Always Mine: A Love in Eden Novel

De: Sloane Kennedy

Narrado por: Michael Dean

I had one reason for never going back to the small town I once called home, but I never guessed it would be the same one that made me want to stay....

Brooks
I grew up in the small town of Eden, Wyoming, but never really felt like I fit in.

Until I met the one boy who changed all that.

When we were kids, Xavier Price understood horses, but somehow, he got me too. He'd made me feel like I wasn't just the overdressed, too sensitive 15-year-old geek who loved math and didn't always say the right thing. But all that changed the night he threw my trust back in my face and betrayed my family in the worst kind of way.

And while I'm back in Eden to make sure my uncle's horse ranch is operating in the black, the one thing I know I won't have to deal with is the man who'd been on the verge of stealing my heart 10 years ago.

Because Xavier Price is still in prison for what he did and even if he weren't, he wouldn't be foolish enough to show his face in Eden ever again.

Right?

Xavier
Wrong.

That's what returning to Eden after ten years behind bars feels like. But it wasn't like I had a whole lot of choices. And it wasn't like I was going to be handed any decent job offers, let alone my dream one of working with horses.

But that's exactly what happened and now that I'm foreman of Black Hills Ranch, I'm not letting this job go for anything.

Not even the spoiled little rich kid I'd thought was different when he'd glommed onto me 10 years ago.

I have no doubt Brooks Cunningham didn't wait long to move on to bigger and better things the second my jail cell was locked behind me, and that's just fine by me. I'd been wrong about the sweet, emotional boy who'd had a habit of wearing his heart on his sleeve anyway.

Except fate has decided to have another go at me by tossing Brooks right back into my sometimes too small world. Gone is the scrawny, stars-in-his-eyes nerd who used to do math problems just for fun. In his place is a gorgeous specimen of a man who thinks he can go toe-to-toe with me and once again destroy everything I've worked for.

Not happening.

©2019 Sloane Kennedy (P)2019 Sloane Kennedy

It could have been amazing.

I have yet to read a book by Sloane Kennedy that I did not liked, so I was super excited excited to listen to it because a good narrator can take a book from great to amazing. Unfortunately I was extremely disappointed. The narrators were very monotone. The ebb and flow of the sentences were so repetitive as were the lilts of the words. Every sentence ended on a down pitch. Instead of the narrators bringing this amazing book to life, they simply read it and sounded like Ben Stein in Ferris Beuler's Day Off. So disappointing.

A One Sitting Read!!!

WELL HOT DAMN THAT WAS EPIC!!!

This Friends to Enemies to I can't get enough of you was not just steamy as all heck, but so emotionally filled that I couldn't stop reading.

You will have " ALL THE FEELS" for this one!

Amazing Naration 👏

Yummy! 😋

Sloane Kennedy paired with Michael Dean is not something you want to miss! Beautiful HEA and all the steamy you crave! Well, ALMOST... the hints dropped about Jules and Flynn definitely left me craving more! I always adore Sloane's characters, and Michael Dean is amazing at bringing them to life. He so carefully and perfectly delivers each line. You can really feel every emotion and intent with each character. More from this pair please and thanks! ❤️

Revisiting the past

Xavier and Brooks are only a year apart in age but the difference has always felt much larger. When Brooks was 15, he’d been an immature kid who struggled to fit in on a ranch. He wore trousers and didn’t know how to ride a horse. Then he met 16-year-old Xavier and he found someone who could not only teach him to ride, but someone who didn’t judge him for his love of math.

Then comes the night when everything changes. Both men have very different perspectives on what happened that fateful night, but their already divergent lives took completely different paths and both men believed they would never see each other again. Xavier went off to prison and Brooks moved away from Wyoming, back to the big city. Each was hurt because of the perceived actions of the other and the separation seemed permanent.

Ten years later, fate has other plans for the men.

Brooks’ uncle Curtis is running the ranch but things aren’t going well. Brooks, the math-oriented nephew with business experience, heads to Wyoming to see if he can help his uncle get back into the black. The last person he expects to see is Xavier.

Xavier did his time and although he wanted to put Wyoming in the rear-view mirror, obligations have brought him home. Desperate, he’s obtained a job at the old ranch working for Curtis, a man who doesn’t hold a grudge. Too bad his nephew doesn’t feel the same way.

When the men first see each other, ten years of resentments bubble to the surface. Assumptions are made and neither man wants to believe he might be wrong. Only when one needs desperate help do they come to an understanding – or sorts. There are a lot of hurt feelings in this book and neither man wants to back down – until they realize their stubbornness might be standing in the way of something much better.

Although I enjoyed the clashes, I preferred the loving. These two men were perfect for each other ten years ago and even more so now. And although they’ve hidden themselves away, part of them longs to be with the other. But neither man is out, so there’s that to contend with as well. Lessons of the older generation become clear and Brooks and Xavier realize they have to find their own truth.

This is a Sloane Kennedy book so there’s a bit of violence, a touch of angst, and lots of sexy times. I loved how Xavier discovered what Brooks enjoyed and instead of shaming him, showed him it was okay. There’s a lot to be said for someone who takes the time to teach. So, yeah, there are riding lessons as well. Of every variety.

Michael Pauley again helms this book and I’m so glad. He gives just the right note to each man, differentiating them well. He is one of my favorite narrators because he’s so consistent and always does a great job. I also like how the next book has been set up and I can’t wait to see where this series goes. Another great read.

protect those you love

This book was so sweet. I love the passion between them. Even when they weren't on good terms, the passion still ran deep. & once all of the truths come out, it is just all so sweet (well...on their parts, obviously some people are just rotten eggs). The sexual chemistry was great too! hot and steamy. This book did not disappoint.

Great story...

Sloan Kennedy has become on of my favorite authors. Love the stories, and the characters. Especially the colorful ones that are always in each storyline.

One of the best books I’ve ever read!

I absolutely loved this book and don’t know why I waited so long to read it! The story is original and the narration is perfect, obviously, because everything Michael narrates is. I highly recommend this book!

Couldn't stop listening

First off: Michael Dean has to be my favorite narrator. His pacing is perfect and he portrays emotion like nobody's business. Every single word he reads is driven with accute intention and care. Paired with that beautiful, deep, throaty voice - amazing 😙👌.
Story: Phrasing was sometimes a little repetitive, which gave me some Riley Hart vibes; this is either the first or one of the first Sloan Kennedy books I've read, so I don't know if that's her usual MO. The main characters, particularly Brooks, drove me fucking nuts with their stupidity throughout the whole book. THAT BEING SAID, I listened to this all day because I simply couldn't stop. Always Mine is exciting, sweet, anger-inducing, dramatic, and hot. I also appreciated the big reveal(s) and all of the secondary characters. This book had A LOT (and I mean a fucking lot) of similar elements to those in More Than Life by Mary Calmes (even the ranch being in Wyoming and one of the MC's being the ex-con foreman😶). Honestly, I'm not sure which book came first, but though I enjoyed More Than Life, I had several peeves with the story. Always Mine, by applying and compounding those similar elements to certain characters and plot points, along with its own story and flow, was a far more interesting read.

Excellent!

If you love angsty, character driven romance with very hot man on man action, this is the romance for you!
The angsty non communicating was frustrating. I wanted to beat them up a few times for not talking it out, but I got the emotions behind their silence. And the ending was satisfying even if it was a quite convinient tying of all the loose ends!
Narration was good and fitted the story.

WOW>>>>WOW>>>>WOW !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ShE HIT IT OUT OF THE PARK WITH THIS ONE I LOVED EVERY WORD !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!