Rafe Carrera hasn’t seen his Uncle Mack since he was a kid, so when he inherits his ranch, it throws him like a bucking horse. He’s been on his own for a long time. Now suddenly everyone wants to be his friend… or at least get friendly enough to have a chance in buying the ranch.
Russell Banion’s family may own a mega-ranch in Telluride, but Russell made his own way developing software. He misses his friend Mack, and purchasing the ranch will help him preserve Mack’s legacy—and protect his own interests. It’s a win-win. Besides, spending time with Rafe, trying to soften him up, isn’t exactly a hardship. Soon Russell realizes he’ll be more upset if Rafe does decide to leave.
But Rafe isn’t sure he wants to sell. To others in the valley, his land is worth more than just dollars and cents, and they’ll do anything to get it. With Russell’s support, Rafe will have to decide if some things—like real friendship, neighborliness, and even love—mean more than money.
The bull rider inherits a ranch.... right after he won the World Championship Bull Rider buckle. His Uncle's ranch that came with three German Shepherds, cattle and horses. We get the lay of the land and introductions to the main characters, then we are ready to read this tale that has our attention. * Rafe, 32, dark eyes, soft dark hair and now a ranch to run, and time is short before the snows set in. * Russell, blue eyed blonde, a built cowboy, a successful rancher and software inventor and businessman, lives next door on his Dad's ranch.
There are some homophobes in this, including Rafe's folks, a few neighbors, and there is more to this mystery than we expected.
With time our men fall for each other, as the conflicts for Rafe escalate to threats, a fire, and more threatening before the action happens.
Rafe and Russell are sizzling hot, and they know it's a true and forever love.
There's a lot that must come together for our answers to be given. Then, there is life on the line !
We are given excitement, hot lovin' and plans being made. An excellent story. ENJOY !
Rafe et Russel avec un Culomètre à 🍑 📣 Livre reçu en service presse.
Une romance de cowboy, ça faisait longtemps : je ne dis jamais non 😎✨
Rafe récupère le ranch de son oncle Mack à la mort de celui-ci. Ne l'ayant pas vu depuis des années, il ne comprend pas pourquoi c'est lui qui hérite de tout. Il va devoir percer les secrets autour de sa famille tout en faisant attention aux vautours qui en veulent à son terrain. Enfin, pas tous évidemment 😏
J'étais resté sur l'idée que les livres de l'auteur étaient sympas mais manquaient de rebondissements pour qu'ils soient meilleurs. Ce livre me conforte un peu dans l'idée, je vous avoue !
Déjà, Rafe a un peu trop le cul bordé de nouilles, il reçoit un ranch viable, il sait s'en occuper, son oncle a des titres, des personnes viennent l'aider ect... C'est presque un peu trop beau pour être vrai ce qui rend l'histoire un peu plate. La romance est également sympathique mais elle manque de... romantisme, je ne sais pas trop comment l'expliquer mais c'est un peu trop clinique par moment, on sent leur envie l'un et l'autre mais ça manque de vraie alchimie.
Évidemment, il y a également des histoires de jalousies et de rancunes, d'homophobie avec les parents de Rafe et de deuil familial, dans le sens où il faut accepter que ta famille ne t'aimera plus comme elle devrait. Pour le coup, le sujet est vraiment bien traité et on apprécie !
Bref, une romance sympathique pour un après-midi ensoleillé !
I really am a fan of the way Andrew Grey writes romance and he delivers once again with Lost and Found! He brings a lot of emotion to his stories and to his characters, they are real people that are just easy to love. His stories tend to be quicker reads but are well developed and packed with feels. Rafe and Russells’ story definitely fits that bill and in addition to a heartfelt romance there is also a great unraveling of the mystery that surrounds Rafe’s Uncle Mack and why he left his ranch to Rafe.
I enjoyed the slow burn between Rafe and Russell, yes they knew each other when they were younger, but are finally really able to get to know each other. The connection that builds between them is strong and sweet and feels like what both men really need. They both have issues they need to work through but they learn how to do it together and lean on each other. These are two men who truly deserve to find happiness and love! Russell’s dad is also a great addition to this story and then there’s Uncle Mack. He may have passed but he’s such an important and heart wrenching part of this story. All together this was a sweet read that I didn’t want to put down, a great cowboy romance that goes straight to the heart!
While reading this I stopped to look at the list of books by this author and I have not read any of them before. I wasn’t enjoying the writing style in this one. It didn’t draw me in. Then I arrived at chapter six for the first sex scene and it was fade to black. I was almost amazed and wondered if this happens in any other books by this writer. This wasn’t supposed to be a Harlequin from 1985. DNF
What I liked: the romance. Andrew Grey knows how to tug on the heart strings and make you feel the emotions the characters are feeling. The characters are realistic and the imagery so natural. Rafe has had a hard life. His parents kicked him out and he had to do whatever he could to get food. He finally found rodeo where he started riding bulls and winning until he captured the world championship. But he knew his time on the bulls was over. Then he gets a letter from his uncle’s lawyer - inheriting Mack’s ranch in Colorado.
