Saturday, January 19, 2013

LUKE’S PRESENT by Sue Brown



A Morning Report Novella
Dreamspinner Press
December 18th, 2012
978-1-62380-260-8
Western M/M
E-book
Reviewed by Dawn (love2read28@gmail.com)
Obtained by Publisher

 

Welcome to the Lost Cow Ranch. When foreman Simon Bryan finds out that his partner, Luke, has postponed his knee surgery yet again, Simon doesn’t know what to do. Luke has been having nightmares and reeling from the flood that also took his beloved horse Lulu, Simon is at the end of his rope. It comes to head when he feels Luke start to pull away emotionally and Simon figures it is time to get through to Luke one way or another. With a special Christmas present, Simon is hopeful that things will return back to normal not just for him and Luke but also for the ranch they both love so much. But Simon is unprepared for Luke’s present that just may change everything.

I absolutely adore Sue Brown’s Morning Report series and with this holiday novella, we return to the couple from the first book, Luke and Simon, who stole my heart in Morning Report (Book one). This is a perfect swan song for Luke, Simon and the rest of the boys at the Lost Cow Ranch.  The story is at times realistic, poignant and down right naughty at times. Ms. Brown comes full circle in LUKE’S PRESENT and the readers will enjoy seeing everyone in the first three books back again for Christmas at the Lost Cow Ranch. The story is well written, delivers some really humorous moments that had me chuckling out loud at times and the characters are multi-dimensional. You can feel Luke’s pain as he hobbles on a bum knee to Simon’s desire to get Luke to have the operation and get better and more.

Meet Luke and Simon. Luke is the boss and partner/lover of Simon, the ranch foreman. Together for over a decade, both men have had a rough few years the last few years. Now it’s the holidays and all they want to do is hide from the world and enjoy one another but Luke’s Momma has plans for the ranch hands and all their friends. If you read Morning Report, you know how Luke’s momma can steamroll over anyone in her way and in this case, it’s Luke and Simon’s desire to having a quiet holiday. You get some humor, passion and a dose of reality (especially at the end of the story) that will leave you anxious for more. The characters are well written, come across as people with faults and vulnerabilities and the reader can’t help but fall in love with them all at the Lost Cow Ranch. The secondary characters from past books are back and help keep the story moving smoothly. It was nice to see the boys again and see what is up with them after their stories were done.

LUKE’S PRESENT is a wonderful story to enjoy this holiday or any day for that matter. If you enjoy sexy cowboys, a love that is so real, you can’t help wish for it in your life and a story that leaves you breathless in the end, then run-don’t walk-to grab LUKE’S PRESENT today. I highly recommend this entire series to enjoy and suggest you start with book one, Morning Report, to see how Luke and Simon’s story begins.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement

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