Arm Candy (Cattle Valley 14) by Carol Lynne

Reading a book in the Cattle Valley series is pretty much like meeting with an old friend and remembering all the common acquaintances. Plus, most of the time, the two men in centre stage are already known name to the reader and also their interaction, so, when the story starts, we are ready to see them going down to the core of the story. Sex usually arrives pretty much on chapter 1, but the nice thing of Arm Candy is that Mario, the arm candy, doesn’t want to put out so soon for Asa, the multimillionaire who will be more than willing to have him as boy toy since he doesn’t believe someone else could want him as lover without all his money.

Both Mario and Asa have prejudices against each other not for something they did, but for what people can think. Mario is young and handsome, and he has a bad past experience with his very beautiful mother who always used man for money, and so now he doesn’t see himself being only a boy toy for a rich man. He has prejudices against Asa even if the man has never treated him like a pretty Arm Candy, and Mario is always ready to think the worst about him. On the other hand, Asa doesn’t see himself interesting past his money; he is 43 years old, of average looks and not so much experienced in the fact of love. Asa’s strength is his brain, but that is not something you can expose, above all not with someone that doesn’t speak with him.

Anyway the disagreement between Asa and Mario has short life, and they are soon living like an old established couple; they don’t disagree on anything, and they pretty much think alike. The age difference is there but it’s more or less only a number, without any real consequence on their relationship: Mario grew up sooner than his age, and instead I have the feeling that Asa lived in his own world, and his emotional development got interrupted.

Arm Candy is a nice addition to the series, and being also a Thanksgiving story, it has the usual abundance of good feelings; it’s a nice and good love story.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/1907280758/?tag=elimyrevandra-20

Volume7 is another winner in Carol Lynne’s Cattle Valley series. Throughout, the author has made it clear that the gay friendly town has some heterosexual couples as well as gay and lesbian couples. But, there are also a few ménage partnerships. The first novella here focuses on one of them, the second novella on town billionaire, Asa.

Bent-Not Broken
Carol, the irascible secretary to the mayor, isn’t fooling anyone with her snarky attitude. They know she cares deeply about the town’s people. Carol’s heart was broken when the two men she had committed two abandoned her for another women after arriving in Cattle Valley. She’s attracted to George, but also knows he has a secret male lover who’s not “out,” country-singer Trick Allen. After the disaster at the arena leaves her hurt, George realizes he can’t live in the shadows of his lover anymore and he begins courting Carol.

Though I don’t usually prefer ménage stories, I enjoyed this one mainly because Carol has been a staple of the series since the beginning. I like her character, and I liked how the author developed a relationship with her and Trick so that the threesome made sense. Everyone deserves a happy ending! The sex is frequent and explicit, as is usual for the series, but fans of strict M/M only *may* not enjoy the sex scenes as much. However, the story was well worth reading for any fan of the series.

Arm Candy
Though the hints had been made previously, I admit to being surprised at the couple of billionaire Asa and martial-arts instructor Mario. However, Lynne does a fine job of match-making as always! This novella is more straightforward – the men are attracted and just need to overcome preconceived notions and miscommunication. Asa broke both his legs in the arena disaster and needs rehabilitation. He tries to “buy” Mario by offering him a job as therapist, but Mario is offended and also angry that Asa refused to see him in the hospital. In turn, Asa doesn’t know how to relate to someone who isn’t interested in his money. Naturally, the two finally clear the air and start dating. Though the romance was simple, it was very tender and enjoyable. Asa is in his early forties, and Mario just a bit younger. They are both mature characters, with careers and homes. This was a welcome divergence from the usual young studs that populate romance (be it het, or M/M!). Overall, a very satisfying story.

Overall, highly recommended to M/M romance fans, and those of the series of course. I can hardly wait for the next book, and am really hoping Jay finally gets his story as the foundation seems to be laid down for it. ( )