Gone Surfin' (Cattle Valley 9) by Carol Lynne

In the past books on the Catlle Valley gay soap opera it seemed that everyone found love in this Wyoming small town. But there is one man that has found love elsewhere, and it's just the first citizen, the major of Cattle Valley. During his last winter holiday, Quade fell in love for Kai, a younger professional surfer; their relationship was doomed, 12 years of age difference and thousand of mile of distance divided the two lovers, but that seems not important for their heart. After 10 months Quade is still pining for Kai, and Kai decides to surprise his lover; he arrives in Cattle Valley during one of the worst snow storm ever: not exactly the right impression for Kai to have of the city Quade loves so much. Kai is all in all a tropical flower and to force him to live in Wyoming is like killing his joy.

I like how Carol Lynne built Kai's character: he is young and naivee, all in all the innocent young man you will expect from someone who has always lived day per day in a free style manner. Kai has never really had much trouble in his life, he is content with the few he has and he doesn't wish for more, at least not now. But he is not selfish, he would be ready to turn upside down his life for the love of Quade. Problem is that it's quite obvious that where Quade probably would be able to live everywhere, it's not the same for Kai.

As I already noticed in the previous books, there is an high and down pacing in this series: some books are very moving, almost dramatic, some others are nice and quiet, without too much angst. This one belongs to the second type: Quade and Kai are already in love when the book starts, so there is no play of take and let it go between them, and the reader knows that they have only to find a way to shorten the distance between them (and not only the physical one). The big question is: will Quade leave the winter paradise of Cattle Valley, or will Kai discover that he can be a surfer also in Cattle Valley, maybe with a board on the snow instead that on the sea?

The Last Bouquet (Cattle Valley 10) by Carol Lynne

What I started to call probably after the third or fourth episode, the Gay Soap Opera is arrived to its tenth installment. Even if from the blurb it could seem that this was only the story of Hearn and Tyler, it's instead also the story of Nate and his double-the-love partners Rio and Ryan.

One of the thing that I like of this soap opera, and probably the reason why a lot of people continue to buy book after book, is that the author introduces her characters little by little, giving some hints on their story in the book of other couples, to then devote an entire book only to them. In this way, no one of the characters is really dropped after you finish a book, since you continue to find them wandering around the city, Cattle Valley, an utopia city for LGBT people, and maybe come back on the front line like for Nate in this last book.

In one of the previous book we read how Hearn lost his lover Mitch in a car accident that involved also Tyler, his best friend. In following books, we learn how Mitch wasn't exactly a saint, cheating behind Hearn's shoulder, but Hearn continues to mourn his lost lover. People could think that he is destroyed by the pain, and instead he is eating alive by remorse. Hearn didn't love Mitch when he died, and hadn't had for years. Mitch treated him like a lesser man, always putting him down. Hearn had started to have feelings for Tyler and when Mitch died after a bitter confrontation over Tyler, Hearn thought he didn't deserve the love of a good man like Tyler.

Tyler, the florist of Cattle Valley, is a tiny and shy man who can't stand violence. From an abusive family, Tyler needs the peace and quiet that his work as florist allows him to have. He is bringing a torch for Hearn for years, but he has not the courage to confess it. But they live in a small town, and their friend intervene, someone needs to tell to Hearn how Mitch really was. Obviously there is an happy ending for Tyler and Hearn and this is something I like in this series: the author usually didn't spend all her time in letting us read the trouble two men as to face to getting together to end the book when they finally get together. Usually the odds of their relationship are surpassed quite soon, and the reader have plenty to read about their happiness together.

Then maybe Carol Lynne picks up those same characters again later for another story, like Nate Gills. Nate, Ryan and Rio were the first threesome to introduce the new series of Cattle Valley, spin off of a previous series Good-time boys. During all the following books, they grew with the series and the city, and they are almost the core of the series, all turn around them. And now the author decides to give Nate a little more space, telling a bit more on his past. Nate is the naughty elf of Cattle Valley, and his new story serves to Carol Lynne to write some nice and erotic sex scenes. Hearn and Tyler are the sweet couple of this new book, they have their share of sex, but all in all, they tend to be more sweet than erotic; on the other hand, Nate confirms is naughty core, and the scene that involves chocolate sauce and a threesome is quite nice.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/1907010904/?tag=elimyrevandra-20

Volume one of Cattle Valley is still my favorite (because I just love Nate, Rio and Ryan), but this volume is a very close second with better developed stories and great writing. The two romances in it were nearly perfect, with some nice surprises and the hot sex and true love I’ve come to expect from the series.

Gone Surfin’

Mayor Quade has been pining for the young lover (and professional surfer) he met, and left behind, after his annual vacation to Hawaii. When Kai unexpectedly shows up in Cattle Valley, Quade is delighted; until he realizes how out of place Kai appears and feels. When Kai gets the chance of a lifetime to study with a famous surfer, and boost his career and dreams of designing surfboards, Quade must decide if he can let him go.

I really enjoyed this story because of the dynamic between a more mature man settled in life and career, and a young man who is really just starting his. The men are about 12 years apart, but their experiences are much more distant. I also liked how, despite the series’ name, the idea that everyone must settle and have their HEA in Cattle Valley is challenged. There is a lot of hot sex, but also real issues such as long distance relationships and major life changes that the men must face. Kai’s career is just about to take off, but Quade also loves his work as mayor. This isn’t simple angst over miscommunication. One of these men must make a hugely life-altering decision in order for the relationship to survive. Of course, many of our favorite town residents pop in, including the town’s wannabe cupid, Nate, and the opening scene overlaps with the ending of a previous story. This continues the sense of familiarity I’ve come to love in this series. Excellent.

The Last Bouquet

This story surprised me a bit. We have learned about Hearn, and his cheating lover Mitch, in previous stories (in particular Jax and Logan’s). Mitch was killed in a car accident and Hearn has been mourning him with weekly flower bouquets at his grave. So, I expected this tale to be a cliché wherein the best friend, who’s been in love all this time, convinces the protagonist to live again. And that didn’t happen! Yeah!

Tyler has been in love with Hearn for some time. But, it wasn’t really unrequited. Hearn feels guilty about Mitch’s death. He told Mitch he was leaving him just before the accident. The story gets right into it when Jax goes and confesses his affair with Mitch to Hearn. Now Hearn knows what Mitch was really like, and can maybe start a relationship with Tyler. And they immediately start making up for lost time with hot sex. Of course, both men have issues with self esteem and jealousy but those are minor. The real shake-up for them is the little girl Hearn has fallen for at the foster care center. Having just committed, are they ready for a family?

Lynne weaves a secondary storyline about Nate into the main romance by having Hearn run for mayor against Nate. When Nate learns he must show his birth certificate in order to run, he must face his past and tell Rio and Ryan the truth about who he really is. I’m always happy to see my favorite twink, but this story was a little more than just spicy sex with the trio. Even a solid relationship faces bumps, as these three must do here. Also, since they are established, Nate’s plotline didn’t detract from Hearn’s, it supplemented it. This story was excellent, and the added dimension of family took it to a new level. Until now, each romance ended with a committed couple. Most gay romances never go beyond this. But, surely many gay couples would want children just as straight couples do? Of course the answer is yes, and we finally see that here. I hope Lynne brings the issue up for another couple or two. I’d love to see how surrogacy or the like would be tackled. Overall, highly recommended! ( )