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Out of the Gate
British actor Wesley Tremayne thinks he’s close to hitting the big time—a film career—with his role as a hunky explorer on a popular American TV show. Success should be just around the corner, as long as he keeps his sexual orientation a secret. Wes’s best friend and beard, Julia Compton, forms the other half of a glamorous Hollywood couple that’s merely a façade.
Evan Taylor left his acting career behind five years ago without looking back. He's always been more comfortable around horses than people—especially Hollywood types. His new life training racehorses is a dream come true, but increasing financial problems and an abusive boyfriend have him doubting himself and his choices.
Then Wes and his friends buy a third-rate racehorse—partially for publicity—and send him to Evan’s stable. Wes’s friendship with Evan soon develops into an overpowering attraction he can’t act on. He's never met a man like Evan, but if there’s any chance for a future together, Wes must choose between a career he loves and the man he adores.
Evan Taylor left his acting career behind five years ago without looking back. He's always been more comfortable around horses than people—especially Hollywood types. His new life training racehorses is a dream come true, but increasing financial problems and an abusive boyfriend have him doubting himself and his choices.
Then Wes and his friends buy a third-rate racehorse—partially for publicity—and send him to Evan’s stable. Wes’s friendship with Evan soon develops into an overpowering attraction he can’t act on. He's never met a man like Evan, but if there’s any chance for a future together, Wes must choose between a career he loves and the man he adores.
270 pages, Paperback
First published April 20, 2014
4 people are currently reading
248 people want to read
About the author
E.M. Lynley
48 books234 followersEM Lynley writes gay erotic romance. She loves books where the hero gets the guy and the loving is 11 on a scale of 10. Her Precious Gems series is best described as “Indiana Jones meets Romancing the Stone”—only gayer. The Delectable series is Gay Romance with Taste.
A Rainbow Award winner and EPPIE finalist, EM has worked in high finance, high tech, and in the wine industry, though she'd rather be writing hot, romantic man-on-man action. She spent 10 years as an economist and financial analyst, including a year as a White House Staff Economist, but only because all the intern positions were filled. Tired of boring herself and others with dry business reports and articles, her creative muse is back and naughtier than ever. She has lived and worked in London, Tokyo and Washington, D.C., but the San Francisco Bay Area is home for now.
She is the author of Sex, Lies & Wedding Bells, the Precious Gems series from Dreamspinner Press, and the Rewriting History series starring a sexy jewel thief, among others. Her books are available in print and e-book from Amazon & other book distributors.
A Rainbow Award winner and EPPIE finalist, EM has worked in high finance, high tech, and in the wine industry, though she'd rather be writing hot, romantic man-on-man action. She spent 10 years as an economist and financial analyst, including a year as a White House Staff Economist, but only because all the intern positions were filled. Tired of boring herself and others with dry business reports and articles, her creative muse is back and naughtier than ever. She has lived and worked in London, Tokyo and Washington, D.C., but the San Francisco Bay Area is home for now.
She is the author of Sex, Lies & Wedding Bells, the Precious Gems series from Dreamspinner Press, and the Rewriting History series starring a sexy jewel thief, among others. Her books are available in print and e-book from Amazon & other book distributors.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
July 4, 2014
I love a good surprise, don’t you? This was a damn good surprise and it wasn't just one, they kept coming. I do not like non-con or dub-con. *warning* A nasty dub-con scene is thrown at us right from the start. It was unpleasant and I wished it hadn't happened, but *surprise* it truly was necessary.
I don’t care for liars or make believe relationships, but *surprise* I understood the reason for the beard in this case. I think the author took on an extra challenging conquest by *surprise* not taking the easy way out; which easily could have happened. Lynley took the difficult road and the final destination was that much sweeter as a result of the harsh path it took to get there.
Horses. I've read my share of cowboy stories and loved them, but racing horses? This was a first. It was fabulous and brimming with great information. I can’t wait to go to the track someday! I reveled in the surplus of details about racing and race horses, it was extremely entertaining. Bravo on research.
A beautiful horse brings two men together. The chemistry is instant, but obstacles stand in their way. For one, Evan is in a relationship, an abusive one at that. Second, Wes is holding steadfast to his path as a man in a relationship with a woman. It seems impossible that they could be together, but they find strength and considerable power in their magnetic attraction.
An up-and-coming actor and a retired face from the Hollywood shouldn't be from completely different worlds. Yet they are....or appear to be. Demons from the past shadow their future. Neither knows much about the other but plan on changing that. Fame, fortune, fears and failure are mingled together. The action will keep you on your toes….the desire will keep your heart racing….the emotions will tug on your heartstrings.
The characters are deep and genuine. The writing is smooth and constant. The story-line is lively and strong. A bit of a slow burn between the two men, but the emotions are abundant. They run into a great deal of drama, but most of which would be spoiling if I mentioned. I can assure you though, you certainly won't be bored.
They prove happiness may require bloodshed to reach, but it’s worth every drop.
They prove circumstances may not be ideal, but once you yield to love your dreams can come true.
They prove that love can conquer all.
It was a gorgeous rush to the finish line. Come on over, surrender, and enjoy the race…it’s a good one.
*4 racey-rough-rocky stars*
I don’t care for liars or make believe relationships, but *surprise* I understood the reason for the beard in this case. I think the author took on an extra challenging conquest by *surprise* not taking the easy way out; which easily could have happened. Lynley took the difficult road and the final destination was that much sweeter as a result of the harsh path it took to get there.
Horses. I've read my share of cowboy stories and loved them, but racing horses? This was a first. It was fabulous and brimming with great information. I can’t wait to go to the track someday! I reveled in the surplus of details about racing and race horses, it was extremely entertaining. Bravo on research.
A beautiful horse brings two men together. The chemistry is instant, but obstacles stand in their way. For one, Evan is in a relationship, an abusive one at that. Second, Wes is holding steadfast to his path as a man in a relationship with a woman. It seems impossible that they could be together, but they find strength and considerable power in their magnetic attraction.
An up-and-coming actor and a retired face from the Hollywood shouldn't be from completely different worlds. Yet they are....or appear to be. Demons from the past shadow their future. Neither knows much about the other but plan on changing that. Fame, fortune, fears and failure are mingled together. The action will keep you on your toes….the desire will keep your heart racing….the emotions will tug on your heartstrings.
The characters are deep and genuine. The writing is smooth and constant. The story-line is lively and strong. A bit of a slow burn between the two men, but the emotions are abundant. They run into a great deal of drama, but most of which would be spoiling if I mentioned. I can assure you though, you certainly won't be bored.
They prove happiness may require bloodshed to reach, but it’s worth every drop.
They prove circumstances may not be ideal, but once you yield to love your dreams can come true.
They prove that love can conquer all.
It was a gorgeous rush to the finish line. Come on over, surrender, and enjoy the race…it’s a good one.
*4 racey-rough-rocky stars*
April 24, 2014
3.75, rounded up. A little uneven in places, and the dub-con scene in the beginning pissed me off. I realize why it was included, but I still hated Gary. I know why it had to be there - it established the character and backstory for Evan - but I hated it nonetheless. Nobody should have to endure that sort of thing, and it served as a reminder that near-rape can be perpetrated within a relationship. No means no, no matter the circumstances.
Okay, I'll get off my soapbox now.
I liked the story overall, with the slow burning romance between Wes and Evan, the inclusion of horse facts and horse racing, and even the mystery was interesting even though I had figured out about halfway who was involved, and why.
I liked how the author touched on realistic themes, what with Wes being an actor and gay, and Hollywood execs not being too fond of that, but the resolution seemed almost too hopeful, too clean. Though that may just be because I'm a wee bit too cynical on occasion. I could buy that public opinion might sway the mindset there a bit, and with events in recent years leading the way, this might actually eventually become a reality.
The writing was lovely, though I found a couple of instances where the proofreader missed some things (one of them a pet peeve - it's TRY TO. Not TRY AND, though I will forgive that in dialogue but not in narration), but the story flowed well, and I stayed interested and invested.
The supporting cast was okay - not a lot of depth to them, except for Vanessa, who despite appearing to be a ditzy, pleasure-seeking blonde at first actually turns out much differently. I liked Julia for a long time, but she sort of ticked me off too. The characters at the stables all were nice, though they didn't play a huge role in the overall plot and thus weren't fully multi-dimensional.
I can appreciate the research that went into this book, and the author did a fabulous job with that.
I giggled a few times at the humorous banter between Evan and Wes - those two really fit well together and seemed to really enjoy each other's company, both finding something they'd been missing for a long time. It was a pleasure to see Evan begin to trust, despite the setbacks, and Wes' gentle persistence even in the face of losing his livelihood. The emotional connection between the two of them was evident from early on, and only increased through the rest of the novel.
Not bad, Ms. Lynley, not bad at all.
** I received a free ARC from the publisher. A positive review was not promised in return. **
Okay, I'll get off my soapbox now.
I liked the story overall, with the slow burning romance between Wes and Evan, the inclusion of horse facts and horse racing, and even the mystery was interesting even though I had figured out about halfway who was involved, and why.
I liked how the author touched on realistic themes, what with Wes being an actor and gay, and Hollywood execs not being too fond of that, but the resolution seemed almost too hopeful, too clean. Though that may just be because I'm a wee bit too cynical on occasion. I could buy that public opinion might sway the mindset there a bit, and with events in recent years leading the way, this might actually eventually become a reality.
The writing was lovely, though I found a couple of instances where the proofreader missed some things (one of them a pet peeve - it's TRY TO. Not TRY AND, though I will forgive that in dialogue but not in narration), but the story flowed well, and I stayed interested and invested.
The supporting cast was okay - not a lot of depth to them, except for Vanessa, who despite appearing to be a ditzy, pleasure-seeking blonde at first actually turns out much differently. I liked Julia for a long time, but she sort of ticked me off too. The characters at the stables all were nice, though they didn't play a huge role in the overall plot and thus weren't fully multi-dimensional.
I can appreciate the research that went into this book, and the author did a fabulous job with that.
I giggled a few times at the humorous banter between Evan and Wes - those two really fit well together and seemed to really enjoy each other's company, both finding something they'd been missing for a long time. It was a pleasure to see Evan begin to trust, despite the setbacks, and Wes' gentle persistence even in the face of losing his livelihood. The emotional connection between the two of them was evident from early on, and only increased through the rest of the novel.
Not bad, Ms. Lynley, not bad at all.
** I received a free ARC from the publisher. A positive review was not promised in return. **
October 1, 2014
4.5 Stars! I love horses and that was a big draw in choosing this book to read. I loved the horse racing aspect but it didn't take away from the love story at its core. Wes and Evan were made for each other! I was glad how Evan's current relationship was handled as their attraction grew. While the subplot mystery wasn't the forefront, it didn't bother me. I was enthralled with the horses and the men!
July 12, 2014
I absolutely loved reading about the horse racing aspect of this book, but I did have some trouble getting connected to the characters. I'm not really sure why, but neither of the MC's really rang my bell. This was one of those that I could put down and come back to later, which is unusual for me. But still, it was a good story and like I said, I really liked the parts about the horses.
Want to read
June 19, 2015 $.99 at Dreamspinner Press today 6/19/15
June 3, 2014
Horse-lovers unite! I am, as many of you may have been, a recovering horse fanatic… or maybe better said, horse-lover. When I was younger. I devoured every book in the series 'Misty of Chincoteague' and the lovely but so emotional (to me at least) classic Black Beauty. I used to follow The Triple Crown every year, and this story actually reminded me that I'd like to follow up with The Belmont Stakes race this year which runs on June 7th 2014. *See additional note at end*
Cover: I really like the image of the young man’s face with his sidelong glance and the faded in racing montage with the selected typeface. It all works well together, and makes for an appealing total image while giving the reader a taste of what the story is about.
The story: The romantic long flowing mane; powerful, muscular bodies; excitement of speed, and visual of these beautiful animals racing across the finish line bring a smile of anticipation. The photos cut out of ‘Horse Illustrated’ to hang on my adolescent bedroom walls are still fond memories of my youth. And who didn’t love the story of the shipwrecked boy and the gorgeous wild horse from the deserts of Arabia, The Black Stallion.
Saying all this, when I saw we were given this title in exchange for an honest review, well, the timing of the Belmont Stakes (as well as my love of horses) kind of took over *pick me! pick me!* I have to say, in the M/M genre, I had not come across a ‘horse’ story that wasn’t either a western, historical or ranching scenario, so this was a refreshing change.
I have always been fascinated with the horse-racing world, and EM Lynley definitely did her research. I learned so much about how the racehorses are trained, what type of doping and drugging was possible and tested for, how much rest time required between races, and even hot spots on their legs after they run. It was very fascinating and I felt I was given a glimpse inside a place not many of us have ever really had the opportunity to look at.
The Hollywood actor premise had been done before, and this felt a little like the same ol’ “should I or shouldn’t I come out, and will it wreck my career” scenario, but it was still done well. The tour up and down California from LA to San Francisco made me want to go on a driving tour along the coast to revisit California and all its natural wonders. It is interesting and well represented how two locations within the same state could be so vastly different just hours apart. The Hollywood ‘friends’ had me in a hate/love relationship, but they turned out to be fairly decent people even if they felt very shallow through 2/3rds of the story.
For me, I do have to say I was drawn more to the story about the horses rather than the MC’s relationship with each other. But I think that is more to personal taste rather than anything wrong with the MCs. Having said that, there was an unpleasant mystery around Evan Taylor that we are given little glimpses of, and we do learn in the beginning he is in a relationship with an older gentleman who is an ambitious nature photographer that does not treat him pleasant at all. That was a bit uncomfortable for me and made me wonder why Evan didn’t realize he deserved better.*actually pissed me off*
As for our British Hollywood heartthrob, Wesley Tremayne, I did come to like him quite a bit, but some of the interaction between the two MCs when they finally got together felt a little bit awkward to me, somewhat rushed or a little off compared to how they each read separately. But I really enjoyed the total premise of the story, I just think the character development or dialogue when they finally came together could have been fleshed out a bit differently for them to have better chemistry. I think it was more the words they chose to say to each other face-to-face vice how they acted with each other, but overall the story was good.
There is a pleasant and somewhat surprising outcome to the end, so we aren’t left hanging, The story had an almost fairytale-like feeling to it, even though there were some really unpleasant scenes, and I would definitely recommend the story to horse lovers everywhere. Very well done on the research.
* INFORMATION ABOUT THE TRIPLE CROWN
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_S...
* NOTE: Pending 2014 Triple Crown attempt: In 2014, California Chrome won the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness. He is slated to race in the Belmont Stakes on June 7, 2014.
No horse has successfully won the Triple Crown since Affirmed won all three races in 1978.
In the United States, the three races that make up the Triple Crown are:
1. Kentucky Derby, run over the 1 1⁄4-mile (2.0 km) dirt track at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky;
2. Preakness Stakes, run over the 1 3⁄16-mile (1.9 km) dirt track at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland;
3. Belmont Stakes, run over the 1 1⁄2-mile (2.4 km) dirt track, the longest in USA thoroughbred racing, at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York, just east of the borough of Queens of New York City.
Cover: I really like the image of the young man’s face with his sidelong glance and the faded in racing montage with the selected typeface. It all works well together, and makes for an appealing total image while giving the reader a taste of what the story is about.
The story: The romantic long flowing mane; powerful, muscular bodies; excitement of speed, and visual of these beautiful animals racing across the finish line bring a smile of anticipation. The photos cut out of ‘Horse Illustrated’ to hang on my adolescent bedroom walls are still fond memories of my youth. And who didn’t love the story of the shipwrecked boy and the gorgeous wild horse from the deserts of Arabia, The Black Stallion.
Saying all this, when I saw we were given this title in exchange for an honest review, well, the timing of the Belmont Stakes (as well as my love of horses) kind of took over *pick me! pick me!* I have to say, in the M/M genre, I had not come across a ‘horse’ story that wasn’t either a western, historical or ranching scenario, so this was a refreshing change.
I have always been fascinated with the horse-racing world, and EM Lynley definitely did her research. I learned so much about how the racehorses are trained, what type of doping and drugging was possible and tested for, how much rest time required between races, and even hot spots on their legs after they run. It was very fascinating and I felt I was given a glimpse inside a place not many of us have ever really had the opportunity to look at.
The Hollywood actor premise had been done before, and this felt a little like the same ol’ “should I or shouldn’t I come out, and will it wreck my career” scenario, but it was still done well. The tour up and down California from LA to San Francisco made me want to go on a driving tour along the coast to revisit California and all its natural wonders. It is interesting and well represented how two locations within the same state could be so vastly different just hours apart. The Hollywood ‘friends’ had me in a hate/love relationship, but they turned out to be fairly decent people even if they felt very shallow through 2/3rds of the story.
For me, I do have to say I was drawn more to the story about the horses rather than the MC’s relationship with each other. But I think that is more to personal taste rather than anything wrong with the MCs. Having said that, there was an unpleasant mystery around Evan Taylor that we are given little glimpses of, and we do learn in the beginning he is in a relationship with an older gentleman who is an ambitious nature photographer that does not treat him pleasant at all. That was a bit uncomfortable for me and made me wonder why Evan didn’t realize he deserved better.*actually pissed me off*
As for our British Hollywood heartthrob, Wesley Tremayne, I did come to like him quite a bit, but some of the interaction between the two MCs when they finally got together felt a little bit awkward to me, somewhat rushed or a little off compared to how they each read separately. But I really enjoyed the total premise of the story, I just think the character development or dialogue when they finally came together could have been fleshed out a bit differently for them to have better chemistry. I think it was more the words they chose to say to each other face-to-face vice how they acted with each other, but overall the story was good.
There is a pleasant and somewhat surprising outcome to the end, so we aren’t left hanging, The story had an almost fairytale-like feeling to it, even though there were some really unpleasant scenes, and I would definitely recommend the story to horse lovers everywhere. Very well done on the research.
* INFORMATION ABOUT THE TRIPLE CROWN
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_S...
* NOTE: Pending 2014 Triple Crown attempt: In 2014, California Chrome won the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness. He is slated to race in the Belmont Stakes on June 7, 2014.
No horse has successfully won the Triple Crown since Affirmed won all three races in 1978.
In the United States, the three races that make up the Triple Crown are:
1. Kentucky Derby, run over the 1 1⁄4-mile (2.0 km) dirt track at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky;
2. Preakness Stakes, run over the 1 3⁄16-mile (1.9 km) dirt track at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland;
3. Belmont Stakes, run over the 1 1⁄2-mile (2.4 km) dirt track, the longest in USA thoroughbred racing, at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York, just east of the borough of Queens of New York City.
June 27, 2014
Reviewed by MtSnow:
Horse-lovers unite! I am, as many of you may have been, a recovering horse fanatic… or maybe better said, horse-lover. When I was younger. I devoured every book in the series 'Misty of Chincoteague' and the lovely but so emotional (to me at least) classic Black Beauty. I used to follow The Triple Crown every year, and this story actually reminded me that I'd like to follow up with The Belmont Stakes race this year which runs on June 7th 2014. *See additional note at end*
Cover: I really like the image of the young man’s face with his sidelong glance and the faded in racing montage with the selected typeface. It all works well together, and makes for an appealing total image while giving the reader a taste of what the story is about.
The story: The romantic long flowing mane; powerful, muscular bodies; excitement of speed, and visual of these beautiful animals racing across the finish line bring a smile of anticipation. The photos cut out of ‘Horse Illustrated’ to hang on my adolescent bedroom walls are still fond memories of my youth. And who didn’t love the story of the shipwrecked boy and the gorgeous wild horse from the deserts of Arabia, The Black Stallion.
Saying all this, when I saw we were given this title in exchange for an honest review, well, the timing of the Belmont Stakes (as well as my love of horses) kind of took over *pick me! pick me!* I have to say, in the M/M genre, I had not come across a ‘horse’ story that wasn’t either a western, historical or ranching scenario, so this was a refreshing change.
I have always been fascinated with the horse-racing world, and EM Lynley definitely did her research. I learned so much about how the racehorses are trained, what type of doping and drugging was possible and tested for, how much rest time required between races, and even hot spots on their legs after they run. It was very fascinating and I felt I was given a glimpse inside a place not many of us have ever really had the opportunity to look at.
The Hollywood actor premise had been done before, and this felt a little like the same ol’ “should I or shouldn’t I come out, and will it wreck my career” scenario, but it was still done well. The tour up and down California from LA to San Francisco made me want to go on a driving tour along the coast to revisit California and all its natural wonders. It is interesting and well represented how two locations within the same state could be so vastly different just hours apart. The Hollywood ‘friends’ had me in a hate/love relationship, but they turned out to be fairly decent people even if they felt very shallow through 2/3rds of the story.
For me, I do have to say I was drawn more to the story about the horses rather than the MC’s relationship with each other. But I think that is more to personal taste rather than anything wrong with the MCs. Having said that, there was an unpleasant mystery around Evan Taylor that we are given little glimpses of, and we do learn in the beginning he is in a relationship with an older gentleman who is an ambitious nature photographer that does not treat him pleasant at all. That was a bit uncomfortable for me and made me wonder why Evan didn’t realize he deserved better.*actually pissed me off*
As for our British Hollywood heartthrob, Wesley Tremayne, I did come to like him quite a bit, but some of the interaction between the two MCs when they finally got together felt a little bit awkward to me, somewhat rushed or a little off compared to how they each read separately. But I really enjoyed the total premise of the story, I just think the character development or dialogue when they finally came together could have been fleshed out a bit differently for them to have better chemistry. I think it was more the words they chose to say to each other face-to-face vice how they acted with each other, but overall the story was good.
There is a pleasant and somewhat surprising outcome to the end, so we aren’t left hanging, The story had an almost fairytale-like feeling to it, even though there were some really unpleasant scenes, and I would definitely recommend the story to horse lovers everywhere. Very well done on the research.
* INFORMATION ABOUT THE TRIPLE CROWN
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_S...
* NOTE: Pending 2014 Triple Crown attempt: In 2014, California Chrome won the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness. He is slated to race in the Belmont Stakes on June 7, 2014.
No horse has successfully won the Triple Crown since Affirmed won all three races in 1978.
In the United States, the three races that make up the Triple Crown are:
1. Kentucky Derby, run over the 1 1⁄4-mile (2.0 km) dirt track at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky;
2. Preakness Stakes, run over the 1 3⁄16-mile (1.9 km) dirt track at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland;
3. Belmont Stakes, run over the 1 1⁄2-mile (2.4 km) dirt track, the longest in USA thoroughbred racing, at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York, just east of the borough of Queens of New York City.
Horse-lovers unite! I am, as many of you may have been, a recovering horse fanatic… or maybe better said, horse-lover. When I was younger. I devoured every book in the series 'Misty of Chincoteague' and the lovely but so emotional (to me at least) classic Black Beauty. I used to follow The Triple Crown every year, and this story actually reminded me that I'd like to follow up with The Belmont Stakes race this year which runs on June 7th 2014. *See additional note at end*
Cover: I really like the image of the young man’s face with his sidelong glance and the faded in racing montage with the selected typeface. It all works well together, and makes for an appealing total image while giving the reader a taste of what the story is about.
The story: The romantic long flowing mane; powerful, muscular bodies; excitement of speed, and visual of these beautiful animals racing across the finish line bring a smile of anticipation. The photos cut out of ‘Horse Illustrated’ to hang on my adolescent bedroom walls are still fond memories of my youth. And who didn’t love the story of the shipwrecked boy and the gorgeous wild horse from the deserts of Arabia, The Black Stallion.
Saying all this, when I saw we were given this title in exchange for an honest review, well, the timing of the Belmont Stakes (as well as my love of horses) kind of took over *pick me! pick me!* I have to say, in the M/M genre, I had not come across a ‘horse’ story that wasn’t either a western, historical or ranching scenario, so this was a refreshing change.
I have always been fascinated with the horse-racing world, and EM Lynley definitely did her research. I learned so much about how the racehorses are trained, what type of doping and drugging was possible and tested for, how much rest time required between races, and even hot spots on their legs after they run. It was very fascinating and I felt I was given a glimpse inside a place not many of us have ever really had the opportunity to look at.
The Hollywood actor premise had been done before, and this felt a little like the same ol’ “should I or shouldn’t I come out, and will it wreck my career” scenario, but it was still done well. The tour up and down California from LA to San Francisco made me want to go on a driving tour along the coast to revisit California and all its natural wonders. It is interesting and well represented how two locations within the same state could be so vastly different just hours apart. The Hollywood ‘friends’ had me in a hate/love relationship, but they turned out to be fairly decent people even if they felt very shallow through 2/3rds of the story.
For me, I do have to say I was drawn more to the story about the horses rather than the MC’s relationship with each other. But I think that is more to personal taste rather than anything wrong with the MCs. Having said that, there was an unpleasant mystery around Evan Taylor that we are given little glimpses of, and we do learn in the beginning he is in a relationship with an older gentleman who is an ambitious nature photographer that does not treat him pleasant at all. That was a bit uncomfortable for me and made me wonder why Evan didn’t realize he deserved better.*actually pissed me off*
As for our British Hollywood heartthrob, Wesley Tremayne, I did come to like him quite a bit, but some of the interaction between the two MCs when they finally got together felt a little bit awkward to me, somewhat rushed or a little off compared to how they each read separately. But I really enjoyed the total premise of the story, I just think the character development or dialogue when they finally came together could have been fleshed out a bit differently for them to have better chemistry. I think it was more the words they chose to say to each other face-to-face vice how they acted with each other, but overall the story was good.
There is a pleasant and somewhat surprising outcome to the end, so we aren’t left hanging, The story had an almost fairytale-like feeling to it, even though there were some really unpleasant scenes, and I would definitely recommend the story to horse lovers everywhere. Very well done on the research.
* INFORMATION ABOUT THE TRIPLE CROWN
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_S...
* NOTE: Pending 2014 Triple Crown attempt: In 2014, California Chrome won the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness. He is slated to race in the Belmont Stakes on June 7, 2014.
No horse has successfully won the Triple Crown since Affirmed won all three races in 1978.
In the United States, the three races that make up the Triple Crown are:
1. Kentucky Derby, run over the 1 1⁄4-mile (2.0 km) dirt track at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky;
2. Preakness Stakes, run over the 1 3⁄16-mile (1.9 km) dirt track at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland;
3. Belmont Stakes, run over the 1 1⁄2-mile (2.4 km) dirt track, the longest in USA thoroughbred racing, at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York, just east of the borough of Queens of New York City.
June 8, 2014
This story has something for everyone. It’s a story of struggle against inner demons, others’ prejudices, selfishness, foolishness and danger. It’s also a story of growing love, and the nature of friendship.
Evan trains horses because he loves them. His small but growing business provides him with a sense of satisfaction and joy his previous acting career didn’t. It’s obvious he has secrets and the tension builds beautifully before the final reveal of them.
Actor Wes Tremayne is on his way up. The only thing threatening his rising career is the possibility he’ll be outed. In the end the decision to out himself is an easy one: Evan deserves more than to be someone’s dirty secret. The reaction of the television network he’s contracted to isn’t what Wes expects, and the timing of his big reveal is cruelly taken from him, perpetrated by someone he’d never suspected.
You’d think that would be enough plot for a story, but, wait, there’s more. There’s also Evan’s less-than-likeable soon-to-be-ex-boyfriend. As well, something strange is happening with the owners of the horses Evan trains, security at his farm is threatened, and Evan himself comes under investigation by the racing authorities. All the plot elements weave in and around each other, skilfully linking the world of horse racing with the world of acting until they come together in a series of (figurative) explosions that kept me turning the pages because I had to find out who was responsible for what. The clues were there, but so were some red herrings.
The world of horse racing is skilfully drawn, showing the devotion and dedication of those working with the horses, as well as promoting a need for training facilities to buy shares in ice machine companies or medicinal cold-pack manufacturers. The only thing that made me question the reality of the world is that someone other than a jockey unsaddled a horse after a race. That might be an American thing: in Australia, the jockey is the only person to handle his riding equipment from weigh-in before the race to weigh-in after the race.
EM Lynley is a solid writer. I’ve yet to read something from her that isn’t eminently readable and enjoyable. Out of the Gate is another good one.
Evan trains horses because he loves them. His small but growing business provides him with a sense of satisfaction and joy his previous acting career didn’t. It’s obvious he has secrets and the tension builds beautifully before the final reveal of them.
Actor Wes Tremayne is on his way up. The only thing threatening his rising career is the possibility he’ll be outed. In the end the decision to out himself is an easy one: Evan deserves more than to be someone’s dirty secret. The reaction of the television network he’s contracted to isn’t what Wes expects, and the timing of his big reveal is cruelly taken from him, perpetrated by someone he’d never suspected.
You’d think that would be enough plot for a story, but, wait, there’s more. There’s also Evan’s less-than-likeable soon-to-be-ex-boyfriend. As well, something strange is happening with the owners of the horses Evan trains, security at his farm is threatened, and Evan himself comes under investigation by the racing authorities. All the plot elements weave in and around each other, skilfully linking the world of horse racing with the world of acting until they come together in a series of (figurative) explosions that kept me turning the pages because I had to find out who was responsible for what. The clues were there, but so were some red herrings.
The world of horse racing is skilfully drawn, showing the devotion and dedication of those working with the horses, as well as promoting a need for training facilities to buy shares in ice machine companies or medicinal cold-pack manufacturers. The only thing that made me question the reality of the world is that someone other than a jockey unsaddled a horse after a race. That might be an American thing: in Australia, the jockey is the only person to handle his riding equipment from weigh-in before the race to weigh-in after the race.
EM Lynley is a solid writer. I’ve yet to read something from her that isn’t eminently readable and enjoyable. Out of the Gate is another good one.
June 6, 2014
I enjoyed this book! I was interested in reading it, as EM states in Author’s Note, I too was horse crazy as a kid. I read all of the Black Stallion books, collected Breyer horses, and KNEW someday I’d own a horse. I never did! I haven’t been on a horse in 30 years… but I still love them. I don’t know much about horse racing, a bit from my long ago reading of books, and just what I’ve seen on TV. So this was an education for me as well as a great read.
Wes Tremayne was an interesting character, he’s a young British actor, coming from stage acting in London to LA to be on a TV show. He’s a closeted gay man, hiding his inner self, and fake dating a costar. I always have trouble with a storyline like this, I want everyone to be free to be themselves, and I don’t like the deception. But unfortunately this is what happens. I don’t have to like it for it to be real. So Wes hides behind Julia, who is in on it, and knows what’s going on. Julia’s not too bad, but his other friends are a bit “Hollywood” for me. For Wes too apparently! They are at a racetrack one day, and get a wild hair and decide to buy a racehorse. Knowing virtually nothing about them! One of the group, Brent, knows a horse trainer named Evan and thinks he can convince Evan to accept their new toy as one of his horses. They buy the horse, and go to meet Evan.
Evan Taylor, former actor, current horse trainer, has some issues. They become clear as the story evolves, but one of his issues is his nasty boyfriend Greg. As we are supposed to do, I hated Greg immediately. Fortunately he wasn’t around much! Although he does cause a whole mess of trouble. So Evan has issues, is shy, a bit angry, knows Greg isn’t a good match for him, but seems desperate for love and attention. He gets some from Greg, but not the healthy kind. Greg heads out of town and barely notices he’s hurt Evan yet again. Evan runs out the front door as Greg leaves, only to meet the owners of his new horse to train. Wes and his friends….
What develops is a lovely friendship and eventually love, between Wes and Evan. I was a little concerned, I’m not a fan of stories that start out with cheating. Evan is still technically with Greg when their relationship starts, but EM skirts the edges of cheating and it was ok with me. So they become friends, then lovers, then boyfriends! Not giving away the plot there, it is a romance afterall! Their story is nice and I loved seeing Evan work past his issues. Wes also turns out to be a good guy, he’s sort of jerked out of the closet, he was heading out on his own, but maybe not so fast as it went. It also was ok, he needed to get out there and he does. Wes and Evan work well together as a couple and both work through some issues. The sex between them was slow to develop, as was appropriate considering one was still in a relationship with someone else. Once they do get together, it is very nice sweet.
Then there is the whole racing plotline. I enjoyed it! I learned quite a lot about horseracing, some good, some bad. It all seemed very realistic to me, well researched, and possibly a real thing that could happen. It gave me a good look at what goes on before and after a race, and all of the training and effort that goes in to horseracing. There are great extra characters in the book, I liked some and disliked others, exactly as I probably was meant to do. Even the horses will well done, having a bit of personality as well.
A very enjoyable book! I’ve not read much by EM Lynley, if I get the chance, I will read more from her!
A copy of this book was provided for reviewing purposes. Please visit www.lovebytesreviews.com to see this and many other reviews!
Wes Tremayne was an interesting character, he’s a young British actor, coming from stage acting in London to LA to be on a TV show. He’s a closeted gay man, hiding his inner self, and fake dating a costar. I always have trouble with a storyline like this, I want everyone to be free to be themselves, and I don’t like the deception. But unfortunately this is what happens. I don’t have to like it for it to be real. So Wes hides behind Julia, who is in on it, and knows what’s going on. Julia’s not too bad, but his other friends are a bit “Hollywood” for me. For Wes too apparently! They are at a racetrack one day, and get a wild hair and decide to buy a racehorse. Knowing virtually nothing about them! One of the group, Brent, knows a horse trainer named Evan and thinks he can convince Evan to accept their new toy as one of his horses. They buy the horse, and go to meet Evan.
Evan Taylor, former actor, current horse trainer, has some issues. They become clear as the story evolves, but one of his issues is his nasty boyfriend Greg. As we are supposed to do, I hated Greg immediately. Fortunately he wasn’t around much! Although he does cause a whole mess of trouble. So Evan has issues, is shy, a bit angry, knows Greg isn’t a good match for him, but seems desperate for love and attention. He gets some from Greg, but not the healthy kind. Greg heads out of town and barely notices he’s hurt Evan yet again. Evan runs out the front door as Greg leaves, only to meet the owners of his new horse to train. Wes and his friends….
What develops is a lovely friendship and eventually love, between Wes and Evan. I was a little concerned, I’m not a fan of stories that start out with cheating. Evan is still technically with Greg when their relationship starts, but EM skirts the edges of cheating and it was ok with me. So they become friends, then lovers, then boyfriends! Not giving away the plot there, it is a romance afterall! Their story is nice and I loved seeing Evan work past his issues. Wes also turns out to be a good guy, he’s sort of jerked out of the closet, he was heading out on his own, but maybe not so fast as it went. It also was ok, he needed to get out there and he does. Wes and Evan work well together as a couple and both work through some issues. The sex between them was slow to develop, as was appropriate considering one was still in a relationship with someone else. Once they do get together, it is very nice sweet.
Then there is the whole racing plotline. I enjoyed it! I learned quite a lot about horseracing, some good, some bad. It all seemed very realistic to me, well researched, and possibly a real thing that could happen. It gave me a good look at what goes on before and after a race, and all of the training and effort that goes in to horseracing. There are great extra characters in the book, I liked some and disliked others, exactly as I probably was meant to do. Even the horses will well done, having a bit of personality as well.
A very enjoyable book! I’ve not read much by EM Lynley, if I get the chance, I will read more from her!
A copy of this book was provided for reviewing purposes. Please visit www.lovebytesreviews.com to see this and many other reviews!
April 30, 2014
All that glitters is not gold... in fact, it's often just rubbish that's been polished in an attempt to fool the gullible and naive.
After experiencing immense success on the British and American theater scene Wesley decides to reach for his dream of becoming a movie star and make his break in Hollywood. After a few moderate successes he is cast in a television series that becomes a hit almost overnight. Suddenly recognizable wherever he goes; the cost of success becomes more apparent. Unable to risk his budding career by revealing his sexual orientation he instead chooses to mislead his fans by allowing them to draw their own conclusions about his relationship with his good friend and former co-star, Julia. Willing to allow the misconception for reasons of her own, Julia still encourages Wes to be true to himself, but without a good reason to make a stand Wes continues to go with the flow.
All that changes, however, when he meets he quiet and sexy Evan. It's obvious from their first encounter that there is darkness in Evan's past; in fact, the man barely seems to tolerate Wes's presence in his life. In spite of his reservations, Evan finds himself irresistibly drawn to the honesty and genuine caring that Wes shows him. He has never experienced such a strong attraction towards another man's heart; for the first time, he wants to give his heart away, but Wes isn't gay... or is he?
Life on the horse racing circuit can be a murky experience; with owners who demand that you push the horses just a little harder, performance enhancement tricks that vary from shady to downright illegal, and trainers who are willing to risk everything to achieve a win, Evan is a trainer who always puts his horses first. Able to communicate with his animals with ease, he barely tolerates most owners; that's why it's such a surprise when he suddenly finds himself thrust into the middle of a scandal. It threatens to take away his horses, his livelihood, and everything he's worked so hard to achieve since leaving the hollywood scene himself years earlier. The long term boyfriend who should be standing beside Evan is distant, controlling, and wants nothing to do with Evan's troubles. Surprisingly, it's Wes who comes to the rescue.
When demons from Evan's past begin to surface, Wes must decide if he's willing to risk everything he's worked for or continue to live the lie and risk losing his relationship with Evan, the one man who might be ever so much more than just a friend.
I LOVED this story! Lynley's gift of writing reached out and grabbed me from the very first page. Drawing me in to the world of horseracing, which I'll admit I knew next to nothing about prior to reading this book, and keeping me guessing as to what would happen next. The push and pull chemistry between Evan and Wes is delightful and engaging. Her supporting cast of characters made me laugh, cry, and occasionally want to reach out and just smack them upside the head! Containing drama, intense emotions, and an adventurous story line with mystery and suspense that slowly builds towards breathtaking, I couldn't swipe the pages fast enough!
My first reading experience with this author, I'm going to be coming back for more!
A copy of Out of the Gate was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
After experiencing immense success on the British and American theater scene Wesley decides to reach for his dream of becoming a movie star and make his break in Hollywood. After a few moderate successes he is cast in a television series that becomes a hit almost overnight. Suddenly recognizable wherever he goes; the cost of success becomes more apparent. Unable to risk his budding career by revealing his sexual orientation he instead chooses to mislead his fans by allowing them to draw their own conclusions about his relationship with his good friend and former co-star, Julia. Willing to allow the misconception for reasons of her own, Julia still encourages Wes to be true to himself, but without a good reason to make a stand Wes continues to go with the flow.
All that changes, however, when he meets he quiet and sexy Evan. It's obvious from their first encounter that there is darkness in Evan's past; in fact, the man barely seems to tolerate Wes's presence in his life. In spite of his reservations, Evan finds himself irresistibly drawn to the honesty and genuine caring that Wes shows him. He has never experienced such a strong attraction towards another man's heart; for the first time, he wants to give his heart away, but Wes isn't gay... or is he?
Life on the horse racing circuit can be a murky experience; with owners who demand that you push the horses just a little harder, performance enhancement tricks that vary from shady to downright illegal, and trainers who are willing to risk everything to achieve a win, Evan is a trainer who always puts his horses first. Able to communicate with his animals with ease, he barely tolerates most owners; that's why it's such a surprise when he suddenly finds himself thrust into the middle of a scandal. It threatens to take away his horses, his livelihood, and everything he's worked so hard to achieve since leaving the hollywood scene himself years earlier. The long term boyfriend who should be standing beside Evan is distant, controlling, and wants nothing to do with Evan's troubles. Surprisingly, it's Wes who comes to the rescue.
When demons from Evan's past begin to surface, Wes must decide if he's willing to risk everything he's worked for or continue to live the lie and risk losing his relationship with Evan, the one man who might be ever so much more than just a friend.
I LOVED this story! Lynley's gift of writing reached out and grabbed me from the very first page. Drawing me in to the world of horseracing, which I'll admit I knew next to nothing about prior to reading this book, and keeping me guessing as to what would happen next. The push and pull chemistry between Evan and Wes is delightful and engaging. Her supporting cast of characters made me laugh, cry, and occasionally want to reach out and just smack them upside the head! Containing drama, intense emotions, and an adventurous story line with mystery and suspense that slowly builds towards breathtaking, I couldn't swipe the pages fast enough!
My first reading experience with this author, I'm going to be coming back for more!
A copy of Out of the Gate was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
June 13, 2014
I’ve read several books by this author and have always enjoyed the stories she tells. This was no exception. The author makes you fall in love with her characters and really care about what happens to them. For me, the most important aspects of a book are likable characters and a strong storyline. Out of the Gate has both.
This story centers around Wes and Evan. One is an actor who is deep in the closet, the other has left Hollywood far behind to train race horses. Now, before I go on, let me say that while the “in the closet” concept in this story isn’t something new, the author has a way of making it her own. I felt the story was so solid that nothing in particular stood out as surprising or new, but that’s okay. Instead of waiting for the other shoe to drop, or a dramatic entry from stage right, I got a chance to just read and enjoy.
I loved how the author let us see both POV’s. We get to know the inner turmoil each man is going through. For Wes, his real concern is being outed and losing his credibility as an actor. After meeting Evan, though, he’s seriously rethinking his situation. Evan is dealing with a boyfriend who isn’t there for him, and his feeling about the Hollywood crowd is one of disgust and shame. I loved that the author didn’t go the cheating route. I know a lot of readers wouldn’t have gone for that at all. Just so everyone knows, Evan was very much a free man when the loving started.
For someone like me, who doesn’t know a whole lot about race horses, I didn’t feel the information given by the author was difficult to follow. I loved being behind the scenes and seeing all of what goes into getting the horses ready for race day. The everyday work that goes into taking care of these animals was a real treat to read, and flowed nicely with the story. Horse lovers are going to love it.
The secondary characters really round this story out. From the group Wes hangs out with to the people who work for Evan, I think each one played their part well, kept the story moving and were quite interesting. Outward appearances aren’t all they seem to be, and a few of Wes’s friends surprised me at the end. I won’t go into details, but I feel a few have their own story to tell.
The mystery involved really had me going. I didn’t have a clue as to who was behind everything that was happening. I loved that I found out right along with everyone else. I really wasn’t too surprised to find out who the culprit ended up being, but the author definitely had me guessing the whole way through.
While the overall tone is light, there are a few heavy issues in here, especially Evan’s backstory, which was just heartbreaking. For those wanting a HEA, you’ll get it with this one. The ending made me smile. This is one I would definitely recommend for everyone.
Reviewed by Lynn at The Novel Approach
This story centers around Wes and Evan. One is an actor who is deep in the closet, the other has left Hollywood far behind to train race horses. Now, before I go on, let me say that while the “in the closet” concept in this story isn’t something new, the author has a way of making it her own. I felt the story was so solid that nothing in particular stood out as surprising or new, but that’s okay. Instead of waiting for the other shoe to drop, or a dramatic entry from stage right, I got a chance to just read and enjoy.
I loved how the author let us see both POV’s. We get to know the inner turmoil each man is going through. For Wes, his real concern is being outed and losing his credibility as an actor. After meeting Evan, though, he’s seriously rethinking his situation. Evan is dealing with a boyfriend who isn’t there for him, and his feeling about the Hollywood crowd is one of disgust and shame. I loved that the author didn’t go the cheating route. I know a lot of readers wouldn’t have gone for that at all. Just so everyone knows, Evan was very much a free man when the loving started.
For someone like me, who doesn’t know a whole lot about race horses, I didn’t feel the information given by the author was difficult to follow. I loved being behind the scenes and seeing all of what goes into getting the horses ready for race day. The everyday work that goes into taking care of these animals was a real treat to read, and flowed nicely with the story. Horse lovers are going to love it.
The secondary characters really round this story out. From the group Wes hangs out with to the people who work for Evan, I think each one played their part well, kept the story moving and were quite interesting. Outward appearances aren’t all they seem to be, and a few of Wes’s friends surprised me at the end. I won’t go into details, but I feel a few have their own story to tell.
The mystery involved really had me going. I didn’t have a clue as to who was behind everything that was happening. I loved that I found out right along with everyone else. I really wasn’t too surprised to find out who the culprit ended up being, but the author definitely had me guessing the whole way through.
While the overall tone is light, there are a few heavy issues in here, especially Evan’s backstory, which was just heartbreaking. For those wanting a HEA, you’ll get it with this one. The ending made me smile. This is one I would definitely recommend for everyone.
Reviewed by Lynn at The Novel Approach
April 23, 2014
This is the first book I have read from E.M. Lynley, and I cannot believe how amazing this book is. I love a great read about m/m romance this is. She has done an amazing and emotionally intense job of bringing this story to life. The characters come to life in this story of love, loss, and what it means to be true to who you are.
The story revolves around the main character, Wesley Tremayne, and his struggle with being a gay actor in a straight world. He is struggling with balancing his want for a career in Hollywood, and a life of being who he is.
Wes and his friends,Julia Compton, Vanessa Vandemere, Brent Bell, and Lance Robins go to a horse race at Santa Alamita for a day of fun. There, they decide to try their hand at being race horse owners. Brents friend Evan Taylor is a horse trainer, and they get him to train their horse, Mister Twister. He does not have any love for Hollywood, but he takes them on.
Up to this point, Julia has been pretending to be Wes' girlfriend so the world would not know he was gay. It was not because he was ashamed about being gay, just that he thought he would not get roles if the industry knew.
Evan only wants to have to deal with one of the owners, so Wes volunteers to be the go to guy for them. When he gets a look at Evan, he is smitten. But Evan has a boyfriend, Gary, but the love has gone out of their relationship. Plus, Gary is acting very shady and a bit violent towards Evan.
What hidden trauma could be haunting Evan? Can Wes stand up to the pressures of Hollywood for a possibility of finding a soul mate? And can he learn to understand why Evan is better with horses than people?
This story is an amazing look at horse racing, learning to fight for what matters, and how tough Hollywood can be. There are so many twists and turns and suspense to keep you rushing towards the next page that I could not put this wonderful book down. Give it a try and you will not be disappointed. I am adding it to my must reread short list. It is a gripping tale that gets better and better the further you get in the book. I can't wait to read more from this amazing author!
The story revolves around the main character, Wesley Tremayne, and his struggle with being a gay actor in a straight world. He is struggling with balancing his want for a career in Hollywood, and a life of being who he is.
Wes and his friends,Julia Compton, Vanessa Vandemere, Brent Bell, and Lance Robins go to a horse race at Santa Alamita for a day of fun. There, they decide to try their hand at being race horse owners. Brents friend Evan Taylor is a horse trainer, and they get him to train their horse, Mister Twister. He does not have any love for Hollywood, but he takes them on.
Up to this point, Julia has been pretending to be Wes' girlfriend so the world would not know he was gay. It was not because he was ashamed about being gay, just that he thought he would not get roles if the industry knew.
Evan only wants to have to deal with one of the owners, so Wes volunteers to be the go to guy for them. When he gets a look at Evan, he is smitten. But Evan has a boyfriend, Gary, but the love has gone out of their relationship. Plus, Gary is acting very shady and a bit violent towards Evan.
What hidden trauma could be haunting Evan? Can Wes stand up to the pressures of Hollywood for a possibility of finding a soul mate? And can he learn to understand why Evan is better with horses than people?
This story is an amazing look at horse racing, learning to fight for what matters, and how tough Hollywood can be. There are so many twists and turns and suspense to keep you rushing towards the next page that I could not put this wonderful book down. Give it a try and you will not be disappointed. I am adding it to my must reread short list. It is a gripping tale that gets better and better the further you get in the book. I can't wait to read more from this amazing author!
June 20, 2015
This was a very happy surprise—I randomly picked this up and ended up really enjoying it. I read it today without a single break, start to finish.
I wasn't ever one of those little girls who was really into horses, but I've read a handful of m/m books about them—Kate Sherwood has a few, aaaand I'm forgetting the others; I'm not sure Red Dirt Heart quite counts—and now I poke around and try to find them. This one, unlike the Kate Sherwoods, is more about horse racing, and I found that stuff very interesting. Plus, it also featured a closeted Hollywood actor, another of my favorite things. And there was a little mystery woven through the romance plot; mysteries are always fun! So, good elements all around.
Lynley's writing is easy to read and polished, which is always exiting to find. As far as the story goes, there was maybe just a tad too much waffling on the part of both MCs as they tried to figure out what they were doing, but maybe not...but it was close. And ultimately I was happy with the decisions they made; when it would have been easy to choose different paths, they did what I hoped they'd do. Lots of good feels intermingled with the angsty drama.
Man, the bigoted bullshit that still exists makes me so angry—so expect to feel some ire on Wes's behalf at the very least. But there were good victory moments to go along with all of that, and that's what makes for a satisfying read.
I'm really diggin' Dreamspinner's weekend 99-cent sales—this is the second or third author I've discovered because of them. And I'll definitely be picking up another of EM Lynley's books. (In about five minutes :)
Definitely recommend!
I wasn't ever one of those little girls who was really into horses, but I've read a handful of m/m books about them—Kate Sherwood has a few, aaaand I'm forgetting the others; I'm not sure Red Dirt Heart quite counts—and now I poke around and try to find them. This one, unlike the Kate Sherwoods, is more about horse racing, and I found that stuff very interesting. Plus, it also featured a closeted Hollywood actor, another of my favorite things. And there was a little mystery woven through the romance plot; mysteries are always fun! So, good elements all around.
Lynley's writing is easy to read and polished, which is always exiting to find. As far as the story goes, there was maybe just a tad too much waffling on the part of both MCs as they tried to figure out what they were doing, but maybe not...but it was close. And ultimately I was happy with the decisions they made; when it would have been easy to choose different paths, they did what I hoped they'd do. Lots of good feels intermingled with the angsty drama.
Man, the bigoted bullshit that still exists makes me so angry—so expect to feel some ire on Wes's behalf at the very least. But there were good victory moments to go along with all of that, and that's what makes for a satisfying read.
I'm really diggin' Dreamspinner's weekend 99-cent sales—this is the second or third author I've discovered because of them. And I'll definitely be picking up another of EM Lynley's books. (In about five minutes :)
Definitely recommend!
March 14, 2015
Out of the Gate is the tale of two people that don’t want to find each other being thrown together and succumbing to their incredible chemistry. That is not to say it is an easy road for closeted British actor, Wes, and actor turned racehorse trainer, Evan. It is far from easy in fact. First of all Evan is in a 5 year relationship, not that said relationship is healthy. Secondly, Wes is in the public eye and under the impression that he has to be straight to maintain his career. Third, Evan has some secrets of his own in his past that undermine his self-confidence and his ability to believe in Wes. Finally, there is something sinister going on that is trying to ruin Evan. Many subplots packed into these 90,000 words.
I enjoyed the love story, because I loved Wes and Evan as characters, but I felt the sub-plots left something to be desired. There was a serious lack of communication leading to hurt feelings and unnecessary secrets. For the most part, however, those secrets and hurt feelings did not lead to any strife for the characters. They were almost TOO good for each other, if that is possible. I do not want to give too much away, but I felt the subplot of the boyfriend and his mistakes could have been enhanced quite a bit. It almost seemed as an afterthought for manufacturing angst.
Find the Full review at Prism Book Alliance http://www.prismbookalliance.com/?pos...
I enjoyed the love story, because I loved Wes and Evan as characters, but I felt the sub-plots left something to be desired. There was a serious lack of communication leading to hurt feelings and unnecessary secrets. For the most part, however, those secrets and hurt feelings did not lead to any strife for the characters. They were almost TOO good for each other, if that is possible. I do not want to give too much away, but I felt the subplot of the boyfriend and his mistakes could have been enhanced quite a bit. It almost seemed as an afterthought for manufacturing angst.
Find the Full review at Prism Book Alliance http://www.prismbookalliance.com/?pos...
November 7, 2014
Having attended just a few horse races in my time (ahem), and as a lover of all of Dick Francis' books, I was interested in reading this one. It describes horse racing in the US rather than the UK, but we do have the obigatory British male as one of the main characters. The mystery in this book, while important, takes a back seat to the romance. This was just fine with me, since the romance was nicely done. The guys have plenty of baggage, which makes them take the relationship a bit slower physically, but they have lots of time together getting to know each other which I really enjoyed.
I should note here that people who are not interested in horses and horse-racing might find the details a bit too much. This was NOT me, and there is plenty of plot and romance here as well, but I thought I should mention it.
In addition to the great main characters, we had Wes's friends and Evans workers at the stables. They were all nicely done, fully fleshed characters and mostly likeable. Though the book doesn't really need a sequel, I would enjoy spending time with all of them again.
When trying to decide between 4 and 5 stars for my rating here, I realized I'd zoomed through the book with barely a pause, and that I stayed up an hour past my bedtime because I HAD to finish it right then. That doesn't happen to me a lot anymore, and is a definite sign of a GREAT book. I recommend it!
I should note here that people who are not interested in horses and horse-racing might find the details a bit too much. This was NOT me, and there is plenty of plot and romance here as well, but I thought I should mention it.
In addition to the great main characters, we had Wes's friends and Evans workers at the stables. They were all nicely done, fully fleshed characters and mostly likeable. Though the book doesn't really need a sequel, I would enjoy spending time with all of them again.
When trying to decide between 4 and 5 stars for my rating here, I realized I'd zoomed through the book with barely a pause, and that I stayed up an hour past my bedtime because I HAD to finish it right then. That doesn't happen to me a lot anymore, and is a definite sign of a GREAT book. I recommend it!
March 27, 2015
Enjoyable read, loved the racing details, liked the characters & the plot, everything felt real in this, the romance, the relationship, the horses, none of the insta romance which annoys me
June 14, 2015
Another winner
I really loved this story; the budding relationship between Evan and Wes was wonderfully done. I'm definitely reading more by this author!
I really loved this story; the budding relationship between Evan and Wes was wonderfully done. I'm definitely reading more by this author!
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August 21, 2014This book was reviewed by Love Bytes Reviews!
March 7, 2017
Beautiful, enticing, captivating. I stayed up until 3 o'clock in the morning 'cause I couldn't stop reading until the end. I just don't give 5 stars because the ending with all the "Russians" and "insurances" issues was a little confusing to me. But it was a good book to read and my compliments to E.M. Lynley that is getting one of my MM favourite writers.
June 6, 2014
Please read my full review on the Smoocher's Voice: http://www.smoochersvoice.com/2014/06...
Sir Walter Scott wrote, “Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive!” That phrase seems an appropriate comment for the characters in EM Lynley’s novel Out of the Gate. In this novel, the characters intentionally and unintentionally practice deception.
Lynley has taken a relatively straightforward plot and melded it with interesting characters and a few simple plot twists to keep readers engaged and wanting more. Lynley does a great job of developing the characters through description and dialogue, both internal and external.
Wesley, Julia, Lance, Vanessa and Brent are actors on a hit television series. When readers first meet them, the group is at a horse track. Brent, who is friends with horse trainer Evan Taylor, is the only one familiar with horse racing. Despite being novices, the group has fun betting on the horses and decides to purchase a race horse.
Out of the gate, these characters seem a bit superficial and spoiled. They seem to like to have a good time, drink too much and attract attention. Upon first glance, they are not very responsible. But there is something different about Wes that makes him stand out from the group.
Wes seems a bit more down to earth, and readers find out quickly that he is hiding a secret. His romantic relationship with Julia is a carefully orchestrated façade that they both entered into to help their careers. They are not just putting on an act for the public, but also for their fellow actors. Although both Wes and Julia appear to be carefree, happy and in like with each other, appearances can be deceiving.
Going along with the theme of appearances being deceiving, the readers are introduced to horse trainer Evan Taylor and his jet setting boyfriend Gary. Without giving away too much of the plot, let’s just say, they have some serious problems. One issue that is apparent from the beginning is that Gary seems to have no respect for Evan. There is more to it than that though. Gary is abusive and a user who does not seem to be concerned about Evan’s wellbeing. Gary’s betrayal is dramatic and violent.
Lynley does a great job developing this story and characters. Aside from Wes and Evan though, the rest of the characters are not very developed or likeable. It is interesting how Lynley uses the superficiality of the other characters to enhance the personalities of Wes and Evan. Of course, that aspect does make the reader more engaged in wanting the two men to find peace of mind together, especially when readers find out what is behind Evan’s behaviors. Overall this was a well written and engaging story.
Sir Walter Scott wrote, “Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive!” That phrase seems an appropriate comment for the characters in EM Lynley’s novel Out of the Gate. In this novel, the characters intentionally and unintentionally practice deception.
Lynley has taken a relatively straightforward plot and melded it with interesting characters and a few simple plot twists to keep readers engaged and wanting more. Lynley does a great job of developing the characters through description and dialogue, both internal and external.
Wesley, Julia, Lance, Vanessa and Brent are actors on a hit television series. When readers first meet them, the group is at a horse track. Brent, who is friends with horse trainer Evan Taylor, is the only one familiar with horse racing. Despite being novices, the group has fun betting on the horses and decides to purchase a race horse.
Out of the gate, these characters seem a bit superficial and spoiled. They seem to like to have a good time, drink too much and attract attention. Upon first glance, they are not very responsible. But there is something different about Wes that makes him stand out from the group.
Wes seems a bit more down to earth, and readers find out quickly that he is hiding a secret. His romantic relationship with Julia is a carefully orchestrated façade that they both entered into to help their careers. They are not just putting on an act for the public, but also for their fellow actors. Although both Wes and Julia appear to be carefree, happy and in like with each other, appearances can be deceiving.
Going along with the theme of appearances being deceiving, the readers are introduced to horse trainer Evan Taylor and his jet setting boyfriend Gary. Without giving away too much of the plot, let’s just say, they have some serious problems. One issue that is apparent from the beginning is that Gary seems to have no respect for Evan. There is more to it than that though. Gary is abusive and a user who does not seem to be concerned about Evan’s wellbeing. Gary’s betrayal is dramatic and violent.
Lynley does a great job developing this story and characters. Aside from Wes and Evan though, the rest of the characters are not very developed or likeable. It is interesting how Lynley uses the superficiality of the other characters to enhance the personalities of Wes and Evan. Of course, that aspect does make the reader more engaged in wanting the two men to find peace of mind together, especially when readers find out what is behind Evan’s behaviors. Overall this was a well written and engaging story.
May 20, 2014
Once again, EM Lynley’s written a winner. We can feel the heat in the horses’ legs, we can smell the fresh-turned earth on the track, hear the roar of the crowds in the last furlongs of the race. Most of all, we can feel the heat between Wes and Evan.
Wes has strong motivation to keep his orientation to himself: he’s sure his career as a budding Hollywood heartthrob won’t survive coming out. He’s aggravated with himself that the one man who’s shaken his resolve already has a boyfriend. Still, he can’t keep away from the training stables or Evan, even if all he can do is learn more about his new hobby.
Being treated like a human being is a new one on Evan, whose relationship with the odious Gary has been steadily disintegrating and all that remains is to blow away the dust. He’s taken in by Wes’s charade with Julia, and cursing himself for finding the straight guy attractive. Being part of the Hollywood scene is another strike against Wes. Honest interest and attentive conversation are a powerful aphrodisiac.
Bad boyfriend Gary, a filmmaker on the documentary end of the movie industry, does get the boot, but lingers like a bad smell given his half ownership in one of Evan’s horses. Evan can’t afford to lose any more paying customers, since several of his owners have taken their horses away. Gary’s filly, Jet, could be one of the stars of the stable.
The relationship between Wes and Evan is a lovely dance of interest and self-denial until they can finally come together. After that, we get to watch them solidify as a couple who has each other’s backs. Really well done, and when they have to confront the mystery that runs like a shimmery thread through the story, it’s explosive.
I love this author’s way with creating a fully formed setting that’s nearly a character in itself, and making it absolutely real. The needs of the stable affect Evan and Wes almost as much as they affect each other, making this one of the most three dimensional books I’ve read in a long time. Add in the baggage each man carries and their need for each other, and the story is beautifully well rounded.
Out of the Gate was a smashing read, and anyone who ever wished Dick Francis wrote gay characters ought to pick it up.
Wes has strong motivation to keep his orientation to himself: he’s sure his career as a budding Hollywood heartthrob won’t survive coming out. He’s aggravated with himself that the one man who’s shaken his resolve already has a boyfriend. Still, he can’t keep away from the training stables or Evan, even if all he can do is learn more about his new hobby.
Being treated like a human being is a new one on Evan, whose relationship with the odious Gary has been steadily disintegrating and all that remains is to blow away the dust. He’s taken in by Wes’s charade with Julia, and cursing himself for finding the straight guy attractive. Being part of the Hollywood scene is another strike against Wes. Honest interest and attentive conversation are a powerful aphrodisiac.
Bad boyfriend Gary, a filmmaker on the documentary end of the movie industry, does get the boot, but lingers like a bad smell given his half ownership in one of Evan’s horses. Evan can’t afford to lose any more paying customers, since several of his owners have taken their horses away. Gary’s filly, Jet, could be one of the stars of the stable.
The relationship between Wes and Evan is a lovely dance of interest and self-denial until they can finally come together. After that, we get to watch them solidify as a couple who has each other’s backs. Really well done, and when they have to confront the mystery that runs like a shimmery thread through the story, it’s explosive.
I love this author’s way with creating a fully formed setting that’s nearly a character in itself, and making it absolutely real. The needs of the stable affect Evan and Wes almost as much as they affect each other, making this one of the most three dimensional books I’ve read in a long time. Add in the baggage each man carries and their need for each other, and the story is beautifully well rounded.
Out of the Gate was a smashing read, and anyone who ever wished Dick Francis wrote gay characters ought to pick it up.
June 5, 2014
Hollywood has the bright lights and is the big city where dreams come true, but at what cost? Wes Tremayne has crossed the pond to make his dream come true. He has a starring role on a television show, good friends and a lovely starlet on his arm. Julia Compton is not only Wes’s co-star but the one woman he can share his true self with, all of his secrets. Love, after all, should start with friendship without it it is usually just lust. There is nothing wrong with a little lust but in Hollywood lust can be as damaging to a person and their career as being seen with the wrong person.
Evan Taylor knows too well about the lust of not only the dream of stardom but of the less than honorable people of Hollywood and of the damage it can do. Evan was one of the rising stars in this industry but after some of his experiences he left that world and now he wants nothing to do with it or the people in it. Evan is now living has his real dream, he owns a stable where he trains racing horses and shares his home with Gary, a man who knows his past and doesn’t judge him for it. Now his past and present collide when he lets a friend talk him into training Mister Twister for a group of Hollywood stars.
EM Linley has given us some wonderful characters, main as well as secondary, all with dreams of professional and personal happiness. The problem with dreams is sometimes that is all they are and you just wake from them but they can also come true or become nightmares.
I enjoyed this story for a few reasons. EM Linley gave me characters I could enjoy and picture in the setting of our story. She obviously did her homework where horse racing was concerned as well as the acting field where perception of what the minority thinks rules. I was a little unhappy with the prolonged angst between our main characters but as their back story and present situation unfolded it was understandable and appreciated. I liked that our characters had morals and stuck by them, well some of them did. There are also a few twists and turns you will enjoy and/or get angry about, at the characters not the author. *wink* This is one of the things that makes or breaks a story for me, if the characters don’t make you feel something it is only a book. This is a story.
Evan Taylor knows too well about the lust of not only the dream of stardom but of the less than honorable people of Hollywood and of the damage it can do. Evan was one of the rising stars in this industry but after some of his experiences he left that world and now he wants nothing to do with it or the people in it. Evan is now living has his real dream, he owns a stable where he trains racing horses and shares his home with Gary, a man who knows his past and doesn’t judge him for it. Now his past and present collide when he lets a friend talk him into training Mister Twister for a group of Hollywood stars.
EM Linley has given us some wonderful characters, main as well as secondary, all with dreams of professional and personal happiness. The problem with dreams is sometimes that is all they are and you just wake from them but they can also come true or become nightmares.
I enjoyed this story for a few reasons. EM Linley gave me characters I could enjoy and picture in the setting of our story. She obviously did her homework where horse racing was concerned as well as the acting field where perception of what the minority thinks rules. I was a little unhappy with the prolonged angst between our main characters but as their back story and present situation unfolded it was understandable and appreciated. I liked that our characters had morals and stuck by them, well some of them did. There are also a few twists and turns you will enjoy and/or get angry about, at the characters not the author. *wink* This is one of the things that makes or breaks a story for me, if the characters don’t make you feel something it is only a book. This is a story.
June 27, 2014
Hearts on Fire Review
****4 1/2 stars****
Original Review Published here: http://heartsonfirereviews.com/?p=27188
Wesley Tremayne is a British actor making his way in Hollywood. He has had moderate success, landing a part on a popular American TV show. However, everything seems hinged on Wesley not coming out. He is perceived as a straight man. He keeps sexuality firmly in the closet. Wesley with three friends buy a racehorse after watching a race.
Evan Taylor left acting five years ago to train horses. He is not comfortable around many people preferring to spend his time with the horses he trains. Evan is attracted to Wesley but he is in a relationship and he thinks Wes is straight. Evan is a man with moral and values and its apparent in everything he does.
The chemistry between Wesley and Evan is blistering. I loved how realistic it was to see Evan and Wesley get to know each other before they even addressed the attraction between. I also enjoyed the part that since Evan’s boyfriend was out of town they were not going to do anything until he could talk to him or email him.
This book was well written. The main and secondary characters were interesting and engaging. This author does a wonderful job of drawing you into the story and not letting go. I loved how while I thought I had the story figured out about half way in only to be thrown for a loop. The author did a wonderful job of keeping the reader on their toes. Overall, this was a great book.
****4 1/2 stars****
Original Review Published here: http://heartsonfirereviews.com/?p=27188
Wesley Tremayne is a British actor making his way in Hollywood. He has had moderate success, landing a part on a popular American TV show. However, everything seems hinged on Wesley not coming out. He is perceived as a straight man. He keeps sexuality firmly in the closet. Wesley with three friends buy a racehorse after watching a race.
Evan Taylor left acting five years ago to train horses. He is not comfortable around many people preferring to spend his time with the horses he trains. Evan is attracted to Wesley but he is in a relationship and he thinks Wes is straight. Evan is a man with moral and values and its apparent in everything he does.
The chemistry between Wesley and Evan is blistering. I loved how realistic it was to see Evan and Wesley get to know each other before they even addressed the attraction between. I also enjoyed the part that since Evan’s boyfriend was out of town they were not going to do anything until he could talk to him or email him.
This book was well written. The main and secondary characters were interesting and engaging. This author does a wonderful job of drawing you into the story and not letting go. I loved how while I thought I had the story figured out about half way in only to be thrown for a loop. The author did a wonderful job of keeping the reader on their toes. Overall, this was a great book.
February 26, 2015
What a Surprise! And, What a Ride!
One of my pet peeves is that some books which are set in the business in which I make my living are written on very little research, and therefore lose all credibility early on. This one, however, was spot on, a brilliantly detailed life on the racetrack, specifically in California, half in Los Angeles at a track and a farm, and half in San Francisco at the track.
That not only kept me looking for the author to slip up, but when she didn't, at least gave some credence to a set of very Hollywood characters and a plot and love story that were both exciting. (Caveat: She does change the name of one racetrack from Los Alamitos to Santa Alamita, which puzzles men, unless she wanted to combine Los Alamitos with Santa Anita just to be generic. Why?)
You can read the blurb and discover all that you need to know to plunge into the lives of trainer Evan Taylor and British actor-turned-Hollywood wannabe Wesley Tremayne--and their assorted hangers-on and friends and ex-lovers. What you won't discover until you read the book is how perfectly matched these men are to each other and to their respective livelihoods and how that affects their budding relationship.
The twists and turns and eventually violent lurch in the plot are logical (and in truth, somewhat predictable), but that doesn't diminish the fact that this is a fast ride on some really special ponies.
One of my pet peeves is that some books which are set in the business in which I make my living are written on very little research, and therefore lose all credibility early on. This one, however, was spot on, a brilliantly detailed life on the racetrack, specifically in California, half in Los Angeles at a track and a farm, and half in San Francisco at the track.
That not only kept me looking for the author to slip up, but when she didn't, at least gave some credence to a set of very Hollywood characters and a plot and love story that were both exciting. (Caveat: She does change the name of one racetrack from Los Alamitos to Santa Alamita, which puzzles men, unless she wanted to combine Los Alamitos with Santa Anita just to be generic. Why?)
You can read the blurb and discover all that you need to know to plunge into the lives of trainer Evan Taylor and British actor-turned-Hollywood wannabe Wesley Tremayne--and their assorted hangers-on and friends and ex-lovers. What you won't discover until you read the book is how perfectly matched these men are to each other and to their respective livelihoods and how that affects their budding relationship.
The twists and turns and eventually violent lurch in the plot are logical (and in truth, somewhat predictable), but that doesn't diminish the fact that this is a fast ride on some really special ponies.
September 15, 2014
I like learning a little bit about something when I read, so the info about horse-racing was interesting, and blended in well to the story. I also enjoyed the setting since I was born and raised in SoCal and love the Bay Area, too. It's always fun to see how people depict this part of the country.
There's a lot going on here, with Wes, a young, popular actor in a hit tv series, goes to the track with his fellow actors and they end up buying a racehorse. Evan is the trainer who is recommend by a friend. Evan dislikes Hollywood types, but he needs to run his business.
I really liked Wes and Evan. Their relationship was sweet--in the best of ways. I liked that they both had their quibbles and doubts and problems when it came to their relationship, but cared a lot about not hurting each other. The rest of the cast were interesting, too. Interesting mix of horses and Hollywood (and a bunch of other subplots and back-stories). I like how the mystery/suspense crept in there, too, without detracting from the romance.
I'll be looking for more by this author.
There's a lot going on here, with Wes, a young, popular actor in a hit tv series, goes to the track with his fellow actors and they end up buying a racehorse. Evan is the trainer who is recommend by a friend. Evan dislikes Hollywood types, but he needs to run his business.
I really liked Wes and Evan. Their relationship was sweet--in the best of ways. I liked that they both had their quibbles and doubts and problems when it came to their relationship, but cared a lot about not hurting each other. The rest of the cast were interesting, too. Interesting mix of horses and Hollywood (and a bunch of other subplots and back-stories). I like how the mystery/suspense crept in there, too, without detracting from the romance.
I'll be looking for more by this author.
September 19, 2014
Reviewed for MM Good Book Reviews
British actor Wesley Tremayne thinks he’s close to hitting the big time—a film career—with his role as a hunky explorer on a popular American TV show. Success should be just around the corner, as long as he keeps his sexual orientation a secret. Wes’s best friend and beard, Julia Compton, forms the other half of a glamorous Hollywood couple that’s merely a façade.
Evan Taylor left his acting career behind five years ago without looking back. He’s always been more comfortable around horses than people—especially Hollywood types. His new life, training racehorses, is a dream come true, but increasing financial problems and an abusive boyfriend have him doubting himself and his choices.
Then Wes and his friends buy a third-rate racehorse—partially for publicity—and send him to Evan’s stable. Wes’s friendship with Evan soon develops into an overpowering attraction he can’t act on. He’s never met a man like Evan, but if there’s any chance for a future together, Wes must choose between a career he loves and the man he adores.
British actor Wesley Tremayne thinks he’s close to hitting the big time—a film career—with his role as a hunky explorer on a popular American TV show. Success should be just around the corner, as long as he keeps his sexual orientation a secret. Wes’s best friend and beard, Julia Compton, forms the other half of a glamorous Hollywood couple that’s merely a façade.
Evan Taylor left his acting career behind five years ago without looking back. He’s always been more comfortable around horses than people—especially Hollywood types. His new life, training racehorses, is a dream come true, but increasing financial problems and an abusive boyfriend have him doubting himself and his choices.
Then Wes and his friends buy a third-rate racehorse—partially for publicity—and send him to Evan’s stable. Wes’s friendship with Evan soon develops into an overpowering attraction he can’t act on. He’s never met a man like Evan, but if there’s any chance for a future together, Wes must choose between a career he loves and the man he adores.
June 15, 2014
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.25 stars
I love when an author thinks outside the box, writes a story that is both exciting and refreshing. It holds my attention and keeps me interested. That’s exactly what Lynley did with this book. Out of the Gate is about horseracing. Now I’m certain none of you know this, but I live not far from one of the South’s most popular race tracks, and I love it. Maybe not so much the gambling, I really don’t get the attraction, but the feel of the track. The ambiance. The thrill of the race. The heart pounding, breathtaking excitement of the atmosphere when you walk into the arena. That, my dears, is what this author presents in this story. The hope and excitement of a new day, of a new race, of a new love.
Read Crissy’s review in its entirety here.
4.25 stars
I love when an author thinks outside the box, writes a story that is both exciting and refreshing. It holds my attention and keeps me interested. That’s exactly what Lynley did with this book. Out of the Gate is about horseracing. Now I’m certain none of you know this, but I live not far from one of the South’s most popular race tracks, and I love it. Maybe not so much the gambling, I really don’t get the attraction, but the feel of the track. The ambiance. The thrill of the race. The heart pounding, breathtaking excitement of the atmosphere when you walk into the arena. That, my dears, is what this author presents in this story. The hope and excitement of a new day, of a new race, of a new love.
Read Crissy’s review in its entirety here.
July 14, 2017
synopsis:
wes is a closeted actor who has achieved success on a tv show. he and some friends are at the horse races when they decide to buy a race horse. one of the guys there is friends with a trainer, and sets them up with him. evan lives with his boyfriend and trains horses. he used to be an actor, but things didn't go well, so he decided to do something else. his boyfriend shoots documentaries and doesn't treat him very well. evan and wes are attracted to each other, and after evan breaks up with his boyfriend (by email) they hook up. things start happening around the stables, and wes has to decide whether or not he'll come out. then the issue is forced.
what i liked: not a lot. wes and evan both acted fairly immature and there was the insta-love factor. the description of horse racing seemed like it was fairly accurate.
what i didn't like: the story, the writing, the characters. everything seemed kind of...breathless, almost, like a teenager.
wes is a closeted actor who has achieved success on a tv show. he and some friends are at the horse races when they decide to buy a race horse. one of the guys there is friends with a trainer, and sets them up with him. evan lives with his boyfriend and trains horses. he used to be an actor, but things didn't go well, so he decided to do something else. his boyfriend shoots documentaries and doesn't treat him very well. evan and wes are attracted to each other, and after evan breaks up with his boyfriend (by email) they hook up. things start happening around the stables, and wes has to decide whether or not he'll come out. then the issue is forced.
what i liked: not a lot. wes and evan both acted fairly immature and there was the insta-love factor. the description of horse racing seemed like it was fairly accurate.
what i didn't like: the story, the writing, the characters. everything seemed kind of...breathless, almost, like a teenager.
June 12, 2014
Rating: 3.75 rounded up to 4 out of 5 stars
For my full review, visit http://wp.me/p220KL-2wE
From my review:
"Out of the Gate is a story framed by the horse racing world, from the title and gorgeous cover to the many racing locales found within. That specific framework helps to boost this novel out of the already full field of romance stories by giving it a unique foundation for Lynley's romance and unusual profession for one of her main characters. It feels authentic, grounded as it is in fact and the author's fondness for this sport and the people who spend their lives inside of it. It was this aspect of Lynley's story that drew me in to begin with as I was unfamiliar with this author prior to this story…"
For all my reviews, author interviews and book contests, visit http://scatteredthoughtsandroguewords...
June 26, 2015
This was lovely just lovely so heartfelt. I thought I wasn't going to recover from the sadness of Jet's death, it was so violent and cruel!! But, I knew that this would bring Evan completely out of fear and tell Wes his fears and secret finally. Gary's a damn bastard getting Evan caught up in his felonious adventures. He should've died instead of Jet, or Evan being hurt again. Gary tried to guilt trip Evan about helping him to help himself what an ass!! I'm so happy Vanessa became an investor in horses to help Evan's stable. Julia wasn't trying to be malicious when she showed her manager the photo, but she should've never did it period knowing Wes wasn't out yet sheesh!! Lance was the surprise to me, for all his homophobic rants he was the real pansy lol, don't think nobody saw him checking Evan out after a workout in the barn on that group visit ha!! I enjoyed your writing EM!!
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