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Men of Gilead #1
The Rhubarb Patch
City boy, sci-fi novelist, and recovering pushover Scott Howe doesn’t know what to expect when he inherits his grandmother’s house outside the quaint village of Gilead, Ohio—but it isn’t an enormous bald man in nothing but tighty-whities and orange rubber boots shouting at him to keep his weed whacker away from the rhubarb patch.
Scott has never met anyone like Phineas Robertson: homesteader, recluse… Republican. A tender—if unlikely—friendship grows over the summer while Phin and his schnauzer, Sister Mary Katherine, teach Scott about life in the country and the grandmother he never knew. Opposites attract, but widower Phin worries his secret will send Scott running faster than his politics, and Phin isn’t convinced he deserves a second chance at romance.
Scott is convinced—rural life, and his one-of-a-kind, older neighbor is the future he wants. Before he can settle in, his mother drops a bombshell that strains their already tenuous relationship, and a cousin who believes he is the rightful heir to the property puts Scott in danger. It’ll take a lot of compromises, and even dodging a few bullets before they’re out of the weeds, but nurturing something as special as true love always takes hard work.
Scott has never met anyone like Phineas Robertson: homesteader, recluse… Republican. A tender—if unlikely—friendship grows over the summer while Phin and his schnauzer, Sister Mary Katherine, teach Scott about life in the country and the grandmother he never knew. Opposites attract, but widower Phin worries his secret will send Scott running faster than his politics, and Phin isn’t convinced he deserves a second chance at romance.
Scott is convinced—rural life, and his one-of-a-kind, older neighbor is the future he wants. Before he can settle in, his mother drops a bombshell that strains their already tenuous relationship, and a cousin who believes he is the rightful heir to the property puts Scott in danger. It’ll take a lot of compromises, and even dodging a few bullets before they’re out of the weeds, but nurturing something as special as true love always takes hard work.
284 pages, ebook
First published July 24, 2017
About the author
Deanna Wadsworth
54 books207 followersBestselling erotica author Deanna Wadsworth leads a pretty vanilla life in Ohio with her hubby of 15 years and three demanding little dogs. She has a fascination with the exotic and taboo but her love of love in all its stages and incarnations motivate her to write Romance with Spice and Love without Boundaries.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
December 30, 2019
3.5 Hearts!
When I read the blurb, I thought to myself, this just might be some good comfort reading involving second chances at life and love, and overall I wasn’t wrong.
Scott is a people pleaser. So much so, he’s sacrificed his happiness over and over in basically all of his relationships. In an effort to perhaps reinvent himself and start anew, he totally takes advantage of his surprising windfall - he’s inherited a house from his paternal grandma whom he hasn’t heard from since he was a child. It’s a complete mystery as to why she left him her belongings, but he’s not going to look a gift horse in the mouth and quickly moves to her small rural town determined to make some big changes.
There, Scott meets his neighbor Phineas. A bit intimidating at first, and sorta comical later, he comes to appreciate Phineas’s clean living and self reliance. Scott is a duck out of water, but as he makes his grandma’s home his own and slowly learns more about her, he acclimates to the different lifestyle and starts to thrive.
This was mainly a story about growth. Scott needs a lot of it, especially never having heard of things like rhubarb or cobbler (no joke). He wondrously discovers new likes and dislikes and begins to make decisions for himself and not for others, while at the same time voicing his opinions instead of squashing them like he’s always done.
This book was also about Phineas since we get his point of view too. He’s had some serious losses, including Scott’s grandma who was his best friend. Understandably scared to put himself out there and love again, he doubts his own worthiness. However, life is a risk, and Phineas eventually realizes that happiness won’t come if he doesn't try.
Beware a slow burn regarding these two. Both want each other but are hesitant to take that next step. Scott has a lot of maturing to do and discovers some harsh truths while learning to stand on his own two feet. I particularly loved Phineas. He was the epitome of a gentle giant - sensitive and caring and protective - the kind of character I can read about all day. Though his story is often a sad one, he perseveres even though love is a scary thing to embrace.
As a warning, this has one of the most annoying moms ever, a sick aging pet schnauzer, and a quirky obsession Scott has with part of Phineas’s body . Throw in a little suspense, several good doses of drama-lama, and some tearful bittersweet scenes, and you’ve got quite the enjoyable story here!
