Down Low (Down Low #1) by Parker St. John — Starting January 3rd, 2021

[Eesh]

His broken bones could finally mend their broken bond…

Bull riding was the only thing that calmed the thrill-seeking, self-destructive beast inside of Calvin Craig. It allowed him to escape a small-minded town and the pain of his troubled youth, fleeing to bright lights and big city fame without looking back.

One trip on the horns of the wrong bull changed everything.

Cal is forced to come crawling back home for the first time in ten years, his body broken and riding days behind him. But not everyone is happy for the return of their local celebrity.

Eli Jackson was once the tall, dark, and sinful preacher’s son who had Cal wrapped around his little finger. Now the steely-eyed sheriff of Sweetwater, Eli is hell bent on running him right back out of town. He’s never forgiven Cal for the spectacular implosion of their relationship. Even though the lingering tension soon has them burning up the sheets, he refuses to be tamed.

Cal is surprised to find himself rising to a new challenge: breaking the bull that is Eli Jackson.

He might have run out of luck, but he’s not out of miracles… yet.

[Katrina G]

Will be joining this one once I finish the book I'm currently doing a buddy for! :)

[Katrina G]

Starting now!

[Katrina G]

8%
(view spoiler)[Hmm. Going into this, I figured Cal was going to be the jerk that messed up his relationship, but it seems it might have been the other way around? That's interesting (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Katrina G]

15%
(view spoiler)[ I wonder what part of the story we're missing. Because Eli's animosity seems so extra considering Cal just didn't want to be a secret anymore. I feel like Cal should be the bitter one in all of this (hide spoiler)]

[Katrina G]

20%
(view spoiler)[ Ohhh. So I'm assuming the uncle was abusive? But then Faith's animosity over Cal not going to the funeral makes about as much sense as Eli's animosity over the breakup. (hide spoiler)]

[Katrina G]

58%
(view spoiler)[Well. That was hot. Lol (hide spoiler)]

[Katrina G]

61%
(view spoiler)[ Ugh they couldn't even be happy together for one full chapter. (hide spoiler)]

[Katrina G]

68%
(view spoiler)[ Ahhh. It all makes sense now. No wonder Eli was so angry. I can definitely understand him a lot better now (hide spoiler)]

[Katrina G]

Finished! Hadn't planned on reading this all in one go, but I just couldn't put it down

[Eesh]

I'm starting in about an hour. Was gonna start earlier but I've had a busy day. I hope I enjoy it as much as you!

[Katrina G]

I hope you do too! I look forward to seeing what you think about it!

[Eesh]

Katrina wrote: "15%
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(view spoiler)[I still think Cal is the jerk in this case. I mean, giving someone an ultimatum and trying to force them to come out, that's such a shitty thing to do. (hide spoiler)]

[Eesh]

Katrina wrote: "20%
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(view spoiler)[Yeah, I thought so too. Except she doesn't know he was abusive. And to her, he just abandoned her. And hasn't bothered to contact her in years. I think that, is she knew, she would be way more understanding. (hide spoiler)]

[Katrina G]

Quirks wrote: "Katrina wrote: "15%
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(view spoiler)[ But at this point they had been dating for 2 years. I don't think Cal was asking for anything super crazy. That's a long time to be kept a secret. It may have been a jerk move, but I think he was justified (hide spoiler)]

[Eesh]

Katrina wrote: "Quirks wrote: "Katrina wrote: "15%
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(view spoiler)[We're gonna have to agree to disagree here. I don't think it's ever okay to force someone to come out, though you can choose not to be with them. And in this situation, Eli's father was a preacher. There could have been bad consequences. Eli was just asking for more time because he wanted to go to college. I haven't gotten far enough to know everything that happened, but if his father had decided to disown him, he might not have been able to afford college. (hide spoiler)]

[Katrina G]

Quirks wrote: "Katrina wrote: "Quirks wrote: "Katrina wrote: "15%
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(view spoiler)[ I don't really see it has him forcing him to come out. Cal didn't want to be a secret anymore. He needed that to be the case for the relationship to work. Eli couldn't come out, and Cal couldn't keep up the secret so that was the end of the relationship to him. It was an impasse. I just don't think it's fair for Eli to have so much animosity when neither of them could compromise to move the relationship forward (hide spoiler)]

[Katrina G]

Quirks wrote: "Katrina wrote: "20%
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(view spoiler)[ Yeah at the time I made that comment, I hadn't realized that Cal hid the abuse from her. If I would have just waited until I got to the next page, it would have made more sense lol (hide spoiler)]

[Eesh]

Katrina wrote: "Quirks wrote: "Katrina wrote: "Quirks wrote: "Katrina wrote: "15%
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(view spoiler)[Yeah, the animosity does feel extreme. Especially when it's been ten years. (hide spoiler)]

[Eesh]

Katrina wrote: "68%
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(view spoiler)[Yep. There had to be more to what happened. I was pretty sure Eli was already out, even if Cal didn't think so, but I never would have guessed that he came out that very night. (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Read this yesterday!
ch 8 (view spoiler)[ I feel pretty bad for Cal. He left home with nothing and has had a rough go of it. Now he's hurt pretty badly and can't keep riding and Eli is treating him like an enemy. (hide spoiler)]
ch 16 (view spoiler)[ I understand why Eli is angry, it's a lot to ask your boyfriend to turn away from his only family, especially at 18. (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

ch 22 (view spoiler)[ Oh man, Eli told his dad about Cal?? And if Cal had stayed one more day they might have been able to work something out. That is really rough (hide spoiler)]
Finished (view spoiler)[ I didn't think Cal would actually ride Ghost Pepper again, but I'm glad he won and he's okay. The ending was super cute (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Katrina wrote: "15%
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Exactly, his reaction is pretty extreme

[Aly]

Katrina wrote: "61%
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Right?? Come on you guys!

[Aly]

Katrina wrote: "Finished! Hadn't planned on reading this all in one go, but I just couldn't put it down"

I felt the same way! Totally sucked in

[Aly]

Quirks wrote: "Katrina wrote: "15%
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yeah, he should have known that was a dick move, but he was young

[Aly]

Quirks wrote: "Katrina wrote: "68%
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what a revelation!

[Sharon]

Started this one last night!

Chapter 1: (view spoiler)[Interesting start to the book! Cal seems like an interesting character. I am intrigued to see what unfolded between Eli and Cal as described in the blurb. (hide spoiler)]

[Sharon]

Katrina wrote: "20%
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(view spoiler)[ I get that sense as well. I think that may have been one of the reasons that he wanted to leave Sweetwater. To get away from the abuse and the rodeo was his only way out. I feel bad for Cal because he endured all of this abuse to protect his sister. However, I really do want to know what happened between Cal and Eli as well. (hide spoiler)]

[Sharon]

Chapter 11: (view spoiler)[ I think I would have done the same thing if I was in Cal's shoes, and I saw someone hit my young sibling. It is the instinct to protect them from harm. I think Eli has a point too, but I think that the instinct to protect our family is stronger than letting the issue go. (hide spoiler)]

[Sharon]

Chapter 21: (view spoiler)[ Wow...what a revelation! Had he just waited until morning, they would have been together and happy. This is a great story. (hide spoiler)]

[Sharon]

Chapter 25: (view spoiler)[ Another revelation...Cal could lose his leg. Why the heck did he not tell Eli and Faith? I am with Luke on this one, he should have told them about his leg and how serious it is. (hide spoiler)]

[Sharon]

Aly wrote: "ch 22 [spoilers removed]
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Ending Thoughts: (view spoiler)[ I was shocked when he was going to Ghost Pepper. I am glad that Eli came after Cal. Also, the ending was really sweet. (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Yeah, definitely a cute ending