Customer Reviews

Fine as Frog Hair

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Just finished this in its print version the second time. Very glad Torquerepress decides to print it. There is nothing different from the e-book version. Just that I enjoy both cowboys and their stirring love story. This one was written in 2004 and it remains one of my top favorites from Sean. And this being a cowboy gay romance makes it all the more endearing. Trey and Russ are just your ordinary Joes. Trey, a decent man and trusted ranch hand, hires the 19 year-old Russ who has yet to decides what he wants from life. They fall in love, works the ranch and decides to build a future together. Their getting to know each other is wonderfully warm and the part when Russ gets his own horse especially sweet. The sex is of course hot, as only Sean could write it. Then tragedy strikes when Russ is striken with cancer. I thought Sean has done a marvelous job here on their plight and expressing their love so well. A love which survives the toughest test, more so for Trey when he has to give up his dreams and his most treasured possession. And you just have to love the last part when Trey tells Russ that Russ is his future and nothing else matters.

I enjoyed the slow buildup between the two main characters and although it was sad toward the end (not the ending but the situation they are forced to deal with) it was very realistic and the hardships they survived forces the reader to respect, despite their young age and the newness of the relationship, what Trey and Russ share are the real deal.

Warning: This review might contain what some people consider SPOILERS.

Rating: 7/10

PROS:
- The narrative voice of Michael's stories tends to be conversational, which means that you get a good look at the characters' thoughts without the story having to be in first person. And the exposition is often amusing because it mimics the men's direct thoughts, dialect and all: "So far? The kid was doing okay. The dogs liked him, he followed directions okay, Trey reckoned he was a little scared of the nanny goats, but no one was perfect."
- There's a bit of angst in the book, but I thought it fit the story well. I didn't find it overwhelmingly depressing, nor is it the kind that the characters could avoid if they'd just both get their heads out of the dark and communicate with each other. The conflict here is beyond their control, and I liked how they face it together and move past it.
- The relationship moves slowly at the start of the story, with phases of mutual-but-silent attraction, then cautious flirting, then open flirting, and then actual physical contact. Cowboys aren't typically portrayed as shy in m/m books, but both of the men here are rather tentative when it comes to their initial romantic interactions. I thought it was cute.
- One thing this author consistently does well is portray secondary characters who don't enter into the story very often but who still come across as rounded, realistic people.

CONS:
- The book is repetitive, particularly when it reaches the point in the story when the relationship gets physical. There's a bit of variety in the lead-up to each sex scene, but once the guys' clothes come off, every scene is essentially the same--right down to the essential positions, roles, etc.
- The story has a happy ending, but it ends at a point in the men's relationship when a lot of things are up in the air and Russ and Trey aren't in the best position financially. The conclusion certainly shows their determination to make it through life's hardships as a team, but it still came across as bittersweet to me.

Overall comments: This is pretty typical Sean Michael fare, which means there's a lot of sex, the tone of the writing is very informal, and the story consists of a lot of seemingly trivial moments in the characters' lives that combine to create a picture of their everyday relationship. I liked it, but I don't think it's among the best in the genre.

I am a fan of Sean Michel. His work is always easy to read and gets you sucked right into the story and the characters'. This book is no different. Fine as Frog Hair is one of my top 5 for his books. It is a true love story. It is just how you want to fall in love in real life. Trey "Cowboy" takes on Russ "Yankee" as a worker and becomes more.
Trey is your down home country boy with a big heart and a twang. He is laid back and comfortable in his skin. He knows what he wants out of life and is working to it.
Russ is a nomad. He has no complete plan for his life so he travels through the country looking for one. He comes off a bit shy and uneasy but is the type who wants to learn and doesn't mind work.
The relationship between them has a natural progression from Friends who live, work and eat together, to crushing then lovers to end up committed and in love. They get a really hard test on the relationship to come out just as strong as before.
This is an excellent start for anyone who is just starting to read M/M or for the person who isn't into the too heavy BDSM content that a lot of books have. Just keep in mind the characters are young.
An Excellent book that I frequently recommend to people!

Brandon " Trey" Latrie is looking for help running Mr. And Mrs. Gonzales' ranch, so when his friend Martin Gonzales shows up with Russ Johnson he is more than willing to give Russ a chance. The men work well together and things on the ranch are going smoothly. There is a sexual attraction growing between them and they are comfortable just letting things flow. Soon, Trey and Russ are falling for each other fast, hard and often. When Russ is given some life changing news, Trey gives up everything to help his lover.

Fine As Frog Hair is a beautiful story. Trey and Russ's loving is gentle, romantic and erotic. They are two fine men who give their heart and soul to each other. Fine As Frog Hair is a touching and passionate story that will bring a few tears to your eyes and warmth to your heart.

Nannette
reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed