Despite his young age, Hawk Harrington is one of the top horse trainers in the west. His methods are sound and he consistently produces quality horses. Taking on a demanding client is nothing new and Hawk is used to the type who thinks throwing money around will get them whatever they want. He has loftier goals in mind and with his eyes on making his training program even better, he’ll deal with self-important people.
Carter Cahill has money to burn and he’s not above using it to get what he wants. Now that he’s in a new stage of life, and looking for a brand new adventure, he contracts with Hawk to first find and then train him the perfect horse. While Hawk’s age comes as a surprise, it's the man’s prickly attitude that puts Carter on the defensive. The men butt heads from the start and it seems their working relationship will be strained.
Hawk’s past colors his perception of Carter and it doesn’t help that Carter enjoys pushing the younger man’s buttons. But the more time they spend together, and learn about each other, the more apparent their attraction becomes. Communication between them isn’t always easy, but slowly and surely, they find their way from adversaries to friends to, most importantly, lovers.
Even though Hawk can be as skittish as some of the horses he trains, Carter works hard to earn his trust. But what he really wants is to earn Hawk's heart.
Kris T. Bethke has been a voracious reader for pretty much her entire life and has been writing stories for nearly as long. An avid and prolific daydreamer, she always has a story in her head. She spends most of her free time reading, writing, or knitting/crocheting her latest project. Her biggest desire is to find a way to accomplish all three tasks at one time. A classic muscle car will always turn her head and weekend naps are one of her greatest guilty pleasures. She lives in a converted attic with an aquarium full of tropical fish and the voices in her head. She’ll tell you she thinks that’s a pretty good deal.
I was really excited about this one after loving the first book, but sadly, it just didn’t do it for me. To be honest, the age gap trope has never been my thing, and here it’s a huge one, the older main character is almost the same age as the younger one’s parents. That factor pretty much ruined the whole reading experience for me.
But that wasn’t the only issue. I enjoyed Hawk in the first book and was looking forward to learning more about his backstory, but Carter (the other main character) was absolutely insufferable. His cocky, bossy attitude rubbed me the wrong way from the start, and nothing he did changed my mind.
It also took so long for the two of them to actually connect that I started to feel like even Hawk wasn’t that into him. But the guy was persistent, so he eventually gave in, but I never really bought into their relationship.
I struggled to connect with the story overall, nothing particularly exciting happened, and the only thing that kept me going were the side characters. The Harrington family is still as charming and lovable as ever, and I really liked the little side glimpses, especially the ones about Crew and Mal’s relationship as it developed. The bit about Payton calling Crew “dad” was adorable.
In the end, this felt like a step back for the series. I’m hoping the next book brings back the vibe I loved from the first one. The next story is supposed to be about Emery, and while I was kind of hoping for Bodhi and Wren, the premise does sound promising.
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I received an ARC of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review.
Another Harrington is falling in love! Following horse trainer, Hawk Harrington, as he takes on a new client, Carter Cahill, who gets under his skin in the best and worse ways.
I enjoyed this one more than I expected. Hawk is a bit prickly, but Carter balances him out really well. Their age gap is large but not hugely noticeable as they are both so successful and mature. Loved Hawk facing his trauma head on when he realized it was still impacting his happiness. Appreciated all the Harrington sibling cameos and getting to see Mal/Crew continue to flourish in the background. Good spice. Fun banter. Solid romance. Really enjoying this series!
READ FOR - Small Town Romance - Close Family Ties - Age Gap - Cowboy/Horseboy Vibes - Millionaire Romance
I received a complimentary copy in exchange for my honest review.
EARN HIS TRUST By Kris T. Bethke & Tia Fielding ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I received an E-book ARC edition of this novel in exchange for an honest review. It is available September 25th on Amazon & Kindle Unlimited! www.amazon.com/B0FP9XV42V
This is a 302-page Medium Paced, Hurt/Comfort, Age-Gap, Slow-Burn Loath-to-Lovers, MM Romance with the initial plot line straight from a Hallmark Movie, except better! When a millionaire moves to the west to start a new life, who he meets is more of a shock to his system than the culture itself.
--Everything about Cahill felt like tiny grains of sand under my skin from the get go.--
Written in alternating chapters, duel 1st person POV, the plot picks up several months after book 1, TAKE A CHANCE. The Blue Creek Ranch is a full family affair with multiple businesses running alongside each other to make a large enterprise in the West. One of those businesses is Hawk’s, who is a highly sought after Horse trainer, who his family says he's part horse himself. At the young age of 24, he is considered a wunderkind, which I learned is actually the correct spelling and is of German origin. When he is approached by Carter, a middle-aged, multi-millionaire from the tech startup industry, he is asked to buy a very specific horse with a no spending limit and to train the horse. Hawk doesn’t even hesitate as it will pay for a new addition to his business. When they finally meet, the only feeling that came to the surface was the loathing of a bucking horse.
--Horses had always made sense to me in a way humans hadn’t. Horses I could read. Well, humans, too, I just didn’t care for most of them all that much.--
This is a character development forward plot set in an ensemble universe. It moves at a medium pace, but the relationship is a slow-burn. Each character has a past detailed out that is affecting their future and how they perceive life as a whole. Hawk is not a people person, at all! Which can be overwhelming for him being from a large chaotic family. He's used to being on the sidelines observing. They did an awesome job of detailing his childhood challenges with his personality compared to his siblings as well as his young adult trauma. Carter is the opposite in every way, usually being the center of attention, dropping money to make things happen. He isn’t afraid of confronting what is in front of him but holds himself back in this new environment. It was written beautifully like a trust scale, with gradual details being dropped through the novel as each character grows to trust each other more and more. The way that they open their hearts to reveal their pasts so they can care for each other pulls at the reins in you. Part of that trust is training. Since Carter is a city boy, he has to learn to be a cowboy. By learning to trust Hawk’s training methods, he shows that Hawk can trust him back with his heart. It made me feel on edge like a horse about to be spooked. You can literally feel the vibes coming off the page.
--Erections were uncomfortable in a saddle, and watching his competence was getting me hard.--
This novel can be read as a standalone, but in this readers opinion, you should read the first book beforehand. This novel presents the setting well with its very large ensemble, but book 1 really sets the stage like it’s a Broadway production. The ranch is run by a family of 12 (with some of them off at school). Each character is their own detailed personality and are all easy to remember, which the authors pulled off flawlessly. That also goes for each of their career trajectories as well, whether its on ranch property or else where. They add so much love, humor, and additional content to the story, either to continue plotting for future novels or add to the character development of existing relationships. It triggers emotions and actions throughout the full length of the novel. You can tell the authors are white boarding character plots ahead of time in existing books to jump-start their own novels in the future. It's fun to watch and exciting to catch those easter eggs, whether in anticipation for the future or as a catch-up on the first couple Crew & Malachi. I looked forward to what was happening with the ensemble and how they affected our MCs more than the main plot, even though that story was really important to tell. I think its because of how entertaining they all are on their own or the chaos that ensues when they all collide together. Also, get ready to learn about horse ranching! The authors did a phenomenal job of describing everything in correct detail to easily picture what horse training would look like even if you have no prior knowledge on the subject with terminology that peaked my interest and curiosity to make me easily fall down a googling rabbit hole of horse facts and information.
--I should not be lusting after this man because of his voice. Though if he wanted to read me the dictionary while I perked off, I wouldn’t be mad.--
The spice in this was good, 3/5🌶. Because of one of the plot lines, it could only give so much. The authors wrote these scenes like the reader was a pining teenager who wants more but is too afraid to follow through. But the details we did get was all consuming. That hurt-comfort was like training an abused horse to move on again.
--"You need a partner, not a shield.”--
While this novel had a ton going on with ensemble characters getting some spotlight alongside our MCs, the novel flowed smoothly and kept the reader as engaged as the Red Alert donkey Juanpablo. I loved that the outcome and climax of the plot were just as full of tension as the beginning, showing that sometimes that feeling never goes away. As long as your PARTNER stands beside you and not in front of you, that loathing feeling will turn into love that can battle anything that comes their way.
--I wanted to ride with him for the rest of my life.--
This was really sweet! More like 3.5 stars, rounding up because after a bumpy start, I wound up enjoying the romance.
At first it was kinda hard to get into; something about the voice/style felt…labored? Overworked or, awkward. There are a LOT of secondary characters, too, this is one of those “9 siblings on a ranch plus their parents and significant others” casts of characters, and it was unwieldy. Once I stopped caring about who was who other than the MCs, it flowed.
Respected horse trainer Hawk (younger, 25? I think?)has found THE horse a wealthy client requested, a snowflake appaloosa mare, and is happy to have the mare coming to his part of his family run ranch for training.
Billionaire Carter (45) walked away from his previous company and is at a bit of loose ends. Learning the horse he’s dreamed of owning is his sends him on a journey to small-town Colorado, where he buys a house and proceeds to find out just how much time he can spend with her while she’s being trained.
The first trainer-client meeting is awkward. Tense. Something’s snapping between them, something Hawk is wary of and Carter puzzled by. Hawk’s prickly defensiveness doesn’t put Carter off…instead, he’s intrigued by this layered man and drawn to him and the ranch. Learning to ride and care for his horse, bond with her, makes sense, even if most clients don’t spend time at the ranch (which…really? Is that typical? Seems weird, for the bonding reason…but I don’t know big training barns.)
Their chemistry grows, and both men have layers and baggage, Hawk most of all. Deciding to not act on the attraction between them makes sense…HA HA HA yeah you know that lasts about two chapters. But the growing relationship is lovely and once the book found its feet, I enjoyed experiencing their developing connection, the trust that grew between them, and their healthy dynamic. They have the “Carter’s too old for Hawk” discussion, and communication stays good throughout. I appreciated that.
I wasn’t certain of the horse element. It felt weirdly unspecific, no mention of…does Hawk train horses Western? English? He’s jumping at one point—bareback, no helmet! 😡—which isn’t really a Western thing…I don’t know. It was as if someone did a LOT of good research but also didn’t really know what they were talking about??? I hang out at stables and it wasn’t quite hitting for me.
Secondary characters were authentic but also a LOT. I particularly liked Carter's assistant and her wife, and Hawk's brother Bodhi. The rest were kind of a blur.
But overall, the romance wound up being rewarding, and I enjoyed the read!
HEA, trainer-client, age gap, horse ranch setting. NO others or an OM action; OM drama from a hideous horrible deservers jail ex, but, totally uninvited. Safe for me! Recommended.
My thanks to Gay Romance Reviews for the ARC; this is my free and impartial opinion.
This is book 2 in the Blue Creek Ridge series and continues to explore the lives of members of the Harrington family. In this book, we get to know Hawk, one of the younger Harrington siblings. At 24 years old, he is one of the most renowned horse trainers in the area. He receives a request from a wealthy client that puts him on a search to find a very specific horse. Although it takes a while, he locates the horse and meets the client for the first time when the horse is delivered to the ranch.
Carter Cahill is a very wealthy, successful, much older man who is used to getting what he wants no matter the cost. At their first meeting, Carter mistakes an older gentleman for Hawk and doesn’t hide his surprise when he realized Hawk is the much younger gentleman. This sets off a chain of incidents that cause the two to butt heads; including Carter’s lack of knowledge of horses and their care.
Carter misjudges Hawk because of his age. Hawk misjudges Carter because of a past relationship with a much older gentleman. Eventually, they discuss the issues and decide to move past them and become friends. They are attracted to one another but due to their trainer / client relationship, they decide to keep their relationship professional.
Eventually this changes and they begin a relationship. Another slow burn but still a good read.
It is not a requirement to read the first book but characters from that one are featured in Hawk’s story. BTW...loved Hawk!!
Notables
This book has a very large age gap between main characters Hawk Harrington and Carter Cahill, with one MC being 5 years younger than the other MC’s parents. Though this is present, it does not take away the characters were constructed. There is also a power play dynamic present in the story. I enjoyed the book and didn’t mind the age gap until the age was compared to the parents.
I really wanted to love this book, especially after getting glimpses of Hawk in book 1. He'd been one of the more intriguing side characters (along with Bodhi), so I was excited for his story. But...he almost felt like a different character here. Instead of the confident, capable trainer I expected, Hawk came across as childish and petulant for the first half of the book. I get it - the authors had to give him some personality quirk that came from his backstory, but it made him hard to root for and I struggled to warm up to him.
Carter wasn't great either. His arrogance and patronizing attitude made him just as frustrating, and even when his backstory was revealed, it felt more performative than genuine. I also never really bought the chemistry between them. They went from hate to almost kissing entirely too fast, without any real build up to it, so the sudden shift didn't feel earned.
Even the family accepting Carter so easily after all of them referring to him with such derision before was just...off. It tied everything up with a neat bow but it didn't match the emotional messiness the story hinted at. Overall it felt like the authors rushed to get book two published, leaving the plot and characters underdeveloped compared to book one.
That said, I still love the world of Blue Creek Ranch and all of the characters that come with it. I'm excited for Emery's book next, and I hope that Bodhi's book will follow. More than that, I hope the emotional depth and charm that made the first book so good returns.
[I received an advanced copy of this book. All reviews and ratings are my own.]
It might have been love at first sight for Carter when he met his horse but it was definitely lust at first voice when he heard Hawk speak though, when actually meeting the man, he couldn't believe that such a rich mellifluous voice belonged to someone so young. This is a slow burn romance with an age gap, city/country, confident/introvert, couple that don't get on from the very start but can't help but be drawn to each other. I was already fond of Hawk from seeing him in Take A Chance, but I'm so over men who do nothing but smirk. Carter liked riling Hawk up for fun and I didn't like that either, so I wasn't a fan at first. He did win me over once he got to understand Hawk and stopped being an arse to him. Their story was gentle and an easy read, with no drama. Hawk had some trauma from his past but, other than that, it was two men falling in love, with lots of support from Hawk's family. There was no third act breakup which pleased me and they communicated properly. Hawk doesn't people, if he can help it, but he hasn't met a horse he can't connect with. I loved all the horsey bits, just like last time, and it was nice to see Mal and Jaina again with Hawk and Humphrey. This one wasn't quite as horse-heavy but we were treated to seeing the rest of the (human) family, as well as everyone's favourite donkey, Juanpablo. I love Mum and Dad, and Hawk's best friend, Russ, who's a man of few words but makes all of them count, is wonderful. I'm looking forward to Emery next but I really need Bodhi's story soon.
I would like to thank GRR for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
After really enjoying the first book in the Blue Creek Ranch series, I admit that a lot of this installment just did not work for me.
But I kept going because HORSES!!!
I know it's a faux pas to have expectations going into a new read, but I was really looking forward to Hawk's romance because he was the ranch's horse whisperer, with a high-calibre reputation and a lifetime of navigating being one of ten siblings!
So I figured Hawk would either be "whispering" his person into peace and love, or he would be the one who needed to be softly and gently brought around to forever love with someone who would be his port in the storm for a change.
Earn his Trust was sort of the latter, but Hawk wasn't having any of it for most of this book, and Carter, though a touch more…motivated, was still milquetoast overall.
There was some melodrama, a ton family chaos, and a couple ambitious expansions to the ranch that felt substantial, but were only touched on as they were just floated for future development.
There's a lot of potential in this series and even though Earn his Trust was not my vibe, Emery is up next, and hopefully this babe with burn-out will have a gorgeous romance that only Blue Creek Ranch can deliver! Can't wait!
Thanks so much Kris T. Bethke and Tia Fielding Gay Romance Reviews for the book. I was given this book as an advance review copy (ARC) for free, and I am leaving this review completely voluntarily.
So… funny story. I got approved to read both Book 1 and 2 in the Blue Creek Ranch series at the same time. I couldn’t sleep one night, grabbed my Kindle, and decided to start reading. Hours later I finished the entire thing in one sitting - only to realize I had accidentally started with Book 2, not 1. *face palm*
That said, I actually really liked it! It’s a light, fast read that pulled me in right away. Once I figured out I’d skipped a book, a few things suddenly made sense, like why certain characters were mentioned as if I should already know them. With a family of ten siblings (many already paired off), I admit I got a little lost trying to remember who was who.
