There are some stories that just grab my attention and pull me in, and ‘Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch’ is definitely one of them – for more than one reason. First, there is an overarching plot of crime and revenge between Michael and his blackmailers, the depth of which only emerges slowly since most of the story is written from David’s point of view. Second, there is David's determination to make this series of web episodes a success, and the continuing issues he fights to make it happen. Third, there is Michael and David's slow-burn and very understated romance that had me rooting for them all the way. Finally, there are fantastic secondary characters and a ton of little subplots for almost every one of the actors and crew, all of which added to the suspense and entertainment effect of the book. If this is what Montana is like, I’m determined to travel there one of these days!

Michael had my sympathy from the start. I only got to see his point of view in the prologue, but it is clear he is the "good guy" going up against his father's murderers, and they have all the power. To the point that they blackmail him for money and shoot him in the hand. Fifteen years later, he lives up on some remote mountainside. The suspense and my curiosity as to what happened certainly kept me glued to the pages!

David also demanded his fair share of my attention and sympathy. He is an artist, a director (and sometimes-writer) of small-budget movies, and this current project is his last chance to make some money and a name for himself - enough to fund his next project, at least. His self-deprecating sense of humor and how he takes all the setbacks (technical and otherwise) is both funny and made me like him more - for his stubbornness in the face of disaster at the very least.

The development of Michael and David's romance is unusual. Michael is gay but not really interested in a romance, and David is bisexual and most likely asexual (based on his comments to Michael once they open up to each other). They are both interested in each other, but neither is ready to jump into a relationship. And yet... There are a lot of small gestures and little hints around how they get closer, but it is very understated and I loved that. The emotional build-up finally explodes, but other than kissing nothing physical happens on the page. It's all in small gestures and looks. For me that made their romance all the more powerful.

If you like spellbinding mysteries with vile bad guys whose demise is brought about via great cleverness and modern technology, if you appreciate a suspenseful tale told with underlying humor that might just have you in stitches more than once, and if you’re looking for a read with a creepy setting, a fantastic slow-burn romance, and a very well deserved happy ending, then you will probably like this novella as much as I do. I think it’s absolutely fantastic!


NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews. ( )