I'm shocked...at myself for liking this book so much. Why? I'll admit it--I'm shallow. I like to read sex scenes in a book. And the more kink, the better. So, how come I love a book so much that has none of that? (And I mean none, not fade to black we don't read about it, but none even hinted at.) Well, it's hard to say. I loved the characters. The writing was so good that I really felt I knew each of these men. I loved Dale. He seemed so put-together and accomplished, but he was really such a lost soul. I loved the setting. I could picture each scene and feel the beauty of the place. 
 There is plenty to read about ranch life and horses, so one might think that I really have a love of those things. Nope. There's nothing wrong with that, I just haven't been around those things. I live in a city and I can count on one hand (and have fingers left over) how many times I have gone horseback riding. So, bravo to the author who managed to write a story that had none of what I look for when reading a book, but managed to make me love it anyway.