Lost and Found Dreamspinner Press
9/6/22
Kindle
235
Amazon
Rafe Carrera hasn’t seen his Uncle Mack since he was a kid, so when he inherits his ranch, it throws him like a bucking horse. He’s been on his own for a long time. Now suddenly everyone wants to be his friend… or at least get friendly enough to have a chance in buying the ranch.
Russell Banion’s family may own a mega-ranch in Telluride, but Russell made his own way developing software. He misses his friend Mack, and purchasing the ranch will help him preserve Mack’s legacy—and protect his own interests. It’s a win-win. Besides, spending time with Rafe, trying to soften him up, isn’t exactly a hardship. Soon Russell realizes he’ll be more upset if Rafe does decide to leave.
But Rafe isn’t sure he wants to sell. To others in the valley, his land is worth more than just dollars and cents, and they’ll do anything to get it. With Russell’s support, Rafe will have to decide if some things—like real friendship, neighborliness, and even love—mean more than money.
Reviewed by Linda Tonis
Member of the Paranormal Romance Guild Review Team
Rafe Carrera is a bull rider whose career is coming to an end. The end came with cheers when he won bull-riding champion but the surprises and cheers were only just beginning. As he got ready to leave someone knocked on the car window and it would change his life forever. Rafe’s Uncle Mack has given him the answer to what his future will be because he left him his ranch and all his belongings in his will.
Rafe used to spend summers with his uncle until he was twelve when his parents said he couldn’t visit anymore since his uncle was ill. It was the time he spent with Mack that taught him to ride horses and gave him his first views of bull riding something he knew he wanted to pursue when he was older. Twelve was an age he would always remember, eighteen was another age he would never forget, it was when he came out to his parents that he was gay and when they disowned him.
Rafe had always been on his own doing everything he could to earn enough money to join the rodeo and have money for food now his uncle has given him a home and a future. He also got reacquainted with Russell Banion a friend from the time he spent with Mack. Although their first meeting didn’t go smoothly it was all smooth sailing moving on. Russell and his father have a ranch next to Rafe’s and they are very successful so Russell doesn’t hesitate to help Rafe with repairs needed before winter sets in.
Rafe has no intention of selling the ranch even when pressured by another neighbor who like his own parents hates gay people and doesn’t feel like that deserve to live with normal people. When Rafe learns that the illness his uncle suffered from was simply being gay, he is determined to find out about his uncle’s life, did he have someone special to love him and feeling the sadness and guilt that he was not there for him.
Rafe and Russell grow close, and of course now that there is money involved his parents come looking for their share. His uncle actually had it written in his will that Rafe’s parents weren’t to get a penny and Rafe was going to honor his wishes, not difficult to do since he wouldn’t want them to have anything either.
Secrets, lies and bigotry threaten everything Rafe holds dear but he now has the family he should have had all his life with Russell and Russell’s dad and he is not alone. Parents should love their children unconditionally, unfortunately that is not always the case and when it is because of who their child chooses to love, bull or cow, okay I stole that from the book couldn’t resist using it, that is just sad.
The next time I get an Andrew Grey book I will definitely not start reading it at 12:00 AM because once I start one of his books, I can’t put it down and the next thing I knew it was 5:00 AM but it was worth it.