Rafe ends up with a ranch, a home, three dogs, friends, and determined enemies. Including his parents. And a boyfriend in Russell, from the neighboring ranch.
What I didn’t like: only one small thing - one of the bad guys just walking off. Yeah, he lost everything, but I’d like to have seen him in jail too. But like I said, a small thing.
Recommendation: If you like Mr. Grey’s work, you won’t be disappointed by this one. There’s lots of emotion and a HEA that satisfies.
Disclaimer: I received a final and/or advanced reader copy of this book with the hope that I will leave my unbiased opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… My Opinions. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”
Cowboys and rodeo just fit, sometimes, and this was an entertaining storyline blending a bit of both. Low angst, a touch of self doubt now and then, and the HEA ending the reader anticipated.
This is a typical Andrew Grey cowboy work--a little of this, a little of that, slow burn romance, some violence and big surprises. The main characters, Rafe and Russell, are well developed and the blurb for the book is an excellent place to start finding out about them.
However, the real story here is about Mack, Rafe's uncle who shockingly bequeathed all his property and assets to Rafe, whom he hadn't seen for a dozen or so years. This lack of contact always stumped Rafe but there seemed to be a logical reason based on what his family explained--and that is where this one goes into an orbit you would not have expected.
The slow burn between childhood friends Rafe and Russel and the truly beautiful but heartbreaking story about Mack which unfolds along the way will keep you turning or flipping the pages. Another excellent Grey trip.
I love a good LGBTQ slow burn romance! Especially one with such well developed characters. I couldn't ask for more- I was fully vested in the characters and trying to figure out the why of the family drama. I'm so glad to have found this author will definitely read more!
Nouvelle lecture d'un livre d'Andrew Gray, j'ai retrouvé le même style d'écriture qui m'avait plu lors de ma précédente lecture. Je n'ai pas trouvé de grandes différences ce qui est réconfortant dans le sens où j'ai déjà eu le temps de m'habituer au style et que ce n'est pas une découverte. Cela m'a permis de me plonger un peu plus rapidement dans l'écriture.
Je ne sais pas vous, mais je mets toujours un peu plus de temps à me plonger dans une histoire lorsque je ne connais pas le style d'écriture.
Le style de l'auteur n'est pas compliqué et cela permet d'avoir une prise assez rapide au niveau du livre et de lire avec fluidité. Sur les deux romans que j'ai pu lire, je n'ai pas ressenti cette sensation de difficulté dans l'écriture, et même dans l'histoire. Son déroulée est plutôt basique avec une intrigue qui se révèle au fur et à mesure de l'histoire. On prend part à cela sans pour autant s'enfoncer vraiment au cœur de l'histoire, du moins c'est l'impression que j'ai ressenti.
L'histoire permet de se détendre, mais je suis restée assez en surface malgré des thèmes et des intrigues pertinentes et intéressantes. La premier est pourquoi Rafe a-t-il hérité de ce Ranch ? Beaucoup de questions tournent autour de cet évènement et petit à petit on nous donne les éléments. Il est vrai qu'on parvient assez facilement à deviner les réponses et que rien n'est véritablement surprenant même si certains détails ont été plus dissimulés. Notre esprit ne se focalise pas sur ces détails parce que ça coule presque de sources.
Cependant une partie des révélations, enfin une des révélations, permet de finaliser le puzzle qu'on a en tête. On s'y attend, mais on ne veut pas y croire. Certes c'est assez prévisible, mais pas besoin d'avoir des retournements de situations importants pour que le livre soit sympa et nous intéresse. Oui on s'y attend, et alors ? Parfois on a besoin de se laisser porter par notre lecture.
Au niveau de la relation entre Rafe et Russell, elle est assez calme. Il n'y a pas d'intrigue importante qui porte autour, ni même de drames. Les intrigues sont plutôt au niveau de l'histoire de Mack, de l'héritage et de personnages qu'on va très vite apprendre à ne pas aimer. Honnêtement, si l'histoire d'amour n'avait pas été présente, l'histoire n'aurait pas beaucoup changé. Oui il est vrai que cela rajoute un petit truc à l'histoire et c'est bien sympa.
D'autant plus que la relation entre Rafe et Russell est douce et évolue lentement. Ils ont déjà des bases en se connaissant en étant enfant, mais là ils se découvrent adultes et c'est différents. Ce qui est bien c'est que parfois on a des petites informations sur leur passé commun et ça rajoute un peu d'intimité et surtout de lien.
Les deux personnages apprennent à se connaître et même si par moment on aimerait un peu plus de tensions, cela est reposant par rapport aux autres intrigues. Elles prennent déjà beaucoup de place, alors là un élément qui est calme c'est agréable pour le lecteur. Cela ne rajoute pas de profondeur au roman, mais une dose de douceur et de fraîcheur. Certaines scènes ont ce rôle d'adoucir le roman (même s'il n'est pas sombre, loin de là)..
L'écriture d'Andrew participe à la création de cette ambiance calme, avec quelques pointés de tensions. C'est un roman qui est agréable à lire et pour lequel on ne se prend pas la tête. C'est une lecture qui est parfaite pour se détendre et oublier quelques soucis du quotidien le temps de quelques heures.
Sorry, I just... don't see the point in going forward? I am not a die-hard fan of cowboy stuff in the first place, more of a side-fan and this one, while not bad, also failed to really engage me. It was almost... boring?
Guy wins in some big-shot competition (you don't really care, it's too early in the story but you meet his Oposition). Inherits a ranch. Meets another guy. Argues with Mean People (either his neighbour he beat at said competition or his hateful, selfish parents). The two guys have romance. Arguments with Mean People. More romance in which Guy 1 is made into a saint with his modesty and hard-working-ness and kindness... just like Guy 2. Sometimes, they also "uncover" bits about his uncle's past, in which flimsy excuses are given for why Guy 1 and his uncle did not see each other for 12/20? years just to uncover said uncle kept track of him but never came closer cause... the book wouldn't happen this way otherwise, you know?
So there are no big flaws, but neither can I find anything that made me admire either the characters or the story itself. Side characters are either props to move the story along or to show how amazing the main characters are.
But hey, I am way too harsh these days in my reading so if you have like, "normal"-reader standards instead of my a-book-a-day-keeps-boredom-away aspiring writer ones, you should be good.
🐮"Retour au Ranch" d'Andrew Grey est une romance mm qui aborde les thèmes de l'indépendance, de la famille et de l'amour dans l'univers de la vie au ranch. L'histoire tourne autour de Rafe Carrera, qui hérite du ranch de son oncle Mack et doit décider s'il le vend ou le garde. Et autant vous dire que dans une petite région beaucoup veulent ses terres et tous le monde parle.
L'évolution des personnages est bien traitée, montrant Rafe comme un individu solitaire qui évolue pour s'ouvrir aux autres et accepter l'aide et l'affection de Russell Banion, son voisin mais également un ami de Mack et un ami d'enfance.
🐮Le style d'écriture d'Andrew Grey est fluide, rendant la lecture du livre agréable. L'auteur décrit avec facilité le ranch à travers un langage vivant, nous plongeant aisément dans cet univers. Avec cette romance, l'auteur met en avant l'importance de la communauté mais également de la persévérance et de l'authenticité.
Ce livre, bien qu'il comporte quelques rebondissements, demeure une romance feel good sans grands drames à l'horizon. J'aurai apprécier peut-être être un peu plus de rebondissements pour ne pas rendre l'histoire lente et que le lecteur reste accroché tous du long mais ça reste néanmoins une belle histoire
🐮En bref, "Retour au ranch" présente une vision équilibrée des défis et des moments joyeux de la vie à la ferme, avec des personnages bien construits et une histoire captivante. Recommandé aux amateurs de romance contemporaine mm qui aime ce qui touche au drame familial.
This book made me love it and also wrecked my heart into million pieces. The main two characters Rafe and Russell they work out, but the shattered my heart wad Rafe's uncle Mack and man he loved Dale and what they went through.
Rafe retires from bull riding at start of this book. He learns that he's inherited his uncle who passed away Mack's ranch. He hasn't seen Mack since he was 12. That part also broke my heart because what Rafe's parents did. I wanted to wrap them both in a hug and give them better relatives.
When Rafe gets there he meets Russell who he remembered from a kid. They don't have best first meet but things change after they both have chance to think.
I loved Elliot who's Russell's dad so much. The advice he gives and the ideas he has plus what him and Rafe do with the ranch by the end was perfect.
There is drama with a neighbor and son plus the wife that dead now had a role in Mack's passed which sucked and the neighbor and his son causing problems now.
The ending was great and I loved the up yours that Rafe sent to his parents who are vicious and greedy and nasty. Tossed him away and his uncle for sure should get nothing. Loved the dogs so much they were adorable. Russell and Rafe's romance was perfect.
3.5 stars. Rafe is a retiring rodeo champion who inherits a moderate ranch from his late uncle--a man whom he'd lost touch with when his family cut the man off for being gay. The neighbouring ranchers are all keen to get their hands on the property, including the hunky Russell from next door. Rafe remembers childhood summers with the man, but those distant memories do little to allay suspicion--at least at first. The good and bad guys are a little too black and white in this one, but it's still a fun read.
Good cowboy romance from Grey. Believable characters (even the bad guys, alas) and situations I have seen in real life, though fortunately not carried to such extremes.