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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
*** 3.5 Stars ***
The opening pages of this book had me in the palm of its hand, but, as much as I hate to say it, somewhere along the way its grip lessened and I can't really put my finger on why.
One of my other friends called Samuel a "breath of fresh air" and he is definitely that. In fact, this story has two wonderfully original characters, an original plot, and a quieter love story that was as much about belonging in a place and time and to yourself as it was about belonging with another person. I like a good slow burn romance, so I wasn't bothered by the months long build up from friendship to attraction to love. And I wasn't bothered by the more realistic pressures of life and finances that threatened to pull our characters apart (it wasn't another gun-toting ex-boyfriend or Big Misunderstanding due to lack of communication, thank fuck!).
The only aspect of the story that outright irritated me was when the pro-vegan message got a little preachy for this carnivore's liking, but that would never be enough to drop me from a 4 star to a 3 star book.
So I don't know what it was that was lost between my heart bleeding for Samuel as he limped along the first few pages and the movie-worthy success story of Sam and Eddie's pig rescue at the end. I honestly wish I did because then I don't think I'd be so bummed out about not loving this story more.
The opening pages of this book had me in the palm of its hand, but, as much as I hate to say it, somewhere along the way its grip lessened and I can't really put my finger on why.
One of my other friends called Samuel a "breath of fresh air" and he is definitely that. In fact, this story has two wonderfully original characters, an original plot, and a quieter love story that was as much about belonging in a place and time and to yourself as it was about belonging with another person. I like a good slow burn romance, so I wasn't bothered by the months long build up from friendship to attraction to love. And I wasn't bothered by the more realistic pressures of life and finances that threatened to pull our characters apart (it wasn't another gun-toting ex-boyfriend or Big Misunderstanding due to lack of communication, thank fuck!).
The only aspect of the story that outright irritated me was when the pro-vegan message got a little preachy for this carnivore's liking, but that would never be enough to drop me from a 4 star to a 3 star book.
So I don't know what it was that was lost between my heart bleeding for Samuel as he limped along the first few pages and the movie-worthy success story of Sam and Eddie's pig rescue at the end. I honestly wish I did because then I don't think I'd be so bummed out about not loving this story more.
I probably shouldn’t have read this when I was in a grumpy, cynical mood. This is a contemporary romance with a fairytale quality to it and ms. grumpypants here had trouble suspending disbelief and just going with it.
A series of (increasingly) improbable events conspire to first bring together a naive vegan who just bought a sanctuary farm and an ex-Amish farmboy who needs a place to live, and then give then their happy ending. There’s a fair amount of discussion of fate and things happening for a reason and I think in a less grumpy, things-don’t-actually-happen-for-a-reason type mood, I would have been able to go with it and just be charmed by the clever pot-bellied pig and the vegan farmer who refuses to milk his cows.
This is set in the same county as the previous book in the series - the MCs from the first book show up briefly but it’s definitely stand alone.
A series of (increasingly) improbable events conspire to first bring together a naive vegan who just bought a sanctuary farm and an ex-Amish farmboy who needs a place to live, and then give then their happy ending. There’s a fair amount of discussion of fate and things happening for a reason and I think in a less grumpy, things-don’t-actually-happen-for-a-reason type mood, I would have been able to go with it and just be charmed by the clever pot-bellied pig and the vegan farmer who refuses to milk his cows.
This is set in the same county as the previous book in the series - the MCs from the first book show up briefly but it’s definitely stand alone.
4 stars…
Not as good as the first one because we kind of had no conflict outside of him being bad marketing but Samuel? he’s the biggest sweetest himbo! I love him so much and I’m happy he finally got his HEA after dreaming about it for so long!
1/5 on spice. 1/5 on kink. 2/5 on tears. Wonder what Samuel would think about the dirty crap I read lol
Not as good as the first one because we kind of had no conflict outside of him being bad marketing but Samuel? he’s the biggest sweetest himbo! I love him so much and I’m happy he finally got his HEA after dreaming about it for so long!
1/5 on spice. 1/5 on kink. 2/5 on tears. Wonder what Samuel would think about the dirty crap I read lol
Another well constructed engaging read from Eli Easton.
I enjoyed book 1 and enjoyed this one too - and the guys from book 1 make a v brief cameo.
Eddie, the on the surface urban, educated, successful New Yorker throws it all in to buy an farm to become an animal sanctuary - after being let down by his boyfriend it quickly becomes apparent that he is in way over his depth in the best of intentions naive way.
Samual, the shunned Amish boy who on the face of it is less educated, from a very insular society, working on the family land arrives and both saves himself and Eddie!
Sam’s family don’t come across as great people - I did expect Matthew turning up to be the twist at the end - didn’t happen.
Sam has lots of faith in Eddie and his simpler approach to life eventually is what saves the day.
Lovely life affirming warm read.
I enjoyed book 1 and enjoyed this one too - and the guys from book 1 make a v brief cameo.
Eddie, the on the surface urban, educated, successful New Yorker throws it all in to buy an farm to become an animal sanctuary - after being let down by his boyfriend it quickly becomes apparent that he is in way over his depth in the best of intentions naive way.
Samual, the shunned Amish boy who on the face of it is less educated, from a very insular society, working on the family land arrives and both saves himself and Eddie!
Sam’s family don’t come across as great people - I did expect Matthew turning up to be the twist at the end - didn’t happen.
Sam has lots of faith in Eddie and his simpler approach to life eventually is what saves the day.
Lovely life affirming warm read.
3.5 stars, I did like this but not as much as the first book. David and Christie make an appearance here that I thought could've developed into a solid friendship with the couple here, Samuel and Eddie, but they just met and never got contact numbers/spoke again, pity.
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
3.5 stars, I did like this but not as much as the first book. David and Christie make an appearance here that I thought could've developed into a solid friendship with the couple here, Samuel and Eddie, but they just met and never got contact numbers/spoke again, pity.
I just finished Eli Easton’s Tender Mercies with a happy little sigh and a smile on my face. Much like my reading experience with A Second Harvest, the first book in Easton’s Men of Lancaster County series, this second book left me feeling hopeful and satisfied. I love the feeling of being transported to rural Pennsylvania, immersed into farm life, and into the lives of these engaging men. Like David and Christie from book one—who we also get a brief glimpse of in this book!—Eddie and Samuel come from very different backgrounds and lead very different lives. Eddie grew up privileged and well educated and recently left his home and life in Manhattan to start a farm sanctuary in Pennsylvania, whereas Samuel was raised in the Amish community, left school at thirteen, and is in desperate need of a place to stay as well as a job after being beaten and thrown out of his house by his father.
This, unfortunately, wasn’t the first time Samuel suffered abuse at the hand of his Da. Both having a disability and hiding the fact that he’s gay have made growing up Amish even more difficult for Samuel. He’s learned to live with his club foot and compensate for it however he needs to in order to get his share of the chores done, but when his father catches him having ‘impure thoughts’ about a young man on a neighboring farm, he leaves Samuel’s back raw and bloody from his switch, and kicks him out of the house, telling him not to look back. Of course, it doesn’t immediately feel that way, but after stumbling upon Eddie Graber’s ad for help on his farm, it looks like being shunned might end up being the best thing for Samuel after all.
Like Samuel, Eddie is a complete love. It has been his dream to build and own his own farm sanctuary, and despite the last-minute drop-out of his ex, Alex, Eddie is forging ahead with the farm purchase. Having been a vegetarian for over ten years myself, I certainly understand the instinct to view animals as valuable simply in and of themselves rather than for what they can produce or provide for us. I liked that Eddie wanted to incorporate information on cruel farming practices and the benefits of vegetarianism or being vegan into his open houses and/or tours of the farm.
Having Samuel live and work at the farm was difficult at first. The early getting-to-know-you phase was awkward, both because of Samuel’s quiet, unsure demeanor in the beginning, and because they were each fighting a growing attraction to one another. Initially, Eddie was extremely unsure if hiring Samuel was a good idea. This line was too funny:
It was also very tough for Samuel at first because he was incredibly lonely. He missed his family and the comfort of being around his siblings so much. And, Eddie was so busy trying to keep things professional between them that he didn’t realize how lonely and unhappy Samuel was becoming. This passage really touched me:
I adored many things about this story. It was wonderful watching both Eddie and Sam fall more in love with the farm and the animals; the author’s descriptions of the property were so vivid and beautiful. I loved Samuel and his sweet vulnerability, and I loved how, after discovering Eddie’s collection of gay romance novels, he began to realize that his fantasy of Green Valley, his make-believe world where it was ok for gay men to make a life and home together, was maybe not as far off the mark as he thought it was. And, the supporting cast was great, too; I hope the next Men of Lancaster book is about Devin!
Honestly, Tender Mercies is just a quiet, simple, lovely romance. If you’re a fan of Easton’s books, especially her sweet, slow-burn stories, I have no doubt that you will enjoy this one. I know I did.
Reviewed by Jules for The Novel Approach
This, unfortunately, wasn’t the first time Samuel suffered abuse at the hand of his Da. Both having a disability and hiding the fact that he’s gay have made growing up Amish even more difficult for Samuel. He’s learned to live with his club foot and compensate for it however he needs to in order to get his share of the chores done, but when his father catches him having ‘impure thoughts’ about a young man on a neighboring farm, he leaves Samuel’s back raw and bloody from his switch, and kicks him out of the house, telling him not to look back. Of course, it doesn’t immediately feel that way, but after stumbling upon Eddie Graber’s ad for help on his farm, it looks like being shunned might end up being the best thing for Samuel after all.
Like Samuel, Eddie is a complete love. It has been his dream to build and own his own farm sanctuary, and despite the last-minute drop-out of his ex, Alex, Eddie is forging ahead with the farm purchase. Having been a vegetarian for over ten years myself, I certainly understand the instinct to view animals as valuable simply in and of themselves rather than for what they can produce or provide for us. I liked that Eddie wanted to incorporate information on cruel farming practices and the benefits of vegetarianism or being vegan into his open houses and/or tours of the farm.
Having Samuel live and work at the farm was difficult at first. The early getting-to-know-you phase was awkward, both because of Samuel’s quiet, unsure demeanor in the beginning, and because they were each fighting a growing attraction to one another. Initially, Eddie was extremely unsure if hiring Samuel was a good idea. This line was too funny:
Eddie was a Jewish, agnostic, liberal-assed homosexual. It sounded like a recipe for disaster. Or an episode of Big Brother.
It was also very tough for Samuel at first because he was incredibly lonely. He missed his family and the comfort of being around his siblings so much. And, Eddie was so busy trying to keep things professional between them that he didn’t realize how lonely and unhappy Samuel was becoming. This passage really touched me:
Samuel craved touch so badly he thought he might die. It didn’t even have to be sexual, just…he needed to feel like he was worthy of being held, that he was visible and real, young and alive. Not ugly. Not unlovable. Not forgotten.
I adored many things about this story. It was wonderful watching both Eddie and Sam fall more in love with the farm and the animals; the author’s descriptions of the property were so vivid and beautiful. I loved Samuel and his sweet vulnerability, and I loved how, after discovering Eddie’s collection of gay romance novels, he began to realize that his fantasy of Green Valley, his make-believe world where it was ok for gay men to make a life and home together, was maybe not as far off the mark as he thought it was. And, the supporting cast was great, too; I hope the next Men of Lancaster book is about Devin!
Honestly, Tender Mercies is just a quiet, simple, lovely romance. If you’re a fan of Easton’s books, especially her sweet, slow-burn stories, I have no doubt that you will enjoy this one. I know I did.
Reviewed by Jules for The Novel Approach
3.5 stars, I did like this but not as much as the first book. David and Christie make an appearance here that I thought could've developed into a solid friendship with the couple here, Samuel and Eddie, but they just met and never got contact numbers/spoke again, pity.
MCs age didn't make sense to me. He should have been older for the story to make sense