Friday, October 27, 2017

Release Day Review ~ Tender Mercies (Men of Lancaster County: Book Two) by Eli Easton (Giveaway)

Release Day Review ~ Tender Mercies (Men of Lancaster County: Book Two) by Eli Easton

 Title: Tender Mercies
Series: Men of Lancaster County: Book Two

Author: Eli Easton

Release Date: October 27, 2017

Category: Contemporary

Pages: 216

Eddie Graber’s dream of a sanctuary for rescued farm animals was about to come true when his partner backed out at the last minute. Now Eddie risks losing the twenty-five acre property in Lancaster County—and all the hopes he held for it—before the project even gets off the ground. He needs help, he needs money, but most importantly, he needs to rediscover the belief in a higher purpose that brought him here in the first place.
Samuel Miller worked hard to fit into his Amish community despite his clubfoot. But when his father learns Samuel is gay, he is whipped and shunned. With just a few hundred dollars to his name, Samuel responds to an ad for a farmhand and finds himself employed by a city guy who has strange ideas about animals, no clue how to run his small farm, and a gentle heart.
Samuel isn’t the only lost soul to serendipitously find his way to Meadow Lake Farm. There’s Fred and Ginger, two cows who’d been living in a garage, a gang of sheep, and a little black pig named Benny who might be the key to life, love, money—and even a happily ever after for two castoffs.



5 Stars!!

This was such a touching and sweet story. It’s filled with a lot of heartache and angst, but most of all it’s filled with determination, kindness, acceptance and love. I absolutely adored both Samuel and Eddie. These two men just fit together so well and I loved watching them slowly fall in love, it was a beautiful thing to witness. They both grew so much throughout the story and the chemistry between them was off the charts, you could practically feel the connection and love they shared coming off the pages of the book. The relationship developed slowly and the progression felt natural and right.

The backdrop of the animal sanctuary was interesting to read about and learn how they function. I’m an animal lover, so that just added one more thing for me to love about the story and I just have to say, Benny the pig is super adorbs!!

This was a well-written story and it flowed well. The writing, as always, was superb and Ms. Easton pulled me into the story and help me captivated and turning the pages. This story left me all warm and fuzzy inside and although it’s complete and satisfying, I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to Eddie and Sam. Such an enjoyable read and highly recommended!

*copy provided by Dreamspinner Press in exchange for an honest review*




5 Stars!

First of all, just look at the gorgeous cover and tell me it doesn't make you one-click? And really, you should because you won't regret it. 

Eddie is an animal lover who is finally ready to start his Sanctuary for Rescued Farm Animals, although when he first envisioned his project, he thought he'd have his now ex-boyfriend's help. Now that he has to do it all on his own, Eddie can't help but feel a little overwhelmed by the reality of it all. He posts an ad for help in a newspaper and while many respond to it, it isn't until shy Amish boy Samuel comes that he finds what he'd been looking for. 

Sam was whipped and thrown out of his home by his father after he found out he was gay. With limited funds and alone in the world, he needs the job that Eddie is offering and despite his clubfoot, he's determined to prove that he's the man for it.

I adored Samuel, he was plain awesome! He was younger than Eddie, but due to his upbringing he had a different view of life and was almost more mature than Eddie in some sense. I loved Eddie, although, he did get on my nerves sometimes with his penchant for keeping his troubles to himself, especially once he and Sam started a relationship. He was a dreamer and as such, monetary problems and the reality of running a farm, didn't really occur to him until he was living it. Whereas Sam was more practical and perhaps that's why they worked together so well. They balanced each other and made things work... eventually. 

I loved Bennie and it was lovely to see Sam and Eddie interact with him and how instrumental the little pig was with the whole rescue plot. 💖

The writing and the characterizations from the main characters to the farm animals, as per usual with Ms. Easton, was brilliant. And the book was such a sweet, endearing and slightly angsty read, I even shed a few tears here and there, but it's so worth it. Definitely a must-read! 

*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie by Dreamspinner Press for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***





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8 comments:

  1. I haven't read any stories like that yet

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  2. My favorite series like that is Keira Andrews' Gay Amish Romance.

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  3. Vespertine by Leta Blake and Indra Vaughn

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  4. I don't usually like books with prominent religious groups in them, but I am looking forward to reading these books and Keira Andrews' Amish series.

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  5. Í usually avoid romance with religious theme because they often make me uncomfortable. But if I have to think one, on top of my head will be "Between Saints and Sinners" by Marie Sexton.

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  6. I've really enjoyed Keira Andrews' Amish series and Marie Sexton's Between Sinners and Saints

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  7. Congrats, Eli. I just saw your book 1 Second Harvest is on sale today at DSP, so I'm getting that. I too like Keira, but for variety, I'll add Blind Eye by John Morgan Wilson. It's a mystery centered on Catholic Church pedophilia, so not an m/m romance, but very good, won a Lammy. - Purple Reader,
    TheWrote [at] aol [dot] com

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  8. Hello Goodbye series by Sarina Bowen, great series.

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