What do you think?
Rate this book
Edge of Forever
When you stand on the edge, you might just find yourself falling.
Teaching Russians how to be cowboys? Levi thinks his father is joking when he tells him that’s what he wants him to do for the next six months. Working in the frozen desolation of southwest Russia he’ll earn enough to buy a new barn for their Montana ranch. But there’s a deeper agenda for sending him to the edge of nowhere. It will stop him sloping off on Saturday nights to gay bars and clubs for threesomes with strangers.
Pasha finally pushes his father too far and is banished to a remote ranch in the middle of a snowy Russian winter. Stripped of all the trappings of his privileged Moscow lifestyle, he has nothing at his disposal but a suitcase of designer clothes and a whole lot of sass. Pasha hates the countryside, hates physical work, hates the cold and hates cows. But de-prived of money, phone, and access to anyone who might help him, he’s screwed and not in a good way.
Levi’s counting down the days till he can return to the States and his Saturday night hook-ups. Then Pasha arrives at the ranch wearing eyeliner, retching every time he walks into a barn, and Levi is amused, irritated—and attracted. After a vicious attack on Pasha throws them into close quarters, both men are forced to re-evaluate not just who the other is, but whether they truly want to return to the lives they left behind.
When you stand on the edge, you just might find yourself falling in love.
Teaching Russians how to be cowboys? Levi thinks his father is joking when he tells him that’s what he wants him to do for the next six months. Working in the frozen desolation of southwest Russia he’ll earn enough to buy a new barn for their Montana ranch. But there’s a deeper agenda for sending him to the edge of nowhere. It will stop him sloping off on Saturday nights to gay bars and clubs for threesomes with strangers.
Pasha finally pushes his father too far and is banished to a remote ranch in the middle of a snowy Russian winter. Stripped of all the trappings of his privileged Moscow lifestyle, he has nothing at his disposal but a suitcase of designer clothes and a whole lot of sass. Pasha hates the countryside, hates physical work, hates the cold and hates cows. But de-prived of money, phone, and access to anyone who might help him, he’s screwed and not in a good way.
Levi’s counting down the days till he can return to the States and his Saturday night hook-ups. Then Pasha arrives at the ranch wearing eyeliner, retching every time he walks into a barn, and Levi is amused, irritated—and attracted. After a vicious attack on Pasha throws them into close quarters, both men are forced to re-evaluate not just who the other is, but whether they truly want to return to the lives they left behind.
When you stand on the edge, you just might find yourself falling in love.
279 pages, ebook
First published May 31, 2018
87 people are currently reading
1044 people want to read
About the author
Barbara Elsborg
100 books1,677 followersBarbara Elsborg lives in Kent in the south of England. She always wanted to be a spy, but having confessed to everyone without them even resorting to torture, she decided it was not for her. Volcanology scorched her feet. A morbid fear of sharks put paid to marine biology. So instead, she spent several years successfully selling cyanide.
After dragging up two rotten, ungrateful children and frustrating her sexy, devoted, wonderful husband (who can now stop twisting her arm) she finally has time to conduct an affair with an electrifying plugged-in male, her laptop.
Her books feature quirky heroines and bad boys, and she hopes they are as much fun to read as they are to write.
After dragging up two rotten, ungrateful children and frustrating her sexy, devoted, wonderful husband (who can now stop twisting her arm) she finally has time to conduct an affair with an electrifying plugged-in male, her laptop.
Her books feature quirky heroines and bad boys, and she hopes they are as much fun to read as they are to write.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 243 reviews
May 1, 2018
There's a reason why Barbara Elsborg is one of my favourite Authors and this book is it.
The prospect of a new book by Barbara Elsborg always gets me excited and this is just perfect,definitely my favourite book by her.I mean,a hot cowboy and a sexy male model....I was practically salivating at the thought so this book most certainly lived up to my expectations.
Pasha, is up there as one of my all time favourite characters Charismatic,funny,true to himself and just a delight to read about.He might seem to have the perfect life but he's got demons from his past and a man whose obsession with him that he can't seem to escape from.His world is turned upside down when he's sent away by his father to work at a ranch for six months.Does he have a choice? Not really,stripped of all his privileges there seems to be no way out of this situation.
Levi has lived his whole life of the family ranch in Montana.He doesn't seem to be appreciated by his father and having a homophobic brother to deal with is wearing him down so when his father suggests a six month spell at a Russian ranch,teaching men how to be cowboys,he sees it as a chance to get some distance.
Pasha arrives at the ranch in designer clothes,with Louis Vuitton luggage,wearing eye liner....maybe not the best idea but he absolutely refuses to hide who he is...in fact he's more likely to ramp up his gayness than hide it.....and I loved him for it.He's ignored by the other men,picked on and one guy in particular seems hell bent on making his life a misery...but Pasha gives as good as he gets,showing such strength of character.
Levi is a bit of a silent type,he's not going to advertise the fact he's gay.He just wants to keep his head down eand get through the six months,but his world is about to be rocked by the arrival of the enigmatic,force of nature that is Pasha.
The two men might be from different worlds but they turned out to be just so damned perfect together...I honestly didn't want this book to end.
Highly Recommended.
Review copy provided by the Author.
The prospect of a new book by Barbara Elsborg always gets me excited and this is just perfect,definitely my favourite book by her.I mean,a hot cowboy and a sexy male model....I was practically salivating at the thought so this book most certainly lived up to my expectations.
Pasha, is up there as one of my all time favourite characters Charismatic,funny,true to himself and just a delight to read about.He might seem to have the perfect life but he's got demons from his past and a man whose obsession with him that he can't seem to escape from.His world is turned upside down when he's sent away by his father to work at a ranch for six months.Does he have a choice? Not really,stripped of all his privileges there seems to be no way out of this situation.
Levi has lived his whole life of the family ranch in Montana.He doesn't seem to be appreciated by his father and having a homophobic brother to deal with is wearing him down so when his father suggests a six month spell at a Russian ranch,teaching men how to be cowboys,he sees it as a chance to get some distance.
Pasha arrives at the ranch in designer clothes,with Louis Vuitton luggage,wearing eye liner....maybe not the best idea but he absolutely refuses to hide who he is...in fact he's more likely to ramp up his gayness than hide it.....and I loved him for it.He's ignored by the other men,picked on and one guy in particular seems hell bent on making his life a misery...but Pasha gives as good as he gets,showing such strength of character.
Levi is a bit of a silent type,he's not going to advertise the fact he's gay.He just wants to keep his head down eand get through the six months,but his world is about to be rocked by the arrival of the enigmatic,force of nature that is Pasha.
The two men might be from different worlds but they turned out to be just so damned perfect together...I honestly didn't want this book to end.
Highly Recommended.
Review copy provided by the Author.
June 7, 2018
Russian cowboy, opposites-attract nirvana.
I had forgotten how much I truly love Barbara Elsborg but this book brought it right back. Edge of Forever is all that is good and special about Barbara Elsborg's writing, wrapped up in one glorious package.
If you haven't read this author before, you are in for a treat. Her books are a unique mix of really funny and really angsty, which is an unusual combination. I'll admit, sometimes her books veer too dark for me (and this book should have a *trigger warning* for sexual abuse of minors), but Edge of Forever really was a perfect balance of pain and pleasure.
What Barbara Elsborg does better than almost any other author is her absolutely dead-funny banter. This book is witty, and sarcastic, vulnerable, lovely Pasha was a perfect example of a Barbara Elsborg main character done right. I adored Pasha... like, REALLY loved him, and I loved his chemistry with Levi.
You should also know that the angst in this book is real and it will punch you in the guts. I struggled through a couple sections, but most of the book is focused on Pasha and Levi's relationship development in the cold, tough environment of the Russian wintery countryside. The details were lovely and real, and it made me want to ride horses and make out in the middle of a snowdrift (probably an idea that is better in my mind than in real life...).
From about 50% on, I couldn't put this book down. I sat for a VERY long time in my local coffee shop reading with tears in my eyes because my EMOTIONS were just overflowing. It isn't a sad or scary book, but the story will make you push with all your soul for these characters to get their HEA.
I loved the story from start to finish, and that epilogue made me *squee* out loud. I could have read a thousand pages of this couple and never get bored. A total winner.
*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*
I had forgotten how much I truly love Barbara Elsborg but this book brought it right back. Edge of Forever is all that is good and special about Barbara Elsborg's writing, wrapped up in one glorious package.
If you haven't read this author before, you are in for a treat. Her books are a unique mix of really funny and really angsty, which is an unusual combination. I'll admit, sometimes her books veer too dark for me (and this book should have a *trigger warning* for sexual abuse of minors), but Edge of Forever really was a perfect balance of pain and pleasure.
What Barbara Elsborg does better than almost any other author is her absolutely dead-funny banter. This book is witty, and sarcastic, vulnerable, lovely Pasha was a perfect example of a Barbara Elsborg main character done right. I adored Pasha... like, REALLY loved him, and I loved his chemistry with Levi.
You should also know that the angst in this book is real and it will punch you in the guts. I struggled through a couple sections, but most of the book is focused on Pasha and Levi's relationship development in the cold, tough environment of the Russian wintery countryside. The details were lovely and real, and it made me want to ride horses and make out in the middle of a snowdrift (probably an idea that is better in my mind than in real life...).
From about 50% on, I couldn't put this book down. I sat for a VERY long time in my local coffee shop reading with tears in my eyes because my EMOTIONS were just overflowing. It isn't a sad or scary book, but the story will make you push with all your soul for these characters to get their HEA.
I loved the story from start to finish, and that epilogue made me *squee* out loud. I could have read a thousand pages of this couple and never get bored. A total winner.
*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*
May 31, 2018
Release day !! WOOT WOOT !!!
I am a huge Barbara Elsborg fan !! So when I found out she had written a new book, I knew I had to read it !! She is a genius, I mean nobody does PNR the way she does it, and Inigo is still one of my all time favorite characters. For those of you who don't have a clue who I am talking about....go read "Bloodline" !! Actually, you should read that whole series, because Ezra is pretty awesome as well !! All Barbara's PNR books are favorites of mine..
Now that's not to say that I only like her PNR books, because I have also read and loved her Fall or Break series. And what I have learned from reading all these books, is that Barbara knows how to write angst.... the right kind of angst that is. The kind that makes you want to crawl inside the book and throttle some people !!!
She sure served up a dose in this book !! I love when that happens....What can I say, I am weird like that :P
Anyways, in this book we get introduced to yet another character, that will go on my "all time favorites" list. His name is Pasha and he rocks !!
Pasha is a 23 years old Russian model, who is send to work on a cattle ranch as a form of punishment, by his father. Pasha's father took away everything he owns and left him with absolutely nothing, no place to stay, no money, not even a passport... and so he has no choice but to agree, and do as his father says.
But Pasha being Pasha, he makes sure he arrives at the ranch on his own terms...in style and with his eyeliner still on !! Like I said....Pasha is freaking awesome !!
And Levi seems to agrees with me ;)
Levi is 25 years old, and he is one of the cattle ranchers, teaching the Russians how to be cowboys. He owns his own ranch in Montana (America) with his brother and father. Since his brother is a big homophobic piece of shit, trying to get him into conversion therapy (again), Levi has agreed to take the 6 month job of teaching the Russians on the ranch. Russia might not be so acceptable either, but at least nobody on the ranch knows he's gay.
When Pasha arrives at the ranch, it gets harder and harder for Levi to hide who he truly is. Especially when he sees everything that Pasha has to endure. Pasha is not his normal type, but he can't help but be intrigued by this sweet, funny and very beautiful man...
When things get too dangerous for Pasha, Levi offers him a safe place and what starts. Levi soons finds out that Pasha might be more "his type" then he first thought. Slowly these two get to know each other better, and not just physically....though I really appreciated that part :P
But both of them are only on the ranch temporarely and both of them have complicated lives they left behind....
I absolutely loved this book. It was long, but I never felt bored. Pasha made me laugh on so many occasions and I just wanted to jump into the book, grab him and put him in my pocket. He was so wonderful and I was literally in awe of him.
This book made me laugh, cry, swoon, curse and fan myself.....what more does one need I ask ?
I highly recommend this book, especially to those who are fans of hurt/comfort ;)
I am a huge Barbara Elsborg fan !! So when I found out she had written a new book, I knew I had to read it !! She is a genius, I mean nobody does PNR the way she does it, and Inigo is still one of my all time favorite characters. For those of you who don't have a clue who I am talking about....go read "Bloodline" !! Actually, you should read that whole series, because Ezra is pretty awesome as well !! All Barbara's PNR books are favorites of mine..
Now that's not to say that I only like her PNR books, because I have also read and loved her Fall or Break series. And what I have learned from reading all these books, is that Barbara knows how to write angst.... the right kind of angst that is. The kind that makes you want to crawl inside the book and throttle some people !!!
She sure served up a dose in this book !! I love when that happens....What can I say, I am weird like that :P
Anyways, in this book we get introduced to yet another character, that will go on my "all time favorites" list. His name is Pasha and he rocks !!
Pasha is a 23 years old Russian model, who is send to work on a cattle ranch as a form of punishment, by his father. Pasha's father took away everything he owns and left him with absolutely nothing, no place to stay, no money, not even a passport... and so he has no choice but to agree, and do as his father says.
But Pasha being Pasha, he makes sure he arrives at the ranch on his own terms...in style and with his eyeliner still on !! Like I said....Pasha is freaking awesome !!
And Levi seems to agrees with me ;)
Levi is 25 years old, and he is one of the cattle ranchers, teaching the Russians how to be cowboys. He owns his own ranch in Montana (America) with his brother and father. Since his brother is a big homophobic piece of shit, trying to get him into conversion therapy (again), Levi has agreed to take the 6 month job of teaching the Russians on the ranch. Russia might not be so acceptable either, but at least nobody on the ranch knows he's gay.
When Pasha arrives at the ranch, it gets harder and harder for Levi to hide who he truly is. Especially when he sees everything that Pasha has to endure. Pasha is not his normal type, but he can't help but be intrigued by this sweet, funny and very beautiful man...
When things get too dangerous for Pasha, Levi offers him a safe place and what starts. Levi soons finds out that Pasha might be more "his type" then he first thought. Slowly these two get to know each other better, and not just physically....though I really appreciated that part :P
But both of them are only on the ranch temporarely and both of them have complicated lives they left behind....
I absolutely loved this book. It was long, but I never felt bored. Pasha made me laugh on so many occasions and I just wanted to jump into the book, grab him and put him in my pocket. He was so wonderful and I was literally in awe of him.
This book made me laugh, cry, swoon, curse and fan myself.....what more does one need I ask ?
I highly recommend this book, especially to those who are fans of hurt/comfort ;)
My reviews are posted on DirtyBooksObsession
Follow Us on➦
November 20, 2019
Thanks to Jen for the BR. And a huge thanks to Marco for the shove I needed to finally read this book.
When an American cowboy arrives in Russia to train potential cattle ranchers, the last thing he expects is to meet the love of his life. But that's exactly what happens.
I really like Elsborg's work, but she's not known for her light and fluffy stories. Edge of Forever is not an easy book. It deals with homophobia, conversion therapy, child sexual abuse, and corrupt Russian politics.
But despite the heavier themes, this was not a depressing book. The angst was not overwhelming, and the hurt/comfort aspect was really well done.
My highlights:
- Two multi-faceted MCs; I adored Levi and Pasha. Pasha won me over with his bravery, kindness, and sassy mouth. Levi was more subdued, but he had a big heart and tried to do right by his family, which was more than they deserved.
- Opposites-attract theme; on page, Levi and Pasha seem nothing alike, besides being bilingual in English and Russian, but the passion between them burned bright.
- UST followed by hot (and I mean HAWT!, raw, explosive, no holds barred) sex; this is a VERY sexy read, but none of the steamy scenes felt gratuitous. Pasha and Levi fit together perfectly, and they talked too. They had real intimacy, one some couples never achieve.
- Descriptions of life on a cattle ranch; I loved that so many details were included about herding cows, birthing calves, and riding horses. It might bore some readers, but I'm into that kind of stuff, and it made the setting come alive.
- Horses! No, seriously, two horses were integral to the story and fully fledged characters in their own right.
- Complex secondary characters, not all of whom were likable. The villains were terrifying precisely because they felt real. I loathed Grigory and wanted to kick him in the balls. I also cheered when Maksim got his comeuppance. That piece of shit had it coming.
- The BEST HEA! We get an awesome last chapter AND an amazing epilogue. Gah! This made me so damn happy.
This is a long book, but once I got into it, I couldn't put it down. I also got to use my "save a horse ride a cowboy" tag. Win-win!
When an American cowboy arrives in Russia to train potential cattle ranchers, the last thing he expects is to meet the love of his life. But that's exactly what happens.
I really like Elsborg's work, but she's not known for her light and fluffy stories. Edge of Forever is not an easy book. It deals with homophobia, conversion therapy, child sexual abuse, and corrupt Russian politics.
But despite the heavier themes, this was not a depressing book. The angst was not overwhelming, and the hurt/comfort aspect was really well done.
My highlights:
- Two multi-faceted MCs; I adored Levi and Pasha. Pasha won me over with his bravery, kindness, and sassy mouth. Levi was more subdued, but he had a big heart and tried to do right by his family, which was more than they deserved.
- Opposites-attract theme; on page, Levi and Pasha seem nothing alike, besides being bilingual in English and Russian, but the passion between them burned bright.
"I love mushroom soup, chicken soup and chocolate's okay."
Pasha gaped. "Only okay? Oh God, we're totally incompatible."
Levi grinned. "I like hot bread. I like oranges. I like you."
- UST followed by hot (and I mean HAWT!, raw, explosive, no holds barred) sex; this is a VERY sexy read, but none of the steamy scenes felt gratuitous. Pasha and Levi fit together perfectly, and they talked too. They had real intimacy, one some couples never achieve.
- Descriptions of life on a cattle ranch; I loved that so many details were included about herding cows, birthing calves, and riding horses. It might bore some readers, but I'm into that kind of stuff, and it made the setting come alive.
- Horses! No, seriously, two horses were integral to the story and fully fledged characters in their own right.
- Complex secondary characters, not all of whom were likable. The villains were terrifying precisely because they felt real. I loathed Grigory and wanted to kick him in the balls. I also cheered when Maksim got his comeuppance. That piece of shit had it coming.
- The BEST HEA! We get an awesome last chapter AND an amazing epilogue. Gah! This made me so damn happy.
This is a long book, but once I got into it, I couldn't put it down. I also got to use my "save a horse ride a cowboy" tag. Win-win!
![Profile Image for Imme [trying to crawl out of hiatus] van Gorp.](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1700013408i%2F101358081._UX200_CR0%2C0%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
October 6, 2022
|| 3.0 stars ||
I really quite liked the writing here. The pacing was nice, the setting was interesting and the story was engaging. I definitely noticed that I truly felt a connection to this and that I was invested throughout.
The only continual problem I had with the writing was that there were a little too many tragic backstories. The main characters seemed to have undergone about a million different forms of trauma, and it was a bit much. I feel like it would have been better if the author had picked a few of these stories and put all the focus on that, since the vast amount of it now was rather overwhelming and some of these stories lacked depth by immediately being forgotten about after being mentioned for the first time.
I also wasn’t a big fan of the entire ending. It was over-the-top, rushed and could have held a little more emotion. It didn’t quite satisfy me and some of the confrontations I was waiting for all along either did not happen or were extremely mild.
Now, when it comes to the romance, I have to say I often felt frustrated. I really liked Pasha, as he was funny, genuine, strong-willed, sarcastic, quietly vulnerable and unique. It’s why I was a little annoyed that he let Levi push him around quite a bit and did not stand up for his own worth. Levi treated Pasha rather unfairly at the beginning, and after they got together, he still refused to commit and was very hurtful from time to time. I’m not saying Levi was ever a complete arsehole or anything; it wasn’t that bad, but I just truly felt like Pasha deserved better and I desperately wanted him to point that out. Unfortunately, he never did. In the end, Levi got his act together, but it was too little, too late in my opinion.
Despite not buying into their romance entirely, I still enjoyed a lot of their interactions due to their great banter and the interesting setting they were in.
As I said before, I was quite the Pasha fan, and I was entertained and intrigued by most of the things that had to do with him. His relationship with his father, Maksim, the animals or the other workers on the ranch; I wanted to know about it all, and was never bored by any of it. Pasha’s character and his interactions with others were definitely a big reason why I enjoyed this book.
Long story short, I didn’t think this was the best book ever, but I had fun with and was quite intrigued by it all.
I really quite liked the writing here. The pacing was nice, the setting was interesting and the story was engaging. I definitely noticed that I truly felt a connection to this and that I was invested throughout.
The only continual problem I had with the writing was that there were a little too many tragic backstories. The main characters seemed to have undergone about a million different forms of trauma, and it was a bit much. I feel like it would have been better if the author had picked a few of these stories and put all the focus on that, since the vast amount of it now was rather overwhelming and some of these stories lacked depth by immediately being forgotten about after being mentioned for the first time.
I also wasn’t a big fan of the entire ending. It was over-the-top, rushed and could have held a little more emotion. It didn’t quite satisfy me and some of the confrontations I was waiting for all along either did not happen or were extremely mild.
Now, when it comes to the romance, I have to say I often felt frustrated. I really liked Pasha, as he was funny, genuine, strong-willed, sarcastic, quietly vulnerable and unique. It’s why I was a little annoyed that he let Levi push him around quite a bit and did not stand up for his own worth. Levi treated Pasha rather unfairly at the beginning, and after they got together, he still refused to commit and was very hurtful from time to time. I’m not saying Levi was ever a complete arsehole or anything; it wasn’t that bad, but I just truly felt like Pasha deserved better and I desperately wanted him to point that out. Unfortunately, he never did. In the end, Levi got his act together, but it was too little, too late in my opinion.
Despite not buying into their romance entirely, I still enjoyed a lot of their interactions due to their great banter and the interesting setting they were in.
As I said before, I was quite the Pasha fan, and I was entertained and intrigued by most of the things that had to do with him. His relationship with his father, Maksim, the animals or the other workers on the ranch; I wanted to know about it all, and was never bored by any of it. Pasha’s character and his interactions with others were definitely a big reason why I enjoyed this book.
Long story short, I didn’t think this was the best book ever, but I had fun with and was quite intrigued by it all.
July 30, 2018
-Re-read July 2018-
It was still good, but this time I found it to be a bit too long. It kind of started to drag a bit.
---------------------------------
Levi is a 25 year old American cowboy with an American father and a Russian mother living on a ranch in Montana with his father and his brother. When his father tells Levi he needs Levi to go to Russia for 6 months to teach Russians how to cowboy, Levi agrees since he doesn’t want to stay on the ranch with his homophobic brother anyway.
It is there that he meets Pasha, a 23 year old Russian model. Pasha has been ordered by his father to spend 6 months on the remote ranch. Pasha really didn’t have a choice since his father took his phone, took his apartment keys, his car, and had him escorted to the ranch. This all because apparently Pasha ruined a business deal for his father. Except Pasha is sure he didn’t tell anyone about the deal..
Pasha doesn’t want people to shun him, but he’s not hiding the fact that he is gay, so he continues to wear his eyeliner and be his fabulous self. But all that earns him is a beating from one of the Russian cowboys. But that won’t stop Pasha from doing the best he can at ranching in the freezing cold. Even when he does retch about 10 times a day.
Levi is determined not to like Pasha, but he can’t help himself when he sees that Pasha works hard, is kind to the animals, and never stops smiling. But Levi is not a relationship kind of guy. And Pasha doesn’t want casual sex. And even if they do end up together, there is no future for an American cowboy and a Russian model…
I loved Pasha. He was such an amazing character. He was funny, sweet, and nothing could get him down. I loved how he just kept smiling even when there were people out to get him. No matter how many beatings he received, he kept his spirits up and made the best out of the situation. I didn’t expect that when I started this book. I expected to read about a spoiled rich kid, but Pasha was anything but.
Levi was a bit harder to like at first. Especially since he was trying his best not to like Pasha and ignored him a lot of times. But once Levi started to thaw I did start to like him.
We had some wonderful hurt/comfort scenes in this. It was mostly Pasha who was hurting and who needed the comfort, but I was also happy with them sharing stories about their lives and comforting each other.
We did have a ton of angst in this. And while I love me some inner angst, I’m not always a fan of this type of angst. You could see the separation coming a mile away. I think that put a bit of a damper on my enthusiasm of this book because for the first 60% there’s this constant feeling of foreboding because both Levi and Pasha knew there was no future for them. Levi didn’t want to admit he really did love Pasha, and Pasha just wanted Levi to take a chance. But at least the couple didn’t fight. There was no push and pull in this, which I always hate something fierce. So I could definitely say the angst was doable, even though it could be a bit frustrating at times with all the things going wrong.
The epilogue was wonderful, if not a bit too wonderful. It was hearts and flowers and rainbows and puppies and cookies. But at least we got a good solid HEA. So no complaints from me.
Definitely a great read.
------------------------------
An ARC of Edge of Forever was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
This review has been cross-posted at Gay Book Reviews.
It was still good, but this time I found it to be a bit too long. It kind of started to drag a bit.
---------------------------------
Levi is a 25 year old American cowboy with an American father and a Russian mother living on a ranch in Montana with his father and his brother. When his father tells Levi he needs Levi to go to Russia for 6 months to teach Russians how to cowboy, Levi agrees since he doesn’t want to stay on the ranch with his homophobic brother anyway.
It is there that he meets Pasha, a 23 year old Russian model. Pasha has been ordered by his father to spend 6 months on the remote ranch. Pasha really didn’t have a choice since his father took his phone, took his apartment keys, his car, and had him escorted to the ranch. This all because apparently Pasha ruined a business deal for his father. Except Pasha is sure he didn’t tell anyone about the deal..
Pasha doesn’t want people to shun him, but he’s not hiding the fact that he is gay, so he continues to wear his eyeliner and be his fabulous self. But all that earns him is a beating from one of the Russian cowboys. But that won’t stop Pasha from doing the best he can at ranching in the freezing cold. Even when he does retch about 10 times a day.
Levi is determined not to like Pasha, but he can’t help himself when he sees that Pasha works hard, is kind to the animals, and never stops smiling. But Levi is not a relationship kind of guy. And Pasha doesn’t want casual sex. And even if they do end up together, there is no future for an American cowboy and a Russian model…
I loved Pasha. He was such an amazing character. He was funny, sweet, and nothing could get him down. I loved how he just kept smiling even when there were people out to get him. No matter how many beatings he received, he kept his spirits up and made the best out of the situation. I didn’t expect that when I started this book. I expected to read about a spoiled rich kid, but Pasha was anything but.
Levi was a bit harder to like at first. Especially since he was trying his best not to like Pasha and ignored him a lot of times. But once Levi started to thaw I did start to like him.
We had some wonderful hurt/comfort scenes in this. It was mostly Pasha who was hurting and who needed the comfort, but I was also happy with them sharing stories about their lives and comforting each other.
We did have a ton of angst in this. And while I love me some inner angst, I’m not always a fan of this type of angst. You could see the separation coming a mile away. I think that put a bit of a damper on my enthusiasm of this book because for the first 60% there’s this constant feeling of foreboding because both Levi and Pasha knew there was no future for them. Levi didn’t want to admit he really did love Pasha, and Pasha just wanted Levi to take a chance. But at least the couple didn’t fight. There was no push and pull in this, which I always hate something fierce. So I could definitely say the angst was doable, even though it could be a bit frustrating at times with all the things going wrong.
The epilogue was wonderful, if not a bit too wonderful. It was hearts and flowers and rainbows and puppies and cookies. But at least we got a good solid HEA. So no complaints from me.
Definitely a great read.
------------------------------
An ARC of Edge of Forever was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
This review has been cross-posted at Gay Book Reviews.
January 24, 2020
When I first started reading this book I really wasn't too sure on Pasha and, dare I say it, my DNF finger got a bit twitchy. But I'm so glad I hung in there for a couple chapters because the author made me do a total 180 and I fell in love with Pasha so hard. What a character! His inner strength, fortitude, tenacity and heart of gold not to mention his life at the hands of Maxsim just ... yeah - I fell hook line and sinker.
Levi ... hmmm that man! He annoyed me at times because he was hurting Pasha, but he too won me over eventually. I do wish thought that he had pulled his head out of his backside sooner.
Loved it!
4.25 stars
Levi ... hmmm that man! He annoyed me at times because he was hurting Pasha, but he too won me over eventually. I do wish thought that he had pulled his head out of his backside sooner.
Loved it!
4.25 stars
June 3, 2018
4.5 Stars!
Barbara Elsborg is definitely one of my favorite authors!
I really enjoyed this one. It had the perfect mix of everything - some angst, seriosuly laugh out loud banter (I absolutely adored Pasha) and plenty of steam!
Barbara Elsborg is definitely one of my favorite authors!
I really enjoyed this one. It had the perfect mix of everything - some angst, seriosuly laugh out loud banter (I absolutely adored Pasha) and plenty of steam!
June 21, 2018
Difícil de darle rating y difícil hacer una crítica. El libro se divide en dos partes muy diferenciadas, primero la vida en un rancho de ganado en Rusia y cómo se conocen y enamoran Levi, un estadounidense que está allí para enseñar a los rusos en que consiste esto de ser cowboy; y Pasha, hijo de un adinerado "hombre de negocios" ruso, modelo, y al que su padre manda a trabajar en el rancho buscando darle una lección a su díscolo hijo. Esta primera parte me ha gustado, quizá hay mucho estereotipo en la construcción de los dos MC, pero son una bonita pareja, tienen química, los secundarios son interesantes... Aunque no del todo convencida debido a ciertos puntos, es una parte entretenida.
Pero..., luego nos encontramos con el último 30% del libro y ahí todo va cuesta abajo y sin freno. Una imagen de la población rusa llena de tópicos, una excesiva introducción de temas muy muy desagradables, reacciones de los protagonistas poco coherentes con quiénes son, trama peliculera y absolutamente nada creíble. Así hasta llegar a un epílogo con más azúcar que las canciones de Celia Cruz.
Prometía mucho, parecía una lectura interesante y emotiva, pero se queda en un psé.
Nota positiva: he aprendido muchísimo sobre ganado y la verdad es que ha sido interesante.
Bendito KU
Pero..., luego nos encontramos con el último 30% del libro y ahí todo va cuesta abajo y sin freno. Una imagen de la población rusa llena de tópicos, una excesiva introducción de temas muy muy desagradables, reacciones de los protagonistas poco coherentes con quiénes son, trama peliculera y absolutamente nada creíble. Así hasta llegar a un epílogo con más azúcar que las canciones de Celia Cruz.
Prometía mucho, parecía una lectura interesante y emotiva, pero se queda en un psé.
Nota positiva: he aprendido muchísimo sobre ganado y la verdad es que ha sido interesante.
Bendito KU
July 26, 2018
**4.5 stars**
Once again, Barbara Elsborg gave me a thrilling romance. Heather K summarizes it well, so I’m quoting her : ”a unique mix of really funny and really angsty.”.
Pasha, a young model, is being sent to a cattle ranch in the middle of Russian nowhere as a penance (or maybe not) from his wealthy father. Impossible for Pasha to blend in this universe : he’s gay, he’s a city boy, he can’t stand durt and blood, but no way will he back down...no, no, no : he stands proud, is going to take it all with style and not shut his mouth. To the surprise and concealed amusement of Levi, a silent, reliable, closeted gay American cowboy, in charge of training how to raise cattle.
Slow burn, opposite attracts, angst, fun, chemistry, hotness. I found all this in this book in a balance that worked well for me. I loved learning bit by bit about Pasha and Levi and seeing the bond between them growing. As usual with this author, I felt a lot for the MCs (I subscribed to Pasha’s fan-club : Judith, make some room for me, please !!), I enjoyed the pace, and rooted for a HEA that was perfect for me.
Once again, Barbara Elsborg gave me a thrilling romance. Heather K summarizes it well, so I’m quoting her : ”a unique mix of really funny and really angsty.”.
Pasha, a young model, is being sent to a cattle ranch in the middle of Russian nowhere as a penance (or maybe not) from his wealthy father. Impossible for Pasha to blend in this universe : he’s gay, he’s a city boy, he can’t stand durt and blood, but no way will he back down...no, no, no : he stands proud, is going to take it all with style and not shut his mouth. To the surprise and concealed amusement of Levi, a silent, reliable, closeted gay American cowboy, in charge of training how to raise cattle.
Slow burn, opposite attracts, angst, fun, chemistry, hotness. I found all this in this book in a balance that worked well for me. I loved learning bit by bit about Pasha and Levi and seeing the bond between them growing. As usual with this author, I felt a lot for the MCs (I subscribed to Pasha’s fan-club : Judith, make some room for me, please !!), I enjoyed the pace, and rooted for a HEA that was perfect for me.
June 3, 2018
*4,5 stars*
I loved it.
I inhaled it.
I found the 'new' scenario really refreshing and captivating. (and the fact that it's based on truth made it even better!)
I adored the MCs:
How could you possibly NOT adore Sasha? He is so genuine and vulnerable but has the courage of a lion. I could only take my hat off to his unwillingness to budge to bullies. And the way he tackles his life with so much optimism. Despite everything.
Levi is the quiet one who has trouble with relationships (which is not exactly surprising considering his past) You could see he was fooling himself about his feelings all along, but boy, did it take him forever to actually own them!
I went through a huge variety of emotions:
anger, fury, desperation, anguish, surprise, joy and laughter.
I laughed.
I giggled.
I snorted. Sasha's snarky banter and clever sarcasm really made my day!
And yet - This is about two guys who overcome an equally disturbing past to be who they are together, so the author touches upon a lot of serious themes: abuse, conversion therapy, drugs...
Which all leads to an ear-piercing crescendo in the last 20 percent! That was kind of unexpected.
All in all - This is fabulous book by a very talented author.
I loved it.
I inhaled it.
I found the 'new' scenario really refreshing and captivating. (and the fact that it's based on truth made it even better!)
I adored the MCs:
How could you possibly NOT adore Sasha? He is so genuine and vulnerable but has the courage of a lion. I could only take my hat off to his unwillingness to budge to bullies. And the way he tackles his life with so much optimism. Despite everything.
Levi is the quiet one who has trouble with relationships (which is not exactly surprising considering his past) You could see he was fooling himself about his feelings all along, but boy, did it take him forever to actually own them!
I went through a huge variety of emotions:
anger, fury, desperation, anguish, surprise, joy and laughter.
I laughed.
I giggled.
I snorted. Sasha's snarky banter and clever sarcasm really made my day!
And yet - This is about two guys who overcome an equally disturbing past to be who they are together, so the author touches upon a lot of serious themes: abuse, conversion therapy, drugs...
Which all leads to an ear-piercing crescendo in the last 20 percent! That was kind of unexpected.
All in all - This is fabulous book by a very talented author.
dnf
December 2, 2018DNF @ 13%
The story is moving very, very slowly, with lots of telling and interminable musing by the MCs. That's not why I gave up, though; sometimes it's worth persevering with an author whose work you like. And I did like two of Elsborg's previous novels -- Breaking in particular. But this book is hitting two of my pet peeves, and hitting them hard.
First, I have no patience for adult men who haven't managed to individuate from their birth families. Time to grow up, guys! This story offers a double-whammy: even though they're in their mid-twenties, both MCs allow their domineering families to control and oppress them.
Second, I don't want to read stories featuring violent homophobes and bullies and gay-bashing. Personal preference here. There are plenty of horrifying stories like that available in the news, should I ever want to make myself depressed, disheartened and despairing. But I don't read fiction to make myself feel miserable. And having grown up in a time when the rare story featuring queer characters emphasized the misery and hopelessness and wrongness of their lives, I'm well and truly sick of that.
It's the 21st century, and Western society at large has finally admitted that it's possible for queer people to have other experiences. I read m/m romance specifically because I want to see hopeful and optimistic storylines... storylines comparable to those of the cishet world, where the average person isn't in immediate danger of being beaten up or terrorized. Consider it an antidote to all those decades of only being able to find the opposite.
As you can see, this isn't an indictment of the book, just recognition of the profound mismatch between what it offers and what I want to read. I can easily imagine that other people might enjoy it.
The story is moving very, very slowly, with lots of telling and interminable musing by the MCs. That's not why I gave up, though; sometimes it's worth persevering with an author whose work you like. And I did like two of Elsborg's previous novels -- Breaking in particular. But this book is hitting two of my pet peeves, and hitting them hard.
First, I have no patience for adult men who haven't managed to individuate from their birth families. Time to grow up, guys! This story offers a double-whammy: even though they're in their mid-twenties, both MCs allow their domineering families to control and oppress them.
Second, I don't want to read stories featuring violent homophobes and bullies and gay-bashing. Personal preference here. There are plenty of horrifying stories like that available in the news, should I ever want to make myself depressed, disheartened and despairing. But I don't read fiction to make myself feel miserable. And having grown up in a time when the rare story featuring queer characters emphasized the misery and hopelessness and wrongness of their lives, I'm well and truly sick of that.
It's the 21st century, and Western society at large has finally admitted that it's possible for queer people to have other experiences. I read m/m romance specifically because I want to see hopeful and optimistic storylines... storylines comparable to those of the cishet world, where the average person isn't in immediate danger of being beaten up or terrorized. Consider it an antidote to all those decades of only being able to find the opposite.
As you can see, this isn't an indictment of the book, just recognition of the profound mismatch between what it offers and what I want to read. I can easily imagine that other people might enjoy it.
June 12, 2024
✰ 4.25 stars ✰
“When you’re given a chance for happiness—don’t throw it away.”
Jonty, I owe you an apology. 🙇🏻♀️ You were always the staple to which I would compare other Elsborg's characters to - the blueprint to who I would see glimpses of your characteristics and personalities shine forth in others - one where I'd smile and shake my head at how familiar that particular scene felt, because it was something already acted upon before. But after reading Edge of Forever, I've discovered that before Jonty burst onto the screen and into my heart - there was Pasha. 🤍
Perhaps if I read further back, I'd stumble across the prototype for Pasha, as well. But, that's an effort for another day. 😊 It's a strange experience when you read an author's works in a non-chronological order, where it becomes impossible for me NOT to notice the distinct little similarities that pop in the later works - one where I couldn't help but go - 'I think I've seen this film before', especially in her Unfinished Business series - noting how certain plot lines here felt familiar and were then further expanded and fleshed out in that series.
So, did it prevent me from enjoying this cowboy romance set in Russia featuring two complete opposites that pulled me in with their fierce desire not to act upon their feelings till it became apparent that it was near impossible to do so? 😊
Surprisingly, not at all.
For even though it is a read that features a lot of heavy, angsty themes, even though there were discussions and moments of sensitive and uncomfortable points, even though the ending was one out of the Russian mafia books, everything felt in moderation. Everything never went to the point where I did not become overwhelmed by what I was reading or what was taking place. 👌🏻👌🏻 Even Pasha's very flexible talent that is prevalent in most of the author's mc's was just a hint touched upon. 😏 The characters, the setting, the relationship, everything was written with such a believable touch that it felt real enough for me to be wholly invested in it - not at all minding in the slightest of how it really was the stepping stone of why I continue to be drawn to Barbara Elsborg's works. 💗💗
And with that completely unnecessary personal introduction out of the way... 😅
“It was hard to be in love with someone who was desperate not to love you, someone who told you over and over that they loved fucking you, but you knew that the L word would never come from their mouth in the way you wanted it to.”
It was impossible not to love Pasha - the twenty-three-year old sexy Russian model, who's stripped of all his wealthy privileges and sent to work on a cattle ranch by his father as punishment (or is it?), to atone for a mistake he's been accused of committing. Brazenly open about being gay, he never shies away from being his true self - eyeliner and designer clothes are his keepsake, ambitious photography and amateur video skills is his hidden passion, and secret crushes on the moody and broody, but dark and delicious American rancher come to help out the Russians with their farm is his latest desire. 💌🤩 I loved his scathing humor, his affectionate honestly - how proud and unapologetic he was - never cowering or desiring to change that part of him, despite how easy it was to be victimized and bullied. 😔 'I know just how to make you feel happy. I’ll find every place you like to be stroked, everywhere you don’t like to be touched and you’ll end up doing everything I ask and loving me.' I couldn't help but be charmed by him and care for him. His witty retorts, his well-timed quips, his wholehearted kindness - the love and sympathy he has for the treatment of all the animals under his care - that when his horrid and sordid past is revealed that has hurt him so deeply - my heart broke for him. 😢 How it may seem like it's all just an act to cover up his pain, and how he doesn't believe he is deserving of good things. I just wanted to hug him and squeeze him and promise him all good things forever. Yet my anger and rage paled in comparison as to how Levi felt so drawn and compelled to protect Pasha, for as long as he could - for as much as he was able.
“The guy could talk with his eyes. Levi saw so much in them, including stuff he didn’t want to see.
Longing.
Want.
Need.
Disappointment.”
Twenty-five-year old quiet and reserved cowboy, Levi Blue only has one thing in mind - serve out his six month induced sentence of training the ranch hands on how to manage cattle and the horses and head back to his family ranch in Montana. 🤠 - Okay, this emoji doesn't really capture his demeanor, but you get it. 🤭 His family may not want him there, but it's the only place he knows and feels comfortable about acting upon his sexuality, despite his family's disapproval. A silent and thoughtful person, who doesn't do relationships - 'no need for conversation beyond the practicalities' - he doesn't have time for commitment - nor has he ever been inclined to have one - known for only being into threesomes and adhering to his rule - 'fuck, flee, forget.' I know. 🫤 It's the creed he's followed and will continue to follow, not one to be swayed or deterred by the well-meaning intentions of a certain sparkly doe-eyed Pasha - whose bite is as tempting as his bark. He has no time or interest in an inexperienced novelty that he has to show the ropes to - who doesn't even take the work seriously. Whose looks are as sinful as his biting retorts - whose trust and attraction to him should in no ways stir any sort of visceral reaction from within - something he should ever prevent from becoming anything more. He doesn't have time for unnecessary distractions - too busy with chores to be drawn to the 'irritating, infuriating, insufferable…' Pasha, until he becomes simply too irresistible for him to fight off any longer - until he proves just how wrong Levi was of of what he thought he was like before. 🥺
“A while ago I’d have said my type was nothing like you. I’ve always gone for big strong guys who just wanted to be fucked and nothing else. But no one has ever made me feel the way you do.”
“What? Annoyed?”
Levi stared straight at him. “No, like there’s more to life than I imagined, that I’ve been a fool.”
At that moment, Pasha fell deeply and irrevocably in love.”
The way their relationship progressed was oddly refreshing - that scene where Levi slowly realized that maybe this pretty city kid might be more than an irritation, but an endearing presence was nicely done - strangely reminiscent of a Beauty and the Beast-scene! 🐺💘 And for every time Levi spoke in Russian, and Pasha countered in English, you can see their defenses slowly crumbling - that creeping forward to how they both wanted more from the other. 'You don’t see it, but you love me.' 😢 That they both just wanted to be happy with someone that would love them for who they were. And they were so good together, too; even in their banter - there was this gentleness to it, a sweetness and kindness that marked how well they fit together. 🥹🥹 I loved how they opened up to each other - shared intimate details about themselves, and felt comfortable in each other's presence to be so honest about their pasts. And so hawt together, too! 🙂↕️🙂↕️ There is no shortage of their passion and scorching intimacy - even when it's under a secretive thumb; the author never fails to light up the smexy factor with her couples, and these two were no exception! 🫠❤️🔥
I felt so bad for Pasha - at how he so desperately wanted to convince Levi to stay - wanted to prove that his love was enough for him to stay - that he could finally have something good in his life - that their relationship didn't need a timer, where it all had to end. It made their desire to make the most of the time they had all that more palpable. Despite how Levi continued to fight it - how he refused to be tied down, constantly reminding Pasha that this wasn't permanent - that it could never be - you could tell that things were changing. 🥲 'There was no future for them. Time was ticking down on Levi’s departure. They lived a world apart in more ways than miles.' So, it was really amusing that the more Pasha resigned himself to the inevitable truth that Levi had to leave - that he wasn't enough to hold him or it wasn't right for him to want that of him - the more Levi wanted to stay. 😥 The more he realized how much he really did care for Pasha and it was so heartbreaking, but in the best of ways - raw and real emotions of wanting what you can't have - the aching sense that he's the one - but you don't think you can be the one. And how it was built upon that - that aching yearning to finally have that love returned - it was beautifully done - drawing all the loose threads together so well. 🤧❤️🩹
“I considered saying no, until I saw sense. Why not live the life I’d imagined in my dreams? Why not listen to my heart? Particularly after you’d shown me I had one.
Particularly when I wanted to give it to you.”
Even if certain cattle descriptions made me slightly queasy - the descriptive imagery Ms.Elsborg provided to enrich the realism of their ranch was tangible. 🐮👌🏻🐴 She made it easy to immerse the reader into their daily activities and chores, complete with a round of likeable and not so likeable fellow ranch hands that made their interactions and conflicts feel real. A great sense of camaraderie and respect was touched upon in highlighting the aspects of what it means to tend cattle - the hard work it amounts to, and the danger of a white wilderness in which their Russian farm was located. It was made even more adventurous with Pasha's running commentary that provided levity and a tenderness to it, which I really appreciated. ☺️ The writing was, as usual, a joy to read - easily flowed and one that I'm all too comfortable with; even if I continued to spot the little points that were all too familiar that would appear more fleshed out in her later works. 😅 I also liked that there was always something happening - even with an altercation that could have been excluded, but I guess, was necessary for their relationship to deepen, I liked that they were never stagnant. Work never ceased, but their interactions only grew from it - their heart-to-hearts even in the quiet moments made everything feel alive.
“He could never get enough, never have enough, never stop wanting, needing Pasha.
I love him. I love him. I love him.”
The ending is definitely where the author's thriller-esque style comes into play, with the mystery and action developing to a climactic point that further cemented themselves into each others' hearts and lives; it was handled well enough that I wasn't too put off by it, either. 👍🏻👍🏻 I did feel that certain characters were redeemed too easily, and not enough for me to forgive them, but I can understand why the author chose to have it done that way. It was just a really wonderful read, rounding up nicely with such a heartwarming epilogue that brought such closure and happiness to their relationship that they both worked hard to achieve and attain that I couldn't help feeling happy for them, too. 🫶🏻🥰🫶🏻
And a special shout out of appreciation to the cover model that brilliantly, if not perfectly captured Levi through Pasha's eyes, which also has its own significant role in the story, itself. 😍 Definitely not one of the reasons why I was drawn to reading it - most definitely not! 🙂↔️🙈😆
“When you’re given a chance for happiness—don’t throw it away.”
Jonty, I owe you an apology. 🙇🏻♀️ You were always the staple to which I would compare other Elsborg's characters to - the blueprint to who I would see glimpses of your characteristics and personalities shine forth in others - one where I'd smile and shake my head at how familiar that particular scene felt, because it was something already acted upon before. But after reading Edge of Forever, I've discovered that before Jonty burst onto the screen and into my heart - there was Pasha. 🤍
Perhaps if I read further back, I'd stumble across the prototype for Pasha, as well. But, that's an effort for another day. 😊 It's a strange experience when you read an author's works in a non-chronological order, where it becomes impossible for me NOT to notice the distinct little similarities that pop in the later works - one where I couldn't help but go - 'I think I've seen this film before', especially in her Unfinished Business series - noting how certain plot lines here felt familiar and were then further expanded and fleshed out in that series.
So, did it prevent me from enjoying this cowboy romance set in Russia featuring two complete opposites that pulled me in with their fierce desire not to act upon their feelings till it became apparent that it was near impossible to do so? 😊
Surprisingly, not at all.
For even though it is a read that features a lot of heavy, angsty themes, even though there were discussions and moments of sensitive and uncomfortable points, even though the ending was one out of the Russian mafia books, everything felt in moderation. Everything never went to the point where I did not become overwhelmed by what I was reading or what was taking place. 👌🏻👌🏻 Even Pasha's very flexible talent that is prevalent in most of the author's mc's was just a hint touched upon. 😏 The characters, the setting, the relationship, everything was written with such a believable touch that it felt real enough for me to be wholly invested in it - not at all minding in the slightest of how it really was the stepping stone of why I continue to be drawn to Barbara Elsborg's works. 💗💗
And with that completely unnecessary personal introduction out of the way... 😅
“It was hard to be in love with someone who was desperate not to love you, someone who told you over and over that they loved fucking you, but you knew that the L word would never come from their mouth in the way you wanted it to.”
It was impossible not to love Pasha - the twenty-three-year old sexy Russian model, who's stripped of all his wealthy privileges and sent to work on a cattle ranch by his father as punishment (or is it?), to atone for a mistake he's been accused of committing. Brazenly open about being gay, he never shies away from being his true self - eyeliner and designer clothes are his keepsake, ambitious photography and amateur video skills is his hidden passion, and secret crushes on the moody and broody, but dark and delicious American rancher come to help out the Russians with their farm is his latest desire. 💌🤩 I loved his scathing humor, his affectionate honestly - how proud and unapologetic he was - never cowering or desiring to change that part of him, despite how easy it was to be victimized and bullied. 😔 'I know just how to make you feel happy. I’ll find every place you like to be stroked, everywhere you don’t like to be touched and you’ll end up doing everything I ask and loving me.' I couldn't help but be charmed by him and care for him. His witty retorts, his well-timed quips, his wholehearted kindness - the love and sympathy he has for the treatment of all the animals under his care - that when his horrid and sordid past is revealed that has hurt him so deeply - my heart broke for him. 😢 How it may seem like it's all just an act to cover up his pain, and how he doesn't believe he is deserving of good things. I just wanted to hug him and squeeze him and promise him all good things forever. Yet my anger and rage paled in comparison as to how Levi felt so drawn and compelled to protect Pasha, for as long as he could - for as much as he was able.
“The guy could talk with his eyes. Levi saw so much in them, including stuff he didn’t want to see.
Longing.
Want.
Need.
Disappointment.”
Twenty-five-year old quiet and reserved cowboy, Levi Blue only has one thing in mind - serve out his six month induced sentence of training the ranch hands on how to manage cattle and the horses and head back to his family ranch in Montana. 🤠 - Okay, this emoji doesn't really capture his demeanor, but you get it. 🤭 His family may not want him there, but it's the only place he knows and feels comfortable about acting upon his sexuality, despite his family's disapproval. A silent and thoughtful person, who doesn't do relationships - 'no need for conversation beyond the practicalities' - he doesn't have time for commitment - nor has he ever been inclined to have one - known for only being into threesomes and adhering to his rule - 'fuck, flee, forget.' I know. 🫤 It's the creed he's followed and will continue to follow, not one to be swayed or deterred by the well-meaning intentions of a certain sparkly doe-eyed Pasha - whose bite is as tempting as his bark. He has no time or interest in an inexperienced novelty that he has to show the ropes to - who doesn't even take the work seriously. Whose looks are as sinful as his biting retorts - whose trust and attraction to him should in no ways stir any sort of visceral reaction from within - something he should ever prevent from becoming anything more. He doesn't have time for unnecessary distractions - too busy with chores to be drawn to the 'irritating, infuriating, insufferable…' Pasha, until he becomes simply too irresistible for him to fight off any longer - until he proves just how wrong Levi was of of what he thought he was like before. 🥺
“A while ago I’d have said my type was nothing like you. I’ve always gone for big strong guys who just wanted to be fucked and nothing else. But no one has ever made me feel the way you do.”
“What? Annoyed?”
Levi stared straight at him. “No, like there’s more to life than I imagined, that I’ve been a fool.”
At that moment, Pasha fell deeply and irrevocably in love.”
The way their relationship progressed was oddly refreshing - that scene where Levi slowly realized that maybe this pretty city kid might be more than an irritation, but an endearing presence was nicely done - strangely reminiscent of a Beauty and the Beast-scene! 🐺💘 And for every time Levi spoke in Russian, and Pasha countered in English, you can see their defenses slowly crumbling - that creeping forward to how they both wanted more from the other. 'You don’t see it, but you love me.' 😢 That they both just wanted to be happy with someone that would love them for who they were. And they were so good together, too; even in their banter - there was this gentleness to it, a sweetness and kindness that marked how well they fit together. 🥹🥹 I loved how they opened up to each other - shared intimate details about themselves, and felt comfortable in each other's presence to be so honest about their pasts. And so hawt together, too! 🙂↕️🙂↕️ There is no shortage of their passion and scorching intimacy - even when it's under a secretive thumb; the author never fails to light up the smexy factor with her couples, and these two were no exception! 🫠❤️🔥
I felt so bad for Pasha - at how he so desperately wanted to convince Levi to stay - wanted to prove that his love was enough for him to stay - that he could finally have something good in his life - that their relationship didn't need a timer, where it all had to end. It made their desire to make the most of the time they had all that more palpable. Despite how Levi continued to fight it - how he refused to be tied down, constantly reminding Pasha that this wasn't permanent - that it could never be - you could tell that things were changing. 🥲 'There was no future for them. Time was ticking down on Levi’s departure. They lived a world apart in more ways than miles.' So, it was really amusing that the more Pasha resigned himself to the inevitable truth that Levi had to leave - that he wasn't enough to hold him or it wasn't right for him to want that of him - the more Levi wanted to stay. 😥 The more he realized how much he really did care for Pasha and it was so heartbreaking, but in the best of ways - raw and real emotions of wanting what you can't have - the aching sense that he's the one - but you don't think you can be the one. And how it was built upon that - that aching yearning to finally have that love returned - it was beautifully done - drawing all the loose threads together so well. 🤧❤️🩹
“I considered saying no, until I saw sense. Why not live the life I’d imagined in my dreams? Why not listen to my heart? Particularly after you’d shown me I had one.
Particularly when I wanted to give it to you.”
Even if certain cattle descriptions made me slightly queasy - the descriptive imagery Ms.Elsborg provided to enrich the realism of their ranch was tangible. 🐮👌🏻🐴 She made it easy to immerse the reader into their daily activities and chores, complete with a round of likeable and not so likeable fellow ranch hands that made their interactions and conflicts feel real. A great sense of camaraderie and respect was touched upon in highlighting the aspects of what it means to tend cattle - the hard work it amounts to, and the danger of a white wilderness in which their Russian farm was located. It was made even more adventurous with Pasha's running commentary that provided levity and a tenderness to it, which I really appreciated. ☺️ The writing was, as usual, a joy to read - easily flowed and one that I'm all too comfortable with; even if I continued to spot the little points that were all too familiar that would appear more fleshed out in her later works. 😅 I also liked that there was always something happening - even with an altercation that could have been excluded, but I guess, was necessary for their relationship to deepen, I liked that they were never stagnant. Work never ceased, but their interactions only grew from it - their heart-to-hearts even in the quiet moments made everything feel alive.
“He could never get enough, never have enough, never stop wanting, needing Pasha.
I love him. I love him. I love him.”
The ending is definitely where the author's thriller-esque style comes into play, with the mystery and action developing to a climactic point that further cemented themselves into each others' hearts and lives; it was handled well enough that I wasn't too put off by it, either. 👍🏻👍🏻 I did feel that certain characters were redeemed too easily, and not enough for me to forgive them, but I can understand why the author chose to have it done that way. It was just a really wonderful read, rounding up nicely with such a heartwarming epilogue that brought such closure and happiness to their relationship that they both worked hard to achieve and attain that I couldn't help feeling happy for them, too. 🫶🏻🥰🫶🏻
And a special shout out of appreciation to the cover model that brilliantly, if not perfectly captured Levi through Pasha's eyes, which also has its own significant role in the story, itself. 😍 Definitely not one of the reasons why I was drawn to reading it - most definitely not! 🙂↔️🙈😆
October 14, 2018
Hallelujah! THIS is how you do Mary Calmes' level of crazypants plot lines without making me hate a book. You start me with an overbearing father cranking his control freak tendencies up to a 10 to set up the premise of the book, but then you bring it back to a simmer, and then a low boil, and then - and ONLY then - you can let the whole thing boil over into and it'll all seem so normal and natural and of course they would both get .
Overall, I really loved Pasha and Levi as characters, sympathized with their struggles (both internal and external), and I was wholeheartedly rooting for them to make a relationship between them work. I may have even shed a tear or two when things looked dire for them and gotten gushy over their epilogue.
This was my first full-length novel by Barbara Elsborg, but I'm convinced it won't be long before I pick up the next one.
WARNING: This book was triggery as shit. Check the spoiler tag for the worst of it:
Overall, I really loved Pasha and Levi as characters, sympathized with their struggles (both internal and external), and I was wholeheartedly rooting for them to make a relationship between them work. I may have even shed a tear or two when things looked dire for them and gotten gushy over their epilogue.
This was my first full-length novel by Barbara Elsborg, but I'm convinced it won't be long before I pick up the next one.
WARNING: This book was triggery as shit. Check the spoiler tag for the worst of it:
August 15, 2021
2.5 rounded down because the beginning really got on my nerve. This ended up being an OK book. I really enjoyed that ranch life was not idealized at all, it was messy, smelly, exhausting as well as beautiful. The beginning annoyed me because Pasha's character was inconsistent. We was at once bratty, entitled, a doormat and showed no sense of preservation. I admired that he was proudly out at the ranch from the beginning but there is difference between out and coming on to people (in a very obvious, repetitive way) whose sexual orientation you don't know. I mean Russia has a lot of homophobia, which the book acknowledges, so I was puzzled by that behaviour. Of course he comes on to the other MC so we know that's fine but still. Levi also annoyed me because I did not get was he was so antagonistic to Pasha. A warning, there is a rather graphic assault scene (not between the 2 MCs but still).
The relationship development that was my favorite part, when they actually start to open up and their awful backstories are revealed (read AWFUL). However, Levi was still mean in the beginning and at one point the relationship seemed toxic to Pasha to me. He was opening up and Levi kept not treating him that well. We could see that Pasha was suffering from that. Obviously that improves, a LOT but still. The ending was neat, maybe too neat with a 7 years later epilogue that I personally was not a fan of. Another problem though: I did not get why Pasha was so attached to Levi that quickly. I really felt that Levi loved Pasha, understood why and saw it but the reverse was not so evident.
The third act was over the top! Also the moral of the story seems to be "if you have money you'll be fine". A lot is solved by money, and I DO mean a lot.
the families : I feel that both Pasha's and Levi's father were awful and I felt that their awfulness never really had consequences. Levi's brother should be in jail in my book and I did not like the explanation/excuse that was given for his behaviour. On that front everything was solved too neatly, there should have been FIGHTS because really get a grip fathers!
I think that if you're into cowboy stories you may enjoy this one because they were cute.
The relationship development that was my favorite part, when they actually start to open up and their awful backstories are revealed (read AWFUL). However, Levi was still mean in the beginning and at one point the relationship seemed toxic to Pasha to me. He was opening up and Levi kept not treating him that well. We could see that Pasha was suffering from that. Obviously that improves, a LOT but still. The ending was neat, maybe too neat with a 7 years later epilogue that I personally was not a fan of. Another problem though: I did not get why Pasha was so attached to Levi that quickly. I really felt that Levi loved Pasha, understood why and saw it but the reverse was not so evident.
The third act was over the top! Also the moral of the story seems to be "if you have money you'll be fine". A lot is solved by money, and I DO mean a lot.
the families : I feel that both Pasha's and Levi's father were awful and I felt that their awfulness never really had consequences. Levi's brother should be in jail in my book and I did not like the explanation/excuse that was given for his behaviour. On that front everything was solved too neatly, there should have been FIGHTS because really get a grip fathers!
I think that if you're into cowboy stories you may enjoy this one because they were cute.
September 6, 2018
2.75 stars. Oh man…this book. OK. I have likes and I have gripes.
Overview: Romance, check. Angst, check. Hot sex, check.
Bear in mind — so many trigger warnings (click the spoiler tag here if you have concerns)
What I liked about this book was PASHA. He jumped straight off the page and into my heart. Damn it, I wanted to adopt him and love him and pet him and make his pain go away. He was so funny and brave — and uncynical, despite everything that had happened to him. I had several LOL-and-make-people-stare moments and they were all because of something that Pasha said.
OK, now the gripes:
The editing errors were distracting for me. I will generally forgive a handful of those for a great story, but this one had more than a handful.
The plot was fine for the most part, but then got eye-rollingly far-fetched in the last 25% or so.
But this is what bothered me the most — for over half of the book, I didn’t really buy the attraction between Levi and Pasha. It felt like they were drawn to each other out of proximity and need (both emotional and physical) rather than true chemistry. Eventually, I started feeling them together, but I’m still not sure if it was an actual improvement in the story or if the hot sex just finally wore me down. 😅
I’m not sure exactly what was missing here for me. Maybe it was that Levi’s personality felt less developed than Pasha’s. I knew why I was drawn to Pasha, but there was something missing about why Levi was drawn to him. And I got why Pasha would have been drawn to Levi physically and emotionally, but I had trouble moving from that to him actually falling in love. Part of the problem was that every tender moment turned sexual. My issue wasn’t the quantity of sex, it was just that the connection sometimes needs to be about more than that.
I didn't love this book, but I don’t regret reading it, if for no other reason than getting to know Pasha. He was refreshingly beautiful and I only wish the rest of the story had been as well-developed as he was.
Overview: Romance, check. Angst, check. Hot sex, check.
Bear in mind — so many trigger warnings (click the spoiler tag here if you have concerns)
What I liked about this book was PASHA. He jumped straight off the page and into my heart. Damn it, I wanted to adopt him and love him and pet him and make his pain go away. He was so funny and brave — and uncynical, despite everything that had happened to him. I had several LOL-and-make-people-stare moments and they were all because of something that Pasha said.
OK, now the gripes:
The editing errors were distracting for me. I will generally forgive a handful of those for a great story, but this one had more than a handful.
The plot was fine for the most part, but then got eye-rollingly far-fetched in the last 25% or so.
But this is what bothered me the most — for over half of the book, I didn’t really buy the attraction between Levi and Pasha. It felt like they were drawn to each other out of proximity and need (both emotional and physical) rather than true chemistry. Eventually, I started feeling them together, but I’m still not sure if it was an actual improvement in the story or if the hot sex just finally wore me down. 😅
I’m not sure exactly what was missing here for me. Maybe it was that Levi’s personality felt less developed than Pasha’s. I knew why I was drawn to Pasha, but there was something missing about why Levi was drawn to him. And I got why Pasha would have been drawn to Levi physically and emotionally, but I had trouble moving from that to him actually falling in love. Part of the problem was that every tender moment turned sexual. My issue wasn’t the quantity of sex, it was just that the connection sometimes needs to be about more than that.
I didn't love this book, but I don’t regret reading it, if for no other reason than getting to know Pasha. He was refreshingly beautiful and I only wish the rest of the story had been as well-developed as he was.
June 24, 2018
Oh those Russians...
Ok so here we go again because if you recognize the song that this line is from you are once dating yourself...it was released in 1978...more than a few years ago.
Sorry for some reason this song always pops into my brain when Russia enters into a conversation or as is the case here becomes the setting for a book. I'm pretty sure there's more than one song about Russia out there. Anyways, about the book...
Like a lot of my friends I'm pretty much a sucker for a good cowboy story but this one's a cowboy story with at twist...you see our cowboys are in Texas or Wyoming or even Alberta...that's right folks we have cowboys up here in Canada...Calgary Stampede it's a thing and if you want to see cowboys well Calgary has them in abundance during...well never mind I'm digressing again.
The cowboy's in question aren't in any of those places they're in Russia...we're talking freakin' cold Russia. Seems they've decided to raise beef there problem is no one really knows how so they've done the obvious and that's to contract cowboys from the States to go over and train them and that's how Levi...wait, wasn't there a Levi in the last book that I read...yes, there was but he was an event planner and not a cowboy...so back to our cowboy Levi who's teaching a bunch of Russian men how to heard cattle because it's a dream of his that he's always had...NOT!!! More like because he needs to get away from his jerkwad, homophobic brother and a father who doesn't seems to care about him other than as someone to work the ranch and go earn enough money to build that new barn that they need...but that's another discussion for later.
So Levi heads off to Russia it's a cakewalk right? Six months there some breathing space between Levi and his family, go home resume life as normal and everything's find or at least it will be if Levi can survive the latest recruit who seems to want to be on the ranch even less than Levi and who's got Levi feeling more than a little hot and bothered but Pasha's not Levi's type after all, so it's not a problem and Levi doesn't do relationships so everything's good, right? Well than why does Levi want to hit something...or more like someone when he realizes that Pasha's being harassed and bullied?
That's right...bullied, it's not just a school thing it's out there in the world and Pasha's spent most of his life trying to avoid the bullies and now his father has landed him smack dab in the middle of a hornets nest of them. But Pasha's strong and he's a survivor. He's already lived through so much, he can make it through this. He just needs to keep his head down and avoid them.
I don't even know where to begin to explain how much and why I loved this book. First off let's start with the plot because Wow!!! Simply WOW! There's a hella' good story here. It simply blew me away. The more I read, the more I wanted. Neither Levi nor Pasha have had an easy life and both men are still struggling to make their way in the world and find their place. I loved them both...a lot. Sure I didn't always like that Levi was keeping his sexuality a secret and so sometimes his actions frustrated me but I could see why and he needed to be able to deal with things on his own terms and come to grips with it all. Still in spite of this he tried to be there for Pasha as much as he comfortably could and in the end he was all in, but I'm getting ahead of myself here.
Back to Pasha...I don't think I have the words to explain what an incredible character Barbara Elsborg has created with Pasha...truthfully the only thing I can say that even comes close to doing Pasha service is 'read the book' and get to know him and love him for his strength, courage and his sense of humor...Pasha kept me smiling and laughing even during some of the bad times...I love Pasha...plain and simple. I would be his mom in a heartbeat...hey, I could do it, he's 7 years younger than my own son.
I had a tiny little niggle with the ending hence the 4.5 stars instead of 5 and yet in spite of that I also loved the ending. it was a bit on the fairytale side...and they all lived happily ever after...so to speak but when I thought about it I also felt like if ever any book couple deserved this it's Levi and Pasha. They've faced down the big bad wolf...no literally there were wolves...see you need to read the book, they've survived more than one villain...bigotted homophobes and an obsessive stalker only to find out at the end of it all there's more and so much of what's happened isn't how it seems.
I'm pretty sure this one's going to be on my favorites list for this year...if not top 10 it's definitely going to be in my top 20, I guess we'll just have to see what the rest of the year brings.
*************************
A copy of 'Edge of Forever' was graciously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Ok so here we go again because if you recognize the song that this line is from you are once dating yourself...it was released in 1978...more than a few years ago.
Sorry for some reason this song always pops into my brain when Russia enters into a conversation or as is the case here becomes the setting for a book. I'm pretty sure there's more than one song about Russia out there. Anyways, about the book...
Like a lot of my friends I'm pretty much a sucker for a good cowboy story but this one's a cowboy story with at twist...you see our cowboys are in Texas or Wyoming or even Alberta...that's right folks we have cowboys up here in Canada...Calgary Stampede it's a thing and if you want to see cowboys well Calgary has them in abundance during...well never mind I'm digressing again.
The cowboy's in question aren't in any of those places they're in Russia...we're talking freakin' cold Russia. Seems they've decided to raise beef there problem is no one really knows how so they've done the obvious and that's to contract cowboys from the States to go over and train them and that's how Levi...wait, wasn't there a Levi in the last book that I read...yes, there was but he was an event planner and not a cowboy...so back to our cowboy Levi who's teaching a bunch of Russian men how to heard cattle because it's a dream of his that he's always had...NOT!!! More like because he needs to get away from his jerkwad, homophobic brother and a father who doesn't seems to care about him other than as someone to work the ranch and go earn enough money to build that new barn that they need...but that's another discussion for later.
So Levi heads off to Russia it's a cakewalk right? Six months there some breathing space between Levi and his family, go home resume life as normal and everything's find or at least it will be if Levi can survive the latest recruit who seems to want to be on the ranch even less than Levi and who's got Levi feeling more than a little hot and bothered but Pasha's not Levi's type after all, so it's not a problem and Levi doesn't do relationships so everything's good, right? Well than why does Levi want to hit something...or more like someone when he realizes that Pasha's being harassed and bullied?
That's right...bullied, it's not just a school thing it's out there in the world and Pasha's spent most of his life trying to avoid the bullies and now his father has landed him smack dab in the middle of a hornets nest of them. But Pasha's strong and he's a survivor. He's already lived through so much, he can make it through this. He just needs to keep his head down and avoid them.
I don't even know where to begin to explain how much and why I loved this book. First off let's start with the plot because Wow!!! Simply WOW! There's a hella' good story here. It simply blew me away. The more I read, the more I wanted. Neither Levi nor Pasha have had an easy life and both men are still struggling to make their way in the world and find their place. I loved them both...a lot. Sure I didn't always like that Levi was keeping his sexuality a secret and so sometimes his actions frustrated me but I could see why and he needed to be able to deal with things on his own terms and come to grips with it all. Still in spite of this he tried to be there for Pasha as much as he comfortably could and in the end he was all in, but I'm getting ahead of myself here.
Back to Pasha...I don't think I have the words to explain what an incredible character Barbara Elsborg has created with Pasha...truthfully the only thing I can say that even comes close to doing Pasha service is 'read the book' and get to know him and love him for his strength, courage and his sense of humor...Pasha kept me smiling and laughing even during some of the bad times...I love Pasha...plain and simple. I would be his mom in a heartbeat...hey, I could do it, he's 7 years younger than my own son.
I had a tiny little niggle with the ending hence the 4.5 stars instead of 5 and yet in spite of that I also loved the ending. it was a bit on the fairytale side...and they all lived happily ever after...so to speak but when I thought about it I also felt like if ever any book couple deserved this it's Levi and Pasha. They've faced down the big bad wolf...no literally there were wolves...see you need to read the book, they've survived more than one villain...bigotted homophobes and an obsessive stalker only to find out at the end of it all there's more and so much of what's happened isn't how it seems.
I'm pretty sure this one's going to be on my favorites list for this year...if not top 10 it's definitely going to be in my top 20, I guess we'll just have to see what the rest of the year brings.
*************************
A copy of 'Edge of Forever' was graciously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
December 1, 2018
Holly Gingerbread (God, I love all these crazy elf names) popped in and left this awesome gift for me :) Thanks a lot, Holly ;)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~ 4.5 stars ~
This book was really great and I'm sooo happy that it was gifted to me by an awesome elf!
I LOVED everything about Pasha - his snark and humor, his strength, and his determination. Seriously, Pasha is one of the best characters I've read in a while!
Levi was a little less developed but I liked him nonetheless. He had his faults but I got where he was coming from and even though he frustrated me at times, he redeemed himself in the end.
Both men were great together and I really enjoyed reading how they finally stood up for themselves and to their nemeses and fought for what they wanted.
Although the last 20% were kinda OTT (it reminded me a bit of the kind of craziness Mary Calmes is known for), I was glued to the page and couldn't stop reading. I meant to only read a few pages before going to bed but ended up being awake until 2 AM because I needed to know how all of this would turn out.
I kinda wished for a little less sex. Don't get me wrong, the sex was hot and the guys had a great chemistry but I felt like a lot of the tender moments turned into sex when I wished for a deeper connection beyond the physical.
Also, this books needs trigger warnings for !! I'm a strong supporter of trigger warnings and I wish authors would take the effect they can have on a reader more seriously.
Overall this book was the perfect combination of humor and angst sprinkled with awesome, vivid descriptions of Russia and Montana that made me see the places the story took place in. I was drawn into the story from the very first page and it ended up being one of the best books I've read in 2018.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~ 4.5 stars ~
This book was really great and I'm sooo happy that it was gifted to me by an awesome elf!
I LOVED everything about Pasha - his snark and humor, his strength, and his determination. Seriously, Pasha is one of the best characters I've read in a while!
Levi was a little less developed but I liked him nonetheless. He had his faults but I got where he was coming from and even though he frustrated me at times, he redeemed himself in the end.
Both men were great together and I really enjoyed reading how they finally stood up for themselves and to their nemeses and fought for what they wanted.
Although the last 20% were kinda OTT (it reminded me a bit of the kind of craziness Mary Calmes is known for), I was glued to the page and couldn't stop reading. I meant to only read a few pages before going to bed but ended up being awake until 2 AM because I needed to know how all of this would turn out.
I kinda wished for a little less sex. Don't get me wrong, the sex was hot and the guys had a great chemistry but I felt like a lot of the tender moments turned into sex when I wished for a deeper connection beyond the physical.
Also, this books needs trigger warnings for !! I'm a strong supporter of trigger warnings and I wish authors would take the effect they can have on a reader more seriously.
Overall this book was the perfect combination of humor and angst sprinkled with awesome, vivid descriptions of Russia and Montana that made me see the places the story took place in. I was drawn into the story from the very first page and it ended up being one of the best books I've read in 2018.
September 6, 2018
Loved this so very much. Im still smiling
Read
September 23, 2018
friends. I know I'm in the minority, 97% of my friends loved it and it bloody hurts when we see a book we love not work for a friend. But it is what it is.I couldn't find a balance, everything was too much. But the worst of it, is that I felt the guys got together since there was no other option for them in that place full of nasty people. Besides, I didn't like Levi and I read Pasha as a spoiled boy.
This is a review that describes perfectly my feelings:
Volha's review
September 18, 2022
3.5 “American cowboy meets sassy Russian model” stars
Cute. Funny. Angsty. Sexy. Steamy.
“Pasha gaped at him. “So hot all-male bovine action is part of beef ranching?”
“Yep.”
“I’m not going to put that in.” He sighed. “It’s a bit sad we can’t just rely on Mr. Bull and Mrs. Cow to fall in love and decide to start a family.”
“Then you’d feel bad about eating their kids.”
Cute. Funny. Angsty. Sexy. Steamy.
“Pasha gaped at him. “So hot all-male bovine action is part of beef ranching?”
“Yep.”
“I’m not going to put that in.” He sighed. “It’s a bit sad we can’t just rely on Mr. Bull and Mrs. Cow to fall in love and decide to start a family.”
“Then you’d feel bad about eating their kids.”
December 4, 2018
First read by this author and I loved it. There were so many different emotions this book pulled out of me, anger, rage, sadness, laughter and happiness. Any book that can do that, in my opinion, is the best kind.
I did minus a star because there were a lot of words, through many chapters, left unsaid . A ton of angst could of been prevented if these two could of just said what was on their mind. Communication is important fellas!
We have Pasha who is a model that tends to get into trouble with his father. Pasha is made to go work on a ranch. Where he does not get the best reception because he is not afraid to hide who he is. At this ranch, he meets Levi who is an American cowboy that is at the ranch to teach the Russian's the skills of being a rancher. He too is forced, in a way, to come to the ranch.
The two do not initially hit it off as Pasha tends to annoy Levi. After an incident, with a bully on the ranch, Levi has Pasha move to his room. This is where the two hit it off and start a sexual relationship. However, the two are on the ranch for a limited time so what they have going on has an expiration date. Which makes things quite complicated.
Overall this was a great read that I would recommend.
I did minus a star because there were a lot of words, through many chapters, left unsaid . A ton of angst could of been prevented if these two could of just said what was on their mind. Communication is important fellas!
We have Pasha who is a model that tends to get into trouble with his father. Pasha is made to go work on a ranch. Where he does not get the best reception because he is not afraid to hide who he is. At this ranch, he meets Levi who is an American cowboy that is at the ranch to teach the Russian's the skills of being a rancher. He too is forced, in a way, to come to the ranch.
The two do not initially hit it off as Pasha tends to annoy Levi. After an incident, with a bully on the ranch, Levi has Pasha move to his room. This is where the two hit it off and start a sexual relationship. However, the two are on the ranch for a limited time so what they have going on has an expiration date. Which makes things quite complicated.
Overall this was a great read that I would recommend.
June 5, 2021
4.5 stars 💫
I'm OBSESSED with Barbara Elsborg's writing. She could write anything, here I'm ready to explore the story!
Pasha is one of my fav characters ever! His sense of humor was enough for me to get lost in this story. Pasha is just the kind of a hero I wanted in a book. On the outside, He was a cheerful, sassy, witty guy but inside, he was pretty vulnerable. How couldn't I love Pasha even more? I was addicted to him. 💕
I know when it comes to Barbara Elsborg’s books there is a pretty angst side we should expect. But I couldn't deny my agony when I discovered that how Pasha had been hurting in his whole life before he met Levi. His life story gave excruciating pain to my heart. My heart ached for little Pasha. 🥺😭
Pasha was a successful model and outed as gay. He wasn't afraid of being gay even though Russia wasn't most friendly to the gay community. The only thing he wanted was to get affection from a person he loved. He loved to be loved. 😢💔 When his father said that Pasha was no longer has the right to stay in Moscow and was exiled to a ranch as a punishment, Pasha was furious. Nevertheless, he accepted it and went to the ranch. It was the best thing that ever happened to him! 🤩
Levi was a gentle and nice guy. He left Montana ranch because of his brother. His brother Sam didn't give any support for his being gay. He sent Levi a conversion therapy and did everything to get the gay out of him. LOL. 😆 Sam thought that if Levi was sent to Russia, it would help to change him.
Levi and Pasha were in the same ranch and they met. At first, Levi was annoyed by Pasha’s jokes. But he secretly adored him. Pasha was irresistible. Finally, he admitted that he could no longer suppress his undeniable attraction to Pasha. 🥺💖
I could read the whole book even there is the only character in the story was Pasha. But the romance between Levi and Pasha was worth reading. Levi spent worthless time to realize he loves Pasha more than anything. But I loved how they finally turned their lives into something worthy that they didn't want to regret ever. I'm happy for both of them! 🤍
I'm OBSESSED with Barbara Elsborg's writing. She could write anything, here I'm ready to explore the story!
Pasha is one of my fav characters ever! His sense of humor was enough for me to get lost in this story. Pasha is just the kind of a hero I wanted in a book. On the outside, He was a cheerful, sassy, witty guy but inside, he was pretty vulnerable. How couldn't I love Pasha even more? I was addicted to him. 💕
I know when it comes to Barbara Elsborg’s books there is a pretty angst side we should expect. But I couldn't deny my agony when I discovered that how Pasha had been hurting in his whole life before he met Levi. His life story gave excruciating pain to my heart. My heart ached for little Pasha. 🥺😭
Pasha was a successful model and outed as gay. He wasn't afraid of being gay even though Russia wasn't most friendly to the gay community. The only thing he wanted was to get affection from a person he loved. He loved to be loved. 😢💔 When his father said that Pasha was no longer has the right to stay in Moscow and was exiled to a ranch as a punishment, Pasha was furious. Nevertheless, he accepted it and went to the ranch. It was the best thing that ever happened to him! 🤩
Levi was a gentle and nice guy. He left Montana ranch because of his brother. His brother Sam didn't give any support for his being gay. He sent Levi a conversion therapy and did everything to get the gay out of him. LOL. 😆 Sam thought that if Levi was sent to Russia, it would help to change him.
Levi and Pasha were in the same ranch and they met. At first, Levi was annoyed by Pasha’s jokes. But he secretly adored him. Pasha was irresistible. Finally, he admitted that he could no longer suppress his undeniable attraction to Pasha. 🥺💖
I could read the whole book even there is the only character in the story was Pasha. But the romance between Levi and Pasha was worth reading. Levi spent worthless time to realize he loves Pasha more than anything. But I loved how they finally turned their lives into something worthy that they didn't want to regret ever. I'm happy for both of them! 🤍
August 3, 2018
I just adore Barbara Elsborg more each book she writes. From page one of Egde if Forever I was hooked, one more chapter, page or 5 more minutes - I could not put it down. For me I enjoy getting to know the M/C’s, why they are who they are, what draws them to each other, what makes them act the way they do or react. So in this story I had the enjoyment of experiencing all of it through her wonderful writing. What I always realize after when reading one of Elborg’s books is how easily she puts me in the atmosphere/place or location of the story. Her writing is so smooth for me I don’t feel like it’s being descriptive or scene telling I am just enjoying the story and immersed in the world she built. This was incredible, the love story was fantastic. Wonderful book
June 4, 2018
I do not read m/m books as much as I used to, so when I do finally decide to go back to the genre, I try to pick a book that has a fair chance of being good, or at least entertaining.
Barbara Elsborg is always a good choice, and she definitely delivered yet again!
It was sweet yet not overly so.
It was romantic, the plot was great, the hotness was off the charts (just like Elsborg is so rightly famous for), and the ending was perfect.
It gave me an apatite for more m/m, and that is rare for me these days.
I’m happy!
Barbara Elsborg is always a good choice, and she definitely delivered yet again!
It was sweet yet not overly so.
It was romantic, the plot was great, the hotness was off the charts (just like Elsborg is so rightly famous for), and the ending was perfect.
It gave me an apatite for more m/m, and that is rare for me these days.
I’m happy!
June 1, 2018
4.5 Stars
‘It was hard to be in love with someone who was desperate not to love you…’
We pretty much love everything Barbara Elsborg writes and once again we found ourselves marvelling at the way in which another story grabbed our hearts from the moment we began reading. She drew us in with her intriguing storyline, her wonderful quirky and lovable characters, her wit and her passion. Her darkness and suffering. Her characters all have a way of burrowing deep into our hearts seeing us falling in love, making us break into spontaneous laughter and igniting that protective instinct within us. Pasha is that perfect quintessential male character which Barbara Elsborg writes so well.
‘He might have friends, but he was lonely. He wanted someone to love. He wanted to be special to someone…’
Pasha is a young Russian model who is seen at every party and is a popular social media darling. A young man whose family life is the exact opposite; cold, lacking in affection and family love. His teenage years in boarding school saw him fall into a relationship with a horrific older man who inflicted such pain and personal manipulation of a young boy, which carried into his twenties. Our hearts broke but we admired Pasha’s inner strength, his nurturing ways and his ability to overcome life with his wicked sense of humour. He was adorable, funny, loving and emotionally vulnerable. Pasha was lonely. Under the horrifically brutal Russian regime, what with their stand on homosexuality, Pasha was in constant danger due to his natural openness about who he is. A boy who likes boys. The fact that this is still a crime or even abhorred in any part of the world is an injustice so cruel and inhumane.
‘Pasha just wanted to be happy. He wanted to hold a man’s hand in public. He wanted to go out on dates, to lie with a guy on a couch and watch a film, to cook together, have fun. None of that was going to happen here. Nor when he went back to Moscow. Pasha knew that nothing would change. Happiness would continue to seem out of reach – on the next page, around the next corner, the next day, next week, next year.’
Pasha is sent away by his father to a remote farm in the dank and freezing Russian countryside as a punishment for betraying a perceived notion of trust. A farm where Pasha is so out of his element it had us chuckling yet admiring his ability to bring to the surface that part of him that shows such authentic compassion. He also found a cowboy named Levi who would change his life.
‘I don’t need your love.
I don’t want the pain in my chest.
I don’t want the hole in my heart.
I can survive.
I will survive.’
Levi is a man who himself has not had an easy ride in life, growing up on a farm in Montana in a home you can’t exactly call happy nor healthy as it’s riddled with judgement and lacklustre family relationships. He’s lost and has endured cruelty at the hands of his loved ones in a bid to be ‘cured’ of his supposed ‘gay affliction’. It made for hard reading and we’re distraught that love is still considered to be a ‘sickness’. Levi is sent to the same farm in Russia as Pasha to pass on valuable knowledge on how to run a farm in every aspect there is. To teach Russians how to be real cowboys.
“I wish I could be the one for you, but I can’t. We come from different worlds. I can’t live in yours and you can’t live in mine. “
When this strong and fierce cowboy meets the sweet, snarky and boyish model the intensity of attraction light up the pages. However nothing in life ever comes easy and they must fight for the love, happiness and contentment they both not only deserve but crave. We loved every moment we spent with these boys and the epilogue was one of the most wonderful we’ve read by this Author!
“I feel like I’m waiting at the launch pad for a rocket to take off. Counting down the days. I want the rocket to fly, I want it to reach the stars, but I wish I was going too.”
“You’ll fly. Just not with me.”
‘But I don’t want to fly without you.’
Available to purchase below
Amazon US
Amazon UK
Come visit and follow us at:
✲ TotallybookedBlog
✲ TB on Facebook
✲ TB on Twitter
✲ TB on Pinterest
September 21, 2018
This author is really becoming a favorite of mine!
I haven't read a lot of her books but the ones I had... I Really liked!
With this one, I just fell in love with Pasha...
So brave and funny and unapologetic. I loved him. Simple!
Pasha is a Russian. A model who live in Moscow.
His father decides to send him in a remove ranch in the far country cut of from everything and everyone to 'teach him a lesson'.
It starts as expected. Pasha is singled out. bullied and lonely!
But then there's this American... Levi...
Well. Levi is not out. And he grew up in a ranch in Montana with parents and siblings that never really showed or demonstrated emotions & feelings so he's not that good with it either...
It took more time for me to like Levi. His stubbornness to keep brushing Pasha's off at the beginning was pissing me off.
But then he told his story and just like Pasha's... It broke my little heart!
The writing was good. The end was a little OTT in my opinion. Hence the 4 stars instead of 5
Nothing really happen except Pasha & Levi getting to know one another and that was good. Really good. And then at 70% we change the pace and there suspense and shooting.... Well it didn't bothered me but I just found it odd.
So yeah. I loved it! I will looking for more of this author. Definitely!
I haven't read a lot of her books but the ones I had... I Really liked!
With this one, I just fell in love with Pasha...
So brave and funny and unapologetic. I loved him. Simple!
Pasha is a Russian. A model who live in Moscow.
His father decides to send him in a remove ranch in the far country cut of from everything and everyone to 'teach him a lesson'.
It starts as expected. Pasha is singled out. bullied and lonely!
But then there's this American... Levi...
Well. Levi is not out. And he grew up in a ranch in Montana with parents and siblings that never really showed or demonstrated emotions & feelings so he's not that good with it either...
It took more time for me to like Levi. His stubbornness to keep brushing Pasha's off at the beginning was pissing me off.
But then he told his story and just like Pasha's... It broke my little heart!
The writing was good. The end was a little OTT in my opinion. Hence the 4 stars instead of 5
Nothing really happen except Pasha & Levi getting to know one another and that was good. Really good. And then at 70% we change the pace and there suspense and shooting.... Well it didn't bothered me but I just found it odd.
So yeah. I loved it! I will looking for more of this author. Definitely!
April 1, 2022
***Re-read March '21. Pasha obviously must've been the inspiration for my fave character of Barbara's Jonty. Levi was a dick and lucky Pasha wanted him so much.***
4.25 stars from me. Took me [and Levi, hehe] a while to get with the programme 😉, but I adored [💙] Pasha from the get-go; he was such a lovable character, with a huge heart. He was brilliant.
The ending was lovely, I had a big smile on my face and was chuckling about the Godiva chocolates....you can always guarantee a few chuckles in Barbara's stories. I should add that there is reference in the story to Pasha deserved to be loved without conditions, and Levi...well, read the story for yourselves. 😍😍
4.25 stars from me. Took me [and Levi, hehe] a while to get with the programme 😉, but I adored [💙] Pasha from the get-go; he was such a lovable character, with a huge heart. He was brilliant.
The ending was lovely, I had a big smile on my face and was chuckling about the Godiva chocolates....you can always guarantee a few chuckles in Barbara's stories. I should add that there is reference in the story to Pasha deserved to be loved without conditions, and Levi...well, read the story for yourselves. 😍😍
September 20, 2018
4.0 Stars
I can see why so many of my GR friends' reviews varied from hating this to loving it...at least when it comes to Pasha's personality & character. He's not an easy MC to love; he's spoiled, selfish, self-centered and seems to float by on his looks, money & Daddy's connections. But underneath is just a little boy - one who seems to have everything, the world at his fingertips - who wants nothing more than to be loved & cared for (in a non-stalkery/possessive way). Only, he doesn't seem to know how to go about achieving that for himself; he's still psychologically caught in the grips of an inappropriate affair (technically ended, but still...) and has very little experience with unconditional love. He surrounds himself with sycophants and users hoping to fill the void. Forcibly removed from his familiar routine and environment, he starts to blossom and question his choices...and he decides he's found what he's looking for in Levi.
Levi, who finds himself in Russia teaching new ranch-hands how to cowboy because he needed a break from the relentless "religious" anti-gay prodding from his brother and to earn enough money to provide his family (who doesn't really much respect him, it seems) a new - and desperately needed - barn for their own struggling ranch operation. He's good at his job; he likes it well enough, but it's not his life's passion; that option - to be a veterinarian - is off the table for a couple of reasons and besides, he has his whole life invested in that ranch back in Montana. With no reason to risk leaving his family, he's kind of in limbo.
So, basically he goes from being out and hounded to being closeted and lonely but managing to survive the months he's endured living in Russia. Until Pasha is dumped at the ranch by an overbearing father in an attempt to teach him a lesson.
But all is not as it seems in this novel. The side characters alternately lived up to their stereotypes whiles others were shown in a completely different light than their actions would have their loved ones believe of them. Some of it made me angry, some of it broke my heart.
I do have to say that I absolutely adored Pasha after we were allowed to know him better. His sense of humor was an interesting mix of British stoicism and Russian fatalism. And while he was very much a pampered prince, even when he seemed ready to just give up, admit defeat (or contemplated whether it would be better to just give up, give up), he always had a steel core of strength that helped him through.
I would love to have an audio of this at some point...otherwise I'm going to have to make a note to re-read this at some time in the future. I was so invested in Pasha's journey, his growth and development, that I didn't concentrate on Levi's as much. I think there was a lot to unpack in his choice to only be intimate with committed couples looking for some fun on the side - especially since he wasn't interested at all in any kind of polyamorous situation...and how Pasha's support (emotional & monetary) helped him break out of his shell and take a chance on his dreams. So, yeah, definitely need a re-read...this time because it's a book I really liked and think I might rate it higher once I get more of a grip on Levi's character.
(I'd have rated this slightly higher if it weren't for that overly detailed, completely fairy-tale like epilogue...which felt unnecessarily gratuitous and a bit didactic - especially after that dramatic plot escalation in the last quarter of the book.)
I can see why so many of my GR friends' reviews varied from hating this to loving it...at least when it comes to Pasha's personality & character. He's not an easy MC to love; he's spoiled, selfish, self-centered and seems to float by on his looks, money & Daddy's connections. But underneath is just a little boy - one who seems to have everything, the world at his fingertips - who wants nothing more than to be loved & cared for (in a non-stalkery/possessive way). Only, he doesn't seem to know how to go about achieving that for himself; he's still psychologically caught in the grips of an inappropriate affair (technically ended, but still...) and has very little experience with unconditional love. He surrounds himself with sycophants and users hoping to fill the void. Forcibly removed from his familiar routine and environment, he starts to blossom and question his choices...and he decides he's found what he's looking for in Levi.
Levi, who finds himself in Russia teaching new ranch-hands how to cowboy because he needed a break from the relentless "religious" anti-gay prodding from his brother and to earn enough money to provide his family (who doesn't really much respect him, it seems) a new - and desperately needed - barn for their own struggling ranch operation. He's good at his job; he likes it well enough, but it's not his life's passion; that option - to be a veterinarian - is off the table for a couple of reasons and besides, he has his whole life invested in that ranch back in Montana. With no reason to risk leaving his family, he's kind of in limbo.
So, basically he goes from being out and hounded to being closeted and lonely but managing to survive the months he's endured living in Russia. Until Pasha is dumped at the ranch by an overbearing father in an attempt to teach him a lesson.
But all is not as it seems in this novel. The side characters alternately lived up to their stereotypes whiles others were shown in a completely different light than their actions would have their loved ones believe of them. Some of it made me angry, some of it broke my heart.
I do have to say that I absolutely adored Pasha after we were allowed to know him better. His sense of humor was an interesting mix of British stoicism and Russian fatalism. And while he was very much a pampered prince, even when he seemed ready to just give up, admit defeat (or contemplated whether it would be better to just give up, give up), he always had a steel core of strength that helped him through.
I would love to have an audio of this at some point...otherwise I'm going to have to make a note to re-read this at some time in the future. I was so invested in Pasha's journey, his growth and development, that I didn't concentrate on Levi's as much. I think there was a lot to unpack in his choice to only be intimate with committed couples looking for some fun on the side - especially since he wasn't interested at all in any kind of polyamorous situation...and how Pasha's support (emotional & monetary) helped him break out of his shell and take a chance on his dreams. So, yeah, definitely need a re-read...this time because it's a book I really liked and think I might rate it higher once I get more of a grip on Levi's character.
(I'd have rated this slightly higher if it weren't for that overly detailed, completely fairy-tale like epilogue...which felt unnecessarily gratuitous and a bit didactic - especially after that dramatic plot escalation in the last quarter of the book.)
March 9, 2024
PERFECTION!
☆ Cowboys
☆ Opposites attract
☆ Feminine MC
☆ Secret relationship
I loved this book so much, I can’t stop thinking about it! It is a refreshing take on cowboy romance, set in Russia with a unique plot and unforgettable characters.
Pasha is now one of my all-time favorite characters - proud, bratty, funny, and with a troubled past that made me root for him from the start. He’s the star of the book.
The slow burn between Pasha and Levi had me on the edge of my seat, I really enjoyed how their relationship was built. Levi is a good person, he had a tough life growing up too because of his homophobic family but I love how the story ended, I almost liked his father and understood where his brother came from (I still hate him very much for what he did to Levi!)
The last part of the book was very unexpected, I loved it! I love how I thought I had everything figured out but Barbara Elsborg still succeeded to surprise me.
The ending was perfection, Levi and Pasha are literally the cutest, and the epilogue 7 years later was the cherry on top (my favorite kind of epilogues.)
I highly recommend this book, it’s not really cowboy romance, it’s way more than that.
☆ Cowboys
☆ Opposites attract
☆ Feminine MC
☆ Secret relationship
I loved this book so much, I can’t stop thinking about it! It is a refreshing take on cowboy romance, set in Russia with a unique plot and unforgettable characters.
Pasha is now one of my all-time favorite characters - proud, bratty, funny, and with a troubled past that made me root for him from the start. He’s the star of the book.
The slow burn between Pasha and Levi had me on the edge of my seat, I really enjoyed how their relationship was built. Levi is a good person, he had a tough life growing up too because of his homophobic family but I love how the story ended, I almost liked his father and understood where his brother came from (I still hate him very much for what he did to Levi!)
The last part of the book was very unexpected, I loved it! I love how I thought I had everything figured out but Barbara Elsborg still succeeded to surprise me.
The ending was perfection, Levi and Pasha are literally the cutest, and the epilogue 7 years later was the cherry on top (my favorite kind of epilogues.)
I highly recommend this book, it’s not really cowboy romance, it’s way more than that.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 243 reviews