Cornish horseman Joe Carter is lonely too. Rescuing horses and managing Whisper Farm takes up most of his days, and by night he plays chicken with the farm’s perilous bank accounts.
At his sister’s unwelcome suggestion, he rents his only bedroom to a bloke from the city, and when Harry arrives, he’s everything Joe isn’t—calm, patient, and gorgeous enough to be exactly the kind of distraction Joe doesn’t need.
Harry doesn’t have time for distractions either—even shirtless farmers riding bareback past his bedroom window—but his moody host proves impossible to ignore.
On paper, they have nothing in common, but Joe is beautiful…glorious, and when an accident puts his life in Harry’s healing hands, the whisper of true love is inevitable. If the trouble that put the farm on its knees in the first place doesn’t get in the way.
Joe owns a rescue horse farm that is sucking the life out of him through financial woes, but he can’t give up, even though it’s not the life he thought he would have. He loves it too much, but loathes that he isn’t free to do the things he wants to when the mood strikes.
Harry needs to get away from the city so he can write his manuscript that is sucking the joy out of his usual passion for writing. As a holistic physiotherapist, health blogger, and soon to be published author, he hasn’t had time to really focus on himself, or how lonely his life has become.
Joe is a grump, from the first introduction, but there is something compelling about him that I was excited to get to know. I knew he was grumpy for a reason and wanted to know why. Harry is steady but complex. He has some secrets, and the contradictory personality where I couldn’t immediately tell if he was awkward, aloof, or shy.
When he gets out to the farm, his reception is less than warm. Joe is not a fan of some stranger staying in his house, and he makes that very clear. But as time goes by, he warms to the other man, and they start to form a tentative friendship that builds into attraction.
This can be read as a standalone, and feels like a standalone, even though it is the second in a series. Garrett Leigh’s writing style is easy to read, the plot is easy to follow, and just the right mix of witty and serious to keep me engaged for the entire story. I love that these characters had damage that didn’t take up the entire storyline. It is there, and part of their story, but their relationship building took centre stage. They both came into this story already acknowledging that there were things that prevented them from being fulfilled. Knowing themselves was a huge draw for me to keep going. It was exactly the kind of romance I needed at the time.
There was a beautiful sweetness to these two building trust and edging closer to each other. Joe was really open and honest about himself and how he felt. Harry was not expecting anything beyond locking himself in a room with his laptop and writing his heart out, but slowly, Joe, the farm, and the horses captured his attention more.
I loved these two together, and enjoyed getting to know them and Joe’s family. If you enjoy contemporary romance this is a definite rec from me.
a review copy was provided for an honest opinion
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