Blurb:

BISHOP SULLIVAN

I’ve always known what my future had in store: inheriting the family ranch and having myself a wife and kids to carry on the Sullivan name. Porter Dixon never factored into those plans. We may have spent our teenage years sneaking away to lose ourselves in each other, but he always held me at arm’s length…until the day he up and left without so much as a goodbye.

PORTER DIXON

After everything I’ve lost in my life, it’s important that I keep myself tightly guarded. Especially around Bishop Sullivan. Dad would be rolling in his grave if he found out I was shacking up with a Sullivan, given the bad blood between our families. But eleven years after leaving, I’m back in Laurel Springs with something to prove: I don’t need the Sullivans, nor their land.

Except, damn it all, Bishop has this way of burrowing under my armor. The magnetic draw between us is still too hard to ignore, and what starts out as boss and ranch hand quickly turns into stolen moments and simmering encounters that make it hard to stay angry.

I want to think that love can conquer all and tame my wild heart…but the past isn’t so easy to forget.

I adore this book! The emotional depth, the characters Bishop and Porter, and the unwavering love Porter has for Bishop amidst his struggles—it serves as his constant and grounding force, even when fueled by hatred at times.

After Porter’s mother’s passing, he sought comfort from Bishop but instead was driven away by a shocking discovery. Years later, having struggled with transient jobs and a tumultuous past, he returns to the one place he vowed never to return to.

Bishop, unaware of why Porter left, feels as if Porter’s return is a possible second chance. Of course, their intertwined family history, shrouded in mystery, unravels, and ultimately truths surface, altering perceptions and leading to confrontations and promising to disrupt their lives.

The poignant narrative and perfectly balanced emotional tension between Bishop and Porter affirm their enduring connection, transcending time and distance. I honestly can not say enough great things about this book. It is definitely a must-read!

* Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn’t a requirement. *

This is a new book from two authors I read a lot. I love a good cowboy story and this has the added bonus of being a second-chance romance (although the first was hidden).

There is history between Porter and Bishop’s family that has always been a barrier between them. The death of his mother made Porter flee, especially as he thought Bishop was courting Aimee, and he’s been running ever since. Bishop tried to be what everyone thinks and marry the local girl but it wasn’t what his heart wanted. When Porter comes back to work on the ranch, bristling and restless, he knows why.

In many ways, Bishop has to handle Porter like one of the broken horses. Though he doesn’t know why Porter left or what’s causing the anger, he gently leads Porter to their hea. Porter himself finds sanctuary in his work taming a horse, Storm. It’s a slow-burn romance and there were times when I wanted to give Porter a bit of  a slap and say “tell him!” Their supporting found family brings a lot to the story (there’s definitely a story in Wade) and the addition of a cute kid makes it an enjoyable read.

*Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure. A review wasn’t a requirement.*