined, which we can successfully apply to individuals, social, cultural, religious groups or entire countries. What's more, we clearly see how much a person can gain through acceptance and how much they can lose because of a lack of it, as at stake in this "game" often is the right to life. And that's exactly what is really well shown in "Daisy, Yellow".
I have an impression that recently we are being flooded by books in which the characters came out of the closet and openly admit their sexual orientation. Therefore, it seems more important to me that in "Daisy, Yellow" we have a character for whom, despite his age, all of this is a part of some distant future. On his example we see how difficult it is to leave the comfort zone and face the world that can accept us as we are or reject us without making the slightest attempt to accept who we are. Coming out is like leaving a safe nest, jumping into the abyss with hope that we will be able to spread our wings and fly. On the other hand, there is a fear of falling, hitting the ground if we fail to rise into the air. That's why Hunter is so important to us and deserves our special attention. What's more, in the thought of saying that "what the eye doesn't see, the heart doesn't grieve over", the author also drew our attention to the problem of loneliness associated with hiding who we are, which existence we don't even realize. With all this in mind, I would say that Angelique Jurd offered us insight into the psyche of not only one of her characters but also of many real people being in a situation similar to Hunter's.
Since I partly started the topic of the characters, I will stick to it for a little bit longer as they are another great advantage of the novel and I admit that I'm really delighted with them. Reading "Daisy, Yellow" I fell in love with them in the blink of an eye. Angelique Jurd has created not only a lovely pup but also two great men who have a lot in common but at the same time they are so different that if not for a series of quite fortunate coincidences, their paths could never cross and they could lose their chance for love. Naturally, it would be a huge loss for both them and the reader, because although Noah and Hunter separately are truly wonderful and monopolize our hearts, together they create a pair so perfect as if they've been waiting for each other all of their lives, that, by the way, is totally true. From the very beginning, their relationship raises in the reader a lot of very warm feelings that are addictive. Because of that, we not only can't stop reading but above all we don't want to stop. Reaching the last page, we realize that we feel so close to the characters that we don't want to part with them, and as we have to wait for the next volume, we want to start reading this novel again right away.
To sum up, "Daisy, Yellow" is an intelligent story full of warmth and truth about life that you want to come back to many times. It shows the danger of coming out of the closet as well as the advantages and joys of freedom to love who we want to, of being honest with others and with ourselves. In this book we can also find fantastic characters, some delightful animals and a whole lot of feelings with which the novel is filled to the brim. However, I must warn you, "Daisy, Yellow" is seriously addictive.
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Niedługo po burzliwym rozstaniu ze swoim niewiernym chłopakiem, Noah Jenkins postanawia rozpocząć życie na nowo. W tym celu kupuje pełne energii i wrodzonej ciekawości szczenię labradora i przeprowadza się na otrzymaną w spadku po dziadku farmę. Chociaż mężczyzna nie ma najmniejszego pojęcia, w jaki sposób poradzić sobie z nowymi obowiązkami, jakie wziął na swoje barki, ma w sobie wystarczająco dużo determinacji i zapału, aby chociaż spróbować zadomowić się w nowym miejscu i zadbać o dobre funkcjonowanie farmy. Drobny wypadek Daisy, jego szczeniaka, stawia na drodze Noaha Huntera Rossa, miejscowego samotnego i niezwykle atrakcyjnego weterynarza. Chociaż zainteresowanie Noaha Hunterem szybko zostaje odwzajemnione, okazuje się, że 39-letni weterynarz nie tylko nie przyznaje się otwarcie do swojej orientacji seksualnej, ale też nie chce tego robić z obawy przed reakcją mieszkańców miasteczka. Dla Noaha jest to rzecz nie do pojęcia, za to dla Huntera sekret jest już integralną częścią jego samego i stanowi gwarancję bezpieczeństwa. Pytanie, jak długo mężczyźni będą w stanie ukrywać przed światem swoje pogłębiające się z każdą chwilą uczucia i czy ten brak szczerości nie odbije się to na ich związku.
Będę szczera. Kiedy zdecydowałam się przeczytać „Daisy, Yellow” zupełnie nie wiedziałam czego powinnam się spodziewać, jako że było to moje pierwsze spotkanie z twórczością Angelique Jurd. Nie byłam nawet pewna, czy jest to powieść dla mnie. Postanowiłam jednak zaryzykować i przekonać się o tym na własnej skórze. Teraz już wiem, że była to bardzo dobra decyzja, ponieważ książka ta rozkochała mnie w sobie już od pierwszych stron i umacniała moje uczucie z każdym kolejnym rozdziałem. „Daisy, Yellow” to perfekcyjne połączenie miłosnej sielanki z brutalną rzeczywistością. Nasza przygoda z tym tytułem zaczyna się łagodnie od przypadkowego spotkania dwójki głównych bohaterów oraz ich nieśmiałych, pełnych niewinności podchodów, mających na celu bliższe poznanie się, „zbadania terenu”. Następnie przechodzimy do prawdziwie słodkiej historii miłosnej, która sprawia, że czytelnikowi robi się ciepło na sercu. I właśnie wtedy, w chwili, kiedy przychodzi nam do głowy, że jest chyba trochę nazbyt różowo, nad naszymi bohaterami zbierają się czarne chmury. Autorka przypomina nam, że jej powieść chociaż pozornie bajkowa, osadzona jest we współczesnych realiach, gdzie każdą chwilę szczęścia trzeba okupić dramatem. W pewnym momencie fabuła nabiera takiego tempa, że kiedy dochodzimy do epilogu, nie możemy uwierzyć, że to już koniec tego tomu. Ja dosłownie wpatrywałam się w ostatni rozdział z otwartymi ustami i nie chciałam przyjąć do wiadomości tego, że skończyłam czytać, a kolejnego tomu jak na razie nie ma. Prawdę mówiąc nadal to do mnie nie dociera.
