Release Day Review: His Fresh Start Cowboy by A.M. Arthur, Performed by Michael Dean

25 January of 2022 by ButtonsMom2003

His Fresh Start Cowboy By A.M. Arthur, Performed By Michael Dean

Genre: Contemporary Western Romance, GLBTQ, MM

Tropes: Coming out, bi-sexual, best friend’s brother, second chances

Released: January 25, 2022 (audio and ebook)

Publisher: Carina Press, Harlequin Audio

Series: Woods Ranch, Book 1

Length: 9 hrs, 9 mins / 304 pages

Synopsis

Two cowboys will have to risk their hearts—again—to find a home on the ranch.

Hugo Turner’s boots haven’t touched Texas soil in almost a decade, and he’s not sure they should now. Being in the state is complicated, but Hugo can’t resist going back for a job working with his teenage crush. His best friend’s hot older brother is now the ranch’s foreman, so he’ll be Hugo’s boss. Inappropriate? Probably. Will it stop Hugo? Probably not.

Brand Woods isn’t ready for the return of Hugo Turner. He decided long ago to keep his bisexuality private and to focus his life on running the ranch. Working next to the most dangerously tempting man he’s ever known stirs up questions Brand thought he’d put to rest.

The sparks that send their hearts galloping lead to a deeper passion than either man expects. But by giving in to the chemistry without taking a risk and committing to each other—or, more importantly, to themselves and living the lives they’ve always wanted—Brand and Hugo might lose their second chance at true love.

Review

Reviewed by ButtonsMom2003

A great start to a new series!

I’ve been a big fan of A.M. Arthur’s writing for several years now and I was so happy to learn that she was writing another cowboy series. I loved the Clean Slate Ranch series and the new Woods Ranch series is off to a fantastic start.

I was lucky to get an advanced copy of the ebook from the publisher via NetGalley but shortly after I started reading it, I was able to get an early copy of the audiobook, too. I love Michael Dean’s audio performances so I switched and listened to the rest of the book. OMG, he did such a great job with this book. The story grabbed me right from the start and I enjoyed the beginning bits that took place on Clean Slate Ranch. (Woods Ranch is a spin-off of Clean Slate Ranch but you don’t need have read that series to enjoy this one.)

The blurb for the book is really good so I’m not going to waste your time by rehashing it here. Instead, I’ll tell you how much I enjoyed the story and how the slow-burn, sexual tension between Hugo and Brand really drew me in. I hated the fear that Hugo felt when his stepbrother came around. I kept waiting for something big to happen and when it did it was heart-stopping. But I knew the A.M. Arthur would get these two their HEA and I loved it.

There were several secondary characters in this story that I hope will get books of their own. There’s no blurb available yet for book two in the series (coming in late October) so I don’t know who will be the next MC but I’m hoping that a certain nurse named Josiah, will get a book of his own. I also think Jackson needs to get one and I think it would be great if these two got matched up.

Story: ♥♥♥♥♥

Narration: ♥♥♥♥♥

O Factor: Spicy

Woods Ranch Series

♥ Amazon US ♥ Amazon CA ♥ Amazon UK ♥

About Author

A.M. Arthur

A.M. Arthur has been creating stories in her head since she was a child and scribbling them down nearly as long, in a losing battle to make the fictional voices stop. She credits an early fascination with male friendships (bromance hadn’t been coined yet back then) with her later discovery of and subsequent love affair with m/m romance stories. When not exorcising the voices in her head, she can be found in her kitchen, pretending she’s an amateur chef and trying to not poison herself or others with her cuisine experiments. A.M. Arthur’s work is available from Carina Press, SMP Swerve, and Briggs-King Books.

Contact her at am_arthur@yahoo.com with your cooking tips (or book comments).

Author Links

About Narrator

Michael Dean

Michael has well over 50 audio book titles currently available for purchase on Audible.com. He is versed in multiple styles and genres including fiction (novels and short stories) ranging from romance to science fiction to crime dramas to thrillers; business strategy books; health and wellness books; and even an occasional children’s book.

Fans of Michael’s narration are welcome to follow him on social media including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and SoundCloud.

Narrator Links