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The Release #1
The Terms of Release
They say a man can always come home. So after doing hard time, Sage Redding heads to his family’s northeast Texas ranch to help his ailing daddy with the cutting horses.
Adam (Win) Winchester is a county deputy and the cousin of one of the men killed in the incident that sent Sage to prison for almost a decade. While Win's uncles, Jim and Teddy, are determined to make Sage and the entire Redding family pay for their loss, Win just figures Sage has paid his dues and maybe needs a friend. Maybe he needs more than a friend. In fact, Win’s counting on it.
No one’s denying Sage is an ex-con who went to prison for manslaughter. Regardless of the love he has for his father, he’s returned knowing things will likely go badly for him. Maybe a man can always come home, but he may not be able to stay.
Adam (Win) Winchester is a county deputy and the cousin of one of the men killed in the incident that sent Sage to prison for almost a decade. While Win's uncles, Jim and Teddy, are determined to make Sage and the entire Redding family pay for their loss, Win just figures Sage has paid his dues and maybe needs a friend. Maybe he needs more than a friend. In fact, Win’s counting on it.
No one’s denying Sage is an ex-con who went to prison for manslaughter. Regardless of the love he has for his father, he’s returned knowing things will likely go badly for him. Maybe a man can always come home, but he may not be able to stay.
240 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 23, 2014
113 people are currently reading
679 people want to read
About the author
B.A. Tortuga
382 books632 followersTexan to the bone and an unrepentant Daddy's Girl, BA Tortuga spends her days with her hounds and her beloved wife, texting her grandbabies, and eating Mexican food. When she's not doing that, she's writing. She spends her days off watching rodeo, knitting, and surfing Pinterest in the name of research. Following their own personal joys, BA and Julia heard the call of the high desert and they now live in the New Mexico mountains. BA's personal saviors include her wife, her best friends, and coffee. Lots of coffee. Really good coffee.
Having written everything from fist-fighting rednecks to cowboy daddies to werewolves, BA does her damnedest to tell the stories of her heart, which is committed to giving everyone their happily ever after. With books ranging from hard-hitting BDSM, to fiery passions, to the most traditional of love stories, BA refuses to be pigeon-holed by anyone but the voices in her head.
Having written everything from fist-fighting rednecks to cowboy daddies to werewolves, BA does her damnedest to tell the stories of her heart, which is committed to giving everyone their happily ever after. With books ranging from hard-hitting BDSM, to fiery passions, to the most traditional of love stories, BA refuses to be pigeon-holed by anyone but the voices in her head.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 181 reviews
November 8, 2015
Sage Redding made a terrible mistake when he was a teenager and ended up getting 10 years of jail time because of it. Did he deserve it? Well, it doesn’t really matter to him now because he has finished his sentence and is now living on his own. A free man who has paid his debt. Originally from Texas, where his family currently lives, he decides to stay in California so he won’t have to deal with the demons that live in his hometown and want him to continue to pay for his youthful mistakes.
When Sage’s mother calls him and asks him to come home and help his ailing father on their farm, he feels obligated and returns to Texas. The narrow-minded townspeople have not forgotten Sage’s crime and let him know at every opportunity that he will continue to pay until the day he dies. Sage is resigned to this for himself, but will do everything in his power to make sure his family is treated properly.
Adam “Win” Winchester is a local county sheriff who works side-by-side his two bigoted uncles. He is ex-military and knows a thing or two about pain and loss. He becomes re-acquainted (they went to high school together but were not friends) with Sage and quickly fills for the kind, damaged, vulnerable cowboy. While Sage is in his late 20’s, he went into prison as a teen and missed out on 10 years of growing up and learning about the world around him. His exuberance for life attracted Win and the two start a sexual relationship that quickly focuses on heavy emotions and a lot of love.
This story was hard to read at times. Sage gets beaten down over and over. And since he is so afraid of slipping up and ending back in prison, he take whatever anyone can dish out. Win steps in and starts to help Sage see that he can stand up to these folks and their ancient beliefs and Sage stars to blossom under Win’s patient and nurturing eye. By the end of the book, that sad, sinking feeling starts to go away and these two get a well deserved HEA, but, man, they really had to fight for it!
I just finished reading book 2 The Articles of Release and Win and Sage are featured quite a bit. All is well with the boys and it was refreshing to see them living their lives out in the open with new jobs and new friends and still deeply in love. It is easier for me to write this review after seeing the boys in book 2 get on so well.
If you are looking for a high angst ex-prisoner-meets-cop romance with a great deal of hurt/healing/comfort built-in, this book is for you!
Recommended.
This review is also posted at Gay Book Reviews
When Sage’s mother calls him and asks him to come home and help his ailing father on their farm, he feels obligated and returns to Texas. The narrow-minded townspeople have not forgotten Sage’s crime and let him know at every opportunity that he will continue to pay until the day he dies. Sage is resigned to this for himself, but will do everything in his power to make sure his family is treated properly.
Adam “Win” Winchester is a local county sheriff who works side-by-side his two bigoted uncles. He is ex-military and knows a thing or two about pain and loss. He becomes re-acquainted (they went to high school together but were not friends) with Sage and quickly fills for the kind, damaged, vulnerable cowboy. While Sage is in his late 20’s, he went into prison as a teen and missed out on 10 years of growing up and learning about the world around him. His exuberance for life attracted Win and the two start a sexual relationship that quickly focuses on heavy emotions and a lot of love.
This story was hard to read at times. Sage gets beaten down over and over. And since he is so afraid of slipping up and ending back in prison, he take whatever anyone can dish out. Win steps in and starts to help Sage see that he can stand up to these folks and their ancient beliefs and Sage stars to blossom under Win’s patient and nurturing eye. By the end of the book, that sad, sinking feeling starts to go away and these two get a well deserved HEA, but, man, they really had to fight for it!
I just finished reading book 2 The Articles of Release and Win and Sage are featured quite a bit. All is well with the boys and it was refreshing to see them living their lives out in the open with new jobs and new friends and still deeply in love. It is easier for me to write this review after seeing the boys in book 2 get on so well.
If you are looking for a high angst ex-prisoner-meets-cop romance with a great deal of hurt/healing/comfort built-in, this book is for you!
Recommended.
This review is also posted at Gay Book Reviews
July 23, 2016
3.5
I loved Sage and I only wanted good things for him because he deserved it. This was very instalovey but the development of the men's relationship moved beyond that to a very layered and sweet commitment. There was great chemistry here and some lovely secondary characters but also a few very transparent villains that dragged the story into a melodramatic slog. Still, it was all worth it to see something good happen for Sage and even though I liked Adam I was more invested in Sage's journey. Sweet read.
I loved Sage and I only wanted good things for him because he deserved it. This was very instalovey but the development of the men's relationship moved beyond that to a very layered and sweet commitment. There was great chemistry here and some lovely secondary characters but also a few very transparent villains that dragged the story into a melodramatic slog. Still, it was all worth it to see something good happen for Sage and even though I liked Adam I was more invested in Sage's journey. Sweet read.
