Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Nowhere Ranch

by Heidi Cullinan (Goodreads Author)

4.08 of 5 stars 4.08 · rating details · 1,634 ratings · 260 reviews

Roe Davis is a man who works hard, keeps to himself, and never mixes business with pleasure — until he takes a weekend away from his new job at Nowhere Ranch and runs into the owner at the only gay bar for two hundred miles. Getting involved with the boss is a bad idea, but Travis Loving is hard to say no to, especially when it turns out their kinks line up like a pair of...more

ebook, 240 pages

Published February 15th 2011 by Loose Id

more details... edit details

Get a copy:

More…

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

Between Sinners and Saints by Marie Sexton

Best M/M Romance Published in 2011

11th out of 399 books — 860 voters

Best Gay BDSM

10th out of 419 books — 561 voters

More lists with this book...

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 2,549)

filter | sort: default (?) | rating details

Dec 05, 2012 Monique ~ Sinfully Sexy Book Reviews rated it 4 of 5 stars

"My name is Munroe Davies and this is the story of how I found Home"

This story is beautifully and poignantly narrated by Roe - he isn't well educated, but he's smart and doesn't need fancy words to illustrate his emotions and feelings, he's just straight forward and genuine, with no corruption or insincerity. There is only one language for Roe and it is simple honesty in black or white - no grey areas.... his words just broke my heart and made me smile at the innocence of the rendition of his...more

43 likes · like · see review

Jan 27, 2013 Kris (KindleRomance) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: lendable-nook

I loved Roe and Travis! Roe had such a low self-esteem because of the way his family treated him when they found out he was gay. It took him a very long time to get past that. Travis was strong but wary of loving again. These two made a great team, and I'm glad Travis stuck by him the entire time. The story takes place over several years which I also enjoyed. I loved Haley, Roe's best friend. She was the first true friend he had, and she was everything he needed.

The sex was off the chart steamy!...more

13 likes · like · see review

Apr 12, 2011 Lauraadriana rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: loved-it, m-m, cried-like-a-baby, lmao, love-them-cowboys

I've read Heidi Cullihan's other books Special Deliveryand Double Blind those were pretty good...this book was great. I usually give a book five starts if I'm bawling like a three month old at the end...and this one had me there.

I absolutely loved it...what a great story.

In this book, Roe tell us the story of how he found a home in Nowhere Ranch. At the age of twenty Roe's family discovered he was gay and basically ran him out of this home, he ended up in a bad situation and went to prison. Once...more I've read Heidi Cullihan's other books Special Deliveryand Double Blind those were pretty good...this book was great. I usually give a book five starts if I'm bawling like a three month old at the end...and this one had me there.

I absolutely loved it...what a great story.

In this book, Roe tell us the story of how he found a home in Nowhere Ranch. At the age of twenty Roe's family discovered he was gay and basically ran him out of this home, he ended up in a bad situation and went to prison. Once he got out he left his home state of Iowa and spent the next few year moving around working in ranches short term, but never getting close to anyone.

That is until he got to Nowhere Ranch, while there he discovers early on that him and the boss Travis Loving have great chemistry and he's happy to get some fun with Travis, but never a relationship...he doesn't do that...he is not the type to fall in love...he just wants easy, dirty sex and nothing more.

This book is a pretty straightforward love story, they meet, they start something, they have issues, it almost ends, they sort it out...HEA

But this book was just so lovely, Roe's voice is so real and inviting, you feel like you can hear him and see his face change as he's saying something funny or something sad. Travis was a great character and I LOVED the fact that he was a bit of a bear and had a bit of a paunch, but was also sexy and hot and cared for Roe so unconditionally.

And the friends OMG! This book is worth reading just to meet Haley...she's awesome, kind and brave and very strong. I loved her character, and I laughed my ass off as she told of a self righteous pastor for hurting Roe.

"You can't say that you need to burn witches and shun gay men but eat pork and wear all the mixed fibers you want!!" How can anyone argue with that kind of logic?? Haley Rocks!

This book was so sweet and lovely and just good...so much so, you almost forget about the eyebrow scorchingly HOTTT AS HELL SEX that Roe and Travis have...Almost :o) And to top it off, they're cowboys...What more could a girl want?

I recommend A LOT.
(less)

10 likes · like · see review

Feb 15, 2011 Alyosha rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: age-gap, bdsm, contemporary, cowboys-ranchers-farmers, cry-your-heart-out, family-drama, loved, top-melting-smexing-hot, kids

So good I'm speechless. Touching, sweet, sexy read with wonderful, real, flawed and beautiful characters. I had huge expectations and Heidi more than fulfilled them.

6 likes · like · see review

Feb 02, 2012 DarienMoya rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-reads, fave-m-m-characters, favorites, my-m-m-lovin, tie-me-up-and-use-me, let-the-tears-flow

^^NOWHERE RANCH IS FREAKING AWESOME!!^^
4.5

For all that is sweet and holy, I was not expecting Nowhere Ranch to be so awesmazing. I imagined cowboys, hay lifting, and all that fun stuff, but it’s what our main characters did behind closed doors that make this book shine. I gotta tell you folks my pants abandoned ship 25 pages into the book and did not return. I have ceased to go looking for them. Can I get a ‘hawt, hawt’, and a ‘bloody fucking shit’ because you will be saying both those phrases...more ^^NOWHERE RANCH IS FREAKING AWESOME!!^^
4.5

For all that is sweet and holy, I was not expecting Nowhere Ranch to be so awesmazing. I imagined cowboys, hay lifting, and all that fun stuff, but it’s what our main characters did behind closed doors that make this book shine. I gotta tell you folks my pants abandoned ship 25 pages into the book and did not return. I have ceased to go looking for them. Can I get a ‘hawt, hawt’, and a ‘bloody fucking shit’ because you will be saying both those phrases when you read this book.

Roe Davis is just a man who works hard, and lives for himself. He’s been alone for quite sometime, and that’s the way he likes it. Moving from one ranch to another is his way, because he won’t settle. A quick hook-up here and there, but nothing long lasting. Working at Nowhere Ranch it seems perfect, until he goes into town to get laid and run into his boss. Well Roe doesn’t mix business and pleasure but with his boss Travis Loving, Roe might find all that he’s been looking for.

Though Travis plays an important role in the story, it’s Roe that steals the show. It’s as if he said ‘hey Darien do you wanna see what I do each day in and out of the bedroom?’. It was the most intimate thing I have ever read. Roe’s fears, sadness, and love became apart of me. It’s as if Heidi Cullinan gifted me with watching Roe grow, and grow he did. I felt like an absolute voyeur throughout the book, and that my friend is due to some awesmazing writing.

What Roe and Travis get up to is not for the faint of heart. Say what you want but it takes skill to write a BDSM novel, because with BDSM it’s more than sex. It becomes trust, and showing that one person all the things you will never share with anyone else. Roe is this complex character, sexual yet shy, confident yet without confidence, and he fascinates me. Travis is simply beautiful and just such a realistic character. Not all about the hard tone abs, and the stamina of young men, he is just a kind man that likes to play dirty (oh yeh).

Overall, this book is a fantastic read and fantastically sexy. There is so much to say but I don’t wanna ruin this for you. I can say that this book has the best female character I have ever read in M/M, *Haley I heart you*. This was fantastic and I just effing love it, that is all.

More of my reviews and ramblings at PANTS OFF REVIEWS (less)

10 likes · like · see review

May 15, 2011 Emanuela ~plastic duck~ rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommended to Emanuela ~plastic duck~ by: Nikyta

Shelves: bdsm-power-exchange-slave, rainbow-gay, glbt, romance

01/18/13: Revised rating after a couple of years of reading m/m: from 5 to 4.

I liked Roe's voice. I found myself not reading, but listening to him, with my head cocked to one side, hanging to his words like a rope that could keep me safe, because this story is so intense at times that I felt as if Roe's pain was mine.

What I really appreciated in the relationship between the main characters is that they are very practical. Roe is not too keen on the relationship thing with Travis, but he doesn't...more

4 likes · like · see review

Dec 13, 2011 Ladypessi rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommended to Ladypessi by: Alyosha

Shelves: category-challenge, book-i-m-totally-in-love-with, bdsm, cowboys-firefighters-cops-doctors-e, hot-as-hell, have-to-read, kids, love, m-m, made-me-teary, touching-heartbreaking

When I started this book I didn't know what to expect. I certainly didn't expect heartbreaking (and warming) story about bigotry, hate, shame, friendship, finding home and love. The story of a lost man who was too afraid and ashamed of his own life to let himself find love and home really sucked me in and brought me to my knees.

This story really broke my heart at times and it made me cry. It made me feel warm and giddy and all hot and bothered. It made me feel a rollercoaster of feelings while I...more

7 likes · like · see review

Jul 14, 2011 D rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: bdsm, a-nice-change, a-ganga-banga-thanga-book-i-read, cowboy, bear, serious-kinkfairy-in-da-house, mmm-hmm, fisting, my-favorites, gb3-challange-book, dom-sub-s-m

Thank you Heidi! Oh yeah, I picked the right book to read...I knew it was a five star read for me into the first few pages.

"Now that I'd made the decision to give in to Loving, I didn't see any reason not to sin as big as I liked. I mean, if you're gonna steal a chicken, eat the whole damn thing."

If there were more stars, this book would get them all! Ate it up like a warm slice of homemade apple pie. Yummmm. Don't know why it took me so long to read this. But it came right on time.

3 likes · like · see review

Jan 22, 2013 Kukko rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: mm-az-friend-challenge, 1-app-nook, a-happily-ever-after, 2013-amazeballs, a-contemporary, a-erotic, a-romance, character-cowboy, sex-mix-m-m, 2013-fave, z-2013

This story has everything I love - difficult characters, a rocky romance, an actual storyline, super hot alternative sex (in this case - fisting) and HEA!

25 year-old Monroe Davis is driven away from home by his homophobic religious family. After some time in jail and working on various ranches, he ends up on Nowhere Ranch where he meets the owner, 40 year old Travis Loving. Travis has his own skeletons, but what is immediately obvious to them both is that they are sexually compatible….they both...more

2 likes · like · see review

Jan 28, 2012 Jo * Smut-Dickted * rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: bdsm, m-m, bdsm-group-read, 2012-a-to-z-title-m-m-challenge, 2012-jan-hol-event-challenge, 2011-mm-award-winners-challenge, 2012-jan-kindlesmut-challenge, read-on-kindle, rrc-challenge-of-challenges, 2012-a-to-z-bdsm-challenge

I cried. I never cry. What a fantastic book. Full of amazing men and women who are just about the best folks I've ever read about. I'm sure others have done fantastic reviews and waxed poetic about the characters, the setting, the way everything flows so smoothly - the way the people in this book care for each other. And the ending. Does it get any better than that? I cannot believe I waited so long to read it. Next time I do that y'all slap me o.k.???

