RELEASE DAY REVIEW: 'Tender Mercies' by Eli Easton
Title: Tender Mercies
Series: Men of Lancaster County #2
Author: Eli Easton
Published: October 27, 2017
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: Brooke Albrecht
Genre: Contemporary Romance; Erotic Romance
Length: 216 Pages
Tags: Gay; M/M; Animals: Farm; First Time; Forbidden Love; May/December; Religion/Faith; Standalone; HEA; CW: Physical Abuse
About Tender Mercies
Eddie Graber’s dream of a sanctuary for rescued farm animals was about to come true when his partner backed out at the last minute. Now Eddie risks losing the twenty-five acre property in Lancaster County—and all the hopes he held for it—before the project even gets off the ground. He needs help, he needs money, but most importantly, he needs to rediscover the belief in a higher purpose that brought him here in the first place.
Samuel Miller worked hard to fit into his Amish community despite his club foot. But when his father learns Samuel is gay, he is whipped and shunned. With just a few hundred dollars to his name, Samuel responds to an ad for a farmhand and finds himself employed by a city guy who has strange ideas about animals, no clue how to run his small farm, and a gentle heart.
Samuel isn’t the only lost soul to serendipitously find his way to Meadow Lake Farm. There’s Fred and Ginger, two cows who’d been living in a garage, a gang of sheep, and a little black pig named Benedict who might be the key to life, love, money—and even a happily ever after for two castoffs.
Don't miss Tracy and Annie's Banter Buddies where they chat about their favorite characters, scenes, endearments...and more from Tender Mercies!
5 HEART READ
REVIEW:
If you believe in love and following your dreams then this is the book for you.
I’ve been a long time fan of Eli Easton and I completely fell in love with A Second Harvest, book one in the Men of Lancaster County series. I could not pass up the opportunity to read Tender Mercies and this book does not disappoint. It has all the ingredients I love: age-difference, animals, a main character’s first sexual experience, and a delicious slow burn romance.
I don’t think it’s necessary to have read A Second Harvest to enjoy this book but David and Christie do make a surprise appearance in Tender Mercies.
Samuel Miller and Eddie Graber couldn’t be more different.
However, they do share one thing in common: both men are essentially cast aside by the ones they love and find each other at a time when they need someone the most.
My heart broke for Samuel right from the start. He longs to live in a world where he can freely and openly love a man. Raised in a strict Amish family Samuel lives in fear his father will learn his secret and when that fear is realized Samuel suffers terribly at the hands of his father. He’s sent away with little money and nothing but the clothes on his back.
Eddie Graber is the complete opposite. He lives openly as a gay man and is very successful as an editor and an author. His long time dream of owning an animal sanctuary is finally coming true with a recent purchase of a 25 acre farm in Pennsylvania. Unfortunately he suddenly finds himself alone in this daunting venture when his boyfriend breaks up with him and backs out as a partner.
Samuel and Eddie are brought together when Eddie places an ad in the local newspaper for a farm laborer. Realizing he’s in way over his head, he has no experience in running a farm, and is less than impressed when he meets Samuel. But Samuel convinces Eddie to give him a chance and and when they enter into a seven day trial period...magic happens.
What’s interesting is that the farm animals play such a huge part in this story and provide a little comic relief, almost stealing the show. Eddie has always had a soft spot for animals and owning this sanctuary means the world to him. I love how invested Samuel becomes in this venture as well, working so hard to help Eddie’s dream become reality. As Eddie and Samuel’s feelings for each other grow, and they become closer, the farm becomes their dream together.
Easton’s writing in Tender Mercies is simply amazing and I was completely caught up in the men’s burgeoning romance.
Bonding over a shared love of books Eddie introduces Samuel to gay romance novels. Samuel is amazed at how there can be stories written about men loving each other. All he’s ever wanted is to love and be loved and living with Eddie his eyes are opened up in so many ways.
One of the many things I love about Samuel is his innocence. His desire to be free and be himself touched my heart. Eddie tries to fight his attraction to Samuel, he worries about their age difference and Samuel’s obvious purity, but he soon finds himself falling hard.
They tiptoe around each other while the chemistry between them is electric.
I love stories where an MC discovers and experiences all of his “firsts”. First touch, first kiss, first time….
Their scenes are written so sweetly and passionately I couldn’t help but fall in love with both of these men!
I simply adore the story that unfolds in Tender Mercies, the characters, and of course all of the animals. Being an animal lover myself it’s no wonder I fell for this book. Samuel and Eddie are two beautiful souls that have dreams, dreams they’ve always wanted to come true and when they find each other they soon realize their dreams have come true. I eagerly await more books in the series.
A copy of Tender Mercies was provided to Kimmers’ Erotic Book Banter, by Dreamspinner Press, at no cost and with no expectations in return. We offer our fair and honest opinion on behalf of our readers.
Meet the Author
Having been, at various times and under different names, a minister’s daughter, a computer programmer, a game designer, the author of paranormal mysteries, a fan fiction writer, an organic farmer and a profound sleeper, Eli is happily embarking on yet another incarnation as a m/m romance author.
As an avid reader of such, she is tickled pink when an author manages to combine literary merit, vast stores of humor, melting hotness and eye-dabbing sweetness into one story. She promises to strive to achieve most of that most of the time. She currently lives on a farm in Pennsylvania with her husband, three bulldogs, three cows and six chickens. All of them (except for the husband) are female, hence explaining the naked men that have taken up residence in her latest fiction writing.
For more from Eli be sure and visit her website!
