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Cattle Valley #29
Finding Absolution
How can two men find common ground when one makes a living in the soil and the other in the surf?
Pressured by his friends, Kai and Quade, Van Duggins makes the trip from Oahu to Wyoming for the annual Cattle Valley Days celebration. Used to surfing every day, Van expects to be bored out of his mind without an ocean in sight. What he didn't expect was to meet a man who would change his life forever.
Raised by his grandparents, Jon Porter returned home after college to help his ailing grandpa take care of the family farm. He doesn't begrudge giving up his chosen career to help the man who raised him, but his situation has been hard on his love life.
For one week a year, Jon is able to break free of his responsibilities long enough to enjoy the Cattle Valley rodeo. It's his chance to be the man he was born to be, and he refuses to waste a second of it. When trouble finds him on his first evening at the rodeo, a stranger with long dark hair and a devilish grin rescues him.
How can two men find common ground when one makes a living in the soil and the other in the surf?
Pressured by his friends, Kai and Quade, Van Duggins makes the trip from Oahu to Wyoming for the annual Cattle Valley Days celebration. Used to surfing every day, Van expects to be bored out of his mind without an ocean in sight. What he didn't expect was to meet a man who would change his life forever.
Raised by his grandparents, Jon Porter returned home after college to help his ailing grandpa take care of the family farm. He doesn't begrudge giving up his chosen career to help the man who raised him, but his situation has been hard on his love life.
For one week a year, Jon is able to break free of his responsibilities long enough to enjoy the Cattle Valley rodeo. It's his chance to be the man he was born to be, and he refuses to waste a second of it. When trouble finds him on his first evening at the rodeo, a stranger with long dark hair and a devilish grin rescues him.
How can two men find common ground when one makes a living in the soil and the other in the surf?
83 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 15, 2013
14 people are currently reading
170 people want to read
About the author
Carol Lynne
251 books1,197 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
August 21, 2013
I was looking forward to catching up with the guys of Cattle Valley, but sadly I was disappointed.
This could have, and in my mind should have, been a stand alone story. I felt no connection to the Cattle Valley series, despite meeting up with a few regulars.
I can't help feeling that part of the reason for this book was to set Guy up for his story.
And please what is with the sudden food fetish? First corn on the cob and now Candy Floss yuck, wasn't the lacy panties enough kink?
I'm hoping the next one gets back on track, but I'm kinda preparing myself to say goodbye to this series.
This could have, and in my mind should have, been a stand alone story. I felt no connection to the Cattle Valley series, despite meeting up with a few regulars.
I can't help feeling that part of the reason for this book was to set Guy up for his story.
And please what is with the sudden food fetish? First corn on the cob and now Candy Floss yuck, wasn't the lacy panties enough kink?
I'm hoping the next one gets back on track, but I'm kinda preparing myself to say goodbye to this series.
August 4, 2013
This was a little too tame and insta-love for my taste. I do enjoy some of the Cattle Valley series, but I kind of think they've overstayed their welcome and it's time to move on. In my opinion, of course.
So, can't recommend. This just wasn't for me.
So, can't recommend. This just wasn't for me.
June 3, 2021
Jon and Van met when Van came to Cattle Valley with two of his friends for Cattle Valley days. It was so good how they met. Van saved Jon who was being pretty much attacked the way Van saw it and the way I saw it by Guy the Olympic skier who is the owner of the town lodge and had to retire. I was glad that Van saved him and that was how they hit it off.
Van spent almost all of his time with Jon after they met. Van even helped Jon on the farm getting the vegetables up and all that. Van thought he'd be suffocated because he lives in Hawaii as a surf coach. He's the coach to Kai who was in book nine and fell in love with former Mayor Quade who left Cattle Valley to go live with Kai. I was glad that they dragged Van there because he met Jon which was really what they both needed.
Van needed to find Jon because he was still dealing with his former surfing student and lover. Van tries his best to get Guy to see what he's doing is wrong also because that was what his ex did before he died eight years before when surfing. It was kind of sad, but it was meant to be.
At the end of the book Jon lost his grandfather which was so sad, but in doing so he was able to go with Van to Hawaii. They had plenty of sex I thought which I always look forward to.
I loved this book and I really want to finish the series this month for Pride month. It's been going on since like 2014 I believe and I need to finish it up only got 3 left if I'm right.