Należy zauważyć, że w swojej powieści o słodkiej miłości oraz gorzkiej rzeczywistości, Angelique Jurd porusza niezwykle istotne tematy tolerancji oraz jej braku, homofobii i małomiasteczkowej ograniczoności umysłu. Jest to tym ważniejsze, iż nakreśla obraz świata takiego, jakim jest w przerażającej większości. W końcu codziennie słyszy się o mniejszych i większych zwycięstwach społeczności lgbt+, jednak nie oszukujmy się, nasza rzeczywistość w dalszym ciągu daleka jest od całkowitej akceptacji ludzi o innej niż heteroseksualna orientacji. Autorka zestawiła więc ze sobą te dwa oblicza świata używając do tego swoich bohaterów – Noaha, który rozkwitał w słońcu szczerości i otwartości oraz Huntera, kryjącego się w cieniu sekretów. Jednocześnie nakreślony zostaje kontrast między mentalnością ludzi w dużym mieście, a tych w małym miasteczku, który z powodzeniem możemy odnieść także do indywidualnych osób, grup społecznych, kulturowych, religijnych, całych państw. Co więcej, wyraźnie dostrzegamy także jak wiele człowiek może zyskać dzięki akceptacji i jak wiele może stracić na rzecz jej braku, jako że stawką w tej rozgrywce nierzadko jest prawo do życia. I właśnie to zostaje nam w naprawdę dobry sposób ukazane w „Daisy, Yellow”.
Mam wrażenie, że ostatnimi czasy jesteśmy zalewani przez książki, w których bohaterowie wyszli z szafy i otwarcie przyznają się do swojej orientacji seksualnej. Tym ważniejszy wydaje mi się więc fakt, iż w „Daisy, Yellow” pojawia się bohater, który mimo wieku ma to dopiero przed sobą. Na jego przykładzie widzimy, jak trudne jest opuszczenie strefy komfortu i stawienie czoła światu, który może nas przyjąć takimi, jakimi jesteśmy lub odrzucić bez podjęcia najmniejszej nawet próby akceptacji. Coming out jest jak opuszczenie bezpiecznego gniazda, skok w przepaść z nadzieją, że uda nam się rozwinąć skrzydła i polecieć. Z drugiej jednak strony pojawia się strach przed upadkiem, uderzeniem o ziemię, jeśli nie uda nam się wzbić w powietrze. Właśnie dlatego postać Huntera jest dla nas tak ważna i zasługuje na szczególną uwagę. Co więcej, w myśl powiedzenia, że czego oczy nie widzą, tego sercu nie żal, autorka zwróciła naszą uwagę także na samotność związaną z ukrywaniem tego, kim jesteśmy, z której nawet nie zdajemy sobie sprawy. Mając wszystko to na uwadze, pozwolę sobie stwierdzić, że Angelique Jurd pozwoliła nam na wgląd w psychikę nie tylko jednego ze swoich bohaterów, ale także wielu rzeczywistych osób będących w sytuacji podobnej do tej, w jakiej znalazł się Hunter. (What the eye doesn't see, the heart doesn't grieve over.)
Skoro weszłam częściowo na temat bohaterów, to na koniec zostanę przy nim trochę dłużej. Są oni bowiem kolejną ogromną zaletą powieści i nie kryję, że jestem nimi naprawdę zachwycona. Czytając „Daisy, Yellow” zakochałam się w nich w mgnieniu oka. Angelique Jurd stworzyła nie tylko rozkosznego psiaka, ale także dwójkę wspaniałych mężczyzn, których w prawdzie wiele łączy, ale równocześnie tak wiele dzieli, że gdyby nie seria dosyć szczęśliwych zbiegów okoliczności, ich ścieżki mogłyby nigdy się nie skrzyżować, a wtedy miłość przeszłaby im koło nosa. Naturalnie byłaby to ogromna strata zarówno dla nich, jak i dla czytelnika, bo chociaż Noah i Hunter osobno są prawdziwie cudowni i monopolizują nasze serca, to wspólnie tworzą parę tak idealną, jakby całe dotychczasowe życie czekali właśnie na siebie, co zresztą nie mija się z prawdą. Ich relacja od samego początku budzi w czytelniku bardzo ciepłe uczucia, które uzależniają. To sprawia, że powieści nie tylko nie potrafimy odłożyć, ale wręcz nie chcemy tego robić. Docierając do ostatniej strony uświadamiamy sobie, że bohaterowie są nam tak bliscy, że nie chcemy się z nimi rozstawać, a ponieważ na kolejny tom musimy poczekać, mamy ochotę rozpocząć lekturę od nowa.
Podsumowując, „Daisy, Yellow” to inteligentna, pełna ciepła i prawdy o życiu opowieść, do której chce się wracać wielokrotnie. To historia, która ukazuje zarówno niektóre niebezpieczeństwa wiążące się z wyjściem z szafy, jak także przedstawia zalety i radość płynące z wolności w miłości, ze szczerości z innymi oraz z samym sobą. Znajdziemy tu także fantastyczne postaci, rozkoszne zwierzaki oraz całą masę uczuć, którymi książka jest wypełniona po brzegi. Muszę Was jednak ostrzec, „Daisy, Yellow” poważnie uzależnia.
Not so long after the stormy breakup with his unfaithful boyfriend, Noah Jenkins decides to start a new life. That's why he buys a full of energy and curiosity Labrador puppy and moves to the farm he inherited from his grandfather. Although he doesn't have the slightest idea how to deal with all the new responsibilities he accepted, he has enough determination and enthusiasm to try to settle down in the new place and take care of the farm. Daisy's – his puppy's – little accident puts Hunter Ross, a local single and extremely attractive vet, in Noah's path. Although Noah interest in Hunter is quickly reciprocated, it turns out that a 39-year-old veterinarian not only doesn't openly admits his sexual orientation but also is not willing to do it for fear of the townsfolk's reaction. For Noah it's something inconceivable but for Hunter this secret is already an integral part of him and it's a guarantee of security. The question is, for how long will they be able to hide their deepening with every moment feelings and whether this lack of honesty will not affect their relationship.
I'll be honest. When I decided to read "Daisy, Yellow" I didn't know what to expect, as it was my first contact with Angelique Jurd's works. I wasn't even sure if it was a novel for me. However, I decided to take a chance and see for myself. Now I know that it was a very good decision, because I fell in love with this book from the very beginning and with every chapter my feelings were stronger and stronger. "Daisy, Yellow" is a perfect combination of a love idyll with a brutal reality. Our adventure with this story gently begins from the accidental meeting of the two main characters and their shy, innocent attempts to get to know each other better and to check their chances. Then begins a truly sweet love story that warms the reader's heart. And just then, at the moment when we start to think that it's probably a bit too fluffy, some dark clouds gather over our lead characters. The author reminds us that her novel, although creating the impression of a fairy tale, is set in our reality where every moment of happiness has to be purchased by an equal moment of drama. At some point, the plot takes on such a pace that when we reach the epilogue, we simply can't believe that this is the end of this volume. I literally stared at the last chapter with my mouth open and didn't want to accept the fact that I finished reading and the next volume is not written yet. In truth, it still can't believe it.
It should be noted that in her novel about sweet love and bitter reality, Angelique Jurd raises the extremely important subjects of tolerance and its lack, homophobia and small-town small-minded people. This is all the more important because it sketches a picture of the world as it is in most cases. In the end every day we hear about some smaller and bigger victories of the LGBT + community but let's face it, our world is still far from complete acceptance of people with non-heterosexual orientation. The author combined these two faces of reality using her characters – Noah who bloomed in the sun of sincerity and openness and Hunter who was hiding in the shadow of secrets. At the same time, the contrast between the mentality of people in a large city and those in a small town is outlined, which we can successfully apply to individuals, social, cultural, religious groups or entire countries. What's more, we clearly see how much a person can gain through acceptance and how much they can lose because of a lack of it, as at stake in this "game" often is the right to life. And that's exactly what is really well shown in "Daisy, Yellow".
I have an impression that recently we are being flooded by books in which the characters came out of the closet and openly admit their sexual orientation. Therefore, it seems more important to me that in "Daisy, Yellow" we have a character for whom, despite his age, all of this is a part of some distant future. On his example we see how difficult it is to leave the comfort zone and face the world that can accept us as we are or reject us without making the slightest attempt to accept who we are. Coming out is like leaving a safe nest, jumping into the abyss with hope that we will be able to spread our wings and fly. On the other hand, there is a fear of falling, hitting the ground if we fail to rise into the air. That's why Hunter is so important to us and deserves our special attention. What's more, in the thought of saying that "what the eye doesn't see, the heart doesn't grieve over", the author also drew our attention to the problem of loneliness associated with hiding who we are, which existence we don't even realize. With all this in mind, I would say that Angelique Jurd offered us insight into the psyche of not only one of her characters but also of many real people being in a situation similar to Hunter's.
Since I partly started the topic of the characters, I will stick to it for a little bit longer as they are another great advantage of the novel and I admit that I'm really delighted with them. Reading "Daisy, Yellow" I fell in love with them in the blink of an eye. Angelique Jurd has created not only a lovely pup but also two great men who have a lot in common but at the same time they are so different that if not for a series of quite fortunate coincidences, their paths could never cross and they could lose their chance for love. Naturally, it would be a huge loss for both them and the reader, because although Noah and Hunter separately are truly wonderful and monopolize our hearts, together they create a pair so perfect as if they've been waiting for each other all of their lives, that, by the way, is totally true. From the very beginning, their relationship raises in the reader a lot of very warm feelings that are addictive. Because of that, we not only can't stop reading but above all we don't want to stop. Reaching the last page, we realize that we feel so close to the characters that we don't want to part with them, and as we have to wait for the next volume, we want to start reading this novel again right away.
To sum up, "Daisy, Yellow" is an intelligent story full of warmth and truth about life that you want to come back to many times. It shows the danger of coming out of the closet as well as the advantages and joys of freedom to love who we want to, of being honest with others and with ourselves. In this book we can also find fantastic characters, some delightful animals and a whole lot of feelings with which the novel is filled to the brim. However, I must warn you, "Daisy, Yellow" is seriously addictive.
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Niedługo po burzliwym rozstaniu ze swoim niewiernym chłopakiem, Noah Jenkins postanawia rozpocząć życie na nowo. W tym celu kupuje pełne energii i wrodzonej ciekawości szczenię labradora i przeprowadza się na otrzymaną w spadku po dziadku farmę. Chociaż mężczyzna nie ma najmniejszego pojęcia, w jaki sposób poradzić sobie z nowymi obowiązkami, jakie wziął na swoje barki, ma w sobie wystarczająco dużo determinacji i zapału, aby chociaż spróbować zadomowić się w nowym miejscu i zadbać o dobre funkcjonowanie farmy. Drobny wypadek Daisy, jego szczeniaka, stawia na drodze Noaha Huntera Rossa, miejscowego samotnego i niezwykle atrakcyjnego weterynarza. Chociaż zainteresowanie Noaha Hunterem szybko zostaje odwzajemnione, okazuje się, że 39-letni weterynarz nie tylko nie przyznaje się otwarcie do swojej orientacji seksualnej, ale też nie chce tego robić z obawy przed reakcją mieszkańców miasteczka. Dla Noaha jest to rzecz nie do pojęcia, za to dla Huntera sekret jest już integralną częścią jego samego i stanowi gwarancję bezpieczeństwa. Pytanie, jak długo mężczyźni będą w stanie ukrywać przed światem swoje pogłębiające się z każdą chwilą uczucia i czy ten brak szczerości nie odbije się to na ich związku.
Będę szczera. Kiedy zdecydowałam się przeczytać „Daisy, Yellow” zupełnie nie wiedziałam czego powinnam się spodziewać, jako że było to moje pierwsze spotkanie z twórczością Angelique Jurd. Nie byłam nawet pewna, czy jest to powieść dla mnie. Postanowiłam jednak zaryzykować i przekonać się o tym na własnej skórze. Teraz już wiem, że była to bardzo dobra decyzja, ponieważ książka ta rozkochała mnie w sobie już od pierwszych stron i umacniała moje uczucie z każdym kolejnym rozdziałem. „Daisy, Yellow” to perfekcyjne połączenie miłosnej sielanki z brutalną rzeczywistością. Nasza przygoda z tym tytułem zaczyna się łagodnie od przypadkowego spotkania dwójki głównych bohaterów oraz ich nieśmiałych, pełnych niewinności podchodów, mających na celu bliższe poznanie się, „zbadania terenu”. Następnie przechodzimy do prawdziwie słodkiej historii miłosnej, która sprawia, że czytelnikowi robi się ciepło na sercu. I właśnie wtedy, w chwili, kiedy przychodzi nam do głowy, że jest chyba trochę nazbyt różowo, nad naszymi bohaterami zbierają się czarne chmury. Autorka przypomina nam, że jej powieść chociaż pozornie bajkowa, osadzona jest we współczesnych realiach, gdzie każdą chwilę szczęścia trzeba okupić dramatem. W pewnym momencie fabuła nabiera takiego tempa, że kiedy dochodzimy do epilogu, nie możemy uwierzyć, że to już koniec tego tomu. Ja dosłownie wpatrywałam się w ostatni rozdział z otwartymi ustami i nie chciałam przyjąć do wiadomości tego, że skończyłam czytać, a kolejnego tomu jak na razie nie ma. Prawdę mówiąc nadal to do mnie nie dociera.
Należy zauważyć, że w swojej powieści o słodkiej miłości oraz gorzkiej rzeczywistości, Angelique Jurd porusza niezwykle istotne tematy tolerancji oraz jej braku, homofobii i małomiasteczkowej ograniczoności umysłu. Jest to tym ważniejsze, iż nakreśla obraz świata takiego, jakim jest w przerażającej większości. W końcu codziennie słyszy się o mniejszych i większych zwycięstwach społeczności lgbt+, jednak nie oszukujmy się, nasza rzeczywistość w dalszym ciągu daleka jest od całkowitej akceptacji ludzi o innej niż heteroseksualna orientacji. Autorka zestawiła więc ze sobą te dwa oblicza świata używając do tego swoich bohaterów – Noaha, który rozkwitał w słońcu szczerości i otwartości oraz Huntera, kryjącego się w cieniu sekretów. Jednocześnie nakreślony zostaje kontrast między mentalnością ludzi w dużym mieście, a tych w małym miasteczku, który z powodzeniem możemy odnieść także do indywidualnych osób, grup społecznych, kulturowych, religijnych, całych państw. Co więcej, wyraźnie dostrzegamy także jak wiele człowiek może zyskać dzięki akceptacji i jak wiele może stracić na rzecz jej braku, jako że stawką w tej rozgrywce nierzadko jest prawo do życia. I właśnie to zostaje nam w naprawdę dobry sposób ukazane w „Daisy, Yellow”.
Mam wrażenie, że ostatnimi czasy jesteśmy zalewani przez książki, w których bohaterowie wyszli z szafy i otwarcie przyznają się do swojej orientacji seksualnej. Tym ważniejszy wydaje mi się więc fakt, iż w „Daisy, Yellow” pojawia się bohater, który mimo wieku ma to dopiero przed sobą. Na jego przykładzie widzimy, jak trudne jest opuszczenie strefy komfortu i stawienie czoła światu, który może nas przyjąć takimi, jakimi jesteśmy lub odrzucić bez podjęcia najmniejszej nawet próby akceptacji. Coming out jest jak opuszczenie bezpiecznego gniazda, skok w przepaść z nadzieją, że uda nam się rozwinąć skrzydła i polecieć. Z drugiej jednak strony pojawia się strach przed upadkiem, uderzeniem o ziemię, jeśli nie uda nam się wzbić w powietrze. Właśnie dlatego postać Huntera jest dla nas tak ważna i zasługuje na szczególną uwagę. Co więcej, w myśl powiedzenia, że czego oczy nie widzą, tego sercu nie żal, autorka zwróciła naszą uwagę także na samotność związaną z ukrywaniem tego, kim jesteśmy, z której nawet nie zdajemy sobie sprawy. Mając wszystko to na uwadze, pozwolę sobie stwierdzić, że Angelique Jurd pozwoliła nam na wgląd w psychikę nie tylko jednego ze swoich bohaterów, ale także wielu rzeczywistych osób będących w sytuacji podobnej do tej, w jakiej znalazł się Hunter. (What the eye doesn't see, the heart doesn't grieve over.)
Skoro weszłam częściowo na temat bohaterów, to na koniec zostanę przy nim trochę dłużej. Są oni bowiem kolejną ogromną zaletą powieści i nie kryję, że jestem nimi naprawdę zachwycona. Czytając „Daisy, Yellow” zakochałam się w nich w mgnieniu oka. Angelique Jurd stworzyła nie tylko rozkosznego psiaka, ale także dwójkę wspaniałych mężczyzn, których w prawdzie wiele łączy, ale równocześnie tak wiele dzieli, że gdyby nie seria dosyć szczęśliwych zbiegów okoliczności, ich ścieżki mogłyby nigdy się nie skrzyżować, a wtedy miłość przeszłaby im koło nosa. Naturalnie byłaby to ogromna strata zarówno dla nich, jak i dla czytelnika, bo chociaż Noah i Hunter osobno są prawdziwie cudowni i monopolizują nasze serca, to wspólnie tworzą parę tak idealną, jakby całe dotychczasowe życie czekali właśnie na siebie, co zresztą nie mija się z prawdą. Ich relacja od samego początku budzi w czytelniku bardzo ciepłe uczucia, które uzależniają. To sprawia, że powieści nie tylko nie potrafimy odłożyć, ale wręcz nie chcemy tego robić. Docierając do ostatniej strony uświadamiamy sobie, że bohaterowie są nam tak bliscy, że nie chcemy się z nimi rozstawać, a ponieważ na kolejny tom musimy poczekać, mamy ochotę rozpocząć lekturę od nowa.
Podsumowując, „Daisy, Yellow” to inteligentna, pełna ciepła i prawdy o życiu opowieść, do której chce się wracać wielokrotnie. To historia, która ukazuje zarówno niektóre niebezpieczeństwa wiążące się z wyjściem z szafy, jak także przedstawia zalety i radość płynące z wolności w miłości, ze szczerości z innymi oraz z samym sobą. Znajdziemy tu także fantastyczne postaci, rozkoszne zwierzaki oraz całą masę uczuć, którymi książka jest wypełniona po brzegi. Muszę Was jednak ostrzec, „Daisy, Yellow” poważnie uzależnia.
