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Jesse
LGBT Contemporary Western
When Jesse Coulter roars up on a Harley one dusty afternoon back into ranch foreman Kyle Jacob's life, Kyle is confronted with everything forbidden he has wanted for years. Jesse is twenty years old, with a ruff of dark hair and blue eyes that remind Kyle of the heart of a lit gasoline flame, yet Kyle can’t let himself touch Jesse because not only is he too young, he's the brother of Kyle's lost lover Mac.
That they also share an uncanny telepathic bond hasn’t made things any easier for an ordinary working cowboy; Kyle is drawn into Jesse’s dreams of him as the hot older man Jesse holds captive, pleasuring him every night with Jesse’s raw man-takes-man brand of lovemaking. But Kyle and Jesse face other problems to their unconventional romance. Jesse has custody of his vulnerable younger brother who aches for a stable home, and an enemy from Kyle’s past is threatening not only his beloved draft horses and carriage business but the new life and family he yearns for.
Publisher's This book contains explicit sexual content, graphic language, and situations that some readers may find BDSM elements, male/male sexual practices.
When Jesse Coulter roars up on a Harley one dusty afternoon back into ranch foreman Kyle Jacob's life, Kyle is confronted with everything forbidden he has wanted for years. Jesse is twenty years old, with a ruff of dark hair and blue eyes that remind Kyle of the heart of a lit gasoline flame, yet Kyle can’t let himself touch Jesse because not only is he too young, he's the brother of Kyle's lost lover Mac.
That they also share an uncanny telepathic bond hasn’t made things any easier for an ordinary working cowboy; Kyle is drawn into Jesse’s dreams of him as the hot older man Jesse holds captive, pleasuring him every night with Jesse’s raw man-takes-man brand of lovemaking. But Kyle and Jesse face other problems to their unconventional romance. Jesse has custody of his vulnerable younger brother who aches for a stable home, and an enemy from Kyle’s past is threatening not only his beloved draft horses and carriage business but the new life and family he yearns for.
Publisher's This book contains explicit sexual content, graphic language, and situations that some readers may find BDSM elements, male/male sexual practices.
189 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 12, 2010
1 person is currently reading
234 people want to read
About the author
Jan Irving
51 books199 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
romance author
Jan Irving has worked in all kinds of creative fields, from painting silk to making porcelain ceramics, to interior design, but writing was always her passion.
She feels you can’t fully understand characters until you follow their journey through a story world. Many kinds of worlds interest her, fantasy, historical, science fiction and suspense—but all have one thing in common, people finding a way to live together—in the most emotional and erotic fashion possible, of course!
Visit Jan's blog at http://jan-revealed.livejournal.com.
romance author
Jan Irving has worked in all kinds of creative fields, from painting silk to making porcelain ceramics, to interior design, but writing was always her passion.
She feels you can’t fully understand characters until you follow their journey through a story world. Many kinds of worlds interest her, fantasy, historical, science fiction and suspense—but all have one thing in common, people finding a way to live together—in the most emotional and erotic fashion possible, of course!
Visit Jan's blog at http://jan-revealed.livejournal.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
April 7, 2011
3 1/2 almost a 4
Jesse is a sexy cowboy romance featuring an older man resisting the advances of a much younger man and with good reason. Kyle and Jesse’s older brother Mac were partners until Mac was killed in a freak accident on the ranch. When Mac died, Jesse (who was 17) and his younger brother David were taken from him by their drunken dad. Kyle had no legal recourse to get them back and has missed them desperately. He hasn’t seen them in three years but has been plagued by sexy dreams of an all grown up Jesse. Then Jesse and David suddenly turn up on the ranch looking for work and a place to stay. Kyle takes them in but struggles with his desire for Jesse who does nothing but tempt him. Kyle is 44, Jesse 20 but during Jesse’s three year absence has become very experienced and Kyle fears not only that he’s too old but way too vanilla for such an adventurous guy. He resists but a man can only hold out for so long when temptation is dangling right in front of his face.
This was a hot read but I had to take a point and a 1/2 away for three things:
Jesse and Kyle share a telepathic bond but it just didn’t work for me in the face of so much realism. Though it made for some super-hot shared dream sex and one case of outright slightly creepy voyeurism it just seemed weird.
There is an intrigue and sabotage plotline that grated on me and made me feel bad for the innocents who were harmed. Especially that poor kid David!
