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Ryder's Boys #2
Bounty of the Heart
“Maybe my expectations for love were completely off?”
At 30, Roy Winterfield could never have anticipated moving back in with his parents, but after being left by his fiancée and losing his job, options were limited. His heart and his trust wounded, Roy struggles to redefine his views on life and love, believing he’ll never love again. Everything changes when, at a local farmer’s market, a vendor selling fresh vegetables turns out to be someone from Roy’s youth—the only boy he’d ever loved.
“It was like every plant that grew was healing me, giving me life again.”
Dakota Heart has dealt with hardship his entire life. He lost his mother as a child, and after his father passed away, he decided to put all of his energy into one project: The Heart Lifespring Gardens, a permaculture food forest spanning the entire half-acre of his suburban backyard. He always viewed the gardens as his source of healing and love, but he never thought that his fruits and vegetables would bring him back face to face with his high school sweetheart—the one who got away.
“This whole thing has just gotten me all turned around.”
The two former lovers find passions quickly rekindling, but Roy needs healing, and Dakota doesn’t know if he can let himself fall in love with him again. It may be up to Rosie, Dakota’s clever border collie and sole emotional companion, to quietly keep the two men together. But can one dog, the healing power of nature, and the warm memories of a past love keep fragile hearts from pulling apart?
Bounty of the Heart is a steamy contemporary M/M gay standalone story set in Southern California, and features a feel-good HEA ending with no cliffhangers!
At 30, Roy Winterfield could never have anticipated moving back in with his parents, but after being left by his fiancée and losing his job, options were limited. His heart and his trust wounded, Roy struggles to redefine his views on life and love, believing he’ll never love again. Everything changes when, at a local farmer’s market, a vendor selling fresh vegetables turns out to be someone from Roy’s youth—the only boy he’d ever loved.
“It was like every plant that grew was healing me, giving me life again.”
Dakota Heart has dealt with hardship his entire life. He lost his mother as a child, and after his father passed away, he decided to put all of his energy into one project: The Heart Lifespring Gardens, a permaculture food forest spanning the entire half-acre of his suburban backyard. He always viewed the gardens as his source of healing and love, but he never thought that his fruits and vegetables would bring him back face to face with his high school sweetheart—the one who got away.
“This whole thing has just gotten me all turned around.”
The two former lovers find passions quickly rekindling, but Roy needs healing, and Dakota doesn’t know if he can let himself fall in love with him again. It may be up to Rosie, Dakota’s clever border collie and sole emotional companion, to quietly keep the two men together. But can one dog, the healing power of nature, and the warm memories of a past love keep fragile hearts from pulling apart?
Bounty of the Heart is a steamy contemporary M/M gay standalone story set in Southern California, and features a feel-good HEA ending with no cliffhangers!
204 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 22, 2016
36 people are currently reading
69 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
September 6, 2016
** This is a wonderful, low angst, sweet story of two guys who move on after high school, and are reunited years later. Terrific.
This is a lovely, gentle tale of love.
Roy, 30, has a failed marriage, a downsizing job loss,
and has moved back home. Roy is uncertain, confused, depressed, hurt, and adrift.
Dakota, runs his home farm, Heart Lifespring Gardens,
which saved him from heartache. He and his Dad started the project, and when he passed away, Dakota built the business to save his sanity.
The roots are deep, but the tale is lighthearted, entertaining, and loving as the men rekindle their desires.
We get a smooth flow, great sexy times, and wonderful characters.
Even Dakota's dog, Rosie is a character here.
She's truly a "service" dog in her own way.
Great uplifting story. Awesome epilogue ! ENJOY !
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September 4, 2016
Couldn't decide if this was a m/m or m/f read n
When I started reading this book, I was like "okay, this is supposed to be a m/m book." But no, the first part of the book concentrated on the love of Roy's life, "Alicia." The change from m/f to m/m did not flow at all and frankly was totally unbelievable at this point. To spend the first 8 years of your adult life with a woman, ask her to marry you, she says no, you cry about it over and over for several chapters, and then "bam" a guy from your high school years that all of the sudden you remember with fond memories becomes your sudden love forever. Just did not flow as a straight to gay romance. More like, I didn't get the woman I was in love with, so I guess I'll try it with a guy. Sorry, this book just hit me wrong.
When I started reading this book, I was like "okay, this is supposed to be a m/m book." But no, the first part of the book concentrated on the love of Roy's life, "Alicia." The change from m/f to m/m did not flow at all and frankly was totally unbelievable at this point. To spend the first 8 years of your adult life with a woman, ask her to marry you, she says no, you cry about it over and over for several chapters, and then "bam" a guy from your high school years that all of the sudden you remember with fond memories becomes your sudden love forever. Just did not flow as a straight to gay romance. More like, I didn't get the woman I was in love with, so I guess I'll try it with a guy. Sorry, this book just hit me wrong.
October 15, 2019
This is second chance, healing power of nature and animals and redemption. so it should be a easy 4 to 5 star read for me but unfortunately bad editing made it to a average book that I liked but didn't love. Dakota Heart never left Plowton, California, and is a farmer in his backyard in what is known as permaculture. Roy Winterfield left Plowton and Dakota behind to become a successful businessman in San Francisco. Roy lost his job and his fiancee on the same week. Coming back to Plowton he meets Dakota by chance and they start up the love that they never really gave up on. Alicia, Roy's Ex Fiancee, come back admitting see made a mistake but Roy was already over her and back with Dakota he let her down kindly and encouraging to find her right person.
July 1, 2020
The sudden old and almost forgotten romantic interest was off. I couldnt believe that the MC didnt think about his first love in 11 years ever. But nooooow since he doesnt have anything too lose, lets go back home and oh what a surprise, lets try that old forgotten love again. Im sorry, but that highschool love couldnt have been too strong if youve forgotten about him. Its kinda sad
September 28, 2019
Lost love
I love a great love story that begins with young love and than to return that love when your older,,this book is great I really enjoyed reading this book
I love a great love story that begins with young love and than to return that love when your older,,this book is great I really enjoyed reading this book
October 21, 2022
Felt slow, with little happening. Also poorly edited- lots of typos.
February 19, 2024
3.5 stars
December 7, 2016
What a pick
February 17, 2017
Bountiful
You had everything...until you lost it. The bad luck is all of sudden like toppling dominoes. The pain is so deep and profound, it's hard to even get out of bed. Let alone even attempt to function daily. And having to crawl back to Powlton, California (a suburb of San Diego) & actually home to Mom and Dad after a job loss is the last straw.
How can a figurative "broken heart" hurt so bad? Why do you feel it deep down in your soul? How can it be possible to still wake up daily and continue to endure? How come he still feels so lonely even though he lives with his parents? This has been Roy's existence for the past several months. He feels hollowed out. So overwhelmed by emotions, in order to protect himself he has stopped feeling anything, especially to do with love. His mother sees something must be done. Roy is so bereft nothing can get him out of his funk. He is so distraught that his mother has to find a way to get him out of his deep morass.
Roy reminiscences about happier times when he was younger when their family enjoyed engaging, fun filled breakfasts involving fresh vegetables. This prompts his Mom to suggest they all go to the local farmers market. Reluctantly Roy and his Dad agree. Everything he does seems like an out of body experience. He's just an observer of life around him. Until various vendors begin to remind him of his life with his ex-fiancee. These painful memories he has no interest in recollecting. Then he hears a voice and sees a face he hasn't in many years. His first love, his first (boy)friend in high school, Dakota. Older, but a very welcome sight.
On that day he experiences the first hairline cracks in the block of ice encasing his heart. Accompanying his old friend home to his organic vegetable and fruit gardens, Roy meets Dakota's Border Collie. She was named Rosie after Dakota's deceased mother. Her presence has made Dakota not feel so lonely, especially after the death of Dad, whom he was very close to. Rosie also begins to affect Roy's life in positive, often comforting and sometimes protective ways. Not only are Dakota's gardens bountiful with produce, can he have the same bountiful effect on Roy's heart?
I thoroughly enjoyed this sweet romance. This is my second time reading it and found I liked it even more than the first time. The release of the sequel A CUP OF JOE prompted this reread. I'm very glad I got the chance to revisit the first book.
You had everything...until you lost it. The bad luck is all of sudden like toppling dominoes. The pain is so deep and profound, it's hard to even get out of bed. Let alone even attempt to function daily. And having to crawl back to Powlton, California (a suburb of San Diego) & actually home to Mom and Dad after a job loss is the last straw.
How can a figurative "broken heart" hurt so bad? Why do you feel it deep down in your soul? How can it be possible to still wake up daily and continue to endure? How come he still feels so lonely even though he lives with his parents? This has been Roy's existence for the past several months. He feels hollowed out. So overwhelmed by emotions, in order to protect himself he has stopped feeling anything, especially to do with love. His mother sees something must be done. Roy is so bereft nothing can get him out of his funk. He is so distraught that his mother has to find a way to get him out of his deep morass.
Roy reminiscences about happier times when he was younger when their family enjoyed engaging, fun filled breakfasts involving fresh vegetables. This prompts his Mom to suggest they all go to the local farmers market. Reluctantly Roy and his Dad agree. Everything he does seems like an out of body experience. He's just an observer of life around him. Until various vendors begin to remind him of his life with his ex-fiancee. These painful memories he has no interest in recollecting. Then he hears a voice and sees a face he hasn't in many years. His first love, his first (boy)friend in high school, Dakota. Older, but a very welcome sight.
