Tru Smoke by Edie Danford

*** 1/2

Where there’s smoke, there’s fire… Whenever Jones touches him, flames flicker in Truitt Larkin's smoky-gray eyes. 

Growing up in Ember Peak, Colorado, Jones Hudson nurtured dreams as big as the Rockies. Why else would a flat-broke college student believe he has a shot with Truitt Larkin, the billionaire CEO of Larkin Corp? And, sure, Tru might own the fab, five-thousand-acre Ember Peak Ranch, where Jones is just the son of a ranch employee, but that doesn’t mean a future with Tru is doomed, does it? When he finally, finally convinces Tru to break his chiseled-in-rock no-sex-ever policy, Jones is sure smoke will never shroud Tru’s silver-flame eyes again.

But fire burns and dreams crash. And Jones leaves Ember Peak—and a big chunk of his heart—behind.

Tru knows he’s responsible for fracturing his valued friendship with Jones. Indulging his attraction to the younger man was selfish and destructive—something he’ll always regret. When Jones returns to Ember Peak for a family wedding, Tru wants a chance to heal their friendship and give back to Jones the comfort of coming home. But sparks fly the moment they reunite, and they scramble to douse the passion that’s burned them both before. Yet a flicker of hope glows brightly, and soon they need all their courage to see their way to a future together.

Review:

A few things drew me to this story.  First, I’ve been wanting to read a story by Edie Danford ever since reading How We Began, which she edited.  Second, there is a certain allure of the second-chance and friends-to-lovers combo that I couldn’t ignore.  Lastly, I’ve been searching for m/m cowboy/western romance and was crossing my fingers that this would finally be the one that I love.

In a many ways I found a gem in Tru North.  The writing was unbelievably rich.  So much detail on every page.  Any reader that loves to immerse themselves in a setting will love the descriptions of Ember Peak Ranch and the characters.  Anyone looking for a lot of time with their heroes will be happy with the length of this story.  Both heroes were extremely lovable.  Jones’ growth from their first try at a relationship to the next time they see each other is significant.  His certainty in what he wants out of life is extremely attractive.  As his deep affection for his friends and family.  Truitt was a little more difficult to understand.  He’s a closed book to himself and those around him.  But the more Truitt reveals to himself and the reader the deeper his attachment to Jones grows.   

My biggest struggle with this story was how their relationship began (meeting when Jones was 5 and Truitt 19 years old) and where it ended it up.  It left me feeling slightly uncomfortable.  What I like to call “Thorn Birds” uncomfortable.  Significant age differences rarely bother me.  But just like I could never quite reconcile Father Ralph and Maggie’s priest/child parishioner relationship with their romantic adult relationship, I had a very hard time accepting Truitt and Jones’ older/younger brother relationship with THEIR adult romantic relationship.   Obviously, that’s my own issue and not a big enough one to make me stop reading (I finished The Thorn Birds too).   

That struggle aside, I really enjoyed this story.  It was something different that helped me move out of a long term book funk.  If you are looking to immerse yourself in a romance that truly has everything Tru Smoke might be the book for you.  Heads up, Tru and Jones story has a Happy For Now conclusion.  Fortunately, we get to find out what happens next in Tru Burn which releases in December.

Nat 

The Things You Kiss Goodby by Leslie Connor

* * * * 1/2

Bettina Vasilis can hardly believe it when basketball star Brady Cullen asks her out, and she just about faints when her strict father actually approves of him.

But when school starts up again, Brady changes. What happened to the sweet boy she fell in love with? Then she meets a smoldering guy in his twenties, and this “cowboy” is everything Brady is not—gentle, caring, and interested in getting to know the real Bettina.

Bettina knows that breaking up with Brady would mean giving up her freedom—and that it would be inappropriate for anything to happen between her and Cowboy. Still, she can’t help that she longs for the scent of his auto shop whenever she’s anywhere else.

When tragedy strikes, Bettina must tell her family the truth—and kiss goodbye the things she thought she knew about herself and the men in her life.

Leslie Connor has written a lyrical, heartbreaking, and ultimately hopeful story about family, romance, and the immense power of love.

Review:

Bettina Vasilis and Brady Cullen are the most unlikely of couples.  No one would have ever guessed that the up and coming basketball star and the artsy girl with the short skirts and fake ink would become a thing.  But they do.  In the beginning it’s hard to not absolutely love Brady Cullen.  He really IS the perfect boyfriend.  So sweet and polite. But after the summer, Brady comes back to school…different.  Sometimes he’s the sweet boy that Bettina fell for and other times she finds herself cringing in fear of what he’ll do next.  

In some ways, Bettina is a tough girl.  But her misogynistic father’s constant dismissal has given her plenty of insecurities and a dysfunctional approach to conflict.  So when her “perfect” high school boyfriend begins abusing her, Bettina’s response is to take Bampas’ (her father) advice. Filio Antio.  Kiss it goodbye.  

“Then I was to bury my pain or disappointment on the spot.  Stop crying. Let it go.”

Because if she just “kisses it goodbye” and looks the other way, she can still keep the little bit of freedom she has.  Because without her relationship with Brady, her dad would never let her leave the house except for school.  

After one of her altercations (one of the worst and most physically damaging) with Brady, Bettina runs off school property to a nearby industrial park so no one can see or hear her cry.  That is where “Cowboy” finds her.   The attractive older guy in his t-shirt and jeans takes Bettina to his nearby auto shop to look at her crushed hand and help her clean up.  And that’s that. No lightning bolts.  Not instant love.  He helps her and sends her on her way.  Bettina returns to the shop with a thank you coffee and begins to spend a few mornings and afternoons a week in his shop.  Just doing homework, drawing or helping him clean gears before using them for car repair.  That auto shop becomes a safe haven.  The one place Bettina can go where no one is trying to control her and her dreams are accepted as possibilities and not just dreams.

“Cowboy” and Bettina become friends and when Bettina mentions her growing attraction to him, he puts an end to it immediately.  Bettina worms her way back into his shop with coffee and a promise to never mention it again.  She can’t lose the one place she feels she can be accepted as who she is.  As the months go by, their relationship grows.  And just when “Cowboy” has decided to give in and pursue her (with the insistence that her parents know – which I found fascinating), something happens that forces Bettina to not only come clean with her parents but also address her relationship with Brady and her father.  

This book isn’t for everyone.  A lot of people will take issue with the age difference between Bettina and Cowboy.  But the point this book drives home beautifully is that just because you are young does not make your feelings any less real or less important.

Just because you are young does not mean you love any less.  And that sometimes “kissing it goodbye,” isn’t enough.

Nat