Tusks Between Us

Heartland Zoo #1

by A.J. Marcus, Caitlin Ricci

A nurturing heart isn't limited to humans. Elephant caretaker Emmett Preston pours his soul into the majestic animals at Heartland Zoo, but he's wary of letting anyone get too close, until new intern Zack Miller joins the team. Nursing a struggling baby elephant through her first few weeks of life awakens emotions in both men as a tentative friendship blossoms into romance. But when their private relationship risks going public, Emmett and Zack tread a precarious tightrope between protecting their careers with the elephants and preserving their budding love. In a field where dedication leaves no room for distraction, can they find balance and purpose in each other? Sometimes the strongest bonds are those you don't expect.
This is a sweet contemporary romance full of super cute scenes and a constant focus on family.

Genres: Contemporary

212 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 7, 2024

About the author

A.J. Marcus grew up in Texas. He’s always had a fascination with cowboys, comic books and the great outdoors. He started writing in high school and at times spent more time writing than he did reading, and he’s a voracious reader. Maybe it was growing up in Texas, but his love of rugged men showed up even before he realized what was going on. He likes his men manly, hard, tough and caring, men with hearts, and other parts, as big as Texas.

A.J. currently lives near Colorado Springs, Colorado with his loving partner and several horses. The men here are still men.

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/AJ-Marc...

Reviews

[Anita · Rating 4 out of 5]

So while this is a little bland, it has a lot of heart. I find I love tales that include animals as a major part of the plot and zoo animals?! And a baby elephant?! Well I was sold! Zach and Emmett find themselves working together when Zack joins the team as an intern. Emmett isn't thrilled but rolls with it. What develops is this shared devotion to the elephants and a budding romance. Very cute and emotionally satisfying. Really liked it. Will definitely read book 2.

[zen_s · Rating 1 out of 5]

the plot is great however the execution did not live up to it. i think the whole execution felt really bland, and the characters are kind of one-dimensional. additionally, the connection between the MCs seems kind of random, like i don't really feel that they have any form of attraction prior to that. overall i think it's rather disappointing.

[Hayley · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. It's a cute contemporary love story with a Zoo background. Emmett & Zack are sweet together. They develop their relationship over a kind of forced proximity (Zack is Emmett's intern) and sweet baby Abeba. It's a bit bland at times but still a nice read if you are looking for some time filler stories.

[Keith · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Quiet Romance

A well crafted storyline supported by good character development, and a mellow plot line. No drama or angst, and certainly no conflicts. Minor amounts of tension and and ending that promises a future but leaves the reader wondering.

[Misty · Rating 4 out of 5]

** 4. 5 Stars **

I've always been a fan of 'behind-the-scenes' adventure of zoos and the conservation of wild animals, so I was absolutely delighted to find this book!

The writing style of the duo-authors, Ms. Ricci and Mr. Marcus, is well balanced. Emmett & Zack characters are wonderfully elaborated and their relationship develops organically and it felt real. I always appreciate alternating points of views, you get both Emmett & Zack’s perspective. I liked the challenges faced on a day to day basis by both characters, the zoo caretakers and the family. And the elephants are super cute!

This book gives us a realistic peek inside the lives of a team of experts who cares for the animals in the zoo and works passionately to create the perfect habitats to keep their animals healthy and happy.

I thoroughly enjoyed it and I will be eagerly waiting for book 2!

[Sarah☀️ Somerville · Rating 1 out of 5]

Nice but so boring.