by
Aiden’s art is his passion, but he’s lost inspiration. When he meets the gruff but sexy rancher Devin, his life is changed forever.
Aiden Fisher does well as a New York artist. In fact, he’s known among the art elite for being the man to watch. That doesn’t keep his critics from arguing that his work lacks personality or emotion. Of course, his life doesn’t have much of that either.
While perusing a dating site that connects urban gay men to their rural counterparts, Aiden comes across a profile of a Washington state rancher. The silhouetted picture and matter-of-fact language trigger his inspiration and spin him into a creative journey that ends with a collection that surpasses perfection. After his collection sells to a prestigious buyer, Aiden feels he has no choice but to meet and thank his muse. Little does he know the journey to the rugged mountains of Southeast Washington could change his life forever.
Devin Pearce is tall, built and remarkably handsome, all of which is accentuated with the personality of an angry bear. When he first comes upon Aiden, he can’t see past his anger -- this stranger is here because his nosy housekeeper set up that damned profile. But Aiden isn’t a typical stranger, not only does this man have the looks but he has a work ethic Devin has seldom seen in another man. Sure, Devin wants love, but experience has taught him to be leery. Can he trust his instinct that Aiden is an extraordinary person, or will he let the tragedy of past relationships get in his way?
The fire between them burns hot, but they are truly opposites. Only the fates know if they are brave enough to overcome their differences and build the relationship they both dream of.
- 1 To Be Read list
Publisher: Independently Published
Cover Artists:
Genres:
Pairings: M-M
Heat Level: 4
Romantic Content: 5
Ending: Click here to reveal
Character Identities: Gay
Protagonist 1 Age: 18-25
Protagonist 2 Age: 26-35
Tropes: Bad Breakup, Big Character / Little Character, Love Can Heal / Redemption, Opposites Attract
Word Count: 76,189
Setting: Rural Eastern Washington State
Languages Available: English
Series Type: Same Universe / Various Characters
I woke first, untangled myself from Devin without waking him up then went back into the bathroom for a real shower this time. Night had fallen at some point, but I had no idea what time it was, nor did I really care. For the most part, my mind was firmly on the fact that I had never made love in such a fashion before. I was sure, I had already begun having feelings for this guy and it was unlikely I would ever overcome these feelings since I doubted I’d ever have sex like that with another man, as long as I lived. Was I falling in love with him? No, I was not feeling love but a definite feeling of satiated relaxation. Something about that man filled voids I didn’t even know I had.
READ MOREI finished my shower, dried off and slipped downstairs trying to avoid waking my handsome lover. I guessed several hours had passed since my stomach was growling with hunger. I again perused Devin’s refrigerator and found a variety of cheeses pulled them out and decided I’d go back into the wine cellar to see if I could find the no-name red Devin had served the first night I was there.
By the time I returned to the kitchen, Devin was leaning against the counter eating the cheese.
“I see you are helping yourself to my wine cellar. You know I have the right to take the cost of that wine out of your thieving ass.”
Playing along, I gasped and handed the wine to Devin and said, “Oh please, kind sir, please don’t turn me in. It’s just my lover has a huge cock and that cock drains all the blood from his brain and I was afraid if I didn’t find sustenance for him, he’d lose consciousness.”
Laughing, Devin said, “Well, in that case, I can’t begrudge an old woman sustenance for her lover.”
I pretended to be offended. “Old woman, my ass! Here, don’t eat all that cheese before I’ve had some. Why don’t you open the wine before I bang you over the head with it?”
Devin chuckled again and did as he was told. We cuddled as we ate cheese and drank the wine standing up.
Devin bent down and kissed me on the ear, “Wanna watch a movie or something?”
“Hmm…or something, but I’d like a moment just to be in your arms first,” I replied.
“Sounds good to me, let’s go back out to the swing. I like to sit out there and listen to the insects.”
I followed Devin outside, wine glass in hand. Once settled in the swing, I leaned back against his chest. “Devin, I never intended to make love to you. I thought we’d have a roll in the hay, but I never intended it to be…” I drifted off, not having the right words.
