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Foggy Basin Season Three

Herds and Hooves

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Keith Brooks has lived in Foggy Basin for all of his thirty-eight years and cannot imagine any reason to change that. He’s made a life for himself here trimming cattle hooves and occasionally working as a farrier when one of the nearby horse ranches needs it.

Bart Martin grew up in a suburb of Sacramento. Where conveniences are nearby, and he’s content with his life if not a little lonely and bored. Until he receives a call from his uncle, who lives in a tiny town in northern California that’s barely big enough to be on the map.

Bart is out of his element when he arrives at Foggy Basin during a Pride parade, and after getting lost. Lucky for him, Keith offers to help. He’s not sure he should trust the gruff man with arms the size of tree trunks, but he’s desperate. It’s a small decision that could change both their lives and force this city boy to learn to enjoy a life that he’s never considered.

Welcome to Foggy Basin. Nestled at the base of the foothills in northern California, this small town is full of characters just waiting to tell you their story. Whether you’re just passing through or you decide to stay a while longer, you’ll always find a warm welcome from the townsfolk. From farmers and animal rescues to artists and small business owners. Foggy Basin has it all.

183 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 20, 2026

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B.L. Maxwell

89 books396 followers

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
Profile Image for KJ.
41 reviews
August 21, 2026
This is my fourth Foggy Basin story and follows the same trend of being generally low angst, with good characters and some cameos from the rest of the series while still being a stand alone read. I liked Bart... sometimes the “city boy in the country” can end up with the city boy being an uppity judgemental turd. Not Bart: he was friendly, curious about everything, willing to admit that he was out of his depth yet jumping into farm life feet first anyway and overall quite likeable. Keith was a bit more of a mystery: he alternated between thinking that Bart was well suited to country life and then being all condescending about “that city kid”. I found Keith’s past to be confusing... sometimes the impression was that he spent his whole life in Foggy Basin (including in the blurb) and then in Chapter 11 he’s only lived in Foggy Basin for 9 years (and he may or may not have grown up there?). Keith’s family situation was a bit confusing as well, as we were told that he doesn’t have any contact with any of his family but the reason for that wasn’t really explained (at least not to my satisfaction... and the brief explanation offered didn’t seem severe enough to warrant no contact to me). So while I really enjoyed Bart as a character, I remained unconvinced about Keith. That being said, Uncle Asa was a hoot, offering such great advice as “if you feel like you’re gonna pass out just aim for a patch of hay that has no shit”. Overall, I enjoyed the book, although it felt a bit less polished than the other Foggy Basin stories I’ve read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Lori.
367 reviews11 followers
August 20, 2026
Making Cows' Eyes...

This is another episode in the Foggy Basin shared ‘universe’ of stories. Foggy Basin is a small town with a big heart, welcoming all LGBTQ+ residents and newcomers. This one has both a long-time resident and a newbie. Bart Martin is reasonably happy working in Auburn, when he receives a letter from his Great-Uncle Asa in Foggy Basin. Asa is getting older and wants to hand over most of the operations of his dairy farm to someone in the family. Bart decides to go visit for a couple of weeks, to see how Asa is, and to see if working on a dairy farm suits him.

Soon after arriving, Bart meets Keith Brooks when he has trouble finding the farm. On his way to trim Asa’s cows’ hooves, Keith hears Bart asking for directions at Nuts and Bolts, the local hardware store. Keith tells Bart to follow him, as that’s where he’s headed.

Keith is a little older than Bart, but they gradually begin seeing each other, as Bart grows to love life on the dairy farm. Bart witnesses, and begins helping with, birthing calves, and soon has to step up with Asa’s hired hand to run the farm when Asa breaks his arm. There are cameo appearances by several regular Foggy Basin residents – Hudson and Jake, Tig and Isaac; and a new one – John Wayne. There’s a HEA for two couples in the end!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Marion.
2,123 reviews
August 23, 2026
This book is part of the multi author Foggy Basin Season Three series. Each book can be read as a standalone and focuses on a different couple. This is the story of Keith Brooks and Bart Martin. Keith is the country man in this city boy meets country man romance. He has spent his entire life in or around Foggy Basin and never wants to change that. Keith enjoys his work trimming cattle hooves and occasionally working as a farrier when needed. Bart on the other hand has come to town to visit with his Uncle Asa. Growing up in a suburb of Sacramento does not really prepare Bart for working on and eventually running the family dairy farm. But Bart is up for the challenge and is ready to see if it is something that would work for him. Keith and Bart meet when Bart gets lost due to the local Pride Parade looking for Asa's farm. Luckily Keith is headed that way to trim some hooves and has Bart follow him there. This is their story. This book is well written and easy to read. As with all this author's books, the character are really well developed and come to life as you read about them. I liked watching their relationship slowly develop. This is a sweet low angst romance. I look forward to the next book by this author.
Profile Image for Emily Pennington.
21.5k reviews374 followers
August 23, 2026
🐄 Bart and Keith . . .

Keith Brooks enjoys being in the Foggy Basin area, trimming cattle hooves and doing farrier work on nearby horse ranches when needed. Bart Martin is from the suburbs, living a totally different lifestyle. The everyday conveniences are close by even though the area may feel crowded. But his great-uncle Asa had hopes that Bart would be willing to visit him with the idea of perhaps taking over the family dairy farm. Bart is willing to at least visit, but he ends up getting lost trying to find the farm. Fortunately Keith is headed that way to trim some hooves and offers to guide him there. Will Bart eventually be willing to take over the farm, especially with his uncle there to teach him the process? It doesn't take him long to learn each aspect of the dairy business. Will Keith make him feel more comfortable as Bart settles into the small-town life where he begins to fit in? And will Bart likewise find he and Keith are comfortable developing a real relationship together?
Profile Image for Mandy (MP Book Reviews).
5,527 reviews49 followers
August 24, 2026
Keith is a lifelong Foggy Basin local, content with his quiet rural routine, while Bart arrives from suburban Sacramento completely out of his element. Lost during the town’s Pride parade, Bart accepts help from Keith — a small choice that sparks a connection and may push this city boy toward a life he never expected.

This was an enjoyable story as Bart arrived in Foggy Basin to help his aging uncle with the family dairy farm and ended up never leaving, while Keith crossed paths with him through work. I especially loved Bart’s uncle as he brought a lot of fun and warmth to the story. Keith was harder for me to connect with, mostly because he stayed so reticent about something in his past, and we never really learned what that was. The baby cow added some humour, though a few moments were confusing, especially the switch between feeding from its mother and being bottle‑fed. Overall, the story had light emotions and feelings throughout, and I enjoyed spending time with these characters and the gentle, small‑town charm of their world. This was an MM story with mature content.
Profile Image for Deb Kel.
3,260 reviews13 followers
August 21, 2026
I really enjoyed Keith and Bart’s story and the way their differences slowly brought them together. Keith is so firmly rooted in Foggy Basin, while Bart arrives as a complete outsider, unsure what to make of the small-town lifestyle. I loved watching Bart discover that maybe the quieter life he never imagined could actually be exactly what he needed.

The Foggy Basin setting added its usual warmth and charm, with that wonderful sense of community running through the story. Keith and Bart had great chemistry, and I liked that their relationship developed naturally while they both figured out what they really wanted.

A sweet, lighthearted romance with enough depth to keep it interesting, and another lovely addition to the Foggy Basin series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Yvonne.
610 reviews8 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
August 19, 2026
I always enjoy the Foggy Basin books. All the writers, each telling a story in their own way, combine to create a fantastic series, season after season. The nice thing about these series is that each book can be read separately, but when you read all the installments, they are all connected.

And I can always count on the fact that if a book by BL Maxwell is included, it is of high quality. With this book, Barbara has once again created a beautiful story. As always, it is lighthearted yet has depth. A lovely book that I enjoy reading in between heavier genres. In this book, Barbara has once again ensured that the characters come to life and are more than just words on a page.

💞Thank you to the Author for the opportunity to read and review this ARC💖
Profile Image for Gavin Stephenson-Jackman.
1,788 reviews
Review of advance copy
August 19, 2026
Finding a new career and a new love had not been Bart's intention when he arrived in Foggy Basin in response to his uncle's letter. Asa had written to Bart with the hope that he would visit and possibly consider eventually taking over the family dairy farm. When Bart has trouble locating the farm Keith volunteers to guide him there as he has work waiting for him at the farm. Bart quickly finds himself fascinated by the farming operation and by Keith as he trims the hooves of the cows. What was supposed to be a weekend soon turns long term and falling for Keith makes the changes all that much better. A lovely addition to the series with the gayest small town in America.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Jeanette Waters.
2,520 reviews8 followers
August 23, 2026
BL Maxwell's "Herds and Hooves" is another Foggy Basin city boy/country boy story. Bart Martin has a settled life outside Sacramento, but comes to Foggy Basin when his Great Uncle Asa calls him for help. He meets Keith Brooks, a farrier and handyman when he enters Nuts and Bolts looking for directions.
They're attracted, but Bart isn't staying. Then Uncle Asa breaks his arm. Bart falls in love with the dairy farm and with Keith. HEA.
BL Maxwell has used the city/country trope in Foggy Basin before (Jake& Hudson), this time adding a fish out of water theme for Bart. I loved how low angst the story was. Enjoyed seeing old friends. It was a very nice visit to Foggy Basin. Can't wait to come back.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Dee Layton.
1,473 reviews27 followers
September 25, 2026
This was an absolutely amazing book. I absolutely loved everybody in this book. The uncle was absolutely just the funniest character the stuff that he said was just absolutely mind blowing. The MMC Keith and Bart we're absolutely perfect together. This isn't age Gap so it was one of my more favorite tropes.
I love the fact how Bart gave it a try and went to the farm and then absolutely loved it and decided to take over for his uncle. His whole life changed so much. I love the fact that Bart was so attached to Annie, having her in the house and just babying her and that was his baby he said.
I just love this whole series, all the different authors have absolutely amazing books and this one was just absolutely wonderful.
Profile Image for Cynthia M Brow.
1,722 reviews22 followers
Review of advance copy
August 18, 2026
Herds and Hooves is part of the multi author Foggy Basin Season Three series. Each book can be read as a standalone but why not enjoy the whole series. This is the story of Keith and Bart. I loved these two and watching them build a relationship even though they are so different. I loved the city boy meets country man aspects of the story. This is just a sweet low angst story that is a perfect pallet cleanser after some heavier stuff. I love the way BL Maxwell brings her characters to life with her writing style. I can't wait to see what BL Maxwell writes next because I know I will be reading it. I would definitely recommend this book and series.
received a free review copy
Profile Image for Ann.
179 reviews1 follower
August 21, 2026
This is a story about Bart, the nephew of a cow farmer in Foggy Basin, and Keith the hoof trimmer/metal worker. They meet when Bart gets lost on his way to his uncle’s farm. This romance starts a little slow but once Keith finds out Bart is staying at the farm, they start dating. This is a short and sweet story without conflict and a secondary love story involving Bart’s uncle. If you love sweet and fluffy this series is for you.
Story 3.75, Spice 3
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
299 reviews4 followers
September 10, 2026
Keith is a hoof trimmer and farrier in Foggy Basin. When Bart's Uncle Asa asks him to come to his dairy farm to see if he would like to take it over, he isn't sure at first. He asks Keith for directions and heads to the farm. He winds up loving it and he agrees to take over the farm along with falling in love with Keith. I loved the cows and their personalities in this story so much and the supporting characters were wonderful. I liked Asa's little romance as well.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Bianca.
1,227 reviews8 followers
September 29, 2026
Bart and Keith story was sweet with a bit of adrenaline, adventure galore, and a beloved town with its quirky characters.
They had an interesting dynamic, and were so endearing together, especially in their more vulnerable times.
I liked the farm and all the shenanigans and teasing.
I liked seeing old characters and their shenanigans, as well as our new couple deepen their feelings while their relationship progressed.
I enjoyed the narrator rendition with its cadence, accents and drawl, as well as how certain scenes were brought to life.
37 reviews
Review of advance copy
August 20, 2026
This quick read is about what it takes when you decide the life you have always lived may not be the one you want and how you decide who you want to be there with you. I really appreciate that Bart doesn't base his decisions on whether or not Keith would like it. It shows an independence of spirit that is both refreshing and welcome. The HEA is a ray of sunshine.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
532 reviews4 followers
August 29, 2026
I am so glad that I got to read this book about Bart and Keith. I really enjoyed the moody cows and all of their attitudes towards the men on the farm. I am also really happy to hear about Asa and Don’s relationship coming out and everyone knowing. I definitely recommend this book to everyone who enjoys mm small town romance stories.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Traci S.
2,375 reviews15 followers
August 21, 2026
Thank you for the book, here is my honest opinion:
3.5⭐️Another low angst, small town romance from Foggy Basin. This was a quick read with two likable MCs, a delightful bonus secondary romance, and a fabulous setting. It a bit light on romance, and ends kind of quickly, a nice HEA, but not a “big”, romantic one.
2,051 reviews7 followers
August 23, 2026
I loved being back in Foggy Basin with so many great characters in this small town! Bart and Keith were very likable characters and I loved watching their relationship develop. I love when a city boy gets countrified! This was a very enjoyable and entertaining read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for K-Me.
3,258 reviews
August 24, 2026
I am a sucker for the city boy coming to the country, but I especially liked how it played out here. Bart was so positive and open. He enjoyed learning and living the country life. Keith was a bit more skeptical but nonetheless he was immediately drawn to Bart and could not help but get feelings. I also enjoyed all the side characters, especially the uncle!
1,736 reviews9 followers
August 25, 2026
I really enjoyed this story. This is the third season of Foggy Basin and I am really enjoying all of the small town vibes and familiar characters. These two were so cute together and I can’t wait for more from this town.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Lisa.
3,711 reviews142 followers
August 31, 2026
Keith has a successful career which includes trimming cattle hooves.
Bart come to Foggy Basin after a call from his uncle asking for some help on his diary farm. Although he knows little about farming, Bart throws himself into the role and gets friendly with Keith, eventually leading to a relationship.
Profile Image for Cynthia Brooks.
2,554 reviews14 followers
September 5, 2026
This is a charming, cute romantic page-turner. Bart, a city boy, comes to Foggy Basin to learn to take over the family dairy farm. Keith, who lives in Foggy Basin, thinks that Bart won't make it, and Bart thinks that Keith can't be trusted. The more they get to know each other, the more they know they were wrong. I really enjoyed this book.
Profile Image for Christina Horton.
439 reviews5 followers
October 1, 2026
This is a cozy small town story of a city boy, Bart and the country boy, Keith who complete each other. The absence of strife made the story more enjoyable and the baby cow was the best character of them all.