These two rough and tough men, one a cowboy, one a worldly biker dude who frequents D/s clubs, together say or think the word crap (or crappy) 21 times. Yep, after the first three occurrences I counted. Shit (this includes bull and horse) is muttered only 10 times. Silly of me to count, I know it, but I’m a geek and Adobe makes it too easy.
“Crap, he was forty-four years old!”
“Crap, he probably just needed some sleep.”
“I‟m in a crappy mood.”
Well, you get the drift. There was just too much crap being thrown around and not nearly enough shit for two so manly of men. My teen says crap but only if he knows I’m listening and doesn’t want a smack upside the head but these guys had no one around to smack them.
The rest of the book I really loved. The characterization was top notch and I cared about younger brother David (who needs his own story) as much as I did Kyle and Jesse, maybe more at some points. Life on the ranch was well described and their romance worked well and wasn’t rushed. Jesse despite his age seemed very wise so I bought into their HEA and was a happy reader in the end.
“People are just people; we love who we love.”
Jesse is a sexy cowboy romance featuring an older man resisting the advances of a much younger man and with good reason. Kyle and Jesse’s older brother Mac were partners until Mac was killed in a freak accident on the ranch. When Mac died, Jesse (who was 17) and his younger brother David were taken from him by their drunken dad. Kyle had no legal recourse to get them back and has missed them desperately. He hasn’t seen them in three years but has been plagued by sexy dreams of an all grown up Jesse. Then Jesse and David suddenly turn up on the ranch looking for work and a place to stay. Kyle takes them in but struggles with his desire for Jesse who does nothing but tempt him. Kyle is 44, Jesse 20 but during Jesse’s three year absence has become very experienced and Kyle fears not only that he’s too old but way too vanilla for such an adventurous guy. He resists but a man can only hold out for so long when temptation is dangling right in front of his face.
This was a hot read but I had to take a point and a 1/2 away for three things:
Jesse and Kyle share a telepathic bond but it just didn’t work for me in the face of so much realism. Though it made for some super-hot shared dream sex and one case of outright slightly creepy voyeurism it just seemed weird.
There is an intrigue and sabotage plotline that grated on me and made me feel bad for the innocents who were harmed. Especially that poor kid David!
These two rough and tough men, one a cowboy, one a worldly biker dude who frequents D/s clubs, together say or think the word crap (or crappy) 21 times. Yep, after the first three occurrences I counted. Shit (this includes bull and horse) is muttered only 10 times. Silly of me to count, I know it, but I’m a geek and Adobe makes it too easy.
“Crap, he was forty-four years old!”
“Crap, he probably just needed some sleep.”
“I‟m in a crappy mood.”
Well, you get the drift. There was just too much crap being thrown around and not nearly enough shit for two so manly of men. My teen says crap but only if he knows I’m listening and doesn’t want a smack upside the head but these guys had no one around to smack them.
The rest of the book I really loved. The characterization was top notch and I cared about younger brother David (who needs his own story) as much as I did Kyle and Jesse, maybe more at some points. Life on the ranch was well described and their romance worked well and wasn’t rushed. Jesse despite his age seemed very wise so I bought into their HEA and was a happy reader in the end.
“People are just people; we love who we love.”
October 14, 2010
Jesse was a really great book that had some steamy sex scenes. Which is the norm for anything from Jan Irving. I loved the characters (especially David) and I thought the storyline was well developed. There were a few parts that jumped quickly from scene to scene but thinking about it, if they were actually lengthened, they probably would have taken the appeal away from Jesse, imo.
Jesse is a sweet May/December romance about an older man, Kyle, losing his partner, Mac, to an accident, and his family, Jesse and David, all in one day. To an abusive father, no less. After three years of not hearing from Jesse or David, Jesse shows up asking for a safe and stable place for David to finish growing up in. While this may seem like a traditional contemporary story, the fact that Jesse and Kyle have a psychic connection, where they can hear each others thoughts, gives it a little bit of a supernatural twist.
Kyle is the ranch foreman who has recently lost several ranch hands and is in desperate need of more help. So, obviously, Kyle agrees to allowing Jesse and David to stay. And the fact Kyle misses them both like crazy cements it.
Kyle has a secret though. He's crushing on his late partner's younger brother. While he battles himself over the fact that Jesse is only twenty and he's forty-four, he starts thinking that Jesse will leave him one day because of his age and because he's too vanilla for Jesse.
When Kyle starts accepting that Jesse feels the same way and they both establish the start of a relationship, bad things start happening. Kyle's prize horses he uses for carriage rides are being poisoned, the fencing surrounding the land is being deliberately cut down, he keeps losing cowhands faster then he can hire them, and someone is trying to hurt Kyle and David by outing Jesse and Kyle's relationship resulting in David running away for a short time.
When David finally accepts their relationship, Morrison, David and Jesse's father, makes another appearance and tries to burn down the ranch they all live on. Thankfully, Morrison and Jed are arrested while (kinda) being caught in the act.
Meanwhile, throughout the whole book, you get scenes of David and his empathic power as well as the issues he goes through with trying to deal with a blackmailing Jed, a drinking buddy of Morrison's, and the memory of Jed raping him at his father's insistence. Well, it's implied he is raped. It's never actually said he is but the way it's talked around gives you an idea it happened.
Add a touch of BDSM and you have yourself an enjoyable read.
Jesse is a sweet May/December romance about an older man, Kyle, losing his partner, Mac, to an accident, and his family, Jesse and David, all in one day. To an abusive father, no less. After three years of not hearing from Jesse or David, Jesse shows up asking for a safe and stable place for David to finish growing up in. While this may seem like a traditional contemporary story, the fact that Jesse and Kyle have a psychic connection, where they can hear each others thoughts, gives it a little bit of a supernatural twist.
Kyle is the ranch foreman who has recently lost several ranch hands and is in desperate need of more help. So, obviously, Kyle agrees to allowing Jesse and David to stay. And the fact Kyle misses them both like crazy cements it.
Kyle has a secret though. He's crushing on his late partner's younger brother. While he battles himself over the fact that Jesse is only twenty and he's forty-four, he starts thinking that Jesse will leave him one day because of his age and because he's too vanilla for Jesse.
When Kyle starts accepting that Jesse feels the same way and they both establish the start of a relationship, bad things start happening. Kyle's prize horses he uses for carriage rides are being poisoned, the fencing surrounding the land is being deliberately cut down, he keeps losing cowhands faster then he can hire them, and someone is trying to hurt Kyle and David by outing Jesse and Kyle's relationship resulting in David running away for a short time.
When David finally accepts their relationship, Morrison, David and Jesse's father, makes another appearance and tries to burn down the ranch they all live on. Thankfully, Morrison and Jed are arrested while (kinda) being caught in the act.
Meanwhile, throughout the whole book, you get scenes of David and his empathic power as well as the issues he goes through with trying to deal with a blackmailing Jed, a drinking buddy of Morrison's, and the memory of Jed raping him at his father's insistence. Well, it's implied he is raped. It's never actually said he is but the way it's talked around gives you an idea it happened.
Add a touch of BDSM and you have yourself an enjoyable read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 15, 2011
2.5 stars
I loved Kyle. He was a simple man, just a cowboy, who loved. I could definitely see what drew Jesse, the younger wild one, to him. I could also see why he felt himself insufficient to hold Jesse's interest including the fact that he had once been Jesse's older brother's lover and that there was a considerable age gap between them. From their words and actions, Kyle and Jesse defined themselves and seemed to act their respective ages.
I enjoyed reading about Kyle's struggles to accept this new relationship with someone so young and wilder. He wondered about being too old, worried about eventually leaving Jesse alone when he dies, about the impact their relationship would have on Jesse's younger brother, and whether his simple self would be enough to keep Jesse with him. I appreciated the fact that he may have had some desires he never thought he had until Jesse introduced and chivvied him into trying them out. I appreciated the fact that though he initially felt self-conscious about his kinkier side, he was able to accept it and participate in the role-plays, and light bondage and D/s.
Jesse's personality really dominated. He was the one who pursued Kyle, and although many years younger, he was more dominant and usually topped. Nonetheless, for the love of Kyle, he was willing to accept things he would not accept from other men. Despite his brashness and confidence, I loved seeing the hints of the younger man escape in times of worry and doubt. It made his character more real and worked to balance out the dynamics in their relationship.
I liked David. His confession about his sexuality intrigued me as did his two new friends. I wonder whether there is/will be a book for him. I would like to read it. Despite his troubled family background, I liked the fact that his older brothers' sexuality did not bother him. He loved Kyle as an older brother, but did not accept him as part of the family when it suited him - just like any other rebellious teenager, I might say. Nonetheless, this did hurt Kyle so I hope that we might see that David has wholly accepted Kyle as one of them. I did not get this at the end of the book.
I also liked his loyalty andLOVED appreciated the way he handled his altercation with Alan, captain of the football team:
Despite this, there were a few points I didn't really care for such as the whole psychic thing going on with the Coulters (minus the evil dad) and Kyle. It didn't seem to add much to the story except to hasten Kyle's acceptance of his kinkier side and to further increase his desire for Jesse, and doing this the old-fashioned, non-psychic way might have allowed for more character development. The sub-plot seemed a bit contrived and the villainous dad a bit exaggerated. Not sure this was entirely necessary as well.
I also did not think that the author pulled off the BDSM aspect of the romance that well. While I appreciated what she was trying to do, it felt unnatural and forced. And I've discovered I don't particularly care for the role-play unless it was being acted out in dreams (in which case, it was pretty hot).
I would probably rate this a 2.5 since I did like the book.
"You really are a virgin."
"Am not!" Kyle groused.
"Oh, baby, you are." Jesse kissed him. "It's hot how innocent you are. You're my vanilla cowboy."
Kyle felt chagrined. "I guess that's another word for boring."
I loved Kyle. He was a simple man, just a cowboy, who loved. I could definitely see what drew Jesse, the younger wild one, to him. I could also see why he felt himself insufficient to hold Jesse's interest including the fact that he had once been Jesse's older brother's lover and that there was a considerable age gap between them. From their words and actions, Kyle and Jesse defined themselves and seemed to act their respective ages.
I enjoyed reading about Kyle's struggles to accept this new relationship with someone so young and wilder. He wondered about being too old, worried about eventually leaving Jesse alone when he dies, about the impact their relationship would have on Jesse's younger brother, and whether his simple self would be enough to keep Jesse with him. I appreciated the fact that he may have had some desires he never thought he had until Jesse introduced and chivvied him into trying them out. I appreciated the fact that though he initially felt self-conscious about his kinkier side, he was able to accept it and participate in the role-plays, and light bondage and D/s.
Jesse's personality really dominated. He was the one who pursued Kyle, and although many years younger, he was more dominant and usually topped. Nonetheless, for the love of Kyle, he was willing to accept things he would not accept from other men. Despite his brashness and confidence, I loved seeing the hints of the younger man escape in times of worry and doubt. It made his character more real and worked to balance out the dynamics in their relationship.
I liked David. His confession about his sexuality intrigued me as did his two new friends. I wonder whether there is/will be a book for him. I would like to read it. Despite his troubled family background, I liked the fact that his older brothers' sexuality did not bother him. He loved Kyle as an older brother, but did not accept him as part of the family when it suited him - just like any other rebellious teenager, I might say. Nonetheless, this did hurt Kyle so I hope that we might see that David has wholly accepted Kyle as one of them. I did not get this at the end of the book.
I also liked his loyalty and
"So what happened?" Jesse sighed, finally asking.
"Debbie Hardwick," David said succintly.
"Uh-huh. You got a thing for her, maybe?"
"Nope."
"Oh."
"She thought I liked her, but her boyfriend, Alan, said I couldn't, on account that all the Coulter men are fags." David's jaw tightened. "He's a fucker."
"Jesse said, "Yeah. So then you got in a fight with him?"
"No, then I kissed him."
Despite this, there were a few points I didn't really care for such as the whole psychic thing going on with the Coulters (minus the evil dad) and Kyle. It didn't seem to add much to the story except to hasten Kyle's acceptance of his kinkier side and to further increase his desire for Jesse, and doing this the old-fashioned, non-psychic way might have allowed for more character development. The sub-plot seemed a bit contrived and the villainous dad a bit exaggerated. Not sure this was entirely necessary as well.
I also did not think that the author pulled off the BDSM aspect of the romance that well. While I appreciated what she was trying to do, it felt unnatural and forced. And I've discovered I don't particularly care for the role-play unless it was being acted out in dreams (in which case, it was pretty hot).
I would probably rate this a 2.5 since I did like the book.
February 3, 2011
Have I mentioned that I think Jan Irving writes terrific sex? Well, she does.
What I particularly liked about this story was that the submissive man was the older one by about 20 years than the Dominant man. And usually, I don't care for that dynamic (it may be stereotypical, but I usually like my Doms older, wiser, bigger, alphaier, etc.). But Irving made it work for me. I think it was because Kyle (the older one) thought a lot about being so much older, how he's a grown man with a sexual history and here he was getting totally turned on by the things that his much younger lover was introducing him to, pulling him out of his vanilla world. Jesse didn't present himself as the alpha-dom-know-it-all, but more like a confident man who happens to get off on being in charge in the bedroom. Whatever - I just liked it!
The two men have a history of communicating telepathically, and I found this interesting but saw it more as a device to move some of the plot points along. It didn't bother me.
Jesse's younger brother, David, is a well-rounded character and I hope to see him in a story when he comes of age!
What I particularly liked about this story was that the submissive man was the older one by about 20 years than the Dominant man. And usually, I don't care for that dynamic (it may be stereotypical, but I usually like my Doms older, wiser, bigger, alphaier, etc.). But Irving made it work for me. I think it was because Kyle (the older one) thought a lot about being so much older, how he's a grown man with a sexual history and here he was getting totally turned on by the things that his much younger lover was introducing him to, pulling him out of his vanilla world. Jesse didn't present himself as the alpha-dom-know-it-all, but more like a confident man who happens to get off on being in charge in the bedroom. Whatever - I just liked it!
The two men have a history of communicating telepathically, and I found this interesting but saw it more as a device to move some of the plot points along. It didn't bother me.
Jesse's younger brother, David, is a well-rounded character and I hope to see him in a story when he comes of age!
January 25, 2011
3.5 stars
Kyle and Mac were raising Mac’s younger brothers Jesse (17) and David (12) when Mac was killed in an accident on their ranch. However the kid’s drunken abusive father shows up and takes the kids back. A few years later, Jesse finally gets custody of David and shows up looking for help. Kyle welcomes them with open arms, but Jesse has a plan, he’s been in love with Kyle since a kid and he’s determined to have him. There is also a psychic connection that Kyle and Jesse share where they can hear each other speak. Kyle is freaked out at first, Jesse is 20, he’s 45 and his lover’s brother, but Jesse is determined and while Kyle is sure he’s vanilla, Jesse is determined to take him to the far side of kink and once they get started Kyle is totally on-board. Meanwhile someone is sabotaging the ranch and David is acting weird. Usually I get squicked by the relationship between family members (as in the brother of the dead, not twins, that’s a whole other story), but for some reason I didn’t find it too weird, maybe because I never got a sense of Mac and that it was a great romance between him and Kyle. Jesse’s dominance came through in the writing and I was kind of surprised that Kyle jumped so quickly on the butt-plug-with-a-tail/role playing bandwagon; however Jesse was a force of nature. I’m not sure the paranormal aspect was really necessary, I suppose it was supposed to show their connection was greater than with Mac, but I think it could have been easily left aside and still worked well. It was an okay read with some steamy sex scenes involving role play.
Kyle and Mac were raising Mac’s younger brothers Jesse (17) and David (12) when Mac was killed in an accident on their ranch. However the kid’s drunken abusive father shows up and takes the kids back. A few years later, Jesse finally gets custody of David and shows up looking for help. Kyle welcomes them with open arms, but Jesse has a plan, he’s been in love with Kyle since a kid and he’s determined to have him. There is also a psychic connection that Kyle and Jesse share where they can hear each other speak. Kyle is freaked out at first, Jesse is 20, he’s 45 and his lover’s brother, but Jesse is determined and while Kyle is sure he’s vanilla, Jesse is determined to take him to the far side of kink and once they get started Kyle is totally on-board. Meanwhile someone is sabotaging the ranch and David is acting weird. Usually I get squicked by the relationship between family members (as in the brother of the dead, not twins, that’s a whole other story), but for some reason I didn’t find it too weird, maybe because I never got a sense of Mac and that it was a great romance between him and Kyle. Jesse’s dominance came through in the writing and I was kind of surprised that Kyle jumped so quickly on the butt-plug-with-a-tail/role playing bandwagon; however Jesse was a force of nature. I’m not sure the paranormal aspect was really necessary, I suppose it was supposed to show their connection was greater than with Mac, but I think it could have been easily left aside and still worked well. It was an okay read with some steamy sex scenes involving role play.
March 21, 2011
To be honest, the story’s concept took me awhile to get my brain around – the former lover happens to also be a Coulter, Jesse’s older brother. Jesse practically grew up with Kyle in a “father” type role, so the premise is a bit off the beaten path. However, once I was able to move past that, their connection and pull to each other came through. The sex is rushed and hurried when they are still trying to hide their relationship, which also leaves them in potentially uncomfortable circumstances. The expected roles are quickly turned on their head, which is always fun to read.
The sex is medium – there is a connection there, but it seemed like some details were brushed over. Also, there is a lot of talk about D/s scenes or situations, but not really played out in the book – almost as though it was written in for shock value.
Out of four…
Overall Read: ♥♥
Sex Heat: ♥
Plot: ♥♥
Read this if you’re looking for a supernatural story, role reversal, or age gap stories. While not a super hot/sexy read, it was one that I wasn’t able to put down as you just want to know what happens.
The sex is medium – there is a connection there, but it seemed like some details were brushed over. Also, there is a lot of talk about D/s scenes or situations, but not really played out in the book – almost as though it was written in for shock value.
Out of four…
Overall Read: ♥♥
Sex Heat: ♥
Plot: ♥♥
Read this if you’re looking for a supernatural story, role reversal, or age gap stories. While not a super hot/sexy read, it was one that I wasn’t able to put down as you just want to know what happens.
April 8, 2011
More of 3.5 stars, but it was really enjoyable. I love May-December romances and reading this was a lovely way to spend my evening. I was pleasantly surprised that the younger partner was the more dominant one in this relationship. I'm so used to the older partner being the take-charge type that it did take me a bit to get used to. It worked for Jesse and Kyle's personality types.
I didn't think the whole sub-plot was necessary, but it didn't detract from the story. The smut was pretty damn hot most of the time, but I think some of the S/m could have been toned down a bit. It seemed really early in their relationship to start sharing fantasies and talking about licking boots and being a cowboy slave for a biker leader. Then again, they've been sharing erotic dreams for a while already so...*shrugs*
That's another thing that kinda threw me. The whole telepathic connection. Uhhh...kay? It did serve to move the relationship along quickly. And they used to know each other really well, so things didn't feel like they moved too quickly.
I'll definitely check out other books by this author. Especially if they're m/m cowboy stories. Yum.
I didn't think the whole sub-plot was necessary, but it didn't detract from the story. The smut was pretty damn hot most of the time, but I think some of the S/m could have been toned down a bit. It seemed really early in their relationship to start sharing fantasies and talking about licking boots and being a cowboy slave for a biker leader. Then again, they've been sharing erotic dreams for a while already so...*shrugs*
That's another thing that kinda threw me. The whole telepathic connection. Uhhh...kay? It did serve to move the relationship along quickly. And they used to know each other really well, so things didn't feel like they moved too quickly.
I'll definitely check out other books by this author. Especially if they're m/m cowboy stories. Yum.
February 7, 2013
This book was hard to rate because I could see so much potential in the characters & the story line but the book was so cluttered with 'stuff' that it was ruined. The impression I got from this book was that the author had a lot of ideas that she tried to squeeze into one book...because of this, there wasn't enough time spent on exploring each facet of the story line...I would have been happy with a book about 'younger brother of dead partner seduces older guy'...when you add in the abusive father (not adequately explored); the psychic connection (poorly actualised); the active sabotage of the animals & farm (clutter); the fetish stuff (needed more exploration); touches of zen & a barn burning for good measure, you got a cluttered palette of plot devices without enough of any one of them to satisfy.
October 14, 2010
I loved Kyle and Jesse together...They were so hot!
February 18, 2012
I enjoyed this book. I liked the telepathy angle. There telepathic conversations provided some good laughs. I also liked that Jesse's was the younger but the more aggressive partner.
Read
October 30, 2012DNF @ 28%. The telepathy thing just didn't work for me. Not sure I could handle it throughout the entire book.
August 23, 2014
I've only recently discovered Jan Irving, and in the last three days have read three of her books. Her writing makes me literally want to curl up in bed with a cup of hot chocolate or a fine dessert. She possesses a very warming, feel good, wrap you up in goodness kind of style. I laugh, I get teary, I...feel. I fall in love with her characters. I loved the first book 'Luke' and really liked this one but a few things took away from 5-star status for me.
Kyle is stil grieving the passing of his partner Mac when Mac's younger brothers, Jesse and David, return to his ranch. Kyle has always known that Jesse was attracted to him but Jesse was just a 17yr old kid when the boys were removed from Kyle's and Mac's home after Mac's death. Now, at twenty, Jesse is all man and while Kyle is relieved that they've escaped their homophobic father and are back where Kyle can protect them, he finds himself struggling with some not so parental feelings of his own.
Lots of things worked here. Jan is a master story teller and really transports you into her stories. The characters deal with very real issues and you come to care for them. What didn't quite work for me was that there were too many 'alternative' factors at work. Jan likes to take the road less traveled. Her 'tops' are usually the smaller partner or the younger partner etc, and I like that. But in this instance, Jesse was 24 years younger than Kyle AND he was the Dom AND and he was the younger brother of Kyle's dead ex lover. It was just too much. One or two of those might have worked together but not all three. Even though I've read more than my share of D/s books, I couldn't get into Jesse calling Kyle his slut and dominating him so aggressively when Kyle and Mac(the deceased brother) practically raised Jesse from the age of 15-17. The author did a really commendable job of getting Kyle (and us) to see Jesse as a man now, but while it would have worked on a regular relationship, the D/s element was a bit of a stretch.
I also agree with another reviewer that the telepathic link seemed out of place in an otherwise non-fantasy setting. I did enjoy Jesse and Kyle's mental conversations but I never really 'bought' that angle.
Don't let these things deter from an otherwise great book though. I absolutely enjoyed Jesse and Kyle's relationship outside the D/s element, and loved the way Jesse fought to convince Kyle that he's always wanted him and loved him. I loved the homey atmosphere they created for David, and the way they came together as a family.
Kyle is stil grieving the passing of his partner Mac when Mac's younger brothers, Jesse and David, return to his ranch. Kyle has always known that Jesse was attracted to him but Jesse was just a 17yr old kid when the boys were removed from Kyle's and Mac's home after Mac's death. Now, at twenty, Jesse is all man and while Kyle is relieved that they've escaped their homophobic father and are back where Kyle can protect them, he finds himself struggling with some not so parental feelings of his own.
Lots of things worked here. Jan is a master story teller and really transports you into her stories. The characters deal with very real issues and you come to care for them. What didn't quite work for me was that there were too many 'alternative' factors at work. Jan likes to take the road less traveled. Her 'tops' are usually the smaller partner or the younger partner etc, and I like that. But in this instance, Jesse was 24 years younger than Kyle AND he was the Dom AND and he was the younger brother of Kyle's dead ex lover. It was just too much. One or two of those might have worked together but not all three. Even though I've read more than my share of D/s books, I couldn't get into Jesse calling Kyle his slut and dominating him so aggressively when Kyle and Mac(the deceased brother) practically raised Jesse from the age of 15-17. The author did a really commendable job of getting Kyle (and us) to see Jesse as a man now, but while it would have worked on a regular relationship, the D/s element was a bit of a stretch.
I also agree with another reviewer that the telepathic link seemed out of place in an otherwise non-fantasy setting. I did enjoy Jesse and Kyle's mental conversations but I never really 'bought' that angle.
Don't let these things deter from an otherwise great book though. I absolutely enjoyed Jesse and Kyle's relationship outside the D/s element, and loved the way Jesse fought to convince Kyle that he's always wanted him and loved him. I loved the homey atmosphere they created for David, and the way they came together as a family.
August 24, 2013
I enjoyed this story, but there were a couple of things that weren’t totally working for me. One of those was the age gap. I’m not usually bothered by this – I just need to be convinced about the connection. With Kyle more than twice Jesse’s age and the fact that he used to be in a relationship with Jesse’s oldest brother, I just never quite reached the point of being sold on the Kyle/Jesse relationship.
The second thing I found a little strange was the mental telepathy. There was just no explanation for it. This wasn’t a paranormal story, they weren’t shifters – it was just a little strange how they could carry out whole conversations in their minds. I was hoping for some rationale and it wasn’t there. Other avenues of the story were interesting including the horses and working through David’s issues (Jesse’s youngest brother). So, despite the story being a little strange, it was still an enjoyable way to pass some time.
