Ranch Manny

by B.A. Tortuga

Trace is down on his luck, out of his teaching job, and on the road with his young daughter Savannah. Just as he's contemplating tucking his proverbial tail between his luck and heading back to his ex or his parents to ask for help, a job opportunity falls into his lap. What he's not sure about is working for a handsome cowboy. On a ranch. In the middle of nowhere.

Cowboy Brent has a ranch to run. three kids he inherited when his cousin passed away, and an elderly ranch hand with Alzheimer's to care for. He needs help, stat, and when Trace falls into his lap, he doesn't hesitate, even though he knows people might question Trace's rainbow dreads and piercings.

As Trace struggles to fit in and do his ranch manny job and Brent tries to make time to breathe, the two of them find common ground and gradually a burning heat for each other. But will they be able to make a real home together, or will everything fall apart as they both try to keep up with all their responsibilities, and maybe a life or death situation for all of them?

70k words

Genres: Romance, M M Romance, Contemporary, Westerns, Gay, Childrens, LGBT

290 pages, Paperback

First published February 23, 2021

About the author

Texan to the bone and an unrepentant Daddy's Girl, BA Tortuga spends her days with her hounds and her beloved wife, texting her grandbabies, and eating Mexican food. When she's not doing that, she's writing. She spends her days off watching rodeo, knitting, and surfing Pinterest in the name of research. Following their own personal joys, BA and Julia heard the call of the high desert and they now live in the New Mexico mountains. BA's personal saviors include her wife, her best friends, and coffee. Lots of coffee. Really good coffee.

Having written everything from fist-fighting rednecks to cowboy daddies to werewolves, BA does her damnedest to tell the stories of her heart, which is committed to giving everyone their happily ever after. With books ranging from hard-hitting BDSM, to fiery passions, to the most traditional of love stories, BA refuses to be pigeon-holed by anyone but the voices in her head.

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

What the heck happened here? I was thoroughly enjoying this up until 50% and then it suddenly lost all momentum.

There was a nice build-up til halfway and then all we got is unimportant details about every day ranch life with kids.

I felt the second half was simply a summarization of all the things that could go wrong on a ranch. Like, we suddenly got malnourished puppies that needed to be nursed back to health, we got endless rain and a tornade, we got an unexpected snake visit, and let's not forget the scorpion. Now this could have been quite interesting to read about weren't it for the fact that it felt like all these thing were on this list that needed to be crossed off. On one page we had the puppy rescue, and then we got a snake visit on the next page, but oh wait, we got a scorpion and a tornado as well, so let's squeeze them in as well. It all started to happen faster and faster.

It is also mentioned several times that Trace is looking dead on his feet, with dark circles under his eyes and he has a pretty severe headache several times. But instead of this being a source of some lovely hurt/comfort between Trace and Brent, it is kind of implied that ranch life with kids is hard. And while I don't dispute this, I was a bit disappointed it was emphasized so much. Now it felt like Trace would probably burn out soon, and not like he would live a happy and healthy long life.

And can I say that I have never met a 5 year old like Jakob. My experience with 5 year olds is that they can be a bit dreamy. They only start to notice their environment more when they're around 6 or so. Jakob acted more like an 8 year old to be honest. But I'm willing to overlook this because the kids were just so darn cute. Realistic? Not really. But cute as a button.

It's such a shame this went downhill so quickly because I really loved the first half.

[Gustaf · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 stars. While I did like both the main characters and all the children in this one I didn't care for some of the events like the crazy Jesus baby in the grocery store. The writing felt heavy and stilted.

[Denise H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Texas, USA. A cast of unforgettable characters, including the children, are in this M/M ranch romance and sweet story.
Trace/Dad-O, is down on his luck, ending up at a diner where he gets a job, which will be great because he can have his daughter, feisty and kind Susannah, 4, they are a team.
Unique Trace is 29, a teacher, is tattooed,

pierced and has dreadlocks, plus his friend and surrogate baby momma had died.

Brent, ex-rodeo rider, with a Stetson,

wranglers molded to his muscled frame has a successful ranch, and inherited his brother's three kids, along with old Hal and Curly. Brent hired Trace, because he could babysit, teach, canned, cooked, feed smaller animals, keep house and watch over Curly who has dementia. Wow, Brent hoped this worked out. Jacob is 5, with Caro, 4, and baby Daisy, 5 months, and he desperately needed help, and he had a feeling Trace was it.

The poison ivy attack greeted them upon arrival, and Trace handled it like a trooper.
After some months, the men are doing well, and finally give in to their attraction, which burst in deep passion and earth shattering sex.



Beyond that, Trace had wrangled the kids and all with a schedule, regular meals and Curly, 70, was doing very well with the stability.
The ranch moves on with it's work with horses, cows, and all of the various animals. The men's feelings grow, and the whole bunch were a solid, functioning family.

We love them all and are relishing the home life they have created. A town issue is quickly defused, and then a shock when Trace cuts his hair. It's all about love.


I cried several times at the touching scenes and cried harder when the weather wreaked havoc.


A seriously heartwarming tale of diverse folks who pull together and make their life work.

Loved it ! Entertaining.
ENJOY !

=======

[Anne Barwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Trent and Brent’s story and couldn’t put it down. I was drawn into their lives immediately. This story has all the feels, and so many lovely moments, as well as tension and drama.

The characters are vividly described and I wanted to find out more about them as soon as I started reading. I felt for Trace being put in a situation to have to be ‘less gay’ or risk losing his job. His relationship with his daughter is sweet, and it’s immediately obvious he’s a great father to her. I love Brent’s interactions with his adoptive kids, and I thought the author captured the feel of what it’s like to be a parent with small children perfectly. I loved how Trace stepped into the breach, and stepped up to the task immediately. I enjoyed his and Brent’s friendship which soon turns into much more, and how protecting their children is forefront to everything else. I also liked that although Trace has everything under control, he has times when everything gets too much, too. The story was not only heartfelt, but realistic.

The supporting cast are wonderful, and this story had a wonderful small town vibe with its close knit community and found family on the ranch. I loved Curly’s friendship with the children, like a surrogate grandfather, and his role in raising Brent. I really felt for him being aware that he was slipping. Alzheimer’s is a horrible disease. I liked Trace’s parents too and how they quickly became grandparents to all the children.

The tension ramps up with the tornado, and I had to keep turning pages to making sure everyone would be okay. I got the sniffles at one part of it. Loved the ending – it was perfect! This is a story I’ll definitely be rereading.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book started off with a bit of angst but after that, it was all fluffy rainbow and unicorns! Brent needed someone to take care of his three godkids and some ranch chores. Trent needed work and a safe place for his little girl of 4. A breakfast meal with fluffy pancakes brought them together and they got what they wanted. There wasn't insta-lust but more of a friends-to-lovers? I really like how the author narrates their story with the kids. It was easy to read and not as messy as I expected (especially when you have so many characters all the time). Definitely a comfortable and sweet read.

[SJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this is the best B.A. Tortuga book that I have read, so far. It all worked: the sympathetic MCs, the kids, the side characters, and the ranch setting. Some good hot scenes, too. I’m a sucker for a down-on-his-luck single dad who meets someone who gives him a hand up. The well written story took me away and that is all I ask of a romance book.

[George · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 Stars

B.A. Tortuga’s Ranch Manny starts with an interesting premise and has a great cast of characters. Unfortunately, however, rather than turning out to be cute, it's way too cutesy and redundant beyond belief.

[Axalia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Je n'ai pas l'habitude de remarquer les photos d'orthographe ou les problèmes de traduction MAIS ALORS LÀ c'est totalement flagrant 😂
Malgré tout, j'ai bien aimé !

Trace, père célibataire, a tout perdu. Sur les routes avec sa fille Susannah, en prenant son déjeuner, il va intercepter une conversation entre la patronne et un magnifique cowboy, Brent, qui chercher une personne pour s'occuper de ses trois enfants.

Si vous cherchez une histoire douce, sans drama dans l'Amérique texane, vous êtes au bon endroit ! Trace a tout du nounou parfait : ancien professeur des écoles pendant 8 ans et parfait en cuisine, il va très vite s'infiltrer dans la vie difficile de Brent, ses trois enfant et de sa ferme.
Et quand je vous dis parfait, il va répondre à tous les problèmes avec une efficacité hallucinante, sera formidable avec les enfants et avec les contraintes.

Même les enfants de Brent sont adorables. Jakob le plus âgé n'est pas un garçon difficile, même s'il a perdu ses parents 6 mois plus tôt, il a prit Brent comme modèle et va très vite vouloir devenir l'homme de la maison. La douceur de Trace va être parfait pour l'aider également. Pareil pour les autres filles !

Bref, vous voyez un peu le tableau ! En tant que l'acteur, vous allez vous intégrer et observer une belle famille, avec des hauts et des bas mais toujours dans la douceur et l'amour !

Après, il y a la très mauvaise traduction... Toutes les phrases sonnent françaises mais certaines ne semblent vraiment pas naturelle. Je pense que je suis passée à côté de certaines subtilités, certains instants importants, à cause de la mauvaise traduction. C'est vraiment dommage parce que du coup, ça m'a sorti de l'histoire plus d'une fois !

C'est dommage mais ça n'enlève pas que ce livre est vraiment très sympa à lire !

[Lillian Francis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorable low angst romance. Cowboys, an unusual manny, dogs, cute kids and so much talk to food I got hungry.

Lovely.

* Found family
* cowboys
* looks wild but is actually a nurturer
* so much delicious sounding food
* out gay cowboy
* cute children
* lots of animals

[Giada · Rating 4 out of 5]

ATTENZIONE! La seguente recensione POTREBBE contenere SPOILER. Se hai paura di scoprire che l’assassino è in realtà il gatto NON leggerla!

Trace Redding è un padre sfortunato e incasinato. Nel giro di appena un anno la sua vita è stata
completamente stravolta. Non ha soltanto perso, per colpa di una malattia, la sua migliore
amica e madre della figlioletta Susannah ma è anche stato mollato dal fidanzato e licenziato in tronco. Si ritrova a vivere una situazione che metterebbe alla prova
pure gli animi più forti e a cercare disperatamente il suo posto nel mondo. L'unico suo desiderio è quello di poter dare stabilità alla figlioletta di appena 4 anni (e che ama più della sua stessa vita) anche se ovviamente... non sa come fare. Per colpa del suo aspetto fisico e del suo orientamento sessuale, è costantemente oggetto di discriminazioni che gli impediscono di ottenere un posto di lavoro. Il ventinovenne sembra rassegnato al suo destino, a dover elemosinare anche solo un posto dove dormire ma fortunatamente il destino bussa alla sua porta. Proprio quando tutto sembra crollare ai suoi piedi Trace ha la fortuna di incontrare un dolce angelo custode, un burbero cowboy dal cuore d'oro che appena vede quel padre e la sua piccola, così smarriti e confusi, si interessa subito alla loro storia. Il misterioso cowboy una volta scoperto il triste passato di Trace e della sua bimba, contro ogni pregiudizio, decide di assumere il 29enne come baby sitter per i suoi figli. Brent Mowry è un uomo che è abituato a lottare nella vita, che si è sempre rimboccato le maniche riuscendo con fatica a gestire un ranch tutto da solo. Ha sempre cercato di mantenere la sua indipendenza senza pesare sulle spalle degli altri ma ahimè, volente o nolente, si è ritrovato dall'oggi al domani ad aver bisogno di una mano. Curly, l'uomo che per lui è sempre stato come un padre soffre di Alzheimer e ha bisogno di essere controllato costantemente. Una situazione di per se non semplice e che si somma all'"urgano" che da qualche mese si è abbattuto sulla sua vita. Da pochi mesi deve occuparsi dei suoi 3 nipotini: Jakob di 6 anni, Caroline di 4 anni e Dasey di 8 mesi. Sua cugina e il suo migliore amico, i genitori dei piccoli, purtroppo sono morti per colpa di un incidente e Brent ha deciso di farsi carico di quei bambini per evitare loro ulteriori sofferenze e nonostante li ami alla follia....prova non poche difficoltà a prendersi cura di tutto quanto. Trova difficile occuparsi dei piccoli, controllare Curly e lavorare allo stesso tempo al ranch. Quando si ritrova di fronte Trace, quell'arcobaleno vivente, pensa di aver trovato una soluzione a tutti i suoi problemi. Quel buffo uomo dai capelli bizzarri, i piercing, i tatuaggi e il sorriso contagioso sembra essere l'incarnazione di un angelo sceso in terra.
Trace non solo è bellissimo e dolcissimo ma è anche un ex insegnate e un padre amorevole e pieno di attenzioni nei confronti dei più piccoli. Il precedente lavoro sembra avergli permesso di sviluppare una pazienza infinita e una sensibilità fuori dal comune e Brent.... coglie con gioia la palla al balzo! Decide non solo di assumerlo ma anche di dargli un tetto sopra la testa. Una scelta che cambierà per sempre la vita dei due, portandoli non solo ad avvicinarsi sempre più ma anche a creare una famiglia arcobaleno dolcissima e ricca di amore e complicità. Ho un debole per i libri che hanno come protagonisti padri single alle prese con i figli e i problemi della vita e se aggiungiamo al calderone dei cowboy sexy... il mio amore non può che aumentare a dismisura! Ho iniziato il libro già sapendo che sarei impazzita di gioia e a ogni pagina non ho potuto che rinnovare il mio amore folle per questa magica storia. È impossibile non innamorarsi di Trace, Brent e della loro famiglia allargata. I due protagonisti sono uomini forti e che hanno il coraggio di lottare contro le avversità e insieme riescono a brillare sempre di più, supportandosi a vicenda e tirando fuori il meglio l'uno dall'altro. Trace ha la possibilità finalmente di trovare il suo posto nel mondo, di donare alla figlia quella famiglia che non ha mai potuto dargli, ha la possibilità in parte di togliere dalle sue spalle quel dolore provocato dalla morte della ex compagna. Trace nel
ranch trova la sua stabilità e il suo mondo, trova persone in grado di accettarlo per quello che è realmente, delle persone che non lo discriminano per il suo orientamento sessuale o per il suo essere un po' hippie e sopra le righe. Allo stesso modo Brent ha la possibilità finalmente di condividere la sua esistenza con un uomo in grado di capire i suoi dolori e tormenti, di avere un compagno pieno di amore e in grado di aiutarlo a crescere quella sua numerosa famiglia, un uomo in grado di accettare la vita nel ranch, spesso dura e priva di orari. Brent e Trace sono perfetti insieme, si completano a vicenda e il loro amore nasce delicatamente e spontaneamente pagina dopo pagina. Non ci troviamo il classico libretto erotico con il sexy cowboy che fa capitolare ai suoi piedi il bel tato bensì un romanzo che costruisce con cura e attenzione un lento rapporto fatto di amicizia, rispetto reciproco e tanto amore. I due uomini si avvicinano delicatamente, imparano a conoscersi dedicandosi insieme alla cura di quei dolci bambini e con naturalezza creano una famiglia in cui regna l'amore e la complicità. Ed è proprio la famiglia a fare da protagonista in questa storia. Una famiglia speciale in cui non importa il legame di sangue ma la forza dei sentimenti che legano i suoi membri. Per una volta abbiamo di fronte una storia in cui i bambini non sono semplicemente messi all'interno della narrazione per creare scompiglio o dare il solito passato ombroso al padre di turno ma sono dei protagonisti che danno importanza all'intera storia. Vengono caratterizzati con cura e attenzione ed è impossibile non amarli e desiderare coccolarli teneramente. Abbiamo modo di conoscere bambini molto diversi tra loro, ognuno con una personalità e una sua storia da raccontare. Conosciamo la dolcissima Susannah, figlia di 4 anni di Trace, un piccolo uragano dal cuore d'oro, un bimba che ha sofferto moltissimo per la morte della madre ma che nonostante la giovanissima età ha la forza di aprire il suo cuore, una bambina che spesso per il colore della sua pelle viene discriminata dalla gente ignorante e intollerante ma che non si lascia mai abbattere dalle difficoltà, continuando ad amare e volere bene al suo Papo. Una bambina straordinaria che ha la fortuna di poter avere accanto dei "fratellini"… ancora più straordinari. I figli adottivi di Brent infatti sono l'incarnazione dell'amore. Sono bambini che hanno perso entrambi i genitori, che si sono ritrovati dall'oggi al domani a vivere in un ranch in compagnia del loro zio ma che nonostante
tutto non si sono mai lamentati, non hanno mai fatto sentire il peso della loro presenza a
Brent e non lo hanno mai trattato con odio o disprezzo, lo hanno sempre amato e rispettato, sono dei bambini molto maturi rispetto alla loro età. I tre fratellini sono tenerissimi e con il loro carattere riescono a illuminare la vita di Brent e Trace. Ho adorato il modo in cui i piccolini sono riusciti a dare quel tocco di colore alla storia, ho amato il modo in cui è stato curato il rapporto padre e figli. Come non parlare poi degli amici del ranch, in particolare ho adorato Curly, un po' un papà per tutti quanti, un uomo che purtroppo soffre di una malattia orribile e che spesso toglie la dignità alle persone, toglie loro una parte della vita oltre ai ricordi. Curly è un uomo che nonostante la malattia riesce a donare gioia, riesce ad avere sempre una parola buona per tutti e incarna un po' il papà/nonno che tutti vorremmo avere nella nostra vita. È un libro delizioso e che oltre all'amore non si dimentica di lanciare messaggi importantissimi. Non solo vuole mostrarci come una famiglia sia formata da persone che si amano, combattendo insieme contro i pregiudizi, ma vuole anche combattere proprio contro le discriminazioni, mostrandoci anche i lati brutti del mondo, mostrandoci l'intolleranza di certe persone disposte a puntare il dito contro gli altri solo per motivi futili, per l'aspetto fisico, il colore della pelle o anche solo per un taglio di capelli fuori dagli schemi. Alcuni momenti sono molto forti e mi hanno colpito nel profondo facendomi commuovere e riflettere sulla condizione di tante famiglie, vittime dell'odio e delle discriminazioni. Nella storia troviamo tutto: una narrazione incalzante, una trama avvincente e mai banale, dei personaggi incantevoli e dei protagonisti indimenticabili. Non mancano i momenti dolci, spensierati, introspettivi e altri decisamente più ricchi di sensualità. Brent e Trace sono non solo dolcissimi insieme ma anche parecchio hot e le scene erotiche tra i due sono un fiore all'occhiello, sensuali e profonde al punto giusto. Una complicità che va oltre il semplice atto sessuale riscaldando il cuore e lo spirito. Una storia insomma stupenda che mi ha fatto sognare, piangere e commuovere nel profondo. Me ne sono innamorata follemente e mi sento di consigliare questo libro a chiunque ami le belle storia di amore, amicizia e famiglia. Un romanzo che mi ha conquistato e che ricorderò sempre con affetto.

[Xanthe · Rating 5 out of 5]

*4.5*
I adore single dad romances and this is perfectly mixed with ranch life.
Brent is bringing up three young children whilst working full time to run his ranch and keep an eye on his friend who is slowly losing his memory. Trace is running on fumes after losing his job, his home, and his daughter's mother. It's pure luck that has him in the diner that Brent comes into to advertise for some help at home. Both jump at the chance to help each other and it's all hands on deck from the off.
Damn this story dives straight into the action and it stays that way as life on the ranch keeps everyone on their toes. The children are all so lovable and really bring the family feel to the story. Trace is brilliant as he gets to grips with all of the children, chores and keeping an eye on Curly. It feels like he brings heart and stability to the home with his grasp on all of the constantly moving parts.
The romance of the story feels like it develops naturally between Brent and Trace. It's believable and hot once things start and you can sense the emotion that builds up too. Ranch life is such a co-dependency, everyone is working together to make it work ensuring everyone, humans and animals alike, are healthy and happy. There are quite a few side characters in the mix but it works well. Everyone has their own positive impact and help to make this a really enjoyable story to read. I love the whole family and highly recommend the story!
I received an ARC and am happily giving a review.

[Sarita Chapdelaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing story with incredible characters and I loved every minute of it. Ranch Manny is beautifully written, sweet, emotional, funny, gritty, full of hope, heartbreakingly sad at times, deals well with some difficult issues, has cute kids and lots of animals. Trace is a wonderful father but he is at the end of his rope when he meets Brent who needs all the help he can get with managing the three kids he is raising and his busy ranch. They are perfect for each other and I love how their relationship evolves over time. Trace has a lot to learn but he is all in to do the best that he can and Brent is as supportive as possible even though they are both so busy that they can barely catch their breath. I love the relationship that develops between all of the kids as well as the adults that live on the ranch. They are a lovely family that all pull together when needed and I especially love how everyone supports and cares for Curly. The secondary characters are the backbone to this story and I love them as much as I love the main characters. The ending is perfect and I can't wait to see what the author has in store for us next.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good read up until about halfway and then it turned into a summary of all the things that were happening at the ranch, daily life with the kids, and Brent being a bit of a dick every so often, with Trace acting like a doormat.

Also, the kids didn't read as the ages I was told they are. Jakob read much older, at least 8 or 9 instead of the purported 5, and the two girls also seemed older than 3 or 4.

And there was just. so. much. going. on! A puppy rescue, a snake, a scorpion that almost stung a kid, and then to top it all off, the old ranch hand Curly is real sick and while Brent is away and being a dick to Trace, there's a tornado that hits the ranch.

Whew. Not my favorite by this author, for sure. YMMV.

[LeeAnn · Rating 5 out of 5]

True family

Such a great story!!
Talk about grabbing ahold of the readers heart strings and tugging!
The kids are adorable, the cowboys are too...just don't tell them I said that...lol
Trace and Brent are THE couple to aspire to be.
I enjoyed this so much I wish it could have gone on and on!
So much love, devotion, support and amazing characters all rolled into one book.

[Cynthia Osborne · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an awesome read about getting second chances and finding peace. Both Trace and Brent need help and they are willing to be that for one another. Trace has lost a lot in a short time while Brent has gained a great deal of responsibility in a blink of an eye. Together they form a working friendship to keep their families healthy and in one piece.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many feels! Just adored this story.

[Patricia Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely LOVED this marvelous, sweet, charming, poignant, grab-you-by-the-feels, tug-at-your-heartstrings, fantastic, honest, straightforward, engaging, sexy, and totally awesome tale. With cowboys, kids, critters, and characters, you just HAVE to get this gem for yourself.

[Ali · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a nice story. Trace doesn't know what his next move is going to be but he knows he needs a place to get back on track. Their chance meeting at the diner was just at the right time for both of them. Trace helps bring stability to life on the ranch and helps all the children heal. He is so caring and does everything that's needed even when he is exhausted. Brent was a solid place for Trace to land and they quickly became a family. I wish I had the chance to see how everything played out after the tornado but I know they will be doing it together.

I received a copy of this book and am giving an honest review

[Earlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Instant family

Just a story of family life in a cowboy rand setting.
Trace needed a place to live and a job for him and his daughter. Brent was desperate to find a nanny and someone to take care of the house.
After living together, they just connected. This just read like a family story. Cute kids and animals. Just a snippet of life on the ranch in Texas.

[Coline Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Life has been tough, trying to run my ranch and raise my cousins three young children feels so over whelming but sometimes a rainbow appears after the storm if your in the right place at the right time and I was. Meeting Tace and his Susannah at the restaurant was just the start of my life looking up and if I'm very very lucky they will stay with us forever.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is no action in this book at all it’s just about one of the main characters taking care of the kids in a slow build to kind of a relationship

[Samantha Ortega · Rating 4 out of 5]

FR- Alors alors…. alors je dois dire que les romans de BA Tortuga sont mon petit plaisir coupable. Des Cowboys, des pères célibataires… Comment ne pas craquer?!! Alors oui, j’avoue, je ne comprend pas toujours tout l’argot texan et ma lecture n’est pas toujours la plus fluide à cause de ça (bon par contre, je me suis enfin faite au « all y’all ») mais je prend toujours autant de plaisir à lire un roman de cette auteure.

Comme à chaque fois, j’ai retrouvé tous les éléments que j’aime dans ses romans, à commencer par des personnages super attachants, que ce soit le couple principal, les enfants ou la ribambelle de personnages secondaires qui gravite autour des héros.
J’aime les familles de cœur que l’auteure crée autour de ses personnages et j’aime les valeurs qu’on retrouve systématiquement dans ses romans. La famille, (de sang ou celle qu’on choisit) l’acceptation de soi et des autres, le courage, l’abnégation et l’amour encore et toujours.

Ce roman ne fait pas exception à la règle, j’ai passé un excellent moment de lecture. J’ai versé ma petite larme plus d’une fois et j’ai adoré chaque moment de ma lecture.

Mention spéciale pour Curly, ce cowboy au cœur d’or qui m’a fait pleuré plus d’une fois.

On ne s’ennuie pas un seul moment dans ce roman et j’ai aimé que, comme d’habitude, l’auteure ne s’embarrasse pas de drama inutiles.

En résumé, encore un très bon roman de l’auteure que les fan apprécieront.



ENG– So well well well…well I must say that BA Tortuga’s novels are my guilty pleasure. Cowboys, single fathers … How not to fall? !! So yes, I admit, I don’t always understand all the Texan slang and my reading is not always the most fluid because of that (well on the other hand, I finally got used to « all y’all ») but I still take great pleasure in reading a novel by this author.

As always, I found all the elements that I love in her novels, starting with super endearing characters, whether it is the main couple, the children or the flock of secondary characters that revolve around the heroes.
I like the family that the author creates around her characters and I like the values ​​that are systematically found in her novels. Family, (by blood or the one you choose) acceptance of yourself and others, courage, self-sacrifice and love again and again.

This novel is no exception to the rule, I had an excellent reading time. I shed my little tear more than once and loved every moment of my reading.

Special mention for Curly, this cowboy with a heart of gold who made me cry more than once.

You don’t get bored for a single moment in this novel and I liked that, as usual, the author didn’t bother with unnecessary drama.

In summary, another very good novel by the author that fans will appreciate.

[Judy & Marianne from Long and Short Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this full-length romance. Readers looking for a long, slow drop from strangers to friends to family to lovers should find this a delicious and well paced romance. I really enjoyed both Trace and Brent’s characters, finding them well written, realistic and best of all not perfect. Brent has a very slight temper when things get frayed and he can snap (like everyone alive I know) and isn’t afraid to own up to it and apologise quickly and honestly. I was particularly pleased that while the chemistry and attraction between the two men was present pretty much from their first meeting the pace of the story really gave them a lot of time to setting into a routine first, get to know each other and find their rhythm before they (much later into the book) acted on their feelings. No insta-lust here and no jumping into bed the moment the kids went to sleep. It was really clear the kids and their slowly meshing family was front and center and the main focus of both men. I really liked that.

There is also an excellent cast of very strongly written secondary characters, from Curly and the other ranch hands to a few other members of the small country town this book was full of lovely characters and wasn’t simply focused on Trace, Brent and their kids. That helped give the story as a whole a really well rounded feel to me and made it seem so much richer and deeper than just two men struggling against the odds and finding love.

While certainly a cowboy story I found this to be strongly emotional and in its own cowboy way really romantic. Readers who enjoy a small-town feel and slower paced, more deeply written romances should definitely give this a try. I’ve not read a lot by this author but I was really impressed and found the story gripping and really emotional and addictive. I definitely plan to look at her other titles and cherry pick a few more for my to-read pile.

Romantic, well paced and with vivid and the style of characters that stick with you, this realistic and really loving story was an excellent find and a story I’m sure I’ll read again in the future.

[Shelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book in all the craziness. I know many reviewers rated it poorly and thought to much was thrown in. I however, enjoyed it. Some say that Jakob didn’t act like any 5yr old they knew. But had they ever met ranch kids? Or kids that had gone through so much? They kids were very cute. I had a hard time picturing trace with short rainbow dreads, but whatever. I think there was quite a bit of realism in how some are treated that are different. I do have a hard time believing that in today’s world where there’s such a big push to be LGBT “inclusive”, especially in Austin, that Trace had such a hard time. I see pictures of how many LGBT activist teachers dress and do think it’s unprofessional. But regular nonLGBT dress poorly to. I’m old school, I’m 56yrs old. Back when I was elementary schools, teachers dressed professionally and like adults. Women in slacks or dresses or skirts, men in slacks and dress shirt or polo shirt and a jacket. Teachers were also respected and kids were behaved. You got in trouble and sent to the office, parents called, and sent home if you didn’t. Though rarely did anyone get sent home because students were respectful to teachers and behaved. So different from now. All that being said, Trace having trouble keeping his job in Austin was one of only a few things I found that were unrealistic. Continuous rain in the middle of summer in Texas? That seemed unrealistic. I live in Oregon in which it rains heavily about 9 months out of the year. Last June, it rained all month. I have never heard of it raining continuously in Texas in June. So I found that unrealistic. I found tornados a likely think in Texas. Though in July? Could happen I guess.
I found dealing with Curly a cool storyline. It broke my heart. I’m a retired nurse and have dealt with different stages of Alzheimer’s. It’s a very sad disease. Glad storyline was included.
Trace & Brent’s relationship? I found that nicely done also. Under high stress times, we often say things we don’t mean. I’m glad they finally laid out their relationship and got their HEA.

[Reading to Stay Awake · Rating 5 out of 5]

So take one good looking but down on his luck single dad Teacher with not much money in his pocket and his child on his hip, mix them with a Stetson wearing bone tired gay father of three cowboy, and a forthright waitress at the cowboy's favourite diner and you get a great book about a ranch full of love and support for all.

This book shows that love has no boundaries and is there for everyone to give and share.

The ranch in question is struggling under the weight of children, animals and illness; what's needed is either a miracle but what happens is the new Manny arrives in town with his own daughter and their own story, and ranch life changes for the better for everyone.

The two main characters have instant chemistry, in that is he/isn't he, kind of way; the age gap thing works well and the hurt/comfort relief that they both need comes across well from the start. They respond well to each other and the others on the ranch. The supporting cast of characters are great; I loved Curly particularly, and the way he resonated with the children. The children themselves were great personalities within the storyline and I could visualise them every time they were mentioned. You could feel the love course through the characters throughout the book for the children.

The story has good pace pulling you page by page. There are sections that brought me to tears because of the emotions and sensitive nature of the topics raised. I really commend BA Tortuga on the way Curly has been written; it is a very true to life portrayal.

I really enjoyed this book, it had a bit of everything that you might want from a Cowboy love story; beautifully written, sexy cowboy, rainbow haired teacher, cute kids, a tornado, horses, helicopter, fluffy cakes, a leg splint, a five year old cowboy, cow fairies, who could want more!!

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher and provide my honest review voluntarily

[Isaiah · Rating 4 out of 5]

To see more reviews check out MI Book Reviews.

I got an ARC of this book.

I am a sucker for a gay cowboy romance, something everyone around me is well aware of. It should just be assumed that I will read one and that I will have very strong opinions on it as well. This book is no different.

My biggest issue with the book is that the kids just felt too good. They were rarely kids. They felt like plot devices instead of real characters for most of the book, especially the baby. A baby that didn’t cry at night? A baby who slept through the night and rarely seemed to have a bottle? Weird. Don’t get me wrong, I loved how heartwarming the scenes with the kids were, it just felt like a Hallmark movie.

The romance didn’t have any heat to it, which is something I enjoyed for the most part. They were partners in more than just lust which I really appreciated. The issue was I just didn’t see the romance coming. They were friendly and then out of nowhere erections. I liked that they were more than physical, but I also wanted to understand that they had a building desire for each other. This felt like sex was thrown on. They never really had that “are we a couple” talk either. So the romance aspect suffered a bit to keep the heartwarming portion central to the plot.

The thing is I loved this book. If you like Hallmark movies this is the gay cowboy book of your dreams. I just expected a little more romance from Tortuga based on another gay cowboy romance I read. That being said this one was so much more heartwarming. It very much had a found family vibe. It had a lot that I really enjoyed. There was some sex still, but mostly it was about being good dads to a large flock of children.

If you are looking for something fluffy then this is probably the best gay cowboy romance I have read that is fluff. Tortuga seems to understand exactly what I want in my cowboys.

[Heather (AllTheJuicyBits) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elementary teacher Trace has had a terrible run of bad luck. A set of tragic circumstances has left him with no job, no prospects, and his 4 year old daughter to raise alone. He makes the desperate decision to drive from Austin back to where his parents live in Colorado, hoping he and Susannah can stay with them until he can get back on his feet. But his crappy car dies in a tiny town in central Texas, and they limp the town's diner parking lot on it's very last legs. Trace and Susannah are eating their breakfast when super-sexy, Marlborough Man lookalike Brent walks in.

Brent is almost as desperate as Trace. He has recently become the guardian of three young kids, after his cousin and husband were killed in a car accident. Trying to run a ranch full time, and raise three kids is taking its toll on him. Even with the help of daycare, Brent is losing it while trying to keep all the balls in the air. Trace overhears Brent talking about needing help, and before he can even think about it, he has volunteered to take the job.

Trace is thrown into the deep end when the kids come home with poison ivy on his first day. But he finds that he loves the kids. And he very quickly comes to love the ranch, the animals, ranch hands, and eventually, Brent as well.

Trace and Brent's relationship is a slow burn as Trace grows into his role. There was more than one scene that made me grin - managing a passel of little kids is utterly exhausting, and that comes right off the page, pulling me back into my own memories. But the scene involving Brent and the toilet brush literally had me laughing out loud.

Ranch Manny is a lovely story of how love isn't always what you expect, and definitely isn't always pretty, but sometimes, even in the chaos of family, there are moments where everything feels right.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

This books starts out with the introduction of Trace, the down on his luck single gay dad who only has his daughter and their belongings in their car. Trace has decided to swallow his pride and call his parents when a stop for fluffy pancakes in a small town diner changes their course of direction. Enter grumpy cowboy Brent.

Bent is a single father who has adopted his best friend and cousins 3 kids. While living and owning a full time ranch, he is struggling to give everyone his attention. While having a bad day, he stops at the dinner to get his breakfast burrito. Brent doesn't expect to run into an out of towner with colorful dreads, tattoos and piercings. Instantly he notices that Trace is having a rough patch. Before he knows it, the caregiver/babysitter position he was looking to fill, has been filled...by Trace.

I truly loved this book. It was about second chances, chaotic ranch life, and superhuman Trace. It was beautiful to watch the relationships of the 2 main characters grown, not only with each other, but with each side character also. The book showed how two people with a million and one things to do in a day find the quiet moments with each other. Those quiet moments lead to steamy nights and flaring tempers. The only thing I missed was that after the cutting of the dreads, there was never a full conversation between Brent and Trace. Trace was absolutely amazing and my heart hurt when he felt he had to change himself to fit in for his family.

I am excited to read more by B.A. Tortuga!

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Family. Both men had a bit of one, but it was clear they needed more, the kind of more that makes a home, a forever home. I really loved both men on their own and while it was clear they could have something together, it was the whole setting that brought the family exactly where everyone needed to be.

I'm not a fan of kids playing a significant role in stories, especially with a lot of speaking roles, because I find that many authors give them a far too adult voice so they can influence feelings, plot, and situations that are far beyond the stated ages' ability to do so. That's kind of true in this story as well and I had to suspend my belief for quite a lot of the story. The kids were sweet and wonderful on their own, just not really believable as the character outline implies.

As for the romance, it was a sweet beginning and had a ton of potential, but the actual switch, the evolution, wasn't given enough attention so when certain nasty comments were made the turnaround from offended to back in love-ish didn't feel genuine. And then the big drama moment came and that turnaround was even more out of character for what the story was setting things up to be. There was a certain amount detail and evolution to the relationship that really should have gotten more page time. Oh, and the change in our lovely hippie seemed a dramatic response to a traumatic moment and then his uniqueness wasn't fought for, to remain as so much of the town grew to love him as everyone else in their family did.

Overall I truly enjoyed the story as long as I was willing to put aside belief for a fair few bits. 3.25 stars.

[Juniper · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting novel, as much (or more) a love letter to the chaotic elation/misery that is ranch life as a romance between Trace, a former teacher who takes the job of child and goat tending, and Brent, the rancher who has a million things to do and three kids to raise. The blended family: Trace’s daughter, Brent’s adopted son and two daughters, and various cowboys, gels almost instantly. The attraction between Brent and Trace takes shape around the sidelines of their very, very busy lives, and while it’s sweet in its way, it’s definitely not the focus of the story. And that’s good, because Brent’s tendency to snap at Trace when he’s stressed is the kind of thing that doesn’t really read “epic romance.” Also, while I have nothing but respect for those who choose the life the author describes here, I was exhausted just reading about it, and I couldn’t help but feel that all the characters that express concern about just how many responsibilities Trace has taken on and how tired he is all the time have an extremely valid point— one that gets written off because “that was how it worked when you had a ranch to run” (this is, for perspective, the second-to-last line of the novel). It’s definitely not for me, but it is for the characters, and I admire the author’s craft here in weaving together so many events and personalities to bring the day-to-day realities of Trace and Brent’s existence to life.

*I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.