My Only Sunshine

'My Only Sunshine' is the first book by Rowan McCallister that I have had the pleasure of reading. When I saw the description, and the fact it has cowboys, I jumped at the opportunity to try someone new.
Tanner hasn't had the best of times these past eighteen months, but the past two weeks have taken the cake. Tanner and his best friend, sometime lover, got beaten up in Portland. When Tanner was released from the hospital, turns out his best friend took the van and all of his stuff and disappeared. Tanner made it to his cousin's home in Riverton, Wyoming only to discover they'd moved and no one knew where they went. So he starts hitchhiking east and the first person to pick him up robs him at gunpoint, takes his backpack, his wallet, and leaves him on the side of the road. Oh, wait, it's not over yet. Stumbling onto someone's ranch property, Tanner witnesses two men on quads beat the life out of a cow, and while Tanner is kneeling by the dead animal, the owner rides up and puts a rifle in Tanner's face. I think that qualifies as a \"pretty crappy\" two weeks!
Mason has been home on the ranch for three months and is already desperate for time alone. Between his father glaring his hatred at him from his wheelchair, and his little sister's constant nagging, Mason is nearing the end of his patience. No matter how much he loves the ranch, his dad threw him out ten years ago for being gay, and if it wasn't for his sister begging, and the fact his father had a stroke, Mason would not have returned. Now, he's got a cow beaten to death, and a young man not looking much better, and they're all outside in a massive thunder and lightning storm. Could life get any better?
Mason allows Tanner to stay on at the ranch doing work in exchange for room and board. This is heaven for Tanner being able to wake up in the same place every morning. And, certainly, after a few weeks, his ribs are healing up and after having gotten enough sleep and decent food in him, Tanner is feeling one hundred percent better. And, slowly, a friendship begins between Mason and Tanner. For Mason, it's an opportunity to talk about things with someone who isn't part of the family and/or has worked there for years. Mason can get his anger and frustration out without getting into a fight with his dad and setting off his blood pressure. For Tanner, it's nice to feel appreciated and needed again, and he wants to be a part of the ranch.
As is to be expected, their friendship is the beginning of a relationship which, while Mason wished it were different, has to be kept secret. Mainly because of his father and not wanting to stir up any more trouble as his dad is mean, hateful, and angry enough. And while Tanner understands this, he has moments of serious insecurity that creep up on him out of the blue and really knocks him around. It was, actually, hard to watch a young man literally feel like he had nothing of any value to offer this relationship.
I enjoyed this romance very much. Tanner and Mason were easy to care about, and I was glad they got their happy ever after. I thought the author did a good job with the story and she certainly portrayed the anger and hate from Mason's dad in a very realistic way. This is a sexy romance with drama and angst, but nothing that weighed me down. I definitely recommend it.
NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews

I woke up this morning and searched my shelves for something to read and decided on this one because the cover really caught my eye - it has a sort of dreamy quality with two gorgeous men. It was hard to look past the sexy cowboy profile but it was the pensive expression on the other man that really drew me in.
I was looking for a story that would bring together two troubled men and give them their happy ending and liked the idea of the cowboy setting.
The story had the right elements. Troubled Tanner, homeless and running from a violent beating is found by Mason and given shelter. Mason has his own issues, returning to his father's ranch ten years after being kicked out for being gay. His father's illness means he has little choice but to accept Mason's help in keeping the place going.
Mason and Tanner are drawn to each other and finally give in to the attraction they feel to one another but their relationship needs to be kept hidden. The story deals with Tanner's emotional healing and Mason's struggle to deal with his angry father and keep the ranch running. The secondary characters - the other ranch hands, neighbours, Mason's sister - provide some additional interest and there is some drama as someone is killing stock all over the county.
I really liked the writing style and the development of the characters. I particularly liked the story Mason related about why he wears his cowboy hat. It is so easy to imagine how different his life may have been if his mother had still been around. Instead he had to deal with a homophobic father and a life away from the ranch that he loved. Although Tanner has more obviously been hurt, Mason still bears emotional scars.
It was gorgeous to see Tanner's response to Mason \"Sexy, gruff, cowboy -wet-dream Mason. Tall and lean, with dark eyes and hair under a fancy black felt cowboy hat. Every little gay farm boy's fantasy..\" but also Mason acknowledging Tanner's beauty despite his scars.
So I liked the characters, I liked the story and the sex was pretty intense, but something was slightly missing. I think it was most likely the sense that I had read similar before.The story is not particularly unique which is why I am rating is slightly lower, but is still a very enjoyable book.
3.5 stars