Cattle Valley 3 by Carol Lynne
Physical Therapy (Cattle Valley 5) by Carol Lynne
With this one Carol Lynne manages to make me cry. Maybe in these days I'm particularly weak, maybe it's the hot night and they are not tears, but sweat drops... but well, while I'm writing this, my eyes are blurry and I continue to blow my nose...
Matt was an army paramedic in Iraq. He saw a lot of things that no one should see, not one time, but day after day. His only friend and support was his fellow army buddy Danny. Danny was wonderful, handsome and nice and straight. But being Danny straight didn't prevent Matt to fall in love with him. But Danny died, in the only day Matt was not with him, and obviously Matt is torn with guilty.
Now Matt is living in Cattle Valley, he is the town new physical therapist and he is living in the above garage apartment of the two town doctors and lovers, Isaac and Sam. Sam is 52 years old and a very quite man; he likes his works and likes his home; comfort and peace are radiating from him. Isaac is 47 years old and a bit of a bull; strong and always in motion, maybe he is too much for Sam. And here is the problem: Sam and Isaac are together since 25 years and Sam always wondered if he is enough a man for Isaac; not that he ever doubt Isaac's fidelity, but well, he has always tried to accomplish every desire of his man, even when it was against his mood or wish. And now here there is a 27 years old man, handsome and nice, and in dear need of help. Sam wants to help him, but at the same time he fears that, allowing Matt to enter their couple, he will lose Isaac.
Well, I hope that you understand that I didn't cry for Sam's dilemma, but for Matt's journey to be able to move on his war trauma and the lost of his friend. Carol Lynne pushes all the right bottoms of emotion, the same bottoms that make you cry even if you are aware that you are reading a book, and that all you are reading is only fiction, but still you cry since you unfortunately know that what you read is not only fiction, but it happened and maybe is still happening somewhere in the world.
And now, after my emotional breakdown, I also want to try to analyze another aspect of the book: why when I read of a threesome between two men and a woman I hardly like it, and when it involves three men it doesn't bother me? I'm fully aware that I have a prejudice, and I also believe that it's a feminist thing (please, male friends don't shoot me, here I'm admitting one of my weakness...): since in my culture, the woman gives birth and the woman is identified with family, when there is a woman in the threesome, it's obvious for me that she is the center of the threesome, and at least one of the two man, if not both, depending on her. So when there is love between the two men, I feel the woman like an intruder, since I'm always expecting that she will broke the male bond. In an all male threesome, without this strong female figure, they are all equals, and I think they can build something together without never arriving to a break up.
Returning to the book in question, obviously Matt is the main character. All the book turning around him and his trouble, but there is still enough space to appreciate also Sam and Isaac. Maybe Sam is better outlined, and also is reasons pro and against the threesome are clearer. I still need to understand better Isaac... there is a strong sexual need that lead him to Matt, maybe a need that Sam is not ready or willing to satisfy, but I hope that he also loves Matt. If not, Sam will be the link between them, even if physically he is weaker than the two, probably he is stronger in will.
http://www.total-e-bound.com/product.asp?s=6k5owo321278&strParents=&CAT_ID=&P_ID=273
Amazon Kindle: Cattle Valley: Physical Therapy
Out of the Shadow (Cattle Valley) by Carol Lynne
Resisting to temptation is not a sought virtue in Cattle Vally, the Montana fictional LGBT small town. And so this new installment in the ongoing soap opera is another story of a man who gives up to temptation. Shep is a former bull rider who left the rodeo circuit when the sixteen years old son of his best friend came to live with them. Young Jeremy was too much a temptation for the man, and a "providential" knee injury gave him the right excuse to open a bull breeding ranch in Cattle Vally. But one year before, Jeremy came to the ranch searching a work and Shep couldn't refuse him. Jeremy now is 22 years old and more than ripe to be pick.
Jeremy is looking to seduce Shep since he was 16 years old. Now that the man of his dreams seems open to his seduction, he will not stop in front of nothing to have his way with him.
As always love triumphs in this small town and the main characters have little problem to consummate their love as soon as the book began. In less than 110 pages, our heroes make love in bed, in the barn, in the kitchen, in the truck... I believe they didn't forget any available surface... But this is the quirk of this series, and the reason why it is so sought after: it's refreshing and enjoyable to read of a love between two people, when the gay issue is not an issue at all.
Usually Carol Lynne raises a social issue, without therefore being boring or pedantic. In this one there is not, if not maybe the age difference between Shep and Jeremy (even if it's not too much highlighted) and the generational jealousy between Jeremy and his father. But all in all, I think that with this one Carol Lynne takes a leave, and the real purpose is only entertaining.
http://www.total-e-bound.com/product.asp?s=sctdir513854&strParents=&CAT_ID=&P_ID=341
Amazon Kindle: Cattle Valley: Out of the Shadow
Amazon: Cattle Valley, Vol. 3: Physical Therapy / Out of the Shadow
Paperback: 262 pages
Publisher: Total-E-Bound Publishing (June 1, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1907010807
ISBN-13: 978-1907010804
Series: Cattle Valley
1-2) Cattle Valley 1: http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/211609.html
3-4) Cattle Valley 2: http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/285655.html
5-6) Cattle Valley 3
Reading List:
http://www.librarything.com/catalog_bottom.php?tag=reading list&view=elisa.rolle
Cover Art by Anne Cain
Cover Art by April Martinez