Journey to Lobster Cove by Carol Lynne

journeytolobstercove_exlarge_PNG-210x336Title: Journey to Lobster Cove

Series: Cattle Valley, #32

Author: Carol Lynne

Genre: Cowboys/Contemporary

Length: Novella (32K words)

ISBN: 9781784304454

Publisher: Totally Bound (March 13th, 2015) Early Download available 02/13/15

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 5 Hearts

Reviewer: Cat

Blurb: Spreading acceptance one town at a time.

When the town of Cattle Valley runs out of room for new construction, Asa Montgomery begins to look into alternative locations. He discovers a small fishing village in Maine for sale and begins to make plans to purchase the picturesque town of Lobster Cove.

Unfortunately, setting up a new community takes him away from his partner, Mario, who isn’t pleased about being left behind.

Meanwhile, after years of dancing around their mutual attraction, Cullen Bryant decides the time has come to lay his feelings for Joseph Allenbrand on the line. Unfortunately, his plan is cut short when Joseph sends him away with no other explanation than he should move on.

Joseph knew sending Cullen away was the kindest thing to do for the younger man, but when he hears Cullen truly may be moving on, he realizes it’s time to reevaluate his life. Will he work out his issues in time to save what he’s spent years denying?

Purchase Link: https://www.totallybound.com/journey-to-lobster-cove

Review: Wouldn’t it be great to have a town that is all like-minded people? Where everyone is Gay or gay-friendly? That’s what cattle valley is. Asa Montgomery, a man with money enough to buy a town (or two) worked hard with his friends to build Cattle Valley. It wasn’t easy but now it’s filling up fast. It is getting so full that now they are having to take applications for new residents.

Asa has sold most of his businesses and focuses on Montgomery enterprises the software company that keeps Cattle Valley going and gives him more time with his sexy Italian husband Mario.

A call from Joseph about one of his boys being stabbed has Asa seriously considering buying the quaint Lobster Cove that Mario has shown him a few days ago.

This is book 32 of the Cattle Valley series. You probably could read this without reading the others as Carol is good at dropping a bit of information so you do know the characters. And there are a lot of characters. I really do think it is best though if you have read the series.

This looks like a setup for a new series and I am doing the happy dance! I love Cattle Valley and am looking forward to more of these men and lots of new men and new situations.

This also gives us more on Cullen and Joseph.

So if you like Millionaires (or billionaires) sexy gym workers, ex-priests that run homeless boys shelters, and are looking for a new series to follow this is for you. Oh, don’t forget some hot man-sex!

Sweet Topping by Carol Lynne

51KjA9M8ksLTitle: Sweet Topping
Series: Cattle Valley, #3
Author: Carol Lynne
Genre: Contemporary/Interracial
Length: Novella (106 Pages)
ISBN: 978-1-9063-2887-0
Publisher: Totally Bound (February 18th, 2008)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4Hearts
Reviewer: Lisa

Blurb: Wheelchair-bound, Kyle Brynn loves his home above the bakery he owns and runs. He’s proud of everything he’s managed to accomplish since the accident six years ago that took the use of his legs. At the age of twenty-six, he’s an independent man living on his own, despite the protests from his family.

However, with his independence comes loneliness. It’s not the townspeople’s fault that they see him as less of a man, it’s his.

Darshawn ‘Gill’ Gilling quit professional football at the height of his career without a word to the press as to why. Now settled in Cattle Valley, Gill’s happy running his garage and gas station. His life is much easier since coming out of the closet to his friends and family. He just wishes he’d had someone to come out for.

Most folks in town tend to be a little awestruck when Gill comes around, but if he wanted fans, he’d have stayed in football. What he really wants is that cute little baker down the street.

Purchase Link: https://www.totallybound.com/sweet-topping

Review: This is book three in this amazing series and you should read the books in order to get a full idea of each wonderful character. This story I think is my absolute favorite one so far. I think it is because it is so tender and caring. I loved it so much even more than the last. The pain the Kyle feels when he thinks that he will always be alone because he is stuck in the wheel chair makes me want to cry sometimes. He feels that no one will want him, but he’s so very wrong. Gill wants him whether he is in a wheel chair or not. Gill is falling in love with the little man.

At first, Kyle puts up roadblocks, but Gill wins him over. Then one day his doctor had told him that his kind of spinal injury wasn’t as bad as they thought. That with the use of a physical therapist he might be able to walk again. The only thing was there was not one in Cattle Valley, and he didn’t want to go for fear that Gill would find someone else to love. He has lots of feelings, but he is so insecure in others. He doesn’t trust that someone would stay with him no matter what.

Gill come up with a plan to prove that he would stick through it all for the love of his man. However, it backfires and hurts them both. Kyle thinks that Gill is like everyone else so he doesn’t trust his motives and leaves. I love the way they are together though. You can that these two men love each other and that Kyle have to overcome his pain and anger to move forward.

I think that this story has more feeling in it. It makes what is happening so much more real to you. The fact that he was hurt in a car accident after drinking one night when he was younger and giving up is something that a lot of people do. However, he had chosen to move forward, by moving out, owning his own business and just living again, he just thought he was going to have do it alone. Gill proves him wrong all the way around and I love that about Gill. He is so supportive and caring to Kyle that you love him even more.

I would definitely be recommending this story to those who loves two hot and sexy men, difficult decisions, overcoming all challenges set in front of you, passionate sex, and amazing people. I loved it and cannot wait to read book four.

Cattle Valley Mistletoe by Carol Lynne

5140WdjMsULTitle: Cattle Valley Mistletoe
Series: Cattle Valley, #2
Author: Carol Lynne
Genre: Contemporary/Holiday
Length: Novella (69 Pages)
ISBN: 978-1-906328-63-4
Publisher: Totally Bound (December 31st, 2007)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4Hearts
Reviewer: Lisa

Blurb: The Reverend Casey Sharp loves his church, his congregation, and his community. He just wishes they loved him in return. Paying for the sins of his predecessor has left him feeling like an outcast.

Contractor Halden Kuckleman, loves his quiet life. After a childhood trauma, Hal gave up on love and God. When hired by the church to finish work on a new meeting room, he tells himself it’s just a job like any other. He’s fine working on the addition as long as Reverend Sharp doesn’t try to save him.
With a tight deadline for getting the room finished, Hal begins to wonder how he’s going to get the work done before the annual Christmas Eve party.

When Casey offers to lend a hand however, he begins to wonder if the willowy minister will help or lead him straight into temptation.

Purchase Link: https://www.totallybound.com/cattle-valley-mistletoe

Review: This is book two in the Cattle Valley series and is best read in sequence. This is a beautiful and touching story.

It shows that a Reverend can be loving and caring, instead of one that judges and condemns. Casey loves his church, his congregation and his community, however he felt like he was missing something. He felt like an outcast because of his predecessor being an abusive jerk. The man is spending the rest of his life in prison, but the community still felt like Casey had to prove to them that he was a good man, a good Reverend. He had wanted to have a big hall built for Christmas parties, and dinners. However, it was so close to the holidays it was getting harder to find someone to help build it. He had contacted Halden and asked him.

The only problem with that is Halden hated anything and anyone religious. Casey just had to show him what he can offer to the man. His love, attention and all that goes into it. When Casey gets violently ill due to stress, Halden starts realizing what he is feeling for the man. He is falling in love with Casey, now all he has to do is get over his anger at god.

Casey loves Halden, but Halden is afraid that once he tells Casey why he is angry with god, Casey won’t want him anymore. They have normal difficulties that every couple has, however he needs to help Halden turn back to god. You can tell from the way they act with each other though that they love each other. You can also tell that they will do everything in the powers to make their relationship work. The sex between these two will set the sheets on fire. They have so much passion and spark that you will be fanning yourself down every time you read this.

I loved this story, just because most of the times you hear about religious people talking down to those they think are in the wrong. They condemn people for being who they are instead of welcoming them with open arms. However, Casey being a Reverend and gay might be the only difference there though. He comes off as gentle, loving, caring, and so open that you can’t help but love him. I would go to one of his sermons that’s for sure. He helps anyone that needs it, but feels like he is fighting against the wind because of the last Reverend. Halden goes out and talks to the congregation and gets them to realize that his man is a decent and caring man. Enough to even draw out the hate and turn it into love for Halden.

I would recommend this story to anyone who needs their heartstrings toughed a little, two very sexy men, smoking hot sex, great community, and lots of love. I loved this book and cannot wait to read book three.

Shadow Soldier by Carol Lynne

Title: Shadow Soldier

Series: Cattle Valley 26

Author: Carol Lynne

Genre: Contemporary

Length: Novella (88pgs)

Publisher: Total E-Bound (20th February 2012)

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥3 ½Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: Deacon McConnell spends his days as a Cattwood-carver and his nights as head of one of the most secretive government agencies in the United States. When he meets a man troubled by his time spent in the Middle East, Deacon feels drawn to the pain in the handsome man’s eyes. He makes the decision to help Aaron Ellis any way he can.

Dishonorably discharged from the Army, it takes everything Aaron has to get out of bed each morning. He’s become used to faking his way through life, putting on a happy face when the situation calls for it is a lot easier than dealing with his buried memories.

The day Aaron wanders into Deacon’s store for the first time, the last thing he expects is an immediate connection with the shop owner. For the first time since leaving the service, Aaron begins to believe there may be light at the end of the dark tunnel. The nights he spends in Deacon’s arms slowly begin to drive the shadows from his heart.

After years spent serving his country, Deacon yearns for a normal life. The move to Cattle Valley is the first step, opening up to Aaron the second. When duty calls Deacon out-of-town, he begins to wonder how much more he’ll be forced to give up for his country.

Purchase Link: http://www.total-e-bound.com/product.asp?strParents=&CAT_ID=&P_ID=1555

Review: Deacon owns a furniture store selling his own creations, but he is also the head of a secretive government agency. Asked by a friend to help Aaron deal with his problems, he decides that he will. But, when he meets the young man he is drawn to him in ways he thought were long dead. Adam was given a general discharge from the army, but the guilt he feels over the deaths of his comrades affects him greatly. When he meets Deacon, he feels safe and attracted to him, so he decides to see if Deacon returns his feelings.

This story is well written. Deacon has secrets that he doesn’t want getting out. Adam doesn’t want anyone to know the real reason that he left the army and Deacon has done an in-depth background check on Adam as a way to know everything, so that he can help him. These two men end up together and help each other in some small way, but Deacon has a confession to make to Adam and Adam finds it hard to accept that a man like Deacon would be interested in him.

Okay, I liked this story as it delves into the territory of survivors’ guilt and we get a good feel for both Aaron and Deacon. But, what we don’t get is a full understanding of what either of them went though. We get given hints, i.e. Deacon’s car was purposely driven off the road injuring him and killing his lover. We get told that it had to do with Deacon’s job, but that’s it… It’s mentioned that Adam has scars on his chest and that he was held at gunpoint for three days, but not much more. Seriously, it’s as though all the really good bits were cut out.

Deacon and Adam’s relationship does move fast, but the burning down of the store forced that and the sex between them is hot. Now, some of you might be put off, but there is a twenty-one year age gap. But, to be honest with you, the only time that I remembered that was when the author brought it up, which was a few times. But, neither character ever really worried about it and there was no angst or arguments about it so to me the age between them was negligible.

So, I will recommend this to those who love damaged heroes, May – December relationships, hot sex, a good story-line and a happy ever after.

 

 

 

Confessions by Carol Lynne

Title: Confessions

Series: Cattle Valley 25

Author: Carol Lynne

Genre: Contemporary

Length: Novella (95pgs)

Publisher: Total E-Bound (21st November 2011)

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥3 ½Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: Government contracted mercenary, James “Priest” Evans, slides back into town after a mission gone very wrong. Haunted by his latest kill, Priest’s job is weighing heavily on his mind for the first time in memory… In Cattle Valley to heal and re-evaluate his life, Priest didn’t expect love but that’s exactly where’s he’s headed.

After a devastating and very public breakup, Luke Hatcher has given up on love. He’s more than happy to enjoy hot and heavy sex, but that’s as far as he’s willing to go. When he runs into Priest, Luke believes their mutual lack of trust is perfect for a short-term holiday affair.

Their steamy affair takes an unexpected turn when Priest makes a bedroom confession that will forever change the way he views life and love. Will the confession bring them closer together, or will it send Luke packing?

Purchase Link: http://www.total-e-bound.com/product.asp?strParents=&CAT_ID=&P_ID=1442

Review: Okaaaay. Luke is having trouble mentally since a horrific car accident he attended and luckily Priest sweeps into town to take his mind off it. Priest is having suspicions after his last job and he starts to dig deeper to find out the truth. In the meantime, he thinks it’s a great idea to pass a little time with Luke and get him out of his system.

This is a quite well written story that is a bit outlandish but has some mega hot sex. Luke is struggling to cope as an accident brings up memories of when his mother died.  When he sees Priest again he snatches the chance to get to know him better; little knowing how easy it would be to fall for him. Priest is in Cattle Valley for a little downtime and decides to relax with Luke, as his last job catches up with him Luke is placed in danger because Priest cares about him.

I liked Luke and Priest, they seemed like nice men and they seemed to have more going for them than just sex. I must admit that Cattle Valley has begun to pall for me as the stories are getting more outlandish… ‘cuz really, Cattle Valley becoming THE gay, military and Assassins retirement ground is just a bit too much for me to grasp and there seems to be a hell of a lot of killing going on as well nowadays.

I can only recommend this to those who adore Cattle Valley, love Assassins, a hint of mystery, a senseless kidnapping and torture, hot sex and a happy ever after.