Such a sweet story

The Shearing Gun was a sweet and at times funny read. Great characters to fall instantly in love with - and the country setting and cowboys were just the cherry on top.

Signing a contract with the government to work in rural areas for the same amount of time as his education, Elliot finds himself in the rural South West working with the local doctor treating everything from broken bones to delivering babies.

A football injury forces Hank to the local doctor for treatment, only the doctor treating him wasn't the elderly Doc Larsen, but a handsome young city transplant, who if he wasn't mistaken checked him out when he was removing his shirt. After a few hiccups, the two forms a tentative friendship slow growing into something more. The rest is as they say history.

I loved watching Hank and Elliot together. They shouldn't work, but they do. They are both closeted and afraid of the consequences if people finds out about them. Heavy subjects are dealt with, but it never brings the story down. It still feels light, romantic and hopeful.

I've only listened to one book narrated by Dave Gillies (Loving Jay) before and really enjoyed it. Overall I enjoyed listening to The Shearing Gun too, with one exception; his voice for Elliot didn't quite match the personality. It was light pitched and immediately brought my mind to twinks and femme characters (yes, I know I'm stereotyping, and I'm sorry for that). This voice was perfect for Jay (in Loving Jay) or Jimmy, Hank's uncle's partner who were in fact on the more femme and dramatic side of things. I just couldn't quite get there with Elliot, it just didn't fit him or his personality. That being said Gillies has a wide range of voices for the characters - and I just love the accent, it added another layer to an already great narration.

I loved listening to this book. It was everything you've come to expect from Renae Kaye. And who can resist a cowboy and a small town doctor? Not me that's for sure.


A copy of this book was generously provided in exchange for an honest review for Love Bytes.

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Hank & El, Super Sweet

What made the experience of listening to The Shearing Gun the most enjoyable?

Just love the narrator, love the accent, love the story line - Renae Kaye writes very well for this genre. Hank & El were just a natural fit from the beginning. I love how Renae makes you feel you could know these people.

What other book might you compare The Shearing Gun to and why?

Well, maybe to Red Dirt Hearts (N.R. Walker) my favorite series... as that is also set in Australia, is M/M genre and has Joel Leslie narrating so close to this narrator. I love the stories of ordinary people who feel deeply and how they work out happiness, as I said, I love the accent, love the people who come to love unexpectedly.

Which scene was your favorite?

there are several...probably when Hank allowed El to love him.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The same scene, Hank and El both came to know that they truly needed each other in body and in spirit.

Any additional comments?

I like writers who don't explain every detail and yet, give you enough, I love authors that get inside your head and their writing just flows - N.R. Walker is such a Writer, Rhonda Riley, Diana Gabaldon, Sara Donati, J.R. Ward, James Patterson in Sams Letters to Jennifer and several others I can think of, and now Renae Kaye - I may make it sound like it's not a rare quality, but I'm a voracious reader, and Audible listener - and Renae has it - the Blinding Light was beautiful and I love this one too!

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Loved this story

I really love this author's work and I especially enjoyed this story about life in the bush, in Australia. It was very different, was entertaining, and I recommend it to anyone wanting a good story and nice romance.

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Wishing ewe were here?

When I first came across this book (almost 10 years ago) I liked the story setup but had just read a spate of Australia-based books and decided to put this one on my wish list. (Back then it was still paperbacks and the occasional Kindle book)

I tend to be a sucker for stories about cowboys and ranchers, so Renae Kaye's story appealed to me right away. Coming from a mostly rural upbringing, seeing the way these guys were closeted was perfectly understandable and had me pulling for them from the beginning.

A while back when this was featured in an Audible sale, I decided to pull the trigger and finally get it. I'm finally getting around to listening.

Dave Gillies does the narration, and for a Scot, his Australian accent seems pretty legit. (At least to this "Yank") Another reviewer that I follow criticized the narrator's choice for his "Dr. Elliot voice" suggesting that the character's voice didn't fit the guy in the story. The voice is a bit "whispy" but I feel that it kind of fits someone who'd been dominated by an overbearing mother as Dr. Elliot recounts. I can see someone from that environment having just the kind of voice we get here. This is made even more minor in that the tale here is told almost exclusively from Hank's point of view.

There ia a bit of "slippage" which sometimes happens in audiobooks. That's where a solo narrator temporarily gets the wrong voice for the wrong character. In this case, there are a couple of spots where Elliot sounds a bit like Hank and even one spot where Hank sounds a bit more like Elliot than I would have expected.

As mentioned previously, I'm a sucker for cowboy stories and despite the Aussie main character here dealing with sheep instead of cattle, that's not at all as offputting. (Brokeback Mountain anyone)?

I enjoyed reveling in the "bushy" feel of this tale and the frequent "Aussieisms" made this story even more fun. Mentions of the unfamiliar like "sunnies" and "mosies" and having to translate those terms on the fly to "sunglasses" and "mosquitoes" kept me engaged on yet another level. The casual phrase "Mid-D and his rousies" sent me down a Google rabbit hole until I remembered the earlier scene where Hank and Elliot herded a mob of Hank's rams by shouting and waving their arms at them.

The double-entendre teasing that these two engaged in was great. It makes the reader feel like they're in on a group joke,unlike the other characters in the story. And at one point the transition from teasing to phone sex was the most organic I'd ever encountered.

I also has an LOL moment when Hank comes out to the old doctor. He says that he's never come out to his mates because he was afraid no one would hire a gay sheep shearer. The old doc just asks "Why? Do gay people shear sheep differently from straight people?" I just couldn't get a Gary Larsonesque image of a sheep with a giant poodle cut out of my mind. Particularly the anthropomorphic one of the poodle lady reading a book in her hornrimmed glasses.
And the guys' conversation about counting sheep was anything but somnifacient.

This is one of those easy-to-enjoy books that will clearly become a frequent re-listen. I'll definitely have to check out more of this author's work.

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Such a fun story with fantastic narration!

Hank gets hurt playing “footy” and meets Elliot. There is some instant attraction, but Hank ignores it because he doesn’t “fish where he lives”. Hank fears being gay bashed like his uncle was and only goes to the city for anonymous sex and has resigned himself to a life of hook-ups and no real relationships.

Elliot the Quack (called by Hank, then turned into Quack Elliot, then Quakel) comes out to Hank but accepts that Hank is “straight” and becomes a good friend. Even once Hank is accidentally outed to Quackel the two are reluctant to start something up in their small, rural town, though the attraction is simmering between them.

As time goes by the reasons for not “fishing” get murkier and murkier until suddenly Hank was thinking about “fishing” but in fact he was already “hooked”.

**

I can’t say enough positive things about this book. It is funny, sweet, sexy, touching, a teeny bit angsty and just fun to read.

The Australian dialect is hilarious in the hands of the wooley headed sheep farmer and even Elliot has to translate sometimes to keep things clear.

The fishing theme is so well done! It gives Hank this way to think about his attraction to Elliot in this non-sexual way that ends up being totally emotional. Lines like “Suddenly fishing was my favorite pastime” or “I was a born again fisherman. “ And “Although fishing wasn’t all smooth sailing. Fishing trips got canceled at the last minute…”or “It seemed that the fish in my backyard were leaping from the pond onto my fishing rod”. I just loved them! So well used and imaginative and absolutely in character for Hank who is secure in his sexuality, mostly, but can barely get the words “I’m gay” out when the time calls for them.

The relationship between Elliot and Hank is magical. It’s such a slow burn as seen through Hank’s eyes. At first Elliot barely blips on his radar. Then, bit by bit, he grows on him, and suddenly what was sort-of attractive becomes beautiful. He’s now worrying about Elliot leaving him and wondering how he’s going to live alone for the next 25 years without him. Gah! So touching and sweet!

Meanwhile Elliot is just quietly persistent, he may have an end game in mind, but you’d never know it. He just does his thing, not hiding, not pushing, just being there, until now he’s a vital part of the community, of Hank’s life, everything.

I have really enjoyed all of Renae Kaye’s other books and this one tops them all.

I highly recommend this and give it 6 of 5 hearts, because I just want to go back and re-read it already!




Audio:

Having David Gillies read this was outstanding! He did an amazing job with it and I really loved listening to his accent since this book was so FULL of local flavor.
I absolutely think this added to the overall experience and made a great book that much more enjoyable!