This book focuses on Hawk and Carter. Hawk is a gifted young horse trainer, and Carter is a wealthy businessman who’s trying to figure out what’s next in life. Carter hires Hawk to find and train a very specific horse, and that’s where things start to spark and clash. There’s a large age gap, and both men have their own walls to break down. Carter has to earn Hawk’s trust, and Hawk has to let himself believe that not every relationship is destined to fall apart.
As someone who grew up around horses, I loved the setting and all the little details. I could easily picture the barn scenes and the quiet moments between man and horse. If you’re totally new to horses, some of the references might feel a little unfamiliar, but it’s still easy enough to follow.
I also liked spotting hints the authors dropped for future stories — it feels like this family has plenty more tales to tell. I’m diving into Book 1 tonight to see how it all started!
Happy reading friends, ~ Maebae 💚
I’m a fellow book lover reviewing the good, the bad, and everything bookish in-between. All thoughts, opinions, and reactions are completely my own. I wasn’t paid, sponsored, or influenced in any way.
This book is a great follow-up for the "Blue Creek Ranch" series. Last time, it was Crew & Mal (& Payton). This time it's Hawk's and Crew's chance at romance. It's just as heartwarming, too. "Earn His Trust" BCR #2, is best enjoyed if BCR #1, "Take a Chance" is read beforehand. This story takes place where Book #1 left off.
Hawk Harrington is a horse trainer at the family BCR. He's a horse whisperer, understanding horses more than he does humans. He frequently withdraws from his loud, large family; he's one of ten siblings. He takes solace in the horses he works with.
Carter Cahill is a semi-retired billionaire. He's known as Goddamn Cahill at the ranch. In Book #1, he pays an exorbitant amount for a specific type of horse. It has to match his specifications, and is willing to wait for the seemingly impossible quest. The problem? He's a city dweller who thinks he knows how to handle a horse. Hawk begs to differ -- big time!
The story is low angst, but high spice. We get to see most of the Harrington family members, and their quirky ways again. We even revisit some of the same ranch denizens -- both human and animal. I really enjoyed myself with this. Heck. I can't wait for the next book! Recommended!
“Earn His Trust” by Kris Bethke and Tia Fielding is the second book in the ‘Blue Creek Ranch’ series, and follows horse whisperer Hawk Harrington as he finds a very specific horse for a wealthy client, Carter Cahill, who seems to have more money than sense. Despite his mild distaste for the man’s dictates, Hawk slowly forms just as much of a bond with Carter as he does with the new horse.
This adult contemporary western gay romance picks up a short time after “Take a Chance” leaves off, and it fleshes out the reasons behind Carter’s oddly detailed request for an appaloosa. I love redemption stories, and this one provides poignancy and a reminder that happiness is not always a function of having wealth. The secondary characters, both human and non-human, enrich these stories so much, and these authors paint such vivid word portraits that all of them come alive. Who can resist the donkey alarm system or the little ones who have their adults wrapped around their tiny fingers? And watching Carter get integrated into the smooth machinery of the Blue Creek Ranch is heartwarming. I definitely want more stories in this series, and I’ve started looking for other works by these talented authors.
Brilliant relationship build and absolutely loved the the MC's especially Hawk who is young, serious, and entirely focused on his horses so doesn’t have time for difficult clients (especially ones who think money can buy anything). When Carter Cahill shows up, all polished and confident, Hawk expects the worst. Carter is older, wealthy, and used to being in control. Hiring a horse trainer seemed like the start of a new adventure, but he didn’t count on Hawk being so blunt, guarded, and frustratingly attractive.
They clash from the start. Hawk thinks Carter’s just another entitled rich guy, and Carter isn’t used to being dismissed so easily. But under the tension is something else—something neither of them wants to admit. As they spend more time together, what began as irritation starts to shift. Walls come down. Trust builds. And what once felt impossible starts to feel like something real.
Hawk has his reasons for keeping people at arm’s length. Carter has his reasons for wanting to get closer. Now it’s a question of whether they can meet somewhere in the middle—where love might actually have a chance.
I received a free arc copy and this is my honest review
Hawk completely drew me in with its slow, simmering tension and heartfelt romance. Hawk Harrington is prickly, guarded, and stubborn, while Carter Cahill is patient, persistent, and impossibly charming. Watching their dynamic evolve from friction-filled adversaries to deeply connected lovers was such a joy it felt authentic, grounded, and utterly satisfying. I loved how much the story leaned into the world of horses. The attention to training, routines, and the bond between horse and trainer made this feel like a living, breathing ranch, and it added so much texture to the romance. The slow-burn pacing allowed both men to grow and confront their insecurities, making the eventual connection all the more rewarding. This isn’t a story about instant sparks or over-the-top drama it’s a tender, cozy cowboy romance about trust, patience, and finding love in unexpected places. If you love character-driven slow burns with a gorgeous rural setting, Hawk is absolutely worth your time.
Carter is the millionaire from the first book who is looking for a particular color of horse, and Hawk is the brother who is the horse trainer. Hawk finds him the horse, brings her to the ranch, and Carter comes out to see her. By the end, Carter has become part of the family, but it takes a long time to get there.
This is a slow burn. S L O W. In fact Hawk is so defensive and angry at the beginning, that I'm surprised Carter kept his horse at his barn. It takes almost half the book before Hawk even decides he might like Carter. If you like horses, you'll love this book - it feels like more of a 'how to train your horse' manual than a romance. Not a lot of spice, plenty of drama as Hawk figures himself out.
I loved book#1, but Hawk's attitude in book #2 was annoying. All the brothers and sisters made appearances in this book.
This book has the same emotional punch as the first book, and truthfully, you can read this as a standalone. The only thing would be not getting as much of background to the family as what was in first book. So, Hawk - quiet, stoic ...and Carter the bored executive who may seem frivolous, but loves intensely. I will add this book is a really slow burn, which was very sweet, but when they do connect, ooooh boy !! It take some time for them to find their...connection....but I loved seeing how it all came to be. Yes, there are ups'n'downs ....but it didn't cause a 3rd act breakup or anything. Just honesty and communication ..... the ending is HEA but it did feel short. Overall, a really good book & series !
Hawk is young, loves horses, and wants nothing to do with people. Carter is older, living a life of leisure after selling his tech startup. He now finds at odds and remembers that he was at his happiest with a special horse. To that end, he has a very precise and demanding list to find a specific horse. This situation already has Hawk not inclined to like him, so when they meet in person and Carter puts his foot in his mouth, things just get worse between them. Once they actually get to know one another, their chemistry is scorching hot. Hawk gets to see that Carter is actually a great guy who loves his horse, which of course endears him to Hawk even more.
I love a great book like this one that features two strong independent men like Hawk and Carter. A great city boy meets county book that have chemistry via a phone call, but in person they make too many assumptions and misjudgments about each other that drive this book. Hawk the top young horse trainer is skeptical of rich men which Carter is. As the two spend time together they see they are not what they seem and realize their judgements and stereotypes are wrong. Book two lets us know ore of the Harrington family and left me wanting to know more so hopefully another book forthcoming. A great read that simply make my heart swoon. I did receive an ARC and leave this honest review.
Hawk and Carter start off on the wrong foot, Carter hired Hawk to train his new horse, but things are tense between them. Carter likes to push hops buttons, but due to his past, it doesn’t put Carter in a good light.
These two men butt heads more often than not from the very beginning, but the more time they spend together the closer they become. They learn more about one another, learn how to communicate better, and work on earning each other’s trust.
This story was beautiful to watch unfold, worth the tears, the laughs, and all the emotions involved. Their happy ending was worth every bit of the wait. ❤️😁
4.25/5 Book one in this series was my first by these authors, and I loved it. It was a great introduction to this series. While I didn't connect quite as strongly with this book, I still enjoyed it. Hawk and Carter start out rough and fairly contentiously. Hawk has some previous trauma, and he is prickly and untrusting of most other humans. Horses, he loves. Carter is a city guy, and tries to let Hawk lead with the horse and learning country ways. Eventually, they learn to be partners. I loved seeing more of Mal, Crew, and Payton, as well as the rest of the Harrington bunch. I'm looking forward to the next book!
