Brighton McKenzie inherited one of the last pieces of farmland in suburban Baltimore. It has been in his family since Maryland was a colony, though it has lain fallow for years. Selling it for development would be easy, but Brighton wants to honor his grandfather's wishes and work it again. Unfortunately, an accident left him relying on a cane, so he’ll need help. Tanner Houghton used to work on a ranch in Montana until a vengeful ex got him fired because of his sexuality. He comes to Maryland at the invitation of his cousin and is thrilled to have a chance to get back to the kind of work he loves.Brighton is instantly drawn to the intensely handsome and huge Tanner—he’s everything Brighton likes in a man, though he holds back because Tanner is an employee, and because he can’t understand why a man as virile as Tanner would be interested in him. But that isn’t the worst of their problems. They have to face the machinations of Brighton's aunt, Tanner’s ex suddenly wanting him back, and the need to find a way to make the farm financially viable before they lose Brighton’s family legacy.
I absolutely loved this book. We meet Brighton McKenzie who's beloved grandfather died. Brighton after a terrible accident Brighton is in a lot of pain and relies on a cane. Brighton inherits his grandfather's suburban farm much to his Aunt Vera's dismay. After his parents were killed he and his sister went to live with his Aunt Vera and Uncle and mean cousins needless to say Vera is pissed off she and her kids have a huge sense of entitlement. Brighton realizes he has big limitations how is he going to take care of a farm. Fortunately his grandfather's attorney has a nephew who is familiar with farm/ranch work. When Tanner came by he road up on his motorcycle and a gorgeous cowboy got off his motorcycle introduced himself and got to work Brighton is smitten both men have had their hearts cruelly broken and are guarded yet the chemistry is there. Brighton is determined to make this urban farm viable. They come up with a great idea sharing the farm experience with children its a great idea and loads of fun. Aunt Vera is determined to create problems for Brighton Tanner stands by Brighton it is so sweet I spent this last summer with Andrew's cowboys for the very reason I love to read all of Andrew's books this is a sweet sexy love story. I didn't want it to end
Not that this isn't a good story, it is. The plot was nice enough and the characters were both okay what's one with gimpy leg and the other with the stutter. But somehow it felt too bland for me and the chemistry between the MCs wasn't very convincing. Also, it was too black and white type of story; some goodie goodie, abused characters versus the whiny, lazy, greedy ones - like saints versus evil - the whole thing became too predictable! Truly disappointing and not what I pictured from reading the blurb... Thank gods for a bit of humor between the stuttering banter.
Eine Erbschaft ist nicht immer einfach, das muss auch BrightonMcKenzie erfahren. Denn die Farm, die ihm sein Großvater hinterlassen hat, kann er aufgrund eines schweren Unfalls nicht allein bewirtschaften.
Zur Handlung. Brighton und seine Schwester sind nach dem Tod der Eltern bei ihrer Tante und ihrem Onkel aufgewachsen. Natürlich rechnet die lieblose Tante fest mit dem Erbe und ist dementsprechend erbost, als sie erfährt, dass Brighton der Haupterbe ist. Sie setzt alles daran, ihn zum Verkauf zu zwingen, denn dann muss er den Verkaufswert mit ihr teilen. Aber Brighton denkt gar nicht daran, lieber sucht er jemand, der ihm bei der Farmarbeit helfen kann. Tanner Houghton hat auf einer Farm in Montana gelebt. Doch als herauskam, dass er schwul ist und ein Verhältnis mit dem Sohn des Besitzers hatte, wurde er regelrecht verjagt. Nur knapp konnte er den homophoben Verfolgern entkommen. Sein Cousin bietet ihm schließlich Hilfe an und lädt ihn zu sich und seiner Familie nach Maryland ein. Dadurch findet er zufällig Arbeit bei Brighton auf der kleinen Farm.
Das Paar Brighton und Tanner war mir sofort sympathisch. Beide haben ein Handicap, der eine ist gehbehindert, der andere stottert. Weshalb beide glauben, sie wären nicht gut genug für den jeweils anderen. Besonders Brighton fühlt sich wertlos, da sein ehemaliger Freund sich direkt nach seinem schweren Unfall von ihm getrennt hat. Doch der Kampf um das Überleben der Farm schweißt sie zusammen und beide erkennen schließlich, dass Liebe sich nicht an körperlichen Gebrechen stört.
Die Story erhält von mir 5 Sterne und eine Leseempfehlung.
Mein Dank geht an Dreamspinner Press für das erhaltene Rezensionsexemplar.
As far as I am concerned, Andrew Grey has done it again. This novel is the magical combination of a farm in suburbia, a man who surprisingly inherits it but has a few health issues that don’t make it easy for him to work it, the fact that he has no idea how to run a farm in the first place, and the addition of a hunky former ranch hand who has been through hell but has a heart of gold. The result is the story of two men fighting for the right to lead the lives they want, a wonderful, sweet romance, and some hilarious laugh-out-loud moments when some of the characters’ snarkiness pops out and puts everything back into perspective. Above all it’s a message of hope for those who face an uphill battle—Brighton, who limps after a bad accident, and Tanner, who stutters when he gets nervous, don’t let anyone get them down. Not when they are fighting life’s injustices by themselves, and definitely not once they pool their resources!
Brighton doesn’t expect to inherit his grandfather’s farm, the last piece of land not converted to a mall or used to build condominiums. He loved his grandfather, who took him under his wing after Brighton’s parents died, but he has o idea how to run a farm. With his sister Briana (who is a total hoot) as his only support, he sets out to battle the family intent on him selling the land – led by the truly awful Aunt Vera. I couldn’t wait for her to get her comeuppance! Once Brighton settles in the house, makes his reacquaintance with the sheep and goats and the pony, and finds Tanger to help him run everything, he begins to be attached to the place. It takes him a fairly long time to find a way to keep things running—and make enough money for him to survive, but the solution is a nice twist and a great way for him and Tanner to bond outside the bedroom.
Tanner is a bit out of his depth in the city. After some horrible things happen to him in Montana he has lost his self-confidence. He is very happy when Brighton hires him, and determined not to mess things up. he is a hard worker, determined to make a success of himself, and when he starts to fall for Brighton, he fights his emotions tooth and nail. I could see why he reacts that way, but it was still hard to watch him deny what was going on. Luckily he eventually sees sense, but the problems aren’t over once Brighton’s family rallies for a second wave of attacks. Tanner is a wonderful supporter for Brighton, a generous and tender lover, and exactly what Brighton (and the farm) need.
If you like stories about men who have not led an easy life, if fighting the odds and figuring out a way to solve all kinds of issues sound like an interesting story, and if you’re looking for a read full of great characters, a meanie villain, a sweet romance, and some creative thinking to get things done, then you will probably like this novel as much as I did. I really, really enjoyed it!
NOTE: This book was provided by the author for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
And do you know what I liked most about this book? Brighton's Aunt Vera. What a Grade A witch! Of course Royce was a close second, and I would have liked to see him fall face-first into a pile of manure, but we take what we can get.
The main storyline was fine enough i guess, but personally it was way to empty. Brighton's and Tanner’s romance was plain boring and I didn't feel any real attraction between them. I'm a bit disappointed, because I wanted it to be great.
Andrew Grey und ich, das ist immer ein Auf und Ab, was seine Geschichten angeht, aber diese hier war großartig und ich habe das Lesen sehr genossen.
Tanner und Brighton sind tolle Kerle, die beide im Grunde dasselbe Problem haben, denn sie halten sich aufgrund ihrer körperlichen Einschränkungen für nicht gut genug für den anderen, was natürlich total unsinnig ist, aber es dauert, bis beide schließlich den Mut aufbringen, offen und ehrlich zueinander zu sein. Auch, was ihre Gefühle zueinander angeht.
Und als wäre das ganze Hin und Her zwischen ihnen nicht schon Stress genug, machen Brightons geldgierige Tante, die hinter dem Erbe her ist, und Tanners Exfreund, der ein echter Vollidiot ist, noch zusätzlichen Ärger.
Aber wer Andrew Grey kennt, der weiß, dass er seinen Protagonisten ein Happy End gönnt und das hat er auch dieses Mal getan.
Eine sehr schöne Geschichte, die mich mit einem seligen Lächeln zurückgelassen hat. Ich vergebe sehr zufriedene 5* und eine dicke Leseempfehlung gibt's obendrauf.
If there is one thing (and there are actually many things) that Andrew Grey does well it’s character development. From the first page we know Brighton McKenzie and some of his family as if they were our small town neighbors. We know that Brighton has been permanently injured and his Aunt Vera is unkind and devious. Brighton’s grandfather has died and at the reading of the will everyone is surprised that he left his 50 acre farm in the middle of the suburbs to Brighton. Vera expected it to be hers to sell and finance a lavish lifestyle. Her disappointment leads to vicious reprisals against Brighton to force him off the farm. Due to his injuries it quickly becomes apparent to Brighton that he needs help taking care of the farm and fortunately his attorney has a cousin who has experience and needs a job. Tanner has a stutter that embarrasses him to the point he is almost mute. Bullied as a child he has learned that it is safer to just be silent instead of speaking. Unfortunately, that leads to misunderstandings. Add to that a past that included a closeted selfish ex and Tanner lives inside a shell of fear and self-protection. Brighton and Tanner are attracted to each other which leads to lustful thoughts, kissing and then to sex, which, to use a quote from the book, is “hot enough to melt lead.” You can’t help but root for these guys but there are roadblocks in their way. As I said, Mr. Grey does character development so beautifully and in this case the MCs are at the center of a whirlwind that includes the secondary characters taking center stage at least temporarily. Brighton thinks outside the box to figure out a way to build a business out of the small farm and Tanner thinks outside the box to rescue Brighton’s plans. I love the way Mr. Grey surprises his readers with unusual twists to the plotlines in his stories so you don’t always see the solution to problems ahead of time. This is a great story and can be read in one sitting, which is great since it’s difficult to put it down. I was looking forward to this book and it did not disappoint. I love Mr. Grey’s cowboys, Eastern, Western, or in the suburbs.
Brighton is a recently disabled young man, ashamed of his lame leg and how he struggles with pain and has difficultly walking, standing and even sitting, at times. His last boyfriend was a jerk who left before Brighton even got out of the hospital, and Brighton fought hard to even walk again.
When Brighton's grandfather dies, he's startled to learn he's inherited the bulk of his estate, including the farm that's now boxed in by new housing developments. Brighton's not able to manage the farm on his own, barely able to walk up the front steps with his cane, but he's sentimentally drawn to the place. Plus, if he sells it, he'll be giving up most of the money to his bitter Aunt Vera--the woman who pretty much made his teens miserable--by not being loving or caring when she and her brow-beaten husband took Brighton and his sister in when their parents were killed in a car wreck.
Determined to see it through, Brighton hires his lawyer's cousin Tanner, a large, quiet hulk of a man who'd just returned from ranching out in Montana after some personal difficulty. It turns out that Tanner's just as attracted to Brighton as Brighton is to him.
This is a sweet odd couple romance with a family drama set within. Brighton's aunt is determined to get the farm and sell it for millions to the developers. Brighton's determined to make the farm work, but there's not enough acreage to turn a profit. Thinking outside the box is necessary, and trusting a virtual stranger is required--pretty hard for Brighton to do as he's had little luck with love and those he should have been able to count upon seem to leave or die...
Tanner's a sweet soul, kind and constant, and I was glad he learned to open up to his own family and Brighton. There are a few steamy scenes between them, and the end is a big ol' HEA, so that's fantastic.
The newest work by Andrew Grey brings the farming life to Maryland. Brighton, a handicapped young man, inherits the family farm from his grandpa. The family has owned the farm since colonial times. The question becomes whether Brighton has the physical ability to maintain such a big undertaking. Clearly, Brighton wants to try to run the farm since he believes it is what his grandfather would want. Fortunately, along comes Tanner -- the attorney's relative -- who previously worked on a Montana ranch to save the day. On the first day, he picks up all of the heavy work to get the farm working again.
We immediate learn a little back story . . . Tanner stutters and he has been ridiculed for a lot of his life because of it. But he is a sincere and nice guy. (I seem to remember another author, Ariel Tachna, using the stuttering farmer as an attractive leading character in the Lang Downs series.). In the middle of a sudden thunderstorm, these two men attempt a first kiss, but something holds them back. Well, you know, when they do actually kiss, the anticipation will cause fireworks in their minds.
There is some manufactured "conflict" in the story involving Tanner's ex-boyfriend, a dispute with Brighton's aunt, and the fight to save the farm from a zoning change. But, these are minuscule conflicts. This story is about two very insecure and damaged main characters and how they come together to form a family.
Andrew Grey writes great happily ever after stories, and this one is no different. I don't know if I'd like to read another full book about these two characters, but I would like to read a short story to see if their dream for the farm has become a reality. Overall, I give this 4.5 stars. (It lost the half star from me because the story was a little formulaic and quick to resolve all conflicts.).
Brighton und Tanner sind zwei sehr sympathische Charaktere, die beide auf ihre eigene Art und Weise mit etwas zu kämpfen haben. Trotzdem, oder vielleicht auch gerade deshalb, passen sie sehr gut zusammen. Tanner mit seiner Unsicherheit bezüglich seines Stotterns und Brighton bezüglich seines ziemlich verletzten Beines, sodass er sich überflüssig und als nicht gut genug für Tanner befindet.
Klingt eigentlich nach großem Drama, aber gibt es hier nicht. Diese Unsicherheiten nehmen nie zu sehr Oberhand. Und ich denke, genau das tut dem Buch auch gut. Das hätte auch nicht zu den beiden gepasst.
Brigtons Tante ging mir persönlich ein wenig zu sehr auf die Nerven, und auch diverse Intrigen von ihr waren mir einfach ein wenig too-much. Diese Energie hätte man mehr in Brighton und Tanner und ihre aufkeimende Beziehung stecken können, denn ein paar Seiten mehr hätten dem Buch sicherlich nicht geschadet.
Aber alles in allem ein solides Werk von Andrew Grey, das ich gerne gelesen habe. Und was soll ich sagen? Ich liebe Farmjungs und Cowboys. ;-) Deshalb vier Sterne.
I really enjoyed this book and especially loved having two MCs that were normal but different; Tanner with his stutter and Brighton with his bad leg. I especially liked Tanner. There's a scene where he sweeps Brighton off his feet and it was so swoon-worthy. It may sound girly but I really enjoyed their story.
I wasn't sure how Brighton was gonna make the farm work but I like how they managed it. Brighton also wasn't too much of a martyr with his sacrifices for his family; they were reasonable. His aunt never gave up but someone like that really wouldn't and just turn a new leaf. I really liked the realism in this story and can definitely see myself re-reading this. It's a comfort read.
This is actually a 2.5 read. It was ok, but I gotta say that Brighton's negative self-talk got really old, really fast, which knocked this one down in my ratings.
I don't think I've read about two more "pathetic " men in a long long time. i liked the idea I liked how they accepted each other but the pitty parties where to much. so 2.5
Brighton and Brianna McKenzie lost their parents when they were younger and wound up living with their aunt and uncle, who used the financial gain taking care of the brother and sister gained them to their advantage, but didn’t do much more than that. It was their grandfather that stepped in and gave them the emotional support they needed. When their grandfather dies and leaves the farm to Brighton, it’s no surprise to him and Brianna, but a certain fickle aunt is fit to be tied. While Brighton racks his brain to come up with any way possible to save his grandfather’s beloved farm, his aunt throws up road blocks at every turn to try and swindle the land out from under him, or force Brighton to sell.
When his grandfather’s attorney, executioner of good old grandpa’s will, sends his cousin out to the farm to lend a hand, sparks fly between the gentle giant and Brighton. Tanner Houghton is alone and adrift, he is quiet, doesn’t talk much and keeps to himself. After he was forced out of the closet at the last farm he worked, and subsequently black balled by the owner, Tanner got as far away from there as possible. Tanner is the perfect fit at the farm, and Brighton is quite taken with the big, brooding cowboy. Tanner has lived a life of ridicule because he stutters and everyone just assumes he’s stupid, when in fact, he is very intelligent. And all Brighton can hear is Tanners sexy, sultry voice. He encourages Tanner to talk more, open up to him and take his time, but is patient with him always. And Tanner always seems to be there to lend Brighton a hand when he needs it.
When Tanner’s ex Royce shows up at the farm looking to bring Tanner back home with him, Brighton is shaken, and thinking that he has lost the guy he was just falling love with, Brighton makes a huge error in judgement. One that could cost him what mobility is left in his injured leg.
Oh but this was just an adorable, fun love story! I was smiling just about the entire time I was reading it, well, except when aunt Vera was on the page. Remember the hag in the Wizard of Oz on her bike, taking Dorothy’s dog and sticking him in the basket? Yeah, aunt Vera! The woman is full of piss and vinegar. Oh but when she gets her comeuppance, I was standing up in the middle of me bed cheering. But anyway, I digress, this book was so romantic and light hearted and I just fell in love with Brighton and Tanner. They are flawed and come with a lot of baggage, but from day one all they see in each other is a person.
Brighton is not put off by Tanner’s stutter and inability to communicate with words most of the time, in fact, he quickly learns how to read Tanner’s body language and mood. And Brighton’s injured leg barely registers with Tanner. He always seems to know just when to pick him up, or hand him his cane or open a door. They are very attuned to each other almost immediately and it made my heart melt, like butter!
Another success for Andrew Grey, fans of his ‘Stories from the Range’ series will surely like this book. I’m going to go out on a limb and say that I’d love to see Grey work his magic and kick Royce’s butt into shape, write him a happy ever after. Just a suggestion. Definitely a must read for anyone that likes a little cowboy romance.
... I love Andrew Grey... I LOVED the senses series, every one of them, luckily I didn't find them til later so I could read them all back to back and I loved it lol. Brighton inherits his grandparents farm from his grandpa when he passes away...He and his sister lost their parents years ago and was sent to live with their aunt and uncle who... by the attitude she has, you can tell they never treated them like family, but more like an obligation. I couldn't imagine being a kid and losing my parents to stay with people who treated me "less than"... Of course the Aunt has to keep causin trouble so Arthur his grandparents, then Brighton's lawyer introduces Brighton to his cousin Tanner to help out around the farm... Tanner was working on another farm far away and some things happen with a relationship gone bad and he's forced to move away. What a giant douche Royce turned out to be... Jeez, I would have given him more than a sock in the jaw, I woulda broke his nose and kicked him while he was down lol What a jerk! He should get locked in a room with Aunt Vera for a few weeks and see which selfish jerk comes out sane! They'd deserve each other as well as her selfish self entitled children.... blah.. I'm glad none of them got what they wanted!
I really liked Tanner and Brighton together, both had low self-esteem and doubted themselves so a relationship wasn't an easy start, but.... they made it work out. They were cute and happy together and I was glad they got their HEA! Another 5 stars for me :D
"“Cosa vuoi, Tanner?” domandò Brighton in un sussurro. “Non ha nulla a che fare con la tua gamba,” rispose lui. “Non… non vedo la tua gamba e nemmeno il b-bastone. Solo te.” “È bello dirlo da parte tua. Non lo fanno in molti.” “So che tu senti me e non la mia b-balbuzie.” "
Se dovessi scegliere una sola parola per descrivere questo libro direi "insipido" XD Non che sia brutto, ma è una di quelle letture né carne né pesce che non ti lasciano nulla impresso e scivola via nell'oblio appena chiuso il libro XD La quarta di copertina praticamente descrive bene tutta la breve vicenda, salvo che la zia rancorosa rompe fino all'ultima pagina (impossibile liberarsi di sta donna XD) e il famoso ex appare per tipo 5 pagine e sparisce veloce come è arrivato XD Forse l'unico reale problema che affronta la coppia, aldilà delle rispettive incertezze per i loro difetti, è il futuro della fattoria, ma anche questo alla fin fine con un bravo avvocato (che meraviglia le scappatoie legali XD) si risolve a tarallucci e vino XD
3.5- 4 stars I enjoyed Eastern Cowboy. I thought the author did a great job keeping the reader interested in this couple. I also thought the storyline was believable.
Brighton needs a hand now that he is expected to run his grandfather's farm and Tanner is more than willing to help.
Tanner is our strong silent hero who is a pillar of strength for Brighton. The pair worked well together despite their differences.
While it's a good read it could have used a bit more heat between the pair.
I love heroes that aren't 'perfect', and this books has two, so it was a must read (all of Andrew's Grey are!) Tanner and Brighton were exactly what the other needed, even if it took them a bit to really realize it, and I liked the business plan Brighton made for the farm. It was realistic for a farm that's set in the middle of a city rather than in open space. If you want sweet and sexy, this is the book for you!
Not exactly a Western, but certainly in that theme up to a point. I enjoyed this thoroughly, particularly watching the overbearing and greedy relatives get their comeuppance. I was cheering all the way through. Appropriately satisfying conclusion, too. Probably no sequel expected, but this story tells us enough. Does contain some erotic scenes so recommended for 18+ readers.
Andrew Grey is generally a hit or miss for me. However I can't seem to stop reading his stories. I even gave up completely once. Well obviously that didn't stick. I liked Eastern Cowboy. I liked the story, characters and the writing.