Book Reviews

Book Blurb

The neighboring Holden and Jessup ranches are anything but neighborly—Jefferson Holden and Kent Jessup loathe each other. But despite his father’s long-held grudge, Haven Jessup just can’t bring himself to hate, especially after Dakota Holden takes him in during a violent storm and Haven meets Dakota’s friend, Phillip Reardon.

Phillip accepts Haven for who he is, seeing through the mask Haven uses to hide his attraction to men, but their tentative and secret relationship will be under a huge amount of stress. Sabotaged fences, injured animals, unsavory plans, and Jessup family secrets will threaten Haven’s newfound happiness and his hopes of a future with Phillip.

 

Book Review

This second book in the Range series is as sweet, wonderful, and emotionally intense as the first. Both main characters are ready for a change in their lives, but not quite sure how to go about it. The internal battles they fight are set against the background of two hostile ranch families. The tension around sabotaged fence posts and water rights provides an interesting backdrop for the two men figuring out what they want to do with their lives.

Phillip has just lost his job, the man he was hoping to hook up with again on his friend Dakota’s ranch is involved with someone else, and the neighbor’s son is far too deep in the closet to hope for more. As Phillip works on trying to find his way in his own life, he finds that he can help Haven figure out how to deal with the fact that he is gay. The bond that begins as friendship soon grows into more, and it makes Phillip seriously reconsider his priorities. Thank God he can be honest with himself – with a little help from Dakota.

Haven is conflicted. Under his homophobic father’s thumb in many respects, he wants a different life, but has no idea how to go about it. He also had no reason to fight for himself and stand up to his father until he runs into Phillip. While he is still afraid of admitting that he is gay, the feelings Phillip awakens in him and being in love for the first time in his life are strong motivators. The increasing attraction between them makes him realize there is more to life than being a selfish rancher’s son. Discovering the truth behind his father’s plans only increases his determination.

I loved that Dakota and Wally from the first book were back and played a major role as supporting characters in this book as well. It made for a real sense of ‘coming home’ to find out how good friends are doing.  If you like sweet stories about men who figure out the purpose of their lives, if cowboys and a ranch-setting are your thing, and if you like reading about the simple ‘drama’ of being human, you will probably like this book as much as I did.

 

 

 

 

DISCLAIMER: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. This book has been provided by the author for the purpose of a review.

Additional Information

Format	ebook, print and audio
Length	Novel, 200 pages/61409 words
Heat Level
Publication Date	25-March-2011
Price	$6.99 ebook, $14.99 paperback, $14.99 bundle, $19.99 audiobook
Buy Link	https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/books/a-troubled-range-by-andrew-grey-1424-b