This was just a feel good story. Casey is the new minister in town and is paying for the sins of the previous abusive preacher. The church rec hall needs a lot of work and Casey hires a reluctent Hal to finish the building up for Christmas. There's a definite attraction between the two men but Hal has God issues and tries to push Casey away. This is Cattle Valley though so the entire town comes through for a HEA ending. ( )

Cattle Valley Mistletoe is the second book in the ‘Cattle Valley’ series. It’s told in third person from the povs of Reverend Casey Sharp, and Contractor Halden ‘Hal’ Kuckleman.



This story takes up where the first left off, covering the time period from slightly before Thanksgiving, until Christmas. Casey is the replacement for the previous reverend in book one. You’ll have to read that book to find out what happens to that reverend. Casey is upset because the townspeople don’t seem to be taking well to him. He’s also upset that none of the available men seem to be interested in him as a sexual partner. I wondered since Casey is a reverend, why he didn’t go and visit people or strike up conversations with them and try to get to know them? There was no indication in the story that he did that. Casey is a friendly guy but it was like he expected everyone to come to him.

Hal is asked by Casey to help with finishing the church meeting hall. He reluctantly agrees because he needs the work. Hal hides a secret about his relationship to the church, one of anger that he hasn’t resolved. This interferes with his lust for Casey. Both men have a strong attraction to each other. Casey is all for getting it on with Hal, but Hal resists, which leads to complications. But despite that, they very quickly, and I mean very quickly, fall in love even though they hardly know each other. Other than them lusting after each other, I couldn’t see a reason for them to fall for each other so quickly other than as a plot device. It was too unreal for me.

The plot moved along at a steady pace with the introduction of new characters for future books and the return of characters from the first book. The plot did feel formulaic, however. I could pretty much guess how the story was going to progress, there were no surprises. I enjoyed the ending, it finished with a nice HEA and resolution to Hal’s issue with God. Religion is a factor in this book, but not in an ‘in your face’ type of way. It’s mostly toward the end of the story with the Christmas church service.

There is sex in this book that fits better into the plot. It's not too much if compared to the tremendous amount there was in the first book.

I had trouble with the writing because it was passive and telling. There was the frequent use of words like: he knew, he realized, he felt, etc. Rather than showing us the characters’ emotions or physical feelings, we were told. This kept me distanced from the story looking from the outside in and not relating to Casey or Hal. There was also some odd pov shifts that made it unclear whose pov I was looking from.

Cattle Valley Mistletoe was a quick holiday book to read, with little angst. There’s a lot of telling and I didn’t feel much connection to the characters. But the ending was satisfying with a HEA. If you’re looking for an easy read after something angsty, this could be for you. However, I doubt I’ll reread it. I give this book, 3 Stars.


( )

3.5 Stars

A bit too "insta-love" for my taste but still had its moments that drew me in. A good sophomore effort in the Cattle Valley series. ( )

Second in the Cattle Valley series, it's the story of Casey, the new Reverend of the community, and Hal, the contractor who is hired to finish the Church common room and claims to be atheist.

Casey is new in town; the former reverend was an abusive man who betrayed all the city with his behaviour and now people are not very friendly with the new-comer. And then Casey is also very young, to his first parrish. Cattle Valley is an utopic town, where almost all the inhabitants are gay, and to obtain an employment being gay is not required, but preferable. And so also Casey is a pretty little thing with a big heart and a passion for sex. But in town no one seems to be available, at least not for him. So when Hal, the contractor he has hired, appears to his doorstep, big and strong and very hansome, to Casey falls in love at first sight is not a problem. And also Hal has no ptoblem with Casey, but perhaps with Casey's boss, the guy in the very upper floor.

But like in all the Christmas stories, good heart people are always near to give an hand, and for Casey and Hal it will be a very Happy Christmas.

Like Campus Craving series, also Cattle Valley are a series made of enjoyable short stories, more or less 100 pages each. They are pure entertainment, I think very woman-mind oriented, the perfect reading for who loves a man/man romance without too much drama. Sometimes is good to relax and enjoy.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/1906590338/?tag=elimyrevandra-20