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Farthingdale Ranch #1
The Foreman and the Drifter
“If only Leland would forget forget that Jamie was a drifter. If only he’d give their hearts a chance.”
With Farthingdale Ranch at risk, Leland Tate, ranch manager, has to get tough and make sure everyone on the ranch follows the rules he’s laid out. That means no handouts, no fraternizing, and no drifters.
But what happens when a young drifter comes looking for a job? What happens when that drifter makes Leland want to break all the rules?
A gay, m/m cowboy romance with age gap, hurt/comfort, first time, rescue, sunshine/grumpy, boss/employee, emotional scars, and opposites attract. A little sweet, a little steamy, with a guaranteed HEA.
Buy The Foreman and the Drifter to fall deeply and forever today with the first book in the new Farthingdale Ranch Series!
With Farthingdale Ranch at risk, Leland Tate, ranch manager, has to get tough and make sure everyone on the ranch follows the rules he’s laid out. That means no handouts, no fraternizing, and no drifters.
But what happens when a young drifter comes looking for a job? What happens when that drifter makes Leland want to break all the rules?
A gay, m/m cowboy romance with age gap, hurt/comfort, first time, rescue, sunshine/grumpy, boss/employee, emotional scars, and opposites attract. A little sweet, a little steamy, with a guaranteed HEA.
Buy The Foreman and the Drifter to fall deeply and forever today with the first book in the new Farthingdale Ranch Series!
322 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 15, 2021
225 people are currently reading
696 people want to read
About the author
Jackie North
49 books380 followersJackie North has been writing stories since grade school and spent years absorbing the mainstream romances that she found at her local grocery store. She also wanted to put her English degree to good use and write romance novels, because for years she’s had a never-ending movie of made-up love stories in her head that simply wouldn’t leave her alone.
As fate would have it, she discovered m/m romance and decided that men falling in love with other men was exactly what she wanted to write books about.
She creates characters who are a bit flawed and broken, who find themselves on the edge of society, and maybe a few who are a little bit lost, but who all deserve a happily ever after. (And she makes sure they get it!)
She likes long walks on the beach, the smell of lavender and rainstorms, and enjoys sleeping in on snowy mornings. She is especially fond of pizza and beer and, when time allows, long road trips with soda fountain drinks and rock and roll music. In her heart, there is peace to be found everywhere, but since in the real world this isn’t always true, Jackie writes for love.
As fate would have it, she discovered m/m romance and decided that men falling in love with other men was exactly what she wanted to write books about.
She creates characters who are a bit flawed and broken, who find themselves on the edge of society, and maybe a few who are a little bit lost, but who all deserve a happily ever after. (And she makes sure they get it!)
She likes long walks on the beach, the smell of lavender and rainstorms, and enjoys sleeping in on snowy mornings. She is especially fond of pizza and beer and, when time allows, long road trips with soda fountain drinks and rock and roll music. In her heart, there is peace to be found everywhere, but since in the real world this isn’t always true, Jackie writes for love.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 160 reviews
March 22, 2021
Adrift, lonely, scared, sore-footed, Jamie is at the end of his rope when he shows up at Farthingdale Ranch. He traveled as far as he could to get away from his cruel roommates and horrific meat plant job, only to be turned away by the handsome ranch foreman.
Leland doesn't take in drifters, especially now when the ranch is running at half capacity due to Laurie Quinn's mysterious disappearance. Leland needs experienced ranch hands, not city boys who can't ride a horse any better than they can put down roots.
When Jamie saves one of the ranch guests, Bill, the ranch owner, suggests Leland should hire Jamie after all. And so Leland does, and slowly, slowly, he falls in love with the drifter he turned away.
Jamie and Leland's romance feels fated, inevitable. Leland, who is bossy as all get out, wants to take care of Jamie. He's drawn to the younger man, to Jamie's wild black hair and big green eye, to his vulnerability and sadness. He wants to make Jamie smile.
Jamie is a hard worker, an honest man, and just wants a place he can call home. He's not a drifter by choice, which is what Leland originally assumes.
Leland is formidable, but not with Jamie. With Jamie, he's all sweetness. He wants to write Jamie cowboy poetry and kiss him under the moonlight. And Jamie, ever hopeful, takes it all in.
Unfortunately, Leland gets in his own way and pushes Jamie away time and again. Leland has all these rules and firmly believes he, as the boss, should never date his employees. Had Leland made that decision once and stuck to it, I would have understood. But no. Leland kisses Jamie, then says it was a mistake. He takes Jamie to bed (the sex, as is Jackie North's style, is muted and understated), then tells Jamie it can't happen again.
I didn't blame Jamie for getting frustrated and accusing Leland of leading him on because I felt that way too. Thank god for Clay, one of the ranch hands, for setting Leland straight. I still don't think Leland deserved Jamie's quick forgiveness, but keeping grudges isn't Jamie's style.
I fell in love with the dude ranch setting, the horses, and the secondary characters, especially Clay and grumpy Jasper. This author's lyrical prose lends itself well to gentle, slower-paced stories. If you prefer more erotic, fast-moving books, The Foreman and the Drifter might not be for you, but I really enjoyed the descriptions of ranch life and tender romance.
Leland doesn't take in drifters, especially now when the ranch is running at half capacity due to Laurie Quinn's mysterious disappearance. Leland needs experienced ranch hands, not city boys who can't ride a horse any better than they can put down roots.
When Jamie saves one of the ranch guests, Bill, the ranch owner, suggests Leland should hire Jamie after all. And so Leland does, and slowly, slowly, he falls in love with the drifter he turned away.
Jamie and Leland's romance feels fated, inevitable. Leland, who is bossy as all get out, wants to take care of Jamie. He's drawn to the younger man, to Jamie's wild black hair and big green eye, to his vulnerability and sadness. He wants to make Jamie smile.
Jamie is a hard worker, an honest man, and just wants a place he can call home. He's not a drifter by choice, which is what Leland originally assumes.
Leland is formidable, but not with Jamie. With Jamie, he's all sweetness. He wants to write Jamie cowboy poetry and kiss him under the moonlight. And Jamie, ever hopeful, takes it all in.
Unfortunately, Leland gets in his own way and pushes Jamie away time and again. Leland has all these rules and firmly believes he, as the boss, should never date his employees. Had Leland made that decision once and stuck to it, I would have understood. But no. Leland kisses Jamie, then says it was a mistake. He takes Jamie to bed (the sex, as is Jackie North's style, is muted and understated), then tells Jamie it can't happen again.
I didn't blame Jamie for getting frustrated and accusing Leland of leading him on because I felt that way too. Thank god for Clay, one of the ranch hands, for setting Leland straight. I still don't think Leland deserved Jamie's quick forgiveness, but keeping grudges isn't Jamie's style.
I fell in love with the dude ranch setting, the horses, and the secondary characters, especially Clay and grumpy Jasper. This author's lyrical prose lends itself well to gentle, slower-paced stories. If you prefer more erotic, fast-moving books, The Foreman and the Drifter might not be for you, but I really enjoyed the descriptions of ranch life and tender romance.
May 12, 2024
This was so so so good. Seriously, so good! I fell in love with Leland and Jamie and Farthingdale and all the side characters and the horses... everything. But especially I couldn't stop reading. I felt what Leland and Jamie felt. Not only was this an amazing romance, but this author is truly gifted with words. At times, it was almost poetic and I highlighted passage after passage.
I might come back for a more flashed out review, or I might not and just leave it with my ramblings.
I might come back for a more flashed out review, or I might not and just leave it with my ramblings.
June 20, 2022
This was such a sweet and heartwarming story. Perfect for when you want something laid back and very romatic. The descriptions of the Wyoming scenery were beautiful and made me feel like l was at the ranch right along with all the other guests.
This was the epitome of slow burn but the payoff was worth it. I read book 4 a few months ago and seeing everyone again felt like reconnecting with old friends. Just because I'm me, I would have liked a little more steam (of which there was basically none) but overall this was a great story. 4 stars
This was the epitome of slow burn but the payoff was worth it. I read book 4 a few months ago and seeing everyone again felt like reconnecting with old friends. Just because I'm me, I would have liked a little more steam (of which there was basically none) but overall this was a great story. 4 stars
June 13, 2023
3.5 stars
A nice slow burn cowboy romance. The writing is beautiful and atmospheric. I’ve never read anything by the author so I’m glad I tried this. I enjoyed the first half more than the second, which dragged a bit in parts. It was also a bit too sweet for me and could have used more tension, but it was still enjoyable overall and I’ll be continuing the series.
— cowboy romance
— ranch manager vs drifter
— age gap
— slow burn
— virgin hero
— sweet, low angst
— friends-to-lovers
A nice slow burn cowboy romance. The writing is beautiful and atmospheric. I’ve never read anything by the author so I’m glad I tried this. I enjoyed the first half more than the second, which dragged a bit in parts. It was also a bit too sweet for me and could have used more tension, but it was still enjoyable overall and I’ll be continuing the series.
— cowboy romance
— ranch manager vs drifter
— age gap
— slow burn
— virgin hero
— sweet, low angst
— friends-to-lovers
June 25, 2022
OMG I am all up in my feelings right now 😭 Not only is this one of the sweetest, most sincere, achy down to my toes for an HEA slow-burns I have ever read, but it was also one of the most intimate WITHOUT being a cover to cover slam fest 🥨 I am damn near speechless, and as gif David has pointed out, I am definitely not done with beautiful Farthingdale Ranch, nor Jackie North's gorgeous writing style, and bc there's like a trillion books in this series I feel like I've a vacation retreat of just plain old sunshine joy in store for me with each installment. I honestly love how squishy and smiley I feel rn 🥰 not enough romances actually do that so Yaaaaaayyyyyy! 💖
March 11, 2021
..."You brought feelings into my life that I didn't know I wanted or needed"
Always a romantic at heart, Jackie North wrote a beautiful poetic cowboys love story.
The Foreman and the Drifter is a low angst slow burn romance between Jamie and Leland.
With his sad background, surely Jamie caught Leland the first day he arrived at the ranch.
I used to Jackie's time travel stories, this one felt like it. But it's not. It felt like I traveled back in time, where cowboys still a thing in the US. It's still is, but you know what I mean.
Interesting how Leland had rules about fraternizing with employee, but he can't keep it straight.
A bit uptight that Leland, but Jamie changed him to be a more cheerful man and smiles a lot.
I was a bit frustrated about how many times Leland denied his feeling and disappointed Jamie in the way.
Jamie is a sweet soul and he loved freely, while Leland still held on his so called 'rules'.
Leland have to thank Clay for coming onto him and lectured him about his 'attitude' towards Jamie, and I clapped for Clay! I want Clay for the next story of this series please!
I enjoyed Jamie and Leland a lot and cannot wait for the second installment of this series.
Well done, Jackie!
..."Don't you ever get a day off?"
"You are my day off"
"I want to be your everyday"
"You are my everyday"
"You are my always"
October 8, 2021
2.5 disappointed stars
Sadly, this didn't work for me...I liked the beginning but in the end, I had to force myself to finish.
Jamie was a little clueless and sometimes his behavior bordered on self-harm.
Leland was like a block of wood, so rigid and I didn't connect to these guys at all.
Lots of repetition of: take a shower, go for dinner (it got to be monotonous).
Steam level was way too low for me and seemed awkwardly written. I guess I don't like cowboy poetry.
Sadly, this didn't work for me...I liked the beginning but in the end, I had to force myself to finish.
Jamie was a little clueless and sometimes his behavior bordered on self-harm.
Leland was like a block of wood, so rigid and I didn't connect to these guys at all.
Lots of repetition of: take a shower, go for dinner (it got to be monotonous).
Steam level was way too low for me and seemed awkwardly written. I guess I don't like cowboy poetry.
March 18, 2021
This didn’t work for me as I’d hoped it would. It was my first experience with this writer and IMO it was as if she took a het romance and made one of the characters a young man. Maybe it’s just me and I’ve become cynical because this was so sweet and so gentle that it came across as really unrealistic.
I mean, Wyoming, people. I know that state. I know the mentality.
I mean, Wyoming, people. I know that state. I know the mentality.
May 9, 2025
Reread May 3, 2025
Flourishing descriptions of the area, deep thoughts from our characters, and a gentle tale that makes us wonder what will happen.
Jamie, 21, curly dark hair and blue eyes
is aimless, and in need. He's been tossed aside by family, and desperately needs to belong, to be wanted.
* He's really not a drifter, but a young, lost man who could use a hand up. He shows up bedraggled on the ranch, looking for work.
Leland is the foreman of the dude ranch,
with his staunch manner, tall, he's long legged, and grey-eyed. He goes by the rules, but I understand that, and then, he finds his aching heart.
He reluctantly takes on the young man, but sees some backbone, and sadness in the men's eyes, and he's shown grit, too.
Jamie works hard, too hard, as he learns the lessons and adjusts. Leland is there to help.
The ranch is a marvelous place, with peace, safety, and it's rewarding. It is friendly, with hard work, delicious food, and a roof over our young man's head. He feels so lucky.