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dnf
October 14, 2023Unexpected to end up as a DNF@62%, as I liked the start of this story and its battered MC Sage. Life sure had dealt him more than his fair share of difficulty and troubles. And the trouble continued around the centre romance until the story reached a point where I didn't feel the need to continue reading. Mainly because the romance progression had already run its course halfway through the book, and wasn't able to keep me interested in the continued story.
March 25, 2014
Hmm. I've got mixed emotions about this one. I absolutely adored Sage and his sense of humor and how damn fierce and strong he was. Adam was cool, not my fav tho. Good story overall, really made my so sympathetic toward sage. My biggest niggle was that SO MUCH HAPPENED in this book. If that makes sense? Like, could cut out a couple of chapters altogether and still had a well rounded story -- to the point I found myself skimming every once in a while. But from the southernerisms to Sages fabulous inner dialogue I couldn't hate this book. Hey... It has a cowboy/ex-con and a cop in the whole Romeo & Juliet warring families scenarios... How can you not be entertained?
August 18, 2015
I truly enjoyed this book. It's a bit better than four stars, but not amazing for me. This is a sweet romance with a little suspense. The guys are super southern. There were a couple conversations that felt too southern. Stereotypes in play. We get a lot of exposure to Adam and Sage getting to know each other. That was nice.
June 9, 2017
All Sage wants is to keep his head down and be left alone but it seems that's too much to ask for. Adam sees the wrong being done against Sage by some who can't let the past go. He only wants to give him a fair chance - he doesn't expect to fall so hard for the quiet man.
This was all about second chances. At times heartbreaking, I quite enjoyed this angsty, hurt comfort story.
This was all about second chances. At times heartbreaking, I quite enjoyed this angsty, hurt comfort story.
April 12, 2014
Sappy to the max, like one of those old-timey afternoon matinees where the Kleenex alternates with the Tim Tams. Sniffle. Still I did enjoy it.
January 4, 2016
This is a fairly familiar plot line - the wrongfully incarcerated cowboy gets out of prison after almost a decade, and heads home to help his beleaguered family. There he meets the gay cop, his best ally in a town that thinks he's a killer...
But the characters were well done, and there were fun touches and secondary characters, like the biker married to the cafe owner; time in prison was neither over-dramatized nor sanitized, and the family life that infused the story worked for me. My biggest complaint was way too many endearments. (I was fine with the more Southern ones, like "honey", but could do without "babe" and "baby" at that frequency.) And the relationship hit pretty fast, not quite insta-love, but under-motivated.
On the other hand, the cop wasn't in the closet, the bad guys were mostly a bit conflicted and the love story was sweet. The writing kept my interest. There wasn't a lot of Bible-beating. And the main character wasn't pure as snow or totally innocent in his past, although not guilty of what he went to jail for. He also had a refreshing lack of self-pity, and his grit was in character and not pushed beyond the possible. All in all, I enjoyed the read.
But the characters were well done, and there were fun touches and secondary characters, like the biker married to the cafe owner; time in prison was neither over-dramatized nor sanitized, and the family life that infused the story worked for me. My biggest complaint was way too many endearments. (I was fine with the more Southern ones, like "honey", but could do without "babe" and "baby" at that frequency.) And the relationship hit pretty fast, not quite insta-love, but under-motivated.
On the other hand, the cop wasn't in the closet, the bad guys were mostly a bit conflicted and the love story was sweet. The writing kept my interest. There wasn't a lot of Bible-beating. And the main character wasn't pure as snow or totally innocent in his past, although not guilty of what he went to jail for. He also had a refreshing lack of self-pity, and his grit was in character and not pushed beyond the possible. All in all, I enjoyed the read.
November 2, 2014
Roughly 3.5 stars. It wasn't great, but there were some parts I liked. They just weren't enough to bring the rating up more.
dnf
August 16, 2015DNF at 50%
I couldn’t get used to the writing in this one.
After reading this part, I really tried to read on, but eventually gave up at 50%.
His cock was so hard a cat couldn’t scratch it.
I couldn’t get used to the writing in this one.
After reading this part, I really tried to read on, but eventually gave up at 50%.
His cock was so hard a cat couldn’t scratch it.
September 14, 2020
The ex-con and the cop in Texas !
Sage, 29, is home from prison. He was wrongly railroaded, served his time and needs to help his ill Dad and pitch in on the farm. It was their family home.
Trouble began immediately as the unforgiving folks hated
his presence. Adam/Win, Deputy in town, was on Sage’s corner.
There is a rough beginning with that Texas language, and the confusion of the circumstances, but everything comes into the light and we soon understand. The characters are fitting, the story is typical small town, and then, the two men get close very soon. Lots of incidents are going on, with helpful folks and bigots violence.
Adam is bold, strong and steady, while Sage is in need of moving forward, helping his family and wants a future.
We hear the tale of what happened in jail, and it’s disturbing, but he survived.
The tornado does massive damage to property, animals and humans.
Along with the sad news, Sage gets his knees repaired, which makes a big difference for him.
We have a HFN, and more to read in the second book of the trilogy, but this could stand alone.
Enjoy !
=====
Sage, 29, is home from prison. He was wrongly railroaded, served his time and needs to help his ill Dad and pitch in on the farm. It was their family home.
Trouble began immediately as the unforgiving folks hated
his presence. Adam/Win, Deputy in town, was on Sage’s corner.
There is a rough beginning with that Texas language, and the confusion of the circumstances, but everything comes into the light and we soon understand. The characters are fitting, the story is typical small town, and then, the two men get close very soon. Lots of incidents are going on, with helpful folks and bigots violence.
Adam is bold, strong and steady, while Sage is in need of moving forward, helping his family and wants a future.
We hear the tale of what happened in jail, and it’s disturbing, but he survived.
The tornado does massive damage to property, animals and humans.
Along with the sad news, Sage gets his knees repaired, which makes a big difference for him.
We have a HFN, and more to read in the second book of the trilogy, but this could stand alone.
Enjoy !
=====
May 15, 2016
Not bad for being a cowboy romance, but sometimes the language/dialect kind of got too much for me.
" One square hand came up, cradled the back of his head and supported his neck, and damn, but that felt fine as frog hair"
I didn't even know frogs had hair....
" Good lord and butter, Sage was sweating like a whore in church"
" You got needing in your eyes, darlin'. "
Well, at least it indeed fell very cowboy-ish. And it was cute. And full of angst! So all in all quite entertaining.
" One square hand came up, cradled the back of his head and supported his neck, and damn, but that felt fine as frog hair"
I didn't even know frogs had hair....
" Good lord and butter, Sage was sweating like a whore in church"
" You got needing in your eyes, darlin'. "
Well, at least it indeed fell very cowboy-ish. And it was cute. And full of angst! So all in all quite entertaining.
April 2, 2014
I am very pleased with this story. Yes I am.
And quite a bit homesick as well as this book takes place in Northeast Texas, my old stompin' grounds.
A sweet, easy, laid back read where men are men and no one takes shit off each other. Kinda like how Texas is.
recommend
January 2, 2016
Overall book review 4 Stars
Audio book: Narrator - Slate Anders 3.5 stars
Book cover 4 stars
This was just so sad!!!! My heart broke for Sage, but I loved how Adam had his back.
