Harvest Heat

Australian #1

by Carol Lynne

Touring Australia before starting his life as a lawyer back in Kansas seems like the perfect escape for James. A trip to the Mandarra Horticultural Show has him itching to work on an authentic Australian farm. What he doesn’t expect to find in the bush is a field of sunflowers and a man who makes him tremble with need.Lochlan has resigned himself to living alone in the Australian bush. Since returning from Sydney to run the family property, he’s put his sexual desires on hold, knowing his mates would never understand. When he takes a chance and hires a young good-looking tourist to help him on the homestead, Lochie begins to wonder just how heated this year’s harvest will be. Will he be able to put worries aside and take a chance on love?

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

106 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 9, 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

[Daisiemae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Harvest Heat is your typical Carol Lynne book. Fast-paced storyline and sweet romance is always in order for a good light hearted read. I have said before that I am addicted to Carol's books. She writes more fluff than anything...but dang sometimes I need the fluff too!

At twenty-seven, James (Jamey) Pattrick has always put aside his wishes to be the prodical son to his parents. He has gone and successfully attended law school and given up his own dreams of being a farmer, like his grandfather, to earn his father's love and acceptance.

Feeling the noose of a life he doesn't want to life tighten around his neck, he goes against his father's wishes and decides to explore Australia for at least 4 months. Soon, he gets tired of the nightlife, and wanting to work with land once more before he has to give up his dreams, he seeks out work with a local sunflower farmer.

Lochlan (Lochie) McBride has lived his whole life closeted from his desires. At forty-one, he is a successful sunflower farmer, but lives a life of solitude and loneliness. When he is approached by the sweet and handsome Jamey, he decides to take a chance and hires him to help him harvest his crop.

At the weeks pass by, Jamey and Lochie become fast friends and grow more and more attracted to one another. As they give into their desires and feelings for one another, they both know they must sacrifice much to be together. Will they take that chance...or will their love be lost forever.

There is definately a colorful cast of characters in this book. I enjoyed the Australian slang and Lochie's friends are all interesting. I also STRONGLY suspect there is going to be a sequel to this book. I don't want to give anything away, but there are definately some unanswered questions and clues that this may be the start of one of Carol's famous series. (She is the queen of M/M Series romance;))

I really liked this book. It was definately a guilty pleasure that I enjoyed. I look forward to the next one.
If you are offended by M/M explict sexual practices and dirty words, this book is not for you.

[Serena Yates · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s been many years since I read Jamie and Lachlan’s story, and I loved having an “excuse” to reread it in its second edition. Jamie and Lachlan’s romance is fast and furious, but there are many tender and emotional moments between them as well. The setting in the heat of the Australian harvest season is magnificent, and there is just a touch of suspense because Jamie wanting to, never mind being able to, stay in Australia is by no means a forgone conclusion.

Jamie is a young American lawyer’s son who wants to be a farmer. His father wants him to join the law firm he founded in Kansas, but Jamie is not so convinced that will make him happy. In fact he is pretty sure it won‘t make him happy at all since the only time he enjoyed growing up was on his grandfather’s farm. But Jamie isn’t even considering resisting his father’s demands until he meets Lochie and everything suddenly changes.

Lochie is an Australian ex-engineer who left his life in Sydney ten years ago to run the family farm pretty much on his own after his father passed away. He misses the company of gay men, but he has become withdrawn and gruff and has almost forgotten how to relate to others on a daily basis.

Jamie and Lochie don’t seem to have much in common at first glance – other than their love of the land and their lust for each other. But as they get to know each other, inside and outside the bedroom, the spark of lust between them begins to grow and change. Jamie needs time to figure things out though, and I was crossing my fingers the whole time! I wanted these two men to be able to fulfill their dreams – together!

If you like stories where lust grows into more, if an American lawyer in his late twenties and a fortyish Australian ex-engineer turned farmer seem like an interesting couple, and if you’re looking for a read that is as sweet as it is scorching, then you will probably like this novella.


NOTE: This book was provided by Pride Publishing for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.

[Lucy Felthouse · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think (I'm not 100% sure, because I've read a lot of books) that this is my first book by Carol Lynne. Based on this one, I'll definitely be checking out more from her. Harvest Heat is a M/M erotic romance novel based in the Australian Outback. Two men from very different backgrounds are thrown together. There's an attraction between them, and, well, given it's an erotic romance, I don't think it's a spoiler to say things develop.

James is an American tourist visiting Australia before settling down to work at his father's firm, and Lachlan is an Australian farmer who works incredibly hard to make ends meet. Despite the age difference, when James comes to work on the farm to earn some cash - the attraction between them soon comes to boiling point. Out there in the wilderness with no one to see them, it's fine to let their chemistry take over, but given Lachlan's firmly in the closet, and James is expected home soon to knuckle down, how can the men be together? There are just too many issues to overcome. You'll have to read it and find out...

