Rating: 4.25 stars
Buy Link: Amazon | iBooks | Amazon UK
Length: Novel
Austin MacIsaac and Cal Armstrong have been friends since childhood. They grew up together in Windsor, Wyoming where they still reside; Austin’s a noted photographer and Cal is the ranch foreman for the Windsor Ranch. They’re best friends who’ve always harbored a deep love and attraction for the other, though they’ve never acted on it due to fear that their love is unrequited, and speaking of it will upset their friendship. Cal has virtually no family; Austin’s family pretty much adopted him and his mother’s a hateful woman who doesn’t treat him with any affection or even appreciation. If Cal confesses his love for Austin and it doesn’t pan out, will he lose the love of Austin’s whole family?
Austin has had two loves in his life, Cal and his college sweetheart, who died of cancer five years ago, within weeks of their wedding. Life’s too short to not live it fully, and Austin’s done grieving enough to maybe convince Cal that they could be good together, if only they try to see eye to eye on dating.
The expectations when transitioning from best friends to something more are reasonably fraught with tension and fear. Austin has a big opportunity that could pull him away from Winsdor for a year, one that could really position him for success when he returns. But will leaving kill whatever fledgling passion these two could kindle beforehand?
This is a quiet and pretty angst-free friends-to-lovers story set in a small Wyoming ranch town. It’s the second book in the Windsor Wyoming series, but fully enjoyable as a standalone. Austin’s waited a long time to make his feelings for Cal known, pretty much because he’s uncertain if Cal can return his affection. He’s fierce and protective of Cal, particularly from Cal’s emotionally abusive mother, and he wants Cal to see how very special Austin thinks he is. Cal’s a simple man, though, and Austin’s more showy ideas for dating just feel wrong. Does that mean their relationship is doomed?
Austin and Cal are absolute sweethearts, a little in awe at how long they’ve each loved the other man without giving their attractions away. Austin’s family is super supportive, as are the Windsors who love and respect the heck out of both men. Their biggest fear is destroying their close friendship, but they make time for some really great, mature, conversation, working out issues that could cause them to have problems. I just loved how committed they are to their friendship, and the continued professional success for both of them. There’s a little bit of awkwardness as they start dating, but there’s so much affection, and so much trying to do the right thing, that the story is all soft and loving and delicious.
I liked how we got to see a bit more of Windsor, Wyoming, not only the ranch, as well as some other locales as we followed these guys through their love story. For a western, this book is not super cowboy-ish, with only part of the book set at Cal’s work. Most of the action takes place in non-ranch situations, if readers who aren’t generally “western inclined” want to give this one a whirl. I’ve read both books in the series, and look forward to another story.
