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Innamorati #1
His Convenient Husband
A temporary arrangement? Don't bet the ranch on it.
Innamorati, Book 1
At the tender age of seven, newly orphaned Micah Jiminez lost everything and got lucky. The Delany family opened their hearts and their home, treated him like one of their own. One Delany in particular, though, became more than a brother to Micah. The handsome and protective Tucker is the man to whom he wants to give his love.
But after a single passionate night together, Tucker rebuffs him and hightails it to Dallas to pursue his dreams. Leaving Micah to pick up the pieces of his broken heart and feeling like a fool.
The impending death of the Delany patriarch brings an unsavory relative out of the woodwork, threatening Micah's beloved adopted family. They're going to need all hands in the fight to keep The Bar D from being pulled out from under them all including Tucker. Micah steels himself to convince the man he can't forget to come home.
To his everlasting surprise, it's Tucker who comes up with the perfect solution: a marriage of convenience to Micah. His gut tells him Tucker's motivation involves nothing more than saving the ranch. Now he just has to convince his fragile heart.
This title has been revised and expanded by more than 10,000 words from its original published version in the anthology: Studs & Spurs
Innamorati, Book 1
At the tender age of seven, newly orphaned Micah Jiminez lost everything and got lucky. The Delany family opened their hearts and their home, treated him like one of their own. One Delany in particular, though, became more than a brother to Micah. The handsome and protective Tucker is the man to whom he wants to give his love.
But after a single passionate night together, Tucker rebuffs him and hightails it to Dallas to pursue his dreams. Leaving Micah to pick up the pieces of his broken heart and feeling like a fool.
The impending death of the Delany patriarch brings an unsavory relative out of the woodwork, threatening Micah's beloved adopted family. They're going to need all hands in the fight to keep The Bar D from being pulled out from under them all including Tucker. Micah steels himself to convince the man he can't forget to come home.
To his everlasting surprise, it's Tucker who comes up with the perfect solution: a marriage of convenience to Micah. His gut tells him Tucker's motivation involves nothing more than saving the ranch. Now he just has to convince his fragile heart.
This title has been revised and expanded by more than 10,000 words from its original published version in the anthology: Studs & Spurs
134 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 27, 2009
37 people are currently reading
874 people want to read
About the author
J.L. Langley
31 books1,868 followersJL has been talking since she was about seven months old. To those who know her it comes as no surprise, in fact, most will tell you she hasn’t shut up since. At eighteen months, she was speaking in full sentences. Imagine if you will the surprise of her admirers when they complimented her mother on “what a cute little boy” she had and received a fierce glare from said little boy and a very loud correction of “I’m a girl!” Oddly enough, JL still finds herself saying that exact phrase thirty-some-odd years later.
Along with the motormouth, JL also displayed a very vivid imagination and artistic ability. The artist first surfaced in way of drawing and painting, then became more apparent with dance. JL was a member of the National Art Honor Society in high school and has won several regional and national titles in dance, specifically tap and jazz. In college she majored in Graphic Art, but chose to make dance her profession. She taught tap, jazz and ballet for fifteen years before settling into her career as a writer.
Today JL is a full-time writer, with over ten novels to her credit. Among her hobbies she includes reading, practicing her marksmanship (she happens to be a great shot), gardening, working out (although she despises cardio), searching for the perfect chocolate dessert (so far as she can tell ALL chocolate is perfect, but it requires more research) and arguing with her husband over who the air compressor and nail gun really belongs to (they belong to JL, although she might be willing to trade him for his new chainsaw).
She also writes under the name Jeigh Lynn
Along with the motormouth, JL also displayed a very vivid imagination and artistic ability. The artist first surfaced in way of drawing and painting, then became more apparent with dance. JL was a member of the National Art Honor Society in high school and has won several regional and national titles in dance, specifically tap and jazz. In college she majored in Graphic Art, but chose to make dance her profession. She taught tap, jazz and ballet for fifteen years before settling into her career as a writer.
Today JL is a full-time writer, with over ten novels to her credit. Among her hobbies she includes reading, practicing her marksmanship (she happens to be a great shot), gardening, working out (although she despises cardio), searching for the perfect chocolate dessert (so far as she can tell ALL chocolate is perfect, but it requires more research) and arguing with her husband over who the air compressor and nail gun really belongs to (they belong to JL, although she might be willing to trade him for his new chainsaw).
She also writes under the name Jeigh Lynn
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 158 reviews
October 6, 2009
I’ve read several mixed reviews on the book, His Convenient Husband by J.L. Langley. I’m not going to get into the storyline because I would be repeating what other friends and reviewers have already said.
To be honest, I’m not sure what all the fuss is about. Too me, it had Langley’s classic style and dialog, which I’ve always loved. I’ve seen people compare it to a harlequin novel, which honestly I’ve always secretly liked. I think it’s good that she felt the need to stretch her creativity and pay homage to something she once loved to read, too.
I admit I’m an old school romance reader, so maybe that’s one reason why I liked it so much. The heroes were sexy, there was angst, it had a happy ending and it was fast paced. What more could I ask for? I agree with many of my goodreads friends, that this isn’t her best book, but I still liked it and I’m sure I’ll re-read it again soon.
Solid 4.25 stars
To be honest, I’m not sure what all the fuss is about. Too me, it had Langley’s classic style and dialog, which I’ve always loved. I’ve seen people compare it to a harlequin novel, which honestly I’ve always secretly liked. I think it’s good that she felt the need to stretch her creativity and pay homage to something she once loved to read, too.
