Stranded in a winter storm, Stone finds himself taken in by Eli and Geoff and given a place to stay on their ranch. He's appreciative of their help but is even more pleasantly surprised when they offer him a job and invite him to stay on. Preston, unable to walk and recovering from a car accident, winds up at the farm for therapeutic riding lessons. Although Stone and Preston don't get on well at first, they eventually see past their initial interactions and acknowledge their mutual attraction. But with Stone's history and Preston's father insisting he can't be gay, can they make it work?

I always enjoy going back to visit Geoff and Eli and company. There's just something I find comforting about their world and end up engrossed in this series of books. Both Stone and Preston go through quite a bit in this installment and their development as characters is moving. The only thing that didn't really work for me was that this seemed to be very close to the formula of the previous book (one half of the couple going away and the other letting him/telling him, thinking it was for the best and then the two of them are mutually miserable until they find each other again), so it didn't seem very unique.

Content warning: mention of prior sexual assault ( )

Everyone has their own demons to fight. But the question for these two MCs is if they can allow the other in enough to fight their battles together.


****TRIGGER - there are a few instances of extreme abuse in this story.**** ( )

I love this series, and Love Means...Freedom was no exception. Every time a new volume is released, I look forward to reading the story because the characters are always special in some way.

Stone has been rejected so often, including by his father, that a lesser man would have given up the fight. Not to mention hope. He doesn't expect life to do him any favors, so when he runs into Geoff and Eli, he is stunned to find acceptance. So much so that it takes him a very long time to be able to believe their friendship and support is real.

Preston is in many ways Stones exact opposite. He is older, he's used to everyone doing his bidding, and even though his father doesn't want to accept that he is gay, this doesn't mean he's been kicked out of the house. The fact that he is now in a wheelchair and has to learn to walk all over again doesn't sit well with him and he takes it out on the people around him.

As I was reading this book, I felt for both of them. Wounded and having lost their way, the story of each healing the other and learning what true freedom means along the way was beautiful. I love the message of hope that is present in all of Andrew Grey's books, and this one was no exception. ( )

Another nice and pink glasses perspective story in the Love Means… series; this time is almost a retelling of Romeo and Jules, with farm boy Stone, disowned by his own father when he came out as a teenager, who falls in love for fund trust boy Preston, bratty 26 years old temporarily back at home while he recovers from a car accident that left him in a wheelchair.

Stone found shelter in Geoff and Eli’s farm, that is now also a horse therapy center. He arrived one winter night, almost frozen to death, and of course Geoff and Eli welcomed him, like Geoff did with Eli at first; with them are living also Robbie and Joey, from the previous book.

The story is pretty simple and sweet, when Preston first arrives to the farm to attend the horse therapy, he is in full bratty mode; Preston is not a bad guy, but he has never had to fight in his life; true, Preston’s father is not really supporting of his son being gay, but at least he has not disowned him. Preston has instead the full support of his mother, who doesn’t question when he falls in love for a stable guy. When Preston’s friend, Jasper, makes him realize how bad he behaved with Stone, it’s also the time when Preston realizes how cute Stone is, and their relationship blossoms quickly and sweetly.

It’s not their families, like in the famous Romeo and Juliet, that opposes to their love, but more their own fears. Stone fears to no being enough for Preston, Preston fears the commitment he is reaching with a guy he has just met. True, it’s Stone who decides to part from Preston, but it’s Preston who doesn’t really fight for their love. In any case the happily ever after is in front of them, they only need to catch it.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/1615815171/?tag=elimyrevandra-20

Another sweet story in the series.
Spurned by his father and driven from his home, Stone Hillyard is struggling to find shelter in the Michigan winter when he lucks upon the horse farm run by Geoff Laughton and his partner Eli. They take him in, warm him up, and give him a job working with their No Boundaries therapy riding program.

A drunk driver left Preston Harding unable to walk, and after months of hard work, his therapist recommends Geoff and Eli’s program. But Preston’s anger and arrogance nearly get him kicked out until Stone intercedes on his behalf, despite Preston’s insults. It’s a small act of kindness that helps open Preston’s eyes.

Stone and Preston will support each other as they face their families’ disapproval and fight old secrets. They’ll learn—sometimes the hard way—just how love can mean freedom for them both.
This series is highly recommended. I love these characters. ( )