This is a great gay erotic romance novel. I really enjoyed it. The storyline and setting are interesting, the characters are perfectly imperfect - i.e. real - and the heat, when it comes, is extreme. A very engaging and easy read, despite the occasional dark and gloomy parts. Recommended for fans of the genre.

[Cole Riann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one took me a while to warm up to since they fell into bed pretty quickly, and with a writer like Carol Lynn that usually doesn't have a lot of deep relationship plot to delve into I wondered where the story was going to go. I ended up being surprised and this being one of my favorite Carol Lynne books. I'm excited to read Sunshine, Sex and Sunflowers.

[Lexi Ander · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this more than I thought. I loved how the relationship between Lochie and Jamey unfolded, how Lochie struggled to come out to his friends and find a balance between them. I like the extra external danger that was added spice to the story. I look forward to reading more of the series and find out where Jacko falls in the picture!

4+ Stars.

[Chappy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, I do love me some hot Australian farmers :D

Lochie has been alone for quite a while so when he runs into Jamie, it's a lifesaver. He starts to rely on Jamie and finally trusts him enough to make his desires known.

Super hot.

[Ruthie Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

~~I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads ~~

I really enjoyed this short novel. It also left open a possibility for some more stories to flow from this part of the Australian Outback - which would be very welcome.

At heart this is, like most romances, a really simple case of two people finding that they have found their 'one'. However given James is a man from Arizona on a trip to escape his father's work demands for just a bit longer, and Lachlan is wedded to his land in the Outback, it is hardly convenient. Add in the problems of Lachlan being closeted for fear of what the other farmers in the community might say or do, and there are plenty of hurdles to cross - and that's not mentioning the spiders ...

There is a lot of story, and plenty of passion between these two men who definitely find each other irresistible.

Another good read Ms Lynne, thank you.

[Beck · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gay love in the outback...not bad but I have read better. The characters were likeable. The Australian-isms were pretty spot on (if a little exaggerated), but the story just didn't grab me. I found myself skimming the book by the 60% mark. Basically nothing happened. Perhaps the novelty of the setting & dialogue would make up for the monotony if you weren't Australian, but for me, I just wanted it to finish.

There is a lot left for future books to explore but I'm not sure if I will revisit the series.

The story is insta-love with lots of sexiness so if that's your thing, then this book is a real pearler.

[Rod · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun read! Reading about a love story set in Australia was different for me. I think I was more interested in the newness of it than focused on the quality of the story itself. Their is a sequal to this I would like to read. Hopefully that will enlarge upon the story and lead to an overall better reading experience. I don't mean to put people off the story, but if you don't expect to much, you should be fine.

[Byron · Rating 2 out of 5]

Honestly it's a beautiful story but OMG!!! The over use of Aussie lingo was killing me, and even at that some of it wasn't used correctly!!!!!!!!!!!!

So if your an Aussie, be warned, if your not, enjoy!

Sorry Carol if you read this, story is good but painful..

[Nikko · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this one so much until I read that the next book was a threesome book!! I really hate it when authors do that... Grrrrrr!!!! That's why from now on whenever i start a series I'm gonna wait at least 3 or 4 comes out first!!

[Anthea · Rating 2 out of 5]

I find this a difficult book to review. On the one hand, there wasn't a whole heck of a lot happened in the first two thirds of the book and I got a bit bored plus there is my much loathed 'insta-love' between the two MC's. These guys go from literally nothing to falling into bed and using terms of endearment - cringe! However, I kinda got hooked by the sorta cliff-hanger at the end and now I absolutely have to know what they get up to in the next book!

Jamie is an American tourist, working his way round Australia until he heads home to join his father in the family business as a lawyer - a career he has no interest in having.

As a youngster, Jamie spent time helping out on his Grandfathers farm and decides he should try to find similar work in order to fund his travels. He is given Lochlan's name and advised to try asking him for a job on his sunflower farm. Turns out it's his lucky day since Lochie not only offers him work but also a room in his house for the duration of his stay.

Despite the 15 year age gap between the two, they feel an immediate attraction to one another and while Jamie doesn't hide his sexuality, Lochie is firmly in the closet and intends to stay there.

Sadly, I felt absolutely no chemistry between the two men and their sex scenes were neither sexy nor romantic. I even found some of their conversations when they were talking dirty to each other to be awkward and really odd.

The story finally ramps up a bit and starts to get exciting after an attack on Jamie. It wasn't a particularly pleasant scene but at least we were getting some action. That was ok but it was followed up by a bout of retaliation that I did not expect from the men involved - I realise these guys are not real but I was so disappointed and expected better from them.

Near the end of the book, massive hints are dropped and you can see the direction the story is going to take, involving another character. It is because of this that I will be reading on and getting my hands on the second book. I'll put my misgivings about book one aside on this occasion.


Copy received from publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Cheryl from Alpha Book Club

Alpha Book Club
All Alpha Males Accepted
alphabookclub.org

[Gavin Stephenson-Jackman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jamie has finished his law degree and is poised to join his father's law firm in Kansas, but he'd much rather be working the land as a farmer like his grandfather. Taking some time away in Australia he finds work on a sunflower farm in the outback with Lochie. To Jamie, Lochie is stunning, and it doesn't take long for the two to notice their mutual attraction. Opening up to each other is one thing, opening up to his mates is another thing to Lochie. Seeing his Jamie in someone else's arms is enough to make the next step. Opening up to love and finding independence for Jamie. I look forward to reading the next in this series.

[Erotic Horizon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Taking some much deserved personal time away from home and his father, James takes a tour of the outback of Australia. Just qualified as a lawyer, he however has no heart for it and just wants to have a chance at his first love – working with the land.

Wanting to stay in Australia a little longer, he takes a job as a farm hand to not only the most reclusive farmer in the area, but also one of the sexiest men he has ever met.

Lochie has carved out a life for himself in the outback, but without help this season; he’s looking at some hard time to come. With luck on his side, he gets a farm hand and more than decent eye candy in the bargain to help him bring in his harvest.

An attraction builds up between the two and although they let it lead them where it will, Lochie may yet lose Jamie, as he has a secret which Jamie is about to find out sooner than he planned.


Lochie and Jamie are at just the right phase of their lives to accept the other; however fantasy and reality are never ever the same things. Lochie has lived the life he has wanted until he realizes that there is more to life than what he had going on in the city, but coming home has him facing a whole new set of challenges that he had to deal with; now that he has Jamie in his life, he finds he again has to rethink what is important in his life.

Jamie is caught between wanting to please a father and also wanting to follow his dream of working with the land. Meeting Lochie is like icing on the cake. However the sting is in the details as Jamie finds out when the first local get together happens.

HARVEST HEAT is billed as a stand along book in the Carol Lynne ever increasing repertoire of deliciously sexy reads. However, this has the making of a series as the supporting players all comes with there own little secrets, and with events left as they are, I for one am looking forward to wherever Ms. Lynne goes with this one.

[~❤️Minnie❤️~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's been ages since last I read one of Carol's books. She was my first GLBT author and I still can't get enough of her stories. Her characters always fall in love almost instantly but it is the challenges they go though to keep that love above all else what really catches the heart and gives the characters substance and a way for us to identify with them.

In this book we have Jamie, an American tourist trying to resign himself to the fact that he will be stuck with a job he doesn't want when he goes back to Kansas. But what he really wants is to follow on his granddad's footsteps and work the land. There is also Lachlan, an Australian farmer trying to work his ranch on his own and make it through the harvest before the birds eat all his seeds.

Like most of Carol's books they fall in love quickly in the book (although a couple weeks has already pass in the story) but it is the challenges they go through to prove their love is stronger than anything that might happen that put the tears in your eyes.

That is what I like most of Carol Lynne's books. They reach your heart and worm their way in until you have no choice but to feel deep what the characters are going through and fight your need to shed a few tears.

[Bo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cattle Valley Aussie Style

Known for her scorching Cattle Valley series centered on a predominantly gay town in Wyoming, Carol Lynne has taken her kit way on the road to the Aussie bush country and scores a major hit with this one. Like several other m/m tales set in Australia (Adagio, Red Dirt Heart 1-2-3, Inherit the Sky), this one involves a young North American who is traveling before being forced to go back to work for the family business, which is no longer farming.

The young American is the incredibly sexy James, from Kansas, and somehow he winds up on a sunflower farm where the mid-30s hunk owner (and only resident) Lochlan not only takes a shine, but almost immediately roving hands, to James. This despite the fact that Lochlan, like almost all the major butch Australian characters in books like these, is firmly in the closet in what is perceived as a homophobic culture. Not good for tourism, Parliament.

Like most of Ms. Lynne's work, there is wall-to-wall sex here, but a good story, solid writing and excellent character development gets us a hot bunch of sun. I'm on the sequel and it's perfectly in tune.

[Melanie~~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay. Finished . I really liked it. Definitely 4 stars. It might be higher except that I suspect that as much as I liked the end that there is way more story left in the second book. ;-) I guess I know what my next read will be.

I liked the story and the care that Lochie gave to Jamey in all but one matter and with that he got a taste of his own medicine and pulled his head right out of his arse and fixed it.