Leland and Jamie have a pull, they like to be around each other, plus they work well together. Leland has broken his rules by befriending Jamie, so, when they get to the kiss, it's bliss, but against the rules.
We see the tough every day work, the dedicated staff, open hearts and peace of mind.
Jamie is a sweet and gentle soul, who fits in when he catches up, and he appreciates what he has been given. He and Leland go farther, and virgin Jamie, may be naïve, but he knows what he feels is true. Leland also knows what is happening, but resists the emotional grab. His rejection rocks Jamie, and he may leave, but work keeps coming, and he's become a dedicated worker for this lovely place.
Beauty is all around them, emotions are swirling, and we see Leland become open to what he needs, and he needs Jamie. Will Jamie forgive him?
He's gone about his steps in reverse, and wants to remedy his mistake.
A gentle pace, ambling through work days, warming meals, night time dalliances, and a tender romance, are all of the things that wrap us up in what is to come.
Yes, there are errors, but that's on the editor or proof reader. The author's intentions are clear as
we are taken on a meandering journey that settles the lonely souls of two men.
ENJOY !
=====
Flourishing descriptions of the area, deep thoughts from our characters, and a gentle tale that makes us wonder what will happen.
Jamie, 21, curly dark hair and blue eyes
is aimless, and in need. He's been tossed aside by family, and desperately needs to belong, to be wanted.
* He's really not a drifter, but a young, lost man who could use a hand up. He shows up bedraggled on the ranch, looking for work.
Leland is the foreman of the dude ranch,
with his staunch manner, tall, he's long legged, and grey-eyed. He goes by the rules, but I understand that, and then, he finds his aching heart.
He reluctantly takes on the young man, but sees some backbone, and sadness in the men's eyes, and he's shown grit, too.
Jamie works hard, too hard, as he learns the lessons and adjusts. Leland is there to help.
The ranch is a marvelous place, with peace, safety, and it's rewarding. It is friendly, with hard work, delicious food, and a roof over our young man's head. He feels so lucky.
Leland and Jamie have a pull, they like to be around each other, plus they work well together. Leland has broken his rules by befriending Jamie, so, when they get to the kiss, it's bliss, but against the rules.
We see the tough every day work, the dedicated staff, open hearts and peace of mind.
Jamie is a sweet and gentle soul, who fits in when he catches up, and he appreciates what he has been given. He and Leland go farther, and virgin Jamie, may be naïve, but he knows what he feels is true. Leland also knows what is happening, but resists the emotional grab. His rejection rocks Jamie, and he may leave, but work keeps coming, and he's become a dedicated worker for this lovely place.
Beauty is all around them, emotions are swirling, and we see Leland become open to what he needs, and he needs Jamie. Will Jamie forgive him?
He's gone about his steps in reverse, and wants to remedy his mistake.
A gentle pace, ambling through work days, warming meals, night time dalliances, and a tender romance, are all of the things that wrap us up in what is to come.
Yes, there are errors, but that's on the editor or proof reader. The author's intentions are clear as
we are taken on a meandering journey that settles the lonely souls of two men.
ENJOY !
=====
Read
April 20, 2021I appreciate all of the four and five-star reviews everyone is giving this and how they connected with the characters and the author's style of writing. I didn't hate it and even finished it in a couple of days but that doesn't change the fact that it wasn't for me. Something about the choice of phrasing, the overall floweriness, and a whole heck of a lot of telling took me out of the story and made me want to just get to the end and see what happened. And honestly, it could have ended 30 or 40 pages sooner since it was just more of the same.
July 1, 2021
Some two star parts, some three star parts.
The dynamic ended up feeling forced to me.
Firstly, I wish I would have known that the story kicked off with overlap to the time traveling series, it felt like this dangling mystery that I didn't understand. I love the books I've read from that series, so definitely look there first.
Anywho, the characters felt entirely too independent of one another so I never felt their connection as much as I wanted to. Jamie read as too subservient to Leland and Leland was NOT that old. The story didn't have to try so hard to put these guys into boxes. They spent time together, but had no real conversations. It didn't give me a lot of confidence in them in the long term.
I'll read the next in the series, I do like the setup, Leland and Jamie just never evolved enough for me to lose myself in them.
The dynamic ended up feeling forced to me.
Firstly, I wish I would have known that the story kicked off with overlap to the time traveling series, it felt like this dangling mystery that I didn't understand. I love the books I've read from that series, so definitely look there first.
Anywho, the characters felt entirely too independent of one another so I never felt their connection as much as I wanted to. Jamie read as too subservient to Leland and Leland was NOT that old. The story didn't have to try so hard to put these guys into boxes. They spent time together, but had no real conversations. It didn't give me a lot of confidence in them in the long term.
I'll read the next in the series, I do like the setup, Leland and Jamie just never evolved enough for me to lose myself in them.
June 12, 2021
In my point of view, it was too slow going. It was a gentle story yes, but with way too much internal musing and mundane description. It could have been shorter with pretty much the same result. If slow burn is your speed, then read it. The story itself is sweet and without angst. It was just long to get there.
March 13, 2021
One thing that's never going to stop amazing me is Jackie North's ability to paint pictures with words. Right from the first pages, the vivid descriptions helped me feel part of the story. I had a clear vision of characters and surroundings, almost like living at the ranch myself, in awe with the beautiful landscape and hearing the wind rustle and the sun warming my skin.
That wonderful land was Leland's home. He was in a position in life where he lived his dream, content with days of hard work at the ranch and the possibility to relax on his porch in the evenings... and, almost right off the bat, I kinda disliked him. He saw this young man approaching, tired, sweaty, with not so pristine clothes and all Leland saw was a drifter. Quick to judge and immediately sending that young man away, without allowing him a moment to rest or offering some water, considering the hot day. Yes, he showed redeemable qualities going forward into the book, because he was solid, caring, honest and kind. But, he also irritated and disappointed me a couple of times when he acting hot then cold with Jamie.
Jamie was precious. Honest and sweet, openhearted and innocent despite the harsh past years he's lived through, hungry for affection and approval. Farthingdale was supposed to be his haven, a place where to give his troubled soul at least a few months of peace. And he'd found it, working hard every day and trying, hoping to find his own place with the other people and make the ranch his home.
Written with both Leland and Jamie's POVs, the story felt at times a day by day journal of work on the ranch as well as of the slowly growing feelings between the protagonists. Longing looks in passing while doing chores, special moments just the two of them, small touches that said more than a thousand words. The way the author wrote Leland and Jamie was beautiful, every kiss and love making more than a sexual union, becoming a sensual blending of their souls... two lonely hearts that finally found one another.
I loved it. Wanting to smack some sense into Leland aside lol, or waiting for him to "lose the stick up his backside" as his friend Clay said, the romance between Leland and Jamie was sweet and tender and the two of them together filled my heart with happiness. As a whole, the story was amazing. Thanks to the great attention to detail I was at home at the ranch and the character driven storyline made it so that the secondary characters were also captivating. I feel like I made so many friends while reading this book and the brilliant thing is that I might get some of their stories in the future, seeing that this is the first installment of the Farthingdale Ranch series. Can't wait.
That wonderful land was Leland's home. He was in a position in life where he lived his dream, content with days of hard work at the ranch and the possibility to relax on his porch in the evenings... and, almost right off the bat, I kinda disliked him. He saw this young man approaching, tired, sweaty, with not so pristine clothes and all Leland saw was a drifter. Quick to judge and immediately sending that young man away, without allowing him a moment to rest or offering some water, considering the hot day. Yes, he showed redeemable qualities going forward into the book, because he was solid, caring, honest and kind. But, he also irritated and disappointed me a couple of times when he acting hot then cold with Jamie.
Jamie was precious. Honest and sweet, openhearted and innocent despite the harsh past years he's lived through, hungry for affection and approval. Farthingdale was supposed to be his haven, a place where to give his troubled soul at least a few months of peace. And he'd found it, working hard every day and trying, hoping to find his own place with the other people and make the ranch his home.
Written with both Leland and Jamie's POVs, the story felt at times a day by day journal of work on the ranch as well as of the slowly growing feelings between the protagonists. Longing looks in passing while doing chores, special moments just the two of them, small touches that said more than a thousand words. The way the author wrote Leland and Jamie was beautiful, every kiss and love making more than a sexual union, becoming a sensual blending of their souls... two lonely hearts that finally found one another.
I loved it. Wanting to smack some sense into Leland aside lol, or waiting for him to "lose the stick up his backside" as his friend Clay said, the romance between Leland and Jamie was sweet and tender and the two of them together filled my heart with happiness. As a whole, the story was amazing. Thanks to the great attention to detail I was at home at the ranch and the character driven storyline made it so that the secondary characters were also captivating. I feel like I made so many friends while reading this book and the brilliant thing is that I might get some of their stories in the future, seeing that this is the first installment of the Farthingdale Ranch series. Can't wait.
May 14, 2021
I came across the next book in the series and got curious, so I decided to check this one out before its release since North is a new-to-me author.
The setup of this book was intriguing as well. Overall the writing just didn't work for me, unfortunately. It had a kind of prudish tone that made me feel like I was reading a historical romance about blushing maidens or something. (Among other numerous cringey moments, there's a scene where the MCs are painting outdoors and one takes off his shirt for mostly practical reasons and the other is like, "oh no, now we are so unequal, I must take off my shirt also". *CUE EYE ROLL*)
A lot of the narration was just telling, and so full of descriptions and mundane details it became taxing very quickly. I mean, I love me some beautiful descriptions for atmosphere, world-building, etc., but this was not that. It just wasn't compelling. The writing was also quite repetitive, not least when Leland was hemming and hawing, and just going back and forth about the Ranch Rules and everything concerning Jamie basically every 2 minutes. It became so tedious.
I also just didn't feel the MCs at all. I couldn't connect them to their ages. Most of the time Jamie came off as more like an 11-year-old to me, rather than 21, to be honest. And Leland was 30 at most, yet he had this tone as if he was OMG SO OLD. So, the dynamic there really did not work for me. At times it was almost creepy; often there were things the characters did or said that really emphasised Jamie's cluelessness/naivety. And both MCs acted so... demure, especially Jamie, it felt just so unrealistic. The somewhat flowery writing (and e.g. Leland using the word courting on many occasions) highlighted that. It felt quite stuffy and just wasn't for me. Also, towards the end I wondered how much these guys actually knew about each other... They had maybe one or two meaningful conversations throughout the book, I think.
Overall all the characters came off as very 2-dimensional. Everyone was just so damn nice and there was no tension anywhere. The epilogue was entirely unnecessary in my opinion. I sure hope I'm going to enjoy the second book more than this one. Jasper's described as grumpy, but honestly he came off as pretty decent to me, just a man of few words maybe. Oh well, we'll see.
The setup of this book was intriguing as well. Overall the writing just didn't work for me, unfortunately. It had a kind of prudish tone that made me feel like I was reading a historical romance about blushing maidens or something. (Among other numerous cringey moments, there's a scene where the MCs are painting outdoors and one takes off his shirt for mostly practical reasons and the other is like, "oh no, now we are so unequal, I must take off my shirt also". *CUE EYE ROLL*)
A lot of the narration was just telling, and so full of descriptions and mundane details it became taxing very quickly. I mean, I love me some beautiful descriptions for atmosphere, world-building, etc., but this was not that. It just wasn't compelling. The writing was also quite repetitive, not least when Leland was hemming and hawing, and just going back and forth about the Ranch Rules and everything concerning Jamie basically every 2 minutes. It became so tedious.
I also just didn't feel the MCs at all. I couldn't connect them to their ages. Most of the time Jamie came off as more like an 11-year-old to me, rather than 21, to be honest. And Leland was 30 at most, yet he had this tone as if he was OMG SO OLD. So, the dynamic there really did not work for me. At times it was almost creepy; often there were things the characters did or said that really emphasised Jamie's cluelessness/naivety. And both MCs acted so... demure, especially Jamie, it felt just so unrealistic. The somewhat flowery writing (and e.g. Leland using the word courting on many occasions) highlighted that. It felt quite stuffy and just wasn't for me. Also, towards the end I wondered how much these guys actually knew about each other... They had maybe one or two meaningful conversations throughout the book, I think.
Overall all the characters came off as very 2-dimensional. Everyone was just so damn nice and there was no tension anywhere. The epilogue was entirely unnecessary in my opinion. I sure hope I'm going to enjoy the second book more than this one. Jasper's described as grumpy, but honestly he came off as pretty decent to me, just a man of few words maybe. Oh well, we'll see.
January 24, 2022
This was nice, the characters didn't feel extremely memorable but their relationship was very sweet and there was some good emotional hurt to balance things out. It was a bit frustrating seeing Leland lead Jamie on only to keep doing the "but this is wrong, we can't do this" thing, but at least it was addressed by the book eventually.
March 22, 2021
3.5 stars rounded up from me. I have to say that Jackie North is even more of a slow-burn author than Anyta Sunday...and that's really saying something. I was seriously tempted to DNF I'm afraid to say as I was not at all keen on one of the MC's, but read Dani's review and persevered.
