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Bitter Springs
in 1870s Texas, Renaldo Valle Santos, the youngest son of a large and traditional family, has been sent to train with Henry "Hank" Burnett, a freed slave and talented mestenero--or horse-catcher--so he may continue the family horse trade. Bitter Springs is a sweeping epic that takes themes from traditional Mexican literature and Old Westerns to tell the story of a man coming into his own and realizing his destiny lies in the wild open spaces with the man who loves him, far from expectations of society.
270 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 3, 2015
7 people are currently reading
520 people want to read
About the author
Laura Stone
3 books148 followersLaura Stone, a descendant of pioneer polygamists from the early days of the Mormon Church and a former Gospel Doctrine teacher, keeps busy as a media blogger, ghostwriter and novelist when she's not raising her youngest child and puttering in gardens.
While the majority of her family still lives in Utah, she resides in her home state of Texas because it's where the good tamales are.
While the majority of her family still lives in Utah, she resides in her home state of Texas because it's where the good tamales are.
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November 25, 2020
My first book by Laura Stone was an absolute knockout! This story includes everything I love: slow burn, family, sexual discovery, interracial relationship, and a heartwarming HEA.
If you don't like historical romance novels, particularly ones about cowboys and horses, this book may bore you. But I loved every moment I spent with Renaldo and Hank out on the plains of Texas in the 1870s.
Both main characters are so richly drawn, I was bereft when the story ended. I loved Renaldo's sweetness, his passion and spark for life. He is such a wonderful son and brother, and an eager lover when he realizes that he's never been drawn to women because he desires men.
Hank, the son of an enslaved black woman and her white master, was freed at age 13 and raised among the Native American tribes of Texas. He yearns for a family of his own but doesn't think he'll ever belong. Hank is stoic and taciturn, but his aloofness hides a bruised heart.
I don't know a great deal about Texas history, but I know that Mexican families have lived there for many generations. Renaldo's family immigrated around the time of the America Civil War, and his father runs a successful cattle and ranch business.
Renaldo leaves with Hank to train as a horse whisperer. Hank's talents with wild horses are legendary, but his secret is simple: treat horses as equals and be soft with your touch; you can't force a wild spirit to bend to your will.
I loved watching Hank and Renaldo interact with horses, and each other, in such a gentle way. I loved the quiet times they spent on the trail, with nothing but the air and silence between them. I even liked Hank's friend and former lover who stirs such jealously within Renaldo.
The secondary characters enriched the story. I ADORED Renaldo's family: his take-charge eldest brother, his kind and understanding father and dramatic mother who wants to feed everyone, his smart and spunky twin sister, but most of all his older brother Francisco, who is so compassionate and warm-hearted, I wanted to crawl through the pages and marry him myself.
All the stars for Francisco! My heart could barely survive his loneliness and the sacrifices he made.
Bitter Springs is profoundly moving in a way I can't fully explain. All those Spanish words of endearment the men whispered to each other stole my heart. The promises they made, the nights spent in each other's arms ... it was all so romantic and sexy.
I won't soon forget this story or these men.
If you don't like historical romance novels, particularly ones about cowboys and horses, this book may bore you. But I loved every moment I spent with Renaldo and Hank out on the plains of Texas in the 1870s.
Both main characters are so richly drawn, I was bereft when the story ended. I loved Renaldo's sweetness, his passion and spark for life. He is such a wonderful son and brother, and an eager lover when he realizes that he's never been drawn to women because he desires men.
Hank, the son of an enslaved black woman and her white master, was freed at age 13 and raised among the Native American tribes of Texas. He yearns for a family of his own but doesn't think he'll ever belong. Hank is stoic and taciturn, but his aloofness hides a bruised heart.
I don't know a great deal about Texas history, but I know that Mexican families have lived there for many generations. Renaldo's family immigrated around the time of the America Civil War, and his father runs a successful cattle and ranch business.
Renaldo leaves with Hank to train as a horse whisperer. Hank's talents with wild horses are legendary, but his secret is simple: treat horses as equals and be soft with your touch; you can't force a wild spirit to bend to your will.
I loved watching Hank and Renaldo interact with horses, and each other, in such a gentle way. I loved the quiet times they spent on the trail, with nothing but the air and silence between them. I even liked Hank's friend and former lover who stirs such jealously within Renaldo.
The secondary characters enriched the story. I ADORED Renaldo's family: his take-charge eldest brother, his kind and understanding father and dramatic mother who wants to feed everyone, his smart and spunky twin sister, but most of all his older brother Francisco, who is so compassionate and warm-hearted, I wanted to crawl through the pages and marry him myself.
All the stars for Francisco! My heart could barely survive his loneliness and the sacrifices he made.
Bitter Springs is profoundly moving in a way I can't fully explain. All those Spanish words of endearment the men whispered to each other stole my heart. The promises they made, the nights spent in each other's arms ... it was all so romantic and sexy.
I won't soon forget this story or these men.
"[Y]ou made me feel something no one ever has."
"And what is that, cariño?"
"Like I belong to you ... Like you wouldn't just let me go."
November 9, 2019
On sale now...price drop from $6.99 to $2.99
https://www.amazon.com/Bitter-Springs...
______
STARS X INFINITY = THIS BOOK!!
The cover, the enlightening Author’s Note, and the story all drew me in and wouldn’t let go.
I don’t know how to put into words how much I loved Hank and Renaldo’s story. It was such a breath of fresh air. The delivery wasn’t a very complicated or angst filled. It would probably be considered simple by some, but I found it to be thrilling, beautiful and romantic.
Hank’s life hasn’t been an easy one. The son of a slave woman who was impregnated by the master of the house. His mother loved him, but she wasn’t allowed to raise him and show him a mother’s love. The master’s wife hated Hank, and to keep him from suffering further abuse by her, Hank’s sperm donor (he was no father) freed him from slavery at the age of 13 and asked him to leave. With free papers and a horse, off he went. Years later he becomes a renowned horse catcher.
Renaldo has always known love and support from his big Mexican family. His father hires Hank to train one of his sons in the art of horse catching. Due to unplanned circumstances, Renaldo becomes that son to be trained.
Their journey lasts months long, and they spend most of that time alone becoming friends and eventually lovers. Having to tell Renaldo’s family that they are in love and want to be together, was probably the most angsty part of the story. I thought it was well done.
There is so much more to this story. More details of Hanks heart breaking life. Renaldo’s finally understanding to why he was never attracted to women and his fierce ability to love someone who was not already a part of his family.
The editing could have been better with the Spanish, but that didn’t stop me from swooning when Renaldo used Spanish pet names when talking to Hank. It was hotter than the steamy scenes.
To the author: Francisco deserves an HEA. I’m not big on MF romances, but if you give him a strong, loving woman, I’ll read it!
https://www.amazon.com/Bitter-Springs...
______
STARS X INFINITY = THIS BOOK!!
The cover, the enlightening Author’s Note, and the story all drew me in and wouldn’t let go.
I don’t know how to put into words how much I loved Hank and Renaldo’s story. It was such a breath of fresh air. The delivery wasn’t a very complicated or angst filled. It would probably be considered simple by some, but I found it to be thrilling, beautiful and romantic.
Hank’s life hasn’t been an easy one. The son of a slave woman who was impregnated by the master of the house. His mother loved him, but she wasn’t allowed to raise him and show him a mother’s love. The master’s wife hated Hank, and to keep him from suffering further abuse by her, Hank’s sperm donor (he was no father) freed him from slavery at the age of 13 and asked him to leave. With free papers and a horse, off he went. Years later he becomes a renowned horse catcher.
Renaldo has always known love and support from his big Mexican family. His father hires Hank to train one of his sons in the art of horse catching. Due to unplanned circumstances, Renaldo becomes that son to be trained.
Their journey lasts months long, and they spend most of that time alone becoming friends and eventually lovers. Having to tell Renaldo’s family that they are in love and want to be together, was probably the most angsty part of the story. I thought it was well done.
There is so much more to this story. More details of Hanks heart breaking life. Renaldo’s finally understanding to why he was never attracted to women and his fierce ability to love someone who was not already a part of his family.
The editing could have been better with the Spanish, but that didn’t stop me from swooning when Renaldo used Spanish pet names when talking to Hank. It was hotter than the steamy scenes.
To the author: Francisco deserves an HEA. I’m not big on MF romances, but if you give him a strong, loving woman, I’ll read it!
July 11, 2023
I finished this book at 4 am and I went to bed thinking about the right rating but when I woke up I was still undecided because this book should have been an easy 5 stars and yet it was so disappointing that it hurts.
The beginning was fantastic, very atmospheric-I could almost feel the heat of that hot day in the summer of 1870 . And I loved the historical setting and I loved the Valle family. Renaldo was a sweetheart and the other MC,a freed slave seemed so so interesting I could hardly wait for their interactions and their journey. I was giddy with excitement and congratulating myself for such a lucky find. Well, everything interesting fizzled out and what was supposed to be a thrilling read it was actually a fluffy low angst story with little to no depth. The guys’ interaction was boring, the dialogues were dry and scarce and then suddenly Renaldo is gay and accepted it just like that while the other MC was flirting and philandering with a childhood friend to make Renaldo jealous. The great journey of taming horses fizzled out too and it consisted of 5 horses following them just because. Then , a lot of sappy sugary moments until they get home. Again some interesting moments with the family like in the beginning and then HEA. I need to specify that my 3 stars are solely for the setting, for the De Valle family and Hank’s story, for the awesome female side characters (such a rare find in MM books) and for the premise and intention. Such a waste of a good premise and writing , I wanted to scream with frustration. I even love the cover!
PD. The Google translate Spanish was a bit embarrassing.
The beginning was fantastic, very atmospheric-I could almost feel the heat of that hot day in the summer of 1870 . And I loved the historical setting and I loved the Valle family. Renaldo was a sweetheart and the other MC,a freed slave seemed so so interesting I could hardly wait for their interactions and their journey. I was giddy with excitement and congratulating myself for such a lucky find. Well, everything interesting fizzled out and what was supposed to be a thrilling read it was actually a fluffy low angst story with little to no depth. The guys’ interaction was boring, the dialogues were dry and scarce and then suddenly Renaldo is gay and accepted it just like that while the other MC was flirting and philandering with a childhood friend to make Renaldo jealous. The great journey of taming horses fizzled out too and it consisted of 5 horses following them just because. Then , a lot of sappy sugary moments until they get home. Again some interesting moments with the family like in the beginning and then HEA. I need to specify that my 3 stars are solely for the setting, for the De Valle family and Hank’s story, for the awesome female side characters (such a rare find in MM books) and for the premise and intention. Such a waste of a good premise and writing , I wanted to scream with frustration. I even love the cover!
PD. The Google translate Spanish was a bit embarrassing.
November 1, 2015
Twenty-one year old Renaldo is the youngest of five children of a wealthy landowner Estebàn Valle, who had moved with his family from San Antonio to the border of Texas and Mexico on a land grant many years ago. Not only because it was perfect grazing land for their sheep and longhorn cattle, but also because of wild herds of mustangs with which Señor Estebàn Valle, a horse trader, was obsessed.
It is why he invited Henry Burnett, the best horse catcher in this business to train his son Silvestre. For domestic reasons or rather because of a quirk of fate – I don’t want to give away more than necessary at this point – Renaldo HAS to take Silvester’ place. He is both – excited and worried. Excited because he grew up around horses, and he always feels peace and joy working with these animals. Worried because
* of being miles away from his home and his family, and in the first place to be separated from his twin sister, who knows him better than anyone else, and who understands his being different, even if Renaldo himself can’t find a reasonable explanation for his lack of interest in women.
* of spending many weeks out in the prairie, in a company of a total stranger, probably an old horse master.
Well…when the legendary Señor Burnett arrived Renaldo’s jaw dropped! Instead of an old unpleasant stranger he faced a very attractive young black man, who couldn’t be much older than Renaldo himself. This talented mesteñero ,a freed slave Henry “Hank” Burnett with a sad family history, that we’ll learn later in the book, was nothing like Renaldo expected.
I don’t think I give a lot away, if I say, that this encounter will change Renaldo’s life. He will have to make one of the most important decisions in his life.
I really enjoyed this book. My favorite part was the part when Henry and Renaldo were by themselves on the prairie(and not only, but THAT you have to find out yourselves). Watching how they got to know each other, how their feelings for each other changed and the mutual attraction grew up, how they became close friends and later lovers is one of the most moving part in this historical novel.
One of the things I also liked a lot about the story is how Laura Stone solved it. No, not because it appears REAL to me, but because of the author’s note at the beginning(so yes, I believe, that IT COULD BE a possible solution), and because Bitter Springs is a nice traditional historical romance, that reminds me of an old Western movie, that follows a classical story-line, maybe not very realistic, but very enjoyable and entertaining.
My one complaining is that it took me awhile to get into the story. There was a bit too much of a big family at the beginning for my taste and I started to get impatient, reading in many details about the family’s affair. Though in retrospect I understand why the author did it.
And once I’d established this invisible connection to the story in my head, I was irresistibly drawn into it.
***ARC of Bitter Springs provided by the publisher, in exchange for an honest review. This review has been crossed posted to Gay Book Reviews
December 31, 2015
remarkably terrible. as stilted as the Coney Island Boardwalk.
lord, ha'mercy.
lord, ha'mercy.
November 9, 2017
Re-read 11/8/17. Yep, still love! Renaldo and Hank coming out to Ren's family still hits me right in the feels, and every page after that still makes me teary eyed. I would so love a happy ending for Francisco. I don't read a lot of m/f but I would totally read a story for him.
----------------
Well, it's over. I read as slowly as I could but I finally had to say adios to my wonderful men. They will stay with me for a while as I periodically wonder how they're faring. Every once in a while you read an m/m book, heck just a book in general, that feels so 'adult' that it sets itself apart. Don't get me wrong, I love the uber alphas; you won't find me filing any complaints against the 6'8 tattooed heroes, or even the heroes that at times make me struggle with why I'm rooting for their asses. But sometimes, just sometimes, you get a book that is more than a checklist of tropes, more than the sum of histrionics and manufactured angst, just more.
What happens when you take the 21yr old, youngest son of a loving, boisterous Mexican family of ranchers (and one half of a precocious set of twins), and pair him with a 26 yr old Black, highly respected and sought after colt breaker/horse trainer? Magic, that's what. Beautiful Blaxican, Brokeback Mountain magic except, you know, with horses, desert and men who actually communicate. Renaldo Valle Santos and Henry (Hank) Burnett meet when Renaldo is forced to take his brother's place training with Hank after his brother, Silvestre, is shipped off for bringing scandal to the family. For Renaldo the attraction is immediate, but the author takes her time with them. This is slow burn at its very best, months of getting to know each other out on the trail. By the time we have 'contact' I was all abuzz with anticipation. Hank, a former slave freed as a child, forced to make his own way, and raised among the Apache and Kiowa people, knows a thing or two about acceptance...or not. And while the Mexicans have their own problems with the Anglos, he knows that common struggles don't necessarily mean he'll be welcomed with open arms. He maintains a professional distance at all times and focuses on doing his job. In the beginning, you aren't aware of his mutual attraction.
Hank is, simply put, an amazing character. Strong, honorable, easy going and gentle, yet firm and no nonsense, secure in who he is and what he considers right. I see why Renaldo fell in love with him because I was half in love with him my doggone self. Renaldo was exactly what Hank needed, someone who put him first, stood with him, and was family. The writing is beautiful in its simplicity, the pacing wonderful, the research evident and the recounting of Hank's life, his time with the tribes, and his talent with, and love of the horses, fascinating.
From the time I was able to speak, I’ve lived with horses. Horses never judged me, never wanted anything from me other than basic decency. We have an understanding.
It is refreshing that Hank is not ashamed of who he is, that his acceptance of self was encouraged by the fact that the Mescaleros (Apache tribe) did not look down upon men who loved other men. This unyielding pride helps Renaldo accept his own sexuality and gives him the strength he needs to stand up to his family.
The 'coming out' conversation with the Valle men made me ugly cry.
"If you ask Hank—Henry. If you tell him to leave, I will go with him. I must go with him. We belong to each other, do you understand?”
Seriously, this author owes me a box of tissues, with lotion if you please. Renaldo loved his traditional, Catholic family but was willing to walk away and make his own way with Hank if they didn't accept him. Hank, while facing the very real possibility that he might be shot, refused to lie to Renaldo's father, a man who had treated him with respect, and as an equal , from their first meeting; or to his mother who had welcomed him into her house, fed him at her table and treated him like a son. This was extremely well done. Very realistic, sans drama, just deep respect and love on all sides even when not all of the brothers fully understood.
I loved that Renaldo had Canadria, his twin sister, in his corner at all times. She was someone who knew where his interests lay, even before he fully did, and made sure he understood that she would always love him.
Really, I have zero complaints about this book. It was flawless, both literally and figuratively. Editing was excellent. I would have loved it if Patricia had come to care for Francisco, but in light of the lessons with the horses, I understood why the author didn't go that route. I'm happy he has his little one to love, and I'm still holding out hope that he'll find a woman to appreciate the wonderful man that he is.
5 full stars. I would give it more if I could. Also, do yourself a favor and read the author's note at the beginning of the book. Very educational. Brava, author.
----------------
Well, it's over. I read as slowly as I could but I finally had to say adios to my wonderful men. They will stay with me for a while as I periodically wonder how they're faring. Every once in a while you read an m/m book, heck just a book in general, that feels so 'adult' that it sets itself apart. Don't get me wrong, I love the uber alphas; you won't find me filing any complaints against the 6'8 tattooed heroes, or even the heroes that at times make me struggle with why I'm rooting for their asses. But sometimes, just sometimes, you get a book that is more than a checklist of tropes, more than the sum of histrionics and manufactured angst, just more.
What happens when you take the 21yr old, youngest son of a loving, boisterous Mexican family of ranchers (and one half of a precocious set of twins), and pair him with a 26 yr old Black, highly respected and sought after colt breaker/horse trainer? Magic, that's what. Beautiful Blaxican, Brokeback Mountain magic except, you know, with horses, desert and men who actually communicate. Renaldo Valle Santos and Henry (Hank) Burnett meet when Renaldo is forced to take his brother's place training with Hank after his brother, Silvestre, is shipped off for bringing scandal to the family. For Renaldo the attraction is immediate, but the author takes her time with them. This is slow burn at its very best, months of getting to know each other out on the trail. By the time we have 'contact' I was all abuzz with anticipation. Hank, a former slave freed as a child, forced to make his own way, and raised among the Apache and Kiowa people, knows a thing or two about acceptance...or not. And while the Mexicans have their own problems with the Anglos, he knows that common struggles don't necessarily mean he'll be welcomed with open arms. He maintains a professional distance at all times and focuses on doing his job. In the beginning, you aren't aware of his mutual attraction.
Hank is, simply put, an amazing character. Strong, honorable, easy going and gentle, yet firm and no nonsense, secure in who he is and what he considers right. I see why Renaldo fell in love with him because I was half in love with him my doggone self. Renaldo was exactly what Hank needed, someone who put him first, stood with him, and was family. The writing is beautiful in its simplicity, the pacing wonderful, the research evident and the recounting of Hank's life, his time with the tribes, and his talent with, and love of the horses, fascinating.
From the time I was able to speak, I’ve lived with horses. Horses never judged me, never wanted anything from me other than basic decency. We have an understanding.
It is refreshing that Hank is not ashamed of who he is, that his acceptance of self was encouraged by the fact that the Mescaleros (Apache tribe) did not look down upon men who loved other men. This unyielding pride helps Renaldo accept his own sexuality and gives him the strength he needs to stand up to his family.
The 'coming out' conversation with the Valle men made me ugly cry.
"If you ask Hank—Henry. If you tell him to leave, I will go with him. I must go with him. We belong to each other, do you understand?”
Seriously, this author owes me a box of tissues, with lotion if you please. Renaldo loved his traditional, Catholic family but was willing to walk away and make his own way with Hank if they didn't accept him. Hank, while facing the very real possibility that he might be shot, refused to lie to Renaldo's father, a man who had treated him with respect, and as an equal , from their first meeting; or to his mother who had welcomed him into her house, fed him at her table and treated him like a son. This was extremely well done. Very realistic, sans drama, just deep respect and love on all sides even when not all of the brothers fully understood.
I loved that Renaldo had Canadria, his twin sister, in his corner at all times. She was someone who knew where his interests lay, even before he fully did, and made sure he understood that she would always love him.
Really, I have zero complaints about this book. It was flawless, both literally and figuratively. Editing was excellent. I would have loved it if Patricia had come to care for Francisco, but in light of the lessons with the horses, I understood why the author didn't go that route. I'm happy he has his little one to love, and I'm still holding out hope that he'll find a woman to appreciate the wonderful man that he is.
5 full stars. I would give it more if I could. Also, do yourself a favor and read the author's note at the beginning of the book. Very educational. Brava, author.
December 8, 2015
Okay. M'kay. Let me just...take a breath.
There are so many things to love about this book. The prose is just beautiful. Stone has a gift for creating a rich backdrop for her stories so that the whole experience feels well loved and well rounded. I always learn from her stories. The level of detail and obvious commitment to research make this story shine and are a testament to how very much Stone cares for her craft.
Now let's talk about what she crafted. Renaldo's family is EVERYTHING. They made me miss my family so much. The love and care they have for each other was so palpable. Even when both Renaldo and Hank were terrified of what would happen, as a reader, I trusted that Renaldo's family would love him unconditionally.
Renaldo...oh lord. What a sensual and romantic man. I wish I had a man in my life who spoke to me like he does to Hank.
And HANK. Oh man do I have a sweet spot for complicated, lovely men. His reserve, initially, spoke so well to his vulnerabilities without Stone every having to state them. She showed us. And as the story unfolds, watching Hank unfold, demonstrating how sweet he is, how much he needs and wants love...UGH. MY HEART. His commitment to being an honest and upstanding man was really moving as well.
There are so many things to love about this book. The prose is just beautiful. Stone has a gift for creating a rich backdrop for her stories so that the whole experience feels well loved and well rounded. I always learn from her stories. The level of detail and obvious commitment to research make this story shine and are a testament to how very much Stone cares for her craft.
Now let's talk about what she crafted. Renaldo's family is EVERYTHING. They made me miss my family so much. The love and care they have for each other was so palpable. Even when both Renaldo and Hank were terrified of what would happen, as a reader, I trusted that Renaldo's family would love him unconditionally.
Renaldo...oh lord. What a sensual and romantic man. I wish I had a man in my life who spoke to me like he does to Hank.
And HANK. Oh man do I have a sweet spot for complicated, lovely men. His reserve, initially, spoke so well to his vulnerabilities without Stone every having to state them. She showed us. And as the story unfolds, watching Hank unfold, demonstrating how sweet he is, how much he needs and wants love...UGH. MY HEART. His commitment to being an honest and upstanding man was really moving as well.
November 2, 2015
This book was so beautiful and yet at the same time painful that these two men had to hide that they loved each other because of people not understanding.
So Renaldo's father hires Henry to train Renaldo how to catch wild horses. Well Renaldo slowly starts falling for Hank while they are out searching for wild mustangs. The way these two MC's were together was honestly beautiful. Their love for each other slowly grows the more time they spend with each other until it was time for Renaldo to go home that was when the fear of what they faced with Renaldo's family started.
They both decided that they would not lie to the family. I felt so bad for these two men I know back then in the Old West two men being together was not something many people would accept. But to have to hide your love and hope no one ever realizes that your are together it is really sad that things were that way back then. But their love was strong enough to show Renaldo's family even with the fear of being cast out. I honestly loved the way the author wrote this story and these characters. I felt what these two MC's felt, what they went through knowing that they might not be accepted. Really this book was just beautiful! I loved these two men together and how strong they were for each other. I also loved Renaldo's family they were so loving and kind. Plus there was their first steamy scene together can I just say that was so damn hot!!! They had plenty more after too so don't get me wrong lol. There was just something about their first time together that was just beautiful but at the same time very steamy. So I will leave this review with I honestly loved this book! I thought the way everything was portrayed for this time period was perfect. I would definitely 100% recommend this book!
I received this book free in exchange for an honest review from Inked Rainbow Reads.
So Renaldo's father hires Henry to train Renaldo how to catch wild horses. Well Renaldo slowly starts falling for Hank while they are out searching for wild mustangs. The way these two MC's were together was honestly beautiful. Their love for each other slowly grows the more time they spend with each other until it was time for Renaldo to go home that was when the fear of what they faced with Renaldo's family started.
They both decided that they would not lie to the family. I felt so bad for these two men I know back then in the Old West two men being together was not something many people would accept. But to have to hide your love and hope no one ever realizes that your are together it is really sad that things were that way back then. But their love was strong enough to show Renaldo's family even with the fear of being cast out. I honestly loved the way the author wrote this story and these characters. I felt what these two MC's felt, what they went through knowing that they might not be accepted. Really this book was just beautiful! I loved these two men together and how strong they were for each other. I also loved Renaldo's family they were so loving and kind. Plus there was their first steamy scene together can I just say that was so damn hot!!! They had plenty more after too so don't get me wrong lol. There was just something about their first time together that was just beautiful but at the same time very steamy. So I will leave this review with I honestly loved this book! I thought the way everything was portrayed for this time period was perfect. I would definitely 100% recommend this book!
I received this book free in exchange for an honest review from Inked Rainbow Reads.
December 15, 2015
What can I say about Bitter Springs that hasn't already been said? Trust me when I say that the four- and five-star reviews are all right. This book will satisfy in so many ways. Stone's research is impeccable, her prose lyrical, and her use of Spanish sets the tone of the book rather than becoming cumbersome to non-speakers.
I highly recommend this novel to lovers of historical romance, boundless nature, and the unwavering spirit of the American West. Stone has written a love letter to it all.
Finally, I couldn't write a review without discussing the horses, who are vital characters as much as Hank and Renaldo are. It is obvious that the writer is an animal lover and truly understands the intelligence and beauty of horses. I have a soft spot for people who respect animals' unique ways of communicating, and wow, does Stone get it.
I promise you, if you read Bitter Springs, you won't be disappointed.
I highly recommend this novel to lovers of historical romance, boundless nature, and the unwavering spirit of the American West. Stone has written a love letter to it all.
Finally, I couldn't write a review without discussing the horses, who are vital characters as much as Hank and Renaldo are. It is obvious that the writer is an animal lover and truly understands the intelligence and beauty of horses. I have a soft spot for people who respect animals' unique ways of communicating, and wow, does Stone get it.
I promise you, if you read Bitter Springs, you won't be disappointed.
January 8, 2020
**Thank you to Santa’s Jilted Lover**
What a sweet, extremely low-key romance. It started out slow and I questioned if this book was going to be for me. But once Hank and Renaldo started on their adventure, it turned into a low angst, slow burn story that I really enjoyed.
------
1/8/20 - After 3 weeks, I keep thinking about this book so I'm upping my rating from 4 to 5 stars. Obviously it had a big impact on me.
What a sweet, extremely low-key romance. It started out slow and I questioned if this book was going to be for me. But once Hank and Renaldo started on their adventure, it turned into a low angst, slow burn story that I really enjoyed.
------
1/8/20 - After 3 weeks, I keep thinking about this book so I'm upping my rating from 4 to 5 stars. Obviously it had a big impact on me.
January 1, 2020
Laura Stone prefaces Bitter Stone - set in Texas, circa 1870 - with some historical information which implodes the myth of the Wild West, where "men were men." As Stone says, "Turns out that the straight, white cowboy whom Hollywood loves was pretty uncommon. About forty percent of cowboys were black, first of all." And furthermore, gay relationships were not all that uncommon.
Visit my new blog, Sinfully Good Gay Book Reviews
Where on earth do you think the term “Boston Wife” came from? Or “Oxford Rub”? Bunkhouses were often called “ram pastures,” and the term for two fellas owning up to wanting to get off with each other for a while—typically in a romantic relationship—was called “mutual solace.”Renaldo Valle is apprenticed to a horse "whisperer" Hank Burnett, a black former slave who spent his childhood with the Kiowa and Apache tribes. Hank is gay ("When I was a young man, I learned some truths about myself, and I was fortunate to live with people who accepted that about me, even if most other people wouldn’t.”) while Renaldo is figuring out where his interests lie. In their months-long quest for wild mustangs, Renaldo falls in love:
He wanted Hank to want him, wanted Hank to smile and take Renaldo in his arms, wanted to feel the vibrations of Hank’s body against his own as they laughed together, the solid warmth of Hank’s back against Renaldo’s chest as he held Hank close, both of them standing on a porch at night surveying the land they shared, wanted to experience it all every day and every night until he couldn’t remember what his life had been like without Hank at his side. He wanted it so much his body ached for it.I loved this story of two men who want to live honorably together and I highly recommend it!
Visit my new blog, Sinfully Good Gay Book Reviews
December 3, 2015
It’s a rare treat to read a novel which both reveals a previously-unknown (to me, at least) corner of American history, and contains a moving story of romantic and familial love – in this, Bitter Springs by Laura Stone is a rare achievement.
The book centers around Renaldo Valle Santos, the youngest in a family of ranchers in 1870s Texas. Following a series of events that shakes up the family’s plans for the future, Renaldo leaves home to study to be a mesteñero, or horse-catcher, with Henry “Hank” Burnett. What follows is a love story told with uncommon care and attention to detail.
Stone displays impressive patience in crafting the budding relationship between these two men – one young, sheltered, and inexperienced; the other skilled, wary, and scarred. They are not fast friends; in fact for no small portion of their journey together, they struggle to communicate effectively, which makes the moments of increasing connection so precious to them both – and us. The fine attention to the details of the work the mesteñeros accomplish is astonishing. I had no idea this was work that even existed in the world, and found myself wishing for 100 more pages of the process of luring wild horses into captivity through gentleness and care, rather than by force.
Renaldo’s connection with his family, especially his twin sister Calandaría, is warm, deep, and complicated. His growing connection to – and eventual deep love for – Hank only serves to highlight the complexity and tensile strength of those familial bonds.
So often, queer stories set in the past, and even the present, are stories about pain and rejection, violence and untimely death. From a certain perspective Bitter Springs serves as a thesis statement, a way to change the conversation. There is a way to tell queer stories, our stories, in a way that shows the light at the end of the rainbow. It is possible that the story that we’ve been told over and over, that the queer journey is a journey of tragedy and loss, is somewhat like the titular springs – a story told so often, it appears to obscure all other possibilities, but just one story.
With Bitter Springs, Laura Stone is changing the conversation. We have had happy endings, we do have happy endings, and we will continue to have happy endings.
(crossposted from tumblr: adisusedshed.tumblr.com)
The book centers around Renaldo Valle Santos, the youngest in a family of ranchers in 1870s Texas. Following a series of events that shakes up the family’s plans for the future, Renaldo leaves home to study to be a mesteñero, or horse-catcher, with Henry “Hank” Burnett. What follows is a love story told with uncommon care and attention to detail.
Stone displays impressive patience in crafting the budding relationship between these two men – one young, sheltered, and inexperienced; the other skilled, wary, and scarred. They are not fast friends; in fact for no small portion of their journey together, they struggle to communicate effectively, which makes the moments of increasing connection so precious to them both – and us. The fine attention to the details of the work the mesteñeros accomplish is astonishing. I had no idea this was work that even existed in the world, and found myself wishing for 100 more pages of the process of luring wild horses into captivity through gentleness and care, rather than by force.
Renaldo’s connection with his family, especially his twin sister Calandaría, is warm, deep, and complicated. His growing connection to – and eventual deep love for – Hank only serves to highlight the complexity and tensile strength of those familial bonds.
So often, queer stories set in the past, and even the present, are stories about pain and rejection, violence and untimely death. From a certain perspective Bitter Springs serves as a thesis statement, a way to change the conversation. There is a way to tell queer stories, our stories, in a way that shows the light at the end of the rainbow. It is possible that the story that we’ve been told over and over, that the queer journey is a journey of tragedy and loss, is somewhat like the titular springs – a story told so often, it appears to obscure all other possibilities, but just one story.
With Bitter Springs, Laura Stone is changing the conversation. We have had happy endings, we do have happy endings, and we will continue to have happy endings.
(crossposted from tumblr: adisusedshed.tumblr.com)
March 2, 2020
3.5 stars
This is a good, solid historical novel, but it didn't blow me away, and I'm not really sure why.
Renaldo's the youngest son of a Tejano rancher, who ends up getting his apprenticeship to a cowboy sooner than expected thanks to one of his older brother's illicit shenanigans. Hank is the cowboy in question, a former slave who has been wondering the Southwest trying to find a place and people to fit in.
I liked everything here. Two people of color MCs, acknowledging that the West wasn't just settled by whites, and in fact many of the cowboys who settled the west were freed slaves. The MCs had interesting backgrounds, and there was some examination of the slave system, racism and family dynamics. I really liked the parts with the horses and Hank's approach to not forcing a creature to follow them or forcing them to be trained to be tame. That was a nice analogy that ran throughout the story.
And yet...something was just missing. There wasn't really anything about it that I disliked. Maybe I was expecting too much after And It Came to Pass. Maybe it was that some things felt too easy, even if I appreciated that Stone avoided unnecessary melodrama. Maybe it's that despite this taking place over several months, I didn't really feel the passage of time, so it still felt a tad insta. Maybe I just didn't really feel the connection between the MCs, despite that they're well-suited to each other and I was certainly rooting for them. Maybe it was just a bit too been-there-done-that despite the unusual setting and time period. *shrugs*
This is a good, solid historical novel, but it didn't blow me away, and I'm not really sure why.
Renaldo's the youngest son of a Tejano rancher, who ends up getting his apprenticeship to a cowboy sooner than expected thanks to one of his older brother's illicit shenanigans. Hank is the cowboy in question, a former slave who has been wondering the Southwest trying to find a place and people to fit in.
I liked everything here. Two people of color MCs, acknowledging that the West wasn't just settled by whites, and in fact many of the cowboys who settled the west were freed slaves. The MCs had interesting backgrounds, and there was some examination of the slave system, racism and family dynamics. I really liked the parts with the horses and Hank's approach to not forcing a creature to follow them or forcing them to be trained to be tame. That was a nice analogy that ran throughout the story.
And yet...something was just missing. There wasn't really anything about it that I disliked. Maybe I was expecting too much after And It Came to Pass. Maybe it was that some things felt too easy, even if I appreciated that Stone avoided unnecessary melodrama. Maybe it's that despite this taking place over several months, I didn't really feel the passage of time, so it still felt a tad insta. Maybe I just didn't really feel the connection between the MCs, despite that they're well-suited to each other and I was certainly rooting for them. Maybe it was just a bit too been-there-done-that despite the unusual setting and time period. *shrugs*
December 9, 2015
my off-the-cuff review:
This book was an entirely satisfying read. It is a beautiful story, beautifully written & exquisitely detailed. It's lush & romantic, the love scenes are hot but entirely appropriate within the story. It is "literary romance" at its finest.
This book was an entirely satisfying read. It is a beautiful story, beautifully written & exquisitely detailed. It's lush & romantic, the love scenes are hot but entirely appropriate within the story. It is "literary romance" at its finest.
December 18, 2015
I grew up reading my mother’s childhood copies of the Silver Brumby series by Elyne Mitchell - the wild, thundering stories of stallion Thowra in the Snowy Mountains region of Australia. My memories of these tales still have my heart in my throat, vivid, unforgiving and beautiful. Never mind the fact that my few attempts of riding horses in real life ended with five year old me half way off a Shetland pony, my nose getting closer to the ground in cold Cornwall.
I also read The Horse Whisperer at entirely too young an age, where tragedy, injury and disability, miscarriages, infidelity, forbidden love, sex in barns and women with sensually hairy armpits filled the page.
I’ve just finished reading Bitter Springs, the glorious new epic romance from Laura Stone. Set in Texas in 1870, the story follows Renaldo Valle Santos during his training with horse catcher and freed slave, Hank Burnett. With a gorgeous unfurling of cultural histories and contrasting family lives, it is a romance simmering with mutual respect. Against a backdrop of vast landscapes, and a well drawn cacophony of supporting characters, Stone delivers a story which is clearly a labour of love.
Bitter Springs reminded me of those formative books that captured my imagination. Stone captures the wildness and freedom of the Silver Brumby series and the passion of The Horse Whisperer and weaves it together with detailed research into the rich and diverse lives of real cowboys to create a complex and intriguing story, brimming with life.
5*
I also read The Horse Whisperer at entirely too young an age, where tragedy, injury and disability, miscarriages, infidelity, forbidden love, sex in barns and women with sensually hairy armpits filled the page.
I’ve just finished reading Bitter Springs, the glorious new epic romance from Laura Stone. Set in Texas in 1870, the story follows Renaldo Valle Santos during his training with horse catcher and freed slave, Hank Burnett. With a gorgeous unfurling of cultural histories and contrasting family lives, it is a romance simmering with mutual respect. Against a backdrop of vast landscapes, and a well drawn cacophony of supporting characters, Stone delivers a story which is clearly a labour of love.
Bitter Springs reminded me of those formative books that captured my imagination. Stone captures the wildness and freedom of the Silver Brumby series and the passion of The Horse Whisperer and weaves it together with detailed research into the rich and diverse lives of real cowboys to create a complex and intriguing story, brimming with life.
5*
January 20, 2016
Review@Ohmyshelves Blog
Kudos to this author for researching her facts and history. This was a really good story. I definitely learned a few things from reading this. I really appreciate the author's note at the beginning. Never would have thought about what she said. It makes sense a lot, and it's crazy to have these negative feelings today in society seeing how history went. A really good historic romance.
Both of these characters were really good. Oh my goodness I enjoyed the story alot. It was a slow burner, I'm talking real slow for the romance to happen, more than halfway in the book for anything to happen. I was okay with that, because I liked see how the two guys interacted with each other, I liked reading about their stories, and wanted to see how they were going to fare on this journey. I liked how the author wrote the main character as a Mexican. His family's story isn't something that I was familiar with, but it was informing to see such freedom for people of color back then. I definitely appreciated the author giving Henry Bennett his own independence. I am familiar with Henry's upbringing. It wasn't common at all, but I think Laura Stone did a great job on getting the facts, and emotions right with his character. I <3 Francisco!!! He was amazing! He was so self-less. I just wanted to smother him in hugs and kisses.
I think the way these guys came together was very endearing. They kinda became friends, and learned what love is to one another. Renaldo was sweet, and I loved his fiery side. I'm not an animal person, but both guys were good to those horses. It was humbling seeing the way Hank's reputation came about. I loved Renaldo's family, they were like anyone else but with way more affection and touching. I'm going to be on the lookout for more from this author.
**Special Thanks to Interlude Press for allowing me to read and review this for an honest opinion.**
Kudos to this author for researching her facts and history. This was a really good story. I definitely learned a few things from reading this. I really appreciate the author's note at the beginning. Never would have thought about what she said. It makes sense a lot, and it's crazy to have these negative feelings today in society seeing how history went. A really good historic romance.
Both of these characters were really good. Oh my goodness I enjoyed the story alot. It was a slow burner, I'm talking real slow for the romance to happen, more than halfway in the book for anything to happen. I was okay with that, because I liked see how the two guys interacted with each other, I liked reading about their stories, and wanted to see how they were going to fare on this journey. I liked how the author wrote the main character as a Mexican. His family's story isn't something that I was familiar with, but it was informing to see such freedom for people of color back then. I definitely appreciated the author giving Henry Bennett his own independence. I am familiar with Henry's upbringing. It wasn't common at all, but I think Laura Stone did a great job on getting the facts, and emotions right with his character. I <3 Francisco!!! He was amazing! He was so self-less. I just wanted to smother him in hugs and kisses.
I think the way these guys came together was very endearing. They kinda became friends, and learned what love is to one another. Renaldo was sweet, and I loved his fiery side. I'm not an animal person, but both guys were good to those horses. It was humbling seeing the way Hank's reputation came about. I loved Renaldo's family, they were like anyone else but with way more affection and touching. I'm going to be on the lookout for more from this author.
**Special Thanks to Interlude Press for allowing me to read and review this for an honest opinion.**
December 13, 2015
A glorious and generous romance. I fell for the leads. Especially Renaldo and his so very young, open-hearted, respectful self. So willing to love and be loved. But also especially Hank and his competence and responsibility and kindness and necessary self protectiveness. They are dear boys. I believed their connection. The electricity of it zinged through the pages.
It's a book where I learned a lot and needed to accustom myself to the pace of reading when there's that depth of research and knowledge behind Renaldo's thinking.
It was a joy to read. A pleasure to spend time way out in the mountains and plains and starry long nights. Happy sigh.
It's a book where I learned a lot and needed to accustom myself to the pace of reading when there's that depth of research and knowledge behind Renaldo's thinking.
It was a joy to read. A pleasure to spend time way out in the mountains and plains and starry long nights. Happy sigh.
January 7, 2016
3.5 Stars on Prism Book Alliance®
Skimming the surface of potential...
This story begins with some family drama regarding several challenges facing Renaldo and his family. By the middle of chapter four, some of the strife had lessened but I was still struggling in getting to know Renaldo, the 21-yr old rancher. He’s kind and mostly in tune with the members of his family, especially his sister, and his goals are simple: be a contributing member of his family, remaining on their large farm, working one of the several industries they engage in. Beyond these obvious facts, his other desires and ambitions remained elusive, even to himself.
The moment Henry Burnett enters the scene, I sat up and thought, ‘ok, here we go, he seems interesting’ and I was intrigued. More on that later.
The writing is rather direct and accessible but felt somewhat shallow, just scratching the surface, particularly in terms of the characters. The language is middle of the road, nothing heavily colloquial given the time period. If it weren’t for the mention of petticoats and a couple of references to the recently ended Civil War, it would be easy to read this as a more contemporary Western.
One of my favorite characters is Renaldo’s sister, Calandaria. She’s spirited, smart, intuitive, and is ready to make her mark on the world. She’s ‘ahead of her time’ in the context of the 1870’s and the roles most women were expected to take, the ways they were supposed to comport themselves. She’s a good sister, especially to Renaldo.
A third of the way through the book and I was still struggling to discover the point, the motivations for these characters, even after Renaldo and Henry had met and spent some time together. I wasn’t exactly bored but I wasn’t riveted either. And then I had an epiphany: the writing style made it feel like everything was kept at arm’s length, formal, like the author wasn’t quite sure how, or ready, to allow these characters to really break through emotionally, especially Renaldo. The big exception was when the connection between Renaldo and Henry was finally able to reveal itself and breathe, opening all of those doors that had been kept shut throughout the story.
This is a simple storyline surrounded by lovingly described scenery and basic characters. There’s a lot of potential here, so much that could have been done to deepen every aspect. This is especially true for Henry. We do get some detail about is earlier life, and a bit of his emotional reaction to it all when he shares this, but not much more. The one exception to all of this would be the diversity of those characters, mandated by the location, and that was good to see and experience. The story feels realistic in a skimming the surface kind of way. It’s sweet and therefore a bit unique in the world of Westerns, so if you’ve been wanting to dip your toe into that genre, you’ll get a light taste of it here.
This is a ‘well done’ idea of a book but I can’t say I derived much joy while reading it.
Skimming the surface of potential...
This story begins with some family drama regarding several challenges facing Renaldo and his family. By the middle of chapter four, some of the strife had lessened but I was still struggling in getting to know Renaldo, the 21-yr old rancher. He’s kind and mostly in tune with the members of his family, especially his sister, and his goals are simple: be a contributing member of his family, remaining on their large farm, working one of the several industries they engage in. Beyond these obvious facts, his other desires and ambitions remained elusive, even to himself.
The moment Henry Burnett enters the scene, I sat up and thought, ‘ok, here we go, he seems interesting’ and I was intrigued. More on that later.
The writing is rather direct and accessible but felt somewhat shallow, just scratching the surface, particularly in terms of the characters. The language is middle of the road, nothing heavily colloquial given the time period. If it weren’t for the mention of petticoats and a couple of references to the recently ended Civil War, it would be easy to read this as a more contemporary Western.
One of my favorite characters is Renaldo’s sister, Calandaria. She’s spirited, smart, intuitive, and is ready to make her mark on the world. She’s ‘ahead of her time’ in the context of the 1870’s and the roles most women were expected to take, the ways they were supposed to comport themselves. She’s a good sister, especially to Renaldo.
A third of the way through the book and I was still struggling to discover the point, the motivations for these characters, even after Renaldo and Henry had met and spent some time together. I wasn’t exactly bored but I wasn’t riveted either. And then I had an epiphany: the writing style made it feel like everything was kept at arm’s length, formal, like the author wasn’t quite sure how, or ready, to allow these characters to really break through emotionally, especially Renaldo. The big exception was when the connection between Renaldo and Henry was finally able to reveal itself and breathe, opening all of those doors that had been kept shut throughout the story.
This is a simple storyline surrounded by lovingly described scenery and basic characters. There’s a lot of potential here, so much that could have been done to deepen every aspect. This is especially true for Henry. We do get some detail about is earlier life, and a bit of his emotional reaction to it all when he shares this, but not much more. The one exception to all of this would be the diversity of those characters, mandated by the location, and that was good to see and experience. The story feels realistic in a skimming the surface kind of way. It’s sweet and therefore a bit unique in the world of Westerns, so if you’ve been wanting to dip your toe into that genre, you’ll get a light taste of it here.
This is a ‘well done’ idea of a book but I can’t say I derived much joy while reading it.
March 23, 2016
Like a lot of Americans, for most of my life, I had a very specific image in mind when I pictured a cowboy: white, straight, and macho. That was the impression I'd been given, and I never thought to question it.
Then Laura Stone came around, in the early stages of promoting her book Bitter Springs, and threw that idea out the window: turns out a large chunk of cowboys were black or Mexican, and straight wasn't as much the default as I had been taught.
I'm not normally a fan of so-called "Westerns," so I wasn't sure if I would like Bitter Springs, but I gave it a shot, and it is now officially one of my favorite Interlude Press books so far. Stone has outdone herself (her first book, The Bones of You, was great, but this one is even better).
The reader goes on a double adventure with 21-year-old Renaldo, the main character, as he tracks down mustangs with revered mesteñero Hank, who trains him and happens to be the most attractive person Renaldo has ever seen -- spurning his dawning realization that what he thought was a simple disinterest in women is actually an interest in men. He doesn't panic about it, but he does stress about how his large, complicated family will react when they inevitably find out -- though, given the actions of one of his brothers, Renaldo being attracted to men may actually be a relief for his family in some ways.
Bitter Springs is a joy to read, full of family drama and exquisite scenery, not to mention a healthy dose of cowboy romance.
Then Laura Stone came around, in the early stages of promoting her book Bitter Springs, and threw that idea out the window: turns out a large chunk of cowboys were black or Mexican, and straight wasn't as much the default as I had been taught.
I'm not normally a fan of so-called "Westerns," so I wasn't sure if I would like Bitter Springs, but I gave it a shot, and it is now officially one of my favorite Interlude Press books so far. Stone has outdone herself (her first book, The Bones of You, was great, but this one is even better).
The reader goes on a double adventure with 21-year-old Renaldo, the main character, as he tracks down mustangs with revered mesteñero Hank, who trains him and happens to be the most attractive person Renaldo has ever seen -- spurning his dawning realization that what he thought was a simple disinterest in women is actually an interest in men. He doesn't panic about it, but he does stress about how his large, complicated family will react when they inevitably find out -- though, given the actions of one of his brothers, Renaldo being attracted to men may actually be a relief for his family in some ways.
Bitter Springs is a joy to read, full of family drama and exquisite scenery, not to mention a healthy dose of cowboy romance.
December 15, 2015
*** ARC provided to Bayou Book Junkie in exchange for a fair and honest review. ***
Renaldo is the baby of his family along with his twin Calandaría in 1870 Texas. After his brother Silvestre is sent away by his family to Mexico, he has to step up and take his place training under Henry 'Hank' Burnett, a freed slave and famed horse-catcher. Renaldo has never felt attracted to women, but it isn't until he starts developing feelings for Hank during their trip that he realizes the reason why. However, much as he'd like to explore those feelings, there's nothing saying that Hank will respond to them, would he?
I really enjoyed this story. I felt transported back to Texas in 1870 as I read. The language, the descriptions, the imagery, just about everything just made this book a fantastic experience. There are some very powerful scenes where I would suddenly find myself crying, they were so full of emotion. I loved the way this all played out. The tension as Renaldo realizes he's attracted to Hank and after they get together, knowing that once they go back to Renaldo's family ranch things might not be the same again for them both. The only complaint I have with this story was with the Spanish parts, being a native speaker myself, I found myself cringing at some of the misused or misspelled words, but aside from that, well, this book was heartbreaking and bittersweet and I just couldn't put it down until I finished it.
Rating: 4.5 Stars!!!
Renaldo is the baby of his family along with his twin Calandaría in 1870 Texas. After his brother Silvestre is sent away by his family to Mexico, he has to step up and take his place training under Henry 'Hank' Burnett, a freed slave and famed horse-catcher. Renaldo has never felt attracted to women, but it isn't until he starts developing feelings for Hank during their trip that he realizes the reason why. However, much as he'd like to explore those feelings, there's nothing saying that Hank will respond to them, would he?
I really enjoyed this story. I felt transported back to Texas in 1870 as I read. The language, the descriptions, the imagery, just about everything just made this book a fantastic experience. There are some very powerful scenes where I would suddenly find myself crying, they were so full of emotion. I loved the way this all played out. The tension as Renaldo realizes he's attracted to Hank and after they get together, knowing that once they go back to Renaldo's family ranch things might not be the same again for them both. The only complaint I have with this story was with the Spanish parts, being a native speaker myself, I found myself cringing at some of the misused or misspelled words, but aside from that, well, this book was heartbreaking and bittersweet and I just couldn't put it down until I finished it.
Rating: 4.5 Stars!!!
April 12, 2016
My sister is a self-proclaimed cowgirl. This mostly means, to her, wearing very tight Levis and snap-front shirts and riding horses and listening to top-40 country radio (which is as atrocious as top-40 pop radio) and dating scary homophobic brutes in western boots that could really kick the crap out of a homo like me. So it was with reluctance I started reading Laura Stone’s BITTER SPRINGS.
Dear self: you dumb, snobby city girl. The problem with my sister’s version of the American West is that it’s only one (very well-marketed) version. Stone shows us another, much more interesting, one. This is a lovely rarity: both strikingly-written and engaging, AND well-researched realistic fiction.
Renaldo Valle Santos, son of a large “farm” family, is paired as an apprentice to legendary horse trainer Henry “Hank” Burnett. Hank takes Renaldo on the road to capture and train some new wild horses and while they’re out in the wilderness with nothing but tents and stars, things, uh, happen. Like, love things.
There is other drama that stands as backdrop: one of Renaldo’s brothers is caught with his pants down (literally) in the height of heterosexuality with a local girl to whom he’s not married; Renaldo’s sister Calandaría is promised to marry an older man she hasn’t yet met and is miserable about it. In this novel, the gay mens’ fears of rejection and judgment by family and community are put into context: there’s aberrant behavior, sexism, bad situations and judgy reactions everywhere. It’s not just a gay thing. This flies in the face of stereotypes about the old West, about the new South, and about the lives gay folks can expect to live.
One would also expect the fact that Reynaldo is Latino and Hank is black to produce a lot of the drama here, but it doesn’t. It’s just not the important part. It’s refreshing: gay people, people of color, here they just get a love story like everyone else. These parts of their identities do, of course, inflect their experiences, and do play a part in the narrative, but it’s simply not the only story there, or even the main one.
Such a beautifully sensitive, interesting story. If I wasn’t so happy about reading it, I’d feel like I got educated, too. But it was too fun, too moving, too interesting, for that.
Dear self: you dumb, snobby city girl. The problem with my sister’s version of the American West is that it’s only one (very well-marketed) version. Stone shows us another, much more interesting, one. This is a lovely rarity: both strikingly-written and engaging, AND well-researched realistic fiction.
Renaldo Valle Santos, son of a large “farm” family, is paired as an apprentice to legendary horse trainer Henry “Hank” Burnett. Hank takes Renaldo on the road to capture and train some new wild horses and while they’re out in the wilderness with nothing but tents and stars, things, uh, happen. Like, love things.
There is other drama that stands as backdrop: one of Renaldo’s brothers is caught with his pants down (literally) in the height of heterosexuality with a local girl to whom he’s not married; Renaldo’s sister Calandaría is promised to marry an older man she hasn’t yet met and is miserable about it. In this novel, the gay mens’ fears of rejection and judgment by family and community are put into context: there’s aberrant behavior, sexism, bad situations and judgy reactions everywhere. It’s not just a gay thing. This flies in the face of stereotypes about the old West, about the new South, and about the lives gay folks can expect to live.
One would also expect the fact that Reynaldo is Latino and Hank is black to produce a lot of the drama here, but it doesn’t. It’s just not the important part. It’s refreshing: gay people, people of color, here they just get a love story like everyone else. These parts of their identities do, of course, inflect their experiences, and do play a part in the narrative, but it’s simply not the only story there, or even the main one.
Such a beautifully sensitive, interesting story. If I wasn’t so happy about reading it, I’d feel like I got educated, too. But it was too fun, too moving, too interesting, for that.
January 23, 2016
If you like historical romance, especially well-researched and respectful historical romance, this book is for you! I fell in love with Renaldo and his family right away - especially his twin sister, Calandaria, and his wonderful mother. The men in Renaldo’s family are also delightful, but I warmed to the women in his life immediately. You could feel the love they felt for Renaldo, and even though he doubted that they could come to terms with what he learned about himself, you knew that these two women would never turn their backs on him.
Renaldo’s mesteñero, Hank, was such a cowboy that I also fell for him instantly. Despite everything he had been through in his life, he was the absolute picture of courtesy and kindness, and his determination to true to himself, and to Renaldo’s family, knowing the risks, made me love him even more. Where Renaldo is full of uncertainty, Hank is a steady counterpoint. He never asks Renaldo for more than Renaldo is able to give. Hank treats everyone the way he treats the wild horses he finds - gently and respectfully as equals - and I defy you to read this story and not want all the happiness in the world for him.
The effort and research that the author put into this book is evident from the first chapter, and yet none of it overwhelms the characters or the setting. Writing historical romance, and with the determination to do it correctly, is no easy task, but the writing in Bitter Springs is so smooth you’d think it was effortless.
Laura Stone’s first book, The Bones of You, was a lesson in strife and heartbreak, and the difficulty of love that seems impossible. With Bitter Springs she soothes those old wounds, and reassures you that no matter the decade, love and family will triumph.
Renaldo’s mesteñero, Hank, was such a cowboy that I also fell for him instantly. Despite everything he had been through in his life, he was the absolute picture of courtesy and kindness, and his determination to true to himself, and to Renaldo’s family, knowing the risks, made me love him even more. Where Renaldo is full of uncertainty, Hank is a steady counterpoint. He never asks Renaldo for more than Renaldo is able to give. Hank treats everyone the way he treats the wild horses he finds - gently and respectfully as equals - and I defy you to read this story and not want all the happiness in the world for him.
The effort and research that the author put into this book is evident from the first chapter, and yet none of it overwhelms the characters or the setting. Writing historical romance, and with the determination to do it correctly, is no easy task, but the writing in Bitter Springs is so smooth you’d think it was effortless.
Laura Stone’s first book, The Bones of You, was a lesson in strife and heartbreak, and the difficulty of love that seems impossible. With Bitter Springs she soothes those old wounds, and reassures you that no matter the decade, love and family will triumph.
April 22, 2020
I enjoyed this a great deal! Most of the historical romances I've read are set in Britain so this was a welcome and pleasant new experience, getting to know a part of the US that is quite alien to me. I loved reading about the horses--it made me want to go buy a horse and start riding! *says the person who's seen a horse in real life once*
I thought the beginning was a bit slow, as it spent quite a lot of time with Renaldo's family before Hank appeared on the scene, but by the end of the book I realised the purpose behind that choice. We needed to see Renaldo's loving family, how happy he was there, how content, in order to understand what he was willing to give up for Hank.
In short, a wonderful little story with two POC leads and a POC sexy antagonist--who appeared briefly but it was enough for me to fancy the deerskins off him--and a fascinating view of life in Texas (??) in 1870s. Oh, and a lot of cute horses :D
I thought the beginning was a bit slow, as it spent quite a lot of time with Renaldo's family before Hank appeared on the scene, but by the end of the book I realised the purpose behind that choice. We needed to see Renaldo's loving family, how happy he was there, how content, in order to understand what he was willing to give up for Hank.
In short, a wonderful little story with two POC leads and a POC sexy antagonist--who appeared briefly but it was enough for me to fancy the deerskins off him--and a fascinating view of life in Texas (??) in 1870s. Oh, and a lot of cute horses :D
January 30, 2016
Where do I even begin to express how much I enjoyed this book? A combination of sweet and sexy, mixed together with such vivid descriptions of life out in the wild plains of Texas that it left me with a longing to spend the night under the open sky, away from civilization. I loved every word of the book, from watching Renaldo grow and discover his own feelings and sexuality, to learning about Hank's past, and wishing I could just hug him and tell him that everything would be okay. Laura Stone's gift with words is evident in the true believability of this story, and the passion she has for the content. It's not always that I finish a book and feel like I truly learned something, but Bitter Springs is one that opened both my eyes and my heart. I cannot recommend this book enough.
January 3, 2019
4.5 stars Lovely historical!
February 5, 2016
Disclaimer: I know the author and was excited about the concept of this book going in - so my review is likely very biased.
Lovely writing, compelling characters in a fully realized world. Renaldo lives on a ranch with his tight-night Mexican American family, and Hank is an African American cowboy who is hired to teach Renaldo about taming wild horses. During their time together a romance blooms. I'm not sure what I loved more: the hot and sweet dynamic between the couple (especially Renaldo's use of endearments in Spanish), the well-researched yet organic details of the story, or Renaldo's family.
I really enjoyed reading the book and was drawn into the developing romance between Renaldo and Hank. Plus, there are some deliciously hot passages!
Laura Stone does a fantastic job realistically depicting a loving family who try to accept their son, even if they don't understand his sexuality. The hardest part about reading the book for me was feeling sad that Hank and Renaldo would never be seen as a real couple in their time, yet I think Stone navigates this issue well and finds a happy ending for the couple.
Lovely writing, compelling characters in a fully realized world. Renaldo lives on a ranch with his tight-night Mexican American family, and Hank is an African American cowboy who is hired to teach Renaldo about taming wild horses. During their time together a romance blooms. I'm not sure what I loved more: the hot and sweet dynamic between the couple (especially Renaldo's use of endearments in Spanish), the well-researched yet organic details of the story, or Renaldo's family.
I really enjoyed reading the book and was drawn into the developing romance between Renaldo and Hank. Plus, there are some deliciously hot passages!
Laura Stone does a fantastic job realistically depicting a loving family who try to accept their son, even if they don't understand his sexuality. The hardest part about reading the book for me was feeling sad that Hank and Renaldo would never be seen as a real couple in their time, yet I think Stone navigates this issue well and finds a happy ending for the couple.
April 10, 2016
If you are looking for beautifully written, historical romance with wonderfully well-drawn characters, Bitter Springs is the way to go.
Laura Stone does such an amazing job of creating characters who seem to simply walk right off the page, fully realized and with their own distinct voices and stories. As soon as I was introduced to Renaldo and his family I felt right at home with them; I adored their relationships, between the brothers and their sister and their parents. Their dynamic was so familiar and natural that I could have read an entire novel on its own just about Renaldo’s family.
Even more wonderful to read was the development of Renaldo and Hank’s relationship. While initially they start off on the wrong foot, the slow build and the way they begin to trust each other was so enjoyable. And the best part of this developing relationship – is that they are actually given a chance. In the current climate of hostility towards LGBTQ+ characters on television, it is refreshing to read a book with such positive representations of diverse characters.
As a historian, this novel is spot-on; I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the author’s writing process and her deeper research into the real stories of cowboys, beyond the stereotypical and lily-white Hollywood depictions of cowboys we have long accepted. And for those who want to cry that ‘cowboys weren’t gay!!!’ there is quite a lot of research they have left to do – and if you’re really curious Ms Stone has posted a wonderful list of resources you can check out on her website (please do). It was a joy to see just a few of these stories play out on the pages of Bitter Springs, and I look forward to Ms Stone’s future works.
Laura Stone does such an amazing job of creating characters who seem to simply walk right off the page, fully realized and with their own distinct voices and stories. As soon as I was introduced to Renaldo and his family I felt right at home with them; I adored their relationships, between the brothers and their sister and their parents. Their dynamic was so familiar and natural that I could have read an entire novel on its own just about Renaldo’s family.
Even more wonderful to read was the development of Renaldo and Hank’s relationship. While initially they start off on the wrong foot, the slow build and the way they begin to trust each other was so enjoyable. And the best part of this developing relationship – is that they are actually given a chance. In the current climate of hostility towards LGBTQ+ characters on television, it is refreshing to read a book with such positive representations of diverse characters.
As a historian, this novel is spot-on; I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the author’s writing process and her deeper research into the real stories of cowboys, beyond the stereotypical and lily-white Hollywood depictions of cowboys we have long accepted. And for those who want to cry that ‘cowboys weren’t gay!!!’ there is quite a lot of research they have left to do – and if you’re really curious Ms Stone has posted a wonderful list of resources you can check out on her website (please do). It was a joy to see just a few of these stories play out on the pages of Bitter Springs, and I look forward to Ms Stone’s future works.
April 19, 2020
This was so enjoyable!
August 11, 2020
Well written romance!
May 19, 2016
Title: Bitter Springs
Author: Laura Stone
Publisher: Interlude Press
Reviewer: Barb
Release Date: December 3, 2015
Genre(s): M/M Romance, Interracial, Cowboys, Old West
Page Count: 302
Heat Level: 3 flames out of 5
Rating: 5 stars out of 5
Review:
*****5 Wild Horses Stars*****
Wow! My FIRST historical romance and I loved it! Bitter Springs is a special story for me and it will stay in my heart for a long time. Ms. Stone’s depiction of the Wild West and the 1870’s time allowed me to experience that I was living in that era. The romance between Renaldo, son of a rancher, and Henry “Hank”, a freed slave began slowly but built up to a love of a lifetime for them. All of the characters were well developed with personalities to match, the wonderful sense of tradition and love of the Valle Santos family, the amazing personalities of the horses in this story, and lastly, the true but grudging acceptance of such a non traditional love between Renaldo and Hank was beautiful.
**********
It wasn’t official, not the way the other members of their family were, but as they rocked and moved together, trading kisses and gasps, Renaldo knew that what they shared was every bit as true, every bit as real and good and right as any commitment blessed by God.
**********
Allow yourself to be transported into the 1870’s Wild West by reading this wonderful love story today!
ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review. Reviewed by Barb from Alpha Book Club
Author: Laura Stone
Publisher: Interlude Press
Reviewer: Barb
Release Date: December 3, 2015
Genre(s): M/M Romance, Interracial, Cowboys, Old West
Page Count: 302
Heat Level: 3 flames out of 5
Rating: 5 stars out of 5
Review:
*****5 Wild Horses Stars*****
Wow! My FIRST historical romance and I loved it! Bitter Springs is a special story for me and it will stay in my heart for a long time. Ms. Stone’s depiction of the Wild West and the 1870’s time allowed me to experience that I was living in that era. The romance between Renaldo, son of a rancher, and Henry “Hank”, a freed slave began slowly but built up to a love of a lifetime for them. All of the characters were well developed with personalities to match, the wonderful sense of tradition and love of the Valle Santos family, the amazing personalities of the horses in this story, and lastly, the true but grudging acceptance of such a non traditional love between Renaldo and Hank was beautiful.
**********
It wasn’t official, not the way the other members of their family were, but as they rocked and moved together, trading kisses and gasps, Renaldo knew that what they shared was every bit as true, every bit as real and good and right as any commitment blessed by God.
**********
Allow yourself to be transported into the 1870’s Wild West by reading this wonderful love story today!
ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review. Reviewed by Barb from Alpha Book Club
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