Genre: Contemporary
LGBTQ+ Category: Gay
Reviewer: Maryann
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About The Book
It takes a brave man to climb a mountain, but it takes a braver lad to show him the way.
Following the death of his lover, mountaineer John Hamilton lives an isolated existence high on wild Fellborough, a fell in the Yorkshire Dales. When he rescues 19-year-old Gary Taylor from the mountain, John can’t accept that the boy may be the answer to his heartache. Gary is seventeen years his junior, confused, and being pursued by criminals. As Gary helps John through his grief, the older man mentors the lad through his coming out.
Both paths could lead to love, but are they both heading for the same destination?
The Mentor of Barrenmoor Ridge is the first of ‘The Barrenmoor Series’ of mountaineering-themed romances. ‘The Students of Barrenmoor Ridge’, the second in the series.
The Review
John Hamilton is thirty-six years old, an author, mountaineer and photographer who has a chance to scale Everest again. Sally has come to talk John into becoming a part of the crew that she manages, but John has lost the desire to return to the world’s tallest peak. He’s been to Everest, three times in the last four years, and only got to base camp two.
With the loss of his partner Serge, he broods and hangs on to his many memories, and is having trouble writing his next book. Sally thinks the climb it would give John closure, he just wants to stay in Inglestone, live his solitary life, and lease Barrenmoor Ridge, which sits below the cliffs of Fellborough.
He does go into town to socialize, on occasion, and purchase supplies. He also keeps up a regular regimen of walking and climbing. As a member of the MRT, which does local emergency rescues, he needs stay fit.
While he’s visiting with Sally at the climber’s cafe, he sees a young man who has caught his attention before in the past few years. As he departs the cafe, he notices the man again, peering into the window. From what John had gathered from Sgt. Betty, Gary Taylor is a nineteen year old local who hangs out with troublemakers. But Betty thinks Gary has just gone astray, and has even helped him out in the past.
John, is always a bit cautious when he’s in town – there are still some folks there who are homophobic. As he gathers up supplies for the incoming storm, he heads to the alley that leads to the car park and his Land Rover.
He had seen Gary going down the alley before him, and sure enough there he was. The last thing John remembers is hearing the word “queer,” right before being hit in the head. When he wakes up, he heads to the police station and fills Sgt. Betty in on what happened, and they end up talking about Gary Taylor.
Sgt. Betty tells John he’s welcome to stay in town, especially with the upcoming blizzard on the way, but John decides to finish gathering his supplies and head back to Barrenmoor.
As the storm gets worse, John gets a call from Sgt. Betty. There’s no other MRT’s available for a rescue from Fellborough, and there’s a casualty – Gary Taylor.
John has no idea what he’s gotten himself into with the injured man. He puts all his skills together to make Gary as comfortable as possible, because neither of them will be able to go anywhere during the raging blizzard. The snarky young man has a secret, and is all kinds of trouble. He won’t tell or let John see what he’s done, and neither man has any idea about the danger that’s coming their way.
The Mentor of Barrenmoor Ridge is the first novel in the “Barrenmoor” series and one of my top favorite stories, outside of the “Clearwater Mysteries” and “Larkspur Mysteries.” Marsh brings two passionate men together in a slow burn May/December romance.
The story goes deep into and mountaineering. I was impressed with Marsh’s knowledge about the topic. The beauty and danger of the mountains, along with the hardships of the ever-raging weather create drama and life threatening situations. There’s the strength in John’s determination to never stop or refuse to help those in trouble. And I loved Gary too – the way he brought something new to John’s life with his snarky attitude and his way of making John smile and start to live again.
I love the line up of secondary characters as well – especially Sgt. Betty, who was strong, kind and very likable. She supports and encourages John and Gary to take advantage of the second chance at love. And Doctor Al too, who had faith in John to aid those with the medical skills that he has.
I highly recommend The Mentor of Barrenmoor Ridge – it’s an action-packed, fast-paced, page-turner of a mystery, filled with danger, adventure, suspense, thrills and the passions of man and mountain. A novel worth reading over and over again.
The Reviewer
Hi, I’m Maryann, I started life in New York, moved to New Hampshire and in 1965 uprooted again to Sacramento, California. Once I retired I moved to West Palm Beach, Florida in 2011 and just moved back to Sacramento in March of 2018. My son, his wife and step-daughter flew out to Florida and we road tripped back so they got to see sights they have never seen. New Orleans and the Grand Canyon were the highlights. Now I am back on the west coast again to stay! From a young age Ialways liked to read.
I remember going to the library and reading the “Doctor Dolittle” books by Hugh Lofting. Much later on became a big fan of the classics, Edgar Alan Poe, Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker and as time went by Agatha Christie, Ray Bradbury and Stephen Kingand many other authors.
My first M/M shifter book I read was written by Jan Irving the “Uncommon Cowboys” series from 2012. She was the first author I ever contacted and sent an email to letting her know how much I liked this series. Sometime along the way I read “Zero to the Bone”by Jane Seville, I think just about everyone has read this book!
As it stands right now I’m really into mysteries, grit, gore and “triggers” don’t bother me. But if a blurb piques my interest I will read the book.
My kindle collection eclectic and over three thousand books and my Audible collection is slowly growing. I have both the kindle and audible apps on my ipod, ipads, and MAC. So there is never an excuse not to be listening or reading.
I joined Goodreads around 2012 and started posting reviews. One day a wonderful lady, Lisa Horan of The Novel Approach, sent me an email to see if I wanted to join her review group. Joining her site was such an eye opener. I got introduce to so many new authors that write for the LGBTQ genre. Needless to say, it was heart breaking when it ended.
But I found a really great site, QRI and it’s right here in Sacramento. Last year at QSAC I actually got to meet Scott Coatsworth, Amy Lane and Jeff Adams.
