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cheesehead_reader's review against another edition
4.0
I've been on a romance slump for my last couple of reads. Books I thought would've been 4 stars or higher that ended up not measuring up so this was even more of a delight. I think I love Queer romances because it's harder.. not harder to love but harder because of outside sources fighting against you... and a cowboy romance there's definitely going to be people who don't want to see you together. This was sweet and sexy (but not overdone). Definitely some hard topics with bullying and lack of parental support plagued Hugo but that was nicely balanced by the Woods family. The audiobook narration was okay (wasn't thrilled with "Hugo's" voice ) and some overreaction on the voicing. This book definitely served its purpose of bringing me out of my romance slump.
3.75 stars
3.75 stars
mmromancereviewed's review against another edition
4.0
Brand & Hugo's story is a take on the best friend's brother trope with a modest age gap and a teenage crush then a ten year separation and it works on the surface, but I found myself wanting more depth from the characters...
It's a slow burn, as the characters spend large chunks of the first part of the book in angst and avoiding each other... and even some of the second half... the side elements of hurt/comfort and past abuse help to elevate the story and give the characters new things to focus on.
Hugo's character is pretty straightforward - he left town to escape and left loose ends that he wanted to see if he could pick up again... Brand's character is more complex and also more frustrating... which builds tension, but for me sometimes takes a little away from the story...
His Fresh Start Cowboy will appeal to those who love a slow burn, angsty romance with a fair amount of internal struggle and the boss/employee push and pull...
It's a slow burn, as the characters spend large chunks of the first part of the book in angst and avoiding each other... and even some of the second half... the side elements of hurt/comfort and past abuse help to elevate the story and give the characters new things to focus on.
Hugo's character is pretty straightforward - he left town to escape and left loose ends that he wanted to see if he could pick up again... Brand's character is more complex and also more frustrating... which builds tension, but for me sometimes takes a little away from the story...
His Fresh Start Cowboy will appeal to those who love a slow burn, angsty romance with a fair amount of internal struggle and the boss/employee push and pull...
cliffordainia's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
awishman's review against another edition
4.0
Was this the best thing I've ever read? No. But did I enjoy this for what it is? Absolutely.
daniellecheri's review against another edition
emotional
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
booksblanketsandahotbeverage's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
piperclover's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
I really really enjoyed this but I was expecting to like it a little bit more because I absolutely loved the third book in the series so I'm a little let down that it wasn't quite that good. I already already really enjoyed these characters because I read the third book first and especially already really liked brand because I've seen more of his storyine even if I didn't know the back story as much.
I think both Hugo and brand have really interesting families thations because they're not overwhelmingly traumatic the way that a lot of back stories tend to be but they're just traumatic enough that they feel realistic if that makes sense. They both have old hurts and new hurts to get through them but it's not so overwhelmingly bleak or devastating, instead it's just things that real life people have to work through.
My biggest gripe with this that the pacing is weird. There's a lot of tension and conflict throughout the entire book so it's not boring by any means it's just that there's this massive spike in events in the last 10% of the book. I would have really preferred it to be a little bit more spread out, maybe in the last 25% so Brand and Hugo could maybe break up a little earlier so that we don't get the break up then immediately the stabbing then the conversation with Brand's dad all in 10% at the very end . Wish we had seen more of the oldest brother Colt because I think he's an interesting character and it's in an interesting situation in the family dynamic. Brands 2 younger sisters are pretty much non-existent so it's sort of annoying that they keep being brought up when they aren't on screen literally at all.
Having read out of order means that I pieced together some points that I didn't even realize were missing in the third book and it's actually really fun. But I can also see where this book hints about where the next book is going and I think it's done in a really good way where you wouldn't guess that this particular point connects to a sequel unless you already knew.
I think both Hugo and brand have really interesting families thations because they're not overwhelmingly traumatic the way that a lot of back stories tend to be but they're just traumatic enough that they feel realistic if that makes sense. They both have old hurts and new hurts to get through them but it's not so overwhelmingly bleak or devastating, instead it's just things that real life people have to work through.
My biggest gripe with this that the pacing is weird. There's a lot of tension and conflict throughout the entire book so it's not boring by any means it's just that there's this massive spike in events in the last 10% of the book. I would have really preferred it to be a little bit more spread out, maybe in the last 25% so Brand and Hugo could maybe
Having read out of order means that I pieced together some points that I didn't even realize were missing in the third book and it's actually really fun. But I can also see where this book hints about where the next book is going and I think it's done in a really good way where you wouldn't guess that this particular point connects to a sequel unless you already knew.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse and Violence
readingvoyage's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Minor: Bullying and Injury/Injury detail
There is one minor scene with a forced kissed.mirocchi's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
bfdbookblog's review against another edition
3.0
This is a spin-off series from the Clean Slate Ranch series…I don’t know that you necessarily need to read that series but there are a lot of characters from it in this book and we get to know Hugo in the last couple of books from that series. The premise is a little different but still sort of the same…a struggling ranch that is trying something new that offers help to those who need it when they need it most. And there is a lack of communication between characters which seems to be the theme for all these books.
A couple of times Hugo said he should have stayed in California and I’m kind of with him on that one. He did get to reunite with his childhood friend, Rem, which was good for him. But honestly, he just continued to get kicked while he was down. The Woods family does stand by him when he needs them, like when he was a teenager going through his original troubles.
As for the romance…it was kind of blah. Brand was kind of just blah. He repeatedly reminded Hugo he was an employee and that he was doing what he could to take care of said employee. When his friend tells him what he’s done…he sort of apologizes but it’s all very befuddled and even the lifetime crush thing didn’t feel right. Brand was caveman-ish when he claimed he’d do whatever it took to protect Hugo, but it just didn’t work for me with these two.
And the way Brand was brought out of the closet by his dad and the way his dad reacted was a lot.
I read this because I got it from Netgalley and I’ll read the next one because, same, but I probably will be done once I get through that one because I’m sort of over it.
A couple of times Hugo said he should have stayed in California and I’m kind of with him on that one. He did get to reunite with his childhood friend, Rem, which was good for him. But honestly, he just continued to get kicked while he was down. The Woods family does stand by him when he needs them, like when he was a teenager going through his original troubles.
As for the romance…it was kind of blah. Brand was kind of just blah. He repeatedly reminded Hugo he was an employee and that he was doing what he could to take care of said employee. When his friend tells him what he’s done…he sort of apologizes but it’s all very befuddled and even the lifetime crush thing didn’t feel right. Brand was caveman-ish when he claimed he’d do whatever it took to protect Hugo, but it just didn’t work for me with these two.
And the way Brand was brought out of the closet by his dad and the way his dad reacted was a lot.
I read this because I got it from Netgalley and I’ll read the next one because, same, but I probably will be done once I get through that one because I’m sort of over it.