Love, Like Water

4.5 Stars ~ This is only my second book by Rowan Speedwell, but I was so impressed with 'Illumination' and knew I had to experience more. In 'Love, Like Water', the author has brought together two seemingly mismatched people, an ex-FBI agent and a ranch foreman, and wrought a beautiful story of pain, angst, drama, hope, fear, and love. Always, there is love.
Joshua has been through hell, and I mean that literally. A three year undercover drug op has changed him from the man he once was. After testifying against the gang and cartel members, Josh quit the FBI and spent months in rehab, detoxing from his heroin addiction he obtained while undercover. Three years of infiltrating the biggest and most dangerous gang on the west side of Chicago, seeing and living the horrors, has made Josh a shell of who he was. He heads to his Uncle Tucker's ranch in New Mexico for a new start. The Triple C rehabilitates abused horses and wild mustangs, plus it runs cattle and trains horses for rodeos, movies, etc. Uncle Tucker is almost sixty and could use some help with the business end of things \"I'm not interested in all that society network stuff, and websites and blob posts.\"
\"But he was getting to know Elian Kelly, and he was starting to like him. The thought worried him, for some reason. It was as if every time the man looked at him, he saw a different Joshua, one that Joshua wished really existed. He wanted to be the Joshua Eli saw, but he was afraid he wasn't. And someday Eli would see the real Joshua, and that would be the end of any hope for friendship....if friendship was what it was.\"
Eli is great with troubled horses, but he hasn't a clue what to do with a troubled man. So Eli treats Joshua much like their rescued and abused animals. He doesn't know what Joshua has suffered, but the dead eyes looking back at him say enough. Eli can't help but be attracted to Joshua, particularly as he begins to gain weight and muscle back, filling in those areas that were skeletal when he arrived. Eli is everything Joshua could want, he's strong, loyal, gentle, sexy, and Joshua is terrified to let his attraction show. Joshua has hidden all of that for many years and he sure doesn't want to get a fist to the face for coming on to a cowboy. But Eli might be just whom Joshua needs, someone to take charge and share responsibility, and to help make decisions so it doesn't fall solely on Joshua.
\"Because it didn't matter that Eli couldn't love him anymore. He loved Eli. Would love him until he died. And that was the real reason he couldn't stay.\"
It is very rare that I finish a book and am speechless. Rowan Speedwell is quickly becoming a cherished author for me, bringing me intense, emotional stories with strong characters who move me and books that I want to re-read often. Eli and Joshua were amazing men that I fell in love with and they deserved the happy ever after that they struggled so hard to attain. Tucker and Sarafina, as wonderful secondary characters, were such a great addition to the story. Thank you, Rowan, for another beautiful story.
NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews