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Dan & Tyler #1
Wild Raspberries
When Daniel Seaton inadvertently trespasses on Tyler Edward's land, things almost go very, very wrong. It's bad enough that Dan's a runaway, but when Tyler nearly shoots him on sight, Dan knows he's in trouble. Tyler's got a lot of years under his belt, and his past doesn't let him accept strangers easily. Dan's situation is dire enough that Tyler takes him home, at least for a little while, and that turns out to be a good decision when Dan decides to stay on and help out with the chores.
Tyler might be learning to trust, and Dan might be settling in to a new life, but things are not always what they seem. Between interfering friends, injuries, and their attraction to each other, Tyler and Dan have plenty of troubles. More trouble turns up in the form of Tyler's past, which catches up to them with a vengeance, and they decide to start a new life together, one that requires them to leave everything behind. Can they overcome what lies in the past to have a future with each other?
Tyler might be learning to trust, and Dan might be settling in to a new life, but things are not always what they seem. Between interfering friends, injuries, and their attraction to each other, Tyler and Dan have plenty of troubles. More trouble turns up in the form of Tyler's past, which catches up to them with a vengeance, and they decide to start a new life together, one that requires them to leave everything behind. Can they overcome what lies in the past to have a future with each other?
208 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 2008
6 people are currently reading
449 people want to read
About the author
Jane Davitt
64 books479 followersRetired from pro writing, pretty much. Any books where the rights are with me I've put up at A03, along with all my fic, which I'm still writing.
[Free reads and my fanfic are here:
Jane Davitt at AO3]
Thank you to all who read my books. It meant a lot.
[Free reads and my fanfic are here:
Jane Davitt at AO3]
Thank you to all who read my books. It meant a lot.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews
November 29, 2012
First reaction after finishing this book: Who is this Jane Davitt lady and why hadn't I heard of her before?
Wild Raspberries is a simple but beautifully delivered story, with two surprisingly well-developped main characters. I liked the pace and the way Tyler and Dan bonded, I liked the way their relationship evolved, I liked how they were both strong and resilient and determined but at the same time flawed and fallible and messed up. They were a good match.
And I liked the writing. It was above the average m/m story and made me curious about the author's other work.
Something needs to be done about that horrible cover, though. It's ugly and it doesn't do the story justice.
Wild Raspberries is a simple but beautifully delivered story, with two surprisingly well-developped main characters. I liked the pace and the way Tyler and Dan bonded, I liked the way their relationship evolved, I liked how they were both strong and resilient and determined but at the same time flawed and fallible and messed up. They were a good match.
And I liked the writing. It was above the average m/m story and made me curious about the author's other work.
Something needs to be done about that horrible cover, though. It's ugly and it doesn't do the story justice.
March 16, 2014
4/4.5*
I liked this story a lot. It's not particularly action packed, or full of flash, bang, wallop but it still kept me engaged and I loved the slow burn connection that grew betweenTyler and Dan over the story. There's a fourteen year age difference here that at times does show, mainly because 20 year old Dan does appear to be quite naive at times, and thirty plus Tyler is sort of jaded and world weary, but I never once felt that their attraction for each other was an issue or seemed wrong. The growing romance is beautifully paced, the love scenes hot but never overpowering and the chemistry strong.
Both are fighting demons from their past. Tyler is ex military and has holed himself up in a cabin, living with his past hanging over his head and their first meeting reflects that when he nearly shoots younger, runaway Dan because he catches him stealing raspberries on his land. Tired and hungry Dan is about to leave when he collapses and Tyler ends up taking him back to his cabin, supposedly only until he's fed and watered him enough to be able to send him on his way. Then tables are turned and Tyler falls and injures himself so Dan offers to stay on to help him until Tyler recovers. I guess you can guess how the sexually charged tension racks up between them as Tyler in particular tries to fight the attraction and push Dan away but Dan's stronger willed than he thinks and is having none of it, so ultimately these two begin a journey of healing together that ends with a very satisfying HFN and luckily a follow up story for these guys that I'd be very happy to move onto. Very enjoyable and another Jane Davitt story I can recommend.
I liked this story a lot. It's not particularly action packed, or full of flash, bang, wallop but it still kept me engaged and I loved the slow burn connection that grew betweenTyler and Dan over the story. There's a fourteen year age difference here that at times does show, mainly because 20 year old Dan does appear to be quite naive at times, and thirty plus Tyler is sort of jaded and world weary, but I never once felt that their attraction for each other was an issue or seemed wrong. The growing romance is beautifully paced, the love scenes hot but never overpowering and the chemistry strong.
Both are fighting demons from their past. Tyler is ex military and has holed himself up in a cabin, living with his past hanging over his head and their first meeting reflects that when he nearly shoots younger, runaway Dan because he catches him stealing raspberries on his land. Tired and hungry Dan is about to leave when he collapses and Tyler ends up taking him back to his cabin, supposedly only until he's fed and watered him enough to be able to send him on his way. Then tables are turned and Tyler falls and injures himself so Dan offers to stay on to help him until Tyler recovers. I guess you can guess how the sexually charged tension racks up between them as Tyler in particular tries to fight the attraction and push Dan away but Dan's stronger willed than he thinks and is having none of it, so ultimately these two begin a journey of healing together that ends with a very satisfying HFN and luckily a follow up story for these guys that I'd be very happy to move onto. Very enjoyable and another Jane Davitt story I can recommend.
November 29, 2012
This was a great read.
Dan left his life on the farm but in the escaping, things got a bit too real and gritty. He literally falls at the feet of Tyler, a military sniper, who is trying to piece his own self together in a backwoods cabin.
This is a story of two men whose lives are on hold that come together and really act as cataysts for each other to kickstart and maybe actually start living instead of just existing.
Dan may be young but he's no pushover. I really loved that about him. I loved that he held his own with the very dominant but vulnerable Tyler. He's no cipher here but a strong MC working through his own issues as he helps Tyler work through his demons.
Tyler is that stoic, grumpy wounded warrior type but layered with insecurity and battling some hardcore PTSD. No quick fixes here and I liked that even though it's grim it never feels hopeless.
These are well matched men despite the age difference. Wonderfully hot chemistry here and while this ends with a HFN it's a very positive and hopeful one that has me rushing off to get the sequel Wintergreen. Recommended!
Dan left his life on the farm but in the escaping, things got a bit too real and gritty. He literally falls at the feet of Tyler, a military sniper, who is trying to piece his own self together in a backwoods cabin.
This is a story of two men whose lives are on hold that come together and really act as cataysts for each other to kickstart and maybe actually start living instead of just existing.
Dan may be young but he's no pushover. I really loved that about him. I loved that he held his own with the very dominant but vulnerable Tyler. He's no cipher here but a strong MC working through his own issues as he helps Tyler work through his demons.
Tyler is that stoic, grumpy wounded warrior type but layered with insecurity and battling some hardcore PTSD. No quick fixes here and I liked that even though it's grim it never feels hopeless.
These are well matched men despite the age difference. Wonderfully hot chemistry here and while this ends with a HFN it's a very positive and hopeful one that has me rushing off to get the sequel Wintergreen. Recommended!
October 2, 2010
I would give this book six stars if I could. It was one of the best books that I have read in a while. The story revolves around two men with a lot of baggage. Dan,a 20 year old that just picked up and left his abusive father to hitch hike in search of a new life. Tyler,a 36 year old ex government assassin living in a small cabin in the woods trying to bury his past. Dan accidently stumbles onto Tyler's property, hungry and exhausted and is almost shot by Tyler. What intrigued me about the book was the non-verbal dynamics of the two men and the relationship they build. Yes there was dialogue but it was what Dan and Tyler were thinking that warmed my heart toward these two. I truly liked both characters and plan on reading more of Jane Davitt's books. Even the very last sentence of the book was excellent. I recommend this book to anyone looking for a heart warming read.
May 13, 2012
The Problem with Rushing the Sex
There is a growing tendency amongst ebook erotica publishers to want, if not demand, that there be a sex scene within the first three chapters. Apparently sex sells and (some?) readers are impatient if they have to wait too long for it.
Re-reading one of my favourite m/m romances, Jane Davitt’s “Wild Raspberries” proves how wrong that concept can be.
While the couple have a few brief sexual encounters about halfway through the book, these and the rest of the plot only heighten the tension so when the full-on main event finally does occur, it becomes so much stronger for the reader and the participants themelves.
To quote Tyler: “He loved doing this. Loved feeling the self-imposed frustration build, deepening the intensity of his arousal...”
Similarly, Jane’s lead up to this act, deepens the intensity of the encounter. I’ve read a lot of m/m books in my time, but the next ten or so pages have to be the best written sex scene I’ve found so far. There is just the right amount of physical description to allow you to picture the moment, but also you’re right there in Tyler’s head, feeling everything he feels. Every reaction he has to Dan leads on logically from what has come before.
Recently, I participated in one of Linnea Sinclair’s online classes on how to write kick-butt action. Amongst the many helpful hints she gave was to use prequels and sequels (scenes not stories) to provide the reader with all the facts they need to prevent these details slowing the pacing down when the shit starts hitting the fan.
In many ways, this is what also has to happen to really make a sex scene mean more than slot A into slot B in a step-by-step description.
If we know why Tyler is holding back, if we can picture Dan’s eagerness, if we are familiar with the house and the setting, we only need to glimpse these briefly in the sex scene to pad it out mentally.
Similarly, we don’t need the full on emotional reaction within the scene, these can come afterwards in the “sequential” scene.
Finally, within the scene, there has to be good balance between the reactions to what is happening and the actions themselves. To sum up, the actual sex scene needs to follow the rules of writing action, full speed ahead, then a pause for a second before continuing. In Jane’s case, before resuming the action, she inserts some more description of the setting, then ratchets the action up a notch to an even more scorching level.
It’s not just mundane description either but more the way the character reacts to the setting rather than just describing the scene: “The room was lit only by moonlight and the glow of the forgotten lamp still burning in the main room, and Tyler decided to keep it that way. There was enough light for him to see what he was doing and enough darkness for Dan to feel less on display.”
Hardly prize winning writing, but just the correct weight of words and context to suit the purpose. Breaking the action with description, mirrors the momentary downturn in intensity as they relocate to the bedroom.
Writing good sex scenes is akin to writing good action scenes. The same rules apply.
Recently, I’ve been reviewing my m/m collection, sorting out which ones have stood the test of time and a re-read. “Wild Raspberries and its must-read-as-well sequel “Wintergreen” together make a great story. But they will always stay near the top of my re-read pile purely because of the way Jane has written this great sex scene.
Perfect.
I'd blogged an interview with Jane a while back. This can be read here: http://www.abgayle.com/1/post/2011/09...
Okay. I admit to being a fan. But with good reason. As an author, I've learnt a lot from her writing. As a reader, I'm always interested in what she's going to come up with next. Her books are definitely not just variations of the same premise or writing style. Compare these ones with "Hourglass" and "Spoken from the Heart". Each has that little touch of difference that will make her writing last when many other, more popular writers fade from memory.
There is a growing tendency amongst ebook erotica publishers to want, if not demand, that there be a sex scene within the first three chapters. Apparently sex sells and (some?) readers are impatient if they have to wait too long for it.
Re-reading one of my favourite m/m romances, Jane Davitt’s “Wild Raspberries” proves how wrong that concept can be.
While the couple have a few brief sexual encounters about halfway through the book, these and the rest of the plot only heighten the tension so when the full-on main event finally does occur, it becomes so much stronger for the reader and the participants themelves.
To quote Tyler: “He loved doing this. Loved feeling the self-imposed frustration build, deepening the intensity of his arousal...”
Similarly, Jane’s lead up to this act, deepens the intensity of the encounter. I’ve read a lot of m/m books in my time, but the next ten or so pages have to be the best written sex scene I’ve found so far. There is just the right amount of physical description to allow you to picture the moment, but also you’re right there in Tyler’s head, feeling everything he feels. Every reaction he has to Dan leads on logically from what has come before.
Recently, I participated in one of Linnea Sinclair’s online classes on how to write kick-butt action. Amongst the many helpful hints she gave was to use prequels and sequels (scenes not stories) to provide the reader with all the facts they need to prevent these details slowing the pacing down when the shit starts hitting the fan.
In many ways, this is what also has to happen to really make a sex scene mean more than slot A into slot B in a step-by-step description.
If we know why Tyler is holding back, if we can picture Dan’s eagerness, if we are familiar with the house and the setting, we only need to glimpse these briefly in the sex scene to pad it out mentally.
Similarly, we don’t need the full on emotional reaction within the scene, these can come afterwards in the “sequential” scene.
Finally, within the scene, there has to be good balance between the reactions to what is happening and the actions themselves. To sum up, the actual sex scene needs to follow the rules of writing action, full speed ahead, then a pause for a second before continuing. In Jane’s case, before resuming the action, she inserts some more description of the setting, then ratchets the action up a notch to an even more scorching level.
It’s not just mundane description either but more the way the character reacts to the setting rather than just describing the scene: “The room was lit only by moonlight and the glow of the forgotten lamp still burning in the main room, and Tyler decided to keep it that way. There was enough light for him to see what he was doing and enough darkness for Dan to feel less on display.”
Hardly prize winning writing, but just the correct weight of words and context to suit the purpose. Breaking the action with description, mirrors the momentary downturn in intensity as they relocate to the bedroom.
Writing good sex scenes is akin to writing good action scenes. The same rules apply.
Recently, I’ve been reviewing my m/m collection, sorting out which ones have stood the test of time and a re-read. “Wild Raspberries and its must-read-as-well sequel “Wintergreen” together make a great story. But they will always stay near the top of my re-read pile purely because of the way Jane has written this great sex scene.
Perfect.
I'd blogged an interview with Jane a while back. This can be read here: http://www.abgayle.com/1/post/2011/09...
Okay. I admit to being a fan. But with good reason. As an author, I've learnt a lot from her writing. As a reader, I'm always interested in what she's going to come up with next. Her books are definitely not just variations of the same premise or writing style. Compare these ones with "Hourglass" and "Spoken from the Heart". Each has that little touch of difference that will make her writing last when many other, more popular writers fade from memory.
December 31, 2015
3.5 stars
Tyler, who lives a hermit kind of life on a remote bit of land, finds Dan, a young run-away, gorging himself in his raspberry patch. Tyler stops just in time from shooting the trespasser with his rifle. Dan has been living on the road, he’s starving and beaten down, and has endured a lot of abuse from the truckers who pick him up in exchange for sex. He just wants some food and a safe place to sleep. There’s something about him that tugs at Tyler and makes him offer his help. Begrudgingly.
It turns out that both men are running from something and, in the case of Tyler, the author strings the mystery out for a while. I mean, what is he doing going to pick raspberries with a shotgun in hand? And why the hair trigger?
It’s obvious that there is zing between Dan and Tyler as they settle into an uneasy relationship, but it takes a while in the ramp up. Of course that is delicious. The author sucks me in with some great writing. The set-up: two men alone in a remote cabin, the push-pull of simmering lust, seductive and sweet.
Tyler’s prickly reticence is continual, though. It’s obvious he’s hiding something, but mostly he doesn’t want to take advantage of Dan, who is really beholden to him, doesn’t want to treat Dan like the other men in his past -- taking sex as a favor. But you can really feel the temptation in him.
The age difference between Tyler and Dan is big, about 15 years between twenty-year-old Dan and thirty-something Tyler. This is really pushing it, especially since Tyler insists on calling Dan ‘boy’ and treats him like a kid a lot of the time. There is a world of difference between them; Tyler has seen much of it, has a life-time of experience behind him, while Dan is just starting out.
I found it frustrating that Dan, who is running from a father who doesn’t get him, stops pretty quickly with Tyler. He doesn’t seem to have the wherewithal to get very far in his bid for freedom. He’s cocky but he mostly comes off as juvenile. It becomes clear that he’s not so much running away from something but towards something else, in this case, someone else. Someone who can and will take care of him.
Given all this, and the age difference --Tyler won’t ever let me forget it -- the romance doesn’t quite click for me. The writing is, oh, so very good, makes me really want to invest in this story… but it doesn’t completely sell me on the relationship. The ending is rather abrupt too, it’s not clear what’s in store for these two guys. I suppose I’ll have to hope for a better ending in the sequel.
July 18, 2012
This was a smooth, well-written story about Tyler, a socially isolated ex-military man, and Dan, the younger guy who shows up on his remote property lost and hungry. Everything about this story just worked for me. Tyler is scarred and messed up by his past missions, but not to an angsty extreme. Dan is young, horny, and naive, with some bad experiences behind him but not a push-over and not someone who needs to be saved. The balance between the characters was much more even than it sounded from the initial blurb, and I was repeatedly surprised and delighted by the way Dan dug his heels in and didn't play the kid or the victim. In some ways, Dan has a strength that Tyler desperately needs. A short novel, but well worth the read. Recommended.
March 10, 2011
a great story. I loved these characters
March 29, 2010
Wild Raspberries is not as angst filled as I expected due to the blurb, but it is character driven so the two men spend a lot of time together avoiding talking. Here Dan is a runaway that happens to stumble hungry and filthy onto Tyler’s land. Tyler, an ex-sniper with a twitchy trigger finger, barely stops himself from shooting Dan but soon discovers the young man too exhausted to move on. Tyler decides to help the younger man and offer him food and a place to stay for a while. This causes their unwitting attraction to soon sparks in close quarters. However, Dan is still pretty immature and Tyler is very jumpy from his previous job so a happy ending takes a bit of work to get to. The journey is interesting and absorbing for the most part though.
The characters are well developed and fully three dimensional, even if I didn’t always like them. Dan is a very young twenty and he often struggles with his instinctive pouting responses versus more mature reactions. He frequently pouts and runs away as a response rather than hold a conversation and be an adult. Not to say that he hasn’t had a difficult upbringing and coming to terms with his sexuality was always easy, but he clings to his youth and immaturity a little long. Offset by this is Tyler’s emotionally closed off personality. Due to his past, he rarely confides and has no idea how to have a relationship with someone. He can offer quick release or a helping hand, but he has a problem with anything more complex and resembling commitment. Thus the two men are often combative and misunderstand each other. They both want to be together but it takes a while for each to admit it. Tyler especially can’t imagine a younger man like Dan wanting to stay with him. To his credit, Dan does seem to want to stay with Tyler because it’s easy and Tyler is the first man to really care for Dan.
Since the story is almost completely about the two men and their relationship, the few actions scenes mostly comprise of Dan running away and Tyler chasing him. Dan’s immaturity stretched my patience and Tyler’s endless ability to handle Dan’s attitude is almost saint like. However, Dan does get Tyler to open up and share more in small bits. Their sexual relationship is the easiest aspect of their relationship and other than a few concerns, the age difference is never really considered. Tyler does worry Dan will leave but this is not an immediate fear. There are a few outside sources that offer advice or commentary but for the vast majority of the book, the two men are in a very small cabin working out how to live together. By the end of the book Tyler is perhaps the most changed and it’d be interesting to see if the couple stayed together. There is a happy for now ending that is fitting but not sure I believe it.
Overall I was invested in the book and wanted to see the outcome, even as some of the antics ran a little long. I wanted Dan to mature and stop acting like a child – especially given his experiences I was surprised he was still so immature. Tyler handled this well and became a more sympathetic character in some ways, even as his own issues took a while to get resolved. I can suggest this story for those that like drama and angst even as it doesn’t overwhelm the characters. I’m not sure I’ll read the sequel but I’m thinking about it. If you’re looking for a quick, engrossing read about character development, check this out.
The characters are well developed and fully three dimensional, even if I didn’t always like them. Dan is a very young twenty and he often struggles with his instinctive pouting responses versus more mature reactions. He frequently pouts and runs away as a response rather than hold a conversation and be an adult. Not to say that he hasn’t had a difficult upbringing and coming to terms with his sexuality was always easy, but he clings to his youth and immaturity a little long. Offset by this is Tyler’s emotionally closed off personality. Due to his past, he rarely confides and has no idea how to have a relationship with someone. He can offer quick release or a helping hand, but he has a problem with anything more complex and resembling commitment. Thus the two men are often combative and misunderstand each other. They both want to be together but it takes a while for each to admit it. Tyler especially can’t imagine a younger man like Dan wanting to stay with him. To his credit, Dan does seem to want to stay with Tyler because it’s easy and Tyler is the first man to really care for Dan.
Since the story is almost completely about the two men and their relationship, the few actions scenes mostly comprise of Dan running away and Tyler chasing him. Dan’s immaturity stretched my patience and Tyler’s endless ability to handle Dan’s attitude is almost saint like. However, Dan does get Tyler to open up and share more in small bits. Their sexual relationship is the easiest aspect of their relationship and other than a few concerns, the age difference is never really considered. Tyler does worry Dan will leave but this is not an immediate fear. There are a few outside sources that offer advice or commentary but for the vast majority of the book, the two men are in a very small cabin working out how to live together. By the end of the book Tyler is perhaps the most changed and it’d be interesting to see if the couple stayed together. There is a happy for now ending that is fitting but not sure I believe it.
Overall I was invested in the book and wanted to see the outcome, even as some of the antics ran a little long. I wanted Dan to mature and stop acting like a child – especially given his experiences I was surprised he was still so immature. Tyler handled this well and became a more sympathetic character in some ways, even as his own issues took a while to get resolved. I can suggest this story for those that like drama and angst even as it doesn’t overwhelm the characters. I’m not sure I’ll read the sequel but I’m thinking about it. If you’re looking for a quick, engrossing read about character development, check this out.
June 19, 2012
4.5 Stars because I really don't think I was liking this story in the beginning. The age difference (20 yrs and 34 yrs) along with Dan's repeated actions of immaturity and naivety really bothered me to the point he annoyed me for the entire first half of the book. Plus, Tyler was downright mean!
But then, the further I got into the story, I think I started really liking it because it seemed so realistic. The characters were real and flawed; both with traumatic pasts. Like that's probably how a rebellious 20 year old runaway really would act given that situation. And that's probably how a secluded 34 year old former assassin really would act given that situation. Plus, the sex was clumsy and imperfect and Tyler and Dan always fought like they hated each other, even when they were growing closer and closer together. But, in the end, I really did believe in their HFN.
The writing was beautiful and I loved the slow pace of the story...and I've decided that the annoying realism of the characters is what makes the story stand out for me.
I've already started the sequel Wintergreen
But then, the further I got into the story, I think I started really liking it because it seemed so realistic. The characters were real and flawed; both with traumatic pasts. Like that's probably how a rebellious 20 year old runaway really would act given that situation. And that's probably how a secluded 34 year old former assassin really would act given that situation. Plus, the sex was clumsy and imperfect and Tyler and Dan always fought like they hated each other, even when they were growing closer and closer together. But, in the end, I really did believe in their HFN.
The writing was beautiful and I loved the slow pace of the story...and I've decided that the annoying realism of the characters is what makes the story stand out for me.
I've already started the sequel Wintergreen
November 29, 2012
I loved this story. I loved that each mc was damaged in some way. I wanted to know right away the background that lead to their behavior and actions and couldn't read fast enough to find those details out. But, we are made to wait, getting tidbits along the way, like Hansel & Gretel following the breadcrumbs.
Dan was a bit annoying at times, but I mostly chalked that up to his only being 20 as the main reason for his immature actions and responses and continually running off and away from things.
Tyler, oh my God, Tyler. I absolutely loved him, though the cover picture on the book was completely not how I pictured him. I think I scoured every word for details about his past. He is an ex-sniper suffering over the guilt and emotions garnered from his experiences during that part of his life. When he wasn't having flashbacks or anxiety attacks, he was funny and sexy as sin.
I really enjoyed watching Dan break down Tyler's guard and am really excited there is more to this story.
Dan was a bit annoying at times, but I mostly chalked that up to his only being 20 as the main reason for his immature actions and responses and continually running off and away from things.
Tyler, oh my God, Tyler. I absolutely loved him, though the cover picture on the book was completely not how I pictured him. I think I scoured every word for details about his past. He is an ex-sniper suffering over the guilt and emotions garnered from his experiences during that part of his life. When he wasn't having flashbacks or anxiety attacks, he was funny and sexy as sin.
I really enjoyed watching Dan break down Tyler's guard and am really excited there is more to this story.
September 30, 2013
Not going into great detail here, some very good reviews have already been done for this book and deservedly so.
I enjoyed the complete contrast between the two characters...Tyler, an ex spook, soldier and mercenary who had some severe PTSD issues which had left him 'twitchy', quick to 'shoot first and ask questions later' to say the least, and who was quite a lot older than Dan, at 20 still finding his way in the m/m world, and had ended up on Tyler's doorstep or rather I should say in Tyler's raspberry bushes after a huge row with his dad.... being caught in a compromising position with the hired help and admitting he was gay was not really acceptable to someone as old-fashioned and stuck in his ways as Dan's father, and after several hair-raising truck rides with some questionable truck drivers, found himself tired, hungry and lost on Tyler's land. I have to say that Dan was annoying at times, but that was because he was so young and almost innocent in a way, but at other times, he certainly showed Tyler up as being the less mature of the two. Recommended.
I enjoyed the complete contrast between the two characters...Tyler, an ex spook, soldier and mercenary who had some severe PTSD issues which had left him 'twitchy', quick to 'shoot first and ask questions later' to say the least, and who was quite a lot older than Dan, at 20 still finding his way in the m/m world, and had ended up on Tyler's doorstep or rather I should say in Tyler's raspberry bushes after a huge row with his dad.... being caught in a compromising position with the hired help and admitting he was gay was not really acceptable to someone as old-fashioned and stuck in his ways as Dan's father, and after several hair-raising truck rides with some questionable truck drivers, found himself tired, hungry and lost on Tyler's land. I have to say that Dan was annoying at times, but that was because he was so young and almost innocent in a way, but at other times, he certainly showed Tyler up as being the less mature of the two. Recommended.
July 17, 2010
This was a refreshing read for me. I loved the dynamics between Dan and Taylor, the struggle to find a place for the young man and older man to meet. Both of them are broken in different ways and needing (begrudgingly) what each other can give. A little bit of bickering, a little bit of affection, a little bit of stay-or-go. An let's not forget Dan's bunny boxer shorts. I immediatley picked up the next book, Wintergreen, as soon as I finished this one.
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October 22, 2011
Dan is a young man on the run, scared, taken advantage of, and hungry.
Tyler is a man of mystery, a hermit in the woods, in the run himself, isolating himself.
When Dan chances on his property, in search of something to eat and a safe place to rest his weary feet, this chance meeting changes both of their lives.
I loved how Mx. Davitt built these characters. Both men are such wounded men, and don't realize they share more in common that that which differentiates them. Daniel at first seems like a twink, a throwaway. And Tyler a brutish bear of a man who deserves to be alone. As they open to each other, the care that develops is amazing. That Ms. Davitt took the time to build them as people and worthy of our attention and care is remarkable.
The backstory on Tyler is wonderful, but I would have loved this book even without the mystery being built as to his past.
This book captured me, and left me hungry for more. Read it ASAP!
Tom
Tyler is a man of mystery, a hermit in the woods, in the run himself, isolating himself.
When Dan chances on his property, in search of something to eat and a safe place to rest his weary feet, this chance meeting changes both of their lives.
I loved how Mx. Davitt built these characters. Both men are such wounded men, and don't realize they share more in common that that which differentiates them. Daniel at first seems like a twink, a throwaway. And Tyler a brutish bear of a man who deserves to be alone. As they open to each other, the care that develops is amazing. That Ms. Davitt took the time to build them as people and worthy of our attention and care is remarkable.
The backstory on Tyler is wonderful, but I would have loved this book even without the mystery being built as to his past.
This book captured me, and left me hungry for more. Read it ASAP!
Tom
October 6, 2012
An enjoyable contemporary romance (with some mystery elements) about Dan, a runaway who’s wandering around in the woods and stops to eat some raspberries, and finds out that he’s trespassing on someone else’s land--that someone else being Tyler, a recluse who very happily lives the solitary life in his isolated cabin in the forest. But Dan is weak and starving from hard living on the road, and even prickly Tyler can’t rationalize leaving him behind without at least giving him something to eat. Things lead to things, and soon Dan is helping Tyler out around the cabin, and a relationship and understanding grows between these two very different damaged souls.
This is the first book I’ve read by Davitt, and she has a nice clear, readable style. Easy to picture, good flow, and not overburdened. Also, the MCs had a lot of fun back-and-forth, and there’s some good humor that made me laugh out loud a few times.
Dan and Tyler are very much opposites, despite sharing a few commonalities (like sexuality), and it’s a very slow bloom between them. I appreciate that Davitt didn’t shy away from making Tyler’s thaw very slow to melt. He’s not one of those big tough guys with dark pasts that melt at the first cute guy that faints in his forest. He’s pretty jerky for a while, and flashes hot and cold as he struggles with fighting for what he wants and what he thinks needs to happen. Dan is also young and immature, but his tenacity and resilience and humor make him sympathetic, so even when he’s sulking, I was still rooting for him and for something good to work out.
The mystery elements are mostly due to the unweaving of Tyler’s past and how that past might rise up again. I went in thinking there might be some Big Action at one point, and there’s not. That’s mostly teased out as a risk that Tyler’s fleeing from. The story is really about Dan and Tyler, their growing relationship, and them getting over themselves to allow what’s happening to happen.
Overall, even though I was hoping for some more excitement, I still really enjoyed this story, and I’m looking forward to checking out the sequel Wintergreen and other works by Davitt. Recommended, especially if you’re a fan of a nice slow build.
This is the first book I’ve read by Davitt, and she has a nice clear, readable style. Easy to picture, good flow, and not overburdened. Also, the MCs had a lot of fun back-and-forth, and there’s some good humor that made me laugh out loud a few times.
Dan and Tyler are very much opposites, despite sharing a few commonalities (like sexuality), and it’s a very slow bloom between them. I appreciate that Davitt didn’t shy away from making Tyler’s thaw very slow to melt. He’s not one of those big tough guys with dark pasts that melt at the first cute guy that faints in his forest. He’s pretty jerky for a while, and flashes hot and cold as he struggles with fighting for what he wants and what he thinks needs to happen. Dan is also young and immature, but his tenacity and resilience and humor make him sympathetic, so even when he’s sulking, I was still rooting for him and for something good to work out.
The mystery elements are mostly due to the unweaving of Tyler’s past and how that past might rise up again. I went in thinking there might be some Big Action at one point, and there’s not. That’s mostly teased out as a risk that Tyler’s fleeing from. The story is really about Dan and Tyler, their growing relationship, and them getting over themselves to allow what’s happening to happen.
Overall, even though I was hoping for some more excitement, I still really enjoyed this story, and I’m looking forward to checking out the sequel Wintergreen and other works by Davitt. Recommended, especially if you’re a fan of a nice slow build.
November 29, 2015
The blurb suggested a Beauty and Beast scenario - pretty boy wanders into the beasts garden to pick Raspberries, stays for a length of time taming the gruff beast, boy leaves and realises what he's walking away from, returns with drama for a HEA. Perhaps that was the premise.
Reviews seemed good, I enjoyed Davitt's freebie Life Drawing so decided to try this. Her writing is good; flows well, easy to read, but these characters really don't work for me. The characters have been given history and dimensions but they just don't ring true.
Dan is a very young twenty, he appears to have come from an abusive background and has been homeless hitching rides for 'favours' for at least a month. Yet he's smart-mouthing in a way that goes beyond defensive bravado, sex-obsessed to the point of being predatory and instead of grabbing the lifeline offered is stalking off in a tantrum with a raised finger. He's a child. His experiences haven't aged him or changed his teenage perspective. I kept feeling Tyler was a replacement father and not in a 'daddy' kink way.
Tyler varies from seeming immature and old beyond his thirty-four years. There's a lot of hints about his dark past and secrets. He's a gruff loner with military training. I get the impression he wants to be left alone with his veg patch. He continually calls Dan 'boy' or 'kid' and says he sees him as a child 'lost puppy' even. How romantic.
The first sex scene is a blow-job that squicked me out; it was in the nature of 'I'll blow you you if you'll then go away and let me sleep' with Dan who'd pushed for this, standing there an uncertain child, not sure if he should move or not. It made me uncomfortable.
I struggled to get to 50% I didn't like petulant pushy Dan or find him believable. The age difference was vast in a way that had nothing to do with the math. I left as a big sex scene was starting, injured exhausted Tyler finally giving in to Dan with a 'If you can get me to a bed before I fall asleep, you can do whatever the hell you like' and sweet abused young Dan responding 'God, if you fall asleep, I don't think I'd stop'
I stopped there.
Reviews seemed good, I enjoyed Davitt's freebie Life Drawing so decided to try this. Her writing is good; flows well, easy to read, but these characters really don't work for me. The characters have been given history and dimensions but they just don't ring true.
Dan is a very young twenty, he appears to have come from an abusive background and has been homeless hitching rides for 'favours' for at least a month. Yet he's smart-mouthing in a way that goes beyond defensive bravado, sex-obsessed to the point of being predatory and instead of grabbing the lifeline offered is stalking off in a tantrum with a raised finger. He's a child. His experiences haven't aged him or changed his teenage perspective. I kept feeling Tyler was a replacement father and not in a 'daddy' kink way.
Tyler varies from seeming immature and old beyond his thirty-four years. There's a lot of hints about his dark past and secrets. He's a gruff loner with military training. I get the impression he wants to be left alone with his veg patch. He continually calls Dan 'boy' or 'kid' and says he sees him as a child 'lost puppy' even. How romantic.
The first sex scene is a blow-job that squicked me out; it was in the nature of 'I'll blow you you if you'll then go away and let me sleep' with Dan who'd pushed for this, standing there an uncertain child, not sure if he should move or not. It made me uncomfortable.
I struggled to get to 50% I didn't like petulant pushy Dan or find him believable. The age difference was vast in a way that had nothing to do with the math. I left as a big sex scene was starting, injured exhausted Tyler finally giving in to Dan with a 'If you can get me to a bed before I fall asleep, you can do whatever the hell you like' and sweet abused young Dan responding 'God, if you fall asleep, I don't think I'd stop'
I stopped there.
June 21, 2012
A very enjoyable story about two men who, although they were far apart in age, had both been through some tough spots and come out of it jaded and guarded. A patch of raspberry bushes, a rifle, a fall off the roof later and a mutual friendship develops. As they both work through their issues and open up to one another a steadier/stronger bond is formed. That bond is tested several times but always comes out of it stronger in the end.
I liked this book and the characters. Dan was young but not immature in my opinion. He did make some rash decisions but I know middle aged adults who do the same when acting out of emotion. I actually liked the "realness" of his choices and felt the author did a great job of balancing his personality. He was strong in his ideals, didn't back down, didn't look for charity and was respectful. All of which went to balance out his youth.
The same goes for the other main character, Tyler. Although the older and more guarded of the pair, he lacked the maturity to open himself up and feel (or at least admit his feelings). By the end though, he started to grow up.
The setting was nice. I enjoy rustic living and gardens and a cabin in the woods. Although some times I wish the story would have taken them outside of that more often and there would have been a few more side characters.
Overall I enjoyed it and moved right into the second book!
I liked this book and the characters. Dan was young but not immature in my opinion. He did make some rash decisions but I know middle aged adults who do the same when acting out of emotion. I actually liked the "realness" of his choices and felt the author did a great job of balancing his personality. He was strong in his ideals, didn't back down, didn't look for charity and was respectful. All of which went to balance out his youth.
The same goes for the other main character, Tyler. Although the older and more guarded of the pair, he lacked the maturity to open himself up and feel (or at least admit his feelings). By the end though, he started to grow up.
The setting was nice. I enjoy rustic living and gardens and a cabin in the woods. Although some times I wish the story would have taken them outside of that more often and there would have been a few more side characters.
Overall I enjoyed it and moved right into the second book!
December 28, 2014
No, definitivamente no. De ninguna manera se me va a pasar por alto un personaje que pretende redención luego de haber cometido semejante acto. La culpa a posteriori de una acción criminal no justifica de ninguna manera lo hecho, ni te hace de pronto un ser maravilloso. Eso es querer ampararse en la "obediencia debida", en la idea de que una orden superior nos ha obligado a cometer acciones asesinas y que eso nos libra de culpa y cargo. Me encantan los personajes con pasados complejos que intentan luego hacer las cosas bien, como Spike, pero que son siempre concientes de lo hecho como parte de lo que son. que no buscan expiar culpas y borrar acciones sólo demostrando sufrimiento. Es una manera muy facilonga de presentar una historia.
Es posible que uno se arrepienta de ello, pero de ninguna manera justifico ni me apena alguien que asesinó masivamente y que ahora me quiere vender su dolor con absoluta inocencia. Las cosas son más complejas y me gusta que los personajes reflejen eso. No basta con que uno encuentre "el amor" y ya.
Lo agarré chusmeando en las shelves de algunos contactos a los que respeto en sus criterios, y con los que suelo compartir opiniones o puntos de vista. No es este el caso.
Para mí, la portada refleja la falta de profundidad y mediocridad de su contenido.
Es posible que uno se arrepienta de ello, pero de ninguna manera justifico ni me apena alguien que asesinó masivamente y que ahora me quiere vender su dolor con absoluta inocencia. Las cosas son más complejas y me gusta que los personajes reflejen eso. No basta con que uno encuentre "el amor" y ya.
Lo agarré chusmeando en las shelves de algunos contactos a los que respeto en sus criterios, y con los que suelo compartir opiniones o puntos de vista. No es este el caso.
Para mí, la portada refleja la falta de profundidad y mediocridad de su contenido.
March 8, 2015
Absolutely beautiful. 5+++ stars. So different from the other books I've read. Exceptional writing. Probably not a book for everyone but I fell in love with it (and the MCs) right from the start. Must-read.
dnf
November 28, 2017DNF at 46%
What do you do when someone calls you an immature kid and you want to prove him wrong?
You take your things, give him the finger and storm out of a cabin in the middle of the woods, miles away from civilization, with a storm coming, with no car and no place to go.
Good thinking, Dan, that’ll teach him!
This was the last straw, but there wasn’t much working for me even before. I don’t have the time or the inclination to go into many details, but the most jarring contradiction was Dan and his approach to sex.
He arrives at Tyler’s cabin traumatized by a series of encounters with truckers who "asked for" oral sex in exchange for a ride.
He’s so traumatized he can’t even masturbate in the shower without remembering those moments. And yet, he’s constantly trying to have sex with Tyler, even after Tyler tells him time and again that he’s not interested, refusing to get out of the bathroom while Tyler is in the bathtub and insisting to watch him masturbate.
Assuming he bounced back from his bad experiences in the span of an hour, it still doesn’t make sense that he’d throw himself at Tyler in such an aggressive way.
I’ve been pushing myself to keep going and I don’t even know why. I’m not really feeling the story or the characters, so I’ll stop here and go find something else to read.
What do you do when someone calls you an immature kid and you want to prove him wrong?
You take your things, give him the finger and storm out of a cabin in the middle of the woods, miles away from civilization, with a storm coming, with no car and no place to go.
Good thinking, Dan, that’ll teach him!
This was the last straw, but there wasn’t much working for me even before. I don’t have the time or the inclination to go into many details, but the most jarring contradiction was Dan and his approach to sex.
He arrives at Tyler’s cabin traumatized by a series of encounters with truckers who "asked for" oral sex in exchange for a ride.
He’s so traumatized he can’t even masturbate in the shower without remembering those moments. And yet, he’s constantly trying to have sex with Tyler, even after Tyler tells him time and again that he’s not interested, refusing to get out of the bathroom while Tyler is in the bathtub and insisting to watch him masturbate.
Assuming he bounced back from his bad experiences in the span of an hour, it still doesn’t make sense that he’d throw himself at Tyler in such an aggressive way.
I’ve been pushing myself to keep going and I don’t even know why. I’m not really feeling the story or the characters, so I’ll stop here and go find something else to read.
July 3, 2012
This was a surprising read. It was an emotional, intense and a bit angsty but definitely the type of read that grabs your attention and holds it.
While nothing extravagant happens to the point of epic suspensefulness, the story is still interesting because of who the characters are. Dan is a 20 year old runaway farmer. He's been on the road for weeks and experienced quite a lot more than he planned to when he decided to leave home. Some good experiences but mostly bad experiences. Tyler is a 34 year old reclusive ex-sniper. He's paranoid, stubborn and damn mean when he wants to be. What these two men both have in common is how damaged they are emotionally. I liked that they were so broken but I also liked the realistic feel their troubles had which made the story that much more real.
As I said, there isn't a lot of conflict within the story. It's about the journey Dan and Tyler take getting to know each other and healing each other. It's a lovely story. The only things I didn't like was I felt like the sex scenes were really long. I got a bit bored with them. I also got bored with Dan's childish behavior. I felt like he was having mood swings constantly and would take the coward's way out by running away. Of course, Tyler's stubbornness could probably make anyone run away.
Overall, I really enjoyed this story. I didn't like a few things but everything else I loved. I loved the relationship they develop and how they do fit even if their moods clash sometimes. Definitely recommended even with the HFN ending.
While nothing extravagant happens to the point of epic suspensefulness, the story is still interesting because of who the characters are. Dan is a 20 year old runaway farmer. He's been on the road for weeks and experienced quite a lot more than he planned to when he decided to leave home. Some good experiences but mostly bad experiences. Tyler is a 34 year old reclusive ex-sniper. He's paranoid, stubborn and damn mean when he wants to be. What these two men both have in common is how damaged they are emotionally. I liked that they were so broken but I also liked the realistic feel their troubles had which made the story that much more real.
As I said, there isn't a lot of conflict within the story. It's about the journey Dan and Tyler take getting to know each other and healing each other. It's a lovely story. The only things I didn't like was I felt like the sex scenes were really long. I got a bit bored with them. I also got bored with Dan's childish behavior. I felt like he was having mood swings constantly and would take the coward's way out by running away. Of course, Tyler's stubbornness could probably make anyone run away.
Overall, I really enjoyed this story. I didn't like a few things but everything else I loved. I loved the relationship they develop and how they do fit even if their moods clash sometimes. Definitely recommended even with the HFN ending.
March 25, 2013
After nearly shooting Dan, a young man running from home, Tyler provides him with temporary shelter. Then Tyler is injured and it provides them with the excuse they need for Dan to stick around a bit longer.
Tyler has had a dangerous past and although honest with Dan, fears Dan will be afraid of the man who has taken him in. It is so interesting to see Tyler's behaviour differ so much from how he sees himself. At least where Dan is concerned, he is compassionate, understanding and caring.
Dan is young and inexperienced, particularly when compared to Tyler. However Dan's actions reflect a man who has strength and is not afraid to voice his feelings. He sees Tyler's heart.
A slow gentle build of a relationship between the two men occurs as they take one day at a time. But Tyler's past rears its head and threatens to end their relationship before it has really begun. There is some drama as Dan flees but the focus is on the emotional drawing together of Dan and Tyler. The ending is not total fairy tale, rather a nice HFN.
4.5 stars
Tyler has had a dangerous past and although honest with Dan, fears Dan will be afraid of the man who has taken him in. It is so interesting to see Tyler's behaviour differ so much from how he sees himself. At least where Dan is concerned, he is compassionate, understanding and caring.
Dan is young and inexperienced, particularly when compared to Tyler. However Dan's actions reflect a man who has strength and is not afraid to voice his feelings. He sees Tyler's heart.
A slow gentle build of a relationship between the two men occurs as they take one day at a time. But Tyler's past rears its head and threatens to end their relationship before it has really begun. There is some drama as Dan flees but the focus is on the emotional drawing together of Dan and Tyler. The ending is not total fairy tale, rather a nice HFN.
4.5 stars
May 23, 2018
*** 3.5 stars *** A solid story with well-developed characters. Although I didn't fall in love with Tyler & Dan, I liked them enough that I'll read the sequel when it becomes available.
This two-men-in-a-cabin-in-the-woods story kept reminding me of Eli Easton's Snowblind. Although the premise is different and the two books go off in wildly different directions, they each feature a retired military special ops guy trying to lie low and stay under the radar of his former employer(s). Two examples don't make for a "thing," but if this was a thing I would definitely be up for a third take on it.
The author made this September 2017 re-release available for free. I've spent money on books that turned out to be so amateurishly-written they SHOULD have been given away free -- so it's a welcome twist to see something of this quality offered as a gift to readers. Thank you, Jane Davitt!
This two-men-in-a-cabin-in-the-woods story kept reminding me of Eli Easton's Snowblind. Although the premise is different and the two books go off in wildly different directions, they each feature a retired military special ops guy trying to lie low and stay under the radar of his former employer(s). Two examples don't make for a "thing," but if this was a thing I would definitely be up for a third take on it.
The author made this September 2017 re-release available for free. I've spent money on books that turned out to be so amateurishly-written they SHOULD have been given away free -- so it's a welcome twist to see something of this quality offered as a gift to readers. Thank you, Jane Davitt!
June 23, 2012
To me this book started a little slow. But it didn't take long to grab my interest. I ended up really liking this book and the characters. I liked watching their relationship grow and as soon as I finished this book I immediately moved on to the sequel.
May 23, 2011
Very good m/m romance about a young man who runs away from home, then heads into the woods after some bad experiences on the road, where he runs into a cranky landowner.
June 28, 2017
A good book that I enjoyed reading. No insta-love or rote sex scenes. Even though there was quite an age-gap, Dan and Tyler actually come across as equals. Dan was not cowered by Tyler and stood up for himself. I enjoyed the slow build-up before they actually had sex. Dan, like any youngster, was always ready for it but Tyler was hesitant as it meant letting Dan get closer. Even by the end of the book those three little words hadn't been mentioned. They both knew they had feelings for each other but their future was too uncertain to make long term plans.
I would love to read the sequel when it is reprinted.
I would love to read the sequel when it is reprinted.
December 3, 2011
This review was originally published on my blog Joyfully Jay.
The story opens with Dan Seaton stumbling through the woods, exhausted and starving. He is lost and about to collapse when he sees some raspberry bushes and falls on them eagerly. He is finally feeling some relief when suddenly he hears the sound of a gun cocking and realizes he is not alone.
Tyler Edwards lives by himself in a remote cabin in the woods. His first instinct upon finding Dan is to send him on his way, but when the man collapses from exhaustion, Tyler brings him home instead. Although Tyler plans to feed Dan and send him off, he never quite manages to ask Dan to leave. A sprained ankle gives Tyler an excuse to keep Dan around longer, but we sense that a part of him wants to look after Dan and is becoming increasingly fond of him despite knowing there can be no future between them.
Both Dan and Tyler are working through issues. Dan has run away from his family farm after conflict with his father over being gay. He is relatively young at twenty and doesn't really have a clear plan or an idea of where to go when he leaves. His time on the road has left him with emotional scars from a series of truck drivers who took advantage of him in exchange for a ride. He is a good guy and a hard worker and refuses to accept the food and shelter without working in exchange. But he is also young and emotional and occasionally flees rather than working through problems.
Tyler has a darker history that is revealed a bit at a time. He is haunted by his past and has hidden away for the past couple of years in his cabin. Tyler is a hard man in many ways, but the gruff exterior is more self-preservation than meanness. Even while grumbling, he is kind and caring to Dan, even when Dan's youth sometimes makes him prickly and difficult. And although he doesn't want to admit it, Tyler is lonely and is enjoying having someone in his life.
The story is interesting because it is almost all Dan and Tyler alone. There is only one other real character in the book and she has limited screen time. Primarily the book follows the main characters as they meet, get to know each other, begin to feel drawn toward one another, and eventually fall in love, almost all in the confines of the cabin.
Some positives for me. I love a story with an age difference and I think it was explored well here. The difference is apparent but not squicky. We can see Dan's youth and Tyler's experience clearly and how their pasts have shaped them very distinctly. I liked both the main characters and enjoyed them together, finding them sweet and kind of romantic underneath the bristling.
On the downside, I found it a little slow (although I did read it very quickly so definitely not sluggish). I expected Dan's poor health at the start of the story to have more of an impact, but he recovers so fast it is not really an issue. The set up just seemed ripe for some action, or at least some more tension based on Tyler's background and that never really materialized. Even at the end when we get a clear indication of some danger, things settle down very quickly.
I really enjoyed the book, even though I did feel like it could have gone a bit further. I liked the guys a lot and enjoyed watching Tyler especially grow into the relationship. I actually found out after I finished that there is a sequel, Wintergreen, that seems more action driven that I think I will pick up. I'd love to see these two guys again because I really liked them together and thought their story was quite sweet.
The story opens with Dan Seaton stumbling through the woods, exhausted and starving. He is lost and about to collapse when he sees some raspberry bushes and falls on them eagerly. He is finally feeling some relief when suddenly he hears the sound of a gun cocking and realizes he is not alone.
Tyler Edwards lives by himself in a remote cabin in the woods. His first instinct upon finding Dan is to send him on his way, but when the man collapses from exhaustion, Tyler brings him home instead. Although Tyler plans to feed Dan and send him off, he never quite manages to ask Dan to leave. A sprained ankle gives Tyler an excuse to keep Dan around longer, but we sense that a part of him wants to look after Dan and is becoming increasingly fond of him despite knowing there can be no future between them.
Both Dan and Tyler are working through issues. Dan has run away from his family farm after conflict with his father over being gay. He is relatively young at twenty and doesn't really have a clear plan or an idea of where to go when he leaves. His time on the road has left him with emotional scars from a series of truck drivers who took advantage of him in exchange for a ride. He is a good guy and a hard worker and refuses to accept the food and shelter without working in exchange. But he is also young and emotional and occasionally flees rather than working through problems.
Tyler has a darker history that is revealed a bit at a time. He is haunted by his past and has hidden away for the past couple of years in his cabin. Tyler is a hard man in many ways, but the gruff exterior is more self-preservation than meanness. Even while grumbling, he is kind and caring to Dan, even when Dan's youth sometimes makes him prickly and difficult. And although he doesn't want to admit it, Tyler is lonely and is enjoying having someone in his life.
The story is interesting because it is almost all Dan and Tyler alone. There is only one other real character in the book and she has limited screen time. Primarily the book follows the main characters as they meet, get to know each other, begin to feel drawn toward one another, and eventually fall in love, almost all in the confines of the cabin.
Some positives for me. I love a story with an age difference and I think it was explored well here. The difference is apparent but not squicky. We can see Dan's youth and Tyler's experience clearly and how their pasts have shaped them very distinctly. I liked both the main characters and enjoyed them together, finding them sweet and kind of romantic underneath the bristling.
On the downside, I found it a little slow (although I did read it very quickly so definitely not sluggish). I expected Dan's poor health at the start of the story to have more of an impact, but he recovers so fast it is not really an issue. The set up just seemed ripe for some action, or at least some more tension based on Tyler's background and that never really materialized. Even at the end when we get a clear indication of some danger, things settle down very quickly.
I really enjoyed the book, even though I did feel like it could have gone a bit further. I liked the guys a lot and enjoyed watching Tyler especially grow into the relationship. I actually found out after I finished that there is a sequel, Wintergreen, that seems more action driven that I think I will pick up. I'd love to see these two guys again because I really liked them together and thought their story was quite sweet.
January 19, 2013
This was a very nice story about Daniel, a young man who left home due to his homophobic father, and becomes lost and is starving when he stumbles upon a field of raspberry bushes. Indulging himself by grabbing and eating as many as he can, he's surprised by the owner of the property, a lone man with a rifle pointed at him. This man, Tyler, lives in isolation due to his past jobs as a gov't sanctioned sniper/assassin and his need to hide away from all contact with his former bosses and possible other persons who'd want to see him dead.
The two have a very non-romantic relationship for much of the story but their back and forth banter, sometimes negative, sometimes snarky and humorous, underlies a slow building attraction. I like the fact that the author did not send them in lust with each other immediately and, in fact, kept much of the apparent lust with Dan, who was only 20, rather than with Tyler who was in his mid-30's. Tyler takes more time to fall under Dan's spell and that's what makes this story work best. Ultimately there is indeed romance and at least a HFN. I'll happily recommend this one to my friends.
The two have a very non-romantic relationship for much of the story but their back and forth banter, sometimes negative, sometimes snarky and humorous, underlies a slow building attraction. I like the fact that the author did not send them in lust with each other immediately and, in fact, kept much of the apparent lust with Dan, who was only 20, rather than with Tyler who was in his mid-30's. Tyler takes more time to fall under Dan's spell and that's what makes this story work best. Ultimately there is indeed romance and at least a HFN. I'll happily recommend this one to my friends.
January 20, 2013
I quite enjoyed this book. Runaway youth gets taken in by a reclusive man who lives in a remote cabin. It's not the first such story I've read (Amy Lane's "Sidecar" and R.J. Scott's "The Christmas Throwaway" come to mind) but it was a good one. I enjoyed both characters and the arc of their relationship.
I had a few nits. The kind of naivety Dan showed, and how he was abused on the road, seemed more like something you'd expect from a 16 year old, not a 20 year old. He never talked about wanting to go to college or any plans he might have had before leaving home, yet he had to have been thinking about that at his age. And the first sexual encounter had a rather unbelievably 'magnanimous' justification on Tyler's part. The book might have been stronger if Tyler had held out a little longer and we'd seen him resist temptation.
Nevertheless, I devoured this in one setting and liked it a great deal. I particularly liked how Tyler *did* resist admitting to any emotional attachment and also the two 'chase' sequences (don't we all wish someone would come after us like that?). Recommended.
I had a few nits. The kind of naivety Dan showed, and how he was abused on the road, seemed more like something you'd expect from a 16 year old, not a 20 year old. He never talked about wanting to go to college or any plans he might have had before leaving home, yet he had to have been thinking about that at his age. And the first sexual encounter had a rather unbelievably 'magnanimous' justification on Tyler's part. The book might have been stronger if Tyler had held out a little longer and we'd seen him resist temptation.
Nevertheless, I devoured this in one setting and liked it a great deal. I particularly liked how Tyler *did* resist admitting to any emotional attachment and also the two 'chase' sequences (don't we all wish someone would come after us like that?). Recommended.
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