February 5, 2019
this book was a huge bummer. It is about two people who have fallen in love being chased out of the small Midwestern town they live in for being gay.
September 7, 2018
“Before you get a dog, you can't quite imagine what living with one might be like; afterward, you can't imagine living any other way.” ~ Caroline Knapp
After a painful breakup, Noah Jenkins, of 'Daily Yellow' by Angelina Jurd, decides he needs a new start in life. Even though Noah knows nothing about farming, he moves to the farm he has inherited from his grandfather. Noah does not know much about dogs either, but he buys a yellow lab puppy and names her Daisy. Soon, all this new learning that goes along with his new life becomes so confusing that he feels like maybe he's made a mistake, but he refuses to give up.
Noah loves Daisy and loves having her keep him company so he is not alone, but being a puppy, she's into everything! Noah is constantly cleaning up after her; he is beginning to think he is doing something drastically wrong. When Daisy gets hurt, Noah assumes the worst, that she has been bitten by a snake and rushes her to the local vet, Hunter Ross. Trying hard not to laugh, Hunter tells Noah that it is only a bee sting, not a snake bite. Noah is relieved, but he also feels foolish and embarrassed that he couldn't tell the difference. Noah and Hunter strike up a conversation about Daisy and other matters and find they enjoy each other's company. The thing is, Noah is openly gay and Hunter is in the closet. They live in a small, conservative town with some small minds to go along with it. Although Hunter has known these people all of his life, he is terrified that they will discover he is gay and it will ruin his veterinarian practice.
Hunter has never been in love, or even dated. In the past, there has never been anyone worth coming out for. He's spent years denying his feelings and can't just throw caution to the wind. Hunter uses Daisy as an excuse to see Noah, but it is not long before their friendship goes far beyond that. Noah respects Hunter's position, but can't imagine it being as bad as Hunter says it would be, yet he tries to be patient and follow Hunter's lead, as they navigate obstacles that threaten to separate them. They continue in limbo until tragedy strikes and Noah ends up in the hospital badly hurt. Without putting much thought in it, Hunter reacts as anyone in love would – he spends every minute he can with Noah, who has now become the center of his world. Unfortunately, the townspeople make the connection and realize they are a couple. As the clouds begin to gather, Hunter and Noah try to brace themselves for the violent storm heading in their direction.
There's no doubt about it, even in the best of circumstances, change is difficult. Even if you know that things need to change, it's hard not to listen to those voices in your head that make you doubt yourself. Hunter had so much to lose, but even more to win. He just needed to find the courage to act. Thanks, Angelique, for a heartfelt story showing what narrow minds are capable of, along with a caution of the importance of living life for oneself.
NOTE: This book was provided by the author for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
After a painful breakup, Noah Jenkins, of 'Daily Yellow' by Angelina Jurd, decides he needs a new start in life. Even though Noah knows nothing about farming, he moves to the farm he has inherited from his grandfather. Noah does not know much about dogs either, but he buys a yellow lab puppy and names her Daisy. Soon, all this new learning that goes along with his new life becomes so confusing that he feels like maybe he's made a mistake, but he refuses to give up.
Noah loves Daisy and loves having her keep him company so he is not alone, but being a puppy, she's into everything! Noah is constantly cleaning up after her; he is beginning to think he is doing something drastically wrong. When Daisy gets hurt, Noah assumes the worst, that she has been bitten by a snake and rushes her to the local vet, Hunter Ross. Trying hard not to laugh, Hunter tells Noah that it is only a bee sting, not a snake bite. Noah is relieved, but he also feels foolish and embarrassed that he couldn't tell the difference. Noah and Hunter strike up a conversation about Daisy and other matters and find they enjoy each other's company. The thing is, Noah is openly gay and Hunter is in the closet. They live in a small, conservative town with some small minds to go along with it. Although Hunter has known these people all of his life, he is terrified that they will discover he is gay and it will ruin his veterinarian practice.
Hunter has never been in love, or even dated. In the past, there has never been anyone worth coming out for. He's spent years denying his feelings and can't just throw caution to the wind. Hunter uses Daisy as an excuse to see Noah, but it is not long before their friendship goes far beyond that. Noah respects Hunter's position, but can't imagine it being as bad as Hunter says it would be, yet he tries to be patient and follow Hunter's lead, as they navigate obstacles that threaten to separate them. They continue in limbo until tragedy strikes and Noah ends up in the hospital badly hurt. Without putting much thought in it, Hunter reacts as anyone in love would – he spends every minute he can with Noah, who has now become the center of his world. Unfortunately, the townspeople make the connection and realize they are a couple. As the clouds begin to gather, Hunter and Noah try to brace themselves for the violent storm heading in their direction.
There's no doubt about it, even in the best of circumstances, change is difficult. Even if you know that things need to change, it's hard not to listen to those voices in your head that make you doubt yourself. Hunter had so much to lose, but even more to win. He just needed to find the courage to act. Thanks, Angelique, for a heartfelt story showing what narrow minds are capable of, along with a caution of the importance of living life for oneself.
NOTE: This book was provided by the author for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
July 18, 2018
Two hot guys and a cute puppy? Absolutely!
So, Noah inherits his grandpa’s little farm house in smallminded USA. After catching his boyfriend of a year cheating on him, literally in the act, he figures the country life would be a nice change of pace. Afterall, he can do his job anywhere… something about bridges and architecture or something? Anyway… he packs up, buys a puppy and settles in just fine. It’s tricky, he doesn’t know what he’s doing, but it feels good and he’s happy….
When Daisy, his new puppy gets a bee sting, he gets scared, thinking it could be a snake bite and rushes her to the vet… that’s where he meets hot veterinarian, Hunter. Now, Hunter has lived in this town his entire life. He knows everybody and everybody knows him and his family…..which I think is why this upset me so bad.
Small town livin’ ain’t easy…. This, I know…. But Hunter is forty years old and never had a relationship, never even so much as dated, all because he knows the town won’t be accepting of his sexual preference. How sad is that? His entire life he’s been alone, taking care of everyone’s pets and genuinely being a good person. I hated that he went so long without at least companionship, until Noah….
