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Wild Ones #4
As the Tallgrass Grows
No matter how many times Johnny starts over, things eventually fall apart. Like they did when he left the family ranch he loves in Nebraska, or in his fledgling acting career in L.A., or with his arguably perfect ex-boyfriend. Then he meets pretty, prickly, captivating Owen Galeo. A man who loves fiercely and protectively. A man Johnny is helplessly drawn to, and who inspires him to finally build a life that he won’t burn down. But every idyllic summer comes to an end, and Johnny has never been able to resist his urge to run when things get hard.
Owen’s safe haven has always been his godfathers’ farm. When they need help, he drops everything and moves in for the summer. To his surprise, they already have one house guest—Johnny, their long-lost nephew. Johnny’s beautiful, charismatic, and worst of all, famous...everything Owen’s celebrity parents taught him to hate. Owen resists their instant chemistry, but as the summer works its magic, he falls for Johnny anyway. Even though he can practically hear the clock ticking until Johnny takes off with no regard for who his leaving will hurt.
As the Tallgrass Grows is the fourth book in the Wild Ones series. Though the story can stand alone, the series is best enjoyed when read in order.
Owen’s safe haven has always been his godfathers’ farm. When they need help, he drops everything and moves in for the summer. To his surprise, they already have one house guest—Johnny, their long-lost nephew. Johnny’s beautiful, charismatic, and worst of all, famous...everything Owen’s celebrity parents taught him to hate. Owen resists their instant chemistry, but as the summer works its magic, he falls for Johnny anyway. Even though he can practically hear the clock ticking until Johnny takes off with no regard for who his leaving will hurt.
As the Tallgrass Grows is the fourth book in the Wild Ones series. Though the story can stand alone, the series is best enjoyed when read in order.
332 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 28, 2022
35 people are currently reading
179 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Ember
28 books203 followersRachel was born and raised in the midwest USA, and now lives there voluntarily, a life choice she only sometimes questions. On the small farm her menagerie calls home, she happily juggles her voracious reading and writing habits with caring for her kids and pets.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews
February 1, 2022
I liked the atmospheric details and sensitive moodiness of Long Winter(1st book of the series), the character-driven 70s vibe of Burning Season but so far this is the most balanced book in the series. It has some pretty beautiful lines but it's not too lyrical. The romance could be called slow-burn but 170+ pages are used purely for relationship development. And, unlike previous books, there is a perfect balance of both plot and characters.
Is it standalone??? Well!! The story is of Johnny, he was mentioned as the younger brother of Robbie(MC of the 1st and 2nd book). So, I feel the 1st two books are not as relevant to this story as the last release, Burning season. It was the story of Dylan and Bo, set in the 70s and they do get an awesome HFN at the end. Now, this book is set in the present time and we see Dylan and Bo as side characters here. It was lovely to see them aged and still very much in love.
So, you can read it as a standalone(the side characters do not dominate the story) but my selfish heart wants everyone to at least read The Burning Season (3rd book) to feel the connection with this book and to understand the Chase family dynamic.
Plot
Johnny feels that he has been running throughout his life. First, he ran away from his home and ranch in Nebraska, then he ran away from his career in movies and boyfriend. To curb his restlessness now he comes to see his long-lost great uncle, Dylan at his ranch.
Owen is a filmmaking student with celebrity parents, who are known for their troubled relationship with each other. So, for some peace, Owen spends every summer at his godfather, Dylan's ranch.
¶Johnny is charming af and Owen doesn't like charming or actors or both.
"Actors. The best way to develop a deep disdain for them was to be raised by them."
¶But, the dislike part was short-lived, then while working together at the ranch came infatuation and then friendship…and...
"Maybe it was the anticipation, or maybe Johnny brought the same magic to this act that he seemed to bring to everything else, but Owen honest-to-fuck melted against him as Johnny’s lips covered his, a warm, firm press that felt like a claiming but in the gentlest way. Just a sure, soft confirmation: you want me, and I want you."
I feel this author's books resemble the mood of the setting. This one is set in summers and there is very little angst in the relationship. But the Rd is beautiful and we have some great steamy scenes too.😍😍😍And, The main conflict arises from the multigenerational Chase family dynamic.
¶ Rachel Ember is the newest entry in my auto-buy author's list after Burning season... But, this one established her as one of the biggest finds of 2021.
Lately, I have been getting less and less time to read and the worst part is that the next few months look bleaker for my reading. However, I end up squeezing this into my messy schedule and I realize why we keep reading romance books even at the cost of sacrificing our precious time.
P.S-How can I not look forward to the next release, after that ending.🤔🤔
And, if you have not read this author before, do try reading Three Lessons the free novella available in this series, it's a complete standalone.
Is it standalone??? Well!! The story is of Johnny, he was mentioned as the younger brother of Robbie(MC of the 1st and 2nd book). So, I feel the 1st two books are not as relevant to this story as the last release, Burning season. It was the story of Dylan and Bo, set in the 70s and they do get an awesome HFN at the end. Now, this book is set in the present time and we see Dylan and Bo as side characters here. It was lovely to see them aged and still very much in love.
So, you can read it as a standalone(the side characters do not dominate the story) but my selfish heart wants everyone to at least read The Burning Season (3rd book) to feel the connection with this book and to understand the Chase family dynamic.
Plot
Johnny feels that he has been running throughout his life. First, he ran away from his home and ranch in Nebraska, then he ran away from his career in movies and boyfriend. To curb his restlessness now he comes to see his long-lost great uncle, Dylan at his ranch.
Owen is a filmmaking student with celebrity parents, who are known for their troubled relationship with each other. So, for some peace, Owen spends every summer at his godfather, Dylan's ranch.
¶Johnny is charming af and Owen doesn't like charming or actors or both.
"Actors. The best way to develop a deep disdain for them was to be raised by them."
¶But, the dislike part was short-lived, then while working together at the ranch came infatuation and then friendship…and...
"Maybe it was the anticipation, or maybe Johnny brought the same magic to this act that he seemed to bring to everything else, but Owen honest-to-fuck melted against him as Johnny’s lips covered his, a warm, firm press that felt like a claiming but in the gentlest way. Just a sure, soft confirmation: you want me, and I want you."
I feel this author's books resemble the mood of the setting. This one is set in summers and there is very little angst in the relationship. But the Rd is beautiful and we have some great steamy scenes too.😍😍😍And, The main conflict arises from the multigenerational Chase family dynamic.
¶ Rachel Ember is the newest entry in my auto-buy author's list after Burning season... But, this one established her as one of the biggest finds of 2021.
Lately, I have been getting less and less time to read and the worst part is that the next few months look bleaker for my reading. However, I end up squeezing this into my messy schedule and I realize why we keep reading romance books even at the cost of sacrificing our precious time.
P.S-How can I not look forward to the next release, after that ending.🤔🤔
And, if you have not read this author before, do try reading Three Lessons the free novella available in this series, it's a complete standalone.
Read
February 8, 2022Summer love, a lost soul and a lonely one, old history, and new beginnings.
Plus, a herd of curious ponies, a horseback gallop down the beach, a drive-in movie no one actually watches, two (2) road trips to LA, and a happy ending.
Plus, a herd of curious ponies, a horseback gallop down the beach, a drive-in movie no one actually watches, two (2) road trips to LA, and a happy ending.
January 30, 2022
3.5 stars
I liked this story between Johnny and Owen, it’s a true romance that also throws in family you never knew and family that you make. I read Dylan & Bo’s novella recently and this takes place on their farm. I was so happy to revisit them and see them happy and so in love after 50 years together!
Johnny is Robbie’s (from book 1) brother and I didn’t read book 2 and I wish I did before I read this. I think some events happen in that book that are spoken of in this one but it isn’t necessary to read the previous books. I would highly recommend it though. These books follow the Chase family and the previous books I read are just wonderful stories!
I liked how Johnny and Owen connected working on the farm and that they didn’t deny their attraction to one another. I can’t say I was fully vested in their story though and I’m not sure why. The writing is solid and the characters are really good together but something was missing for me. I loved both Johnny and Owen but together there wasn’t a real spark.
I think when the next book comes out and we see more of the story and them going back to Nebraska I may feel different. I was more interested in Dylan and Bo and I think that’s because their story really was my favorite. I am looking forward to reading more about all of these characters and what is in store for the Chase’s.
**ARC received from GRR. All thoughts and opinions are my own**
I liked this story between Johnny and Owen, it’s a true romance that also throws in family you never knew and family that you make. I read Dylan & Bo’s novella recently and this takes place on their farm. I was so happy to revisit them and see them happy and so in love after 50 years together!
Johnny is Robbie’s (from book 1) brother and I didn’t read book 2 and I wish I did before I read this. I think some events happen in that book that are spoken of in this one but it isn’t necessary to read the previous books. I would highly recommend it though. These books follow the Chase family and the previous books I read are just wonderful stories!
I liked how Johnny and Owen connected working on the farm and that they didn’t deny their attraction to one another. I can’t say I was fully vested in their story though and I’m not sure why. The writing is solid and the characters are really good together but something was missing for me. I loved both Johnny and Owen but together there wasn’t a real spark.
I think when the next book comes out and we see more of the story and them going back to Nebraska I may feel different. I was more interested in Dylan and Bo and I think that’s because their story really was my favorite. I am looking forward to reading more about all of these characters and what is in store for the Chase’s.
**ARC received from GRR. All thoughts and opinions are my own**
March 1, 2022
I was fortunate to get an advance copy of As the Tallgrass Grows, and I loved it as much or more than its predecessors. The book is connected to the Wild Ones duet and to Burning Season, set in 1972, but can be read first if you're impatient. I won't say a standalone because I'd wager almost everyone who reads this book will go back and read the others.
Rachel Ember is one of the bright stars to come out of 2021 in the MM genre, and the more I read of her work, the more I love it.
This book made me feel like I was in California, and has an engaging cast of characters who make me want to know all the things about their lives. It's sexy and fun, but also poignant with no cheating and an HEA, as well as just the right amount of heat. Read them all!
Rachel Ember is one of the bright stars to come out of 2021 in the MM genre, and the more I read of her work, the more I love it.
This book made me feel like I was in California, and has an engaging cast of characters who make me want to know all the things about their lives. It's sexy and fun, but also poignant with no cheating and an HEA, as well as just the right amount of heat. Read them all!
did-not-finish
February 17, 2022DNF @ 21%
No rating because I might come back to it.
I chose to read 2 other books while putting this on hold…
No rating because I might come back to it.
I chose to read 2 other books while putting this on hold…
January 28, 2022
For both Johnny and Owen, ranch life is both an escape and a homecoming. They’re both running from different things, but they have more in common than they have differences, and they both end up in the same place, more or less. I loved how well they fit together even (and perhaps especially) when Owen didn’t want to see it. It can be easy to find Owen’s rough edges frustrating: he trusts no one and sometimes it feels, early on, like having emotions annoys him more than anything else, but he’s more complicated, and sympathetic, than his prickly exterior suggests, and it’s lovely to get to know him. I like how fiercely he resists liking Johnny, how badly he fails at not letting him in, and how epically protective and supportive he becomes once he lets down his guard. Johnny I liked as well: while he makes mistakes, he’s honest, caring, and his own worst critic. I liked that he doesn’t want to hurt Owen, and I also liked that Owen isn’t having any of his nonsense (and vice versa). They’re a great couple and it’s both fun and touching watching them fall for each other.
You could read this novel as a standalone, but there’s enough backstory in previous works that the complicated family dynamics referenced in this one make more sense through the lens they offer. They’re also really good reads, in and of themselves, so if you haven’t already, definitely check them out! I loved seeing Bo and Dylan again, in the midst of their happily ever after, and it looks like, based on the epilog, that there are more family stories to tell, so hopefully they’ll be back again,
*I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
You could read this novel as a standalone, but there’s enough backstory in previous works that the complicated family dynamics referenced in this one make more sense through the lens they offer. They’re also really good reads, in and of themselves, so if you haven’t already, definitely check them out! I loved seeing Bo and Dylan again, in the midst of their happily ever after, and it looks like, based on the epilog, that there are more family stories to tell, so hopefully they’ll be back again,
*I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 11, 2022
I've given this a B+ at AAR, 4.5 stars
At the end of Burning Season, the third published book in Rachel Ember’s Wild Ones series, the epilogue saw the arrival, on Bo and Dylan’s doorstep, of Dylan’s great-nephew, Johnny Chase. I still haven’t had time to read books one and two in the series, but I managed to pick up enough here to be able to understand the backstory of Johnny’s role in those books, why he’s been estranged from his brother Robbie for over a year and why he’s both homeless and jobless when he arrives at Big Star Ranch at the beginning of As the Tallgrass Grows.
Johnny had enjoyed some success as an actor and stunt performer before he left the business to be with his politician boyfriend, but that was over a year ago and their recent breakup has left Johnny flat on his arse. He hadn’t known of Dylan’s existence until he started dating his ex, when Dylan’s name came up in a background check; Johnny doesn’t know the reason for the secrecy, but some instinct tells him it’s probably not a pleasant one. The same instinct has led him to keep the discovery of Dylan to himself – he hasn’t told either of his brothers yet – and he has no idea if Dylan will know who he is, but right at this moment, returning home to Nebraska isn’t an option, hence his using the last of his money on a bus ticket to Arroyo Grande. He doesn’t know what kind of welcome he’ll receive, or if he’ll be welcomed, at all, but when Dylan comes to the door, he greets Johnny as though a long-lost relative just turning up on the doorstep is nothing out of the ordinary. Over a sandwich and a brief conversation about their familial connection, Dylan offers Johnny the spare room.
Owen Galeo is the son of a famous Hollywood couple whose tempestuous marriage, with its frequent break-ups and reconciliations, is constant fodder for the gossip columns. He finds dealing with his parents exhausting and tries to have as little to do with them as possible, preferring instead to spend his free time with Bo and Dylan – who are long standing family friends – at the ranch where he can just chill out and work with the horses and forget about the drama his parents thrive on. He’s at the end of the first year of study for his Master’s in documentary film studies and is looking forward to heading off to Big Star for the summer.
He ends up getting there a little earlier than planned when he learns that Bo has had an accident. He arrives late at night to be greeted by a familiar, although unexpected, face – that of Johnny Chase. The sexy former movie actor is exactly the sort of person Owen tries to avoid – then suspicion strikes and he wonders why Johnny is there. Fortunately, however, he soon realises Johnny isn’t out to steal anything or take advantage of anyone, and the two men start to bond through their love of horses, the ranch and for the men who have taken them in.
Despite similar backgrounds in terms of their connections to the movie industry, Owen and Johnny are quite different and their opposites attract romance is a beautifully written slow-burn. Owen isn’t a people person. He’s prickly, he doesn’t trust easily, and thanks to his parents being so wrapped up in each other and the overblown melodrama of their lives, he’s been used to being an afterthought all his life. Except, that is, when he’s with Dylan and Bo, who have always been more like fathers than his own father ever has. With them and at Big Star, Owen feels more fully himself and at peace than anywhere else, and to him, it’s home. Johnny is carrying around a load of guilt for what he sees as leaving his brother in the lurch at a critical time, and believes he’s one of those people forever destined to let others down, that his life is a series of mistakes he has to run from. He certainly doesn’t think he’s relationship material – and Owen has ‘long-term’ written all over him. Try as he might, however, he just can’t resist the pull he feels towards Owen, and as their friendship grows and slowly deepens and turns into something much more, Owen’s faith and support help Johnny see that maybe it’s time to stop running and build a better life.
The one false note struck in the book is the little road-block the author throws in near the end to generate a bit of tension, which feels forced and somewhat out of character. Johnny does something a bit dumb, although with absolutely no ill intent, and Owen’s reaction is over the top to say the least. Fortunately the situation isn’t dragged out and things are resolved quickly, but it’s so out of place that I was taken right out of the story.
Apart from that however,��As the Tallgrass Grows is a tender and passionate romance with lots of UST and lots of heartfelt emotion featuring two engaging principals and a very well-realised setting. Owen and Johnny have terrific chemistry and I was in no doubt, by the end, that they would make it long-term because they’re so clearly good for each other. The author does a great job of incorporating the complicated family dynamics into the story, and getting to see Bo and Dylan again, as very much an old married couple, was such a treat, and their love for and understanding of each other leaps off the page.
Rachel Ember is rapidly earning herself a place on my list of ‘must read’ authors, and I’m really looking forward to both catching up with the previous books in the series, and to reading the next one. As the Tallgrass Grows earns a strong recommendation.
At the end of Burning Season, the third published book in Rachel Ember’s Wild Ones series, the epilogue saw the arrival, on Bo and Dylan’s doorstep, of Dylan’s great-nephew, Johnny Chase. I still haven’t had time to read books one and two in the series, but I managed to pick up enough here to be able to understand the backstory of Johnny’s role in those books, why he’s been estranged from his brother Robbie for over a year and why he’s both homeless and jobless when he arrives at Big Star Ranch at the beginning of As the Tallgrass Grows.
Johnny had enjoyed some success as an actor and stunt performer before he left the business to be with his politician boyfriend, but that was over a year ago and their recent breakup has left Johnny flat on his arse. He hadn’t known of Dylan’s existence until he started dating his ex, when Dylan’s name came up in a background check; Johnny doesn’t know the reason for the secrecy, but some instinct tells him it’s probably not a pleasant one. The same instinct has led him to keep the discovery of Dylan to himself – he hasn’t told either of his brothers yet – and he has no idea if Dylan will know who he is, but right at this moment, returning home to Nebraska isn’t an option, hence his using the last of his money on a bus ticket to Arroyo Grande. He doesn’t know what kind of welcome he’ll receive, or if he’ll be welcomed, at all, but when Dylan comes to the door, he greets Johnny as though a long-lost relative just turning up on the doorstep is nothing out of the ordinary. Over a sandwich and a brief conversation about their familial connection, Dylan offers Johnny the spare room.
Owen Galeo is the son of a famous Hollywood couple whose tempestuous marriage, with its frequent break-ups and reconciliations, is constant fodder for the gossip columns. He finds dealing with his parents exhausting and tries to have as little to do with them as possible, preferring instead to spend his free time with Bo and Dylan – who are long standing family friends – at the ranch where he can just chill out and work with the horses and forget about the drama his parents thrive on. He’s at the end of the first year of study for his Master’s in documentary film studies and is looking forward to heading off to Big Star for the summer.
He ends up getting there a little earlier than planned when he learns that Bo has had an accident. He arrives late at night to be greeted by a familiar, although unexpected, face – that of Johnny Chase. The sexy former movie actor is exactly the sort of person Owen tries to avoid – then suspicion strikes and he wonders why Johnny is there. Fortunately, however, he soon realises Johnny isn’t out to steal anything or take advantage of anyone, and the two men start to bond through their love of horses, the ranch and for the men who have taken them in.
Despite similar backgrounds in terms of their connections to the movie industry, Owen and Johnny are quite different and their opposites attract romance is a beautifully written slow-burn. Owen isn’t a people person. He’s prickly, he doesn’t trust easily, and thanks to his parents being so wrapped up in each other and the overblown melodrama of their lives, he’s been used to being an afterthought all his life. Except, that is, when he’s with Dylan and Bo, who have always been more like fathers than his own father ever has. With them and at Big Star, Owen feels more fully himself and at peace than anywhere else, and to him, it’s home. Johnny is carrying around a load of guilt for what he sees as leaving his brother in the lurch at a critical time, and believes he’s one of those people forever destined to let others down, that his life is a series of mistakes he has to run from. He certainly doesn’t think he’s relationship material – and Owen has ‘long-term’ written all over him. Try as he might, however, he just can’t resist the pull he feels towards Owen, and as their friendship grows and slowly deepens and turns into something much more, Owen’s faith and support help Johnny see that maybe it’s time to stop running and build a better life.
The one false note struck in the book is the little road-block the author throws in near the end to generate a bit of tension, which feels forced and somewhat out of character. Johnny does something a bit dumb, although with absolutely no ill intent, and Owen’s reaction is over the top to say the least. Fortunately the situation isn’t dragged out and things are resolved quickly, but it’s so out of place that I was taken right out of the story.
Apart from that however,��As the Tallgrass Grows is a tender and passionate romance with lots of UST and lots of heartfelt emotion featuring two engaging principals and a very well-realised setting. Owen and Johnny have terrific chemistry and I was in no doubt, by the end, that they would make it long-term because they’re so clearly good for each other. The author does a great job of incorporating the complicated family dynamics into the story, and getting to see Bo and Dylan again, as very much an old married couple, was such a treat, and their love for and understanding of each other leaps off the page.
Rachel Ember is rapidly earning herself a place on my list of ‘must read’ authors, and I’m really looking forward to both catching up with the previous books in the series, and to reading the next one. As the Tallgrass Grows earns a strong recommendation.
March 11, 2022
Arroyo Grande, CA. at Dylan and Bo's horse farm, 22 years after the last historical story, we see our characters once again, Johnny, Robbie's brother who left Robbie high and dry at the ranch in Nebraska.
Johnny, 29, blonde waves, blue eyes, actor
had a recent breakup, and was Dylan's great nephew.
Owen, dark hair, younger, was in college studying
filmmaking, his famous parents were divorcing, and always took summers at Dylan and Bo's home.
It was great to see Dylan and Bo again and discover how their life had been. They mentored lots of kids at the ranch, Dylan had been a nurse, and Bo a cowboy poet in addition to the horses. We see wayward Johnny, actor, and Owen, budding filmmaker, and at first they do not like each other, until they have each other's history.
They slowly become friends, work together and hang out as friends, until the feelings become more. Their futures are uncertain and they do balk at any relationship thoughts.
Their sexy times are super hot and getting more sizzle each time, including the exciting first times for Owen. They turn out to be vers.
It's a steady paced tale of new love, sad pasts, Dylan and Bo's secret revealed, and tears were flowing.
Owen deserves the best in life, and Johnny want to be his partner in that future.
So much care and love, and strong men are shown here.
At the end we get a surprise about Jake, so I look forward to the next book, it has been quite a journey.
ENJOY !
=======
Johnny, 29, blonde waves, blue eyes, actor
had a recent breakup, and was Dylan's great nephew.
Owen, dark hair, younger, was in college studying
filmmaking, his famous parents were divorcing, and always took summers at Dylan and Bo's home.
It was great to see Dylan and Bo again and discover how their life had been. They mentored lots of kids at the ranch, Dylan had been a nurse, and Bo a cowboy poet in addition to the horses. We see wayward Johnny, actor, and Owen, budding filmmaker, and at first they do not like each other, until they have each other's history.
They slowly become friends, work together and hang out as friends, until the feelings become more. Their futures are uncertain and they do balk at any relationship thoughts.
Their sexy times are super hot and getting more sizzle each time, including the exciting first times for Owen. They turn out to be vers.
It's a steady paced tale of new love, sad pasts, Dylan and Bo's secret revealed, and tears were flowing.
Owen deserves the best in life, and Johnny want to be his partner in that future.
So much care and love, and strong men are shown here.
At the end we get a surprise about Jake, so I look forward to the next book, it has been quite a journey.
ENJOY !
=======
August 6, 2022
I enjoyed this but expected a bit more I think
From the blurb, I was expecting way more of an 'enemies/frenemies' vibe than is actually the case here.
While Owen starts off a bit resentful of Johnny's presence, it doesn't last long once he realises that he's a good guy trying to connect with family he knew nothing about.
However, I also thought we'd get a bit more explanation of what happened with Wyatt and Matt and while there's a kind of conversation, I was still left with questions.
Perhaps we'll finally get those answered in Jake's story, which is up next.
I loved spending more time with Bo and Dylan, they're still my favourite pairing in the series, but Owen and Johnny were super sweet too.
Owen is a bit younger than Johnny but at times it definitely didn't read that way, with both of them feeling very much like new adults not Johnny being almost 30.
Still, it's a small niggle in what was a lovely slow burn-ish romance that gave more insight into Johnny's fears and his almost self-sacrificing way of never wanting to let people down but behaving impulsively enough to do so.
Owen gives him an anchor from which he can get his feet back under him and Johnny gives Owen confidence in himself that he's good enough as he is.
I've really enjoyed this series so far and am looking forward to seeing where it goes with Jake and Cam.
From the blurb, I was expecting way more of an 'enemies/frenemies' vibe than is actually the case here.
While Owen starts off a bit resentful of Johnny's presence, it doesn't last long once he realises that he's a good guy trying to connect with family he knew nothing about.
However, I also thought we'd get a bit more explanation of what happened with Wyatt and Matt and while there's a kind of conversation, I was still left with questions.
Perhaps we'll finally get those answered in Jake's story, which is up next.
I loved spending more time with Bo and Dylan, they're still my favourite pairing in the series, but Owen and Johnny were super sweet too.
Owen is a bit younger than Johnny but at times it definitely didn't read that way, with both of them feeling very much like new adults not Johnny being almost 30.
Still, it's a small niggle in what was a lovely slow burn-ish romance that gave more insight into Johnny's fears and his almost self-sacrificing way of never wanting to let people down but behaving impulsively enough to do so.
Owen gives him an anchor from which he can get his feet back under him and Johnny gives Owen confidence in himself that he's good enough as he is.
I've really enjoyed this series so far and am looking forward to seeing where it goes with Jake and Cam.
March 7, 2024
Having read the previous book in the series where Johnny deserts his caretaking role at the family ranch while his eldest brother Robert was away, I wanted to dislike Johnny. But hey.
Johnny’s career as an actor in California seems to have stalled, plus his relationship with a US Senator has ended very dramatically leaving him shattered. With only a few dollars in his pocket he hops on a Greyhound bus headed to Big Star Ranch to try and find an unknown member of his father’s family.
On arrival he meets Daniel his great uncle who lives here with his partner Bo for over 50 years. Having been welcomed, fed and cleaned up he’s offered a place to stay. Bo and Daniel’s home is a place where they train horses for the movies plus teach people to ride. Johnny has always had a skill in managing horses so he fits in perfectly.
Not long after Johnny’s settling in, Owen arrives to visit his ‘foster dads’ Daniel and Bo, who have practically raised Owen when his film star parents were too busy with their careers to pay attention to him. They love him and it is returned a hundred fold by Owen. He’s a bit put out on arrival, when the first person he meets is Johnny, a stranger, who seems to feel very at home on Big Star Ranch.
Owen feels a bit jealous of Johnny’s connection to Daniel and plays very cool and aloof. However, after several days working together to repair damaged fences on the ranch he starts a feel a draw to Johnny.
They worked well together and shared some of their histories. During the task of clearing out the hayloft of accumulated horse tackle and boxes of photographs and paperwork, feelings start to ignite between Johnny and Owen.
The tabloids have always published stories of Owen’s parents on again- off again marriage so he doesn’t pay too much attention to them. He gets along with his mother but his father dislikes him, even hates him and he’s never known why. So when his mother asks him to visit he knows this time the gossip is real. Already mad about Johnny, he invites him to visit LA with him to see what is going on.
During the visit Johnny has a disastrous forced meeting with his father which devastates Owen who is comforted later that night in Owen’s apartment by Johnny. As a result of Owen’s trauma, Johnny feels the need to finally get closure on his relationship with his ex Trent, the Senator, and departs their bed before dawn. The meeting with Trent sitting in his car is captured by a paparazzi and is up on line when Owen wakes up and checks his phone.
Shattered, Owen grabs his stuff and heads back to the Ranch without Johnny. However he does arrange for a hire car to be delivered to the apartment so Johnny can find his own way back to Big Star Ranch.
Both men are shaken to their core by these recent events, and when they get back to Big Star there are more revelations that impact whatever happens in their future relationship, if they have one.
Of course, I couldn’t dislike Johnny, especially when he was so good to Daniel and Bo, and especially not when he took so great care of Owen, and how he loved him. Two adorable MC’s and a few other interesting side characters who may get their own story.
A surprisingly good read in this series which I’ll continue to follow.
Johnny’s career as an actor in California seems to have stalled, plus his relationship with a US Senator has ended very dramatically leaving him shattered. With only a few dollars in his pocket he hops on a Greyhound bus headed to Big Star Ranch to try and find an unknown member of his father’s family.
On arrival he meets Daniel his great uncle who lives here with his partner Bo for over 50 years. Having been welcomed, fed and cleaned up he’s offered a place to stay. Bo and Daniel’s home is a place where they train horses for the movies plus teach people to ride. Johnny has always had a skill in managing horses so he fits in perfectly.
Not long after Johnny’s settling in, Owen arrives to visit his ‘foster dads’ Daniel and Bo, who have practically raised Owen when his film star parents were too busy with their careers to pay attention to him. They love him and it is returned a hundred fold by Owen. He’s a bit put out on arrival, when the first person he meets is Johnny, a stranger, who seems to feel very at home on Big Star Ranch.
Owen feels a bit jealous of Johnny’s connection to Daniel and plays very cool and aloof. However, after several days working together to repair damaged fences on the ranch he starts a feel a draw to Johnny.
They worked well together and shared some of their histories. During the task of clearing out the hayloft of accumulated horse tackle and boxes of photographs and paperwork, feelings start to ignite between Johnny and Owen.
The tabloids have always published stories of Owen’s parents on again- off again marriage so he doesn’t pay too much attention to them. He gets along with his mother but his father dislikes him, even hates him and he’s never known why. So when his mother asks him to visit he knows this time the gossip is real. Already mad about Johnny, he invites him to visit LA with him to see what is going on.
During the visit Johnny has a disastrous forced meeting with his father which devastates Owen who is comforted later that night in Owen’s apartment by Johnny. As a result of Owen’s trauma, Johnny feels the need to finally get closure on his relationship with his ex Trent, the Senator, and departs their bed before dawn. The meeting with Trent sitting in his car is captured by a paparazzi and is up on line when Owen wakes up and checks his phone.
Shattered, Owen grabs his stuff and heads back to the Ranch without Johnny. However he does arrange for a hire car to be delivered to the apartment so Johnny can find his own way back to Big Star Ranch.
Both men are shaken to their core by these recent events, and when they get back to Big Star there are more revelations that impact whatever happens in their future relationship, if they have one.
Of course, I couldn’t dislike Johnny, especially when he was so good to Daniel and Bo, and especially not when he took so great care of Owen, and how he loved him. Two adorable MC’s and a few other interesting side characters who may get their own story.
A surprisingly good read in this series which I’ll continue to follow.
February 22, 2022
I've been loving this family-saga of a series, more than I expected to. In this novel, we've moved on from Robbie to his flighty brother Johnny, a failed actor coming out of a bad breakup, now adrift and looking for somewhere to land. He ends up on the ranch of Dylan and Bo, the MCs from the last book who have built this really beautiful life together and one of whom happens to be Johnny's great-uncle. The romance is between Johnny and Owen. Owen - the child of neglectful Hollywood stars, whose real home seems to be on the ranch. The romance is kind of slow burn and at the beginning, the author chose to try and give it an enemies-to-lovers vibe but this really didn't work because it was pretty one-sided. Johnny was such a good-natured character it was hard for Owen to hold onto any kind of bad feelings toward him. It wasn't a particularly dramatic or exciting novel, but it was a lovely Summer to sit through with these boys.
January 27, 2022
Reading this series was like trying to solved a math problems.
And that's all my mistakes because I read Bo and Dylan's book first, then this one, about Johnny, Robbie's little brother, who happens to be Dylan's brother Wyatt's grandson (are you following?). And Dylan and Bo were already in their seventies, a definite happy ever after for both.
I liked Johnny and Owen's story. A former actor and the son of a famous Hollywood couple, who likes living in Dylan and Bo's ranch instead living in luxury.
Both were lost and finding each other in Big Star Ranch, their romance started from there.
I liked this one better, maybe because Johnny and Owen started as friends first, and slowly became lovers.
If you following this series since the first book, probably you'll love it, because this one was sweet and adorable.
February 1, 2022
I loved Owen from the start and was so happy to see him get that perfect summer with Johnny. I so dreaded to see the time when Johnny would start to do his usual bolting act rather than fight to hold on to a relationship. Fortunately, these two manage to find a way to open up to each other and forge a bond that neither saw coming. As always, Ember's characters leap off the page and become like real people and friends you want only the best for.
October 11, 2025
4.25 stars from me. Not my favourite of the quartet as is, but still very well-written and this one takes us a little further down the road as far as discovering why Wyatt and Matt's relationship deteriorated so much .
Johnny is listless, directionless, and nothing ever seems to go right for him but when he travels to Bo and Dylan's horse ranch in California, things finally start to turn around. As far as Owen is concerned, well talk about being cursed with two dreadful parents 🤬...luckily, Bo and Dylan considered him family [and there's a story there too].
Definitely looking forward to Jake's story, When the River Rises, when I hope I'll get some answers to questions I was left with after the earlier books 📚.
Johnny is listless, directionless, and nothing ever seems to go right for him but when he travels to Bo and Dylan's horse ranch in California, things finally start to turn around. As far as Owen is concerned, well talk about being cursed with two dreadful parents 🤬...luckily, Bo and Dylan considered him family [and there's a story there too].
Definitely looking forward to Jake's story, When the River Rises, when I hope I'll get some answers to questions I was left with after the earlier books 📚.
January 31, 2022
I enjoyed Ember's latest addition to her Wild Ones series, but I expected something a bit more interesting from middle brother Johnny's story after Ember's portrayal of him as a run-when-the-going-gets-tough screw-up in earlier books. But instead we get an explanation for Johnny's big fail in book #1 that gives him not just a credible, but a sympathetic out (although ). And then Ember just ignores Johnny's past history of cutting and running on elder brother Robbie, as if none of that ever happened, so that she can present a romance lead who won't turn more judgmental readers off. She's a strong enough writer, I think, that she could have given us Johnny in all his flaws and still made readers root for him; wish she'd trusted herself, and her audience, more.
The romance between Johnny and Owen, an introvert documentary film student who feels closer to Johnny's newly discovered great Uncle Dylan and his partner Bo than to his actual film star parents, is sweet and relatively angst-free (with the exception of one minor misunderstanding thrown in for just a touch of third-act conflict).
The romance between Johnny and Owen, an introvert documentary film student who feels closer to Johnny's newly discovered great Uncle Dylan and his partner Bo than to his actual film star parents, is sweet and relatively angst-free (with the exception of one minor misunderstanding thrown in for just a touch of third-act conflict).
January 31, 2022
I was so looking forward to read Johnny's story and Rachel Ember didn't disappoint - she never does. Her characters are realistic, written in depth, with all the flaws, insecurities and mistakes we all made at some points in life and her depictions of ranch life and horses are on the spot - realistic, heartwarming and sometimes poetic - all wrapped in one seamlessly flowing story that you won't be able to put down. This is beautifully written hurt-comfort story about rediscovering ourselves, owning our mistakes, family found, with just right amount of heat, and it answers so many questions left unanswered in previous books, but at the same time raises new ones, so I'm very much looking forward to Jake's story. In theory this could be read as a standalone but I don't recommend it - you'd be missing so much! A special treat was revisiting Dylan and Bo and finding out where life took them. This series landed on my reread list before it was even a series - the first few chapters in the Long Winter was all it took to get me hooked.
January 30, 2022
Quiet and gradual sparks can be incredibly romantic. Both Owen and Johnny are the outsiders or black sheep in their small families, but when Johnny finds himself on his grand uncle’s land, he meets Owen. At first, it took awhile for their relationship to build, but when it did, I really enjoyed it. It was definitely one of those quiet sparks. I love the writing.
This is the 4th book in the series, and I only read the first one, but I plan on catching up with the others now. I know Dylan and Bo’s novella was the third book, and we learn more about them there. I do think that, while it’s not entirely necessary, it would best to read this in order because a lot events in this book are likely explained in the others.
I’m hoping this series continues, and I have my hopes on it being on a certain character.
*ARC provided by Gay Romance Reviews, and I have written my honest and voluntary review.*
This is the 4th book in the series, and I only read the first one, but I plan on catching up with the others now. I know Dylan and Bo’s novella was the third book, and we learn more about them there. I do think that, while it’s not entirely necessary, it would best to read this in order because a lot events in this book are likely explained in the others.
I’m hoping this series continues, and I have my hopes on it being on a certain character.
*ARC provided by Gay Romance Reviews, and I have written my honest and voluntary review.*
February 1, 2022
I’ve been impatiently waiting for Johnny’s story!! I loved Johnny and Owen, they were perfect for each other. They were complicated and well fleshed out. I loved that we got to see more of Dylan and Bo, a revisit of sorts. I loved this story so much more that the previous stories in the series! Overall, a phenomenal read, I cannot wait for the next one! The story was really well written, the pacing flowed smoothly, highly recommend. The story kept me engaged, I literally could NOT put it down. I’m voluntarily reviewing from an advanced copy that I received. My review is solely based on my thoughts and opinions.
January 30, 2022
4.5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐🌠
Another great book in the Wild Ones series, I really enjoyed Johnny and Owen's romance and I loved catching up with Dylan and Bo, now in their 70s and 50 years odd into their relationship and still totally in love, we get a chance to see how they have been travelling since we finished their story in book #3.
I really liked getting to know Johnny Robbie's brother whose story we read in books #1 & #2 where we meet him fleetingly, so it was nice to finally get to know him and what he'd been through and what has led him to Dylan and Bo's ranch beside the fact he is their long lost nephew. He has certainly been through a lot and I liked he was able to show his true self to Owen.
Owen is an honorary nephew of Dylan and Bo's and though he is at first dismayed to find Johnny at the ranch, as he gets to know him, things develop and grow between them. I really enjoyed seeing them learn about each other and in turn learn about themselves and gain confidence in who they were and what they deserve. Owen's parents certainly weren't the sort of people I would wish on anyone.
There are plenty of emotional moments as Johnny, Owen, Dylan and Bo get to know each other and a few secrets to uncover that change some things and explain others for Johnny and Owen.
I personally would read this series in order, but you can jump in with this one, though I think you'll get more from it if you read the others, you'll want to read them after anyway.
Thank you to the author for providing me with a digital copy in return for an honest review.
Another great book in the Wild Ones series, I really enjoyed Johnny and Owen's romance and I loved catching up with Dylan and Bo, now in their 70s and 50 years odd into their relationship and still totally in love, we get a chance to see how they have been travelling since we finished their story in book #3.
I really liked getting to know Johnny Robbie's brother whose story we read in books #1 & #2 where we meet him fleetingly, so it was nice to finally get to know him and what he'd been through and what has led him to Dylan and Bo's ranch beside the fact he is their long lost nephew. He has certainly been through a lot and I liked he was able to show his true self to Owen.
Owen is an honorary nephew of Dylan and Bo's and though he is at first dismayed to find Johnny at the ranch, as he gets to know him, things develop and grow between them. I really enjoyed seeing them learn about each other and in turn learn about themselves and gain confidence in who they were and what they deserve. Owen's parents certainly weren't the sort of people I would wish on anyone.
There are plenty of emotional moments as Johnny, Owen, Dylan and Bo get to know each other and a few secrets to uncover that change some things and explain others for Johnny and Owen.
I personally would read this series in order, but you can jump in with this one, though I think you'll get more from it if you read the others, you'll want to read them after anyway.
Thank you to the author for providing me with a digital copy in return for an honest review.
February 1, 2022
Johnny and Owen have a lovely story. I haven’t read the previous books but I had no trouble catching up. Johnny was immediately received by Dylan and Bo. A estranged uncle and his partner. Now, Owen grew up with Bo and Dylan and he is there when needed. They are both complicated characters, with a rough past. I enjoyed how their relationship develops, though. It’s sweet attraction and but also something more. They don’t want to fall for that, but love conquers at the end. All characters are interesting and I think some might future MCs. Loved the read.
December 29, 2021
The Wild Ones series gets better with every book. I loved As the Tall Grass Grows. We’ve met Johnny, the middle Chase brother, briefly in other books, so it’s really exciting to read his story. Johnny left Nebraska to make it as an actor in Hollywood. After being dumped by his politician boyfriend and with no acting jobs on the horizon, he travels to his long lost Uncle Dylan’s ranch on the central coast of California in hopes of building a relationship with him and getting a job. He meets Owen, a documentary film student and child of a couple of spoiled Hollywood actors, who spends every summer on the ranch with Dylan and Bo. They form a tentative friendship that blossoms into love. Johnny doesn’t believe that he’s capable of being in a relationship without letting someone down, and aside from his summers on the ranch, Owen has felt alone and unloved for most of his life. The two of them are beautiful together. Their faith in each other helps to mend their insecurities and feelings of inadequacy. Their chemistry together is exquisite, a wonderful blend of heat and tenderness. I also love that we get to spend more time with Bo and Dylan. Ember’s characters are so fully formed, and she really captures the messiness and love of family and what it means to find your perfect person.
January 1, 2022
This story is a great addition to the series. It brings some of the characters together from previous stories into the development of the characters of Johnny and Owen. Both characters are so likable I had to root for both. Johnny is having problems with his acting career and decides to find out about an uncle he has not known about before. On Dylan and Bo’s ranch he meets Owen. Owen has more than a few relationship problems but always seems to find his haven at Dylan and Bo’s ranch. As daily life tosses them together, they develop quite a relationship. The chemistry between them turns into more than either had hoped for. There are a few twists to getting the relationship settled. Family and friend issues enter into their lives and gave me a few unexpected surprises. This story is more a hfn. There is so much more I would like to find out about these two lives.
0-mm-books-i-own-and-to-be-read
September 14, 2021I just added this to the Goodreads database and the author's profile ... writing this here to anchor it and add it the series qualifier!!
Also, I really want this book :-D!!
Also, I really want this book :-D!!
March 4, 2022
J'attendais le tome consacré à Johnny depuis le tout début de la série, j'attendais juste d'être dans le bon état d'esprit pour démarrer ce roman. J'adore cette série, c'est si reposant, dépaysant en fait, on a l'impression de se prendre une bouffée d'air frais. Ce sont vraiment les impressions que je ressens à chaque fois que je m'y replonge, et puis je me suis tellement attachée à tous ces personnages. C'est comme ça, quand on accroche ben on accroche.
Dans l'épilogue de "Burning Season", nous savons que Johnny retrouve son oncle Dylan qu'il ne connait pas. C'est donc ici que nous le retrouvons, auprès de Dylan et Bo dans leur joli foyer qu'ils ont construit au fil des ans. Il va y rencontrer aussi Owen, venu prêter main forte car Bo est immobilisé suite à une blessure.
C'est étrange car j'attendais certaines choses dans ce tome... Je ne les ai pas toutes eues, mais j'en ai eu d'autres. Je n'ai pas eu mes réponses, les développements attendus concernant Johnny, par rapport à ce que l'auteur sous-entendait dans les premiers tomes.
Par contre, Rachel Ember nous offre une magnifique histoire de famille. J'avais vraiment aimé Bo et Dylan dans le roman qui leur est consacré, mais c'est un vrai coup de coeur pour eux que j'ai eu ici en fait. Après toutes ces années, ils sont toujours aussi amoureux l'un de l'autre, mais par dessus tout, leur amour pour Owen est magnifique. On comprend de suite qu'il représente le fils qu'ils n'ont jamais eu.
J'ai beaucoup aimé Owen aussi. On pourrait croire que la vie est toute rose pour lui en sachant la notoriété de ses parents, mais on est loin du compte, car la seule affection qu'Owen a pu recevoir est celui des ces deux hommes, Bo et Dylan, qu'il appelle ses oncles.
Johnny m'intrigue depuis le tout début comme je le disais, et j'ai pu le découvrir ici. Nous en savons plus sur son départ précipité, sur son couple qui battait de l'aile depuis longtemps. Rencontrer son grand-oncle Dylan, mais aussi Bo, va l'apaiser, le ressourcer. Le relation entre lui et Owen va se construire petit à petit, même si entre eux ça ne partait pas du bon pied, car Owen faisait un peu tout pour l'éviter.
Si Johnny avait peur de la réaction de Dylan lorsqu'il s'est présenté à sa porte, c'est bien plus qu'une bienvenue qu'il a reçu. En écrivant ces mots, j'ai envie de reprendre ma lecture, relire des passages... L'auteur m'a fait vivre de jolies émotions, des sentiments de bienveillance, de douceur, même si des moments sont douloureux. Il en ressort que de la douceur, de l'amour, celui d'une famille qu'on se trouve, qu'on retrouve. Le tout dans la nature, auprès des chevaux, auprès de ces personnages, de toute cette famille que j'ai appris à connaître au fil des tomes. Pas d'actions à tout va, pas de retournements de situations, de drame, mais une lecture reposante, comme j'en ressens le besoin de temps à autre !
Il me tarde de voir ce que nous réserve l'auteur dans la suite de sa jolie fresque... J'espère revoir très vite Jake aussi, le fameux cousin des frères Chase, et peut-être le frère d'un ex qui m'a fait un sacré effet... qui sait ? ^^ En tout cas, l'auteur nous lâche une sacrée bombe à la fin, c'est cruel ça !! XD
Merci Madame Ember pour ce doux moment de lecture.
Dans l'épilogue de "Burning Season", nous savons que Johnny retrouve son oncle Dylan qu'il ne connait pas. C'est donc ici que nous le retrouvons, auprès de Dylan et Bo dans leur joli foyer qu'ils ont construit au fil des ans. Il va y rencontrer aussi Owen, venu prêter main forte car Bo est immobilisé suite à une blessure.
C'est étrange car j'attendais certaines choses dans ce tome... Je ne les ai pas toutes eues, mais j'en ai eu d'autres. Je n'ai pas eu mes réponses, les développements attendus concernant Johnny, par rapport à ce que l'auteur sous-entendait dans les premiers tomes.
Par contre, Rachel Ember nous offre une magnifique histoire de famille. J'avais vraiment aimé Bo et Dylan dans le roman qui leur est consacré, mais c'est un vrai coup de coeur pour eux que j'ai eu ici en fait. Après toutes ces années, ils sont toujours aussi amoureux l'un de l'autre, mais par dessus tout, leur amour pour Owen est magnifique. On comprend de suite qu'il représente le fils qu'ils n'ont jamais eu.
J'ai beaucoup aimé Owen aussi. On pourrait croire que la vie est toute rose pour lui en sachant la notoriété de ses parents, mais on est loin du compte, car la seule affection qu'Owen a pu recevoir est celui des ces deux hommes, Bo et Dylan, qu'il appelle ses oncles.
Johnny m'intrigue depuis le tout début comme je le disais, et j'ai pu le découvrir ici. Nous en savons plus sur son départ précipité, sur son couple qui battait de l'aile depuis longtemps. Rencontrer son grand-oncle Dylan, mais aussi Bo, va l'apaiser, le ressourcer. Le relation entre lui et Owen va se construire petit à petit, même si entre eux ça ne partait pas du bon pied, car Owen faisait un peu tout pour l'éviter.
Si Johnny avait peur de la réaction de Dylan lorsqu'il s'est présenté à sa porte, c'est bien plus qu'une bienvenue qu'il a reçu. En écrivant ces mots, j'ai envie de reprendre ma lecture, relire des passages... L'auteur m'a fait vivre de jolies émotions, des sentiments de bienveillance, de douceur, même si des moments sont douloureux. Il en ressort que de la douceur, de l'amour, celui d'une famille qu'on se trouve, qu'on retrouve. Le tout dans la nature, auprès des chevaux, auprès de ces personnages, de toute cette famille que j'ai appris à connaître au fil des tomes. Pas d'actions à tout va, pas de retournements de situations, de drame, mais une lecture reposante, comme j'en ressens le besoin de temps à autre !
Il me tarde de voir ce que nous réserve l'auteur dans la suite de sa jolie fresque... J'espère revoir très vite Jake aussi, le fameux cousin des frères Chase, et peut-être le frère d'un ex qui m'a fait un sacré effet... qui sait ? ^^ En tout cas, l'auteur nous lâche une sacrée bombe à la fin, c'est cruel ça !! XD
Merci Madame Ember pour ce doux moment de lecture.
January 29, 2022
Like with all the previous books in the series, I was really looking forward to diving back into this world and finding out more about the Chase family. Thankfully, I wasn't disappointed as this was another great read!
Johnny Chase was a character that's kept me wondering since book 1 so it was good to finally get to know him better and to see him connect to others. Owen too was a wonderful character and had so much going on. The pair pulled on my heartstrings, were so sweet but also had some very steamy moments together too. I like how things developed between them, that initially Owen distrusted Johnny but that they developed a clear friendship and attraction over time spent together.
I also absolutely loved that Bo and Dylan were the predominant secondary characters in this book. Book 3 in the series (Burning Season) introduced how Bo and Dylan met and they definitely became my favourite couple to read about. I was left with a hunger to know more about their life together in the last book and I'm pleased to say that this book delivered on that for me! There were so many little things that were revealed, building up that backstory, melting my heart and bringing a tear to my eye! Despite the time that has passed, their love was clear to see and they were still really funny together too.
Overall, this is a wonderful MM romance that I would definitely recommend to others. I think it's best enjoyed as part of the series simply to get the full picture of the whole family dynamics and history. I'm really looking forward to book 5 and have been intrigued by cousin Jake - I definitely need to know more and can't wait!
I received an ARC from the author and this is my honest review.
Johnny Chase was a character that's kept me wondering since book 1 so it was good to finally get to know him better and to see him connect to others. Owen too was a wonderful character and had so much going on. The pair pulled on my heartstrings, were so sweet but also had some very steamy moments together too. I like how things developed between them, that initially Owen distrusted Johnny but that they developed a clear friendship and attraction over time spent together.
I also absolutely loved that Bo and Dylan were the predominant secondary characters in this book. Book 3 in the series (Burning Season) introduced how Bo and Dylan met and they definitely became my favourite couple to read about. I was left with a hunger to know more about their life together in the last book and I'm pleased to say that this book delivered on that for me! There were so many little things that were revealed, building up that backstory, melting my heart and bringing a tear to my eye! Despite the time that has passed, their love was clear to see and they were still really funny together too.
Overall, this is a wonderful MM romance that I would definitely recommend to others. I think it's best enjoyed as part of the series simply to get the full picture of the whole family dynamics and history. I'm really looking forward to book 5 and have been intrigued by cousin Jake - I definitely need to know more and can't wait!
I received an ARC from the author and this is my honest review.
January 27, 2022
My favorite thing is when an author surprises me, and Rachel has delivered. Johnny is not the man he appeared in previous books. Now we finally get to meet him on his own terms, and see his insecurities and triumphs as well as examine the failures we have been privy to through the lens of his brother’s partial understanding. This Johnny is complex, wounded, and beautifully human. For the first time, Johnny and the reader confront the reality of what all 3 Chase boys lost by growing up without a parent.
And what of Owen? He too is wonderfully strong but vulnerable, insecure about so many things but secure in his family. The role of family in this book is complex, discouraging, uplifting – really, it’s another character. Birth family, family of the heart, family feuds and healing – the Chase family saga is not over yet, but there is a lot of pure feeling here.
I read this advance copy and immediately, despite a lengthy TBR, reread it. Then I pondered on why I found it so compelling, and really I think it comes down to the vibrant, authentic characters and the cross-generational nature of the story. This is not a standalone, and the interweaving of Dylan and Bo’s past and present with Johnny and Owen’s courtship adds phenomenal depth to the story. I received an advance copy in return for my honest review.
And what of Owen? He too is wonderfully strong but vulnerable, insecure about so many things but secure in his family. The role of family in this book is complex, discouraging, uplifting – really, it’s another character. Birth family, family of the heart, family feuds and healing – the Chase family saga is not over yet, but there is a lot of pure feeling here.
I read this advance copy and immediately, despite a lengthy TBR, reread it. Then I pondered on why I found it so compelling, and really I think it comes down to the vibrant, authentic characters and the cross-generational nature of the story. This is not a standalone, and the interweaving of Dylan and Bo’s past and present with Johnny and Owen’s courtship adds phenomenal depth to the story. I received an advance copy in return for my honest review.
January 29, 2022
Wild Ones, #4. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, learning more about the middle brother Johnny from Book #1. This is a great low angst story of Johnny and Owen as they grew closer together while living at the Big Star Ranch. The ranch is owned by Johnny's Uncle Dylan and Bo from book #3 and answers some of the questions about the fallout and breakdown of the family ties that were mentioned in previous books and where book #3 fits in the story. Great series I highly recommend reading them all in order.
I received this book as an Advanced Reader's Copy.
I received this book as an Advanced Reader's Copy.
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August 16, 2022While I loved the first book I'm less sure on the series. The previous book was Dylan & Bo, all the way through I was more focused on working out the family connections to the current generation than on their story. Now with this book I found I wasn't invested in the main couple but was greedy for snippets of Dylan and Bo who have aged well and adorable.
October 21, 2024
I think Ember is a very competent writer but she tends to forget parts of thr plot. Like in Bo in Dylans book the fact that Dylan does drag is never brought up again. This time it was kind of Dylans summer project and then also Johnny calling Robbie. So I'm hoping the big dangling plot threads are at least resolved in book 5 because otherwise I will just be a grump. Thankfully these are library books
March 14, 2022
Owen, baby, swoon.
I adore Bo and Dylan.
Johnny and horses.
I adore Bo and Dylan.
Johnny and horses.
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