Reviewed by Nikyta
Title: Cherish the Land
Author: Ariel Tachna
Series: Lang Downs #5
Heroes: Seth & Jason
Genre: M/M Contemporary
Length: 220 pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: June 8, 2015
Available at: Dreamspinner Press & Amazon
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads
Blurb: Seth Simms never wanted to be a cowboy, although to listen to his best friend, Jason Thompson, tell it, he isn’t one. He just happens to have lucked out in coming to live on Lang Downs with his brother ten years ago. He found enough stability to finish high school and go off to university, but he never really believed Lang Downs would be the same haven for him that it had become for so many others. He’s too messed up in the head. No one would accept someone with his issues.
All his life, Jason has had one goal: to come home to Lang Downs as resident veterinarian when they need his skills and jackaroo when they don’t. And it means he gets to spend time with Seth during his occasional visits, even though his dream of going from friends to lovers is hopeless since Seth is straight.
When Seth unexpectedly comes home to stay, Jason takes it as the boon it is. But juggling a relationship with another jackaroo and his friendship with Seth isn’t easy, and that’s before Jason realizes how deep Seth’s issues run and how dangerously Seth chooses to cope with them.
Review:
Seth and Jason have been best friends since Seth came to Lang Downs. Now years later, Jason’s just back from vet school and looking to make a life on Lang Downs while Seth is in the city. But when Seth comes home unexpectedly, Jason’s left struggling to maintain a relationship with another jackaroo and his friendship with Seth. But while Seth came home for Jason, he has his own issues he has to get through and he’s not willing to get between a relationship. With their feelings for each other, will they be able to get through the obstacles to make a relationship work?
I’ve been waiting for Seth and Jason’s story since I read Chase the Stars so finally getting their book made me super excited!! It’s been about ten years since that book so now Seth and Jason are all grown up and have their own problems. In this one, we really get to know Seth and realize that while he’s lived on Lang Downs, he doesn’t exactly feel its home. It was interesting to see Seth that way because you’d never guess he’d have such deep issues from previous books. At the same time, I liked seeing how much Jason adored Seth and how much he’d go to finally getting Seth. There’s also a side story with Jeremy and Sam and Taylor Peak that I absolutely adored reading.
I really liked this one but I wished there were more POVs from Jason, especially after they got together. Aside from that, I think I would have liked a little more focus on Seth’s cutting and why he did it. Does he enjoy pain, does it give him pleasure? Or was it only a coping mechanism? If so, I didn’t fully understand why it was a coping mechanism; was it just because he feels like he’s alone or because he doesn’t have a home?
In the end, I thought it was a great addition to the series. I loved finally getting Seth and Jason’s story and seeing their relationship change from friends to lovers. I absolutely loved, loved, loved the secondary story with Jeremy and Sam. I’m hoping this isn’t the last we see of Lang Downs because I can think of a few more characters I’d love to see get a story!!
Overall Impression: I really liked it!
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in return for a fair and honest review.*
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