The second thing I found a little strange was the mental telepathy. There was just no explanation for it. This wasn’t a paranormal story, they weren’t shifters – it was just a little strange how they could carry out whole conversations in their minds. I was hoping for some rationale and it wasn’t there. Other avenues of the story were interesting including the horses and working through David’s issues (Jesse’s youngest brother). So, despite the story being a little strange, it was still an enjoyable way to pass some time.
March 31, 2011
Nicely done story with a bit of a twist. Jesse and his younger brother lived with their older brother until his death at which time their deadbeat father took them away. Back after a few years Jesse is now a grown man and he's ready to explore the connection between himself and Kyle, his brother's lover. I liked the unexpected twist of Kyle, 20 years older, being the submissive in their relationship but found their telepathic link strange. The younger brother was a nice character as well and overall enjoyed reading this story.
April 6, 2014
Really more of a 2.5 but I'll round up just because I'm getting a new Bingo team name out of this one. lol. This one just seemed a little too cluttered for me. Older/Younger man, the beginnings of some seriously kinky BDSM sex, telepathy, abusive father, farm sabotage, younger dependent brother, older deceased brother/ex-lover, homophobia...I'm sure there's more but that's enough to get the point across. It dabbled in all but didn't delve into any. The only character I felt connected to was David and he was not part of the romance. Not bad, just not great.
January 13, 2011
I really liked this couple. Kyle is young but he knows what he wants and that's Jesse. I didn't mind the age difference between Jesse and Kyle at all, because the way this story is written, it explains it all, the feelings, troubles and the feelings. Even the telepathic connection between them it's really nice touch to the plot. In general I have to say, that the story is rich and really well written.
Recommended read...
Recommended read...
February 16, 2011
Great story, good characters, interesting dominant younger man scenario that worked well, but the telepathic communication seemed unnecessary. Why did they have to talk so much during sex? I could have liked it a lot more with a little more realism. But, enjoyable enough to be glad I read it, definitely.
January 19, 2013
This could have been a good story if the story line had been developed half as well as the sex scenes. The internal conflicts that David was having were well written. The paranormal aspect put a nice twist on the story. I just got the feeling that the story was not much more than a little glue to hold the porn together.
September 16, 2012
2.5 stars
The story as a whole didn't really do anything for me but I liked the idea of the whole ESP thing they had going on and the sex was scorching. Their D/s relationship is the only reason I stuck with it. The whole Mac situation made me squirm. Maybe I'm being immature but it just didn't feel right to me.
The story as a whole didn't really do anything for me but I liked the idea of the whole ESP thing they had going on and the sex was scorching. Their D/s relationship is the only reason I stuck with it. The whole Mac situation made me squirm. Maybe I'm being immature but it just didn't feel right to me.
November 12, 2013
Closer to 3.5 stars
I enjoyed the story and liked the characters. I liked it more than a three star read, but there was just something that I can't pinpoint that didn't quite make it a four star read.
I enjoyed the story and liked the characters. I liked it more than a three star read, but there was just something that I can't pinpoint that didn't quite make it a four star read.
October 6, 2012
I have nothing much to say about this book, which I guess, should say it all. It was an enjoyable read, but nothing fantastic. Likeable characters but nobody really special. Fair ending but not really enriching.
A few hours of okay.
A few hours of okay.
August 27, 2016
Most of Jan Irving books do not work for me, while some are a solid five. It's a complete mystery how she writes. This book was ok in the beginning. But how the conflict was concluded was not at all satisfactory. (The Biker fantasy was seriously hot though) haha
February 19, 2012
3.5 stars
December 20, 2011
I liked it. It was a good enjoyable western themed romance, and even though I found that some of the parts were a bit drawn out, I like the thought speak between them.
February 11, 2011
3.5 stars - this was surprising...in a good way. I thought I was getting a typical cowboy story, but it is not!
February 20, 2011
First book I've read in over a month. Fingers crossed I'm getting my reading mojo back.
February 26, 2011
It is refreshing to come across a m/m book that does not adhere to the "prescribed" dominate and submissive roles. This was my first Jan Irving book and it definitely will not be my last.
January 27, 2012
3.5 stars
December 1, 2018
sluggish and boring.
December 24, 2011
I really enjoyed it, but I would have liked it more if it was explained more about Jesse's psychic ability. Overall it was a great book. It was a well written easy read.
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