I admit I’m an old school romance reader, so maybe that’s one reason why I liked it so much. The heroes were sexy, there was angst, it had a happy ending and it was fast paced. What more could I ask for? I agree with many of my goodreads friends, that this isn’t her best book, but I still liked it and I’m sure I’ll re-read it again soon.
Solid 4.25 stars
November 7, 2023
Hah! His Convenient Husband reminded me of that TV show Dallas. Definitely not Langley's best work. The nonsense about the will was frustrating, and the plot was super predictable.
Read
March 17, 2010Micah Jiminez is at the end of his rope, with this adopted grandfather seriously ill and looking worst for wear, the ranch that has gently seeped into his blood to become apart of him is on the verge of going bust and to top it off the worst of the family is making noises about a hostile takeover of the ranch.
Micah can barely see a way out and it’s now affecting his health. He knows of only one way to sort out the mess and he has done everything but that to sort the mess out that’s happening at home – because taking that route involves seeing Tucker again.
Tucker who loved him and left him a few years ago without a backward glance, so he was not prepared to go begging for handout like a dog with it’s tail between it’s legs. Unfortunately for Micah – his back is against the wall and if the will his grandfather has left was a sign of things to come – he needed to get to Tucker and NOW.
Finding Tucker was the easy part, and within a few hours Tucker seems to have the perfect solution – become Micah’s husband. Micah will do has done many things for the sake of his family, being put into this position not only solves the matter of the ranch but raises a whole lot more problems and Micah’s heart is at the top of the list – because although Micah now has Tucker right where he wanted him, Tucker is just as far as if he was in another state.
I have been looking forward to this book for some time, because I so like this author’s writing style. She does has a way with words and she does a pretty decent amount of angst that give a book that realistic feel to it.
In HIS CONVENIENT HUSBAND this is no different, the main cast as well the support cast are very well developed, at times it felt like the book was all about back history – but it worked – I knew these people and why they were at the phase they were at and in some respect I knew what they wanted for their future as well.
With that said however - there is just something about this book that does not live up to Ms. Langley standard and for that reason it was not the page turner that he could have been.
The emotional aspect of the book wasn’t all about the main protags – while that was fun and it was really sweet to see Ms. Langley giving a new spin to an age old scenario of “the reading of the will” debacle, I was more caught up in the dynamics of the family. How they interact with each other, how they supported each other and more other how they had each other‘s back against who they considered the enemy..
A feel good read that wasn’t a waste of my time – but left me definitely looking forward to more solid work from this author.
Micah can barely see a way out and it’s now affecting his health. He knows of only one way to sort out the mess and he has done everything but that to sort the mess out that’s happening at home – because taking that route involves seeing Tucker again.
Tucker who loved him and left him a few years ago without a backward glance, so he was not prepared to go begging for handout like a dog with it’s tail between it’s legs. Unfortunately for Micah – his back is against the wall and if the will his grandfather has left was a sign of things to come – he needed to get to Tucker and NOW.
Finding Tucker was the easy part, and within a few hours Tucker seems to have the perfect solution – become Micah’s husband. Micah will do has done many things for the sake of his family, being put into this position not only solves the matter of the ranch but raises a whole lot more problems and Micah’s heart is at the top of the list – because although Micah now has Tucker right where he wanted him, Tucker is just as far as if he was in another state.
I have been looking forward to this book for some time, because I so like this author’s writing style. She does has a way with words and she does a pretty decent amount of angst that give a book that realistic feel to it.
In HIS CONVENIENT HUSBAND this is no different, the main cast as well the support cast are very well developed, at times it felt like the book was all about back history – but it worked – I knew these people and why they were at the phase they were at and in some respect I knew what they wanted for their future as well.
With that said however - there is just something about this book that does not live up to Ms. Langley standard and for that reason it was not the page turner that he could have been.
The emotional aspect of the book wasn’t all about the main protags – while that was fun and it was really sweet to see Ms. Langley giving a new spin to an age old scenario of “the reading of the will” debacle, I was more caught up in the dynamics of the family. How they interact with each other, how they supported each other and more other how they had each other‘s back against who they considered the enemy..
A feel good read that wasn’t a waste of my time – but left me definitely looking forward to more solid work from this author.
September 2, 2009
I’m a big JL Langley fan so I don’t really understand her choice with this story. The premise is classic romance and reads very much like Harlequin novels I’d read many years ago. The idea is that two people must quickly marry to avoid the ranch from falling into the evil hands of a homophobic family member. Since the two men already are in love with each other but won’t admit it, the perfect solution is to get married and everything works out after a few emotional revelations. Given the rather dated premise, I was expecting the author to add a fresh and light hearted spin to the tale. Unfortunately, the story was as dated as the premise but with two men instead of a man and a woman.
Micah is the classic younger character who adored and followed Tucker around for years before daring to kiss the older man on his eighteenth birthday. Since that rejection, Micah has been running himself into the ground to save the family ranch against ruin while trying not to dwell on his lingering feelings for Tucker. Tucker is also a classic stereotype with his cold, career driven attitude ignoring his family and the problems in favor of his work. While these are classic stereotypes for a reason, the typically strong writing of the author could have given these characters new life. Instead, there was nothing unique or really interesting about these men. Add in the antiquated storyline with multiple holes and confusing beginning, this wasn’t nearly as good as I’ve come to expect.
