Cowboys Don't Come Out

By: Tara Lain

Narrated by: K.C. Kelly

Length: 6 hrs and 50 mins

Publisher's Summary

Rand McIntyre settles for good enough. He loves his small California ranch, raising horses, and teaching riding to the kids he adores - but having kids of his own and someone to love means coming out, and that would jeopardize everything he's built. Then, despite his terror of flying, he goes on a holiday to Hana, Hawaii, with his parents and meets the dark and mysterious Kai Kealoha, a genuine Hawaiian cowboy. Rand takes to Kai's kid brother and sister as much as he drools over Kai, but the guy sports more prickles than a horned toad and more secrets than the exotic land he comes from.

Kai's earned his privacy and lives to protect his "kids". He ought to stay away from the big, handsome cowboy for everyone's sake - but since the guy's just a haole on a short vacation, how much damage can he do? When all of Kai's worst fears and Rand's darkest nightmares come true at once, there's not much chance for two cowboys who can't - or won't - come out.

©2016 Tara Lain (P)2017 Dreamspinner Press

Sexy Vacation Story

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes. The story is good but the narration really made it better.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I love both main characters but I adored Kai's kids. They gave an added touch of energy and sweetness to the sexiness.

Have you listened to any of K.C. Kelly’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes. Violated by Jamie Fressenden. I think they are two very different kind of stories. Both very good in it's own way.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes. and I did.

Any additional comments?

I read this one when it came out. I loved it so much I decided to listen. I am glad I did. I think I enjoyed the Audio better than reading it myself. K.C. Kelly added such nuance to it and man oh man the sex scenes. *fans self* It was like I was sitting there listening to all the sexy moans and whispers. *shivers*
If you are looking for a sweet romance with cute kids, a holiday setting in a beautiful place and of course cowboys I highly suggest this one.

you got me at Hawaiian cow boy

Where does Cowboys Don't Come Out rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

own at least 100 audiobooks this is the 1st I am reviewing. The author did a good job with the depiction of Hawaii.

What did you like best about this story?

A story about Hawaiian cowboys very original with a twist as someone from Hawaii the author used true places and names. bravo

Which scene was your favorite?

the sex scenes were very hot and the 1st time they hooked up was the best.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Hot in Hawaii. Hawaiian cowboys do cry.

Great story

One of my very favorite Audible romance stories. I'm a sucker for happy diverse families.

Really enjoyable

This story was interesting, about two cowboys, both gay who are in the.
closet. It is set in Hawaii, the men are from different cultures, but they have more in common than they knew. It is a fun story.

Waffling between 3 and 3.5 stars

Cowboys Don’t Come Out is a hard book to review. Despite having issues with the writing style, instalove, and some extreme cheesiness, I liked the characters and their story. Both the narrator and author were new to me, so I went in not really knowing what to expect, but the story held my attention and the narrator delivered a solid performance.

Beginning with a standard enough plotline, Cowboys Don’t Come Out features two closeted men who meet while one is vacationing and form an immediate connection. Both Rand and Kai have their own reasons for not coming out and the explanations make sense rather than feeling like a convenient plot point. I found both men incredibly likable and admirable in their own rights, especially Kai’s commitment to his siblings. However, the romance between them is a bit rushed due to the accelerated timeline and would have benefited from more development. I missed that emotional chemistry that takes time to foster. While lacking some depth, it is difficult to not root for these two and I enjoyed the somewhat unexpected path their romance takes.

Writing style wise, I’d characterize the tone as casual. The pace is brisk, but the conflicts all resolve completely by the end of the book. Where it fell apart for me was the inner monologues. There are a lot of them in which the characters chastise or argue with themselves. While this sufficiently shows Rand and Kai’s inner turmoil over coming out and pursuing a relationship, excessive inner dialogue isn’t my favorite. Worse, this style really doesn’t work for audiobooks. It is difficult to track what is said aloud or in the characters’ heads at times and just makes for an awkward listening experience. My only other major issue is the cheese factor. Obviously this is completely a matter of personal opinion, but I found myself rolling my eyes at the excessive cowboy jokes and innuendoes, as well as some of the internal commentary from Rand and Kai.

While I certainly have some issues with the stylistic choices of Cowboys Don’t Come Out, I can’t deny that I liked the characters and story. I remained invested in Kai’s and Rand’s personal situations and romantic connection throughout the book. The narrator uses a good tone and speed and I certainly wouldn’t hesitate to listen to him again. I think readers and listeners looking for a sweet romance with likable characters will enjoy this title.

*Reviewed for Alpha Book Club*