Audio book: Narrator - Slate Anders 3.5 stars
Book cover 4 stars
This was just so sad!!!! My heart broke for Sage, but I loved how Adam had his back.
August 27, 2022
Voto: 3.5
RECENSIONE A CURA DI SLANIF
Sage Redding ha passato l’ultima decina d’anni in prigione per omicidio, nonostante il motivo per cui sia stato accusato è stato il trovarsi semplicemente nel posto sbagliato al momento sbagliato. Certo, ha fatto le sue stupidaggini da ragazzo, ma di certo non ha mai ammazzato nessuno. Eppure, �� finito in carcere in California ed è lì che cerca di andare avanti, facendo il manovale al porto dopo il suo rilascio.
Quando però la madre lo chiama chiedendogli di tornare a casa per aiutare al ranch in quanto il Parkinson del padre è davvero peggiorato, seppur a malincuore e pieno di timori, Sage è costretto a fare ritorno in Texas.
Il piano? Lavorare nel ranch di famiglia a testa bassa e tenersi fuori dai guai.
Peccato che i concittadini della città non la pensino così. Non solo lo guardano con sospetto, ma lo calunniano e aggrediscono (sia verbalmente che non), nonostante Sage non faccia assolutamente nulla per provocarli.
Ad accorgersene e a credere che Sage sia tutt’altro che cattivo, è Adam “Win” Winchester, uno degli sceriffi della città. E non solo: Adam è anche il cugino di Angel, la vittima dell’omicidio di Sage, che però crede nelle seconde occasioni e nei comportamenti di un uomo che sembra tutt’altro che violento.
I due, per ovvie ragioni, dovrebbero essere nemici, ma… Adam non ha mai pensato a suo cugino come a un Santo (benché in città continuino a farlo passare come tale) e non crede che Sage sia davvero colpevole come credano. Quindi sì, è intenzionato ad aiutarlo. Soprattutto quando si rende conto che Sage è gentile, onesto e un gran lavoratore.
L’attrazione tra i due nasce spontanea, ma… Il passato non è tale fino a quando tutti non se lo lasciano alle spalle, perciò quando i due dovranno fare i conti con esso, il loro futuro verrà messo in dubbio e dovranno lottare per ottenere la loro felicità…
Continua sul nostro blog!
RECENSIONE A CURA DI SLANIF
Sage Redding ha passato l’ultima decina d’anni in prigione per omicidio, nonostante il motivo per cui sia stato accusato è stato il trovarsi semplicemente nel posto sbagliato al momento sbagliato. Certo, ha fatto le sue stupidaggini da ragazzo, ma di certo non ha mai ammazzato nessuno. Eppure, �� finito in carcere in California ed è lì che cerca di andare avanti, facendo il manovale al porto dopo il suo rilascio.
Quando però la madre lo chiama chiedendogli di tornare a casa per aiutare al ranch in quanto il Parkinson del padre è davvero peggiorato, seppur a malincuore e pieno di timori, Sage è costretto a fare ritorno in Texas.
Il piano? Lavorare nel ranch di famiglia a testa bassa e tenersi fuori dai guai.
Peccato che i concittadini della città non la pensino così. Non solo lo guardano con sospetto, ma lo calunniano e aggrediscono (sia verbalmente che non), nonostante Sage non faccia assolutamente nulla per provocarli.
Ad accorgersene e a credere che Sage sia tutt’altro che cattivo, è Adam “Win” Winchester, uno degli sceriffi della città. E non solo: Adam è anche il cugino di Angel, la vittima dell’omicidio di Sage, che però crede nelle seconde occasioni e nei comportamenti di un uomo che sembra tutt’altro che violento.
I due, per ovvie ragioni, dovrebbero essere nemici, ma… Adam non ha mai pensato a suo cugino come a un Santo (benché in città continuino a farlo passare come tale) e non crede che Sage sia davvero colpevole come credano. Quindi sì, è intenzionato ad aiutarlo. Soprattutto quando si rende conto che Sage è gentile, onesto e un gran lavoratore.
L’attrazione tra i due nasce spontanea, ma… Il passato non è tale fino a quando tutti non se lo lasciano alle spalle, perciò quando i due dovranno fare i conti con esso, il loro futuro verrà messo in dubbio e dovranno lottare per ottenere la loro felicità…
Continua sul nostro blog!
October 30, 2017
Das Buch schlummerte eine ganze Weile in meinem SUB. Warum? Keine Ahnung. Was auch immer mich bisher vom Lesen abgehalten hat, gut, dass ich den Reader jetzt doch in die Hand genommen habe, denn die Geschichte von Sage und Adam ist wunderschön.
Sie ist keine seichte Romanze, dazu hat Sage im Gefängnis zu viel Schlimmes erlebt und macht sich selbst viel kleiner, als er eigentlich ist. Er hat als Teenager einen Fehler gemacht und büßt dafür bis heute, denn die Familie seines toten Exfreunds Angelo macht ihm das Leben nach seiner Rückkehr nach Hause zur sprichwörtlichen Hölle. Selbst vor körperlichen Angriffen auf ihn und seine Familie schreckt man nicht zurück und Sage nimmt das alles beinahe gelassen und auch klaglos hin, weil er Angst hat und auf keinen Fall zurück ins Gefängnis will.
Dem gegenüber steht Adam (Win), der bei der Polizei arbeitet, ebenfalls zur Familie seines Ex gehört, aber ganz anders als sie ist. Adam ist rechtschaffen und lebt nach dem Motto, dass jeder Mann eine zweite Chance verdient. Und er mag Sage. Mehr als seiner engstirnigen Familie lieb ist, die Sage sämtliche Schuld am Tod von Angelo gibt, dabei war der nicht mal ansatzweise das unschuldige Opfer, dass sie in ihm sehen wollen.
Keine einfache Geschichte, mit jeder Menge Aufregung und am Ende auch Drama, bis hin zu einem Happy End, dass Sage und Adam sich wirklich verdient haben.
Ich vergebe sehr zufriedene 4* und packe eine dicke Leseempfehlung obendrauf.
Sie ist keine seichte Romanze, dazu hat Sage im Gefängnis zu viel Schlimmes erlebt und macht sich selbst viel kleiner, als er eigentlich ist. Er hat als Teenager einen Fehler gemacht und büßt dafür bis heute, denn die Familie seines toten Exfreunds Angelo macht ihm das Leben nach seiner Rückkehr nach Hause zur sprichwörtlichen Hölle. Selbst vor körperlichen Angriffen auf ihn und seine Familie schreckt man nicht zurück und Sage nimmt das alles beinahe gelassen und auch klaglos hin, weil er Angst hat und auf keinen Fall zurück ins Gefängnis will.
Dem gegenüber steht Adam (Win), der bei der Polizei arbeitet, ebenfalls zur Familie seines Ex gehört, aber ganz anders als sie ist. Adam ist rechtschaffen und lebt nach dem Motto, dass jeder Mann eine zweite Chance verdient. Und er mag Sage. Mehr als seiner engstirnigen Familie lieb ist, die Sage sämtliche Schuld am Tod von Angelo gibt, dabei war der nicht mal ansatzweise das unschuldige Opfer, dass sie in ihm sehen wollen.
Keine einfache Geschichte, mit jeder Menge Aufregung und am Ende auch Drama, bis hin zu einem Happy End, dass Sage und Adam sich wirklich verdient haben.
Ich vergebe sehr zufriedene 4* und packe eine dicke Leseempfehlung obendrauf.
January 23, 2017
4 Stars
As I said in my update, I'm not sure if it's the addition of a narrator or it's just this book in general - but the story is so much more well-written than many of the other B.A. Tortuga titles I've read previously. (I really should get around to figuring out which ones I've finished and mark them as such; they were all early MM reads for me, I do remember that!) I'm definitely going to put the next one on the TBR shelf!
I do want to take a moment to point out that the whole prison aspect of this book highlights one of the worst injustices found in our so-called "criminal justice" system. A good defense lawyer and a prosecutor more concerned with actual justice rather than their conviction rates *cough*Nancy Grace*cough* and Sage could have avoided such a long term. I know that the plot depends on this and Sage's feelings of guilt were necessary to the story...but still.
So fucking frustrating because it's pretty much what happens on a regular basis to good men and women throughout the country as Corporations monetize incarceration and the oligarchy systematically labels the less affluent and under-educated as felons. Thereby revoking many citizens' right to vote - a large majority of them being People of Color, who'd normally vote Democratic/Liberal - and creating a recidivism cycle that's entirely too hard to break out of with the increasing cost of Parole/Probation and the difficulty ex-felons have finding sustainable employment and suitable housing. In many states, they can't even qualify for food assistance or medical care via state aid.
Does this happen to everyone in jail or prison? No, but the plea-deal system is broken. See here just one example of a boy taking a chance on surviving ten years locked up or being threatened with a life sentence if found guilty...and him being too young and naive to know that his incidental involvement didn't warrant such a sentence. (And his court-appointed attorney likely being too overworked to even care about innocence because s/he's got a hundred other cases just like it to deal with that week alone.)
Yes, it's fictional...but I could probably find you 10 such cases being meted out the same way, just today alone in any one decently sized city. As a society, we should be ashamed of ourselves. (Not likely to matter with Cheetoh VonFuckStick in charge now, though, is it?)
[/soapbox] #EndFelonyDisenfranchisement
As I said in my update, I'm not sure if it's the addition of a narrator or it's just this book in general - but the story is so much more well-written than many of the other B.A. Tortuga titles I've read previously. (I really should get around to figuring out which ones I've finished and mark them as such; they were all early MM reads for me, I do remember that!) I'm definitely going to put the next one on the TBR shelf!
I do want to take a moment to point out that the whole prison aspect of this book highlights one of the worst injustices found in our so-called "criminal justice" system. A good defense lawyer and a prosecutor more concerned with actual justice rather than their conviction rates *cough*Nancy Grace*cough* and Sage could have avoided such a long term. I know that the plot depends on this and Sage's feelings of guilt were necessary to the story...but still.
So fucking frustrating because it's pretty much what happens on a regular basis to good men and women throughout the country as Corporations monetize incarceration and the oligarchy systematically labels the less affluent and under-educated as felons. Thereby revoking many citizens' right to vote - a large majority of them being People of Color, who'd normally vote Democratic/Liberal - and creating a recidivism cycle that's entirely too hard to break out of with the increasing cost of Parole/Probation and the difficulty ex-felons have finding sustainable employment and suitable housing. In many states, they can't even qualify for food assistance or medical care via state aid.
Does this happen to everyone in jail or prison? No, but the plea-deal system is broken. See here just one example of a boy taking a chance on surviving ten years locked up or being threatened with a life sentence if found guilty...and him being too young and naive to know that his incidental involvement didn't warrant such a sentence. (And his court-appointed attorney likely being too overworked to even care about innocence because s/he's got a hundred other cases just like it to deal with that week alone.)
Yes, it's fictional...but I could probably find you 10 such cases being meted out the same way, just today alone in any one decently sized city. As a society, we should be ashamed of ourselves. (Not likely to matter with Cheetoh VonFuckStick in charge now, though, is it?)
[/soapbox] #EndFelonyDisenfranchisement
August 6, 2016
This was a book based a great idea but the writing style is just not up to executing that idea. The setup is really intriguing, with Sage, who'd been serving time in prison for the accidental killing of Win's cousin, returning home to save the family ranch. The sheriff, Win's uncle, is out to get Sage - he blames Sage for killing his nephew. Win wants to protect Sage from his revenge-minded relatives, and also starts falling for sage.
Some of the psychological points the author hits are spot on, and I kept rooting for this book to be good, but the diction was just too over the top, with lots of gushy repetition and dumbed down cowboy-think (I think this is the author's idea of inner dialogue, cowboy style). The troubling thing is I felt like the author could write with more austerity and style, but believes that this is the way cowboys actually think and talk.
So, as long as I'm ranting, it annoyed me that Win kept referring to Sage as "babe" or "baby" - maybe 100 or more times in the book (I did a search in the pdf version and found 48 counts of "baby" and 66 counts of "babe" but hey, occasionally another character was also called that, and there was a pregnant woman). Aaaaand finally, I found the term "pocket cowboy" annoying - I think Sage is referred to as one at least six or seven times, and he calls himself that at one point. Really, is that an actual term, as in accepted by the cowboy community to denote a tiny cowboy? google says no.
So, a sweet story, likable MCs, nice plotting, good and sometimes insightful description of the characters and their reactions, but not a writing style I could enjoy.
Some of the psychological points the author hits are spot on, and I kept rooting for this book to be good, but the diction was just too over the top, with lots of gushy repetition and dumbed down cowboy-think (I think this is the author's idea of inner dialogue, cowboy style). The troubling thing is I felt like the author could write with more austerity and style, but believes that this is the way cowboys actually think and talk.
So, as long as I'm ranting, it annoyed me that Win kept referring to Sage as "babe" or "baby" - maybe 100 or more times in the book (I did a search in the pdf version and found 48 counts of "baby" and 66 counts of "babe" but hey, occasionally another character was also called that, and there was a pregnant woman). Aaaaand finally, I found the term "pocket cowboy" annoying - I think Sage is referred to as one at least six or seven times, and he calls himself that at one point. Really, is that an actual term, as in accepted by the cowboy community to denote a tiny cowboy? google says no.
So, a sweet story, likable MCs, nice plotting, good and sometimes insightful description of the characters and their reactions, but not a writing style I could enjoy.
July 4, 2015
2nd read:7/4
I absolutely loved this book. Cowboys really aren't my thing. Reading this became my thing. I done found me a pocket cowboy ya'll. I was hooked from beginning to end.
I absolutely loved this book. Cowboys really aren't my thing. Reading this became my thing. I done found me a pocket cowboy ya'll. I was hooked from beginning to end.
September 2, 2016
I really liked the guys in this book and now am moving on to the sequel.
October 25, 2023
Pocket Cowboy
At 18 years of age Texan Sage Redding was in the wrong place at the wrong time and served 10 years in prison. Being a very good looking boy in prison, he had to endure some awful things in order to survive, not the least of which was being kneecapped.