On that day he experiences the first hairline cracks in the block of ice encasing his heart. Accompanying his old friend home to his organic vegetable and fruit gardens, Roy meets Dakota's Border Collie. She was named Rosie after Dakota's deceased mother. Her presence has made Dakota not feel so lonely, especially after the death of Dad, whom he was very close to. Rosie also begins to affect Roy's life in positive, often comforting and sometimes protective ways. Not only are Dakota's gardens bountiful with produce, can he have the same bountiful effect on Roy's heart?
I thoroughly enjoyed this sweet romance. This is my second time reading it and found I liked it even more than the first time. The release of the sequel A CUP OF JOE prompted this reread. I'm very glad I got the chance to revisit the first book.
February 17, 2017
This book surprised me quite a bit, I expected pure fluff but was pleased to see the anatomy of a second chance relationship, a past relationship not long over, and a long term relationship that has slipped from romance to companionship. Loved Rosie, and I'm super jealous of the garden.
February 11, 2017
This is a sweet second chance story of two guys that dated in high school but went separate ways and reconnect eleven years later.
Roy has been dumped by his long time girlfriend, lost his job and returned home and living with his parents. He seemed to have lost his way.
Dakota runs a living farm which was his saving grace during heartache.
The chemistry is still there between the two of them. Just a sweet story all around.
Roy has been dumped by his long time girlfriend, lost his job and returned home and living with his parents. He seemed to have lost his way.
Dakota runs a living farm which was his saving grace during heartache.
The chemistry is still there between the two of them. Just a sweet story all around.
August 24, 2016
“Change had come - I could either accept it or ignore it…”
I really enjoyed this second chance romance, there’s a sweetness to this couple that tangled up in my heartstrings. Trying to rebuild his life after it crumbled beneath him, Roy returns to his hometown and finds himself face to face with his first love, Dakota, who has thrown himself into Lifespring Gardens to restore his focus after the death of his father. There is such a natural flow to the way their relationship develops, the connection from their youth resurfaces but it’s the chemistry that binds them as adults that won me over. There’s something soothing about the time they spend in the food forest reacquainting themselves, even as Roy questions what he believes about true love and second guesses the draw between him and Dakota, I could almost feel it anchoring him. I also developed quite a soft spot for Dakota’s sidekick Rosie, who seemed to have an uncanny knack for knowing when her humans needed her and adopted Roy as her own.
Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I really enjoyed this second chance romance, there’s a sweetness to this couple that tangled up in my heartstrings. Trying to rebuild his life after it crumbled beneath him, Roy returns to his hometown and finds himself face to face with his first love, Dakota, who has thrown himself into Lifespring Gardens to restore his focus after the death of his father. There is such a natural flow to the way their relationship develops, the connection from their youth resurfaces but it’s the chemistry that binds them as adults that won me over. There’s something soothing about the time they spend in the food forest reacquainting themselves, even as Roy questions what he believes about true love and second guesses the draw between him and Dakota, I could almost feel it anchoring him. I also developed quite a soft spot for Dakota’s sidekick Rosie, who seemed to have an uncanny knack for knowing when her humans needed her and adopted Roy as her own.
Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
August 25, 2016
I received a free copy of this story in exchange for an honest review..... This was a very beautifully written and heartwarming story in which Roy has to reevaluate his whole life and future after being dumped by his fiance and losing his job. I especially liked this because it takes place in a town North of downtown San Diego which is my hometown also, although I lived South of downtown. :D Roy had developed a cynicism about love that I can definitely relate to, believing that love seems to fade in time or just doesn't last. Then he runs into Dakota, his first love. I think that it was fate that they ran into each other again because they were absolutely meant to be together. Rosie was also a very important part of this story with her being so sweet and smart, and such a loving dog. I loved the part where Roy is dreaming and Rosie is actually talking to him (if only they could). :) Dakota had been through so much that I saw him as a very strong character. This was moving as well as steamy, and it totally touched my heart.
October 1, 2016
This is a second chance love story about Roy who moves back home with his parents after losing his fiancée and his job in one fell swoop. He is understandably down and has been questioning himself and his future for 8 months when he reconnects with his childhood boyfriend Dakota Heart. Dakota has been alone since Roy left for college and has never moved on past him. Roy, for Dakota, was his one true love and though he has been content and successful without him, he has not been truly happy.
We see them reconnect and reestablish their love in a fairly straightforward, uncomplicated manner. Bounty of the Heart was low angst and sweet. I enjoyed the reminder that sometimes love can be drama free. 4 sweet stars.
We see them reconnect and reestablish their love in a fairly straightforward, uncomplicated manner. Bounty of the Heart was low angst and sweet. I enjoyed the reminder that sometimes love can be drama free. 4 sweet stars.
January 30, 2017
Nice read
Nice slow burn read,really enjoyed the story and read the book in one sitting,found myself routing for dakota happy ending
Nice slow burn read,really enjoyed the story and read the book in one sitting,found myself routing for dakota happy ending
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews