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Hell and Gone
One hanged man.
Two vanished cowboys.
Three hundred missing cattle.
The Crazy Mountains are devouring everything they see.
Everett Dawson, Montana’s newest Stock Detective, has been sent from Helena down to the Crazy Mountains. Cattle are going missing in the Crazies and Everett is charged with finding these modern-day rustlers and bringing them in.
When he arrives, he finds a hanged cowboy and a heap of questions. Was it suicide or was it murder? Why are cowboys fleeing the Crazies? Far from a simple investigation, Everett's case plunges deep into the mountains' dark past.
Lawrence Jackson, the bad boy who runs the Lazy Twenty Two, was the last man to see the dead cowboy alive. There’s a whole forest fire of smoke swirling around Lawrence, and where there’s smoke, there’s flame... and maybe even murder.
But Everett is drawn to Lawrence, and if he takes the risk Lawrence offers, will Everett find what he craves, or will the Crazies claim their next victim?
Two vanished cowboys.
Three hundred missing cattle.
The Crazy Mountains are devouring everything they see.
Everett Dawson, Montana’s newest Stock Detective, has been sent from Helena down to the Crazy Mountains. Cattle are going missing in the Crazies and Everett is charged with finding these modern-day rustlers and bringing them in.
When he arrives, he finds a hanged cowboy and a heap of questions. Was it suicide or was it murder? Why are cowboys fleeing the Crazies? Far from a simple investigation, Everett's case plunges deep into the mountains' dark past.
Lawrence Jackson, the bad boy who runs the Lazy Twenty Two, was the last man to see the dead cowboy alive. There’s a whole forest fire of smoke swirling around Lawrence, and where there’s smoke, there’s flame... and maybe even murder.
But Everett is drawn to Lawrence, and if he takes the risk Lawrence offers, will Everett find what he craves, or will the Crazies claim their next victim?
204 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 24, 2019
About the author
Tal Bauer
27 books6,810 followersTal Bauer writes breathtaking, heartfelt, and often action-packed gay romance novels. His characters are head over heels for each other and fight against all odds for their happy ending. Nothing stands in the way of love. Tal is best known for his romantic suspense novels, including the Executive Office series, The Murder Between Us, The Grave Between Us, The Night of, and his MM sports romance, The Jock.
Website - www.talbauerwrites.com
Amazon Author - http://amazon.com/author/talbauer
Instagram - @TalBauerWrites
Newsletter - https://mailchi.mp/f1fd8baec198/talba...
Website - www.talbauerwrites.com
Amazon Author - http://amazon.com/author/talbauer
Instagram - @TalBauerWrites
Newsletter - https://mailchi.mp/f1fd8baec198/talba...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 344 reviews
October 10, 2026
Meeting Lawrence was like meeting an immovable force of nature. He was the mountain, the peak, the steadiness. And Everett had blown up against him, wind-torn and ravaged, a broken thing thrown away, discarded from life and everything he’d hoped for.
Set in Timber Creek, in the Crazy Mountains of Montana.
Everett Dawson is a Stock Detective for the Montana Department of Agriculture. A United States Army veteran, Everett is originally from Texas. Age is not specified; from context clues, he’s 27 - 29.
Lawrence “Law” Jackson, 35, runs the Lazy Twenty-Two Ranch. 6’ tall, muscular, dark hair, and brown eyes. Ruggedly handsome.
Stolen cattle; missing men…and dead men.
Gorgeous description of the scenery. Well done with the vernacular speech, too. 👍🏻
Help with advanced riding, and learning the area.
Very masc4masc.
Feels very pandering to the female audience. Takes until 25% for an actual Gay Thought to surface. 😖
Everett’s PTSD.
His CSI expertise is quite impressive.
History and bad blood between the cowboys. Threats from larger ranches—one in particular.
Who to trust?
Very slow burn.
Lover x9 feels…so…antiquated. Tal just seems to be showing his age here. No one out in the wild, under a certain age, uses this word. (Okay, fine. Unless you are Taylor Swift.)
Damage reveals over the campfire 🙌🏻
Action is…lovemaking. It’s adequate. Not Male Gaze. Neutral, if anything…though much less Female Gaze than Bauer’s other works. Good with physiology (and emotion, cuz it’s Tal), but weak on anatomy. Verbiage is not euphemistic, but it’s not explicit, either.
Lawrence is such a gem. Closed off—til the floodgates open. 😍
Everett is…not that open.
Country guys and “darlin’” are kryptonite. 🥰
Intimacy is nice. Less sappy and saccharine than his usual fare.
Whiskey Gulch 😳
Gets wild with action as the plot is unraveled 💥
Solid ending. 🩶
“I’ve been dreaming of coming back to you, and it’s the first time I’ve dreamed of anything since Afghanistan. I crave you, Law.”
“I been dreamin’ of you my whole life. Been waitin’ on you. Cravin’ you, even before I knew who you were, Everett Dawson.”
**Shout-out to Rain. I cannot believe I read another Tal Bauer book. And I actually enjoyed it. 🤣
Set in Timber Creek, in the Crazy Mountains of Montana.
Everett Dawson is a Stock Detective for the Montana Department of Agriculture. A United States Army veteran, Everett is originally from Texas. Age is not specified; from context clues, he’s 27 - 29.
Lawrence “Law” Jackson, 35, runs the Lazy Twenty-Two Ranch. 6’ tall, muscular, dark hair, and brown eyes. Ruggedly handsome.
Stolen cattle; missing men…and dead men.
Gorgeous description of the scenery. Well done with the vernacular speech, too. 👍🏻
Help with advanced riding, and learning the area.
Very masc4masc.
Feels very pandering to the female audience. Takes until 25% for an actual Gay Thought to surface. 😖
Everett’s PTSD.
His CSI expertise is quite impressive.
History and bad blood between the cowboys. Threats from larger ranches—one in particular.
Who to trust?
Very slow burn.
Lover x9 feels…so…antiquated. Tal just seems to be showing his age here. No one out in the wild, under a certain age, uses this word. (Okay, fine. Unless you are Taylor Swift.)
Damage reveals over the campfire 🙌🏻
Action is…lovemaking. It’s adequate. Not Male Gaze. Neutral, if anything…though much less Female Gaze than Bauer’s other works. Good with physiology (and emotion, cuz it’s Tal), but weak on anatomy. Verbiage is not euphemistic, but it’s not explicit, either.
Lawrence is such a gem. Closed off—til the floodgates open. 😍
Everett is…not that open.
Country guys and “darlin’” are kryptonite. 🥰
Intimacy is nice. Less sappy and saccharine than his usual fare.
Whiskey Gulch 😳
Gets wild with action as the plot is unraveled 💥
Solid ending. 🩶
“I’ve been dreaming of coming back to you, and it’s the first time I’ve dreamed of anything since Afghanistan. I crave you, Law.”
“I been dreamin’ of you my whole life. Been waitin’ on you. Cravin’ you, even before I knew who you were, Everett Dawson.”
**Shout-out to Rain. I cannot believe I read another Tal Bauer book. And I actually enjoyed it. 🤣
August 23, 2026
This was an enjoyable murder mystery, western featuring two very different, but likable men.
He hadn’t felt a damn thing in two years, and now, in the middle of nowhere, investigating a murder, he had the first inklings of attraction again?
Typical of Tal, there are some lyrical prose, and a hard-earned hea.
Tropes/themes:
Contemporary gay
Romantic suspense
Cowboy MC
Former military/detective MC
Great chemistry
Small town
Murder/mystery
Lyrical prose
Size difference
Under 200 pages
HEA/HFN ending
It was what he’d been waiting for his whole life. Happiness. Another man who wanted him, who saw him, all of him, and still wanted more. Who looked at him and thought he was worth it, worth building a life with.
He hadn’t felt a damn thing in two years, and now, in the middle of nowhere, investigating a murder, he had the first inklings of attraction again?
Typical of Tal, there are some lyrical prose, and a hard-earned hea.
Tropes/themes:
Contemporary gay
Romantic suspense
Cowboy MC
Former military/detective MC
Great chemistry
Small town
Murder/mystery
Lyrical prose
Size difference
Under 200 pages
HEA/HFN ending
It was what he’d been waiting for his whole life. Happiness. Another man who wanted him, who saw him, all of him, and still wanted more. Who looked at him and thought he was worth it, worth building a life with.
July 9, 2019
***3.5 - 4 Stars***
My first thought when I read the blurb:
Cowboys!!!! Yippie-ya-yeah!
Actually, this book read like a crossover between Brokeback Mountain, CSI: Montana (okay, I totally made that one up), Lonesome Dove and Black Beauty, with some military sprinkles of Rambo...
And I happen to love all of the above - okay, maybe except for Rambo ;-). What I really like about Tal Bauer is his versatility and with each new book he really proves that he can pretty much write anything. It's not his fault that I'm not a fan of spiritual journeys involving reindeer juice, but that's a different story entirely.
Hell and Gone reminded me of a modern Western with a mystery twist, two well-developed characters and a slow burn romance subplot. There was insta-attraction between Everett and Law, but both guys didn't immediately act on it due to some suspicious facts and their own painful past and that felt pretty realistic to me, just like the HFN-ending did.
Oh, and I'm eternally grateful that the author used cowboy drawl this time instead of heavy purple prose like in his other books. Well, it's there, but turned down a notch. Or two. Or three. ;-)
Ha! And I might have found a new career aspiration for my next life: stock detective! I pretty much figured out the bad guy(s) from the getgo. Or maybe you can blame that on me watching too many Westerns as a kid or reading too many mysteries. ;-)
I have to say, though, that as someone with experience with horses these parts gave me quite some heavy eye-rolls and I would really love to get some kind of epilogue where both guys get their well-deserved HEA.
My first thought when I read the blurb:
Cowboys!!!! Yippie-ya-yeah!
Actually, this book read like a crossover between Brokeback Mountain, CSI: Montana (okay, I totally made that one up), Lonesome Dove and Black Beauty, with some military sprinkles of Rambo...
And I happen to love all of the above - okay, maybe except for Rambo ;-). What I really like about Tal Bauer is his versatility and with each new book he really proves that he can pretty much write anything. It's not his fault that I'm not a fan of spiritual journeys involving reindeer juice, but that's a different story entirely.
Hell and Gone reminded me of a modern Western with a mystery twist, two well-developed characters and a slow burn romance subplot. There was insta-attraction between Everett and Law, but both guys didn't immediately act on it due to some suspicious facts and their own painful past and that felt pretty realistic to me, just like the HFN-ending did.
Oh, and I'm eternally grateful that the author used cowboy drawl this time instead of heavy purple prose like in his other books. Well, it's there, but turned down a notch. Or two. Or three. ;-)
Ha! And I might have found a new career aspiration for my next life: stock detective! I pretty much figured out the bad guy(s) from the getgo. Or maybe you can blame that on me watching too many Westerns as a kid or reading too many mysteries. ;-)
I have to say, though, that as someone with experience with horses these parts gave me quite some heavy eye-rolls and I would really love to get some kind of epilogue where both guys get their well-deserved HEA.
April 14, 2026
I needed something short and easy to read between new releases I have been waiting on (I shudder at the thought of what would happen if I had to exist without a book to distract me from my own thoughts at all times, gross) and this fit the bill perfectly at a tidy 200 pages.
The mystery of Everett, army veteran and stock detective, showing up to the Crazies in Montana to investigate a murder and reports of cattle rustling was entertaining and engaging, however, I clocked it right out the gate, so I guess don’t enter into this wanting a twist for the ages.
The romance between Everette and Lawrence was a lot of fun to read (one horse trope but make it bareback riding - get it? get it? tehehehe). I did feel like trying to get a handle on consistent characterisation for Everett and Law was a bit like trying catch an eel, but end of the day its Tal Bauer and the man can write an entertaining romp even if it isn’t peak literature.
Turns out the couple dynamic of ‘wild bronc’ vs ‘calm and steady presence’ really scratches my brain good. Yum, yum, yum.
Consider following my instagram
The mystery of Everett, army veteran and stock detective, showing up to the Crazies in Montana to investigate a murder and reports of cattle rustling was entertaining and engaging, however, I clocked it right out the gate, so I guess don’t enter into this wanting a twist for the ages.
The romance between Everette and Lawrence was a lot of fun to read (one horse trope but make it bareback riding - get it? get it? tehehehe). I did feel like trying to get a handle on consistent characterisation for Everett and Law was a bit like trying catch an eel, but end of the day its Tal Bauer and the man can write an entertaining romp even if it isn’t peak literature.
Turns out the couple dynamic of ‘wild bronc’ vs ‘calm and steady presence’ really scratches my brain good. Yum, yum, yum.
Consider following my instagram
June 30, 2019
Exceptional MM western with a crime mystery twist. I only wish it had more pages.
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February 12, 2026
Hell and Gone by Tal Bauer is a stand alone, MM mystery/suspense with a little bit of romance. I’ve read several of this author’s books and have come to know him as writing swoony romance stories. This one was very light on the romance, heavier on the mystery so that disappointed me a bit. But the mystery itself was very good.
Everett Dawson spent eight years in the military. Now he has taken a job as a Montana Stock Detective. He has unbelievable tracking skills from his years in the military. I estimate his age to be in his late twenties. Everett has been sent to Timber Creek which is in the Crazy Mountains to investigate a large amount of missing cattle. What he finds when he arrives is so much more than he anticipated.
Lawrence Jackson is thirty five years old. He is the ranch manager for the Lazy Twenty Two ranch. The owner does not live at the ranch so Lawrence completely runs things. He’s been pushing for the sheriff to investigate the missing cattle, along with two missing cowboys from a neighboring ranch. Then, he finds a cowboy he has a relationship with dead. The sheriff claims it looks like he took his own life but Law knows it can’t be. His friend would never do that. The problem is, Law was the last person to see him alive. And, his reputation with the sheriff as well as the town is as being a trouble maker.
Everett is still dealing with the memories of his past in the military. But he tries to put it aside to concentrate on the case. He hasn’t felt attraction in almost two years but there is something about Law, an attraction he can’t seem to control. Why is his body waking up now? What is it about Law that affects him?
These two are thrown into a crazy wild ride filled with suspicion and mystery. They soon realize that all they have is each other to rely on. But does Everett truly trust Law enough to protect him? The story is pretty short and is a wild ride from start to finish. I admit I did have a suspicion as to who might be involved but I was not prepared for that wild ending! So if you want a quick read that is more suspense/mystery and lighter on the romance, this one is for you.
Everett Dawson spent eight years in the military. Now he has taken a job as a Montana Stock Detective. He has unbelievable tracking skills from his years in the military. I estimate his age to be in his late twenties. Everett has been sent to Timber Creek which is in the Crazy Mountains to investigate a large amount of missing cattle. What he finds when he arrives is so much more than he anticipated.
Lawrence Jackson is thirty five years old. He is the ranch manager for the Lazy Twenty Two ranch. The owner does not live at the ranch so Lawrence completely runs things. He’s been pushing for the sheriff to investigate the missing cattle, along with two missing cowboys from a neighboring ranch. Then, he finds a cowboy he has a relationship with dead. The sheriff claims it looks like he took his own life but Law knows it can’t be. His friend would never do that. The problem is, Law was the last person to see him alive. And, his reputation with the sheriff as well as the town is as being a trouble maker.
Everett is still dealing with the memories of his past in the military. But he tries to put it aside to concentrate on the case. He hasn’t felt attraction in almost two years but there is something about Law, an attraction he can’t seem to control. Why is his body waking up now? What is it about Law that affects him?
These two are thrown into a crazy wild ride filled with suspicion and mystery. They soon realize that all they have is each other to rely on. But does Everett truly trust Law enough to protect him? The story is pretty short and is a wild ride from start to finish. I admit I did have a suspicion as to who might be involved but I was not prepared for that wild ending! So if you want a quick read that is more suspense/mystery and lighter on the romance, this one is for you.
February 9, 2021
Oh, I liked this quite a bit. I'm always looking for a great Rancher/Cowboy type story and this totally delivered. Montana is one of my favorite places to visit in my head and this is a side of it that was totally new to me. Add into all that a mystery and I was sold.
The first chapter, the setup kept the did he or didn't he alive and all the secondary characters just added to the whodunnit.
I will admit I had an inkling about who did do it and I was mostly right but that didn't diminish my enjoyment of the mystery at all.
I liked both Law and Everett and felt a great relief in my heart that they found each other. It may have been a little circumstantial, a little insta, but none of that really mattered to me overall. It all just felt right and I felt all of it fit and I very much enjoyed it.
I do hope Tal Bauer writes more mysteries and I of course would not be averse to more cowboys.
The first chapter, the setup kept the did he or didn't he alive and all the secondary characters just added to the whodunnit.
I will admit I had an inkling about who did do it and I was mostly right but that didn't diminish my enjoyment of the mystery at all.
I liked both Law and Everett and felt a great relief in my heart that they found each other. It may have been a little circumstantial, a little insta, but none of that really mattered to me overall. It all just felt right and I felt all of it fit and I very much enjoyed it.
I do hope Tal Bauer writes more mysteries and I of course would not be averse to more cowboys.
July 26, 2024
Another winner from Tal Bauer, this time set in the Crazy Mountains of Montana.
Law (the best damn cowboy in them mountains) and Everett (former military, current Stock Detective) get to investigating cattle theft and murder.
Law isn't above reproach when his lover turns up dead, but Everett, who's no stranger to grief, is drawn to the rugged cowboy.
The first chapter gutted me. What a powerful way to begin the book.
I had my suspicions, which proved mostly correct, but it didn't make the story any less exciting.
The men didn't spend enough time together for me to call the ending a HEA, but it's a hopeful HFN.
Law (the best damn cowboy in them mountains) and Everett (former military, current Stock Detective) get to investigating cattle theft and murder.
Law isn't above reproach when his lover turns up dead, but Everett, who's no stranger to grief, is drawn to the rugged cowboy.
The first chapter gutted me. What a powerful way to begin the book.
I had my suspicions, which proved mostly correct, but it didn't make the story any less exciting.
The men didn't spend enough time together for me to call the ending a HEA, but it's a hopeful HFN.
April 27, 2026
I needed another win to keep my good book streak going and Tal Bauer did not let me down when I needed it the most!!! 🥳 I've never met a bad TB book, so there's no real surprise there, I'm just happy that my book slump is over and I'm finally back to enjoying books again! 🙌🏻 Thanks to Evie for bringing this little gem to my attention 💙
This was a quick read that kept me engaged start to finish, so I flew through it pretty quickly. The romance came in on the back end, but I was here for it 🥰 Lawrence didn't strike me as the lovable type AT ALL, but he turned into one of those characters that you develop a soft spot for as things progress. It was sweet how he and Everett unexpectedly found each other and became exactly the person the other needed all along. It was sweet and sexy in exactly the way I've come to love from a TB book 😌
The mystery here wasn't a grand case requiring Sherlock Holmes, but it was fun all the same. Instead of scratching my head trying to figure out whodunit, I was screaming from the sidelines for Law and Everett not to trust the big bad. I was frustrated watching things unfold, but all was well in the end. Law and Everett got their HEA and that's all that matters 🥹
This was a quick read that kept me engaged start to finish, so I flew through it pretty quickly. The romance came in on the back end, but I was here for it 🥰 Lawrence didn't strike me as the lovable type AT ALL, but he turned into one of those characters that you develop a soft spot for as things progress. It was sweet how he and Everett unexpectedly found each other and became exactly the person the other needed all along. It was sweet and sexy in exactly the way I've come to love from a TB book 😌
The mystery here wasn't a grand case requiring Sherlock Holmes, but it was fun all the same. Instead of scratching my head trying to figure out whodunit, I was screaming from the sidelines for Law and Everett not to trust the big bad. I was frustrated watching things unfold, but all was well in the end. Law and Everett got their HEA and that's all that matters 🥹
May 5, 2024
Very enjoyable as always from Tal but I do wish it was longer and we got to know the characters better.
It was very instalove and then everything resolved so quickly. It might just be because I'm in a serious book hangover, but I was hoping for a bit more angst and heartache like Tal usually delivers.
It was very instalove and then everything resolved so quickly. It might just be because I'm in a serious book hangover, but I was hoping for a bit more angst and heartache like Tal usually delivers.
June 30, 2019
3.5 stars.
Hell and Gone is a Tal Bauer book. Quality is guaranteed, as is flawless writing and engrossing storytelling and creativity. It is not one of my favorite Bauer stories, but I still finished it within a day.
This is Bauer's first mystery, and a western to boot (wink, wink). Although it didn't reinvent the wheel and occasionally felt rushed, it had thrilling moments. Yet despite the fast-paced intrigue, the character development was somewhat sparse and the romantic development was lacking. I also really, and I mean really, dislike the "dead lover" theme, and there are not one but two dead lovers in the story. Everett and Law's relationship seemed primarily informed by circumstance and convenience, especially on Everett's part. The ending is a very tepid HFN, and while it may have been fitting, it wasn't very romantic.
Perhaps it is me and not the book? Perhaps I just wanted a more character-driven story? Because, again, I still finished it within a day. Because, again, it's a Tal Bauer book. My superfan self appreciates everything that he writes and is already looking forward to his next release.
Read for SBTB April - June 2019 Quarterly Challenge: Read whatever you like.
Hell and Gone is a Tal Bauer book. Quality is guaranteed, as is flawless writing and engrossing storytelling and creativity. It is not one of my favorite Bauer stories, but I still finished it within a day.
This is Bauer's first mystery, and a western to boot (wink, wink). Although it didn't reinvent the wheel and occasionally felt rushed, it had thrilling moments. Yet despite the fast-paced intrigue, the character development was somewhat sparse and the romantic development was lacking. I also really, and I mean really, dislike the "dead lover" theme, and there are not one but two dead lovers in the story. Everett and Law's relationship seemed primarily informed by circumstance and convenience, especially on Everett's part. The ending is a very tepid HFN, and while it may have been fitting, it wasn't very romantic.
Perhaps it is me and not the book? Perhaps I just wanted a more character-driven story? Because, again, I still finished it within a day. Because, again, it's a Tal Bauer book. My superfan self appreciates everything that he writes and is already looking forward to his next release.
Read for SBTB April - June 2019 Quarterly Challenge: Read whatever you like.
December 2, 2022
😍
I loved it all, the writing, the gore, the romance, cowboys and guns and the suspense. Wow I have nothing to say but one word…
SPECTACULAR 😍
I loved it all, the writing, the gore, the romance, cowboys and guns and the suspense. Wow I have nothing to say but one word…
SPECTACULAR 😍
August 29, 2020
Law and Everett team up to investigate !
This is a fascinating story from awesome writer, Tal Bauer.
Up in the wild Montana territory, we have something horrible going on.
New Stock Detective, Everett, ex Army, solid and fit, is sent to sort it out. He heads out and meets Law, a veteran of cowboy ways, and a big, tough man.
They investigate a hanging and when a shot rings out later, they head that direction, to find another dead man, this one shot in the back.
The suspicions are all about who is killing, who’s cattle rustling, who’s dealing drugs, and more. The sheriff thinks it’s Law, but after some investigating, Everett knows it isn’t him.
So, he and Law ride out on horseback again to find the culprits. They camp, talk, and become interested in one another.
We get the hot, rough, raw and powerful sexy times, we know Tal Bauer can deliver.
The action, discoveries and bad guys are figured out, but there’s a twist I didn’t see coming. Beautiful descriptions, deep inner thoughts, and a captivating plot, keep us engaged.
We get violence, fire, murder and mayhem.
Highly recommended.
Enjoy !
=======
This is a fascinating story from awesome writer, Tal Bauer.
Up in the wild Montana territory, we have something horrible going on.
New Stock Detective, Everett, ex Army, solid and fit, is sent to sort it out. He heads out and meets Law, a veteran of cowboy ways, and a big, tough man.
They investigate a hanging and when a shot rings out later, they head that direction, to find another dead man, this one shot in the back.
The suspicions are all about who is killing, who’s cattle rustling, who’s dealing drugs, and more. The sheriff thinks it’s Law, but after some investigating, Everett knows it isn’t him.
So, he and Law ride out on horseback again to find the culprits. They camp, talk, and become interested in one another.
We get the hot, rough, raw and powerful sexy times, we know Tal Bauer can deliver.
The action, discoveries and bad guys are figured out, but there’s a twist I didn’t see coming. Beautiful descriptions, deep inner thoughts, and a captivating plot, keep us engaged.
We get violence, fire, murder and mayhem.
Highly recommended.
Enjoy !
=======
June 30, 2019
4.5 stars!
Ah, I always love a good Tal Bauer book. He always is able to create such interesting, well written, fun stories. His main couples are amazing 9/10, and Law and Everett were one of those 9, because I adored them.
I do think we didn't quite get enough of them, but that's only because this story was fairly short. I guess I'm just used to full length Bauer books been at least over almost or over 300 pages and a lot of time is spent building the couple up and getting to see them be together. I felt even with not as much time building these two up, that Bauer did a good job of it. But with the mystery needed to be solved we didn't get as much time with them just being together and I wanted more of that.
But other than that I thought these two had amazing chemistry, the sex scenes were ah-mazing, and I felt the growing love these two had for each other. Maybe it would have been nice to see a more solid HFN, but it was only probably a week or two where the main events of the book take place, and then they get together at the end, so we didn't quite get to see them in the full on love stage even though they were getting there.
The mystery was really interesting too and I don't think I've read one like it, at least in M/M romance novels. But I was surprised at times and at other times not, but in a good way. Because I had my suspicions for who the bad people were and some who turned out to be bad I didn't think of and some who were I was like "yep, called it!" so it was fun reading it and unraveling the mystery just as much as it was fun reading the growing romance between Law and Everett.
So overall I loved this, and can't wait for more stories from Bauer. They almost always are ones I love and adore. Two massive thumbs up from me! :D
Ah, I always love a good Tal Bauer book. He always is able to create such interesting, well written, fun stories. His main couples are amazing 9/10, and Law and Everett were one of those 9, because I adored them.
I do think we didn't quite get enough of them, but that's only because this story was fairly short. I guess I'm just used to full length Bauer books been at least over almost or over 300 pages and a lot of time is spent building the couple up and getting to see them be together. I felt even with not as much time building these two up, that Bauer did a good job of it. But with the mystery needed to be solved we didn't get as much time with them just being together and I wanted more of that.
But other than that I thought these two had amazing chemistry, the sex scenes were ah-mazing, and I felt the growing love these two had for each other. Maybe it would have been nice to see a more solid HFN, but it was only probably a week or two where the main events of the book take place, and then they get together at the end, so we didn't quite get to see them in the full on love stage even though they were getting there.
The mystery was really interesting too and I don't think I've read one like it, at least in M/M romance novels. But I was surprised at times and at other times not, but in a good way. Because I had my suspicions for who the bad people were and some who turned out to be bad I didn't think of and some who were I was like "yep, called it!" so it was fun reading it and unraveling the mystery just as much as it was fun reading the growing romance between Law and Everett.
So overall I loved this, and can't wait for more stories from Bauer. They almost always are ones I love and adore. Two massive thumbs up from me! :D
August 30, 2024
Book safety, content warnings, and tropes down below.
He thrummed with a casual kind of arrogance, a rugged fuck you aura pulsing off him that could slap a man silly upon meeting the man.
I was really surprised to see that this book only has 197 pages, because it took me a long time to read it. I’m not going to blame our lovely Tal for it because I was in a massive reading slump when I first started this book. I finished the second half quite quickly when I finally was in the mood for it.
It has the usual amazing writing you can expect with Tal, as well as some nail-biting suspense and action, but the romance didn’t truly grip me like they usually do in his books. It was kinda just there. They had chemistry, but it is definitely not a romance heavy book. More like a subplot that ends in a somewhat open and hopeful way, maybe a mild HFN. There’s nothing wrong with having the romance take a backseat, I just wasn’t expecting it.
The characters were amazing though, and the descriptions of the community and the environment were incredible. It really did feel like I was in the Crazies looking for rustlers and cattle for a moment.
Mountains jutted for the sky, jagged teeth screaming at the sun like a drowning man gasping for air before he was pulled beneath the waves.
It’s strange to have a ‘least favorite’ of anything when it’s your favorite author, but I think this might be it. By no means a bad book, but the bar is set sky-fuckin-high with this guy, lol.
“I been dreamin’ of you my whole life,” he whispered.
⬇️ Blanket spoiler warning ⬇️
⚠️ Tropes & content tags ⚠️
Romantic suspense
Former military police MC
Small town
Murder mystery
Whodunnit
Cowboy MC
Western
Size difference
⚠️ Content warning ⚠️
Character murdered on page (hanged)
Flashbacks to military combat
Mention of the death of SCs (past, hit and run)
Gun violence
Brief mention of past firefight (no MC involved)
Details of murder victim (gunshot wound)
Death of MCs past lovers (off page, detailed)
Grief
Explicit sexual content
Details from military deployment and combat
Penetration without stretching
Graphic murder scenes
Graphic injuries detailed (side character)
Injured MC (gunshot wound)
Vomiting
On-page murder
⚠️Book safety ⚠️
Cheating: No
Other person drama: No
Breakup: No
POV: 3rd person, dual
Genre: Romantic suspense
Pairing: M/M
Strict roles or versatile: Strict roles
Main characters’ age: 35 and not specified
Series: Standalone
Kindle Unlimited: Yes
Pages: 197
Happy ending: Hopeful, slight HFN
Meeting Lawrence was like meeting an immoveable force of nature. He was the mountain, the peak, the steadiness. And Everett had blown up against him, wind-torn and ravaged, a broken thing thrown away, discarded from life and everything he’d hoped for.
Everett was a walking wound, spun so tightly he held himself together through force of will alone. He was a tornado flying apart, but the only thing he was destroying was his soul.
Not a soul in these mountains wanted me, it seemed. And I was desperate for someone, anyone in the world. Spent some nights at the truck stop blowin’ guys just to feel like I mattered for five minutes.
You can find most of my reviews on Instagram as well: https://www.instagram.com/booksafety?...
He thrummed with a casual kind of arrogance, a rugged fuck you aura pulsing off him that could slap a man silly upon meeting the man.
I was really surprised to see that this book only has 197 pages, because it took me a long time to read it. I’m not going to blame our lovely Tal for it because I was in a massive reading slump when I first started this book. I finished the second half quite quickly when I finally was in the mood for it.
It has the usual amazing writing you can expect with Tal, as well as some nail-biting suspense and action, but the romance didn’t truly grip me like they usually do in his books. It was kinda just there. They had chemistry, but it is definitely not a romance heavy book. More like a subplot that ends in a somewhat open and hopeful way, maybe a mild HFN. There’s nothing wrong with having the romance take a backseat, I just wasn’t expecting it.
The characters were amazing though, and the descriptions of the community and the environment were incredible. It really did feel like I was in the Crazies looking for rustlers and cattle for a moment.
Mountains jutted for the sky, jagged teeth screaming at the sun like a drowning man gasping for air before he was pulled beneath the waves.
It’s strange to have a ‘least favorite’ of anything when it’s your favorite author, but I think this might be it. By no means a bad book, but the bar is set sky-fuckin-high with this guy, lol.
“I been dreamin’ of you my whole life,” he whispered.
⬇️ Blanket spoiler warning ⬇️
⚠️ Tropes & content tags ⚠️
Romantic suspense
Former military police MC
Small town
Murder mystery
Whodunnit
Cowboy MC
Western
Size difference
⚠️ Content warning ⚠️
Character murdered on page (hanged)
Flashbacks to military combat
Mention of the death of SCs (past, hit and run)
Gun violence
Brief mention of past firefight (no MC involved)
Details of murder victim (gunshot wound)
Death of MCs past lovers (off page, detailed)
Grief
Explicit sexual content
Details from military deployment and combat
Penetration without stretching
Graphic murder scenes
Graphic injuries detailed (side character)
Injured MC (gunshot wound)
Vomiting
On-page murder
⚠️Book safety ⚠️
Cheating: No
Other person drama: No
Breakup: No
POV: 3rd person, dual
Genre: Romantic suspense
Pairing: M/M
Strict roles or versatile: Strict roles
Main characters’ age: 35 and not specified
Series: Standalone
Kindle Unlimited: Yes
Pages: 197
Happy ending: Hopeful, slight HFN
Meeting Lawrence was like meeting an immoveable force of nature. He was the mountain, the peak, the steadiness. And Everett had blown up against him, wind-torn and ravaged, a broken thing thrown away, discarded from life and everything he’d hoped for.
Everett was a walking wound, spun so tightly he held himself together through force of will alone. He was a tornado flying apart, but the only thing he was destroying was his soul.
Not a soul in these mountains wanted me, it seemed. And I was desperate for someone, anyone in the world. Spent some nights at the truck stop blowin’ guys just to feel like I mattered for five minutes.
You can find most of my reviews on Instagram as well: https://www.instagram.com/booksafety?...
June 4, 2021
Short book, 2 man's men, a burly BIG cowboy, hot sex, what's not to like?
i-m-a-quitter
July 9, 2019DNF. Time of death 63%
Couldn't get in to it.
I'm in a serious reading slump. :(
Couldn't get in to it.
I'm in a serious reading slump. :(
June 27, 2019
4.25 stars from me. Tal Bauer is just full of surprises, and that's what makes him such an outstanding author...he can turn his hand to any genre. His words are crystal clear and so darned descriptive...I almost felt as though I were in the Crazies myself for this particular murder mystery story...ooh, not forgetting those cowboys 😜.
I loved Law and Everett...the only reason I haven't given it 5 stars is that I pegged the bad guys at around 25% and suspected that they'd had some help from a few others...and I was right about that too, and the reasons.
As far as Tal's stories are concerned, His First Time was a piece of pure erotica 😉, and very enjoyable too; A Time to Rise: Second Edition is a vampire/paranormal series and full of historical theories about the Knights Templar and set in Rome; Enemies of the State (Executive Office #1) Special Edition is a series set around the POTUS falling in love with his Secret Service agent and battling a complete loony of a US general who thinks it disgusting that a President can have a male lover, and that the lily-livered people in charge of practically everything in the USA need to be taught a lesson or two; my favourite duo of his stories however are Hush and Whisper which are spy thrillers with some terrific action and pretty awful treachery, and actually feature two of my favourite couples...Tom and Mike and Kris and Dawood.
You keep writing Tal, and I'll keep buying those books.
I loved Law and Everett...the only reason I haven't given it 5 stars is that I pegged the bad guys at around 25% and suspected that they'd had some help from a few others...and I was right about that too, and the reasons.
As far as Tal's stories are concerned, His First Time was a piece of pure erotica 😉, and very enjoyable too; A Time to Rise: Second Edition is a vampire/paranormal series and full of historical theories about the Knights Templar and set in Rome; Enemies of the State (Executive Office #1) Special Edition is a series set around the POTUS falling in love with his Secret Service agent and battling a complete loony of a US general who thinks it disgusting that a President can have a male lover, and that the lily-livered people in charge of practically everything in the USA need to be taught a lesson or two; my favourite duo of his stories however are Hush and Whisper which are spy thrillers with some terrific action and pretty awful treachery, and actually feature two of my favourite couples...Tom and Mike and Kris and Dawood.
You keep writing Tal, and I'll keep buying those books.
July 7, 2019
From the very first book I read from Tal Bauer, he has been a favourite of mine.I fell in love with his his political thrillers but have loved everything he has put out so far in equal measure. This was just more of the same quality of writing just about a vastly different subgenre.
Now cowboys are not something I usually go looking out for. If I happen to chance upon a book on cowboys that interests me, I read it but I don't actively go looking.But this was a Tal Bauer so you bet your ass I requested for it and I'm glad to say I wasn't disappointed.
The writing was great and the pacing fast and intriguing. The first chapter throws you off a bit to the baddies but if you pay enough attention, you could probably make educated guesses to their identity.
Our MCs developed a connection right off the bat even when they didn't know who to trust but it was as authentic as it could be without being rushed and without any premature "I love you's". It was wonderful to read about.
My only issue with this book was that it ended...lol! I wish we had another full chapter of Everett and Law after the whole debacle of them just being together and an epilogue for after they've settled with each other. But wishes and all that...
** This ARC was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.**
Now cowboys are not something I usually go looking out for. If I happen to chance upon a book on cowboys that interests me, I read it but I don't actively go looking.But this was a Tal Bauer so you bet your ass I requested for it and I'm glad to say I wasn't disappointed.
The writing was great and the pacing fast and intriguing. The first chapter throws you off a bit to the baddies but if you pay enough attention, you could probably make educated guesses to their identity.
Our MCs developed a connection right off the bat even when they didn't know who to trust but it was as authentic as it could be without being rushed and without any premature "I love you's". It was wonderful to read about.
My only issue with this book was that it ended...lol! I wish we had another full chapter of Everett and Law after the whole debacle of them just being together and an epilogue for after they've settled with each other. But wishes and all that...
** This ARC was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.**
July 17, 2019
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.5 stars
Hell and Gone is an engaging romantic mystery/suspense that is enriched by Tal Bauer’s incredible ability to bring the fascinating setting to life. The story is twisty and well developed and I never quite got a handle on who was behind it all until the ending reveal. What is clever here is that we know as readers from the first chapter that Carson was murdered, just not who killed him. So while Everett and other law enforcement aren’t sure whether this is a murder or suicide, as readers we know the truth all along, but are watching as everyone sorts things out. I found Everett’s role as a stock detective very interesting, as it is nothing I have ever heard of before. Basically, he works law enforcement for the Department of Agriculture investigating cattle thefts. This is Everett’s first assignment, but he was military police in the Army so he has great tracking skills and I enjoyed watching him work the case and put the pieces together. Things get exciting at the end and it is a well done mystery.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
4.5 stars
Hell and Gone is an engaging romantic mystery/suspense that is enriched by Tal Bauer’s incredible ability to bring the fascinating setting to life. The story is twisty and well developed and I never quite got a handle on who was behind it all until the ending reveal. What is clever here is that we know as readers from the first chapter that Carson was murdered, just not who killed him. So while Everett and other law enforcement aren’t sure whether this is a murder or suicide, as readers we know the truth all along, but are watching as everyone sorts things out. I found Everett’s role as a stock detective very interesting, as it is nothing I have ever heard of before. Basically, he works law enforcement for the Department of Agriculture investigating cattle thefts. This is Everett’s first assignment, but he was military police in the Army so he has great tracking skills and I enjoyed watching him work the case and put the pieces together. Things get exciting at the end and it is a well done mystery.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
July 22, 2019
Gangbusters!!!
A 4 Star rating for one of my favorite authors?!
The story was good—don’t get me wrong.
The mystery interesting, although not unsolvable by the reader.
The MC’s—as contrasting as they get and in a good way.
The genre? Go Cowboys and Thriller!!
UST—yes, of course! Tal knows how to WORK the UST!!
Heat? 🔥🔥 Plenty once things got going, which wasn’t until past the 1/2 way mark.
I LIKED THIS! .....BUT...... I did not love it. I’m not sure why, really. I’ve been thinking about it for a few days and can’t come up with a reason. Maybe the fact that I kept putting this down to read other books, maybe because there were absolutely no warm and fuzzies in this book.
One thing that I did love was the amazing presence that the setting—The Crazies, Montana—has in this book! The sense of place really grounded the story for me and helped to lend the air of mystery that a thriller should have!
You like cowboys? Go for it! You like mysteries and unexplainable murders? This is your bag of tricks! You want to see someone come out of a serious PTSD shell? (You know Tal had to throw some military in here! 😂😂). Pick this up. Just don’t expect fluff or declarations of love!
P.S. there is a fantastic HFN!!
A 4 Star rating for one of my favorite authors?!
The story was good—don’t get me wrong.
The mystery interesting, although not unsolvable by the reader.
The MC’s—as contrasting as they get and in a good way.
The genre? Go Cowboys and Thriller!!
UST—yes, of course! Tal knows how to WORK the UST!!
Heat? 🔥🔥 Plenty once things got going, which wasn’t until past the 1/2 way mark.
I LIKED THIS! .....BUT...... I did not love it. I’m not sure why, really. I’ve been thinking about it for a few days and can’t come up with a reason. Maybe the fact that I kept putting this down to read other books, maybe because there were absolutely no warm and fuzzies in this book.
One thing that I did love was the amazing presence that the setting—The Crazies, Montana—has in this book! The sense of place really grounded the story for me and helped to lend the air of mystery that a thriller should have!
You like cowboys? Go for it! You like mysteries and unexplainable murders? This is your bag of tricks! You want to see someone come out of a serious PTSD shell? (You know Tal had to throw some military in here! 😂😂). Pick this up. Just don’t expect fluff or declarations of love!
P.S. there is a fantastic HFN!!
July 11, 2019
This is a little disappointing coming from Tal Bauer.
The first thing that caught my eye and continuously annoyed me was the consistent misuse of the word "hung" to describe a man's hanging. Once could be a typo, but five or six times and it's clear to me the author is just ignorant of the difference. What makes it worse is knowing that several other people helped with the manuscript, and not a single one of them bothered to point out that people are not "hung"...not in this sense, at least.
Aside from that, the story disappointed me. I knew who the masterminds were almost as soon as they were introduced, and I spotted the betrayal twist coming a mile away. Furthermore, I really and truly hope stock detectives are not this incompetent in real life. What type of investigator sits down with a group of cops AND citizens, any one of whom could be involved in the crimes, and just announces everything he's discovered so far? Not even small town cops are that ignorant of investigative procedure.
To top it off, the romantic aspect was rushed, disconnected, and unsatisfying.
This book does not live up to Bauer's previous works.
The first thing that caught my eye and continuously annoyed me was the consistent misuse of the word "hung" to describe a man's hanging. Once could be a typo, but five or six times and it's clear to me the author is just ignorant of the difference. What makes it worse is knowing that several other people helped with the manuscript, and not a single one of them bothered to point out that people are not "hung"...not in this sense, at least.
Aside from that, the story disappointed me. I knew who the masterminds were almost as soon as they were introduced, and I spotted the betrayal twist coming a mile away. Furthermore, I really and truly hope stock detectives are not this incompetent in real life. What type of investigator sits down with a group of cops AND citizens, any one of whom could be involved in the crimes, and just announces everything he's discovered so far? Not even small town cops are that ignorant of investigative procedure.
To top it off, the romantic aspect was rushed, disconnected, and unsatisfying.
This book does not live up to Bauer's previous works.
August 30, 2022
Wanted Never Stay Gone.
Got The Night Of. Hit or miss--
so, Gravity next?
Got The Night Of. Hit or miss--
so, Gravity next?
August 12, 2023
Tal can definitely write a cowboy story.
Law and Everett meet under difficult and tragic circumstances. Both want the same thing though. The drug runners and cattle rustlers caught.
This was a fast paced story once it got going. I kinda knew who the bad guy would be from the beginning but it still made for an interesting plot.
The end was just what I wanted and nobody deserved an HEA more than these two characters.
Law and Everett meet under difficult and tragic circumstances. Both want the same thing though. The drug runners and cattle rustlers caught.
This was a fast paced story once it got going. I kinda knew who the bad guy would be from the beginning but it still made for an interesting plot.
The end was just what I wanted and nobody deserved an HEA more than these two characters.
August 12, 2024
I think I’m at a moment in my life where I can’t not love a book by Tal Bauer. I honestly don’t know if I can explain it, the way the books are written just captivate me and this one was no exception.
I’m aware the romance felt a bit rushed and the MCs could have had more interactions but also sometimes you just know I guess?
Overall, I liked it even if I knew who the bad guy was from the beginning.
I’m aware the romance felt a bit rushed and the MCs could have had more interactions but also sometimes you just know I guess?
Overall, I liked it even if I knew who the bad guy was from the beginning.
August 11, 2019
A short read compared to some of Bauer’s other works, and I think the length was right for this one.
I enjoyed the tension, the steam, and the bite-sized whodunnit.
I do think that the MCs took themselves a tad too seriously yet somehow jumped from belligerent sexual tension to soulmates in about three pages at one point.
As usual for Bauer, the action is solid, the MCs are interesting (and hot), and it’s an all-around good read with quality writing.
I enjoyed the tension, the steam, and the bite-sized whodunnit.
I do think that the MCs took themselves a tad too seriously yet somehow jumped from belligerent sexual tension to soulmates in about three pages at one point.
As usual for Bauer, the action is solid, the MCs are interesting (and hot), and it’s an all-around good read with quality writing.
October 24, 2024
Hell and Gone was exactly what I wanted – a perfect blend of shady cowboys and murder mystery 👌🏻
July 8, 2019
Thoroughly enjoyed, although I wanted it to be a little longer. It felt a little faster paced than other books by this author. Wish it was a series!
Rerea January 2023.
Rerea January 2023.
Did Not Finish
October 25, 2021For some reason I was convinced this had a historical setting. I didn't get much beyond the sample when sudden mention of cell phones and trucks threw me right out of the narrative. Until then it read pre-technology, old 'justice' style. I mean in a modern setting you don't expect someone to drive a corpse and dump it at the desk of a police station (non-spoiler that's in the sample)
Mr cowboy is far too onery. It really is like an old western. But Mr fresh from the army detective is too earnest though apparently strong and stubborn. Afghanistan will, I think, get frequent mentions.
I was pretty sure of the villain from the very beginning, thought it can't be that obvious, checked the end to find I was right. I don't care the whys or the details; cattle rustling doesn't excite me and the characters felt too caricature to draw me in so no point reading on.
But, I only got a few chapters in, deleted without checking %, the main characters had barely met. This could improve, I maybe being harsh.
Mr cowboy is far too onery. It really is like an old western. But Mr fresh from the army detective is too earnest though apparently strong and stubborn. Afghanistan will, I think, get frequent mentions.
I was pretty sure of the villain from the very beginning, thought it can't be that obvious, checked the end to find I was right. I don't care the whys or the details; cattle rustling doesn't excite me and the characters felt too caricature to draw me in so no point reading on.
But, I only got a few chapters in, deleted without checking %, the main characters had barely met. This could improve, I maybe being harsh.
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