An Isolated Range

Title: An Isolated Range

Author: Andrew Grey

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

Publisher URL: www.dreamspinnerpress.com

ISBN/BIN: 978-1-62380-077-2

Genre: {M/M} Contemporary Western Series

Rating: 4 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Dragon Minx

Marty Green loves basketball. His dream of playing for his college team comes to a screeching halt when he strokes on the court during his first game. It leaves him hospitalized for weeks, putting him at the mercy of his overprotective parents. Able to use a wheelchair, Marty refuses to stay with his family while going to rehab. Instead his doctor’s friend, Dakota, offers him a job on his ranch, and he accepts.

Quinn Knepper meets Marty when he arrives and is immediately attracted.  Working as Wally’s veterinary assistant mean’s he’s at the ranch often and Quinn enjoys spending time with Marty, but realizes right away that Marty isn’t outgoing about his sexuality. But Quinn has other issues to deal with too. His father is ashamed of him and Marty’s father is a powerful state senator—and a vocal homophobe. Making a relationship work with two such families is difficult, especially when Marty’s reluctant to interfere with his father’s re-election.  Can Quinn convince the man he loves that their future is more important than his family’s opinion or Marty’s dad’s political ambition?

An Isolated Range is the newest release in Andrew Grey’s Range series. It’s possible to read this book as a standalone but because of the recurring location and character relationships, I recommend the books be read in order.

Mr. Grey never ceases to amaze me with the variety of couples he successfully brings together on Dakota and Wally’s ranch. This time it’s a truly unique story because of the freaky nature of Marty’s stroke, bringing to mind how fragile and uncertain life can be, reminding us all not to take life and love for granted. I truly appreciated the light hand Mr. Grey used during the hospital scenes while still getting across Marty’s frustration and disappointment with the situation and his family. The scenes are sad but still express what’s going on without being maudlin.

The whole plot is heart-wrenching (get out your tissues) and heartwarming, depending on where in the story you happen to be reading. I enjoyed it a lot and think the pacing is perfect and the plot line realistic. The personalities of Quinn and Marty are fully developed, descriptions of the ranch pulled me into the scenes and I loved seeing favorite characters returning. That Marty is recovering while he and Quinn are both becoming independent of their respective family is a definite plus for me. These two guys came together at a believable speed and in a reasonable manner. It’s Andrew Grey at his best—creating memorable characters his readers can care about. Enjoy.