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Einfache Männer
by Eric Arvin Jessica Schulte-WiekingChip Arnold ist ein beliebter Football-Trainer an einem kleinen College mit einem aus der Spur geratenem Privatleben. Er geht gerne mit seinen Kollegen was trinken, kommt mit seinen Spielern gut klar und geht mit den hübschesten Frauen der Stadt aus - er lebt ein Leben, von dem viele heterosexuelle Männer nur träumen können. In letzter Zeit scheint aber keine der Frauen, mit denen er ausgeht, die Leidenschaft in ihm wecken zu können. Bis er den neuen Kaplan des Campus, Foster Lewis, trifft. Romantische Gefühle für einen anderen Mann sind neu und furchteinflößend für Chip; er kann sich einfach nicht erklären, warum er sich so zu Foster hingezogen fühlt. Er weiß nur, dass diese Anziehung alles übertrifft, was er je zuvor in seinem Leben gefühlt hat. Da er niemand ist, der sich vor einer Herausforderung scheut, entscheidet er sich, diesen neuen Gefühlen eine Chance zu geben. Aber Liebe ist niemals einfach und manchmal ist sie einfach nur ein heilloses Durcheinander.
Amore significa... nessun limite (Serie Amore Significa… #3)
by Andrew Grey Elena TorreUn libro della serie Amore Significa... Joey Sutherland ha trovato casa con Geoff Laughton e il suo partner Eli; vivere e lavorare alla fattoria è diventato per lui una sorta di rifugio dopo che un incidente in moto l'ha lasciato con una faccia piena di cicatrici e un sacco di insicurezze. Mari, la zia di Geoff, li convince a ospitare in casa un musicista dell'Orchestra Sinfonica Nazionale Giovanile. Joey si ritrova messo alle corde quando gli viene chiesto di andare a prenderlo, perché riesce già a immaginare il disgusto sul volto del ragazzo. Robert Edward Jameson però lo sorprende: è estroverso e amichevole e ha intenzione di provare praticamente tutto nella fattoria. E poi è cieco, il che aiuta i nervi di Joey a calmarsi. Joey e Robbie diventano inseparabili e scoprono che si stanno innamorando. Ma l'estate sta finendo e Robbie tornerà a casa nel Mississippi, dove la famiglia e i domestici lo aiutano in ogni cosa. Joey può solo sperare che Robbie punti sull'amore per sfuggire a quei limiti che hanno segnato la sua vita cieca.
Dalla A alla Z (Coda (italiano) Ser. #3)
by Killerqueen Marie SextonUn libro della serie CodaZach Mitchell è giunto a un punto morto. Il suo ragazzo del college l'ha lasciato dieci anni prima, ma Zach vive ancora nello stesso appartamento, guida ancora la stessa macchina e si occupa ancora del gatto ingrato del suo ex. Il suo negozio a Denver, Noleggio video dalla A alla Z, fatica ad affermarsi. Ha dei clienti fastidiosi, dei vicini eccentrici e una storia insoddisfacente con il nuovo proprietario del negozio, Tom. Angelo Green è un punk con un carattere indipendente, è cresciuto con dei genitori adottivi ed è stato per conto suo da quando aveva sedici anni; non ha mai imparato a fidarsi o ad amare. Non gli piacciono le relazioni, così quando comincia a lavorare a Dalla A alla Z, decide che Zach è off-limits. Nonostante le loro differenze, Zach e Angelo diventano amici in fretta, e quando la rottura di Zach e Tom metterà il negozio in difficoltà, sarà Angelo a trovare una soluzione. Insieme a Jared e Matt, i loro amici di Coda, Colorado, Zach e Angelo troveranno un modo per salvare Dalla A alla Z, ma saranno capaci anche di salvare loro stessi.
Promesse fatte (Serie Promesse #2)
by Amy Lane Emanuela GrazianiSerie Promesse, Libro 2Il più grande desiderio di Shane Perkins è essere un eroe. Ma dopo aver preso la decisione di lottare fino alla morte mentre la sua carriera viene distrutta, Shane torna a casa dall'ospedale e trova quattro mura vuote, un mucchio di soldi e un desiderio bruciante di avere qualcuno che sentirà la sua mancanza la prossima volta che verrà ferito compiendo il suo dovere. Finisce a fare l'agente di polizia nella piccola cittadina di Levee Oaks e, ossessionato dalla promessa di una famiglia, fa uno sforzo per riconciliarsi con sua sorella, volubile e inquieta. Kimmy si guadagna da vivere ballando e il suo partner toglie il fiato a Shane dal primo istante. Mikhail Vasilyovitch Bayul balla come un angelo, ma il suo passato è tutto tranne che celestiale. Da quando ha lasciato la Russia, ha fatto solo due promesse: di stare alla larga dalla strada, di rimanere pulito e di portare sua madre in qualche bel posto prima lei che muoia. Fare promesse a chiunque altro è fuori discussione, però Mikhail non ha mai conosciuto nessuno come Shane. Serio, coraggioso, con la tendenza a sminuirsi, Shane sembra parlare il suo linguaggio e nessuno è più sorpreso di Mikhail nello scoprire che il miglior talento di Shane è quello di mantenere le promesse.
Con le Unghie e con i Denti (I Guardiani Degli Abissi #2)
by Mary Calmes Cinzia LaboUn libro della serie I Guardiani Degli AbissiIl diciannovenne Dylan Shaw è probabilmente la cosa più bella che Malic Sunden abbia mai visto. Dopo che Malic, con un suo intervento, ha salvato Dylan da un'aggressione, il ragazzo fa capire chiaramente di essere più che interessato all'uomo, ma Malic non vuole neanche prendere in considerazione l'idea di andare a letto con lui, a causa della sua età. Malic è sicuro di non essere la persona giusta per il ragazzo, che ha tutta la vita davanti a sé, e non vuole legare Dylan ai suoi segreti. L'oscurità presente nella vita di Malic non può essere negata e ben presto Dylan viene coinvolto nel pericoloso mondo paranormale che è la realtà di Malic. Malic lotta con le unghie e con i denti per allontanare Dylan, per tenerlo al sicuro... non importa che Dylan sia la chiave della sua forza e l'unica sua speranza per il suo futuro.
Non c’è due senza… te (Second Chances)
by Susan Laine Claudia MilaniIl quindicenne Addy Monroe, imbottigliato nel traffico insieme ai suoi zii, assiste a una scena che cambierà tutta la sua vita: sul sedile posteriore di un taxi bloccato accanto alla loro auto ci sono due ragazzi che gli rivelano l'esistenza di un altro mondo. Sei anni dopo, in un locale di Los Angeles, Addy incontra il cantante rock Zak Roscoe, l'uomo che, involontariamente, gli aveva mostrato chi fosse veramente, e non si lascia sfuggire l'occasione di assaggiarlo. Da quella persona riservata e circospetta qual è, Zak trova le avances determinate di Addy sia fastidiose che divertenti, e alla fine acconsente a lasciarsi sedurre per una notte di piacere. Sfortunatamente, le brutte abitudini sono dure a morire, e gli atteggiamenti post-coitali di Zak lasciano molto a desiderare. Addy si trova così a capire che qualche volta il sogno e la fantasia non hanno proprio nulla in comune. Ma se i desideri fossero seconde occasioni...
For the Roses (The\clayborne Brides Ser. #Bk. 1)
by Julie GarwoodThe Clayborne brothers were a rough gang of street urchins -- until they found an abandoned baby girl in a New York City alley, named her Mary Rose, and headed to Blue Belle, Montana, to raise her to be a lady. They became a family -- held together by loyalty and love if not blood -- when suddenly a stranger threatened to tear them apart...Lord Harrison Stanford MacDonald brandished a six-shooter and a swagger, but he soon proved to be a gentleman to the core. The brothers taught him frontier survival, while Mary Rose touched his heart with a deep and desperate passion. But soon, a shattering secret would challenge everything Mary Rose believed about herself, her life, and her newfound love.
Cry No More: A Novel (Bride Series)
by Linda HowardCount your blessings; they can be snatched away in an instant. It is a sentiment Milla Edge knows too well. With an astonishing blend of savvy, instinct, and passion, Milla displays an uncanny gift for finding lost children. When all seems helpless, desperate souls from across the country come to her for hope and results. Driven by an obsessive desire to fill the void in other people's lives, Milla throws herself into every case-all the while trying to outrun the brutal emotions stemming from a horrific tragedy in her past.Traveling to a small village in Mexico on a reliable tip, Milla begins to uncover the dire fate of countless children who have disappeared over the years in the labyrinth of a sinister baby-smuggling ring. The key to nailing down the organization may rest with an elusive one-eyed man. To find him, Milla joins forces with James Diaz, a suspicious stranger known as the Tracker who conceals his own sinister agenda.As the search intensifies, the mission becomes more treacherous. For the ring is part of something far larger and more dangerous, reaching the highest echelons of power and influence. Caught between growing passion and imminent peril, Milla suddenly finds herself the hunted-in the crosshairs of an invisible, lethal assassin who aims to silence her permanently. Intense emotion . . . potent suspense . . . pounding action. Linda Howard weaves these elements into page-turning fiction. Cry No More is a seductive thriller of heartbreak and obsession that moves with a vengeance.From the Hardcover edition.
Promesse mantenute (Serie Promesse #1)
by Amy Lane Emanuela GrazianiSerie Promesse, Libro 1Carrick Francis ha passato la maggior parte della sua vita a cacciarsi in un guaio dopo l'altro. L'unica cosa che l'ha salvato dal finire in prigione, o peggio, è stata la sua devozione assoluta a Deacon Winters. Deacon è stata l'ancora di salvezza di Crick durante la sua infanzia triste e fatta di abusi, e Crick vorrebbe stare con lui per sempre. Così, alla morte del padre di Deacon, Crick mette da parte i suoi piani per il college per aiutare Deacon, come Deacon ha fatto per lui. Il più grande desiderio di Deacon è vedere Crick liberarsi dai suoi brutti ricordi e andarsene dalla città in cui sono cresciuti per godersi un futuro scintillante. Ma dopo due anni di tentazioni e di sentimenti sempre più forti, alla fine il timido Deacon soccombe alle avances determinate di Crick e ammette di voler far parte della sua vita. Deacon è quasi distrutto dal dolore quando scopre che Crick si era sempre aspettato che lui lo cacciasse via, proprio come già aveva fatto la sua famiglia. Quando la capacità di Crick di prendere decisioni avventate lo fa finire molto lontano da casa, Deacon rimane solo, sotto shock, lottando per rimettere insieme il suo cuore in un mondo dove l'amore di Crick è una promessa, ma di certo non una certezza.
Agua Clara
by Amy Lane Vivian PérezConozcan a Patrick Cleary: parrandero, fracasado y tarado. Patrick ha estado intentando desesperadamente transformarse, y los resultados han sido espectaculares, casi lo han asesinado. Conozcan a Wes "Whiskey" Keenan: biólogo de campo que se pregunta si ya es tiempo de sentar cabeza. Cuando el peor día de la vida de Patrick concluye siendo rescatado por Whiskey, ambos acaban haciéndose compañía en un compartimento diminuto en la casa flotante más cutre del mundo. Patrick necesita enderezar su vida, Whiskey quiere ayudar, pero Patrick no está completamente convencido de que eso sea factible. Está bastante seguro de ser un fenómeno de la naturaleza. Pero Whiskey, quien trabaja con verdaderos fenómenos de la naturaleza, piensa que lo único que necesita Patrick es un poco de ayuda para ver la verdadera belleza en su interior espástico, y se ofrece como voluntario. Entre ranas anómalas, un exnovio homicida, y los complejos de Patrick, Whiskey va a necesitar toda su paciencia, y Patrick va a necesitar encontrar lo mejor de sí, antes de que estos dos hombres puedan ver el agua clara.
Mio
by Mary Calmes Livin DeverelTrevan Bean ha un lavoro che da illegale sta diventando spaventoso, un ragazzo che potrebbe non essere sano di mente, un angelo custode che in realtà potrebbe essere l'incarnazione del male. A questo si aggiunge la ricomparsa della famiglia che aveva allontanato il suo ragazzo, minacce di morte, un rapimento e il tentativo di mettere soldi da parte per realizzare un sogno. Trevan ha davvero molte gatte da pelare, ma si sente all'altezza della sfida: ha promesso a Landry un lieto fine e Landry lo avrà, sempre che qualcuno non lo uccida! E potrebbe accadere. Landry Carter era una bambola rotta quando si erano conosciuti due anni prima, ma è diventato un compagno in grado di stare accanto a Trevan... almeno per la maggior parte del tempo. Ora che la vita di Trevan ha preso una piega spaventosa - e Landry viene rapito - Trevan deve continuare a sperare che l'amore di Landry rimanga saldo di fronte a questa nuova sfida, perché non ci sarà lieto fine se Trevan dovrà proseguire da solo.
Un avant-goût de paradis (Bon à savoir #2)
by D. W. Marchwell Domitille MalinSuite de Bon à savoirBon à savoir, tome 2Cela fait presque une année que William a perdu ses parents et quitté la seule vie qu'il ait jamais connue pour un nouveau foyer au Canada. Mais aujourd'hui, William aime plus que tout passer du temps avec ses deux nouveaux pères. Son oncle Jerry McKenzie l'a adopté et s'est marié avec David Loewenberger, et William apprend ce que signifie faire partie d'une famille. Mais malgré tout l'amour et l'affection dont les deux hommes le couvrent, William se sent toujours seul. Ce n'est pas avant de rencontrer Cory, un lycéen qui aide son équipe de football, qu'il se met à penser à ce que ce serait d'avoir un frère. Il rêve que son vœu se réalise, mais d'abord William devra apprendre quelques leçons importantes sur l'amour et le deuil.
Extreme Bull
by Catt FordInside and outside the rodeo arena, Jeff Stratton and Clay Harris are rivals with tempers worse than the bulls they ride. So Clay is shocked when Jeff taps that wild energy and kisses him, sparking an undeniable urge for more of each others' bodies. But when they discover they might want more than casual sex between competitions, Clay's greatest fear is recognized: He is scared of being identified as gay. He'll have to cowboy up if he hopes to hang on to Jeff on the circuit of love....sometimes light-hearted, often serious, but always kept me involved with Clay and Jeff. Watching as their relationship developed and as they changed and became surer of themselves and each other was a joy. 4.5 of 5 divas Kathy @ Dark Diva Reviews
Warrior's Cross
by Madeleine Urban Abigail RouxCameron Jacobs is an open book. He considers himself a common waiter with normal friends, boring hobbies, harmless dogs, and nothing even resembling a secret... except a crush on a tall, dark, devastatingly handsome man who dines alone at his restaurant on Tuesday nights. All it takes is one passionate night with Julian Cross to turn Cameron's world on its head. Julian's love and devotion are all Cameron could have hoped for and more. But when his ordinary life meets and clashes with Julian's extraordinary lifestyle, Cameron discovers that trust and fear can go hand in hand, and love is just a step away from danger. ...a wonderful edge of your seat book. 5 or 5 Divas Jen @ Dark Diva Reviews ...a suspenseful and slow-paced story with plenty of drama. The romance is breathtaking, and the action and suspense are intense. Nannette @ Joyfully Reviewed The authors' narrative is comfortable and flows smoothly, their plotting is tight, and their characters are well-developed and interesting...My only true disappointment in this book? That I've finished reading it. It was a little bit like a slice of birthday cake: beautiful to look at, satisfying to consume, and then mourned when it's gone. 5 of 5 stars Bobby @ Bookwenches The strong characters and narrative carry the story and the enjoyable action plot make this a fun, entertaining read with a good romance. The actions scenes are interesting and engaging with good writing and a dash of wit and humor thrown in to keep the story from being too dark and tense. 4.5 of 5 cherries Cactus @ Whipped Cream Reviews
Talons of the Condor (Condor One Series #2)
by John SimpsonSequel to Condor OneCondor One: Book TwoDavid J. Windsor, the first openly gay president of the United States, has his hands full. After surviving an assassination attempt, he's now dealing with the fallout: finding all of the culprits is at the top of his list. Will his enemies give up trying to bring down the administration, or will they try again? In the meantime, he has to deal with fractious allies, hidden foes, the vice president's kidnapped son, and secrets that tear at his heart--including his relationship with his lover, Shane Thompson, who is also his Secret Service agent. While they want to live a more open life, it's impossible while David is in office; the demands of the job and the constant spotlight would tear even the most devoted couple apart. Throw in David's attempts to help gay teens and they're living in a pressure cooker that threatens to boil over. Will David be able to get a handle on the intrigue and danger of his job and find a way to keep his lover as well? Or will Shane become a casualty of Condor One's political decisions?
Dreams Come True (Dreams Come True and Moving Forward)
by Lisa Marie DavisThe last person Jamie Truman wants to see at his sister's wedding is the man he both loves and hates. Payne Rogan is outgoing and athletic, the kind of guy Jamie's father always wanted Jamie to be, and while undeniably attracted to Payne, Jamie still resents him for that. But when he finds out Payne is equally interested in him, it forces Jamie to examine his painful past so he can move forward with his future.
Fair Winds
by Chrissy MunderRudy Haas dreams of becoming an "old goat," a sailor who's completed twenty-five races from Port Huron to Mackinac. But when his crew throws him off the team for being gay, Rudy has to find another boat and crew to have any chance of making his dream come true. Blind luck leads him to the men of Devlin's Due and a test run where Rudy's toughest battle isn't winning his place on the team--it's fighting his attraction to team captain Ike Ujarka.The tension between the two men was almost palpable; watching as their relationship developed I came to appreciate Rudy's openness and Ike's quiet strength. Together these two are sexy as all get out, but they also have an attraction for each other that grabbed my heart...totally engaging, exciting and a perfect story about friendship, relationships and falling in love. 5 of 5 divas Kathy @ Dark Diva Reviews
Come Back To Me
by Lisa Marie DavisMikel Maxwell gets the two biggest shocks of his life at once: he's attacked by an inhuman monster, and he's saved... by his dead lover. Nineteen months ago, Mikel was told Slate died during his final mission for a mysterious government group. While not dead yet, Slate will be soon--he's been exposed to a terrible virus, and as much as he wants to live to be with Mikel, there's no guarantee the cure is any better.
Maritime Men (Maritime Men and Anchors Aweigh #1)
by Janey ChapelSEAL candidates Cooper Fitch and Eli Jones are cut off from the outside world and pushed to their physical and mental limits by the demands of the Navy's elite training program. Their reliance on each other takes an unexpected turn after Hell Week, the most grueling stretch of basic conditioning, when Cooper and Eli surrender to passion fueled by fatigue, horniness, and alcohol. Despite the danger of being discovered, their intense attraction begins to feel like a natural extension of living, working, and training side by side, and neither is willing to give it up, no matter the risk.
SubSurdity: Vignettes From Jasper Lane (SubSurdity Series #1)
by Eric ArvinSubSurdity: Book OneJasper Lane is a well-off neighborhood, not much different in appearance than most, with a tree-lined drive, manicured lawns, and crystal clear ponds. But underneath the pleasantry, a completely different world lurks. Cassie Bloom, the grand dame of Jasper Lane, has a missing son and husband and throws gay porn parties that are the social events of the year. Her best friend, a transsexual named Vera, owns a nightclub. Melinda Gold is the resident religious fanatic whose views clash with that of her son Patrick. Sandy and Steve Jones are the stereotypical all-American couple (except Steve acts in gay-for-pay porn unbeknownst to his pregnant wife). Rick Cooper just moved in, and despite his qualms about another relationship (having literally lost an eye in the previous one), he falls for ex-soldier, James. And David and Cliff are the most "normal" couple on the block... never mind that David helped Cassie with some past nefarious deed and that Cliff is the biggest gay porn star in the biz. Throw a dog named Gayhound and a dead body into the mix, and Jasper Lane may just be the gayest neighborhood in town!
Suburbilicious: Vignettes From Jasper Lane (SubSurdity Series)
by Eric ArvinSequel to SubSurditySubSurdity: Book TwoTake another turn down Jasper Lane, the well-off neighborhood where gay porn parties, fresh cheesecake, and friendly busybodies welcome newcomers while a dog named Gayhound helps with the landscaping. Cassie Bloom is thrilled her son Jason is home, but she's worried about the secrets buried around the house, especially when a scary-looking stranger starts spying on her! Rick and James are basking in the blush of love--or is it the flush of jealousy as Rick's rugby teammate starts hanging around?--and the flamboyantly gay Terrence is off bonding with his newly discovered son, Christian. Melinda, divorced from her stuffy husband, is looking to dip her toe in the dating pool, but she's got one problem: her potential date's embarrassing last name. Steve and Sandy Jones are now proud parents, but Sandy's got to find something to do with herself, and running for office in the Gay Porn Wives Club may be just the ticket. And remember, it's a do-unto-others mentality on Jasper Lane, so when lesbian couple Asha and Keiko move in and Sandy helps Keiko get a directing job at Steve's gay porn film company, it's par for the course!I loved it; plain and simple. Suburbilicious is pure fun with a healthy dose of suburban absurdity. 4.75 or 5 stars Teagan S. Boyd @ Bookwenches
Spot Me (Work Out Series #1)
by Andrew GreyA Work Out StoryWorking out is a daily routine for Dan, who meets his friend Lonnie at the gym to lift weights. But breaking a sweat takes on a whole new meaning when Dan sees Gene, a professional bodybuilder, in the mirror. Dan knows it's a lost cause: he's forty and nursing a broken heart, nowhere in the same league as gorgeous Gene. Then at the gym the next day, Gene asks Dan if he can work out with him. A bet wins Dan a smoothie and conversation, which surprisingly leads to a date. Now Dan is faced with a dilemma: does he allow Gene to elbow his way into his life, or will he give up on the idea of a new relationship before it even starts?
A Rose Among the Ruins
by Ariel TachnaAfter almost a generation of war, peace has come at last through the political marriage of a Mordyn princess to the prince of Ageselm. While escorting the bride, comrades-in-arms Rhicer and Kanath inadvertently drink a love potion intended for the newlyweds--and find themselves dealing with newfound desire for one another. As they struggle with their growing connection in a culture that despises same-sex love, Rhicer and Kanath face a terrible decision: give in to the social mores of their time and abandon love or answer the call of their hearts and leave Ageselm forever.A Timeless Dreams title: While reaction to same-sex relationships throughout time and across cultures has not always been positive, these stories celebrate M/M love in a manner that may address, minimize, or ignore historical stigma.The passion between them is breathtaking, almost more so than the sex itself. A Rose Among the Ruins is a poignant love story, rich in language and details, and beautiful in its entirety. 5 of 5 Nymphs and a Recommended Read Satyr Vael @ Literary Nymphs I enjoyed reading A Rose Among the Ruins. While it could be construed as a cautionary tale with a moral of "See what happens when you take things that don't belong to you?" it is also an endearing love story... And isn't that what we want to see in a romance, that love conquers all? 4 of 5 stars BD Whitney @ Bookwenches
Love Means... No Shame (Love Means... Ser. #1)
by Andrew GreyA Love Means... StoryGeoff is in the city, living the gay life to the hilt, when his father's death convinces him to return to the family farm. Discovering a young Amish man asleep in his barn, Geoff learns that Eli is spending a year away from the community before accepting baptism into the church. Despite their mutual attraction, Geoff is determined not to become involved with him, but Eli has discovered that Geoff shares his feelings and begins to court him, neatly capturing first Geoff's attention and then his heart. Their budding relationship is threatened by closed-minded, gossipy relatives and the society at large, a whole new world to Eli, and he must decide whether to return to the community, his family, and the world and future he knows or to stay with Geoff and have faith in the power of love.Andrew Grey's Love Means No Shame is a tear jerker. The characters grab you from the beginning and refuse to let go... This is one book that will make it to several keeper shelves to be read again and again. 5/5 Nymphs Critter Nymph @ Literary Nymphs This story is written with heart. It is both bittersweet and uplifting, and reminds us that love can be generous and selfless and that a true family and sense of belonging don't necessarily require blood ties. If you are looking to sink into a well written, poignant, sweet and romantic reading escape then I highly recommend "Love Means ... No Shame" by Andrew Grey. 4/5 Stars Indigene @ Rainbow Reviews
Love Means... Courage (Love Means... Series #2)
by Andrew GreyA Love Means... StoryLen Parker is laid off during the recession in the early eighties and decides to go back to college at home in rural Michigan, where he reconnects with his best friend from high school, Ruby. He's overjoyed when she marries Cliff Laughton and overcome with sorrow when she dies an untimely death, leaving behind her husband and two-year-old son. Out of work again, Len finds a job at Cliff Laughton's sorely neglected farm. Cliff is still mourning his wife, struggling to raise his son, and has little enthusiasm or energy left for work. Len immediately begins to whip the farm--including the two Laughtons--into shape. Working side by side, Len and Cliff grow ever closer, but loving another man takes a lot of courage. They'll have to stand together as they face faltering business, threatening drought, misguided family, and Midwestern prejudices to protect what might be a lifelong love.