The writing was ok but many details are omitted or sparsely given so it takes a bit of time to understand the complexities and everyone’s relationship. Especially in the first chapter where the amount of time passed from the prologue is not said and thus creates an abrupt change in the story. There were also multiple scenes that didn’t seem to add much if anything to the story or characters such as the horse foaling scene and subsequent fight between Micah and Duncan. Additionally the tension between Micah and Tucker was contrived. Neither man protested much nor was there any real question about the future so their weak attempts to create distance and uneasiness felt flat. Overall, this was disappointing to read based on all of Langley’s prior work and fans of the author will likely to read the story anyway, if only for the hot sex scene. However, I predict they may be as frustrated with the story as I was.
Micah is the classic younger character who adored and followed Tucker around for years before daring to kiss the older man on his eighteenth birthday. Since that rejection, Micah has been running himself into the ground to save the family ranch against ruin while trying not to dwell on his lingering feelings for Tucker. Tucker is also a classic stereotype with his cold, career driven attitude ignoring his family and the problems in favor of his work. While these are classic stereotypes for a reason, the typically strong writing of the author could have given these characters new life. Instead, there was nothing unique or really interesting about these men. Add in the antiquated storyline with multiple holes and confusing beginning, this wasn’t nearly as good as I’ve come to expect.
The writing was ok but many details are omitted or sparsely given so it takes a bit of time to understand the complexities and everyone’s relationship. Especially in the first chapter where the amount of time passed from the prologue is not said and thus creates an abrupt change in the story. There were also multiple scenes that didn’t seem to add much if anything to the story or characters such as the horse foaling scene and subsequent fight between Micah and Duncan. Additionally the tension between Micah and Tucker was contrived. Neither man protested much nor was there any real question about the future so their weak attempts to create distance and uneasiness felt flat. Overall, this was disappointing to read based on all of Langley’s prior work and fans of the author will likely to read the story anyway, if only for the hot sex scene. However, I predict they may be as frustrated with the story as I was.
September 13, 2009
How many times have we all read about the brave, spunky heroine who's forced to marry the hero in order to save her family's farm/ranch/estate from the evil villain? Well, here we go again. The fact that, this time, the heroine has a Y chromosome and isn't actually related to the family by blood doesn't seem to make for a very original story.
Micah is a girl in man's clothing, and no matter how thick his cock is described as being, nothing ever changed that. He's a dude-in-distress and needs the aloof-but-caring rich man to come along and save him.
I actually had to go back to the book's description to remember Tucker's name. How horrible is that, I only read the book a couple of days before writing this review, and I completely forgot the second hero's name! Probably because there's nothing particularly interesting about him.
And the villain? Why couldn't he have just remained a villain instead of being turned from villainous to pathetic through one of the lamest contrivances I've ever read?
I've read (and re-read) other stories by Langley before and, even when I wasn't in love with the characters and often facepalmed in exasperation over some of the aspects of the story, I was at least entertained.
Not this time.
Micah is a girl in man's clothing, and no matter how thick his cock is described as being, nothing ever changed that. He's a dude-in-distress and needs the aloof-but-caring rich man to come along and save him.
I actually had to go back to the book's description to remember Tucker's name. How horrible is that, I only read the book a couple of days before writing this review, and I completely forgot the second hero's name! Probably because there's nothing particularly interesting about him.
And the villain? Why couldn't he have just remained a villain instead of being turned from villainous to pathetic through one of the lamest contrivances I've ever read?
I've read (and re-read) other stories by Langley before and, even when I wasn't in love with the characters and often facepalmed in exasperation over some of the aspects of the story, I was at least entertained.
Not this time.
August 26, 2010
^^ CONVENIENTLY ALRIGHT!^^
3.5
His Convenient Husband was a light quick read, not the best by Langley when it came to plot and overall story telling, but it was sweet. I gather I read the revised version of this story, and this moves fairly quickly and ties up quite nice.
Micah is the manager of a ranch and it’s a family owned ranch, though not being related to the family by blood, he is considered a part of the family. Micah started living with the Delanys when his parents died and instantly he was accepted and became the little brother. As to be expected there’s a little hero worship, of any kid who starts living with a house full of males. Instantly Micah starts following around Tucker Delany and to later realized that what he feels is a little more than brotherly love.
The ranch is going under and Micah is worrying himself sick about coming up with the money to keep it going. He knows he needs help but hates to ask, Tucker is the one that can save the ranch, but after a night of the horizontal mambo Tucker hightails it out of town. Talk about slap in the face, not even a goodbye or thank you for the f*ck, not very appreciative. Well Micah is still seething but pride away, his family needs help and “he aint to proud to beg”.
Then the story brings on the will of a dying relative, and owner of the ranch. There is a marriage clause and so boom Tucker and Micah are married. There is a whole lot of unnecessary angst, a so so wanna be villain, and the lukewarm chemistry between Micah and Tucker. The story had the potential to be great but it just felt rushed. Still a pretty sweet read, and I am surprised by the lack of a hot sex scene. I was like why am I still wearing my pants, this won’t stop me from reading Langley though, that woman can write. I enjoyed Micah and his determination but I am not in love with him, Tucker irked me, his feeling were a pest and overall all kinds of stupid. Were they sexy, not even. Were they cute, you bet your ass.
If you are looking for quick, and not a big story to follow then you can check this one out. If its gonna be your first Langley, then skip this and check out her other works.
3.5
His Convenient Husband was a light quick read, not the best by Langley when it came to plot and overall story telling, but it was sweet. I gather I read the revised version of this story, and this moves fairly quickly and ties up quite nice.
Micah is the manager of a ranch and it’s a family owned ranch, though not being related to the family by blood, he is considered a part of the family. Micah started living with the Delanys when his parents died and instantly he was accepted and became the little brother. As to be expected there’s a little hero worship, of any kid who starts living with a house full of males. Instantly Micah starts following around Tucker Delany and to later realized that what he feels is a little more than brotherly love.
The ranch is going under and Micah is worrying himself sick about coming up with the money to keep it going. He knows he needs help but hates to ask, Tucker is the one that can save the ranch, but after a night of the horizontal mambo Tucker hightails it out of town. Talk about slap in the face, not even a goodbye or thank you for the f*ck, not very appreciative. Well Micah is still seething but pride away, his family needs help and “he aint to proud to beg”.
Then the story brings on the will of a dying relative, and owner of the ranch. There is a marriage clause and so boom Tucker and Micah are married. There is a whole lot of unnecessary angst, a so so wanna be villain, and the lukewarm chemistry between Micah and Tucker. The story had the potential to be great but it just felt rushed. Still a pretty sweet read, and I am surprised by the lack of a hot sex scene. I was like why am I still wearing my pants, this won’t stop me from reading Langley though, that woman can write. I enjoyed Micah and his determination but I am not in love with him, Tucker irked me, his feeling were a pest and overall all kinds of stupid. Were they sexy, not even. Were they cute, you bet your ass.
If you are looking for quick, and not a big story to follow then you can check this one out. If its gonna be your first Langley, then skip this and check out her other works.
June 11, 2010
A Harlequin romance plot: two people get into a marriage of convenience to save a ranch. To be completely honest, I actually like the theme in general (male/male, male/female) because it gives that possibility of exploration to fall in love with someone that is "forced" to you. Of course, in this story, Micah and Tucker are not exactly strangers as they have history and feeling towards one another.
At one point, at least none of them jump into sex as soon as possible (something I don't like on my male/male books). But at other point, I feel that the crying/tears scenes are a bit too much. I like it better when characters struggle with their emotion without crying because it created a different reaction in me when reading it.
PS: Since it seems to create some discussion on my earlier wordings, I ended up changing this a bit :)
At one point, at least none of them jump into sex as soon as possible (something I don't like on my male/male books). But at other point, I feel that the crying/tears scenes are a bit too much. I like it better when characters struggle with their emotion without crying because it created a different reaction in me when reading it.
PS: Since it seems to create some discussion on my earlier wordings, I ended up changing this a bit :)
August 31, 2013
1.5 Stars
This one was a dud. I didn't care for it. I think the problem was that I was not enamored with any of the characters. Not a one! Tucker was a cold-hearted prick (even the way ). What. An. Ass. Micah was ... a nancy. Give him a tiara and call it a day. He was too close to chick-with-a-dick territory to appeal to me. He's a cowboy for goodness sake! In my world, cowboys are hunky alphas who take charge but are sometimes too reticent. They're not whiny, bitchy, and prone to throwing tantrums. Gimme a break.
Bottom line: I've enjoyed other J.L. Langley books (e.g., The Tin Star and With Abandon). I suggest you pick up one of those and give this one a pass.
This one was a dud. I didn't care for it. I think the problem was that I was not enamored with any of the characters. Not a one! Tucker was a cold-hearted prick (even the way ). What. An. Ass. Micah was ... a nancy. Give him a tiara and call it a day. He was too close to chick-with-a-dick territory to appeal to me. He's a cowboy for goodness sake! In my world, cowboys are hunky alphas who take charge but are sometimes too reticent. They're not whiny, bitchy, and prone to throwing tantrums. Gimme a break.
Bottom line: I've enjoyed other J.L. Langley books (e.g., The Tin Star and With Abandon). I suggest you pick up one of those and give this one a pass.
September 27, 2012
3.5 stars. This is a smooth, simple short story. The set-up is rather romance-formulaic: an immediate marriage of convenience in response to a will, driven by the fear of having the wrong relative otherwise inherit the ranch. It's testimony to Langley's writing that I liked the characters, particularly Micah, enough to be pulled into the story. I never quite accepted Tucker's motivations for leaving and staying away so long, especially after his grandfather became ill, but I did warm up to him as the story went on. If you've never read Langley, she has other wonderful stories for you to start with, but this one is a good quick read for her fans.
September 18, 2015
With an overdone premise and a protagonist I truly disliked, this one was tough to like, so I stopped trying. Micah's pride was incorrectly applied, and Tucker was an ass.
Removed from Kindle
Removed from Kindle
October 21, 2013
Wasn't what I expected or hoped. Underwhelmed. Rats. :(
August 29, 2012
What do you get when you add
secret lovers,
a surprise case of:
a marriage of convenience,
devirginizing of a barely 18 year old by his long time crush/love?
Well what should have been an awesome story but in this one it was a little lackluster.
It might have been all of the tears (I don't mind crying but when both H's are waterpots...eh, I'm a little disenchanted) or the weird feeling that one of the men in the marriage could have easily be written as a girl and I wouldn't have batted an eye.
But I finished the book so I'm giving it TWO & A HALF STARS. It wasn't extremely bad, it's readable it you're in the mood from some slight drama, tears, cowboys and reconciliation M/M romance.
secret lovers,
a surprise case of:
a marriage of convenience,
devirginizing of a barely 18 year old by his long time crush/love?
Well what should have been an awesome story but in this one it was a little lackluster.
It might have been all of the tears (I don't mind crying but when both H's are waterpots...eh, I'm a little disenchanted) or the weird feeling that one of the men in the marriage could have easily be written as a girl and I wouldn't have batted an eye.
But I finished the book so I'm giving it TWO & A HALF STARS. It wasn't extremely bad, it's readable it you're in the mood from some slight drama, tears, cowboys and reconciliation M/M romance.
January 27, 2013
This could have been very silly and far fetched but I think J L Langley pulls it off. The plot is very much like the trope mainly seen in the old Mills & Boon type romances that nobody ever admits reading but have probably been the guilty pleasure of a lot of readers - I'll hold my hand up to reading quite a few in the past! Haha.
Hunky cowboys, long ago crushes, love/ hate relationships, a ranch, plotting family members and an arranged gay marriage - fabulous! The chemistry between the main guys sizzles and is mainly what makes the story work as well as it does but the actual story is pretty good too. I really enjoyed it in the way I enjoy her Sci Regency series - sort of far fetched, but who cares, the men are hot, the love scenes are sexy and there's always a HEA......Great stuff. Perfect for when you just want to chill with 'that book' with the feel good factor.
Hunky cowboys, long ago crushes, love/ hate relationships, a ranch, plotting family members and an arranged gay marriage - fabulous! The chemistry between the main guys sizzles and is mainly what makes the story work as well as it does but the actual story is pretty good too. I really enjoyed it in the way I enjoy her Sci Regency series - sort of far fetched, but who cares, the men are hot, the love scenes are sexy and there's always a HEA......Great stuff. Perfect for when you just want to chill with 'that book' with the feel good factor.
September 3, 2009
Nice story but a little shallow for me!!
I'm disappointed but maybe i was expecting too much after reading the sci-regency serie!
I won't give up and i'll wait for the next one.
I'm disappointed but maybe i was expecting too much after reading the sci-regency serie!
I won't give up and i'll wait for the next one.
September 2, 2009
See the review Kassa did. It really says it all.
July 19, 2020
3.5 Stars
This was a fun reread. It's a solid reunited lovers story even if the subplot is a little silly. I enjoyed Tucker and Michah's relationship. Their tension was palpable and it was clear both of them were still stuck on each other. The reason for their coming back together, Tucker's grandfather's failing health, worked quite well. My problem stemmed from the Duncan side plot. It wasn't fleshed out enough to really work well. It basically was just meant to add tension and then was resolved in a not quite believable manner.
This was a fun reread. It's a solid reunited lovers story even if the subplot is a little silly. I enjoyed Tucker and Michah's relationship. Their tension was palpable and it was clear both of them were still stuck on each other. The reason for their coming back together, Tucker's grandfather's failing health, worked quite well. My problem stemmed from the Duncan side plot. It wasn't fleshed out enough to really work well. It basically was just meant to add tension and then was resolved in a not quite believable manner.
September 11, 2022
Tucker got an insane urge to kiss that glare away. He shouldn't. It would only complicate things.
Fuck that, he wanted and he was going to have.
Short, sweet, spicy - and who doesn't love a good cowboy romance?
Fuck that, he wanted and he was going to have.
Short, sweet, spicy - and who doesn't love a good cowboy romance?
September 9, 2009
Bottom line up front:
This story reads like a Harlequin-esque Mysterious Will Clause story. It would have more aptly been named The Cattle Baron's Convenient Foreman Husband.
The rest:
Michah has been in love with Tucker since he was old enough to figure out what that tingling in his man bits meant. He was able to con an eighteenth birthday lay out of his One Twu Luv, but the guy rolled right out of bed and took off for the wilds of Dallas before the sheets cooled. Micah has spent the last six or so years yearning for his heart's desire while trying to run the ranch his sort-of adopted family owns.
Sadly, the money wasn't flowing along with the good intentions, and the place is about to go bankrupt. The family patriarch is seriously ill in the hospital and not expected to live much longer. Right about the same time, the oldest son starts sending Micah messages, demanding the logbooks be turned over. Apparently the oldest vulture figured he'd be the guy inheriting everything, even though he took off with his brother's wife long ago and hasn't been back since. Charming.
As much as it pains him to do so, Micah tracks Tucker down and begs the successful man to come bail out his childhood home. But throwing money at the problem wouldn't make it go away. The only other way to save Micah's beloved home is contained in an odd clause in a will: one of them has to be in some sort of a committed relationship. It doesn't have to be a legal marriage in Texas. Even a civil partnership would do.
Tucker talks Micah into a marriage of convenience. The only problem is that now that they're in close proximity again, neither can exactly keep their hands off the other.
I don't know that I bought the whole marriage of convenience, particularly since the two men weren't exactly being abstinent in the marriage bed. It was entirely too cliche for Tucker to run off for the city because he didn't want to take advantage of the young nephew of the foreman.
There was something slick, unemotional, and detached about this story. Not having read the original version, I can't say whether it's the tone the story was initially written in, or the end result of being extensively revamped and re-edited by an author who is in a different place artistically now. Either which way, the dispassionate execution here from one of my very favorite authors came as a disappointment.
My love for Langley's work remains undiminished, but this is the first story of hers that will not be moved over to the keeper file. With any luck, I'll shortly forget having ever read this book and can go on slavishly fangirling this author.
This story reads like a Harlequin-esque Mysterious Will Clause story. It would have more aptly been named The Cattle Baron's Convenient Foreman Husband.
The rest:
Michah has been in love with Tucker since he was old enough to figure out what that tingling in his man bits meant. He was able to con an eighteenth birthday lay out of his One Twu Luv, but the guy rolled right out of bed and took off for the wilds of Dallas before the sheets cooled. Micah has spent the last six or so years yearning for his heart's desire while trying to run the ranch his sort-of adopted family owns.