6 of 5 stars

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happy sigh worthy

this one is absolutely perfect! The narration is flawless, the story has very little angst but plenty of meat. The characters are well developed and completely loveable. I wanna go hang out with them, they are just that relatable. Funny and sexy to boot. Truly sigh worthy

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Nice story but didnt like narrator

The story is sweet and there is a Nice Build up the the relationship between the Two MCs. I Think the narrator was wrong for the story. I especially did not like the voice for Elliot - too girly somehow.

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Adorable story, sweet characters

This is an adorable story set in rural Australia. Hank and Elliot are both adorable. Hank is a closeted sheep farmer who is afraid of coming out in his rural town. Elliott is the new sassy doctor in town. Their story is sweet and fluffy with very little angst.
I had read the story previously and enjoyed it, but Dave Gillies narration made it absolutely wonderful.

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Take a trip! You won't be sorry

This book was such a delight. The Australian outback vernacular is mostly recognizable, but frequently completely different than the cultural language I'm used to. I experienced a mental vacation of sorts because Renae Kaye took me to into the lives of men and women in a completely different world. Hank, a farmer and rugged individualist met and fell in love with Quackle, ummmm, I mean Elliot the new doctor in town. As a rule Hank didn't indulge his sexual desires close to home because the society he grew up in not only rejected homosexuality but brutalized those who became known to the group. Elliot has brains and abilities status above any of the men Hank pursued in the city of Perth for a one night release of sexual energy. When Hank has an injury that requires medical attention, Elliot is his physician. Hank realizes that Elliot is looking at him in a way that is more than professional interest. Thus begins the interactions that lead these two men to love. This story wasn't all about the sex, but a true plot takes the reader/listener along the journey of self discovery and acceptance as Hank gives up on his self protective rules and chooses to connect with Elliot beyond platonic friendship.
I'm not even close to describiing how pleasurable it was to listen to this book. The author wrote a truly amazing book. Thank you Renae Kaye!
Dave Gillies was a very good narrator. I rated him with 4 stars solely on the basis of personal taste. I found his voice for all the characters a tad high pitched, but that did not detract from my enjoyment of this story. I would listen to his narration of other books without hesitation. He definitely has a perfect Australian pronunciation and inflection.

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It's practically perfect in every way!

Any additional comments?

Okay so, full disclosure? I've now read this ten times. I know, I know...ten times?! Yes...well, nine actually reading and ten with the audio listen. For me, this gets better every time I read it. So what I'm trying to say here is I am not unbiased. At all. It's all about the bias up in here.

We'll start out with me gushing a bit about Dave Gillies' performance: I thought he did an excellent job with the many character voices, the timing, humor and heat. I'm looking forward to listening to this story again and again until I can quote it ad nauseam!

Don't look at me like that. Look, it's just that I love Hank and Elliot, ok?

Hank is a genuine down to earth, no pretense kind of guy. When he first meets Elliot he's not hugely impressed with either his looks or his bedside manner. When he returns for a follow-up he realizes the doc is a bit easier on the eyes than he first thought and catches Elliot checking him out. You know, in that way. When Elliot apologizes, Hank accepts (without revealing his own sexual preferences) and they strike up a friendship. Because Hank has one rule: No fishing in your own backyard.

It's only when Elliot catches Hank in a club in the city that Hank even admits to being gay.

QUOTE:
He thrust his hands on his hips. “Perhaps a few words like, ‘Hey, I’m gay too,’ when someone comes and apologizes to you and begs you not to tell anyone. Shit! No wonder you took it so well. Were you laughing at me the whole time?”
I frowned. “Of course not. You’re gay—so what? It doesn’t have anything to do with me. Just the same as my queerness is none of your business.”

Once Hank's secret is out their friendship deepens, and then evolves. I'll admit this is a bit of a slow burn, which is actually part of what I love about it because it makes their relationship seem so genuine and real (and pretty honest for the area they're living). Once they finally "get together" there are several sexy scenes that are definitely fan-yourself worthy, which makes the wait totally worth it, and I love the humor and the supporting characters. All of this combined makes a recipe for a brilliant, sweet, romance. Nothing ever feels over the top or inauthentic.

In short...this is pretty close to perfection for me. Well, as close as "damnit" is to swearing.
It's practically perfect in every way.

This is a story that stays with me long after I read it, leaving only warm memories behind. I do not hesitate to recommend it to anyone who wants to enjoy a low angst, sexy romance novel.

Warning: It may make you crave Pavlova.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

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