Not a lot of angst in this story. Some good smexing, spider drama, a homophobic beating, and father drama. Only the smexing lasted longer than a few pages. :-) The bad things were all resolved pretty quickly. Nice easy read.

Gonna have to get . I need to see what happens next.

[Ivka_s_knihou]

im not gonna rate this thing, i don't want to give unnecessary bad rating. it just wasn't for me.i have a tons of issues with this book. the main thing - all that sex. i can understand it. but i don't need to read sex scenes on every two pages. i need a story.
the second thing that bothered me - somebody beat down Jamie and they don't even took him to hospital? im a nurse. it was so WRONG and IRRESPONSIBLE. what about internal bleeding? he had cracked ribs but they don't think about it? for f*cks sake the rib cound puncture his lung if they bandaged him the wrong way. and i didn't realize one of them had some medical degree.
well, the third thing - the beginning of a threesome. that is not for me either. but promised myself i will read this book and the sequel. so im gonna shut up now and keep reading. hopefully i will finish the second book.

[Nile Princess · Rating 2 out of 5]

I LOVE Carol Lynne's writing and this started off really, really well. Hot guys, sunflowers, farming, Aussie accents...what's not to love? But then it degenerated into a saccharinely sweet, flowery, repetitive AND predictable mess. How many 'love yous' did we really need? Any more and I may have needed an insulin shot! By 2/3 of the book I was skimming and I never finished. The twists, what little there are, are extremely predictable and any problems are quickly resolved. This book read exactly like another well known author's, whose books I can never complete.

The first half of this book is awesome, but after Lochie declares their love to his friends, do yourself a favor and say 'so long and goodnight'. It's all downhilll from there.

[FloJ · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't think this was one of her best, but having said that I shall probably get the next in the series which i see is now available. Daisiemae has done the definitive review and as she said it was a typical Carol Lynne - this one just a quick read and obviously the set up for a new series. I suppose it is a change to move to the Australian Outback, but I wonder how different she can really make these stories. I keep telling myself I am not going to buy anymore by her, and then I do, and SOMETIMES I don't regret it, but lately, more often than not, I do.

[A.B. Gayle · Rating 2 out of 5]

One day I might try to write what life is really like on an Australian outback station. This just didn't get the feel right.

It didn't get the taste of dust in your mouth, the irritation of flies and the never ending concern about rain. It didn't get the feeling of distance just between the front gate and the house. The dilapidated sheds with the rusted out tractors.

The raucous sound of crows and other birds, the brilliant sky at sunset. The brown snake slithering away as the car drives up.

THe Aussie cattle dogs lolling in the shade waiting for something interesting to happen.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was torn between giving this a two or a three stars. On one hand I really did like the story and characters as a whole. On the other hand though I kept getting tripped up with the lingo which was distracting and the plot flow seemed to be caught between being a smooth story and a series of chapter length slice-of-lifes. I am putting the sequel on my tbr list though, even if it'll most likely wait a while.

[Ale Rivero · Rating 4 out of 5]

James y Lochlan me gustan mucho!!! A lo largo de su historia deben pasar por muchas dificultades, pero van logrando vencer las barreras. El ambiente que los rodea, el interior de los campos de siembra de Australia, con sus sequías y sus calores interminables es ideal para que se desarrolle su historia de amor. Y el extra que aporta Jacko, amigo de Lochlan es genial. Recomendable

[Cat Oaks · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a short steamy story a little bit interesting but it’s obvious it does not really finish and the author expects you to keep on going to the following g part. The story is focused in the couple’s sex life and not much in the struggle to be together. It’s easy to follow, though. I don’t think I’ll read the second part.

[Ryoma Gartre · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it, sweet, fast paced, the characters start slowly, they have real problems, etc, but I really hated Lochlan at the ball scene, but it felt in place with the story, and oh God, this is going to turn into a menage.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably more enjoyable if you aren't Australian, but it was nowhere near as excruciating as I had expected based on some previous efforts I have read by authors whose ideas about "Aussies" seem to have been derived solely from viewing Crocodile Dundee.

[Serena · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the characters, and their world and hope I get the chance to read the story again and/or to read more within the series.

My Rating System:
* couldn't finish, ** wouldn't recommend, *** would recommend, **** would read again, ***** have read again.

[Judie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book ir freakin Hot so far!

[Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very sweet story. Beautifully told through the skillfully chosen words of Ms. Lynne. Harvest Heat is very entertaining and a feel-good-book that I enjoyed.

[Ang -PNR Book Lover Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really....really.... Really!!!!
Gah It was good and I enjoyed it, but the Aussie slang... Not so much!!
And then to make the next one a ménage :--(
Bugger!!