Sadly, the money wasn't flowing along with the good intentions, and the place is about to go bankrupt. The family patriarch is seriously ill in the hospital and not expected to live much longer. Right about the same time, the oldest son starts sending Micah messages, demanding the logbooks be turned over. Apparently the oldest vulture figured he'd be the guy inheriting everything, even though he took off with his brother's wife long ago and hasn't been back since. Charming.
As much as it pains him to do so, Micah tracks Tucker down and begs the successful man to come bail out his childhood home. But throwing money at the problem wouldn't make it go away. The only other way to save Micah's beloved home is contained in an odd clause in a will: one of them has to be in some sort of a committed relationship. It doesn't have to be a legal marriage in Texas. Even a civil partnership would do.
Tucker talks Micah into a marriage of convenience. The only problem is that now that they're in close proximity again, neither can exactly keep their hands off the other.
I don't know that I bought the whole marriage of convenience, particularly since the two men weren't exactly being abstinent in the marriage bed. It was entirely too cliche for Tucker to run off for the city because he didn't want to take advantage of the young nephew of the foreman.
There was something slick, unemotional, and detached about this story. Not having read the original version, I can't say whether it's the tone the story was initially written in, or the end result of being extensively revamped and re-edited by an author who is in a different place artistically now. Either which way, the dispassionate execution here from one of my very favorite authors came as a disappointment.
My love for Langley's work remains undiminished, but this is the first story of hers that will not be moved over to the keeper file. With any luck, I'll shortly forget having ever read this book and can go on slavishly fangirling this author.
May 25, 2011
As I had said, once I found out HCH is an MM version of the old Harlequin or Silhouette category romances, I wanted to read it. It's also been so long since I read a 'reading-the-will' romance (can anyone give me the title of one of those books?) that I was looking forward to this.
While I still enjoyed this nostalgic ride, I can't say I found it well-written and hope that the next book, The Greek Tycoon's Paramour , will be a better book. I couldn't understand what bugged Tucker so much that he had to high-tail it out of the family ranch after he had sex with Micah. There was no problem in the family with him being gay; Micah was gay and Tucker did wait until Micah had turned 18 before he gave him to his desire for the younger man. I didn't get what was so wrong about their relationship, why Tucker felt they couldn't have a future even though he still felt the same desire years later when Micah goes to Dallas to fetch him home.
I also found his attitude towards Micah very unappealing and insulting, not over-protective. It made me wonder why anyone would want a man who infantilizes him/her the way Tucker does Micah. Or is this also part of the plan to emulate those old 60s/70s Mills & Boons romances?
So, in the end, I don't mind the Harlequin-type plot at all but I do mind that this book feels like the author is using that as an excuse not to flesh things out more. The glib manner in which the ending was written felt as if Ms Langley couldn't be bothered to write the ending, as if she could just throw us a casual bone of an epilogue and tell us who did what and....th-th-th-that's all folks!
The book's blurb also mentioned that this version has been expanded by 10,000 words (and I still find lots of gaps that could have been filled to give a smoother read). Like Jimmy Hanson, I, too, got lost amongst the several characters just thrown at me at the start without anything to help me place them in the story being told. I'm sure I still don't know who the heck A J is! And Duncan having run off with Tucker's mother (it is the mother, not the aunt or something?) is, IMO, worthy of a lot more than just a cursory mention!
Do I still want to read the next MM Harlequin wannabe? Yes, I do but if it suffers the same flaws then it'll likely be the last.
While I still enjoyed this nostalgic ride, I can't say I found it well-written and hope that the next book, The Greek Tycoon's Paramour , will be a better book. I couldn't understand what bugged Tucker so much that he had to high-tail it out of the family ranch after he had sex with Micah. There was no problem in the family with him being gay; Micah was gay and Tucker did wait until Micah had turned 18 before he gave him to his desire for the younger man. I didn't get what was so wrong about their relationship, why Tucker felt they couldn't have a future even though he still felt the same desire years later when Micah goes to Dallas to fetch him home.
I also found his attitude towards Micah very unappealing and insulting, not over-protective. It made me wonder why anyone would want a man who infantilizes him/her the way Tucker does Micah. Or is this also part of the plan to emulate those old 60s/70s Mills & Boons romances?
So, in the end, I don't mind the Harlequin-type plot at all but I do mind that this book feels like the author is using that as an excuse not to flesh things out more. The glib manner in which the ending was written felt as if Ms Langley couldn't be bothered to write the ending, as if she could just throw us a casual bone of an epilogue and tell us who did what and....th-th-th-that's all folks!
The book's blurb also mentioned that this version has been expanded by 10,000 words (and I still find lots of gaps that could have been filled to give a smoother read). Like Jimmy Hanson, I, too, got lost amongst the several characters just thrown at me at the start without anything to help me place them in the story being told. I'm sure I still don't know who the heck A J is! And Duncan having run off with Tucker's mother (it is the mother, not the aunt or something?) is, IMO, worthy of a lot more than just a cursory mention!
Do I still want to read the next MM Harlequin wannabe? Yes, I do but if it suffers the same flaws then it'll likely be the last.
November 6, 2011
Micah Jiminez grew up with the Delaney family at the Bar D Ranch. Since he was a boy, Micah worshipped Tucker Delaney and this hero-worship grew into love. After finally getting a chance to consummate his love with Tucker, Tucker runs off and leaves the ranch and Micah behind for a job in the big city.
Eventually, Micah asks Tucker to come back and help him to save the ranch. Grandpa's will states that the first one to marry (including civil unions) will get ownership of the ranch so Tucker and Micah get married.
I have to say that while Micah has a heart of gold and will do anything for the Delaney family, Tucker never ever grew on me. His reasons for leaving all those years ago were selfish and lame. The way he treated his "boyfriends" in the city just showed me what a huge prick he was. Okay, so supposedly he never got close to other men because he was still in love with Micah all this time, but then okay, why did you leave? Or why didn't you come back on your own? Sorry - that's just not good enough for me.
And then when he returns to the ranch, he's all about mixed signals. Kissing Micah and then breaking it off. If I were Micah I would probably just punch him in the nose and be on my way. He was a huge douche that cared more about making money and his career than about his family, the ranch he loved, and the man he left behind.
I can't love this book because I didn't care if Tucker got his HEA. Micah, I did like, but I thought he was too good for Tucker. Maybe if he ever lived off the ranch, he might have been able to discover that there are other nice, respectable gay guys out there. Tucker's a big douche. Too little, way too late in my opinion.
Eventually, Micah asks Tucker to come back and help him to save the ranch. Grandpa's will states that the first one to marry (including civil unions) will get ownership of the ranch so Tucker and Micah get married.
I have to say that while Micah has a heart of gold and will do anything for the Delaney family, Tucker never ever grew on me. His reasons for leaving all those years ago were selfish and lame. The way he treated his "boyfriends" in the city just showed me what a huge prick he was. Okay, so supposedly he never got close to other men because he was still in love with Micah all this time, but then okay, why did you leave? Or why didn't you come back on your own? Sorry - that's just not good enough for me.
And then when he returns to the ranch, he's all about mixed signals. Kissing Micah and then breaking it off. If I were Micah I would probably just punch him in the nose and be on my way. He was a huge douche that cared more about making money and his career than about his family, the ranch he loved, and the man he left behind.
I can't love this book because I didn't care if Tucker got his HEA. Micah, I did like, but I thought he was too good for Tucker. Maybe if he ever lived off the ranch, he might have been able to discover that there are other nice, respectable gay guys out there. Tucker's a big douche. Too little, way too late in my opinion.
February 6, 2011
**probably 3 - 3.5**
Sweet short read. I have to admit I was a little confused with the sudden introduction of so many characters right at the beginning, especially when no last names (I never knew right off the bat that they were all related so that was part of the confusion) were mentioned, nor relationship to the main character for a while.
I loved Micah - strong, independent, responsible and from what I could tell beautiful and sensitive. I would have liked to know his age a little sooner in the book since he came across much older than he actually was - that's just a quirk of mine I guess - I like to know ages. It took me a while to warm up to Tucker, he just seemed so brash and unfeeling that I didn't want Micah to be with him at all. Eventually he grew on me and I accepted that he was hiding some feelings inside and just acting like a jerk on the outside.
The solution to the plot drama - contesting the will - seemed really sudden to me, and also the realization that grandpa had been living a double life, but nonetheless, I still enjoyed this especially since the author is a favourite of mine.
Sweet short read. I have to admit I was a little confused with the sudden introduction of so many characters right at the beginning, especially when no last names (I never knew right off the bat that they were all related so that was part of the confusion) were mentioned, nor relationship to the main character for a while.
I loved Micah - strong, independent, responsible and from what I could tell beautiful and sensitive. I would have liked to know his age a little sooner in the book since he came across much older than he actually was - that's just a quirk of mine I guess - I like to know ages. It took me a while to warm up to Tucker, he just seemed so brash and unfeeling that I didn't want Micah to be with him at all. Eventually he grew on me and I accepted that he was hiding some feelings inside and just acting like a jerk on the outside.
The solution to the plot drama - contesting the will - seemed really sudden to me, and also the realization that grandpa had been living a double life, but nonetheless, I still enjoyed this especially since the author is a favourite of mine.
September 18, 2009
I think this is not the one I thought it was, but that isn't why it gets 2 stars from me. I usually like JL's books, but I felt that the resolution of the conflict was cheap, easy, and unbelievable. I also wasn't very impressed by the continued reference to a female character in a negative two-dimensional manner. The male personage who was her co-conspirator was redeemed (though, as I said, far too conveniently) but the woman was never given the chance and summarily written off. These were side issues to the plot, but reduced my enjoyment of the book.
While the emotional development between the two protagonists was at turns sweet and hot, and overall very well done, the mechanics of the plot were clumsy and overly convenient. (I still want to know where the men obtained a marriage license, no matter how invalid, in Texas on short notice, as it was never explained.)
So while the writing was technically strong, and the characters were lovable and the sex was tasty, I felt the plot was weak and not well attended to. This author can - and regularly does - do better.
While the emotional development between the two protagonists was at turns sweet and hot, and overall very well done, the mechanics of the plot were clumsy and overly convenient. (I still want to know where the men obtained a marriage license, no matter how invalid, in Texas on short notice, as it was never explained.)
So while the writing was technically strong, and the characters were lovable and the sex was tasty, I felt the plot was weak and not well attended to. This author can - and regularly does - do better.
January 7, 2010
Light reading.
The blurb reads like something from a Mills&Boon/Harlequin romance for a reason! This is based on favourite conventional romances. I don't know which one - she doesn't say - but it seems like a very good fit for M&B/H, if only Micah was a girl (and there are times when he really should be wearing a dress).
It is an enjoyable tale, if you approach it with the same mind set you need to enjoy formulaic het romances. If you can't stand M&B/H romances then you aren't going to enjoy this either. Following the 'formula' there are times when I wanted to smack both heroes because they were being incredibly stupid - I used to get the same impulse with M&B/H when I was reading them.
This is a fun tribute to old het genre romance and has the same mental bubble gum feeling.