Van spent almost all of his time with Jon after they met. Van even helped Jon on the farm getting the vegetables up and all that. Van thought he'd be suffocated because he lives in Hawaii as a surf coach. He's the coach to Kai who was in book nine and fell in love with former Mayor Quade who left Cattle Valley to go live with Kai. I was glad that they dragged Van there because he met Jon which was really what they both needed.
Van needed to find Jon because he was still dealing with his former surfing student and lover. Van tries his best to get Guy to see what he's doing is wrong also because that was what his ex did before he died eight years before when surfing. It was kind of sad, but it was meant to be.
At the end of the book Jon lost his grandfather which was so sad, but in doing so he was able to go with Van to Hawaii. They had plenty of sex I thought which I always look forward to.
I loved this book and I really want to finish the series this month for Pride month. It's been going on since like 2014 I believe and I need to finish it up only got 3 left if I'm right.
March 20, 2017
Sweet, a bit on the sexy side and even better of the would have talked about the underwear kink. Not a fan of insta love, but i did not like one
February 12, 2016
In 'Finding Absolution', book twenty-nine of the Cattle Valley series by Carol Lynne, Jon Porter and Van Duggins are introduced just in time for the Cattle Valley Days celebration. Van, Kai's surfing coach, is there visiting with his friends Kai and Quade, and Jon is in town for the celebration. It seems unlikely that these two men would have anything in common, but love doesn't always take that into consideration. Before either one of them are able to give their hearts away, they have to take their lives out of hold and forgive the unjustified feelings the men are harboring about themselves.
Jon is a good guy. He loves his grandfather and loves the farm where he was raised. When his grandfather had a stroke and needed him, there was never a doubt as to whether or not he would go. He willingly gave up a life he loved to come help him. He feels guilty sometimes because he wishes his life were different, but he feels a moral and emotional obligation to be there with his grandfather. He misses his freedom, especially when it comes to being able to go out and date other men, but he realizes he's still young and his time will come. Jon's honesty and sincerity are admirable and when he loves, it's with all his heart. Even though it happens fast, the feelings he has for Van are deep and strong. Even though there are some large obstacles in their path, Jon is willing to compromise as much as he can to make their relationship work. Jon knows what it means to be committed; besides, who could help not falling in love with someone willing to defend you before they even know who you are?
Van is a strong, private person who has been living in a void for years after the death of his lover. Van still carries the guilt of not being able to help him when he needed it most, but realistically, someone has to want your help before you can give it and his lover didn't. Van also knows that some people blame him for his lover's death because it happened in a surfing contest and Van was his coach. Although it's unrealistic, he still feels responsible and has become almost a recluse because of it. Jon changes all that for him. In Jon he sees everything that he needed with his former lover but couldn't have—truthfulness, genuineness, encouragement, and commitment. When Van realizes how deep his feelings are, and that Jon shares them just as deeply, he begins to make plans to re-arrange his life so he can be with Jon as much as possible. Van treasures Jon more than anything else in the world and Jon's healing love is a blessing just as Jon's is to Van.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. I quickly got caught up in the love between Van and Jon which, even though it happened rapidly, felt genuine. It's as if Van and Jon were waiting for each other, but didn't realize it until they met. The romance was endearing and very passionate. Van and Jon have fantastic chemistry. It was also good to visit, if only briefly, with Ryan, Rio, Nate, and others in the Cattle Valley clan and to, once again, feel the sense of community that they enjoy. If you are already a Cattle Valley fan, you'll love this story, and new readers who like stories with angst, love, sensuality, devotion, and love's healing power will enjoy it as well.
NOTE: This book was provided by Pride Publishing for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Jon is a good guy. He loves his grandfather and loves the farm where he was raised. When his grandfather had a stroke and needed him, there was never a doubt as to whether or not he would go. He willingly gave up a life he loved to come help him. He feels guilty sometimes because he wishes his life were different, but he feels a moral and emotional obligation to be there with his grandfather. He misses his freedom, especially when it comes to being able to go out and date other men, but he realizes he's still young and his time will come. Jon's honesty and sincerity are admirable and when he loves, it's with all his heart. Even though it happens fast, the feelings he has for Van are deep and strong. Even though there are some large obstacles in their path, Jon is willing to compromise as much as he can to make their relationship work. Jon knows what it means to be committed; besides, who could help not falling in love with someone willing to defend you before they even know who you are?
Van is a strong, private person who has been living in a void for years after the death of his lover. Van still carries the guilt of not being able to help him when he needed it most, but realistically, someone has to want your help before you can give it and his lover didn't. Van also knows that some people blame him for his lover's death because it happened in a surfing contest and Van was his coach. Although it's unrealistic, he still feels responsible and has become almost a recluse because of it. Jon changes all that for him. In Jon he sees everything that he needed with his former lover but couldn't have—truthfulness, genuineness, encouragement, and commitment. When Van realizes how deep his feelings are, and that Jon shares them just as deeply, he begins to make plans to re-arrange his life so he can be with Jon as much as possible. Van treasures Jon more than anything else in the world and Jon's healing love is a blessing just as Jon's is to Van.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. I quickly got caught up in the love between Van and Jon which, even though it happened rapidly, felt genuine. It's as if Van and Jon were waiting for each other, but didn't realize it until they met. The romance was endearing and very passionate. Van and Jon have fantastic chemistry. It was also good to visit, if only briefly, with Ryan, Rio, Nate, and others in the Cattle Valley clan and to, once again, feel the sense of community that they enjoy. If you are already a Cattle Valley fan, you'll love this story, and new readers who like stories with angst, love, sensuality, devotion, and love's healing power will enjoy it as well.
NOTE: This book was provided by Pride Publishing for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
July 12, 2016
3.5 stars - I'll probably round down because I'm a little upset that the stories got shorter, and I can't expect them to grow back up to the series' earlier length of about 130 pages.
This was very much what I expect from this series. Sweet, a little sexy, and shorter than I'd like. The ending was the typical fairy tale HEA that worked things out just perfectly.
I would have liked to have had more about
This was very much what I expect from this series. Sweet, a little sexy, and shorter than I'd like. The ending was the typical fairy tale HEA that worked things out just perfectly.
I would have liked to have had more about
January 7, 2016
A pesar de que no me esperaba para nada esta pareja, me ha sorprendido para bien. Creo que Jon y Van encajan a la perfección, y sus pasados un tanto dramáticos hacen que sus sentimientos sean aún más profundos.
Me sigue sorprendiendo bastante como la autora logra que a pesar de la rapidez con que se crean los romances entre los protagonistas, estos parezcan realista, y eso solo puede hacerlo otorgándoles un pasado bien formado. Recomendable.
Me sigue sorprendiendo bastante como la autora logra que a pesar de la rapidez con que se crean los romances entre los protagonistas, estos parezcan realista, y eso solo puede hacerlo otorgándoles un pasado bien formado. Recomendable.
March 14, 2021
This was the story of Van and Jon in the 29th Cattle Valley novella. Both guys were good people. Jon was committed to caregiving for his elderly grandfather. He and Van met at the rodeo where Van saved Jon, who was being attacked by a drunk jerk. This was an emotional journey as both MCs had sad tragedies in their pasts. The sex scenes were a bit kinky but passionate. Everything worked out in the end so they could have a happy future together.
March 8, 2014
I really liked Jon and Van too. Simple story. I thought we'd get a predictable run in/fight with Guy and I'm glad that didn't happen. I wonder who he'll be paired with? What is up with Carol Lynne having her characters eat shit (food) from someone's ass?
February 25, 2014
The insta-love is strong with this one. I had hopes, in the beginning, that it wouldn't be insta-love ... but it was. Still, it's a nice way to kill a couple of hours, like the other books in this series.
December 7, 2015
I've been reading the Cattle Valley series since very near the beginning of the series. This book is the 29th in the series. I like how the characters in each story are new and fresh. But they all are searching for a place to belong.
October 12, 2014
A flat narrative, boring and almost unemotional. Disappointing.
August 17, 2013
I enjoyed this one :)
September 14, 2013
Not bad. I wish it had a bit more heat. Maybe If they had explored Jon's underwear kink more it would have had that hot sexy factor.
January 31, 2014
Pretty tame for a cattle valley series book, but good. Insta love book, that I'm glad ended back in Oahu.
August 25, 2014
This book kind of made me sad .. I am glad that it ended happy but it still had a lot of things that made me sad I love the CV series and this was just another wonderful story in the series
December 14, 2020
Cattle Valley
I’d wondered if we would get the happy ever after for the surf god Van after we met him coaching Kai and his story was worth the wait
I’d wondered if we would get the happy ever after for the surf god Van after we met him coaching Kai and his story was worth the wait
August 7, 2022
Great series! On book 33 now!
August 23, 2013
<< 3,5 * >>
December 14, 2013
This book was similar to the other surfer character book in the series.
June 21, 2014
Loved Jon and Van and the things they had to overcome to be together.
May 29, 2015
This was truly special :-)
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews