REVIEW: Cotton Candy (+$10 Amazon Giftcard Giveaway)

Title: Cotton Candy 

Author: Mae Hancock

Series: Wyoming Lovers #2

Pages: 185

Date Published: 2015

Publisher: Loose Ld LLC

Format: Kindle

Genre: Romance

Source: Goddess Fish Blog Tours
Buy Me!

Synopsis:
Cowboy Cotton Reid is the laid-back type of guy who accepts people as they are, no matter how flawed. People think he’s fun, honest and crazy about his boss and friend the sexy rancher Bay Redman.

Living with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is something that family man Bay has done his whole life. Bay can be like a bear with a sore head if the hay isn’t stored symmetrically or his fridge contains an odd number of jars.

When the two men begin a hot affair, Cotton keeps an important secret from Bay. If he can't find the courage to tell him the truth before someone else does, Bay may never be able to let it go.

~My Thoughts~

My best friend Alex actually just moved to Wyoming...If she's having half the time the characters in the Wyoming Lover's series are...I might just join her...though this time around it seems that I'd be superfluous...as I'm missing the equipment for the job I guess... 

Bay is such a strong guy. He's dealing with a lot in the form of his illness and just life in general. Though he's kind of built up in his mind an idea that he's a real family man, and everyone around him agrees, he has more going on that he sort of can't handle. When one of his ranch-hands starts a flirtation, he doesn't really know what to do, but eventually gives in to what his mind (and body) really wants. 

An aspect that I really liked was that Bay really has to deal with his OCD. Sometimes romances make it seem like love will cure all...in the case of serious mental illness that's just laughable. Mae did a great job in painting a realistic character with a real illness that he was trying to overcome. Bay's OCD made me that much more affectionate and protective of him and that much more invested in the story and trying to get him to his happily ever after. 

Not going to lie...the name Cotton threw me off. I spent half the time I was reading in rhapsodic giggles trying to get the dulcet tones of "Cotton-Eyed Joe" out of my head, and the other half trying not to picture the guy with cotton-candy for hair ( I failed...it kept changing color...first it was pink...then bright blue...). Still, I enjoyed both characters' development and interactions with each other- silly names aside!

I got a sense that there was more beneath the surface of these characters, so I'm wondering if there was something I missed in book 1. Still, that didn't stop me from enjoying myself or this quick 185 page scorcher :) 

~Try an Excerpt!~

The heat of the spring sunshine made the air thick and heavy like midsummer as Cotton and Bay rode back toward the ranch after a long day rounding up cattle for market. A faint breeze caught strands of Cotton’s hair, blowing it into his face beneath the tan Stetson. He lifted the hat off and ran his fingers through his damp mop of hair. Then, pulling a band from his wrist, he secured the locks into a familiar small bunch, leaving a fingerbreadth of tail hair at the nape of his neck.

Glad for the momentary relief from the heat, he placed the hat back on and took in Bay’s broad shoulders as he rode in front. For some reason today, Cotton had not been able to break away from studying each movement Bay made. Twice before, Cotton had stared at the man too long and noticed Bay’s brown eyes searching his own. Has he noticed me watching him? The man’s deep, smoky cedar scent carried to Cotton on the wind, the smell so rich and bountiful it made his senses stir with desire.

Starting to get darn near obsessed with the man who doesn’t even notice me—not in a carnal way anyhow.

Bay and he were boss and hired help. Bay didn’t chase, pursue, desire—or even demand anything of Cotton, which served to make the man more attractive. Bay’s sensual, deep-brown eyes tugged at Cotton with each glance, and Bay’s thick lashes fanned out, flattering his dark-bronze skin. A simple, meaningless smile had far-reaching and significant implications for Cotton. Put simply, it meant Bay approved of him and the things he did. The rancher’s soft, full lips framed milk-white teeth, and sent urgent ripples right through Cotton’s body, leaving his fingertips tingling and the reins slippery with his sweat.

~Meet Mae!~ 

I enjoy writing both academic and fiction material. My research interests include focus on people who experience marginalization, both in historical societies and modern. Themes include disability, neurosis, homosexuality, addiction, mental illness, slavery and prostitution. The most important part of my work is creating multi-dimensional, believable characters that are able to build lasting romantic relationships against the odds. I want all my readers to laugh, cry and enjoy the erotic journey towards a happy ending. 

Mae will be awarding a $10 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway