CROOKED TREE RANCH by R.J. Scott

Book 1 in Montana Series/2^nd Edition

Love Lane Books

November 16^th, 2015

9781785640322

Contemporary/Western M/M

E-book

Reviewed by Dawn (love2read28@gmail.com)

Obtained by Self-Purchase

4 Hearts

Nate Todd knows that the Crooked Tree Ranch has to get into the 21^st century but with the way things are going, the ranch may not survive another season. When his brothers convince him to hire a marketing expert, Nate finds Jay Sullivan annoyingly citified and doesn’t care for him. But Jay and his little family grow on him and his brothers as Jay figures out how to bring Crooked Tree Ranch into the new millennium. But when sparks fly between these two, can a city boy and country boy find a way to mesh their lives together in order to get their own happy ever after?

Author RJ Scott is a masterful storyteller who delivers a heartfelt and emotional story of two very different people who find their way to one another. Amid bumps and more in their road to romance, Ms. Scott delivers a story that will leave you breathless. The writing is tight, story flows smoothly and I got to admit the characters from the very beginning just stole my heart. I loved how city boy Jay got country boy Nate to take a chance on him even as the slow romantic development between the two got on my nerves at one time or another. All those sparks between them made me hope there would be no fires breaking out on my kindle. With all of this author’s books, family is central and we got two families who are in flux in one way or another. I loved the dynamics of both Jay’s and Nate’s family and we got to spend time with both separately as well as together.

It’s the characters that just make this author’s books come alive. From the Todd brothers to Jay’s troubled family to the mysterious Marcus and his son who are also owners of the ranch with the Todd family to Sam the chef who wants his very own cowboy of his own. The variety of characters kept my attention and stole what was left of my heart-after the Todd brothers of course. This is an author who knows how to let her characters shine and show their vulnerabilities as well as their open heart to the readers. With their trademark writing style, Ms. Scott delivers a story that is full of heart and emotion as well as some serious sexual tension that I swear almost blew up my kindle. Overall, CROOKED TREE RANCH is one of those feel good stories that you can’t help but fall in love with. Now I am eager to see where this author goes in the future books and hope we won’t have to wait too long for them.

If you enjoy family themed stories with stubborn main characters, simmering sexual tension that will steam the pages of your e-reader then you need to get CROOKED TREE RANCH because RJ Scott just knocks this one out of the ballpark.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement

 

ANGEL IN A BOOK SHOP by R.J. Scott

Pages: 108

Date:  December 26.2014

Grade: 4.5

Details: Received from Love Lane Books Ltd

            Through Love Romances and More

E-book

 

The blurb:

“What happens when a broken man has to trust in the impossible?

Chapter One is an antique book shop and is the last tangible thing Joshua Blakeman and his mom have left of his father. Nestled in a quiet square a few steps from London's St Paul’s Cathedral, it is boarded up with whitewashed windows and no new stock. The place is a sad reminder of loss and it has to go, but destroying a business that has been in his family for generations is not a role Josh is looking forward to.

Michael is the owner of Arts Desire, the shop next door. With his rainbow pride mugs and his sunny outlook, he is the complete opposite of what Josh thinks he needs in his life.

But, when Josh and Michael become friends, Josh learns that finding true love starts with making big decisions—and that everyone deserves their own Christmas miracle sometimes.”

My thoughts: 

I adored this Christmas story. Angel in a Book Store had all the ingredients to not only make this a perfect read for the time of year but to make it a wonderful read, regardless of when you might find yourself picking it up. What’s not to love about a book featuring two men, both in need of finding love and both having good reasons to be wary about their feelings and the future?

Poor Josh has been through so much when he first visits his deceased father’s bookshop and meets Michael. Between bad decisions when it came to his love-life, a scandalous departure from the bank he worked for, and the secrets he keeps from his mourning mother it is no wonder he has a hard time keeping it all together and faces panic attacks whenever his emotions get stretched too far.

From the first time Josh meets Michael there is a connection between the two men, although Josh is initially reluctant to acknowledge and subsequently embrace it. Watching Josh as he moves from trying to resist the pull he feels towards Michael to almost desperate to push things forward was beautiful and mesmerizing.

The reader knows more about Michael than Josh does. Short paragraphs at the start of each chapter give us an insight into Michael, his history, his thoughts and his feelings. I loved this aspect of the book and the manner in which it allows us to gradually learn more about the mystery that is Michael. When a book is written solely from one perspective I often find myself wishing I could have known more about the second protagonist. In this book I knew enough about Michael to fall for him and understand why Josh fell in love. The fact that the reader is aware of Michael’s doubts and fears – even if Josh isn’t for most of the book – enhanced my reading experience greatly.

For a relatively short story, Angel in a Book Shop is wonderfully complete. We really get to know the two characters, are given a clear picture of their world, their thoughts and their background. At no point did I find myself wishing I knew a more about one thing or another. The beautiful words and vivid descriptions turned reading this book into an almost sensual experience.

Angel in a Book Shop was my first book by R.J. Scott and I’m looking forward to reading earlier (as well as future) books by this author.