“My Only Sunshine” Offers Hope From Despair

“There is no need to suffer silently and there is no shame in seeking help.” ― Joel S. Manuel

BLURB: Tanner Wallis is nearly at the end of his rope the night Mason Seidel finds him lying next to the mangled body of a cow on the back pastures of the Seidel family’s Wyoming ranch. Recently out of the hospital after he and his boyfriend were brutally beaten, Tanner is jobless, homeless, and almost penniless. His desperate hope is that Mason will believe he’s innocent of the senseless crime and give him a place to heal, both physically and emotionally, until he can get on his feet again.

But Mason already has enough on his plate. He’s only been back on the ranch a few months, ten years after his father kicked him out for being gay, and only because his sister begged him to come help after the man’s disabling stroke. With all his responsibilities—running the struggling ranch and keeping his sister and father off his back—Mason can’t really afford the distraction Tanner represents. But he can’t just abandon the attractive young man either. There’s trouble in spades on the ranch, but if they face it together, Mason and Tanner might find a future with a little sunshine.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Review: While reading this book I think I ran the gambit of emotions. Tanner not only lost his family when he left the ranch with his boyfriend, but he lost Corey after getting beaten. Left with a scar on his face and the police sniffing around, he runs from the hospital and ends up running right into more drama. After witnessing a crime, Tanner ends up getting a job of sorts with Mason Seidel on his family’s ranch.

Mason was kicked off the family ranch ten years ago when he came out to his father. The only reason he has returned is because his sister asked him to help out since his father has suffered a stroke. As much as Mason hates it, he puts up with his father’s nasty comments and his general bad mood so he can keep the ranch running.

It doesn’t take long for Tanner and Mason to both realize they are attracted to one another, but it does take some time for them to act on it. Mason knows he has to keep his attraction to Tanner away from his father or the man could suffer another stroke, but he can’t help his feelings for the man. They start seeing one another secretly, and soon the lust they feel for each other turns into love.

There will be a lot of things to overcome for these two men. Will their love for one another be enough to carry them through, or will they fail to make it work? This book was difficult to read at some parts because of the hate that Mason had to live with daily from his father. He felt duty bound to stay and help out, but how long can he handle all the hate? I was very impressed he didn’t suffocate the man with a pillow; I don’t think I could have resisted the temptation. It was a testament to the love he had for Tanner that he was able to hold on so long.

Eventually there was a happy ending for the men, but the road they traveled to get there was a bumpy one. Mason suffered some losses and Tanner celebrated some gains and they made a strong couple that had each others’ backs and they faced the world side by side.

I would highly recommend this book. I haven’t read any other books by this author, but I believe I am going to have to now, after reading this story.