Reviewed by Anabela
TITLE: Ruby Run
SERIES: Tin Star Witches: The Witches of Ruby Gulch #3
AUTHOR: Sam Burns
PUBLISHER: Self-published
RELEASE DATE: May 10, 2020
LENGTH: 208 pages
BLURB:
Augustus Ambrose never planned to return to the United States after graduation. His mother’s final letter, with its dire threats about what would await if he did, had been more than enough to keep him away. But when his Aunt Grace dies unexpectedly and leaves him her ranch in the New Mexico Territory, he can’t ignore it. Grace gave him everything, and he can’t let her legacy suffer for his childish fear of his mother.
Griffith Taylor doesn’t want much. Quiet nights on the range, a big blue sky, and no rattlesnakes in his boots. He definitely doesn’t want to travel to Boston to take care of his late boss’s heir. When he lays eyes on his charge, everything changes. Not just because Augie is the best looking greenhorn he’s ever clapped eyes on, oh no.
Someone wants Griff’s new boss dead, and they’re not afraid to use forbidden magic to get the job done. Griff can handle himself in a fight, but this job might be more than he’s prepared for.
REVIEW:
Range witch Griff took pride in being a scowling, rude, mean brute when it suited him. It kept unwanted attention at bay, allowing him to be just by himself and only with the company of his equally mean, bad tempered guardian(familiar) horse, Walt. Traveling all those miles from home just to fetch what he’d expected a prissy, fancy, greenhorn dandy heir has only increased his foul mood and filled him with dread imagining the ride back. But, the heir turned out to be the complete opposite of a snob dandy. Augie Ambrose, in fact, was unpretentious, earnest…and dangerous to Griff’s peace of mind.
If I ever imagined someone to portray the saying “the bigger they are, the harder they fall “, I found it in Griff. Augie’s sweet smiles became the big guy’s kryptonite, and I laughed every time he went out of his way just to keep the younger man happy. One look at those wide, innocent green eyes and he’d have done anything in his power to keep them sparkling with joy. Especially when someone was trying to dim that sparkle forever.
Angie, on the other hand, was immediately attracted to Griff’s casual confidence, stunning body and wicked smile. And he liked how safe Griff made him feel, how, for the first time in his life he felt wanted and appreciated for himself, as opposed to only being taken advantage of and ridiculed.
Their journey towards The Lost Ranch started with a first attempt at Augie’s life, causing an overall tone of wariness and fear to their departure. But the close proximity also allowed them to act on their attraction, and while their chemistry was steaming hot, what I enjoyed most was their moments filled with tenderness, and the downright cute ones when Griff would kiss Augie’s cheek or the latter would cuddle close to Griff’s bigger body. Whatever gestures of public affection they might have shown were never met with censure or disgust, which I really appreciated… mostly because it allowed Griff to state his claim to the sweet man who has become “his Augie” and no longer only his boss.
I admit that books with grouchy, tough men turning soft and caring when in love are my catnip, and this one is incredibly well written, heart-warming, sweet and entertaining. The Wild West atmosphere didn’t hurt either and the attempts to Augie’s life and who was behind them added danger and suspense to the story. I loved Griff, Augie and their romance, the light, humorous writing style and the laughs, many of which thanks to the opinionated four legged companions. But, if I were to make an observation, if would be regarding the use of magic, or lack thereof, in the story. I wish the author had given a better understanding of range witches and their powers, and of Augie’s magic as well. Apart from that, I found Ruby Run an absolutely lovely, charming reading experience.
RATING: 
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