Radiant

by Blake Roland 

“Nothing is going to keep us apart.”

Dalton Powell has been living a lie. Terrified of coming out as bisexual, he’s given up on romance. Instead, he finds solace in hard work on his family’s struggling ranch. But his life is turned upside down as his past mistakes come back to haunt him—and steal his heart.

Thomas Reed never expected to come back to Hidden Creek. Old wounds are reopened as he returns to his family’s ranch and finds himself face to face with the last person he ever wanted to see again: Dalton. Despite his initial distrust, Thomas can’t deny the overpowering attraction between them.

Letting go of the past is hard when their families’ generations-long feud throws up obstacles at every turn. Forgiveness never comes easy, but they are determined to prove to their families that love really can overcome anything. But can they hold themselves together long enough to succeed?

Men of Hidden Creek – Season 4, #1

Modern Day Hatfields and McCoys! 🔥Scorchin’🔥

Hats Off to Cowboy-n-Sunshine!

The book:

• Pages • Contemporary • Standalone • Happily Ever After • #1 In A Series • Third-Person Narrative • Dual POV •

The romantic theme:
• Coming Out • Second Chances • Enemies To Lovers

The read:
• Easy Read • Good Pace • All the Feels • Believable World/ Characters • Sexy

SteaMMy Swordplay:
• 3 out of 5 ⚔ • The chemistry is so high when the MCs come together for the first time heat emanated from my Kindle. Phew!!!🔥

Story ingredients:
• Generational Family Feud • Bullying • Hot Cowboys •

MC#1 is…
• Dalton • Strong • Gentle • Hot • Generational Rancher • In the Closet

MC#2 is…
• Thomas • College Dropout • Hates being back home • Bullied as a Teen • Strong • Out and Proud •

MMy Thoughts and Review:

This was my first read by Blake but they are now on my radar and I look forward to reading more by them.

Radiant was reminiscent of the Hatfields and McCoys and Lorna Doone in a lot of ways. These two feuding families, the Reeds and Powells have hated and despised each other past years and decades and gone into generations to the great grandfathers on each side.

Because of teenage peer pressure and being the victim of bullying himself, Dalton Powell forced a young Thomas Reed out of the closet. Years of struggling ensued for the Sweet boy until he was able to leave his homophobic small town for college.

Forced back home for a number of reasons Thomas discovers his hometown of Hidden Creek has changed somewhat. Included in that change is a gay bar where Thomas can go to meet others and feel safe. That is til he runs into Dalton standing outside the bar.

Thomas gives his childhood bully a piece of his mind, and hopes to not see the man again.

Fate or circumstance have other ideas when Dalton turns into Thomas’ knight in shining armor, quite literally saving his life.

Slowly the two men become friends and love blooms, but they both fear it can’t last because of their families.

I typically don’t read westerns/ cowboys/ etc., but daaaaang if this wasn’t a good book. I adored Dalton, and rooted for him all through the story.

“Who knew rodeo skills could be so kinky?”

4.5 buckin-bronco-stars✨✨✨✨•✨