Series: A Love in Eden Novel
Author: Sloane Kennedy
Genre: Gay Romance
Published: June 18th, 2019
Rating: 4 stars
BLURB
I had one reason for never going back to the small town I once called home, but I never guessed it would be the same one that made me want to stay…
Brooks
I grew up in the small town of Eden, Wyoming, but never really felt like I fit in.
Until I met the one boy who changed all that.
When we were kids, Xavier Price understood horses, but somehow, he got me too. He’d made me feel like I wasn’t just the overdressed, too sensitive fifteen-year-old geek who loved math and didn’t always say the right thing. But all that changed the night he threw my trust back in my face and betrayed my family in the worst kind of way.
And while I’m back in Eden to make sure my uncle’s horse ranch is operating in the black, the one thing I know I won’t have to deal with is the man who’d been on the verge of stealing my heart ten years ago.
Because Xavier Price is still in prison for what he did and even if he weren’t, he wouldn’t be foolish enough to show his face in Eden ever again.
Right?
Xavier
Wrong.
That’s what returning to Eden after ten years behind bars feels like. But it wasn’t like I had a whole lot of choices. And it wasn’t like I was going to be handed any decent job offers, let alone my dream one of working with horses.
But that’s exactly what happened and now that I’m foreman of Black Hills Ranch, I’m not letting this job go for anything.
Not even the spoiled little rich kid I’d thought was different when he’d glommed onto me ten years ago.
I have no doubt Brooks Cunningham didn’t wait long to move on to bigger and better things the second my jail cell was locked behind me, and that’s just fine by me. I’d been wrong about the sweet, emotional boy who’d had a habit of wearing his heart on his sleeve anyway.
Except fate has decided to have another go at me by tossing Brooks right back into my sometimes too small world. Gone is the scrawny, stars-in-his-eyes nerd who used to do math problems just for fun. In his place is a gorgeous specimen of a man who thinks he can go toe to toe with me and once again destroy everything I’ve worked for.
Not happening.
When I found out that one of my favorite MM authors was coming with a new series… it made me happy as a hippo.
There haven’t been so many great MM books out this year…it is slim pickings to be honest and I gotta say, I really needed this.
When I read the blurb, I figured I was in for a world of angst, but this wasn’t really the case.
Xavier and Brooks were really good friends when they were in their teens. Different as they could be…they still formed some kind of instant connection. Brooks is a numbers boy, who loves solving math problems and the ranch owner’s son. Xavier is more of a hands-on kind of kid and he is the son of the ranch manager.
Where Xavier goes…Brooks goes until the ultimate betrayal happens….but who is the one betrayed ??
Fast forward 10 years and these two will have to face one another again. Both of them are still chocking on their hurt and the betrayal, but neither of them knows the real/full truth…
No matter how much they try to hate and resent each other…their hearts have already chosen years ago…and what the heart wants, it will try to get.
These two have plenty of demons to fight, especially Xavier, but most of his past isn’t described in detail. There are mostly hints about why he is the way he is today. As far as triggers go, this is a very mild book, compared to what I have read in the past by this author.
It is mostly about loss, betrayal, overcoming your hurt and learning to trust again.
I really enjoyed reading this one, though I have to be honest and also admit that I am on pins and needles to read the next “protectors” book. I am a sucker for angst, drama and some darkness. Which is why that series (and the spin-off) will always be my favorite.
That said… I am very curious about the second book, and I hope it will be Jules’. I have a feeling I am gonna love that guy….and his love-interest 😉
Wendys Wycked Words 