10 likes · like · see review

Jun 05, 2012 Sandra rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: novella, m-m, bdsm, contemporary-romance, nook-lendable, sexy-cowboys, group-read

4.5 stars These books keep sneaking up on me! Watching Roe's progression and maturing and growing was amazing. I liked the way their relationship progressed in general, where they both started out really wanting just simple sex but you just can't help how you grow to love someone over time. All of Roe's issues were done well and revealed slowly over time so he didn't just seem like a whiny, insecure commit-a-phobe the whole time. I though I was going to give this a slightly lower rating because...more

1 like · like · see review

Oct 20, 2012 Amanda rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: ebooks-i-own, kindle-mm-read, cowboys, bdsm-ds

2.5 stars but felt nice and rounded it to 3. DNF at 47%.

I'm done with this book. Not my cup of tea. Not only am I really not into BDSM a whole lot, but I'm definitely not interested in people referring to their partners as animals over and over.

2 likes · like · see review

Apr 21, 2011 Eyre rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance, gay-glbt-mm-mmf

Sometimes a girl just needs to read some angsty, kinky manlove. Cullinan never disappoints me. Her characters are just angsty enough and definitely kinky enough to hold my attention.

3 likes · like · see review

Sep 20, 2011 Frances McNeal rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-2011

I'm a little torn on this book. I'll admit I have a hard time with reading in the first person and only ever getting Roe's POV. I would have loved to have read Travis POV. Regardless, it was a very emotional story and I very much enjoyed it. Roe, as in many books of this type, has been demonized by his family for being gay and he runs. And he keeps running in hopes of never getting attached because really if your family hates you then how could anyone else love you. Roe ends up at Nowhere Ranch...more

3 likes · like · see review

Aug 20, 2012 Gwenith added it

I pretty much got NOWHERE in this book therefore I can not place stars on it and I will NOT grade this down!

" My issues~
I hate fisting.
I hate pony play & dog barking crap.
I hate call me boy shit.
I hate desprate "let me go out and find sombody to fuck, shit.

Soooo why did I give this a try~ I freaking love this writer she is gifted~and I can deal with a few fetsh's but this book has so freaking many...bottom line NFM~"

Yes, I would recommend for people who really like fetsh~But as for me...th...more

4 likes · like · see review

May 14, 2013 Ayanna rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed, favorites, evocative-or-edifying, non-pulpy, magnum-opus

So damn sweet!
This one really blew me away. The characters really spoke to me and seemed realistic. Not once did any of it scream of angst to me, which is an amazing achievement because I've read so much and have become rather jaded towards the hurt/comfort genre. But hot damn! This one was just wonderful.

I was a little bothered at first about the rough play and the psuedo-but-not-quite-BDSM (because I have come to take offense at misportrayed BDSM or contrived usage of it even though it's defin...more

3 likes · like · see review

Feb 27, 2013 Kazza rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favourites

I was blown away by the writing in this book. I don't always like one POV in this genre, it can make the story stilted, one sided and less passionate. Recently I have read 3 books that have been 1 person's POV that have been crackers, and this is one of them. Roe's POV makes you really live, breathe and feel this story.

There are some great reviews here already but I wish to add my thoughts and feelings as well.

I truly loved the two main characters Monroe Davis (Roe), and Travis Loving. It helps...more I was blown away by the writing in this book. I don't always like one POV in this genre, it can make the story stilted, one sided and less passionate. Recently I have read 3 books that have been 1 person's POV that have been crackers, and this is one of them. Roe's POV makes you really live, breathe and feel this story.

There are some great reviews here already but I wish to add my thoughts and feelings as well.

I truly loved the two main characters Monroe Davis (Roe), and Travis Loving. It helps me to get involved when I have at least one character that is embraceable, having two is a bonus.

The book is a good psychological study on how authority figures - parents, relatives in general and, if invovled, religious representatives can twist the minds of young people that leave scars well into adulthood. I know how it festers, I work with the end results.

Roe is a nice, simple soul - work the farm, obey your parents, be a good son, be heterosexual, make babies. He wants to fulfill all those roles. But he is gay. His family don't deal, and take the life he knows away from him. They toss Roe out and make him feel that nothing matters except the fact that he's gay; everything else is wrapped up in that. He can't be a good rancher, worker, brother, son or person because it comes back to the disdain and pure guilt significant people have cast his way. Because he is gay, people he believes in have told him that he is sinning, dark, he needs to/can fix himself. What compounds this, for Roe, is that he likes rough, hard, sex, he likes what he likes, but there is a punishment factor in his sexual liaisons. Roe can't stay still for too long unless his sexual desires, and the disgust he feels others have towards him, catches up. One person in particular keeps his fears alive. He has been a drifter for 5, isolating years. The thing that he fears is carried around inside his head, in his psyche, the beliefs that others have forced upon him, so no matter where he goes it goes right along with him. He takes a while to work that one out, slowly his inner voice starts to break on through. Help comes, as well, through Nowhere Ranch and the accepting lot that either own it (Loving), work it, or become his friends by way of it.