The two were so cute together, I really liked them together. Noah with his puppy and Hunter with his cat, they were the epitome of adorbs! But, it was hard because Hunter knew that they couldn’t be “out”…. And boy, he was not wrong…. After an accident leaves Noah in the hospital, someone sees them together and assumes, then spreads that gossip like wildfire… in twenty-four hours, the town was bent on making these guys lives miserable.
People were so mean and hateful; vandalizing cars and businesses…. Burning houses down… and though the guys get to have their say to a couple of the terrible people….it in no way made up for the horrible things they went through….and to me, it was so disappointing, because the story itself was so cute, so, so cute…but I cannot get over the ending… sure, the people got arrested, (it was merely mentioned)…. But then what? I was so disappointed by the end. Ugh, I hated that they just ran away. It felt like they let the bigoted townspeople run them off… they won…. They got exactly what they’d set out to do and I HATE that. I hate when the bad people get away with being bad people. It’s kind of made me sick to my stomach a little bit, if I’m honest. I wasn’t expecting that.
I did love how amazing both men’s parents were though… Both sets of parents loved their boys unconditionally and it was nice to see.
So, in conclusion…overall, good story…. Hated the last 15-20 percent. Don’t think I’ll follow up in the series.
3 stars from me.
So, Noah inherits his grandpa’s little farm house in smallminded USA. After catching his boyfriend of a year cheating on him, literally in the act, he figures the country life would be a nice change of pace. Afterall, he can do his job anywhere… something about bridges and architecture or something? Anyway… he packs up, buys a puppy and settles in just fine. It’s tricky, he doesn’t know what he’s doing, but it feels good and he’s happy….
When Daisy, his new puppy gets a bee sting, he gets scared, thinking it could be a snake bite and rushes her to the vet… that’s where he meets hot veterinarian, Hunter. Now, Hunter has lived in this town his entire life. He knows everybody and everybody knows him and his family…..which I think is why this upset me so bad.
Small town livin’ ain’t easy…. This, I know…. But Hunter is forty years old and never had a relationship, never even so much as dated, all because he knows the town won’t be accepting of his sexual preference. How sad is that? His entire life he’s been alone, taking care of everyone’s pets and genuinely being a good person. I hated that he went so long without at least companionship, until Noah….
The two were so cute together, I really liked them together. Noah with his puppy and Hunter with his cat, they were the epitome of adorbs! But, it was hard because Hunter knew that they couldn’t be “out”…. And boy, he was not wrong…. After an accident leaves Noah in the hospital, someone sees them together and assumes, then spreads that gossip like wildfire… in twenty-four hours, the town was bent on making these guys lives miserable.
People were so mean and hateful; vandalizing cars and businesses…. Burning houses down… and though the guys get to have their say to a couple of the terrible people….it in no way made up for the horrible things they went through….and to me, it was so disappointing, because the story itself was so cute, so, so cute…but I cannot get over the ending… sure, the people got arrested, (it was merely mentioned)…. But then what? I was so disappointed by the end. Ugh, I hated that they just ran away. It felt like they let the bigoted townspeople run them off… they won…. They got exactly what they’d set out to do and I HATE that. I hate when the bad people get away with being bad people. It’s kind of made me sick to my stomach a little bit, if I’m honest. I wasn’t expecting that.
I did love how amazing both men’s parents were though… Both sets of parents loved their boys unconditionally and it was nice to see.
So, in conclusion…overall, good story…. Hated the last 15-20 percent. Don’t think I’ll follow up in the series.
3 stars from me.
July 30, 2018
Love Overcoming Fear
Angelique Jurd wrote a wonderful book called JESSE'S SMILE. It reminded me of one of my favorite gay romances ETHAN WHO LOVED CARTER (by Ryan Loveless). I had planned to look Ms. Jurd up to see if she had written any other books I might enjoy. I never got the chance because DAISY, YELLOW was recently released. Of course being a pet lover I was immediately drawn to the picture of a beautiful Labrador Retriever puppy on the cover.
The book involved Noah Jenkins, a man "returning home" to a place he had never lived. It had been his grandfather's farm bequeathed to him and a place his father wanted no parts of. The people of the community seemed nice. He met the new vet & his assistant a great deal sooner than he'd planned. As puppies tend to do, she got into trouble that required veterinary care soon after they moved onto the farm.
Meeting the handsome veterinarian Hunter Ross, Noah felt a spark of something. But since he'd had a recent break up he didn't want to dive into anything new. But as a friend, someone to give him much needed advice about puppy rearing, and about the land he'd inherited - that was just fine. So it began, their very causal & fun friendship, but "something" was there between them.
Dr. Hunter Ross loved his veterinary practice and would do nothing to jeopardize what he'd worked so hard to achieve by the age of 39. He didn't like his celibacy, but a brutal beating of a gay man that occurred while he was in high school left an indelible impression on him. He knew what the people of his small town were capable of when residents didn't act the way the town leaders & bullies alike believed men and women should act. But he never had the temptation presented by the big city Engineer.
Noah did not understand Hunter's reticence. It was the 21st century in the USA, not some repressive country. He tried to go at Hunter's pace, but it was too slow. He was impatient, but was he also imprudent? Was Hunter right after all? Or had his community progressed much further ahead of what he believed them capable of? A bedside vigil, a car parked overnight, and an explosion of secrets bring everything into the light. But the light also shows some things better left unrevealed.
This was a slow build tale involving two mature professional men, a cute puppy, a cantankerous cat, and a small town stuck in the past. There were sweet tender moments, and some shocking ones. Adversity shows a person's character and how it's handled shows what they are made of. Suddenly what is more important?
This is the first book in the Law Prints series. I am eager to read more.
Angelique Jurd wrote a wonderful book called JESSE'S SMILE. It reminded me of one of my favorite gay romances ETHAN WHO LOVED CARTER (by Ryan Loveless). I had planned to look Ms. Jurd up to see if she had written any other books I might enjoy. I never got the chance because DAISY, YELLOW was recently released. Of course being a pet lover I was immediately drawn to the picture of a beautiful Labrador Retriever puppy on the cover.
The book involved Noah Jenkins, a man "returning home" to a place he had never lived. It had been his grandfather's farm bequeathed to him and a place his father wanted no parts of. The people of the community seemed nice. He met the new vet & his assistant a great deal sooner than he'd planned. As puppies tend to do, she got into trouble that required veterinary care soon after they moved onto the farm.
