I really enjoyed this book. It had been a while since I read some of the Texas series, so I was worried that I would forget some of the world, but I was able to fall right back into it. Kyle and Jason had such difficult pasts, and both deserved to find happiness, comfort, and stability at the ranch and with each other. I felt such heartbreak and affection for both Kyle and Jason. Hearing their stories, seeing their interactions with others, and watching them find love and acceptance was wonderfully written. I continue to be a big fan of R.J. Scott. I am looking forward to seeing what comes next at the Legacy Ranch. ( )

The ‘Texas, Campbell-Hayes’ books were one of my favorite series ever, so when I found out there was going to be a spinoff series around the Legacy Ranch that Jack and Riley Campbell-Hayes set up, I was over the moon. And now that I have read the first book – I am on my way to Mars, so to speak. The idea of Legacy is perfect just in and of itself: it is set up like a halfway house and focuses on giving rejected GLBTQ teenagers and new adults a chance for a new start by managing the miniranch itself and taking care of several horses. But since it is located on Double D ranch land, and overseen by Liam (Double D’s resident horse whisperer), encounters with everyone who works and lives there are unavoidable. If you haven’t read the ‘Texas’ series, I’d suggest you catch up – this story can stand on its own but it will be so much richer if you understand the secondary characters and their back story.

It was awesome to see that Jack and Riley are taking an interest and an active role in getting this new venture off the ground, and moving to the role of mentors suits them well. They make a few appearances, as do their children and several other guys like Liam, Robbie, and Darren. But the focus is on newcomers Kyle and Jason – both of which have horrific secrets and darkness in their past and need all the support and healing they can get.

Kyle is one of the abused young men from ‘Texas Christmas’, and has suffered Hank’s cruelty and abuse just like Liam. He is afraid much of the time and finds it tough to deal with people, seeing threats everywhere. Staying physically safe (and distant) is essential for him, so he is not sure how he will deal with running Legacy once the construction is finished and there are other inhabitants. He is supposed to be the foreman, but he has very little self-confidence and no idea what Jack Campbell-Hayes sees in him. Every other job he has tried after escaping his abuser has not worked out, and he expects to be fired any minute. A permanent place to stay is only a dream for him.

Jason has lived on the streets for three years, suffers from black moods and debilitating nightmares, and when he is falsely accused of robbery and arrested, he is saved by Steve, the owner of the shelter he stayed at before the incident. Jason cannot believe a man like Jack would help him without wanting anything, nor that Legacy is as good a deal as it sounds. Jason is afraid to trust, but he has no issue talking to people. He can’t figure out Kyle, but he does see that Kyle needs protection.

Kyle and Jason both have a dark past, are afraid to trust, and carry emotional wounds that will take years to heal. But when they meet and begin to get to know each other – reluctant as they may be to open up – they discover that they are not alone. Helping each other and focusing on finishing the building of Legacy gives them a new objective and hope that things might get better one of these days. Their love is slow to develop and neither is sure how to move forward, and the result is a beautiful romance that surprises them and cements their hope for a better future.

If you like to see wounded young men pick themselves up and make something of their lives despite all the pain and abuse they have suffered, if you like horses and ranch life, and if you’re looking for a read that is set in the familiar environment of the Double D Ranch, has the same emotional warmth as the ‘Texas, Campbell-Hayes’ books, and adds even more lovable characters to this world, then you will probably like this novel as much as I do. It’s both an excellent beginning of a new series and a great continuation of an existing tradition.


NOTE: This book was provided by Love Lane Books for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews. ( )