The blurb reads like something from a Mills&Boon/Harlequin romance for a reason! This is based on favourite conventional romances. I don't know which one - she doesn't say - but it seems like a very good fit for M&B/H, if only Micah was a girl (and there are times when he really should be wearing a dress).
It is an enjoyable tale, if you approach it with the same mind set you need to enjoy formulaic het romances. If you can't stand M&B/H romances then you aren't going to enjoy this either. Following the 'formula' there are times when I wanted to smack both heroes because they were being incredibly stupid - I used to get the same impulse with M&B/H when I was reading them.
This is a fun tribute to old het genre romance and has the same mental bubble gum feeling.
February 13, 2014
Yeah, this really didn't work for me for some reason. Maybe because Tucker was a dick? Yeah, that's probably why. Did he redeem himself? For me, NOPE!
Tucker is an ass! End of story.
Tucker is an ass! End of story.
October 6, 2009
* * * * This review may be a little spoiler-ish * * * *
I liked this story, but I didn't love it... and that surprised me. I think it was because that I couldn't really connect with Tucker, at least not until he actually let down his guard. He really did keep himself apart from his family and I felt rather, sad for him. He didn't know how to embrace and accept the love that came his way.
And that just occurred to me!
While I initially thought that the focus was Micah, whom I adore!, this was Tucker's awakening... Tucker's coming of age story... so to speak.
And it was about family, reconnecting; learning to value what, and who, really matters.
So I guess I'm not as disappointed as I first thought... I just needed to think a bit!
So J.L. Langley has done it again!
I liked this story, but I didn't love it... and that surprised me. I think it was because that I couldn't really connect with Tucker, at least not until he actually let down his guard. He really did keep himself apart from his family and I felt rather, sad for him. He didn't know how to embrace and accept the love that came his way.
And that just occurred to me!
While I initially thought that the focus was Micah, whom I adore!, this was Tucker's awakening... Tucker's coming of age story... so to speak.
And it was about family, reconnecting; learning to value what, and who, really matters.
So I guess I'm not as disappointed as I first thought... I just needed to think a bit!
So J.L. Langley has done it again!
May 22, 2010
I wasn't really expecting a lot, but from what enjoyment I've gotten from J.L.'s novels, I kind of wish this one had been a bit ... more. I like the characters but then again I've always liked her characters.
One difficult thing for me - she threw so many names out there in the beginning, I couldn't figure out their age ranges or who was whose son vs. friend vs. second-generation vs. third-generation, and I never really got a good grasp on them all even by the end. It was kind of frustrating to me.
Also frustrating - how Micah literally throws himself at Tucker and continues to do so. I agree with previous comments; this would have done much better in the Harlequin Romance category, with a "Marianna" instead of a "Micah." =p
One difficult thing for me - she threw so many names out there in the beginning, I couldn't figure out their age ranges or who was whose son vs. friend vs. second-generation vs. third-generation, and I never really got a good grasp on them all even by the end. It was kind of frustrating to me.
Also frustrating - how Micah literally throws himself at Tucker and continues to do so. I agree with previous comments; this would have done much better in the Harlequin Romance category, with a "Marianna" instead of a "Micah." =p
May 29, 2011
The premise looked so promising, but I just couldn't care about anyone or anything in this book. I only finished it out of the sheer stubbornness that since I had gone that far I might as well finish.
This is a technicality, but as a native Spanish speaker the Spanish curses really rubbed me the wrong way. And not because they were curses, but because were direct translations from the English curses and inaccurate (at least to the Spanish I grew up with) For the life of me I have never heard anyone say besa mi culo (kiss my ass). I've also could have done without the detailed birth scene.
Cowboy genre is SO not for me. From now I'm sticking with fantasy. I'm a horrible realism reader.
This is a technicality, but as a native Spanish speaker the Spanish curses really rubbed me the wrong way. And not because they were curses, but because were direct translations from the English curses and inaccurate (at least to the Spanish I grew up with) For the life of me I have never heard anyone say besa mi culo (kiss my ass). I've also could have done without the detailed birth scene.
Cowboy genre is SO not for me. From now I'm sticking with fantasy. I'm a horrible realism reader.
March 2, 2012
I couldn't keep all the cowboys' names and relations straight. Uh... straight. Well, most of them.
Anyway, a decent story, not too deep, but good sexual tension, and a pick for anybody with the cowboy kink. Ride'em, Micah! I mean...
PS, not related to the rating, but shit, Samhain, the story ended at 84% according to the Kindle. The rest was promo for everything under the sun. Don't you realize, Samhain, what kind of rip off this feels like to think one has another chapter or two, but then has nothing but sales crap?? Geez, it's enough to make me reconsider otherwise interesting books sold under your pub house.
Anyway, a decent story, not too deep, but good sexual tension, and a pick for anybody with the cowboy kink. Ride'em, Micah! I mean...
PS, not related to the rating, but shit, Samhain, the story ended at 84% according to the Kindle. The rest was promo for everything under the sun. Don't you realize, Samhain, what kind of rip off this feels like to think one has another chapter or two, but then has nothing but sales crap?? Geez, it's enough to make me reconsider otherwise interesting books sold under your pub house.
March 18, 2012
3.5 Stars
A nice sweet fast read, nothing complicated, not full of angst a good little story that helps clear my head after reading emotionally draining stories! These kind of stories are a must for me from time to time!
A nice sweet fast read, nothing complicated, not full of angst a good little story that helps clear my head after reading emotionally draining stories! These kind of stories are a must for me from time to time!
September 12, 2016
Micah was the sweetest cowboy I've ever seen. The story was lovely and surprising, but I thought that would be longer.
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