This is one that will stick with me for a while and definitely going on my favs list and one of my favorites from the LL stories! I couldn't help but fall for the MCs in this story and the supporting characters, especially Val, Matt and Pietro. Then you add in Gavin's supportive family and you get that wow factor that I love. I absolutely loved when Gavin's dad ordered them both to stand up just so he could hug them! So sweet and unexpected and how each dad should behave when their child comes out to them. I don't know if Jae Moran has anything else published out there in the m/m genre but I'd love to read more and hope to see more from this author. There are many things to recommend this novel: best friends to lovers; realistic portrayal of the rodeo circuit; a nice set of secondary characters (Gavin's supportive family, as well as the other guys on the circuit); first-time gay love (although the steam in this book is very, very mild); a sensitive (and believable, I think) portrayal of bisexuality. And you all know I love me some gay cowboys. (The prompt image is awesome!)I appreciate the author writing a longer book for this fabulous free event. This one's more than 50,000 words, about 2,400 locations, so it's a fully developed novella. I like longer stories. But this one dragged a bit. There was no particular climax or slow tension/burn between the MCs. I wanted more chemistry, but all I saw was sweetness, a steady friendship, which is great but doesn't make for a particularly interesting story. There was also a lot of dialogue. All the characters spoke in long paragraphs, and I often lost track of who was saying what to whom. The conversations felt awkward. Everyone spoke like a therapist. There was lots of talking about feelings and giving advice, and it was a little boring and tedious (not to mention unrealistic for gruff, bull-riding cowboys). I'm also not sure the conflict with Toby's mom was necessary. It didn't really go anywhere, and the mom's long diatribe/monologue about postpartum depression, etc., toward the end felt random. The ending was sweet. I expected no less. And the writing was strong. I just wanted a tighter plot, more chemistry, more steam, some angst, something to keep my interest better.
What do You think about Measuring The Rein (2014)?
Did-not-finish. Cowboys or not. I don't care. I couldn't stand them anymore, so I just give up.
—tiny17
Really enjoyed this story!!! It was really good! I loved the characters!! All of them.
—Giovanna