Travis Loving has his own set of problems that come from "doing the right thing" by getting married and living a lie. He comes out late and there are inherant problems with that as well. He has lost his job because of his sexual orientation, although of course it never is directly because of that, it's shadier, just 'too many maths professors'. His lover, who came to ranch with him in Nebraska, couldn't hack the life and left him. Loving doesn't want that again, he is dealing with his own demons plus having another potential runner on his hands with Roe. He is older, 42, to Roe's 25, so he is patient and gives Roe rough, hard sex to stay him. He knows that Roe cannot handle relationships, if he makes it loving sex Roe will bolt, so he makes his predilections work for them both, developing a relationship that doesn't have the "r" word spoken out loud.

There are a few secondary characters, and then there is Haley, a 19 year old extroverted, bundle of kindness, feistiness and honesty. She won't take no for an answer and pulls Roe out of his shell. Haley also gives a couple of religious arseholes what for. Love her, she is who I allow in my life, I was very attached to Haley's character. She gives so much, including the ultimate in gifts to Roe and his family, nuclear and extended.

I have to say the sex is intense, if you're just thinking about M/M then maybe start slower, unless you're open minded. There is a lot of arse play, including fisting, in this book so if that bothers you, or you feel judgemental, don't read it. It was necessary and perfect for the characters and the book.

I really like Heidi Cullinan, Nowhere Ranch and Special Delivery are keepers, re-readers, and special to me because they both have a meaning. They are about individuals who are quite affected by loss and some narrow, prejudiced minds around them. Keep going Heidi, I enjoy your books, and while not everyone can evoke the same strength of emotions, most can. I love the social commentary, we're in the 21st century more minds and hearts need to be opened. Gay marriage, adoption and acceptance are important.

(less)

2 likes · like · see review

Mar 09, 2011 Feliz rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, jw, bdsm

Monroe “Roe” Davis loves his home in Algona, Iowa. He’s been a normal Iowa farmer’s boy – okay, he’s not the brightest bulb in the lamp as his cousin Kayla never fails to lovingly point out tho him since he has problems at school, but he’s hard working and good with sheep – until the day his parents found his stash of gay porn. After that day, nothing is ever the same. At some point, Roe can’t take all the preaching and trying to “heal” him with prayer anymore and leaves, first his parents’ farm...more Monroe “Roe” Davis loves his home in Algona, Iowa. He’s been a normal Iowa farmer’s boy – okay, he’s not the brightest bulb in the lamp as his cousin Kayla never fails to lovingly point out tho him since he has problems at school, but he’s hard working and good with sheep – until the day his parents found his stash of gay porn. After that day, nothing is ever the same. At some point, Roe can’t take all the preaching and trying to “heal” him with prayer anymore and leaves, first his parents’ farm, and then, after a bar fight got him imprisoned, he leaves his home town for good.
Life isn’t easy for a highschool dropout and former convict, though. Roe scratches along as a ranch hand for several years, a restless wanderer, always careful not to let a place or another person affect him.

His latest change of jobs takes him to Nowhere Ranch, Nebraska. The owner, Travis Loving, seems to be a decent guy; although he was a highschool teacher before he turned organic rancher, he’s not above trusting Roe’s advice when it comes to practical knowledge. Otherwise, Roe is left in peace, he has his own apartment, and he’s quite comfortable with his new job. His only problem is, he has needs – and in order to fulfill those, he has to take a three hour’s drive to the next gay bar. Which he does, one weekend when Loving is away.
But who’s the first person Roe sees as he walks into the bar, horny and determined to get laid, no matter what? Travis Loving, of all people. Roe’s life has taught him that keeping his sexual preferences to himself is the sensible thing to do. The last person who should know that Roe is gay should be his boss, and Roe almost panicks – until it dawns on him that there can be only one reason why Loving would be in that bar, same as Roe’s. Through an initially awkward conversation they discover that their respective needs indeed seem to match perfectly, and the evening brings Roe some of the best sex he has ever had in his life. In the morning, Roe and Travis agree on getting together again back at the ranch, with the understanding that it’s just sex and doesn’t affect their working relationship.

This seems to work out just fine for both of them, at least in the beginning. Both men are very much into BDSM, and pretty heavy stuff at that. Over the course of the book, they also browse almost the entire spectrum of role play, including some puppy play and pony play (which I found a little out of place, but hey, one man’s meat…). The scenes are deeply emotional and always serve the purpose of getting Roe and Travis closer together as their mutual trust deepens.
The fierceness of their scenes sometimes borders on disturbing. Roe craves utter sexual submission and pain which is a perfect match for Travis’s urge for complete domination. Yet, Travis isn’t some garden variety Dom who knows all the answers. Travis makes mistakes, he has his own past he needs to come to terms with, and in the beginning he hasn’t yet learned to read Roe very well. This finds its point of culmination during one of their scenes when Travis lets himself be carried away to a point where he almost causes Roe real damage. It’s not only Travis’s fault, though, since Roe fails to stop him in time. But Travis is willing and able to learn to pay better attention to Roe’s needs, and in turn Roe makes concessions to Travis’s imperfections as he learns that he can really trust Travis, not only in bed, but also with his heart. Both men find reassurance and solace as they grow into their respective roles. Gradually their ability to talk to each other transcends the sex and filters down to their everyday life until their sexual affair evolves to a loving relationship between two equally strong men who are on par with each other in every aspect.
Travis and Roe are perfect examples of Heidi Cullinan’s awesome talent for creating vivid and believable characters, which is all the more impressive since we have only Roe’s narrative voice for characterization.

However, this book had some issues which ultimately kept it from being exceptional for me. My first problem was Haley, the ranch manager’s daughter. She’s surely a well – drawn, positive character, and she’s surely very important for Roe’s character development. But here lies also the core of my problem with her, since I found Haley’s role was too big. For the last third of the book, she almost steals Roe’s and Travis’s thunder. Towards the end, it’s even her who calls the shots, pushing Roe and Travis towards a life-altering decision that should have been entirely theirs to make and with which at least Travis wasn’t entirely comfortable, which left me, as a reader, uncomfortable in turn.

The ending was, in fact, the biggest problem I had with this book. After all the darkness, the internal and external fights, the angst-filled struggle for love of two tough, hard men, I found the happy – happy – joy – joy pro-homo world of the ending a bit overdone. This is something that always bothers me with Heidi Cullinan’s writing (which I otherwise adore): She writes impressive, harshly real stories with hard-edged characters and then gives them mushy, double-chocolate-cherry-topped-fudge-iced endings that make my teeth hurt with their sugary sweetness. Yet I’m well aware that many love Cullinan’s stories just for this; those who do can have their fancy here in spades.

Read the entire review on reviewsbyjessewaves.com(less)

2 likes · like · see review

Jul 13, 2011 Stacey Jo rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: mm-contemporary, mm-cowboys-ranchers, mm-i-own, mm-i-ve-read, mm-bdsm-kink-fetish, mm-family-is-the-focus, mm-coming-out, mm-age-gap

This was a very moving and heart warming story. It was also a very complex one. It dealt with a lot of issues, like: overcoming a low self esteem to see one's true worth and value, and therefore being able to love yourself enough to love another. It also deals with bigots and unaccepting family and finding and making one's own loving family. That's the sweet and endearing side of the story. It's also a BDSM story, and it's not the "hold em' down and smack their butt and order em' around" kind. T...more This was a very moving and heart warming story. It was also a very complex one. It dealt with a lot of issues, like: overcoming a low self esteem to see one's true worth and value, and therefore being able to love yourself enough to love another. It also deals with bigots and unaccepting family and finding and making one's own loving family. That's the sweet and endearing side of the story. It's also a BDSM story, and it's not the "hold em' down and smack their butt and order em' around" kind. This is seriously not for the faint of heart. If BDSM makes you squirm in the slightest, you will definitely be uncomfortable. Roe and Travis like their sex hot, kinky and rough and the talk is dirty. They use rope, toys that would scare some (many?) and ... rubber gloves. So... consider yourself warned :o)

Roe has shut himself down emotionally after being kicked out of his home by a family that he loved when they discovered he was gay. He moved around a lot working at different ranches across several different states. If you don't stay put too long, you don't put down roots or make attachments. He holds himself apart from others so as not to make friends, never talking much or interacting, but he's a hard worker. He finds himself as a ranch hand at Nowhere Ranch in Nebraska, owned by Travis Loving. One night, he takes a ride to Rapid City to the only gay bar in 200 miles and lo and behold, his boss, Travis walks in. Turns out they are looking for the same kind of guy, but Roe NEVER mixes business with pleasure. They're drawn to each other, and with the aid of a lot of beer, he lets his guard down and they both find what the need in each other.

Travis is not quite 20 years older than Roe, but there is a fairly sizeable age gap but it's never made an issue. Travis came out later in life. He knows he has to be careful with Roe because Roe is always on the verge of running away. It's always a tentative dance around each other. But with the help of Travis and a super sweet young woman name Haley, Roe finally finds himself.

I really enjoyed this story. BDSM is not my most favorite category to read but it made no matter to me here. The story was told so well. It was mostly first person from Roe's point of view. It flows seamlessly and so that you are hanging on his every word. It's hard to put down. It's one of those feel good stories where by the end, you are wanting to cheer for Roe, because he's been crapped on and treated so badly but things just come around full circle for him in so many good ways and he's so deserving of them. And Travis and Haley are wonderful characters who really enrich not only his life, but the story. (less)

1 like · like · see review

Apr 18, 2012 Melanie~~ rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: format-kindle-or-mobi, already-loaned

Well, I was really looking at giving this book three stars. It was good, but not great. The beginning read like a listing of events and sexual acts, maybe even the first half to two-thirds. I wasn't getting into the characters terribly well. I was curious about them but I didn't HAVE to know about them. It didn't read slowly or difficultly, but I just wasn't engaged.

However, what bumps this up to four stars is the end. I loved it. I didn't expect it. And I really couldn't have asked for more. It...more

1 like · like · see review

Oct 25, 2010 Tj rated it 5 of 5 stars

I put off reading this one for a while. I just have read too many cowboy stories I didn't like so I hesitated. Mistake! I really enjoyed the characters. You get the whole story from Roe's perspective but the characters all become very vivid. I have a hard time with first person and really getting any sort of grasp on other characters. I am always surprised when I've read a book that does a wonderful job at filling in the other characters.

There are a lot of different elements covered in this boo...more

1 like · like · see review

Mar 15, 2013 Jane Stewart rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: erotic-gay-male-romance, bdsm

4 stars for the story in the last half. 1 or 2 stars for brutal unpleasant sex in the first half. It’s BDSM.

I’ve read some BDSM that was hot, but here it was too rough for me. I was shaking my head at hugeness going up the rear door - ugh. Other hurtful activities made me cringe. There is tying up, pinching, and whipping/hitting. Monroe wants to hurt during sex. He likes being treated as if he were a dog or other animal. I considered not finishing the book, but made myself go a little more. To m...more

2 likes · like · see review

Oct 25, 2012 Charly rated it 4 of 5 stars

Strong characterization and an honest portrayal of BDSM

Warning: This review might contain what some people consider SPOILERS.

Rating: 8/10

PROS:
- It takes some convincing for me to really get into a story told in first person, but this story convinced me pretty early on. Roe, the narrator, is dry and matter-of-fact, and when he prefaces certain revelations with phrases like, “You probably saw this coming, but…” I was hard-pressed not to like him. I found some of his comments very funny because h...more Strong characterization and an honest portrayal of BDSM

Warning: This review might contain what some people consider SPOILERS.

Rating: 8/10

PROS:
- It takes some convincing for me to really get into a story told in first person, but this story convinced me pretty early on. Roe, the narrator, is dry and matter-of-fact, and when he prefaces certain revelations with phrases like, “You probably saw this coming, but…” I was hard-pressed not to like him. I found some of his comments very funny because he often reports things as though his life just moves wherever it wants to and he’s only a hopeless bystander. This is one of my favorites: “Now that I’d made the decision to give in…I didn’t see any reason not to sin as big as I liked. I mean, if you’re gonna steal a chicken, eat the whole [darn] thing.”
- I’m not typically a fan of books that contain sex right off the bat, but for some reason it worked for me in this story. Roe is looking so desperately for a meaningless hookup--something that he’s convinced will be impersonal and cheap--that he’s shocked to discover someone who’s so right for him so unexpectedly. Even though the scene is meant to be entirely impersonal, the characters can’t help having an emotional reaction to it.
- Roe’s reactions to some of the things he and Travis do together felt more honest and true-to-life than those of many characters I’ve read about in BDSM stories. He’s simultaneously turned on and freaked out by their actions.
- I loved that when the relationship gets serious, the characters don’t get all mushy. There’s some increased tenderness, yes, but they still argue and get moody and snarl at each other.
- There are a couple of secondary characters who don’t appear all that often yet still manage to come across as three-dimensional. And they’re likeable on top of that.

CON:
- The book ends well, but there’s one aspect of the ending that I REALLY didn’t like because I felt that it didn’t fit with the rest of the story. Or with the characters’ basic natures. Because it’s described within two or three sentences, tops, it’s probably supposed to be a minor little thing that shouldn’t bother readers overmuch…but it had a big (negative) impact on my attitude toward the whole story.

Overall comments: Despite the regret I felt upon reading one small part of the conclusion, I liked this book. Cullinan is good at delving into her characters’ heads and examining their feelings on a deep level. I felt as though I truly knew these men when I was finished reading their story.(less)

like · see review

Jun 13, 2012 Julesmarie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: m-m, cowboys, bdsm-power-exchange

Wow, this book was... intense. I loved Roe! I appreciated that he wasn't written with the full cowboy dialect (caint, ridin', etc.) but I still heard him that way in my head, and it made him so fun to listen to as the narrator--even when the things he was telling me were hard to hear.

I also loved Travis, which I wasn't sure I was going to. I don't always like big age gaps, but theirs totally worked. I loved how human Travis was: how obviously delighted he was to have found Roe, how he knew his o...more Wow, this book was... intense. I loved Roe! I appreciated that he wasn't written with the full cowboy dialect (caint, ridin', etc.) but I still heard him that way in my head, and it made him so fun to listen to as the narrator--even when the things he was telling me were hard to hear.

I also loved Travis, which I wasn't sure I was going to. I don't always like big age gaps, but theirs totally worked. I loved how human Travis was: how obviously delighted he was to have found Roe, how he knew his own strengths and weaknesses and never pretended to be something that he wasn't, and how carefully and thoughtfully he worked to help Roe overcome the things he needed to, while still making sure his own needs were met.

(view spoiler)

Another thing I loved in this book was the Kayla/Haley dichotomy. I love that Haley stood up for Roe and said all the things I kind of wanted to say to Kayla after how she's been treating Roe. (view spoiler)
(less)

1 like · like · see review

May 13, 2012 Lightreads rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: disability, erotica, fiction, lgbt, romance

Snagged because it won a whole bunch of awards last year, and I'm in that mood. Having read it, I'm kind of going "…oh," because apparently a lot of people loved this, I didn't, and that's always a frustrating datapoint when you're dipping a toe into a genre.

I don't actually want to talk about this book qua book much, except to say that a lot of you probably will really like it (ranching, horses, families-of-choice, kinky sex including ponyplay), and also for the subset of you who want to know t...more Snagged because it won a whole bunch of awards last year, and I'm in that mood. Having read it, I'm kind of going "…oh," because apparently a lot of people loved this, I didn't, and that's always a frustrating datapoint when you're dipping a toe into a genre.

I don't actually want to talk about this book qua book much, except to say that a lot of you probably will really like it (ranching, horses, families-of-choice, kinky sex including ponyplay), and also for the subset of you who want to know these things, the narrator has a learning disability and separately is somewhere on the autistic spectrum (or has sensory integration issues at the very least, but whatever, armchair fictional diagnosing) and it is handled unusually deftly.

What I do want to talk about is how it drives me bugfuck when gay romance has a Very Special Episode about homophobia. Homophobia is bad guys, did you know that? Homophobia in these books being almost entirely of the gaybashing, family-destroying, cartoonishly evil sort, and not the creeping, stereotyping, othering, unconscious sort that has a lot more to do with the real lived experiences of most queer people right now. Not like violence isn't a big concern, just. That is a very narrow idea of what homophobia actually is.

And these books. So many of them have to have a big dramatic scene where someone gives a homophobic person the big crushing speech of righteousness. (Very often, this is delivered by a straight person, by the way, as it is in this book). And it pisses me off.

These books are by and large written by straight women who have varying experiences or connection to queer people or any queer community. And there is something so pointless and cheap and manipulative about these ra-ra feel-good anti-homophobia moments. Like 'we're cool! We know homophobia is bad!' While these books so often participate in the more subtle forms of homophobia by writing about queer people as fundamentally different from straight people, or by importing creeping sexist ideas about what it means when someone gets penetrated, or by treating women in general really horribly, or by -- I could go on. At great length.

It's the ripped-from-the-headlines idea of what homophobia is, without any grasp of the whole iceberg under the water. The reason I'm not out at work has nothing to do with being afraid I'll be gaybashed, or even that I won't be promoted, let me just put that out there. It's that I'd rather not be the queer person first and the human being second, thanks not so fucking much. And watching mostly straight people appropriate the awful things that can be done to queer people in order to say "that's bad, everybody!" and feel smug is not my idea of a good time.

Whatever. This book didn't even do most of that (though some of it, it totally did) and if these books never addressed homophobia at all, I'd also be pissed off about that. Just. Arrrrrrgh, in general and specific.(less)

7 likes · like · see review

Jan 01, 2012 Brita rated it 4 of 5 stars

I've enjoyed other Heidi Cullinan books, Special Delivery and Double Blind, which had me craving more. Nowhere Ranch seemed the logical next choice.

I won't rehash the story, that's been done. I will say there were parts that I skipped - the discussion of abortion seemed political to me, something I don't like to see in stories.

Honestly, I could have lived without Haley and had Roe even more focused on Travis, but that's me. She was sweet and was a true friend. She appeared too much I guess. Her...more I've enjoyed other Heidi Cullinan books, Special Delivery and Double Blind, which had me craving more. Nowhere Ranch seemed the logical next choice.

I won't rehash the story, that's been done. I will say there were parts that I skipped - the discussion of abortion seemed political to me, something I don't like to see in stories.

Honestly, I could have lived without Haley and had Roe even more focused on Travis, but that's me. She was sweet and was a true friend. She appeared too much I guess. Her going back home with Roe and Travis ultimately seemed like a way for his sister to be put in her place and for no other reason. Travis would have been perfect for that or better, Roe himself. My preference and neither here nor there as far as how I felt about the overall story.

I'd have liked to have seen more understanding on Roe's family part instead of what felt like concession. Some questions showing their interest in Roe and who he was, along with some enlightening answers from Roe would have been satisfying for me. They'd all been pretty outspoken as to how unacceptable Roe was in their eyes and it would have been nice to see him garner the strength to say, "Look I love you, but your attitude is unacceptable. You either accept me as I am, or I'm gone, period." In the end,though, he put family first and it felt more like a momentary truce rather than a true understanding and resolution.

Thank you Heidi, for making Roe a true man and not a whiny sub. He felt so real to me.

My personal peccadilloes aside, I loved the characters, the first person POV fit, though I would have liked to have gotten to know Travis a bit better. Maybe Ms. Cullinan can write the next phase of Roe and Travis's lives from his POV. He's an infinitely interesting character.

I never rate a book on how I wanted it to be, but on how it is. We'll always find things in every book that we wish were different, but that's like being a judge at a singing competition and judging the clothes the singer wore.

I'm a fan, so much so, I couldn't approach Heidi in New Orleans and tell her. Bottom line - her characters are real, her writing is down to earth and holds no pretense. I'm starting my new year with more Heidi books. Happy New Year, Heidi.

(less)

like · see review

Nov 01, 2011 Elisa Ramblings added it

I have to give credit to this novel, it made me change idea in the span of less than 150 pages and I think that is a record.

It’s probably no news to read my ramblings that it’s not that I care so much for sex, it doesn’t bother me but it’s not really what I’m searching in a book. Give you a totally unrelated example? I once was looking at a movie, and there were two pretty guys “having fun” (do you know what I mean right?) on the floor, and I was fixated with the glass of wine on the nearby side...more I have to give credit to this novel, it made me change idea in the span of less than 150 pages and I think that is a record.

