fuzzywilson's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Animal death, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Animal cruelty, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Death of parent, Cursing, Eating disorder, Injury/Injury detail, and Medical content
Minor: Homophobia and Vomit
triftwizened's review against another edition
3.0
So far, this is book 2 of 2 (that I've read in this series) where I can see the book setting itself for a specific ending conflict, only to be blindsided by a ending conflict that seemingly comes out of nowhere. This specific conflict had a little more set up than in book #1, but the conflict still felt almost irrelevant to the plot. Additionally, there were some points where I felt like Joe and Harry had moments of insight about each other that the book hadn't set them up to deserve. I did like their chemistry though and how their relationship was built throughout the book, and heaven knows I'm a sucker for someone who can ride a horse.
xanthe87's review against another edition
5.0
Having read and loved Skins #1, I had high expectations for #2 and I was not disappointed. Though we never are by Garrett :-)
Harry needs some time away from London to finish writing his book that he's on deadline for and his brother points him towards Whisper farm in Cornwall. Though I'm sure he never quite expected the world that he fell into.
Joe is struggling with keeping the family farm/horse sanctuary afloat. Little to no donations, low income and more horses needing a place to stay every day. Between him, his mother and sister and a couple of helpers they muddle on through but by the skin of their teeth. Emma takes the initiative to rent out the room they have standing empty to help with some income and thus, Harry arrives.
Two men from very different worlds but finding support in each other, what could possibly go wrong.
Garrett builds such an involving world, you fall straight into the story and are pulled right along with the characters about their wants and fears. Both men have a history with their fathers that has impacted their lives, as well as family that they sometimes struggle to connect with. What Garrett does so well is show that having flaws, fears and vulnerability is not a bad thing. It's human nature but by also having love, care and attention it's balanced out to create a great life and partnership.
I adore Joe and his complete commitment to the horses they receive, even when struggling with what they already have. It's not often a male character is given such attributes.
One of my favourite things about this book is the setting - Cornwall, South West England. Such a beautiful place to visit and I can perfectly visualise the whole story and I love the way that Garrett writes their speech, use of the word mate throughout so I know I'm reading a book set in England.
Harry is a complex man, with his business and online presence of holistic physiotherapist but with his own demons it takes a while to work him out. As we go through the story, both characters unfold and work together, giving insight at relevant moments and enhancing the experience for the readers.
I love the secondary characters that are involved. Emma and Sal, Joe's sister and mum, bring such love, support and a little friction. Dylan, Angelo and Rhys, Harry's brother, all from book one have cameo appearances to link us to book one. It's nice to hear from them and have them included even if in small roles, giving us a little insight into Harry's London life.
I cannot recommend this book enough. Any fans of Garret know how brilliant her books are and this one is right up there with them!
I received an ARC of this book and am happily giving a review.
Harry needs some time away from London to finish writing his book that he's on deadline for and his brother points him towards Whisper farm in Cornwall. Though I'm sure he never quite expected the world that he fell into.
Joe is struggling with keeping the family farm/horse sanctuary afloat. Little to no donations, low income and more horses needing a place to stay every day. Between him, his mother and sister and a couple of helpers they muddle on through but by the skin of their teeth. Emma takes the initiative to rent out the room they have standing empty to help with some income and thus, Harry arrives.
Two men from very different worlds but finding support in each other, what could possibly go wrong.
Garrett builds such an involving world, you fall straight into the story and are pulled right along with the characters about their wants and fears. Both men have a history with their fathers that has impacted their lives, as well as family that they sometimes struggle to connect with. What Garrett does so well is show that having flaws, fears and vulnerability is not a bad thing. It's human nature but by also having love, care and attention it's balanced out to create a great life and partnership.
I adore Joe and his complete commitment to the horses they receive, even when struggling with what they already have. It's not often a male character is given such attributes.
One of my favourite things about this book is the setting - Cornwall, South West England. Such a beautiful place to visit and I can perfectly visualise the whole story and I love the way that Garrett writes their speech, use of the word mate throughout so I know I'm reading a book set in England.
Harry is a complex man, with his business and online presence of holistic physiotherapist but with his own demons it takes a while to work him out. As we go through the story, both characters unfold and work together, giving insight at relevant moments and enhancing the experience for the readers.
I love the secondary characters that are involved. Emma and Sal, Joe's sister and mum, bring such love, support and a little friction. Dylan, Angelo and Rhys, Harry's brother, all from book one have cameo appearances to link us to book one. It's nice to hear from them and have them included even if in small roles, giving us a little insight into Harry's London life.
I cannot recommend this book enough. Any fans of Garret know how brilliant her books are and this one is right up there with them!
I received an ARC of this book and am happily giving a review.
cadiva's review against another edition
5.0
Full review in the morning, well the later morning when it's not 2.17am!
Right, here we go. This book is pure Garrett Leigh. It's all about finding love in unexpected places, it's about overcoming the odds, it's about hope, it's about never giving in and never stopping fighting. It's about Harry and Joe.
Harry is Rhys' brother from [b:Dream|36423334|Dream (Skins, #1)|Garrett Leigh|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1508169887s/36423334.jpg|58121603] (if you've not read that yet, why not?!) and he's floundering. While on the surface he's successful with his Instagram blog, his physio and private clients, his book deal, inside he's lost and hurting.
He sees the love between his client, and now friend, Angelo and his partner Dylan - both guys are hot but he's not into threesomes - and he's envious but unsure of what exactly he's jealous of - the sex or the closeness and love the men have found.
Harry's also struggling with his own mental health. He's great at giving advice but not so hot at following it himself and he's starting to drown under the stress.
When he's given the chance to go on a sabbatical at a Cornish farm he's still not 100% with the programme but goes anyway. What he finds is something completely unexpected - Joe.
And oh boy is Joe something! Hot-headed and quick to fly off the handle, struggling to keep the farm going, not dealing with anything that isn't the day to day care of his rescue horses (and other associated menagerie) and put out by the thought of some bloke sleeping in his much loved and dead granddad's bedroom.
This is a slow, slow, burn. There's clearly an attraction but there's just so much other stuff going on in both men's heads that they really can't get a minute to breathe. Garrett amps up the tension slowly, with external pressures of money, Joe's deadbeat dad's antics, the in-built prejudice that a Roma family has to deal with, his sister Emma's agoraphobia, too many horses needing rescuing and nowhere to put them, and Harry's increasing panic that he's not going to be able to write the book about wellness and mental health when his own is tanking.
I was totally on edge, in a good way, while I was reading this story, the time just flew by and before I knew it, almost 2/3rds of the book had gone past before Harry and Joe finally get it together and let's just say, when they do, all bets are off and it's a gorgeously written scene of acceptance and emotions and just finding that space to breathe.
This romance isn't as erotic as Skins #1 was but it never suffers for it. Harry and Joe connect on so many levels that the physical is just one outward manifestation of that. That's not to say the sex between them isn't smoking hot either, because it is, but it's intimate, it's small and between just the two of them.
There's a lovely surprise guest appearance in this book from Dex, whose story is told in [b:Heart|23288462|Heart|Garrett Leigh|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1412065871s/23288462.jpg|42845976] and it was so great to see him and Seb still going strong and there's such a strong sense of family in this narrative. The secondary cast of characters fully complement the story being told and are unique and bring their own selves to life.
As with every Garrett Leigh book, there's great research, this time around the Roma/Gypsy heritage and lifestyle and it shows in the authentic feel to each character in this extended family. The cover, as always given Garrett's talents as a cover artist herself, is sublime and the strength depicted in Harry is perfectly mirrored in his actions as he finds a place for himself alongside Joe and the mixed up crazy that is Whisper Farm.
#ARC kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
The fangirling, as will ever be the case with this author, is all my own work and I'm not a bit ashamed of it.
Right, here we go. This book is pure Garrett Leigh. It's all about finding love in unexpected places, it's about overcoming the odds, it's about hope, it's about never giving in and never stopping fighting. It's about Harry and Joe.
Harry is Rhys' brother from [b:Dream|36423334|Dream (Skins, #1)|Garrett Leigh|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1508169887s/36423334.jpg|58121603] (if you've not read that yet, why not?!) and he's floundering. While on the surface he's successful with his Instagram blog, his physio and private clients, his book deal, inside he's lost and hurting.
He sees the love between his client, and now friend, Angelo and his partner Dylan - both guys are hot but he's not into threesomes - and he's envious but unsure of what exactly he's jealous of - the sex or the closeness and love the men have found.
Harry's also struggling with his own mental health. He's great at giving advice but not so hot at following it himself and he's starting to drown under the stress.
When he's given the chance to go on a sabbatical at a Cornish farm he's still not 100% with the programme but goes anyway. What he finds is something completely unexpected - Joe.
And oh boy is Joe something! Hot-headed and quick to fly off the handle, struggling to keep the farm going, not dealing with anything that isn't the day to day care of his rescue horses (and other associated menagerie) and put out by the thought of some bloke sleeping in his much loved and dead granddad's bedroom.
This is a slow, slow, burn. There's clearly an attraction but there's just so much other stuff going on in both men's heads that they really can't get a minute to breathe. Garrett amps up the tension slowly, with external pressures of money, Joe's deadbeat dad's antics, the in-built prejudice that a Roma family has to deal with, his sister Emma's agoraphobia, too many horses needing rescuing and nowhere to put them, and Harry's increasing panic that he's not going to be able to write the book about wellness and mental health when his own is tanking.
I was totally on edge, in a good way, while I was reading this story, the time just flew by and before I knew it, almost 2/3rds of the book had gone past before Harry and Joe finally get it together and let's just say, when they do, all bets are off and it's a gorgeously written scene of acceptance and emotions and just finding that space to breathe.
This romance isn't as erotic as Skins #1 was but it never suffers for it. Harry and Joe connect on so many levels that the physical is just one outward manifestation of that. That's not to say the sex between them isn't smoking hot either, because it is, but it's intimate, it's small and between just the two of them.
There's a lovely surprise guest appearance in this book from Dex, whose story is told in [b:Heart|23288462|Heart|Garrett Leigh|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1412065871s/23288462.jpg|42845976] and it was so great to see him and Seb still going strong and there's such a strong sense of family in this narrative. The secondary cast of characters fully complement the story being told and are unique and bring their own selves to life.
As with every Garrett Leigh book, there's great research, this time around the Roma/Gypsy heritage and lifestyle and it shows in the authentic feel to each character in this extended family. The cover, as always given Garrett's talents as a cover artist herself, is sublime and the strength depicted in Harry is perfectly mirrored in his actions as he finds a place for himself alongside Joe and the mixed up crazy that is Whisper Farm.
#ARC kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
The fangirling, as will ever be the case with this author, is all my own work and I'm not a bit ashamed of it.
mrnnprsns's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
wendylynnm's review against another edition
4.0
Wow, these two were great together, Joe and Harry, seemed to be made for each other perfectly. So many emotions throughout this book, enough to keep you on your toes about what was coming next for the two men. Not only does the story revolve around Joe and Harry but their families and friends to makes for a really great read.
I did read the first book in the series and my opinion this one blew that one away. The hope, determination, and fight both men had and proved to each other made this a great read. Another awesome book by Garrett Leigh.
I did read the first book in the series and my opinion this one blew that one away. The hope, determination, and fight both men had and proved to each other made this a great read. Another awesome book by Garrett Leigh.
coconutlavender's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
candymosley1's review against another edition
5.0
Absolutely delightful read! Characters I loved and no playing games. Perfect!
stella_r's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75