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crtsjffrsn's review
5.0
Samuel Somerfield's life hasn't been the greatest. Although he's the heir to his father's ranch, there's a part of him that would give anything to get away. Since Samuel's mother died, his father has been nothing but cruel to him, making it clear that he's a disappointment whose only purpose is to do what his father tells him to do. And that involves marrying Eleanor Johnston to bring the two families together. It's a fate to which Samuel is resigned.
When Eli Watkins takes a job at a new ranch, he doesn't expect anything extraordinary. He'll work with the horses--as he's used to doing--and take on whatever jobs or tasks he's asked. And he'll keep his attraction to other men a secret. Which proves harder than he hoped once he meets the boss's son, Samuel. There's something about him that makes Eli enjoy getting under his skin, and Eli can't help wondering if maybe there might just be a spark waiting to fire back at him. But the expectations for Samuel are written in stone by his father, and the man will stop at nothing to make sure his son lives up to them...
Giving a book a five-star rating is a rarity for me, but there was just something about this book that spoke to me in many ways. There's a raw realness to it, and it's a story that just keeps delivering at every turn. I found the characters relatable, and the world in which the story takes place is laid out perfectly. In short, it's easy to get lost in this book and feel like you're right there with Samuel, Eli, and company. Although the book wraps up nicely, I certainly would be interested in seeing more from these characters and how their lives progress after the events of the story unfold.
[Content warnings: violence, animal cruelty, discussions of sexual assault]
When Eli Watkins takes a job at a new ranch, he doesn't expect anything extraordinary. He'll work with the horses--as he's used to doing--and take on whatever jobs or tasks he's asked. And he'll keep his attraction to other men a secret. Which proves harder than he hoped once he meets the boss's son, Samuel. There's something about him that makes Eli enjoy getting under his skin, and Eli can't help wondering if maybe there might just be a spark waiting to fire back at him. But the expectations for Samuel are written in stone by his father, and the man will stop at nothing to make sure his son lives up to them...
Giving a book a five-star rating is a rarity for me, but there was just something about this book that spoke to me in many ways. There's a raw realness to it, and it's a story that just keeps delivering at every turn. I found the characters relatable, and the world in which the story takes place is laid out perfectly. In short, it's easy to get lost in this book and feel like you're right there with Samuel, Eli, and company. Although the book wraps up nicely, I certainly would be interested in seeing more from these characters and how their lives progress after the events of the story unfold.
[Content warnings: violence, animal cruelty, discussions of sexual assault]
the_novel_approach's review
4.0
3.5 Stars I’ve read books by this author before and have always enjoyed her stories. The same can be said for Before Sundown; though, while I liked the story, I felt it lacked some of the substance incorporated in her other work, as well as the ambiance of a true historical.
The story begins when Eli starts working on a ranch and meets the owner’s son, Samuel. It was love/lust at first sight. I would have liked a little more character building here. Eli and Samuel were together almost from page one. They were never a separate entity, they just were. As a result, I felt I never got a chance to really know them enough to be invested, beyond thinking they were both adorable and likable.
As the story unfolds, we learn Samuel is to be married. The marriage is pre-arranged and he feels there’s no way out. At the center of all this is Samuel’s father, a despicable character who abuses his authority over his son in the most heinous ways. In some of the reviews I’ve read, there were questions as to why Samuel didn’t just leave. For me, I got a sense of obligation from Samuel. Even though his father was physically and psychologically abusive towards him, there was an underlying sense of duty. This was his lot in life, and he went along with it to keep the peace and maybe finally get his father’s approval and love. He really saw no way out until Eli came along. I really felt bad for Samuel. I didn’t see him as weak, just conflicted. On one hand, he knew who he was and what he wanted, on the other, his need to obey his father took precedence over anything he may have wanted for himself. Although we didn’t really know, this point was clear. And maybe that’s all we needed to know about him.
I mentioned before I didn’t feel as though this was a true historical. Let me explain. When I read a story set in a 1892, I want to feel as though I’m there. The sights and sounds, the dialogue, the cultural attitudes and understandings of the day—I want to be completely immersed in that world. With Before Sundown, I felt it could have taken place in modern day, about any wealthy family in the 21st century. Except for the horse drawn wagons, there was nothing significant tying the story to the late 1800s
The storyline, while not unique, was enjoyable to read. I feel the author did a wonderful job throwing a wrench into the mix, which I didn’t expect. Very pleasant surprise. At times I was on the edge of my seat, wondering if we were getting a happily-ever-after, or a kick to the gut. Of course, I kind of guessed how it would end, but there was still that little something in the back of my head that made me feel like this could really go either way. Kudos to the author for that.
I loved Eli and Samuel’s love for each other. It happened quickly, and I’m okay with that. It was raw, passionate, and exciting. The author definitely made it real for us. And also, an honorable mention going out to two characters, Isaac and Jackson. I was not expecting their story at all. And even though we really don’t know too much about them, they played a big part in the story and I loved them for it.
Overall, I enjoyed this story and would definitely recommend it.
Reviewed by Lynn for The Novel Approach
http://www.thenovelapproachreviews.com/review-before-sundown-by-lisa-worrall/
The story begins when Eli starts working on a ranch and meets the owner’s son, Samuel. It was love/lust at first sight. I would have liked a little more character building here. Eli and Samuel were together almost from page one. They were never a separate entity, they just were. As a result, I felt I never got a chance to really know them enough to be invested, beyond thinking they were both adorable and likable.
As the story unfolds, we learn Samuel is to be married. The marriage is pre-arranged and he feels there’s no way out. At the center of all this is Samuel’s father, a despicable character who abuses his authority over his son in the most heinous ways. In some of the reviews I’ve read, there were questions as to why Samuel didn’t just leave. For me, I got a sense of obligation from Samuel. Even though his father was physically and psychologically abusive towards him, there was an underlying sense of duty. This was his lot in life, and he went along with it to keep the peace and maybe finally get his father’s approval and love. He really saw no way out until Eli came along. I really felt bad for Samuel. I didn’t see him as weak, just conflicted. On one hand, he knew who he was and what he wanted, on the other, his need to obey his father took precedence over anything he may have wanted for himself. Although we didn’t really know, this point was clear. And maybe that’s all we needed to know about him.
I mentioned before I didn’t feel as though this was a true historical. Let me explain. When I read a story set in a 1892, I want to feel as though I’m there. The sights and sounds, the dialogue, the cultural attitudes and understandings of the day—I want to be completely immersed in that world. With Before Sundown, I felt it could have taken place in modern day, about any wealthy family in the 21st century. Except for the horse drawn wagons, there was nothing significant tying the story to the late 1800s
The storyline, while not unique, was enjoyable to read. I feel the author did a wonderful job throwing a wrench into the mix, which I didn’t expect. Very pleasant surprise. At times I was on the edge of my seat, wondering if we were getting a happily-ever-after, or a kick to the gut. Of course, I kind of guessed how it would end, but there was still that little something in the back of my head that made me feel like this could really go either way. Kudos to the author for that.
I loved Eli and Samuel’s love for each other. It happened quickly, and I’m okay with that. It was raw, passionate, and exciting. The author definitely made it real for us. And also, an honorable mention going out to two characters, Isaac and Jackson. I was not expecting their story at all. And even though we really don’t know too much about them, they played a big part in the story and I loved them for it.
Overall, I enjoyed this story and would definitely recommend it.
Reviewed by Lynn for The Novel Approach
http://www.thenovelapproachreviews.com/review-before-sundown-by-lisa-worrall/
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