I love foggy basin.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
1,213 reviews7 followers
October 18, 2026
Herds and Hooves by B. L. Maxwell is a great LGBTQ romance. Guy Veryzer did a great job with the narration. The story is entertaining, interesting, enjoyable, romantic, and more. Herds and Hooves is the ninth book Foggy Basin Season series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Debbie Benson.
11.7k reviews42 followers
Review of advance copy
August 20, 2026
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. I liked how Bart finds his place when he comes to his uncle's place. I'm glad he found love with Keith. It was an enjoyable story to read.
Profile Image for Amanda Reeves.
4,504 reviews45 followers
August 20, 2026
Herds and Hooves is part of the multi-author Foggy Basin Season Three series and can be read as a standalone. This is a low angst, opposites attract read about Keith and Bart. Another fantastic read by BL Maxwell and in the series, I love this storyline and the characters.
Profile Image for Kenneth Cameron.
411 reviews13 followers
August 21, 2026
Great read. Fun and very relatable! BL Maxwell is becoming one of my very favorite MM romance authors. I cannot wait to read their next book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Akasha721.
1,011 reviews
August 23, 2026
Bart came for a weekend and stayed for a lifetime. Keith fell hard and Bart fell for him too. Moving at a get to know you pace makes their HEA that much sweeter! Great book!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
1,623 reviews13 followers
October 10, 2026
This was a very cute story.
Zero angst and a very organic transition from friends to lovers. This is also an age gap, in that Keith is quite a bit older than Bart, but they genuinely get along very well from the start.
As a colourful and enjoyable backdrop to the MCs falling in love, we have a herd of lovely cows and an uncle who is getting older but still has got a lot of life and spirit in him!
Profile Image for David Eric.
251 reviews6 followers
August 22, 2026
I enjoyed reading this book, I can’t remember if I read the prior books beforehand but I’d say you should just go help with continuity of the overall storyline.

Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews