Title: Inherit the Sky
Author: Ariel Tachna
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Pages: 210
Characters: Caine Neiheisel, Macklin Armstrong
POV: 3rd
Sub-Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Western
Kisses: 5
Blurb:
Caine Neiheisel is stuck in a dead-end job at the end of a dead-end relationship when the chance of a lifetime falls in his lap. His mother inherits her uncle’s sheep station in New South Wales, Australia, and Caine sees it as the opportunity to start over, out on the range where his stutter won’t hold him back and his willingness to work will surely make up for his lack of knowledge.
Unfortunately, Macklin Armstrong, the foreman of Lang Downs who should be Caine’s biggest ally, alternates between being cool and downright dismissive, and the other hands are more amused by Caine’s American accent than they are moved by his plight… until they find out he’s gay and their amusement turns to scorn. It will take all of Caine’s determination—and an act of cruel sabotage by a hostile neighbor—to bring the men of Lang Downs together and give Caine and Macklin a chance at love.
Review:
When Caine Neiheisel’s mother inherits a sheep ranch from her uncle in Australia, Caine instinctively knows this is his chance to have a new start in life. Caine is in his early thirties and has a dead end desk job. He’s has many promotions denied him because of his nervous stuttering. Although he has a handle of it most of the time, whenever he becomes anxious or excited, he can’t control his stutter, causing him to lose many job opportunities for him. In the past, Caine has always fantasized about meeting his great uncle and spending the summer with him in Australia. Unfortunately for him, this never happened, but he realizes that running the ranch will give him that second chance he’s always dreamed of having.
As soon as he arrives in Australia, he meets the ranch’s foreman, Macklin Armstrong and he’s immediately intrigued and attracted to the rough around the edges cowboy. Although Macklin welcomes him and promises to help him learn the ins and outs of running a ranch, he’s often hot and cold with Caine, and this keeps Caine confused and on his toes while he’s around him. As time goes by, Macklin starts to admire Caine’s determination to work hard and to make the ranch successful and profitable for everyone. As their attraction and respect for one another intensifies, both men have some difficult choices to make if they want to take a chance at making the love they feel for each other last.
I really loved this book! I’ve read several stories by Ms. Tachna and I’ve never been disappointed with any of them. Her characters really live and breathes off of the written pages, and she has a knack of drawing this reader into their often complex and sometimes complicated lives. I also appreciate how she’s able to make wherever her books are set at, almost alive, like it is also a character within itself. I literally could see the ranch, feel the intense heat or bitter cold and visualize the beauty of Australia.
Both Caine and Macklin are very interesting characters. They both are stubborn men who are willing to fight for what they believe in. I thought they were very well matched and ended up bringing out the best in each other. I applauded how much both characters grew and developed as the story continued and ended up respecting and liking them both in the end. I really enjoyed reading this book and I hated to see it come to an end. I’m looking forward to reading more books by Ms. Tachna and Inherit the Sky has a permanent spot on my keeper shelf.
Reviewed By: Gabbi