The ‘wrong place’ was at a meth factory where he had gone with his childhood friend Angel, who had also been his first boyfriend. Angel had cheated on him, was always high as a kite on drugs and left Sage for another man in the meth making building.
When that building exploded all inside were killed, Sage was the only survivor, he was arrested, no one believed his story, and Angel’s family held him responsible for his friends death.
When released on parole he is living in LA, just working, sleeping, eating to stay alive. The unspeakable torture he suffered in prison has left his legs very painful as he didn’t get proper treatment for the damage to them in prison.
Sage had his family, parents and and an older sister, living on their Horse Breeding Ranch back in Texas. A place he cannot go home to because of the threat placed on them if he ever returned. He loves and misses them.
When he gets a call from his Mom begging him to come home to help his Dad, he contacts his Parole Officer for permission to move county and he heads back home. Back to a life which is just as tortuous as prison.
A fortuitous meeting in a pie shop with Adam Winchester sparks off an instant attraction which also adds further problems for Sage. Adam (aka Win) is a Law Enforcement Officer in the county and he is also a cousin of Angel. Angel and Adam’s uncle Jim is the Sheriff.
Trying to avoid breaking his Parole, Sage has to bear with some nasty occurrences and threats and it is Adam who steps up to helps. When a ‘tornado like’ storm hits the area it brings about unexpected changes. How can Sage deal with them? Will Adam continue to ‘look out’ for Sage and his family?
##########
BA Tortuga can surely write an interesting story set in her native Texas. She hasn’t painted a pretty picture here of life in a close knit community where one family seems to think they can do as they please.
The brutality from certain quarters, plus the description of Sage’s life in prison nearly had me stop reading. It breaks me. I’m such a softie.
I carried on because some great side characters emerged from an unexpected source indeed, to show the other side, the good side, of living in close knit community.
Sage is such a simple man, kind, childlike at times, grateful for any show of affection. Adam, is so happy to give that to Sage. I feel there was something back in Adam’s past that still affects him, something that gives rise to anxiety maybe. It isn’t explained here.
This was an ‘uneasy’ read for me due to my own squeamishness about violence and cruelty. However it didn’t detract from an unusual and well written storyline with some good secondary characters to offset the bad ones.
I’m liking stories based on the ‘ Cowboy/Rancher ‘ trope and as BA Tortuga is such a prolific writer, I can see I’ve a lot of catching up to do with her many books. I have downloaded the two other books in this series which I’m happy to see also features more of Adam and Sage but they are stories of different MC’s.
At 18 years of age Texan Sage Redding was in the wrong place at the wrong time and served 10 years in prison. Being a very good looking boy in prison, he had to endure some awful things in order to survive, not the least of which was being kneecapped.
The ‘wrong place’ was at a meth factory where he had gone with his childhood friend Angel, who had also been his first boyfriend. Angel had cheated on him, was always high as a kite on drugs and left Sage for another man in the meth making building.
When that building exploded all inside were killed, Sage was the only survivor, he was arrested, no one believed his story, and Angel’s family held him responsible for his friends death.
When released on parole he is living in LA, just working, sleeping, eating to stay alive. The unspeakable torture he suffered in prison has left his legs very painful as he didn’t get proper treatment for the damage to them in prison.
Sage had his family, parents and and an older sister, living on their Horse Breeding Ranch back in Texas. A place he cannot go home to because of the threat placed on them if he ever returned. He loves and misses them.
When he gets a call from his Mom begging him to come home to help his Dad, he contacts his Parole Officer for permission to move county and he heads back home. Back to a life which is just as tortuous as prison.
A fortuitous meeting in a pie shop with Adam Winchester sparks off an instant attraction which also adds further problems for Sage. Adam (aka Win) is a Law Enforcement Officer in the county and he is also a cousin of Angel. Angel and Adam’s uncle Jim is the Sheriff.
Trying to avoid breaking his Parole, Sage has to bear with some nasty occurrences and threats and it is Adam who steps up to helps. When a ‘tornado like’ storm hits the area it brings about unexpected changes. How can Sage deal with them? Will Adam continue to ‘look out’ for Sage and his family?
##########
BA Tortuga can surely write an interesting story set in her native Texas. She hasn’t painted a pretty picture here of life in a close knit community where one family seems to think they can do as they please.
The brutality from certain quarters, plus the description of Sage’s life in prison nearly had me stop reading. It breaks me. I’m such a softie.
I carried on because some great side characters emerged from an unexpected source indeed, to show the other side, the good side, of living in close knit community.
Sage is such a simple man, kind, childlike at times, grateful for any show of affection. Adam, is so happy to give that to Sage. I feel there was something back in Adam’s past that still affects him, something that gives rise to anxiety maybe. It isn’t explained here.
This was an ‘uneasy’ read for me due to my own squeamishness about violence and cruelty. However it didn’t detract from an unusual and well written storyline with some good secondary characters to offset the bad ones.
I’m liking stories based on the ‘ Cowboy/Rancher ‘ trope and as BA Tortuga is such a prolific writer, I can see I’ve a lot of catching up to do with her many books. I have downloaded the two other books in this series which I’m happy to see also features more of Adam and Sage but they are stories of different MC’s.
August 22, 2017
Darum geht’s:
Nach seiner Entlassung aus dem Gefängnis versucht Sage gerade, sich ein neues Leben aufzubauen, als seine Mutter ihn um Hilfe bittet. Sages Vater leidet an Parkinson und es fällt ihm zusehends schwerer, die Familienfarm zu bewirtschaften. Doch um seinen Eltern zu helfen, muss Sage nach Texas zurückkehren, wo auch die Familie von Angelo wohnt, wegen dessen Tod Sage ins Gefängnis kam.
So fand ich’s:
Sage scheint ein guter Kerl zu sein, er ist gewissenhaft und vernünftig und liebt seine Familie. Wie konnte es dazu kommen, dass er wegen Mordes im Gefängnis saß? Von Anfang an ist klar, dass er kein skrupelloser Verbrecher ist. Und je mehr man über Sage und seine Vergangenheit erfährt, desto weniger schwarz und weiß und eindeutig scheint die ganze Angelegenheit zu sein. Sage ist bereit, den Hass und die Verachtung des kleinen Heimatortes in Texas auf sich zu nehmen, um seinem Vater bei der Farm zu helfen, und er weiß auch, dass die örtliche Polizei nur darauf wartet, dass er sich auch nur eine Kleinigkeit zu Schulden kommen lässt.
Ausgerechnet für den Tod von Angelo, des Neffen des örtlichen Sheriffs, wurde Sage verurteilt. Deshalb hat er auch vom Sheriff und dessen Bruder, Angelos Vater, nicht das kleinste Entgegenkommen zu erwarten. Und als Sage merkt, dass er die Aufmerksamkeit des Polizisten Adam erregt hat, befürchtet er Ärger. Denn Adam gehört zum Familienclan und ist ein Cousin von Angelo.
Doch Adam ist kein Freund von Familienehre und Zusammenhalt um jeden Preis, sondern er hält sich lieber an Gesetze und sein eigenes Gerechtigkeitsgefühl. Und Adam gefällt der kleine, drahtige Sage, der trotz Provokationen besonnen bleibt. Adam will Sage helfen, soweit er kann und sehr bald entwickeln sich Gefühle zwischen den beiden.
Darüber zu lesen, was Sage im Gefängnis durchgemacht hat und wie er auch jetzt noch behandelt wird, war manchmal schwer zu ertragen. Ich habe ihn bewundert, wie er sich seine Integrität bewahrt hat und wie zielstrebig er seinen Weg weiter gegangen ist, und ich hätte ihm eine dicke Portion mehr Selbstbewusstsein gewünscht. Umso schöner war es mit anzusehen, wie der geradlinige Adam sich von Anfang an auf Sages Seite stellt und dass auch von anderer Seite Unterstützung für Sage bereit steht.
Ein paar tolle Nebencharaktere bereichern diese Geschichte, die zwar mit viel negativen Gefühlen anfängt, aber auf einer positiven Note endet. Das Happy End war schwer erkämpft, aber die emotionale Achterbahn hat mich gefesselt und mir spannende Lesestunden beschert.
Auf englisch hat die Serie inzwischen schon insgesamt drei Teile und die anderen beiden sind sofort auf meine Leseliste gewandert.
Nach seiner Entlassung aus dem Gefängnis versucht Sage gerade, sich ein neues Leben aufzubauen, als seine Mutter ihn um Hilfe bittet. Sages Vater leidet an Parkinson und es fällt ihm zusehends schwerer, die Familienfarm zu bewirtschaften. Doch um seinen Eltern zu helfen, muss Sage nach Texas zurückkehren, wo auch die Familie von Angelo wohnt, wegen dessen Tod Sage ins Gefängnis kam.
So fand ich’s:
Sage scheint ein guter Kerl zu sein, er ist gewissenhaft und vernünftig und liebt seine Familie. Wie konnte es dazu kommen, dass er wegen Mordes im Gefängnis saß? Von Anfang an ist klar, dass er kein skrupelloser Verbrecher ist. Und je mehr man über Sage und seine Vergangenheit erfährt, desto weniger schwarz und weiß und eindeutig scheint die ganze Angelegenheit zu sein. Sage ist bereit, den Hass und die Verachtung des kleinen Heimatortes in Texas auf sich zu nehmen, um seinem Vater bei der Farm zu helfen, und er weiß auch, dass die örtliche Polizei nur darauf wartet, dass er sich auch nur eine Kleinigkeit zu Schulden kommen lässt.
Ausgerechnet für den Tod von Angelo, des Neffen des örtlichen Sheriffs, wurde Sage verurteilt. Deshalb hat er auch vom Sheriff und dessen Bruder, Angelos Vater, nicht das kleinste Entgegenkommen zu erwarten. Und als Sage merkt, dass er die Aufmerksamkeit des Polizisten Adam erregt hat, befürchtet er Ärger. Denn Adam gehört zum Familienclan und ist ein Cousin von Angelo.
Doch Adam ist kein Freund von Familienehre und Zusammenhalt um jeden Preis, sondern er hält sich lieber an Gesetze und sein eigenes Gerechtigkeitsgefühl. Und Adam gefällt der kleine, drahtige Sage, der trotz Provokationen besonnen bleibt. Adam will Sage helfen, soweit er kann und sehr bald entwickeln sich Gefühle zwischen den beiden.
Darüber zu lesen, was Sage im Gefängnis durchgemacht hat und wie er auch jetzt noch behandelt wird, war manchmal schwer zu ertragen. Ich habe ihn bewundert, wie er sich seine Integrität bewahrt hat und wie zielstrebig er seinen Weg weiter gegangen ist, und ich hätte ihm eine dicke Portion mehr Selbstbewusstsein gewünscht. Umso schöner war es mit anzusehen, wie der geradlinige Adam sich von Anfang an auf Sages Seite stellt und dass auch von anderer Seite Unterstützung für Sage bereit steht.
Ein paar tolle Nebencharaktere bereichern diese Geschichte, die zwar mit viel negativen Gefühlen anfängt, aber auf einer positiven Note endet. Das Happy End war schwer erkämpft, aber die emotionale Achterbahn hat mich gefesselt und mir spannende Lesestunden beschert.
Auf englisch hat die Serie inzwischen schon insgesamt drei Teile und die anderen beiden sind sofort auf meine Leseliste gewandert.
June 7, 2015
Not a bad story, too much Texas-speak, not just in dialogue but even in character's thoughts. Swole just freaked me out as did broke-dick cowboy. Then there is this -
Sage stood there for a second, watching. He didn't have nothing to say. Not a thing. Wait...so he had something to say? Right? No. No he didn't.
So many bad things/events happened. It got a bit much.
Sweet enough MC's, Sage and Adam, did help the rating.
More sappy than raunchy for my liking, more melodrama than angst, that doesn't work so much for me.
Proper review to come later.
Sage stood there for a second, watching. He didn't have nothing to say. Not a thing. Wait...so he had something to say? Right? No. No he didn't.
So many bad things/events happened. It got a bit much.
Sweet enough MC's, Sage and Adam, did help the rating.
More sappy than raunchy for my liking, more melodrama than angst, that doesn't work so much for me.
Proper review to come later.
August 14, 2016
3.5 stars
For the most part I enjoyed this story - Sage pretty much broke my heart for all that he went through. The one thing I did liked the most was he accepted what life threw at him and wasn't a bitter person. I liked Adam also and they were good together, but Sage was my favorite. What I didn't enjoy was there was way too much that took place in this story. Too many events, it just made things too jumbled. That took a little bit away from my enjoyment of the story. But all in all a good cowboy themed read for me.
For the most part I enjoyed this story - Sage pretty much broke my heart for all that he went through. The one thing I did liked the most was he accepted what life threw at him and wasn't a bitter person. I liked Adam also and they were good together, but Sage was my favorite. What I didn't enjoy was there was way too much that took place in this story. Too many events, it just made things too jumbled. That took a little bit away from my enjoyment of the story. But all in all a good cowboy themed read for me.
October 20, 2015
I loved this.
I thought I would have an ick factor, because I have a son named Sage, and, yeah, I don't want to hear my kids name, with sex. YUCK.
But, the narrator gave Sage a voice, that made it so I could completely ignore the name.
It was a little insta-lovey...but I loved the story. Poor Sage was starved for affection. It was nice seeing him realize how many people cared for him.
It was a little painful at times, seeing how much hate was thrown at Sage, for poor choices he made as a kid.
Great story.
I thought I would have an ick factor, because I have a son named Sage, and, yeah, I don't want to hear my kids name, with sex. YUCK.
But, the narrator gave Sage a voice, that made it so I could completely ignore the name.
It was a little insta-lovey...but I loved the story. Poor Sage was starved for affection. It was nice seeing him realize how many people cared for him.
It was a little painful at times, seeing how much hate was thrown at Sage, for poor choices he made as a kid.
Great story.