It’s probably no news to read my ramblings that it’s not that I care so much for sex, it doesn’t bother me but it’s not really what I’m searching in a book. Give you a totally unrelated example? I once was looking at a movie, and there were two pretty guys “having fun” (do you know what I mean right?) on the floor, and I was fixated with the glass of wine on the nearby sidetable… they didn’t explained why that glass of wine was there, it was not part of the plot, and I was wondering why it was there… while the two guys were being pretty intense on the floor.

So when the author of this book had the two men becoming pretty intense more or less from step 1, I was like, “all right, buckled up, this is going to be a sex ride”. And the kind where one of the two likes to get hurt, nothing serious, but on the line of, I want to feel you the morning after… again something I’m not really fond of. Sure, it was not done without a meaning, on the contrary, it was quite clear that Roe needed the “physical” hurting as a way to forget a reality that was even more hurting, since it went directly to the heart, squeezing it until it was almost impossible to bear. It was also clear that Roe is a good guy but he wanted to be treated like a whore, i.e. without love, since everyone he loved told him he was bad, and so if also strangers do that, then it was real, then it meant his family was right, then he could still love them since it was not like they betrayed him.

Are you beginning to understand what the author did? She gave me detached sex at step one to then, step by step, weaving a net of love and trust, a net that will wrap around Roe, until the moment he could not get free, neither when the nightmare reach him again.

The story is pretty much centered around Roe, but sometime Travis has his spotlight, and that is enough to make him one of the nicest men you can come across. He is not perfect, and I think he has his own issues when talking about commitment, but he is basically a good man, maybe a little gruff on the edge, and not really “talkative”, above all not around the love word, but he is one of those men you can trust, that will never let you down.

By the way, this is also an erotic turning into family romance. I will not arrive to say it’s sweet romance, the sex is plenty and explicit, but I think that also the more romantic readers will enjoy it: give it a chance, there are even two cute puppies and an even cuter baby.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004WG3ZFU/?...(less)

5 likes · like · see review

Sep 16, 2011 Charlie Richards rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: will-read-again

When I started reading this, it was with mixed feelings. I wasn't sure how much I'd like it. However, by the end, I could not stop reading and even stayed up until the wee hours of the morning to finish.

There are a number of very detailed reviews out there for this book, so I'll just say a few things: I loved this story because it showed how someone even as messed up as Roe can be healed with the right support and guidance (we find out he thinks of himself and everything he does as shit, due to...more

like · see review

May 19, 2011 Mel Bradley rated it 5 of 5 stars

After his family turned their back on him for being gay, Roe left his family’s farm and learned how to survive without creating strong connections or roots. That was until he arrived at the Nowhere Ranch. When Roe needed a break and needed sexual release, he drove to the nearest gay bar – three hours away, to find the owner of the ranch he’s working on, there too. Relationships are not his thing, so getting involved with his boss is a very bad idea, especially since he’s starting to fall in love...more

like · see review

May 10, 2011 Crys Harris rated it 5 of 5 stars

10 stars.
I am a big fan of Special Delivery and I enjoyed Double Blind pretty well but this book was excellent and engaging. All three books have characterization at their heart and that is what keeps the pages turning. I've just finished the book, and maybe I'll come back later and review on style or plot or other technical aspects.

Now, I can just write about how much I loved the characters; how very much I loved Roe and wanted a HEA for him.

The sex in this book won't be for everyone. It's very...more

2 likes · like · see review

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … 84 85 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Be the first to start one »

Recommend it | Stats | Recent status updates

combine
Other Editions (2)

Videos About This Book

3 comments

Genres

Romance > M M Romance

229 users

Erotica > Bdsm

197 users

Contemporary

53 users

Romance

48 users

Adult Fiction > Erotica

35 users

Western

24 users

Glbt > Gay

14 users

Romance > Contemporary Romance

14 users

Glbt

12 users

M M Romance > M M Contemporary

7 users

See top shelves...

Readers also enjoyed similar books

About Heidi Cullinan

Heidi Cullinan has always loved a good love story, provided it has a happy ending. She enjoys writing across many genres but loves above all to write happy, romantic endings for LGBT characters because there just aren't enough of those stories out there. When Heidi isn't writing, she enjoys cooking, reading, knitting, listening to music, and watching television with her family. Heidi also voluntee...more

More about Heidi Cullinan...

Books by Heidi Cullinan

More…

Share This Book

Facebook Twitter Your website

Trivia About Nowhere Ranch

No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »

Quotes from Nowhere Ranch

“You can't say that you need to burn witches and shun gay men but eat pork and wear all the mixed fibers you want!!” — 15 people liked it

“That's it, he rasped. Hump me. Are you a dog? Are you a dog in heat? You my dog? He slapped me again. Speak, puppy.” — 5 people liked it

More quotes…

title link	preview: Nowhere Ranch
avg rating	preview: Nowhere Ranch Goodreads rating: 4.08 (1634 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9221370-nowhere-ranch?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1326774234l/9221370.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9221370-nowhere-ranch?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Nowhere Ranch by Heidi Cullinan[/url]

Nowhere Ranch

Friend Reviews

Community Reviews

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website