Meeting the handsome veterinarian Hunter Ross, Noah felt a spark of something. But since he'd had a recent break up he didn't want to dive into anything new. But as a friend, someone to give him much needed advice about puppy rearing, and about the land he'd inherited - that was just fine. So it began, their very causal & fun friendship, but "something" was there between them.
Dr. Hunter Ross loved his veterinary practice and would do nothing to jeopardize what he'd worked so hard to achieve by the age of 39. He didn't like his celibacy, but a brutal beating of a gay man that occurred while he was in high school left an indelible impression on him. He knew what the people of his small town were capable of when residents didn't act the way the town leaders & bullies alike believed men and women should act. But he never had the temptation presented by the big city Engineer.
Noah did not understand Hunter's reticence. It was the 21st century in the USA, not some repressive country. He tried to go at Hunter's pace, but it was too slow. He was impatient, but was he also imprudent? Was Hunter right after all? Or had his community progressed much further ahead of what he believed them capable of? A bedside vigil, a car parked overnight, and an explosion of secrets bring everything into the light. But the light also shows some things better left unrevealed.
This was a slow build tale involving two mature professional men, a cute puppy, a cantankerous cat, and a small town stuck in the past. There were sweet tender moments, and some shocking ones. Adversity shows a person's character and how it's handled shows what they are made of. Suddenly what is more important?
This is the first book in the Law Prints series. I am eager to read more.
July 20, 2018
This is the first book in The Paw Prints Series. A wonderful book the writing was good. The plot was entertaining and it was steady throughout the book. I found the story and characters interesting. The characters were developed and thought out. Noah Jenkins and Hunter Ross are the MC’s of this book. There was humor, a cat, a dog, bees and snakes, family, a hospital, hate crimes, a farm and more in this book. I’ll admit that the title is interesting, and an answer was given fortunately. I did enjoy this book the conclusion felt abrupt to me, but it did close things.
Here is a quote from the book, “Yeah, you do that.” An embarrassed smile surfaces. “So now what?” Noah lets himself fall back on the couch, pulling Hunter with him. “Now, you reward me with kisses.” “What am I rewarding you for again?” “Not imagining you in a ripped bodice.”. There is more but you will need to read the book which I can recommend this book as a good read. I voluntarily read an advance copy of this book for an honest review.
Here is a quote from the book, “Yeah, you do that.” An embarrassed smile surfaces. “So now what?” Noah lets himself fall back on the couch, pulling Hunter with him. “Now, you reward me with kisses.” “What am I rewarding you for again?” “Not imagining you in a ripped bodice.”. There is more but you will need to read the book which I can recommend this book as a good read. I voluntarily read an advance copy of this book for an honest review.
July 5, 2018
Daisy, Yellow is an amazingly sweet, yet sad romance by Angelique Jord.
This story contains so many wonderful things - a precocious pup, a small town vet, and a former city man now turned farmer. It also centers around the small town's bigotry, homophobes, and their absolute inability to accept something other than what they know.
When Noah arrives in town, Hunter feels the attraction, but is unable to allow himself to come out. Not even for Noah. The town's folk are homophobic and had previously run Hunter's gay cousin out of town. Hunter fears for his business, as well as Noah's.
But they can't stay hidden forever, and choices will need to be made.
Hunter and Noah are both alluring, realistic, vulnerable and sweet. The writing style is fluid, tender and compassionate.
I highly recommend Daisy, Yellow to any M/M fan who's looking for a tender love story that ends with a HFN.
This story contains so many wonderful things - a precocious pup, a small town vet, and a former city man now turned farmer. It also centers around the small town's bigotry, homophobes, and their absolute inability to accept something other than what they know.
When Noah arrives in town, Hunter feels the attraction, but is unable to allow himself to come out. Not even for Noah. The town's folk are homophobic and had previously run Hunter's gay cousin out of town. Hunter fears for his business, as well as Noah's.
But they can't stay hidden forever, and choices will need to be made.
Hunter and Noah are both alluring, realistic, vulnerable and sweet. The writing style is fluid, tender and compassionate.
I highly recommend Daisy, Yellow to any M/M fan who's looking for a tender love story that ends with a HFN.
July 19, 2018
The start of the book was cute. When Daisy, Noah's dog is rushed to the vet and Noah meets Hunter, you see the spark between the two men. And while I loved that Hunter stepped out of his comfort zone for Noah, he still is so deep in the closet (and rightly justified as it turned out) that he is unable to come out. Then the book gets a little dark. Some of the town, who doesn't know that Noah and Hunter are together, see them once and feel it's okay to go after the two men for something they suspect. And the ending, while I don't want to give it away, left me with a hopeless, hate wins in the end kinda feeling. I would have liked a more happy ending, especially for a romance, but instead, I was left feeling disappointed and a little let down that the "bad guys" won. I did enjoy the commitment that Hunter and Noah made to one another, but it wasn't enough to overcome everything else.
June 30, 2018
And here we have yet another fantastic book by Angelique Jurd... with pups!
With her usual knack to write complex characters and the right amount of conflict to make the story interesting this book will also make you smile (if not outright laugh) with the serious conversations hold by Hunter and his cat, and the way Daisy (the yellow Labrador from cover) keeps getting them together.
Bigotry and hate is a serious issue in this book, which leads to some very sad, emotionally charged moments, and makes it, sadly, a realistic story. But this is a very well balanced story, and the sweet moments will equilibrate the sad ones.
A wonderful book, but then, it's Angelique Jurs, so there's no surprise here.
I read an advance copy of the book, and this is my voluntary and honest review.
With her usual knack to write complex characters and the right amount of conflict to make the story interesting this book will also make you smile (if not outright laugh) with the serious conversations hold by Hunter and his cat, and the way Daisy (the yellow Labrador from cover) keeps getting them together.
Bigotry and hate is a serious issue in this book, which leads to some very sad, emotionally charged moments, and makes it, sadly, a realistic story. But this is a very well balanced story, and the sweet moments will equilibrate the sad ones.
A wonderful book, but then, it's Angelique Jurs, so there's no surprise here.
I read an advance copy of the book, and this is my voluntary and honest review.
July 28, 2023
A must read
This book deserves more than 5 ⭐️
My first read from this author and most definitely not my last. This book brought out many different emotions. The hatred people hold in the soul is terrible. I know it's out there. However, it is ugly. I hope one day it will all be gone, and people will just be accepted for who they are, not who they love. To see what these two characters had to go through was really upsetting. I know in writing a book review I am to give a brief description and my opinion on the story. However, you know you're reading a good book when you do get so emotional. I want more of Noah, Hunter, and most certainly Daisy. Yellow.
This is a must-read book.
This book deserves more than 5 ⭐️
My first read from this author and most definitely not my last. This book brought out many different emotions. The hatred people hold in the soul is terrible. I know it's out there. However, it is ugly. I hope one day it will all be gone, and people will just be accepted for who they are, not who they love. To see what these two characters had to go through was really upsetting. I know in writing a book review I am to give a brief description and my opinion on the story. However, you know you're reading a good book when you do get so emotional. I want more of Noah, Hunter, and most certainly Daisy. Yellow.
This is a must-read book.
June 30, 2018
*I voluntarily read a Review Copy of this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one elses*
This was a sweet, emotional yet heartbreaking story. The book was well written and flowed nicely from beginning to end. The discrimination Hunter is subjected to was captured realistically and powerfully.
Hunter was sweet but closed off whereas, Noah was the complete opposite. These two were so sweet together and I enjoyed their interactions and banter.
This book has it all; a cute dog that’s mischievous yet naughty and a cat that’s a little psycho and finally can’t forget their awesome owners; Hunter and Noah and the challenges they face to be together.
This was a sweet, emotional yet heartbreaking story. The book was well written and flowed nicely from beginning to end. The discrimination Hunter is subjected to was captured realistically and powerfully.
Hunter was sweet but closed off whereas, Noah was the complete opposite. These two were so sweet together and I enjoyed their interactions and banter.
This book has it all; a cute dog that’s mischievous yet naughty and a cat that’s a little psycho and finally can’t forget their awesome owners; Hunter and Noah and the challenges they face to be together.
July 21, 2018
Noah and Hunter, along with Noah's pup Daisy and Hunter's cat Rosie, are adorable. Hunter finally has a love life for the fist time ever, now that he's met Noah. Their chemistry is strong, and they are sexy, sweet, and often funny together. The men are both loving pet owners and dedicated sons. I like their parents as well. If only Noah and Hunter could enjoy their new love without having to worry about small town hate. That is the part of the story that isn't pretty at all, but as someone with a small town past, I find this believable. Some reviewers might be disappointed in the HFN ending, but I am not one of those. I'm excited for the next part of the story, and I can't wait to read it.
February 25, 2023
sometimes, there are third person point of view novels that sill feel one point. this was not one of them. i felt really disconnected, really far away from all the characters in this book, and i really think its because of the point of view. overall, the story as a whole was interesting, and the main boys and animals were really fun and cute, but i just couldn't form any connection with them. i felt super distant, like watching a movie, but not a good one. i could probably give this another, bigger go one day in the future, but right now this just is not the one for me. check it out if you want, because you might just love it.
July 1, 2018
I wanted something light and fluffy, and while this book started out all adorable and sweet, its subjects quickly turned serious.
It was heartbreaking to see the events unfolding near the end, and while the epilogue was hopeful, it still left a bitter taste in my mouth. It wasn't because it wasn't believable, it was quite the opposite: sadly, you could definitely see things turning ugly in the blink of an eye.
The writing was a bit clunky at times, the chapters were incredibly short, making the pacing quite choppy, but it was still an engaging, quick read with some heavy themes.
It was heartbreaking to see the events unfolding near the end, and while the epilogue was hopeful, it still left a bitter taste in my mouth. It wasn't because it wasn't believable, it was quite the opposite: sadly, you could definitely see things turning ugly in the blink of an eye.
The writing was a bit clunky at times, the chapters were incredibly short, making the pacing quite choppy, but it was still an engaging, quick read with some heavy themes.
July 16, 2018
This is a great love story full of adorable pets which I love! Noah and Hunter make a great couple and they have incredible chemistry. They also have a great understanding of one another and really support one another. Lots of bad stuff happens to them because of the discrimination and hatred in the small town where they live but I really liked seeing them band together and overcoming everything. I would love to see more of them in future stories to see how they have overcome everything that happened.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.
September 25, 2022
Hunter is so deep in the closet he's lost his way out, the last person to come out as gay in this small conservative town was beaten up badly. A very touching and painful read as one partner wants to be seen, while Hunter wants to stay hidden, can a relationship survive on only secret meetings? As usual we get an incredible story, sad and sexy, but we also get the sweetest yellow puppy. But unfortunately we also have a town full of narrow minded, idiotic people who think they can dictate other peoples lives.
June 14, 2023
real relationship
This was a much better read than I was expecting. The relationship between the two characters was very realistic. Sex happens between adults. And I was afraid there would be stereotypical miscommunication like out of a cringey rom-com but these two talked to each other. They had to learn to listen to each other and how to communicate best. Just like most adult relationships. It was refreshing.
I enjoyed it quite a bit. My biggest complaint is that it ended too soon.
This was a much better read than I was expecting. The relationship between the two characters was very realistic. Sex happens between adults. And I was afraid there would be stereotypical miscommunication like out of a cringey rom-com but these two talked to each other. They had to learn to listen to each other and how to communicate best. Just like most adult relationships. It was refreshing.
I enjoyed it quite a bit. My biggest complaint is that it ended too soon.
October 30, 2023
I wanted to like this book but Noah coaxing Hunter into sex when Hunter said he didn't want to go there again after a bad experience with someone in the past really turned me off the story. Hunter professed to be uncertain about the act even as they are about to engage in it and Noah simply shushes him and continues, rather than stopping and backing off. Coercion isn't sexy.
Too, I noticed a number of sentence fragments treated as actual sentences. This, combined with the aforementioned scenario, just makes me not want to finish this one.
Too, I noticed a number of sentence fragments treated as actual sentences. This, combined with the aforementioned scenario, just makes me not want to finish this one.
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