August 29, 2022
This cowboy western romance hits all of the contrasts of pain and pleasure while pulling few punches on the harshness of life. Sage is in California on parole after a long stint in the penitentiary when his mother calls to ask him to return to the family ranch in Texas to assist, as his father's Parkinson's has progressed to the point where he can no longer work full time. When Sage returns, he quickly is met with hostility from local law enforcement and residents who cast him as a ex-con murderer, although Sage was in actuality a bystander who was guilty of using drugs at the time, but had nothing to do with an exploding meth lab that killed all others involved. Deputy Win sees how Sage is being treated, even by members of his own family, and he decides to reach out to Sage to see if he could use a friend. Later, their friendship becomes a romance, but can it survive so many threats to their safety and livelihood? This book is by turns sad, unfair, but also full of family, supportive friends, and a special love between these two men. It's the start of a trilogy and the book ends a little abruptly with no epilogue, but the characters will pick up again in the next book featuring two new main characters.
December 25, 2023
Don't let the cover fool you!!! This genuinely only had like 3 smut scenes but honestly? I was all there for the domestic pocket cowboy Northern Texas vibes (I WILL be getting cowboy boots and a cowboy hat).
July 4, 2021
3.5 *s
August 12, 2016
I absolutely loved this book. What a perfect plot line. What is a good son to do when his mother calls him up out of the blue and tells him he needs to come home, that she needs his help because his father is ill and can't keep up with the family business and farm any longer? Most sons would just go home, maybe grumbling along the way depending on the life they were leaving behind. But for Sage, the issue was far greater than just leaving his life and job behind. Sage had left home at the age of eighteen with Angel, the man he thought he loved. It turned out Angel was an idiot and a cheating bastard. But none of that mattered when Angel died in a meth lab explosion along with several other people. As the only survivor of the incident, Sage was arrested, tried, and imprisoned for eight years of his life. Eight years were taken from him, and in exchange he got to spend eight years in hell in maximum security prison where he was a target for the worst of the men there. For eight years he was beaten, abused, used, and misused.
So when his mother called him, Sage was working in California and meeting the terms of his parole. He had no desire to ever go back to Texas ever again, especially not to his hometown where Angel's father and extended family still lived and still blamed Sage for Angel's death. But when his mother called, Sage had to go. With greatly mixed feelings he went, and it turned out that with only one or two exceptions, everything Sage had feared and dreaded came to pass. Angel's family was out for blood. If he didn't give them a reason to arrest him they would manufacture one. He was beaten in a parking lot and was called every name imaginable. But the worst was when they shot his dog. His beautiful pit bull. They could do anything they wanted with him, but when they came after his family they crossed the line.
Sage meets an unlikely ally in Win, a local cop. Angel had been Win's cousin so Sage expected Win to behave like everyone else in Angel's huge family and hate Sage. But Win looked at Sage and saw not an enemy but a man who'd been through hell but was still standing. Win admired Sage from the first time he saw him, but as they got to know one another Win and Sage became more than just friends. Sage kept expected the other shoe to drop as he became involved with Win, half expecting Win to get Sage to lower his defenses and then pounce, doing something awful that Sage hadn't figured out yet. But it turned out that all Win wanted to pounce on was Sage, something he did with great gusto and enthusiasm when the time was right. Against all odds, Win and Sage moved from strangers to friends and finally to lovers. Through thick and thin they fought for the other and vowed to protect them at all cost. For Sage the potential cost was losing his life. For Win the potential cost was losing his family and his job.
I loved this story. Sage and Win were such lovable characters. They weren't just thin, cardboard characters but were real men with pain and hurts and joys and all kinds of feelings. There was depth to them which really came through as they endured the abuse from Angel's family. Sage's mom was a fantastic character, a tough Texas farmer who didn't take guff from anyone. Her husband and daughter were less well developed, but there was no problem with that.
The universe seems to have painted a huge red X on Sage for not only did he have to endure the campaign of hate from Angel's family, but he also had to endure nature's fury. How much can one man endure without cracking? If I had one complaint about this story it was that a LOT happened to Sage, almost too much. Still, if you want a good read, a well-crafted story with strong characters, then this is your book. I give this one high marks and will have to read some other things by this author in the near future.
So when his mother called him, Sage was working in California and meeting the terms of his parole. He had no desire to ever go back to Texas ever again, especially not to his hometown where Angel's father and extended family still lived and still blamed Sage for Angel's death. But when his mother called, Sage had to go. With greatly mixed feelings he went, and it turned out that with only one or two exceptions, everything Sage had feared and dreaded came to pass. Angel's family was out for blood. If he didn't give them a reason to arrest him they would manufacture one. He was beaten in a parking lot and was called every name imaginable. But the worst was when they shot his dog. His beautiful pit bull. They could do anything they wanted with him, but when they came after his family they crossed the line.
Sage meets an unlikely ally in Win, a local cop. Angel had been Win's cousin so Sage expected Win to behave like everyone else in Angel's huge family and hate Sage. But Win looked at Sage and saw not an enemy but a man who'd been through hell but was still standing. Win admired Sage from the first time he saw him, but as they got to know one another Win and Sage became more than just friends. Sage kept expected the other shoe to drop as he became involved with Win, half expecting Win to get Sage to lower his defenses and then pounce, doing something awful that Sage hadn't figured out yet. But it turned out that all Win wanted to pounce on was Sage, something he did with great gusto and enthusiasm when the time was right. Against all odds, Win and Sage moved from strangers to friends and finally to lovers. Through thick and thin they fought for the other and vowed to protect them at all cost. For Sage the potential cost was losing his life. For Win the potential cost was losing his family and his job.
I loved this story. Sage and Win were such lovable characters. They weren't just thin, cardboard characters but were real men with pain and hurts and joys and all kinds of feelings. There was depth to them which really came through as they endured the abuse from Angel's family. Sage's mom was a fantastic character, a tough Texas farmer who didn't take guff from anyone. Her husband and daughter were less well developed, but there was no problem with that.
The universe seems to have painted a huge red X on Sage for not only did he have to endure the campaign of hate from Angel's family, but he also had to endure nature's fury. How much can one man endure without cracking? If I had one complaint about this story it was that a LOT happened to Sage, almost too much. Still, if you want a good read, a well-crafted story with strong characters, then this is your book. I give this one high marks and will have to read some other things by this author in the near future.
July 28, 2019
4,5*
Eine wirklich schöne Geschichte. Kein Western, sondern eher etwas, dass aus dem sehr konservativen Leben auf dem Land in den USA erzählt.
****
“Liebe auf Bewährung” ist das erste Buch, das ich von BA Tortuga gelesen habe und mir hat es richtig gut gefallen, auch wenn es emotional kein ganz einfaches Buch für mich war. Am liebsten hätte ich Sage unter meine Fittiche genommen und vor allem, was da so kam, beschützt.
Wenn Geschichten – und nein, es ist meiner Meinung nach kein typischer Western -, die auf dem “Land” spielen, immer in dieser Qualität geschrieben würden, dann wäre ich schon längst ein großer Fan davon. So fällt es mir oft schwer, mich dafür zu entscheiden, ob ich ein Buch lesen will oder nicht, denn die typischen Westerngeschichten mit all ihren Klischees liegen mir so gar nicht.
Klar spielt diese Geschichte in Texas, wo gefühlt irgendwie jeder zweite Einwohner auf einer Ranch lebt und dort Arbeiten jeglicher Art ausführt, sprich nicht nur Rinder hütet ;-).
Und klar erledigt auch Sage all diese Tätigkeiten, die notwendig sind, allerdings geht es hier in dieser Geschichte um Sage’ Schicksal. Was ich nach dieser Story sicher weiß: Dieser junge Mann ist unter Garantie nicht an einem Sonntag auf die Welt gekommen. Soviel Mist, wie er schon in seinem Leben erlebt hat, geht eigentlich auf gar keine Kuhhaut …
Was hatte ich während des Lesens Tränen in den Augen … Immer wenn Sage das Gefühl hatte, dass es ein Stückchen aufwärts geht, stellt ihm das Leben wieder ein Bein. Auch als Adam seinen Weg kreuzt, hat er immer irgendwie das Gefühl, dies gar nicht verdient zu haben und auf der Hut sein zu müssen. Gott sei Dank gibt es aber auch einige Menschen um ihn herum, die es gut mit ihm meinen und die keine Vorurteile ihm gegenüber haben. Dies mitzuverfolgen hat die vielen traurigen Elemente für mich Stück für Stück wieder ausgeglichen. Es dauert lange und es passiert so einiges, bis man sieht, dass es auch für Sage aufwärts geht. Was er allerdings ohne Adam, seine Familie und Freunde getan hätte bzw. was aus ihm geworden wäre, mag ich mir gar nicht ausmalen.
Tja, jetzt erzähle ich die ganze Zeit von Sage (ist ja auch seine Geschichte), aber auch Adam darf nicht unerwähnt bleiben. Man muss ihm für seine Fürsorge und Loyalität Sage gegenüber Respekt zollen. Es ist nicht leicht, sich gegen seine Familie zu stellen, aber sein Gefühl sagt ihm, dass Sage dies wert ist. Zu wissen, dass er mit seiner Mutter eine starke Person an seiner Seite hat, gibt ihm die Kraft, es mit dem Rest “der Welt” aufzunehmen.
Bis die beiden allerdings zu ihrem Happy End kommen, müssen sie viele Hindernisse überwinden, viele Steine aus dem Weg räumen und so manchen Schicksalsschlag überstehen.
Warum es dann doch “nur” 4,5* wurden, ist der Tatsache geschuldet, dass das Ende für mich etwas flach war. Zwar kommen die beiden auch im 2. Buch der Serie wohl wieder vor, allerdings – und hier wiederhole ich mich oft, ich weiß – hätte mir ein, wenigstens kurzer, Epilog gut gefallen bzw. wäre es dann den beiden Charakteren gerecht geworden.
So haben wir wie gesagt ein Happy End, mit dem viele gut leben können – nur ich halt mal wieder nicht so ganz.
Dieses ist sicher Geschmackssache, aber das sind Bücher ja immer :-).
Ich werde diese Serie auf jeden Fall weiterverfolgen. Ob ich auf die deutschen Übersetzungen der bisher noch erschienen weiteren zwei Bücher warte oder ob ich sie mir im Original hole, habe ich im Moment noch nicht entschieden. Hinten runterfallen werden sie bei mir sicherlich nicht.
Eine wirklich schöne Geschichte. Kein Western, sondern eher etwas, dass aus dem sehr konservativen Leben auf dem Land in den USA erzählt.
****
“Liebe auf Bewährung” ist das erste Buch, das ich von BA Tortuga gelesen habe und mir hat es richtig gut gefallen, auch wenn es emotional kein ganz einfaches Buch für mich war. Am liebsten hätte ich Sage unter meine Fittiche genommen und vor allem, was da so kam, beschützt.
Wenn Geschichten – und nein, es ist meiner Meinung nach kein typischer Western -, die auf dem “Land” spielen, immer in dieser Qualität geschrieben würden, dann wäre ich schon längst ein großer Fan davon. So fällt es mir oft schwer, mich dafür zu entscheiden, ob ich ein Buch lesen will oder nicht, denn die typischen Westerngeschichten mit all ihren Klischees liegen mir so gar nicht.
Klar spielt diese Geschichte in Texas, wo gefühlt irgendwie jeder zweite Einwohner auf einer Ranch lebt und dort Arbeiten jeglicher Art ausführt, sprich nicht nur Rinder hütet ;-).
Und klar erledigt auch Sage all diese Tätigkeiten, die notwendig sind, allerdings geht es hier in dieser Geschichte um Sage’ Schicksal. Was ich nach dieser Story sicher weiß: Dieser junge Mann ist unter Garantie nicht an einem Sonntag auf die Welt gekommen. Soviel Mist, wie er schon in seinem Leben erlebt hat, geht eigentlich auf gar keine Kuhhaut …
Was hatte ich während des Lesens Tränen in den Augen … Immer wenn Sage das Gefühl hatte, dass es ein Stückchen aufwärts geht, stellt ihm das Leben wieder ein Bein. Auch als Adam seinen Weg kreuzt, hat er immer irgendwie das Gefühl, dies gar nicht verdient zu haben und auf der Hut sein zu müssen. Gott sei Dank gibt es aber auch einige Menschen um ihn herum, die es gut mit ihm meinen und die keine Vorurteile ihm gegenüber haben. Dies mitzuverfolgen hat die vielen traurigen Elemente für mich Stück für Stück wieder ausgeglichen. Es dauert lange und es passiert so einiges, bis man sieht, dass es auch für Sage aufwärts geht. Was er allerdings ohne Adam, seine Familie und Freunde getan hätte bzw. was aus ihm geworden wäre, mag ich mir gar nicht ausmalen.
Tja, jetzt erzähle ich die ganze Zeit von Sage (ist ja auch seine Geschichte), aber auch Adam darf nicht unerwähnt bleiben. Man muss ihm für seine Fürsorge und Loyalität Sage gegenüber Respekt zollen. Es ist nicht leicht, sich gegen seine Familie zu stellen, aber sein Gefühl sagt ihm, dass Sage dies wert ist. Zu wissen, dass er mit seiner Mutter eine starke Person an seiner Seite hat, gibt ihm die Kraft, es mit dem Rest “der Welt” aufzunehmen.
Bis die beiden allerdings zu ihrem Happy End kommen, müssen sie viele Hindernisse überwinden, viele Steine aus dem Weg räumen und so manchen Schicksalsschlag überstehen.
Warum es dann doch “nur” 4,5* wurden, ist der Tatsache geschuldet, dass das Ende für mich etwas flach war. Zwar kommen die beiden auch im 2. Buch der Serie wohl wieder vor, allerdings – und hier wiederhole ich mich oft, ich weiß – hätte mir ein, wenigstens kurzer, Epilog gut gefallen bzw. wäre es dann den beiden Charakteren gerecht geworden.
So haben wir wie gesagt ein Happy End, mit dem viele gut leben können – nur ich halt mal wieder nicht so ganz.
Dieses ist sicher Geschmackssache, aber das sind Bücher ja immer :-).
Ich werde diese Serie auf jeden Fall weiterverfolgen. Ob ich auf die deutschen Übersetzungen der bisher noch erschienen weiteren zwei Bücher warte oder ob ich sie mir im Original hole, habe ich im Moment noch nicht entschieden. Hinten runterfallen werden sie bei mir sicherlich nicht.
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