The Sound of White

Cattle Valley #8

by Carol Lynne

Finally healed after a beating that almost took his life, the last thing Richard Johnson needs is to be attracted to Chad Neal. He's got a bar to open and a heart to mend.

Despite his smaller stature, Tall Pines Lodge Manager, Chad Neal, needs to be in charge, both in the bedroom and out. So why is he attracted to a six-foot-three man who looks like he could rip the limbs from Chad's body?

Electrician, Collin Zeffer, longs for the kind of relationship he sees his friends have, but who would want someone as boring as him? When he meets the reclusive Abe Cross, Collin decides maybe there is someone made especially for him.

Hiding his face from the world, Abe Cross is content to live out his life alone. His cabin in the woods above Cattle Valley seems like the place to do it. The last thing he needs is a sexy as sin electrician showing up to remind him of what he can never have, but when an unexpected blizzard blankets Cattle Valley and the mountains above it, his life, and the lives of the three other men, will change forever.

Reader Advisory: This book is best read in sequence as part of a series

Genres: M M Romance, Romance, BDSM, Contemporary, Erotica, Westerns, Gay

136 pages, ebook

First published February 1, 2009

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

erotic & gay romances

Reviews

[Bubbles Hunty Honest & Direct Opinions · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just loved Collin and Abe, adored them their story was five stars

I could not stand Chad every time it switched back to him and Richard I was hoping it would get back to Collin and Abe Quickly. Chad pretty much ruined the book for me

[♥Lynn ♥ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the Cattle Valley series. For some reason it is one of my favorite M/M series. This book however will be forgettable. I didn't feel a connection between the couples. I hated that Chad and Richard were reduced to "We're alone so let's f*ck" Way to sweep me off my feet baby! Moving on to the next one.

[Maya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as the previous 7 in this series but still very good.

[Jenny Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series... I really loved Richard from Ezra and Wyn's story; I really wanted him to have his own HEA... even though I didn't care much for his and Chad's beginning, I loved it after Chad let his guard down. They were both stubborn and acting like jerks for a little bit but, for some reason I held Chad a little bit more accountable, I feel like Richard had reason to be guarded.... not fair, I know but... still, we knew more about what Richard had been through and Chad not so much. Although I really liked them together at the end.

Something different with this one was the story within the story, we also got a story about Collin and Abe which I absolutely adored. Both of them needed each other and I loved it!
They were both insecure, Collin because he felt invisible and Abe because he was punishing himself for an accident that happened years ago. They needed each other to start living again and I loved getting to see that.

Loved it and I can't wait for more!

[Lena Grey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm torn with my rating for 'The Sound of White' by Carol Lynne. It's stories about two couples one of which I loved and the other I didn't. I enjoyed the story of how Abe and Collin. It made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside and wanting to cheer out loud for them. It was great to see Abe come out of his shell and love again. I was proud of Collin for persisting.

However, Chad and Richard's story didn't appeal to me. I couldn't suspend my disbelief enough to imagine them as a couple. I didn't like Chad's personality and wondered why Richard would even consider being with him. I'm relieved for them that they found each other, but IMHO Richard should have kept looking.

[Arzu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmmm, what to say ...

Collin and Abe were just so adorable. I really loved this couple and wished this book was only about their relationship. I would have rated the book higher.

On the other hand we have Chad and Richard. I couldn't care about them. Each time, the book switched to their relationship I just wanted it to be over asap and turn to Collin and Abe. I never really warmed up to Chad. Up to the next one.

[Shelby P · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was nice to get two couples in one story because with just Richard and Chad's plotline, this book wouldn't have been that great. I really liked Collin and Abe a lot. I want to be snowed in with a lover now LOL. I really felt the connection between Collin and Abe.

I didn't like how Richard was so needy. So what if he's submissive? Be a man! I've never read a series where the insta love was so prevalent. Can heterosexuals live in Cattle Valley??????

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Would've liked it better if it was two books and more action.

[Jenna Byrnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

wonderful.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series just seems to get better all the time.

[Karen K · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my fave in the series - the "falling in love" moved a little fast for me and I never really warmed up to Chad at all. On to the next.

[MsMiz (Tina) · Rating 3 out of 5]

2 love stories for the price of one in this book!

[Rom-addict · Rating 3 out of 5]

I DIDN'T LIKE CHAD & RICHARD 'S STORY AT ALL. BUT I LIKED COLLINS N ABE 'S. IT WAS OKAY I GUESS.

[Christy Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had two couples that it went back and forth with. Abe and Collin, Chad and Richard. They were both hot as all books of Cattle Valley are. I'll do one couple at a time though.

Collin went to give Abe the check for the wood load that he delivered to the Ski resort that's about to open. Collin's truck crashed in the now and he had to be rescued by Abe. Abe stripped him down and got Collin warm since he was so cold. Practically frost bitten.

Collin has low self-esteem issues about his self so he doesn't think a man like Abe would want him. He's always felt invisible. The middle child syndrome is what Abe called it.

With the power out an a blizzard raging outside they are forced to spend the time together getting to know each other. The power's out to boot so it makes it even more interesting. Abe and Collin have fun mostly lounging around and rubbing off. After getting a tree for Christmas they run into the problem of only having one condom. They figure it out in the end which is good.

Abe even tells about how he used to be when he was a model in NYC. He reveals how he got his younger brother killed as well. Which he still feels remorse over. He had expected to go to prison, but his lawyer got him off. Collin explained to him that he locked his self away in the woods in Cattle Valley as his own prison, which is true.

By the time the book ends they want to spend the rest of their lives together. After a week apart Collin has to be reassured that Abe still wants him. I felt so bad for Collin that he felt that low about his self. Abe had his own issues, but they are defiantly working towards a great future together. Abe's dog even missed Collin when he was gone and that was saying something since he had been jealous at first of Collin.


And Next we have Richard and Chad.


Richard and Chad have been butting heads like crazy since they have been working together when Chad got hired at the ski resort. Getting snowed in together being forced to stay close has its advantages, which couldn't have happened at a better time before they boiled over and someone got hurt.

Chad keeps undermining Richard at times before they are snowed in especially about the wood they will need and room 313 which keeps being vandalized. I think that Chad thought was Richard at first since his tools kept showing up there, but it wasn't him at all. Some had even claimed it on a ghost, but the place had just been built.

However they get snowed in having to work to open by New Years Eve for the town all alone. They had to send all their extra help away because of the vandalism. They are also having to find out who the vandal is since they didn't leave before the snow hit. It's only room 313 that is getting hit with what looks like blood. It is so creepy too and people also quit because of it which had put them in a bind.

It turned out to be David, Chad's assistant that was hired by Brewster's owner while he was selling his place. They locked David up in Richard's apartment til they could get him down to the Sheriff since they were snowed in.

Things come to a head and these two finally get it on. Man I was so happy when they started going at it. Chad thought that Richard was an alpha top all the way. However Richard likes letting the control go to enjoy the sex more. He's a sub and lets Chad have his way with him. Chad's not anything like Richard's ex is, who almost killed Richard a while back.

They did have a moment where things got intense with an argument because Chad had done a quickie that felt all wrong from their previous sex moments. Richard went off on Chad about it too because it felt like Chad was changing his mind about wanting to be with him. Richard had told him to choke on his food that he'd fixed, which I got a kick out of. Richard doesn't mind being submissive during sex, but he wasn't going to be treated that badly. Chad apologized because it had been his issues that had messed things up. Besides that moment they got along great once they started really communicating.

The sex was hot and wished they had done some more of the BDSM stuff. The plug at the end as punishment was wonderfully hot. Really wish the spanking scene had been played out too. It's what Richard gets off on and he knows he's going to enjoy being with Chad.

They got the lodge open on time thankfully. David was set free and turned his own self in which resort owner Guy said he would help David out because of the circumstances regarding why he did it.

I wished there had been more, but it was another great book. The back and forth was new, but not bad once I got the hang of it. I did like how Abe referred to the snow as the sound of white since was so quiet.

[Mathilda Grace · Rating 1 out of 5]

Das war irgendwie nichts Halbes und nichts Ganzes.

Ich hatte aufgrund der Inhaltsangabe gedacht, es handle sich um unabhängige Geschichten, die im verschneiten Winter spielen (was nach der Hitzewelle genau das Richtige für mich gewesen wäre), mit zwei Paaren, stattdessen wurden beide Paare in eine Geschichte von knapp über 100 Seiten gequetscht und das ist leider ziemlich in die Hose gegangen - zumindest für mich.

Der Ansatz ist gut und aus der Idee hätte man einiges machen können, aber dafür ist die Geschichte viel zu kurz und die Charaktere sind auch nicht gerade Sympathieträger. Ich konnte mich mit keinem wirklich anfreunden, weil alles nur an der Oberfläche herumdümpelt.

Noch dazu fand ich den Übergang vom "Wir reden nur miteinander, wenn es unbedingt sein muss" zu "Lass uns poppen" dermaßen schlecht, da habe ich beim Lesen wirklich die Stirn gerunzelt. Ich meine, beide Paare wechseln anfangs nur das Nötigste an Worten miteinander und auf einmal sind sie ständig nackt und fallen übereinander her? Und was dann noch dieser Dom/Sub-Versuch sollte, der auf mich eher lächerlich als glaubhaft wirkte ... Ich weiß es nicht, die Story ist jedenfalls nicht gelungen und auf dem Reader behalte ich sie auch nicht.

Ich vergebe nur den obligatorischen Stern und auf eine Leseempfehlung verzichte ich.

Ein liebes Dankeschön geht an den Cursed Verlag für das Rezensionsexemplar.

[Gabis Laberladen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gute drei Sterne.

Darum geht's:

Chad ist der neue Manager der Lodge und obwohl er etwas klein geraten ist, kann er unangenehm für zwei werden. Richard arbeitet in der Grizzly Bar, die zum Areal der Lodge gehört. Das bedeutet, dass Chad zwar nicht direkt sein Boss ist, aber sie müssen sich miteinander absprechen, was mit dem biestigen Chad gar nicht so leicht ist. Dabei würde sich der große, muskulöse Richard rein privat schon ganz gerne vom kleineren Chad herumkommandieren lassen.

Der Elektriker Collin wird von Richard gebeten, die große Holzlierferung persönlich bei Abe Cross zu bezahlen. Diesen Gefallen erfüllt Collin ausgesprochen gerne, denn er schwärmt schon lange für Abe, auch wenn er überzeugt ist, selbst viel zu langweilig und durchschnittlich für den interessanten Einsiedler Abe zu sein.

Und dann bricht der Schneesturm los, hält Chad und Richard zusammen in der Lodge fest und Collin schafft es gerade noch so, bei Abe unterzukriechen.

Meine Meinung dazu gibt’s hier

[Karlo · Rating 3 out of 5]

diesmal eine sehr schwaches Buch,
irgendwie wurden schnell zusammengeschusterte Kurzgeschichten in diese Reihe reingequetscht,
leider sehr lieblos erzaehlt,
aber trotzdem freu ich mich auf den naechsten Band

[andrea moran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cattle Valley

This book includes two stories for the price of one set during a snowy blizzard with both couples having to rely on snuggling and body heat!

[Elisa Rolle]

Today I want to claim a merit to me, the fact to have called for the first time the two on going series by Carol Lynne, Campus Cravings and Cattle Valley, "gay soap opera". After two or three books per each series, they started to remind me a soap opera, with all the characters mixed together, with all the unbelievable events a mind could possible imagine, happening in small town barely able to have a diner, a theatre and a school. But despite the territorial limitation, in Cattle Valley, and its twin small college community that hosts Campus Cravings, you can find former professional football player, Olympic gold medals, wealthy men, war heroes, rodeo champions... try to imagine a dream lover and you are sure to find it in Cattle Valley, the paradise for every gay man.

In this last novel, we have not one, but two stories mixed together: Chad and Richard, respectively the hotel manager and the bar manager of the new mountain lodge which will be inaugurated on New Year's Eve, who spend all their free time arguing and launching lustful gaze to each other, and Collin and Abe, the shyest man on Cattle Valley and the former top-model turned lonely bear in a mountain isolated cabin.

Richard is an old acquaintance for the readers, the man Ezra and Wyn saved from a abusive Master in Oklahoma. Despite his stud body, Richard is a romantic at heart and a submissive for nature. He would do everything for the man he loves, but he learned that dying is a bit extreme. And so now he is wary when coming to love. Chad instead has the classical Napoleon complex: small in height but with a bigger than ever will, he learned that a full frontal attack sometime saves him from the necessity to prove his physical strenght; he reminds me a Chiuaua that wants to control a Danese.

Collin instead suffers from the middle son complex: his big brother was the sport star, his little sister the genius, and Collin was only the good boy, the one to whom everyone smiles to soon after looks up to one of his siblings. He has a lingering crush on Abe, a man who lives in an isolated cabin in the mountain, but even if Abe is not the socialite of the city, Collin thinks neither him could be interested in the shy man he is. On the other hand Abe has chosen a self inflicted isolation, almost a prison to make amends for an horrible sin in his past, and how can a good man like Collin being interested in him? A snow storm that strands Collin to Abe's cabin will help the two to see how much they have in common and how much they were mistaken about each other desires.

As often in the series, there is no drama, no angst (maybe a little in Abe and Richard's past history), a lot of sex and an obviosly and unavoidable happily ever after: if not like this, the reader will now in the next chapter on the soap opera how its charaters are behaving!

http://www.amazon.com/dp/1907010858/?...

[Arlyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was not my favorite in the series, by far...

There were 2 love stories going on simultaneously. That made for a somewhat disjointed read. Also, because each couple's story only comprised 1/2 the length of an already brief book, I feel like I read 2 weaker stories where I would have preferred one strong one.

Abe and Collin were cute. Their background stories were adequate for the brief time I got to know them. Abe was definitely the more captivating of the two, harboring a seriously dark secret. Collin seemed one-note, however, circling around the same issue through the entirety of the story.

Richard and Chad? I just don't get it. Not a fan of these two. I didn't really care for either MC, which doesn't bode well for my enjoyment of any story, but I find that especially holds true for a romance.

All that said, the storyline was entertaining enough that I was never bored and the brazenly explicit sex was plentiful enough to make for some seriously naughty fun.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unerwartet nah erzählt die Geschichte von zwei Paaren. Zum einen gibt es da Richard und Chad. Sie verbindet eine Art Hassliebe. Obwohl Richard wie ein Schrank gebaut ist, sind seine Bedürfnisse eher devoter Natur. Chad hingegen ist Richard körperlich deutlich unterlegen, legt aber ganz klar Alpha-Dominanz an den Tag. Richard, den seine letzte Beziehung fast das Leben gekostet hat, versucht Chad zu widerstehen. Der sendet aber auch ziemlich unklare Signale aus. Richard weiß einfach nicht so recht wie er mit Chad dran ist. Doch dann sind sie gezwungen enger zusammenzuarbeiten, denn jemand versucht ihr Projekt zu sabotieren. Diese erzwungene Nähe macht ihre Beziehung noch explosiver und aufreibender.

Auch Collin arbeitet an diesem Projekt, strandet aber ausgerechnet zu Weihnachten in der abgelegenen Hütte des Einsiedlers Abe. Für diesen hat er schon lange eine Schwäche. Doch Abe scheint ihn nicht wahrzunehmen. So wie niemand jemals den harmlosen, freundlichen Chad zu bemerken scheint. Das schmerzt Collin und es frustriert ihn zusehends. Abe jedoch sieht Collin, kann jedoch nicht über seinen Schatten springen. Abe hat eine bewegte Vergangenheit hinter sich und muss mit seiner Schuld leben. Den Gedanken mit Collin Glück zu finden, schiebt er kategorisch von sich.

An sich mochte ich alle Helden dieser Geschichte und wie sie sich entwickeln. Leider hat die Autorin hier einfach zu viel in zu wenig Buch gepackt. Sie wird damit den Helden nicht gerecht und ihre Geschichten bleiben vage und vieles offen. Das ist traurig, da jedes Paar und jeder Held für sich ein deutlich grössere Potential gehabt hätte. Die Geschichte zählt für mich zu den schwächeren Teilen der Cattle Valley Reihe, die ich an sich sehr gerne lese.

Dieses Mal ging es mir zu schnell, die Geschichten in der Geschichte waren zu schnell und zu oberflächlich erzählt. An der Übersetzung gibt es nichts auszusetzen. Hier hat die Übersetzerin (kenne ja das Original) gute Arbeit geleistet.

[Sophisticated Lady · Rating 1 out of 5]

Eigentlich habe ich anhand der Inhaltsangabe gedacht, dass es sich um zwei Kurzgeschichten handle, die jeweils die Geschichte eines Paares erzählen. Aber dem war nicht so. Beide Paare wurden zeitgleich in ein und derselben Geschichte behandelt. Und das war für mich schon mal das erste Problem, denn ich konnte mich auf keines der Paare wirklich einlassen, da ich immer wieder von Szenen des anderen Paares abgelenkt wurde. Ich persönlich hätte es besser gefunden, beide Geschichten nacheinander zu erzählen, nicht zeitgleich.

Auch die Protagonisten blieben relativ blass, bei der Seitenzahl aber kein Wunder, wenn ich dem Leser vier verschiedene Protagonisten näher bringen muss und das bei einer Kurzgeschichte. Bei mir kam gar nichts an, kein Gefühl, keine Sympathie, nichts. Und dabei hätte gerade Richards Vergangenheit, aber auch Abes, einiges hergegeben. Da hätte man definitiv drauf aufbauen können. So wurde einiges an Potenzial leider verschwendet. Der Ansatz war aber gut, vor allem das mit dem Schneesturm hat mir wirklich gut gefallen.

Ich hätte es besser gefunden, wenn nur die Geschichte eines Paares hier erzählt worden wäre, und dafür dann aber ausführlicher. Und vielleicht im nächsten Band dann die anderen beiden zu Wort gekommen wären. So haben sie sich gegenseitig das Rampenlicht gestohlen und waren für mich gar nicht greifbar.

Leider kann ich daher keine Leseempfehlung aussprechen, aber vielleicht kann euch die Geschichte ja packen und auf mitnehmen.

[Amber "Epp" · Rating 5 out of 5]

I kind of think its funny that I am a straight female and yet I am reading gay romance I have never read gay romance before the reason I read this book originally is because I have a friend who is gay that is simply in love with this book series because he has told me all about this series (a lot) I figured I would give it a go well all I can is is my friend has fabulous taste (not that he would ever let me forget that for even a second)
I may be a straight female but I simply love the guys in the series I could not stop reading at one book I just had to know what was happening in Cattle Valley ... so far I have read the first 10 books in the series and the more I read the more I fall in love with this series I think its just wonderful I hope all people gay lesbian bi straight whatever find such a happy wonderful place to live in peace and joy
I am going to read this full series once I get a chance to as I simply have to know who winds up with who this is better than watching the soaps I just love it .. :)

[Chappy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this is one of the better Cattle Valley books I've read so far...we get 2 stories for the price of one.

Lot's of work is going on at the new resort up on the mountain. Colin has been doing some electrical work there but then he gets sent to deliver a cheque to Abe for some wood purchased by the hotel. Abe is a reclusive mountain man and when Colin gets snowed in with him, he doesn't know what to expect.

Back at the resort, Chad is freaking out and trying to remain on schedule for the big opening. Richard, who will manage the bar, is just trying to keep out of his way. Then some weird stuff starts happening in one of the rooms that could derail everything. Chad and Richard, also snowed in, decide to try and figure out what's going on. I love the daddy/boy component here...super hot!

The only negative I have is that sometimes I got confused with the rapid switching back and forth between both stories.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not great, not bad, just meh. We had some pretty good smexing and a touch of BDSM but nothing hardcore. This was also a book about two completely separate couples so we don't get to know either one really well. I'll admit I've not read this series in order so we probably knew everyone from previous book. First Chad and Richard...Chad's a smaller man, a bossy asshole and a Dom and Richard's a large man but a submissive. They started out hating each other but that didn't last long then things got lovely! Then Abe and Collin. Abe's a reclusive mountain man with a shallow but painful past and Collin's a man who thinks he's forgettable. Collin goes to make a delivery to Abe's house and gets stuck there in the snowstorm and voila! Sexy smexing and HEA. That's about it for this one.

[Vfields Don't touch my happy! · Rating 3 out of 5]

Carol Lynne writes short stories about the inhabitants of this small Wyoming town featuring a romance in each installment. This time we meet two couples and that was the problem for me. Each couple had an interesting challenge, low self-esteem and Hurt/Comfort neither one was honestly confronted with a satisfactory solution. both couples deserved more attention. I was a bit frustrated by this visit to Cattle Valley.
Richard's recovery was miraculous.
What was all that "daddy" stuff?
Chad, we needed to know so much more.
Collin was just cured right?
So many missed opportunities to go to the next level. So sad. >

[Miralinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Начало было настолько потрясающим, что я была уверена, что это 5 звезд. Две пары заключены в уединенных кабинках во время снежной бури. Плюс немного мистики. Чудесное начало, но потом меня немного отторгали отношения Ричарда и Чада. Точнее БДСМ составляющая. Мне она показалась лишней. Чад отвратительно относился к Ричарду, который и так пережил тяжелое расставание, ему еще не хватало унижений и приказов от любимого, который борется со своими комплексами и выплескивает эмоции на Ричарда. Вторая пара чудесная, хотела бы отдельную книгу о них.

[Byron · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an interesting story as it actually brings together two different stories/set's of characters. They are linked but two totally different stories. I feel in love with Collin and Abe recognising more of them within myself than most stories. (god I just re-read that and realise I sound very arrogant!)

Just read the book.. OK. This entire series is MORE than worth it just for the emotions it's dragged out of me.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good book but I was waiting for Richard's story after Wyn's and I felt like his book should have been it's own story. I really liked Abe and Collin's story and Richard and Chad's but honestly I don't see why they were combined instead of each couple getting their own story! Other than that, I really liked the book and most of the reviews I saw didn't like the book that much! It was good :)

[Purplegirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed both stories. Chad and Richard's story had a"different" type of relationship. That is probably what turned some people off. Chad had a dominating personality and it fit for him and Richard. I think Carol Lynne did a good job with the stories.