“Never intending on it being special,” Devin finished. “Yeah,” he continued, “I didn’t expect it either, but have you ever thought this whole thing seems surreal?”
Devin leaned up so I could turn to see him. “I mean, I get drunk, set a crazy profile up on a gay dating site, which incidentally, I’ve never done before, and you see my profile then have some out of body experience where you paint so well that the Louvre purchases your entire collection. Then you come looking for me, get put into a Miata that gets stuck on my side of the river JUST as the river floods her banks. We seem to be in a Twilight Zone event here.”
I took a moment to respond. “I hadn’t thought of it quite that way.”
COLLAPSEAmazon Reviewer on Amazon wrote:I really enjoyed this book. The storyline was unique and written well, the characters are well developed, and the world building is done fairly well done. I received an ARC of this book, but I am hoping that the author chooses to use different formatting for publication.
Aiden makes his living as an artist in New York City. He gets decent reviews, but with every showing, the critics always say the same thing: he's not putting himself, or his personality, in his work. He doesn't really see the problem; he's won awards, he's doing what he's supposed to be doing, right?
After finding out that his ex and new boyfriend met on a dating site, and knowing that he has been wanting to relocate to a more rural area, Aiden decides to see what the Web has to offer. He comes across City Male to Country Male, and creates a profile.
Devin is a ranch owner in Washington state. He has just had a disastrous relationship, and he and his friend and housekeeper, Claire, end up getting very intoxicated while drowning his sorrows. Claire decides it would be a great idea to sign Devin up on a dating site, and stumbles across CMTOCM.
When Aiden comes across Devin's profile, he becomes inspired, and goes on a painting binge that lasts for weeks. The results of this artistic spree receive international recognition, and Aiden feels that he must thank his muse in some way.
One thing leads to another, and Aiden ends up meeting Devin, but Devin is not happy to see him on his property. As the barbs fly between the two, there is an undeniable attraction as well. Unfortunately, due to Mother Nature, they are stuck with each other for the foreseeable future. Although they both continue to push each other away, the romance grows nonetheless. However, when Aiden's family shows up looking for him, he leaves to return to the city.
Given time apart, they both come to some hard realizations. Of course, this being a great romance, grand gestures are made, hearts are reunited, and our MCs get their HEA, along with several secondary characters.
Overall, the story kept me entertained. It has some parts when I just wanted to shake the two men. The secondary characters are great and play important roles throughout the story. But, in the end, I think that the book is worth the read.
Happy reading!
* I received an ARC of this book. *
Jennifer Reilley on Goodreads wrote:I got this book yesterday morning and decided to open it and take a look at it. I was hungry for a gay romance novel that was not simply erotica. They are a dime a dozen and all alike. I was hoping that this one was unique and enjoyable. I could not be more thrilled with this book. I finished it last night and loved every minute of the story. The characters are people who are normal who enjoy sex but also enjoy forming a relationship with another person. There are three people who you follow. Two who form a relation ship and the other is a woman who says things as they are. I think that the author hit everything I wanted to read in a gay novel and was hungry to read. There is not other gay romance books out there that I have read and I have read several. I usually lose interest in them quickly and move on. This amazing novel kept my attention and made me want to read further just to see what happens next. I would recommend this novel to anyone who wants to read a fantastic gay novel. Unfortunately this is the first novel by this author and now I will only hope that he manages to write many more. Please read this book you will enjoy it.
Let me just say for a debut book by this author he blew this one away. This book sucked me in and I could not put it down. I fact instead of working when I should have been, I read. Because I could not stop.
Aiden is an artist that is realizing he is ready for a relationship. He signs up for an online dating app and one profile stands out and he is hit with inspiration.
Devin is a ranch owner and he is ready for love. He has not had success in the past but ready to find it.
They find love in the most unlikely way but they have a lot against them. Distance and occupations to be the biggest obstacle.
I loved this book. I loved their journey of finding each other, falling in love, and making their future work. These two guys are different in some ways but so similar in other.
I loved the epilogue. The author seemed to bring it all together beautifully with this epilogue.
I definitely look forward to future books
