Cowboys, horses and abusive ex-husbands, oh my!

What made the experience of listening to Crooked Tree Ranch the most enjoyable?

Sean Crisden's narration was a definite plus, but I also really enjoyed the way the romance between these two men slowly bloomed.

Who was your favorite character and why?

That's a hard choice, I mean, both men have basically given up just about everything to take care of their family. I think it's this very trait that brings them together eventually. Well, that and the insane, unfightable, mutual attraction.

What about Sean Crisden’s performance did you like?

Everything. He really does an amazing Cowboy voice, that sexy southern drawl. He also makes sure that every character has their own tone, even if just slightly, so you never question who's talking.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Laugh out loud, like, a lot!

Any additional comments?

With Scott's ability to write broken down Cowboys and Crisden's ability to breath life into those words, these two are the perfect marriage. I enjoyed the grit in the storyline, the fact that Jay and Nate didn't just fall for each other, they had to work at it. I'm excited for the other books in this series to become available on Audiobook for my listening pleasure.

3 people found this helpful

Interesting start to a series, can't wait for more

I really enjoyed the narration. Sean Crisden really brings the characters to life with his different voices for the characters and he emotes very well. I would listen to him anytime.

I really like the set up to the series. The ranch seems like a nice place to live and I love the three Todd brothers that partly own and help run the ranch. I worry about the aging rancher that is also a part owner, he seemed so nice, though there were a few moments that a certain attitude bled through and I began to question the nice guy. There is no real conclusion to that so I don't know if we'll get more insight in book two.

In this book, the ranch is having financial troubles and they bring in a marketing consultant to help bring in more visitors. The new hire, Jay, brings his family, a sister and her two children. Jay's family really meshes well with the brothers. Though Jay doesn't exactly get along with Nate Todd right away. It's a battle of wills between them. They both find out the other is gay and though attraction is there, Nate fights against it until jealousy makes it impossible.

It's a sweet story between them. Once Nate decided to let go and engage in a love affair with an employee, there was not a lot of tension in the book. Most of the conflict in the book takes place between other characters and trying to save the ranch. A crusty, set in his ways ranch hand isn't real keen on political correctness but I have a little sympathy at his loneliness. My favorite part though, is when he joins with Jay to stop a bullying abuser.

I really did like the book, but it lacked a little bit of excitement for me. I'm really looking forward to reading book 2 of this series which seems to hold a bit more mystery and I hope we will get to revisit the ranch and the characters from Crooked Tree Ranch.

2 people found this helpful

love this series

it is so worth it you won't be disappointed it is so much but it is one of my favorites

1 person found this helpful

Enjoyed the narration!

Any additional comments?

Crooked Tree Ranch is the first book in a (so far) four book series. There's a dual POV with slow burn, on page sexy times, some humor, and not a lot of angst.

While I thought the characters are mostly fleshed out, there's a lot that just skims the surface, and I felt like the story was missing some real conflict to drive it forward.

Nate is dyslexic, Jay was in a toxic relationship, Ashley has depression and has been physically and emotionally abused, and her son Josh has dyslexia, but none of this seems to be really explored.

The angst definitely could have been overwhelming from those storylines (especially concerning Jay's sister Ashley), but because everything is only very superficially explored, it kept the story from becoming too OTT.

At the same time, I can't help wishing some of the topics had been explored more.

As for the audio, Sean Crisden does a wonderful job with the narration, as well as with all the character voices, and the timing is really good. It's a smooth, enjoyable listen.

All in all, it's a slow burn romance and the pace of the story reflects it. It's a sweet romance and has a strong HFN/HEA and likable characters.

I enjoyed the narration, and will check out the next book in the series.

1 person found this helpful

A Good Book About Montana

This was a well written book and was read well by the narrator. Felt like the book kind of dragged a bit even though it was short. The narrator kind of lost me with the children's and Sophie's voices sounding like they were always sluggish and tired. I've been kind of obsessed with Montana after playing Big Montana Sky on Choices and realized where they got their inspiration from while listening to this book.

Nice Romance, Crisden's Voice is Lovely Here

Who doesn't love seeing city slickers fumble around on a ranch? R.J. Scott does a good job starting this series, introducing the characters and setting up the background info for the ranch. Doubly enjoyable this time around because I got to hear Sean Crisden perform it for me.

Wow that escalated quickly

It was overall sweet but the went insta love without much of anything. They only had known each other 3 weeks and boom love and forever. Sometimes this can work. Except when the author totally sets it up as a slow burn.

Spoilers: They dance around each other, go to a gay bar, another guy hits on him, the big drama isn’t even about them.... total slow burn potential... they even talk about going slow. Nate has never had a relationship before, he hooks up with dudes in bars.... you can’t go from one extreme to the other that quickly. The sister drama resolves they have sex for the 2nd time and then I love you and then it’s over.

I liked it and Sean Crisden is great as usual I’m just confused why the author hit the fast forward button.

I will say I read this one just so I could read the 2nd one because I am a sucker for reunited families/amnesia tropes.... so I will try that out but this was just meh.

Love It

RJ Scott has a way to brings tears of happiness and joy to a romantics eyes. Love all the books I've read/listen to.

Entertaining but

Author moves too fast, would have liked to have the story more drawn out with more detail of the history of the family & how all of Nate’s remaining family seems being gay is no big deal. There had to be some challenges their... How did Nate cope with being gay, he’s accepting of himself, which is awesome, but most guys I date are those who live a life like Nate’s & it was very challenging for them to be comfortable with themselves.

Crooked Tree Ranch

~ 4.5 Stars Overall (book & audio) ~

This book is great, a really good introduction to the start of this Montana series. RJ Scott writes the best books! The characters in all of this author’s series so far have been well developed, and the books usually have a sweet, interesting and fun feel to them without a whole lot of unnecessary angst. And I feel like in this book specifically, we get a definite family vibe included as well since we learn about all of the extended family members, too; it’s not just focused on the two main characters. I liked this series enough after I read the first few books that now the audio is out for the first few in this series are out I had to add those to my library too so I can listen to this series as well as read them.

Nate and his two brothers (Gabe and Luke) own one-third of Crooked Tree Ranch. They end up needing some extra help getting the word out about the ranch in order to increase their revenue to keep from losing the ranch and everything they’ve ever known. That’s where Jay comes in. Jay and his Sister Ashley, and her two kids decide to make the move to Crooked Tree when Jay gets laid off his previous job. It’s hilarious to see how they move from the “Big City” to experiencing ranch life first hand. Jay and Nate have a really funny and awkward first and second encounter with each other creating some instant dislike. But it’s fun watching them trying to work together, navigating their relationship, thoughts and feelings and then bending to each other’s ideas of what would work best in bringing the ranch into the future to make more sales. This book is pretty short with how much is packed into it. We get the background story for the main characters in this book. We get a cute added bonus watching the relationship of Gabe and Ashley grow without taking away from Jay and Nate’s story. As well as getting set up with the backstory of some of the smaller characters we will see in the next few books as well. Overall, I really liked this one and think it was decently paced with a good premise and storyline. From previously reading these (to now listening to the audio) we get a really solid series with this set of books.