Perhaps as a warning, this was quite the sedate tale of how these two men come together.

Having helped John a few years back, Will now knows he aided a notorious outlaw. On the run with really nowhere to hide, John comes back several years later looking for a little reprieve. Not to excuse his past, but terrible circumstance made him into something he truly wasn’t, and there’s regret and pain and failed attempts at leading a straight, honest life - a life he attempts to do so with Will.

Not much happens except the slow unraveling of feels in and amongst daily living on a ranch. These two warily circle each other at first, and later accept that some company is better than none. Eventually mutual respect, affection, and lusty comfort develop, as they mesh their lives together, eking out a tough but satisfying existence.

This unfortunately is not overt - in the smex or the proclamations - and I could always go for more of that. However the life they build together and the future they want and work towards, was satisfying and good enough.
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This book started out pretty slow to the point that I thought it was a 3 star read, but it got more interesting and a lot better as the book went on. Will and John had such an easy chemistry between them, even when it felt like they shouldn't. There wasn't a lot of angst in this book and there were times I wondered how John managed to get away with being so hidden, but it worked for the book and I really ended up enjoying it. Glad I read this. ( )

This is the first book I've read by Jane Elliot and I like her style of writing. The writing has a spareness about it that suits the characters and the setting. I'm looking forward to reading the next book about in the series.

In the past I've always eschewed reading M/M books with girlie bits. Through this book I realized it's not the girlie bits I mind so much. This book contains 2 such scenes and I really didn't mind because... Ah Ha moment here... there was no emotional involvement between the 2 main heroes and the two women. The connection was totally between the two men. I love finding out new things about myself. :) ( )

This unusual Old West-era love story between an outlaw and a homesteader takes risks in the name of realism with the accepted romance formula. It includes male-female-male sex scenes in which the two buddies hire a prostitute together in the same businesslike way that modern guys might go get their oil changed and tires rotated before a fishing trip. I thought it showed a very realistic transition for how two men of the time could gradually evolve into a sexual and romantic relationship with each other.

Other things to praise include both men, who are complex and appealing, the day-to-day detail of their ranching duties, and the homesteader’s amusingly unexpected new career as a writer of dime novels, featuring his lover’s past exploits. The novel’s weakness is in how it fizzles out on a happy note. Throughout, the narrative builds suspense toward what you might expect – that the outlaw’s past will catch up with him and the two lovers will have to fight for their lives. However, this never happens. Perhaps, it was intended for a sequel. Even so, this novel is unusual, atmospheric, and worth reading.

The story opens with homesteader Will sheltering John who shows up on his ranch, wounded in a shooting. He has no idea that John is a train robber until his family is threatened, and John helps to save them. When the two men meet three years later, circumstances have taken a toll on Will’s life. Alone and disabled, he struggles to keep his ranch going, and John moves in to help him in what starts as a temporary friendship, but evolves into much more. Both men seem bisexual with John much closer to the gay side of the equation. Will’s exploration of a same sex love affair is pragmatic, low on introspection, and believable. The steady pacing and complex personalities make it a treat to read about how their life together takes shape.

Val for AReCafe ( )

Great read, gay cowboys and a long slow build up of tension. ( )