Not going into much detail. Liked poor Jamie, and most of the other hands on the Farthingdale Dude Ranch, but couldn't really connect with Leland Tate who as the foreman of the ranch, was a pretty important figure not to like. I also found the very slow pace of the story annoying at times. Probably not a winner for me in the series stakes, so we'll leave it here.
Not going into much detail. Liked poor Jamie, and most of the other hands on the Farthingdale Dude Ranch, but couldn't really connect with Leland Tate who as the foreman of the ranch, was a pretty important figure not to like. I also found the very slow pace of the story annoying at times. Probably not a winner for me in the series stakes, so we'll leave it here.
June 21, 2022
Nice beginning to the series, even if it took Leland some time to get his head out of his rear end and realize what a good thing he had found.
April 16, 2021
2,5 stars
- Possible spoilers -
Dual pov.
Jacky North’s novel is about Leland, a ranch manager, and Jamie, a drifter looking for work. At first, Leland wants nothing to do with Jamie, as he's a stickler for the rules (No drifters), but decides to give him another chance later on.
Things I liked:
- Jamie; he's such a sweet and hard-working guy. His naivety about romantic relationships is quite endearing.
- Learning about life on a dude ranch and about what the work entails. I'd love to spend some time at a dude ranch.
- Cowboys. :D
- The ranch is about to participate in an ex-con rehabilitation program, which sounds really interesting. Hopefully, we’ll get to know more about this program in the upcoming book.
Things I didn't like:
- I was a bit disappointed in Leland. Don’t get me wrong; he’s kind, a good foreman, outgoing, etc. He’s just too perfect. I prefer my cowboys to be tougher and more dominating. Leland’s way too civilised. Besides, he can be kind of a dick to Jamie, what with him being hot and cold.
- Very few sex scenes.
- Literally every character seemed friendly. Even grumpy Jasper!
- The novel lacked drama and action. Nothing much happened, really.
Overall
The foreman and the drifter is an okay read. An enjoyable story about daily life on a ranch, with some romance thrown in. I'll probably read the next book in this series, when published.
- Possible spoilers -
Dual pov.
Jacky North’s novel is about Leland, a ranch manager, and Jamie, a drifter looking for work. At first, Leland wants nothing to do with Jamie, as he's a stickler for the rules (No drifters), but decides to give him another chance later on.
Things I liked:
- Jamie; he's such a sweet and hard-working guy. His naivety about romantic relationships is quite endearing.
- Learning about life on a dude ranch and about what the work entails. I'd love to spend some time at a dude ranch.
- Cowboys. :D
- The ranch is about to participate in an ex-con rehabilitation program, which sounds really interesting. Hopefully, we’ll get to know more about this program in the upcoming book.
Things I didn't like:
- I was a bit disappointed in Leland. Don’t get me wrong; he’s kind, a good foreman, outgoing, etc. He’s just too perfect. I prefer my cowboys to be tougher and more dominating. Leland’s way too civilised. Besides, he can be kind of a dick to Jamie, what with him being hot and cold.
- Very few sex scenes.
- Literally every character seemed friendly. Even grumpy Jasper!
- The novel lacked drama and action. Nothing much happened, really.
Overall
The foreman and the drifter is an okay read. An enjoyable story about daily life on a ranch, with some romance thrown in. I'll probably read the next book in this series, when published.
March 14, 2021
4.5 stars. A great start as the old stories of old Bill and Laurie where reminded again from characters I’d loved in the “Love Across Time Series”.
Once I started reading I was glued the the story. I couldn't help feel for Jamie as he’d obviously had a tough journey for awhile. An accident happens and Jamie a little bruised up making Leland in care taker mode. Jamie has been on his own for too long and needed something or someone. A beautiful slow romance between both characters. But really, someone needs to tell Leland his rules smules need to be broken. A beautiful ending told with both pov's.
Leland 30 yrs had a dream but not just any dream, to be a ranch manager of Fathingdale dude ranch. The stories told about disappearances Leland had yet to see but they were just stories from the past.
Jamie 21 was a drifter of 2 years and despite for a job at Fathingdale although he'd thought it was a cattle ranch when he rocked up.
Once I started reading I was glued the the story. I couldn't help feel for Jamie as he’d obviously had a tough journey for awhile. An accident happens and Jamie a little bruised up making Leland in care taker mode. Jamie has been on his own for too long and needed something or someone. A beautiful slow romance between both characters. But really, someone needs to tell Leland his rules smules need to be broken. A beautiful ending told with both pov's.
Leland 30 yrs had a dream but not just any dream, to be a ranch manager of Fathingdale dude ranch. The stories told about disappearances Leland had yet to see but they were just stories from the past.
Jamie 21 was a drifter of 2 years and despite for a job at Fathingdale although he'd thought it was a cattle ranch when he rocked up.
November 4, 2021
The Foreman and the Drifter is a light, enjoyable m/m contemporary romance, set on a guest ranch on the Wyoming prairie. It’s a spin-off from the author’s book, “Honey from the Lion,” a story that surprisingly got stuck in my memory. Farthingdale Ranch was just a jumping-off point for the earlier story, but here it takes center stage.
Leland Tate, the 29 year old foreman of Farthingdale Ranch, is working furiously to save it after the fiasco in “Honey from the Lion,” where a guest mysteriously disappears, causing bookings to plummet. To do so, he needs a sharp, well trained staff. Jamie Decker looks like any other drifter to Leland, but at 21 he’s been disowned by his parents and living hand to mouth. A random twist of fate has Jamie working on the ranch on a trial basis, the problem being that Leland finds himself irresistibly attracted to the much younger man.
You don’t pick up a Jackie North book for elegant sentences, insightful metaphors, or a refined aesthetic. North is a storyteller at heart, and each of the books I’ve read has its own unique charm. Sometimes, as in Heroes for Ghosts or Hemingway’s Notebook, she’s able to capture the feel of an era in a deeply emotional, riveting way. This book doesn’t fall into that category, but it’s a strong start to a new series, with likable characters you want to see happy.
Funny how I can enjoy a book about a lifestyle I dislike; I was raised on a horse farm where my brother was a successful jockey before being accidentally killed by one of our horses. That aside, I knew from early on that farm life, even with the wealth of experiences it gave me, was not for me. Still, I got my first pony when I was 4 (my mom having a fit when I angled the pony, saddle and all, through the front door and into the kitchen), and rode my huge Arabian till I was 18. So the Farthingdale books hold an additional interest for me: how will the author evoke life with horses, and will it correspond to my memories?
North does a fairly good job on that score. She includes just enough detail to get the job done, and judiciously leaves out the less pleasant aspects of farm life. There’s no mention of where or how large the manure pile is; even if the horses are set free to roam in the Wyoming hills at night, they still spend time in box stalls, where the smell of horse urine and a constant, typically aggressive, cloud of flies tends to accumulate in a less than glamorous fashion. (We wiped the horses down with a fly repellent that was smelly and oily, and it didn’t wash off your hands easily). But North does capture something of the sweat, hair, dirt, and effort of working a horse farm, enough to make her setting plausible.
North goes light on the sex scenes - a good move, given the age and power differences between her main characters. Even so, for those who like an erotic charge in their fiction, she still delivers.
More than anything else, the author establishes a solid image of Farthingdale Ranch, vivid enough for me to start imagining my own scenes and vignettes between the characters. Other characters, such as the blacksmith Jasper and the horse wrangler Brody, go on to have their own books in the series.
I’m looking forward to them. I remember the blacksmith who came to our farm twice a month or so; he had a mobile forge, and my 5 year old self was mesmerized by the heat, the too-loud ringing of hammer on anvil, and the sparks that flew off the heated horseshoes as they were forced into shape. The thick, stiff leather apron the blacksmith wore, smudged and dirty, was unlike anything else I’d seen. Both he and my brother were uncannily efficient at lifting horse hooves between their knees, setting them just right, and hammering the nails that kept the horseshoes on.
A final note: this book either acquired typos in preparing it as an ebook, or it was rushed to press. It doesn’t detract from the story, but there are a number of added or unnecessary prepositions, strange punctuation choices, and metaphors that could use a bit more attention.
All in all, this book is a good one when you’re in the mood for an easy read and a sweet story.
Leland Tate, the 29 year old foreman of Farthingdale Ranch, is working furiously to save it after the fiasco in “Honey from the Lion,” where a guest mysteriously disappears, causing bookings to plummet. To do so, he needs a sharp, well trained staff. Jamie Decker looks like any other drifter to Leland, but at 21 he’s been disowned by his parents and living hand to mouth. A random twist of fate has Jamie working on the ranch on a trial basis, the problem being that Leland finds himself irresistibly attracted to the much younger man.
You don’t pick up a Jackie North book for elegant sentences, insightful metaphors, or a refined aesthetic. North is a storyteller at heart, and each of the books I’ve read has its own unique charm. Sometimes, as in Heroes for Ghosts or Hemingway’s Notebook, she’s able to capture the feel of an era in a deeply emotional, riveting way. This book doesn’t fall into that category, but it’s a strong start to a new series, with likable characters you want to see happy.
Funny how I can enjoy a book about a lifestyle I dislike; I was raised on a horse farm where my brother was a successful jockey before being accidentally killed by one of our horses. That aside, I knew from early on that farm life, even with the wealth of experiences it gave me, was not for me. Still, I got my first pony when I was 4 (my mom having a fit when I angled the pony, saddle and all, through the front door and into the kitchen), and rode my huge Arabian till I was 18. So the Farthingdale books hold an additional interest for me: how will the author evoke life with horses, and will it correspond to my memories?
North does a fairly good job on that score. She includes just enough detail to get the job done, and judiciously leaves out the less pleasant aspects of farm life. There’s no mention of where or how large the manure pile is; even if the horses are set free to roam in the Wyoming hills at night, they still spend time in box stalls, where the smell of horse urine and a constant, typically aggressive, cloud of flies tends to accumulate in a less than glamorous fashion. (We wiped the horses down with a fly repellent that was smelly and oily, and it didn’t wash off your hands easily). But North does capture something of the sweat, hair, dirt, and effort of working a horse farm, enough to make her setting plausible.
North goes light on the sex scenes - a good move, given the age and power differences between her main characters. Even so, for those who like an erotic charge in their fiction, she still delivers.
More than anything else, the author establishes a solid image of Farthingdale Ranch, vivid enough for me to start imagining my own scenes and vignettes between the characters. Other characters, such as the blacksmith Jasper and the horse wrangler Brody, go on to have their own books in the series.
I’m looking forward to them. I remember the blacksmith who came to our farm twice a month or so; he had a mobile forge, and my 5 year old self was mesmerized by the heat, the too-loud ringing of hammer on anvil, and the sparks that flew off the heated horseshoes as they were forced into shape. The thick, stiff leather apron the blacksmith wore, smudged and dirty, was unlike anything else I’d seen. Both he and my brother were uncannily efficient at lifting horse hooves between their knees, setting them just right, and hammering the nails that kept the horseshoes on.
A final note: this book either acquired typos in preparing it as an ebook, or it was rushed to press. It doesn’t detract from the story, but there are a number of added or unnecessary prepositions, strange punctuation choices, and metaphors that could use a bit more attention.
All in all, this book is a good one when you’re in the mood for an easy read and a sweet story.
March 16, 2021
I love this author, and having already visited the Farthingdale Ranch briefly in her earlier book Honey from the Lion, it was great exploring that setting in more detail. Leland and Jamie are both interesting characters, and I enjoyed their sweet story as they learn to follow their hearts rather than the rules Leland tries to convince himself shouldn’t be broken.
Although this is Leland and Jamie’s story, I enjoyed the references to Laurie’s disappearance, and finding out the cost of his and John’s HEA for the ranch in the present day.
I liked the differences between Leland and Jamie in not only age and life experience, but background. While Leland’s mother accepts his path in life, Jamie’s been discarded and gone through hell with horrible workmates etc. He’s drifting not only from place to place, but needing somewhere and someone to call home. I loved the description of the ranch and its surroundings particularly from Jamie’s POV as his words felt like poetry painting a picture. Beautiful!
The descriptions of the characters are also vivid to the point I felt like I was there, seeing the day to day life at the ranch, its inhabitants, and their personalities and quirks.
I love how caring Leland is, and how everyone on the ranch feels like family. He totally sucks at trying to convince himself that his feelings towards Jamie are not romantic attraction, and I liked the war within as he takes one step back and two in the direction of the man who is his heart. Jamie is wonderfully honest, and tries so hard to be a good worker to the point he neglects looking after himself. I thought the author captured his determination to be a part of somewhere wonderfully well. I liked that the fact Leland is Jamie’s employer is taken seriously and that steps are put in place to make sure they are on an equal footing before going forward with their relationship. I also enjoyed reading about their lovemaking. It felt very real with the way their emotions bubbled up inside, and out onto the page.
I love the supporting cast and looking forward to reading their stories. I particularly liked Clay with his quiet support of both Jamie and Leland, although he’s not afraid to tell Leland what he needs to hear. Bill’s an interesting character too. I’d love to learn more about him. Leland’s mother rocks. Levi, Jasper and Maddy feel very layered, and I’m very pleased this is the first in a new series. The horses also need a mention as they have very different personalities and are an integral part of the plot.
Although this is Leland and Jamie’s story, I enjoyed the references to Laurie’s disappearance, and finding out the cost of his and John’s HEA for the ranch in the present day.
I liked the differences between Leland and Jamie in not only age and life experience, but background. While Leland’s mother accepts his path in life, Jamie’s been discarded and gone through hell with horrible workmates etc. He’s drifting not only from place to place, but needing somewhere and someone to call home. I loved the description of the ranch and its surroundings particularly from Jamie’s POV as his words felt like poetry painting a picture. Beautiful!
The descriptions of the characters are also vivid to the point I felt like I was there, seeing the day to day life at the ranch, its inhabitants, and their personalities and quirks.
I love how caring Leland is, and how everyone on the ranch feels like family. He totally sucks at trying to convince himself that his feelings towards Jamie are not romantic attraction, and I liked the war within as he takes one step back and two in the direction of the man who is his heart. Jamie is wonderfully honest, and tries so hard to be a good worker to the point he neglects looking after himself. I thought the author captured his determination to be a part of somewhere wonderfully well. I liked that the fact Leland is Jamie’s employer is taken seriously and that steps are put in place to make sure they are on an equal footing before going forward with their relationship. I also enjoyed reading about their lovemaking. It felt very real with the way their emotions bubbled up inside, and out onto the page.
I love the supporting cast and looking forward to reading their stories. I particularly liked Clay with his quiet support of both Jamie and Leland, although he’s not afraid to tell Leland what he needs to hear. Bill’s an interesting character too. I’d love to learn more about him. Leland’s mother rocks. Levi, Jasper and Maddy feel very layered, and I’m very pleased this is the first in a new series. The horses also need a mention as they have very different personalities and are an integral part of the plot.
March 13, 2021
The Foreman and the Drifter is a captivating cowboy romance by Jacki North. The first book in the Farthingdale Ranch, I love every moment of this story. I was pulled in from the start, and these men and their story consumed me throughout.
Immediately, Jamie is a lovable character. His plight is laid out on the first pages, fully pulling the reader into rooting for him to find a home and job.
His first meeting with Leland is messy, but a little later on, Leland's pull to his new employee is strong. He can't stop wanting to help and protect him, despite it not being his job. And, damn, someone needs to.
And oh, the chemistry. The longing. The need. And the angst, as Leland has a rule to not sleep with an employee. His self imposed rule that goes against everything he wants from Jamie creates a forbidden romance element.
Oh...all the feels. They jump off the pages throughout.
Hurt. Pain. Sorrow. Regret.
Basically, I love cowboy romances and this one is a delight. Both men help each other to heal, as well as to grow. And it's wonderful.
As an added bonus to this enjoyable tale, there's none of the typical homophobia that often exists in ranch romances. What a nice surprise.
The Foreman and the Drifter is well worth a read to anyone in the mood for a cowboy romance. This looks to the start of a great series by Jacki North. There's a mystery that will be leading into the next book and I can't wait to read more about this ranch and it's people. I love it all so far!
Amy's MM Romance Reviews
You can find me at -
https://amysmmromancereviews.blogspot...
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https://twitter.com/amydufera2
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/4...
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https://www.instagram.com/amysromance...
Immediately, Jamie is a lovable character. His plight is laid out on the first pages, fully pulling the reader into rooting for him to find a home and job.
His first meeting with Leland is messy, but a little later on, Leland's pull to his new employee is strong. He can't stop wanting to help and protect him, despite it not being his job. And, damn, someone needs to.
And oh, the chemistry. The longing. The need. And the angst, as Leland has a rule to not sleep with an employee. His self imposed rule that goes against everything he wants from Jamie creates a forbidden romance element.
Oh...all the feels. They jump off the pages throughout.
Hurt. Pain. Sorrow. Regret.
Basically, I love cowboy romances and this one is a delight. Both men help each other to heal, as well as to grow. And it's wonderful.
As an added bonus to this enjoyable tale, there's none of the typical homophobia that often exists in ranch romances. What a nice surprise.
The Foreman and the Drifter is well worth a read to anyone in the mood for a cowboy romance. This looks to the start of a great series by Jacki North. There's a mystery that will be leading into the next book and I can't wait to read more about this ranch and it's people. I love it all so far!
Amy's MM Romance Reviews
You can find me at -
https://amysmmromancereviews.blogspot...
https://www.facebook.com/amysmmromanc...
https://twitter.com/amydufera2
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/4...
https://www.pinterest.com/amydufera/m...
https://www.instagram.com/amysromance...
March 8, 2022
Fuuuuuck this was boring. Plus Jamie read like a 16 year old and it made me uncomfortable. I definitely skimmed a ton. It almost seemed like everyone was religious even though religion wasn’t mentioned once. I will not be continuing this series.
Read
July 11, 2023Dnf @ 33%
So many words and for what
So many words and for what
January 2, 2024
Really slow and meandering. Lots of drinking water, root beer, eating, horses, just tasks to do. Forgettable characters.
Read
January 27, 2025Absolutely not
August 22, 2021
What a sweet and lovely read from Jackie North! I really enjoyed this first novel in Jackie's Farthingdale Ranch series. Jamie and Leland were so very sweet together and you can't beat that Wyoming setting. I look forward to reading more in this series.
Read
December 8, 2022Sure, I may have gotten covid in this final month of the year of our lord 2022, BUT I also figured out where to find all the gay cowboy romances.
So, you know, you win some, you lose some.
So, you know, you win some, you lose some.
June 27, 2021
4+
Jamie to młody, bezdomny tułacz, doświadczony przez życie, z jednej strony zbyt dorosły na swoje lata, a z drugiej trochę naiwny. Spragniony uczucia, uwagi drugiego człowieka - dobrej uwagi, bo tej złej miał w nadmiarze. Ale nie mający zbyt wiele nadziei tak naprawdę na nic. Skryty marzyciel - choć może tę stronę wyciągnął z niego dopiero Leland.
"He knew he should never want what he absolutely couldn’t ever have. Hope had not been a part of his life for a good long while, and he should have known better than to invite it to stay. Now he needed to get rid of it so he could keep everything else he’d been given".
Leland to zupełnie inny człowiek, niż Jamie. Starszy o prawie 10 lat, wykształcony, pewny siebie, kierujący ranchem dla turystów. Sprawiedliwy, ale trzymający się ściśle zasad - na tyle, że kilka razy usłyszy, że jest świetny, ale ten kij z dupy to mógłby wyciągnąć 😉 Wcale nie chciał zatrudniać Jamiego, bo nie zatrudnia nigdy żadnych tułaczy - tak naprawdę dopiero na sugestię właściciela rancha to zrobił, bo Jamie oddał im przysługę i coś mu byli winni. I Jamie coś w nim porusza. Coś, czego żaden inny facet nigdy nie poruszył. I Leland walczy ze sobą. Z zasadami. Z tym, co myśli, że jest odpowiednie lub nie. Wahania sięgają 180 stopni. Ale przyciąganie do Jamiego jest niewątpliwe i niemożliwe do powstrzymania...
"Maybe he felt close to Jamie because he needed someone in his life, and maybe Jamie needed him. And maybe Leland needed Jamie to remind him it wasn’t all rules and regulations, that life could be fun. That smiles could be shared over slices of apple crumble".
To książka o tym, jak niewiele człowiekowi do szczęścia jest potrzebne - praca, jakiś dach nad głową i łóżko, pełny żołądek, poczucie przynależności. Trochę serdeczności i życzliwości. I przede wszystkim Szansa. Nie jest potrzebne zaufanie, tylko szansa, aby na to zaufanie zasłużyć ciężką pracą. Bo Jamie tak naprawdę tylko o to prosił - żeby ktoś mu dał szansę, a on na całą resztę zapracuje.
Nie jestem jakąś wielką fanką dużej ilości opisów przyrody czy otoczenia, bo wolę się skupiać na ludziach. Ale... opisy Jackie North są po prostu magiczne. Nie wiem, czy kiedykolwiek miałam aż taką ochotę wskoczyć na stronice książki i zbadać osobiście każdy zakątek opisywanego miejsca. I zostać tam 😁
To cicha, spokojna, delikatna, subtelna książka. Nie ma dramatów, nagłych zwrotów akcji, dialogów jest niewiele, praktycznie nie ma seksu. Podobało mi się bardzo, w jaki sposób autorka skonstruowała swoich bohaterów i cały świat, w którym się obracali. Jak stworzyła fantastyczne miejsce, gdzie liczą się przede wszystkim ludzie, gdzie wszyscy wiedzą, że od wzajemnej współpracy zależy zarówno ich byt, jak i rancha. Jak prowadziła historię - niespiesznie, jakby miała cały czas tego świata, a jednak w sposób przykuwający uwagę. Przynajmniej moją 😉
Postacie drugoplanowe są świetne, i wyraziste, i mają swój odpowiedni udział w historii Jamiego i Lelanda. I nie mogę się doczekać na pozostałe książki, których w sumie z tą ma być sześć - bo tak, oczywiście, sprawdziłam sobie na stronie autorki, że tyle jest w planach 😁
Jamie to młody, bezdomny tułacz, doświadczony przez życie, z jednej strony zbyt dorosły na swoje lata, a z drugiej trochę naiwny. Spragniony uczucia, uwagi drugiego człowieka - dobrej uwagi, bo tej złej miał w nadmiarze. Ale nie mający zbyt wiele nadziei tak naprawdę na nic. Skryty marzyciel - choć może tę stronę wyciągnął z niego dopiero Leland.
"He knew he should never want what he absolutely couldn’t ever have. Hope had not been a part of his life for a good long while, and he should have known better than to invite it to stay. Now he needed to get rid of it so he could keep everything else he’d been given".
Leland to zupełnie inny człowiek, niż Jamie. Starszy o prawie 10 lat, wykształcony, pewny siebie, kierujący ranchem dla turystów. Sprawiedliwy, ale trzymający się ściśle zasad - na tyle, że kilka razy usłyszy, że jest świetny, ale ten kij z dupy to mógłby wyciągnąć 😉 Wcale nie chciał zatrudniać Jamiego, bo nie zatrudnia nigdy żadnych tułaczy - tak naprawdę dopiero na sugestię właściciela rancha to zrobił, bo Jamie oddał im przysługę i coś mu byli winni. I Jamie coś w nim porusza. Coś, czego żaden inny facet nigdy nie poruszył. I Leland walczy ze sobą. Z zasadami. Z tym, co myśli, że jest odpowiednie lub nie. Wahania sięgają 180 stopni. Ale przyciąganie do Jamiego jest niewątpliwe i niemożliwe do powstrzymania...
"Maybe he felt close to Jamie because he needed someone in his life, and maybe Jamie needed him. And maybe Leland needed Jamie to remind him it wasn’t all rules and regulations, that life could be fun. That smiles could be shared over slices of apple crumble".
To książka o tym, jak niewiele człowiekowi do szczęścia jest potrzebne - praca, jakiś dach nad głową i łóżko, pełny żołądek, poczucie przynależności. Trochę serdeczności i życzliwości. I przede wszystkim Szansa. Nie jest potrzebne zaufanie, tylko szansa, aby na to zaufanie zasłużyć ciężką pracą. Bo Jamie tak naprawdę tylko o to prosił - żeby ktoś mu dał szansę, a on na całą resztę zapracuje.
Nie jestem jakąś wielką fanką dużej ilości opisów przyrody czy otoczenia, bo wolę się skupiać na ludziach. Ale... opisy Jackie North są po prostu magiczne. Nie wiem, czy kiedykolwiek miałam aż taką ochotę wskoczyć na stronice książki i zbadać osobiście każdy zakątek opisywanego miejsca. I zostać tam 😁
To cicha, spokojna, delikatna, subtelna książka. Nie ma dramatów, nagłych zwrotów akcji, dialogów jest niewiele, praktycznie nie ma seksu. Podobało mi się bardzo, w jaki sposób autorka skonstruowała swoich bohaterów i cały świat, w którym się obracali. Jak stworzyła fantastyczne miejsce, gdzie liczą się przede wszystkim ludzie, gdzie wszyscy wiedzą, że od wzajemnej współpracy zależy zarówno ich byt, jak i rancha. Jak prowadziła historię - niespiesznie, jakby miała cały czas tego świata, a jednak w sposób przykuwający uwagę. Przynajmniej moją 😉
Postacie drugoplanowe są świetne, i wyraziste, i mają swój odpowiedni udział w historii Jamiego i Lelanda. I nie mogę się doczekać na pozostałe książki, których w sumie z tą ma być sześć - bo tak, oczywiście, sprawdziłam sobie na stronie autorki, że tyle jest w planach 😁
September 9, 2023
I liked other books (time travel ones) from the author but this one just didn't really do it for me. The MCs did not read like gay males to me (much too much dialogue and emotive language etc) with Jamie's helpless lack of agency annoying me to no end by the middle of the read. Some judicious fast-forwarding was applied to get to an OK ending. 2.5 stars barely rounded up to 3.
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