This series is shaping up to be one of my favorites. The Harrington family is so warm and loving. This story focuses on Hawk. A super wealthy man has tossed an obscene amount of money to find his dream horse. When the horse is located, Carter, the owner, turns up to see her. Hawk originally decides he is everything he hates in men. However, Carter is just a newly retired man trying to find his new path in life. And the more time he spends at Blue Creek, the more that Hawk and the Harringtons start to fold him into the family. The part I like the most about this series is how open the family is. I am excited to see which sibling finds love next.
Cozy cowboy, age gap, opposites romance. This book focuses on different characters than Take a Chance did, but includes those characters and is set a few months afterward. IMO it is not necessary to read Take a Chance first, but that’s a good story. I’ll probably be rereading this book every two or three years, but I might do a binge reread right before the third book of the series comes out next spring.
This story was... fine. I'm not sure I bought the insta-attraction or the super-easy acceptance of the age gap (including by others), but the MCs were likable. I was uninterested enough that I took a break partway through to read a couple of other books, but I also didn't have a hard time coming back and finishing. Faint praise? Perhaps. But if you're looking for a pleasant, low-stakes read, this fills the bill. Rounding up from 3.5 stars.
My thanks to Gay Romance Reviews for an advance copy of this book.
This was good, but their chemistry didn't jump off the page for me. The age gap was pretty significant, but Hawk was such an old soul of a character that it didn't actually feel like Carter was old enough to be his parent. I did like their conflict when Carter stood up for Hawk though. I thought that was a really solid "fight" but between two grown adults that actually communicate with each other and discuss their expectations and boundaries. I love seeing healthy communication modelled like that. Overall, it was a decent read and I'm still interested in continuing with the series
***
I was provided with an ARC from Gay Romance Reviews and this is my honest review.
I love this series so much. I’m so glad we got Hawk’s story after Crew’s. While I’m fascinated by all the siblings, his was the one I was most intrigued about. I think Carter is a great balance with him. Hawk is a young man with an old soul and Carter is an older man who is more carefree. They bring out the best of each other even if at first they didn’t. From the start the sparks were strong. Also, it was a great time to read this with the event that happens at the end. I can’t wait for Emery’s story. Heck I can’t wait for them all.
Fun! Hawk, is young and extremely compentent, always surprising his clients. Carter, is starting over in life and has the funds to indulge his controlling nature. He hires Hawk and has to overcome his prejudices. Their personalities clash and it is fun wondering who will come out on top. Keeps you on your toes. The author creates a fun learning curve that makes us think while entertaining us. Nicely done! I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Earn his Trust (Blue Creek Ranch Book 2)by Kris T. Bethke, Tia Fielding ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 Yesssss Hawk’s story!! I was beyond happy when Earn His Trust came out. I read Blue Creek Ranch Book 1 and I was in love with it. Both Kris and Tia did such a great job of creating a great plot for our dear Hawk. I love reading how Hawk and Carter’s relationship develops throughout the book. I can’t wait to see what comes next. I 100% recommend this series!
I love the Harrington Ranch and all of the family members. They are such a great group of humans. I enjoyed being curious about Hawk in the first book, and it was lovely getting to know him, watch him work with the horses, and fall in love. Carter was a great match for him. This was a very nice feel good story.
Wonderful story about two strong men, supremely competent in their own areas of expertise who initially find it hard to yield to the other in any area. The more they come to appreciate each other's talents, however, the easier it is for them to stop butting heads and move to friendship and essentially so much more. I love stories where characters find expertise sexy.
Nice chemistry and good charters, I could have done without the drama.....I would have loved for the focus of the read to be more on the romantic pairing with less chaotic vibe. I'd recommend because I like the series so far, so I will be looking forward to the next book.
* I received an ARC from GRR, this is my open and honest review *