Reviewed by Sadonna

TITLE:  Dawn’s Desire

SERIES:  Blue Ice Ranch #1

AUTHOR:  V.L. Locey

PUBLISHER:  self-published

LENGTH:  

RELEASE DATE:  August 14, 2021

BLURB:

Amid fossils, yarrow, and cattle, two men are about to discover a love bigger than the Wyoming sky.

When Nate Pearson left heartache behind in the big city, he never looked back, he couldn’t bear to. Suffering and loss propelled him westward, but once he laid eyes on the Tetons, he knew he’d found a place where he could hide and heal. For over twenty years, the Prairie Smoke Ranch has been his refuge and his salvation. Working under the pale blue sky, he’s been able to keep the pain buried. Then one day while digging a cattle watering system, Nate and his hands unearth a mound of dinosaur bones that will change his life forever.

Once news of the discovery reaches the local university, paleontology professor Bishop Haney arrives with several undergrads to spend the summer excavating and cataloging the find. At first, Nate is unimpressed with the laid-back, surfer dude with the ocean blue eyes. But as the two opposites get to know each other, Nate discovers Bishop might be the balm his aching soul needs.

REVIEW:

Nathan Pearson has been the foreman on the Prairie Smoke Ranch in Wyoming for a long time.  One morning while digging for water, the excavator hits what appears to be a fossilized bone.  The ranch owner, Landon Reece decides to call in the University.  What nobody counts on is new Ph.D. Bishop Haney showing up at Nate’s cabin a 4 am.  Thrown off by Bishop’s nonstop talking and open admiration for him, Nate sets about to get Bishop set up with the find and be on his way.  Nate has been very good at keeping to himself for the past twenty years and he’s really unprepared for how this beautiful young Cali surfer dude with the blonde manbun has him off-balance.  He’s not felt this kind of a pull towards anyone in a VERY long time.

Bishop Haney is beyond excited about the possibility of this find.  He’s anxious to get started, but has no idea about the realities of life out in the field on a ranch.  Things like bears, mountain lions, wolves, have never played into this world before, so when Nate insists that there are things that he needs to do to be safe, well Bishop is reluctant but he gives in 😉  Then there is his fear of horses 🙂  But Nate does his best to make sure Bishop is looked after and safe – which it turns out is more necessary than either of them knows.

Nate tries to stay away from Bishop, but it seems he just can’t.  Certainly Bishop doesn’t want him to stay away either.  He’s extremely observant and he knows Nate is very attracted to him as well and while they hadn’t really planned on it, things get physical. But Nate is still in his head about a lot of stuff from his past.  The more time he spends with Bishop though, the more he feels like maybe he can let some of that go.  He opens up to Bishop and shares more with him than he has anyone since he left his past life behind.  Bishop is a wonderful and caring man and he really wants to be with Nate.

There are some things going on outside of their relationship though that are distracting.  Some having to do with some less than neighborly neighbors, some mysterious things going on at the ranch and then there is the issue of the dinosaur bones and who might want them more than the university.  All of these things have an impact on Bishop and Nate.  But there are wonderful moments as well and it’s clear that these two can have a great future together – that is if they really want it.

This is a really lovely kick-off to a new series, and as such, it appears that some key elements of this story will be solved over the remaining books?  I hadn’t expected the mystery to carry over, but indeed if you’re hoping that all is resolved in this book, you will be disappointed.  While our two MCs do get together, there is obviously more to come.  I loved the way this story unfolded – it wasn’t rushed or insta-lovey.  Their flirtation and then spill over into a relationship was believable and comfortable.  Discovering Nate’s tragic past and the way that built in the story was so tender and sweet.  And discovering his hidden talents was especially fun.  Spending time with Bishop and those important to him also really helped cement the story and their relationship.  For those readers of VL Locey’s Color of Love series, you will enjoy the cross-over here of the ranch owner and his husband.   This love story was believable and I found the characters to be authentic.  I’m excited for the next book which is also set up nicely towards the end of this one 😀  Recommended especially for fans of age-gap and opposites attract stories, or cowboys/city boys stories, or just plain good old-fashioned love stories 😉

RATING: 

BUY LINKS:

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