Some might find this a bit boring - the ins and outs of living a more laid back life and the daily goings on - but it’s no secret that I like that sort of thing. So, if you have to have constant action, plot twists, and fast forward momentum, this probably isn't for you, though the prior mentioned shenanigans might just be enough.
This was my first from Deanna Wadsworth, and it won’t be my last. It looks like a series is in the works here, and I know I wouldn’t mind at all revisiting Scott and Phineas! I definitely look forward to further stories and getting to know the other members of this quaint, small town community!
Thanks to the author/publisher for a copy in exchange for a honest review
When I read the blurb, I thought to myself, this just might be some good comfort reading involving second chances at life and love, and overall I wasn’t wrong.
Scott is a people pleaser. So much so, he’s sacrificed his happiness over and over in basically all of his relationships. In an effort to perhaps reinvent himself and start anew, he totally takes advantage of his surprising windfall - he’s inherited a house from his paternal grandma whom he hasn’t heard from since he was a child. It’s a complete mystery as to why she left him her belongings, but he’s not going to look a gift horse in the mouth and quickly moves to her small rural town determined to make some big changes.
There, Scott meets his neighbor Phineas. A bit intimidating at first, and sorta comical later, he comes to appreciate Phineas’s clean living and self reliance. Scott is a duck out of water, but as he makes his grandma’s home his own and slowly learns more about her, he acclimates to the different lifestyle and starts to thrive.
This was mainly a story about growth. Scott needs a lot of it, especially never having heard of things like rhubarb or cobbler (no joke). He wondrously discovers new likes and dislikes and begins to make decisions for himself and not for others, while at the same time voicing his opinions instead of squashing them like he’s always done.
This book was also about Phineas since we get his point of view too. He’s had some serious losses, including Scott’s grandma who was his best friend. Understandably scared to put himself out there and love again, he doubts his own worthiness. However, life is a risk, and Phineas eventually realizes that happiness won’t come if he doesn't try.
Beware a slow burn regarding these two. Both want each other but are hesitant to take that next step. Scott has a lot of maturing to do and discovers some harsh truths while learning to stand on his own two feet. I particularly loved Phineas. He was the epitome of a gentle giant - sensitive and caring and protective - the kind of character I can read about all day. Though his story is often a sad one, he perseveres even though love is a scary thing to embrace.
As a warning, this has one of the most annoying moms ever, a sick aging pet schnauzer, and a quirky obsession Scott has with part of Phineas’s body . Throw in a little suspense, several good doses of drama-lama, and some tearful bittersweet scenes, and you’ve got quite the enjoyable story here!
Some might find this a bit boring - the ins and outs of living a more laid back life and the daily goings on - but it’s no secret that I like that sort of thing. So, if you have to have constant action, plot twists, and fast forward momentum, this probably isn't for you, though the prior mentioned shenanigans might just be enough.
This was my first from Deanna Wadsworth, and it won’t be my last. It looks like a series is in the works here, and I know I wouldn’t mind at all revisiting Scott and Phineas! I definitely look forward to further stories and getting to know the other members of this quaint, small town community!
Thanks to the author/publisher for a copy in exchange for a honest review
February 1, 2018
Let's talk about rhubarb...
Yeah, let's start with rhubarb because that's where this story really begins. I'm a country girl so needless to say I'm familiar with rhubarb and country life in general. Which was part of the appeal this book held for me.
When Scott Howe inherits a house in the country from his estranged grandmother, he's not really sure what to expect but he takes this as his opportunity for time and chance to allow him to make the changes in himself that he needs to make if he's ever going to be truly happy. Scott's tends to want to make others happen even when it's at the expense of his own personal happiness and his identity and while he recognizes this, he also knows that it's not the road he needs to take it he's ever going to be truly happy and content with himself. So Scott packs up and heads for his new home in the country just outside of Gilead and declares it to be 'the year of no men' or no men until a tightie white, orange rubber boot wearing, rifle carring Phineas Robertson confronts him in...come on you know where it is...take a guess...that's right...in the rhubarb patch.
While Phin and Scott may each like what they see when they first meet and granted Scott definitely gets to see more than Phin, lol!!! This is not a love at first sight story...not even close. Phin and Scott start out as neighbors and from there they progress to friends and then lovers. They take their time getting to know each other and Scott tentatively tries to hang on to his 'year of no men' vow but Phin's kind and gentle nature and his patience are more than Scott can resist not to mention his big, bear of a body...yep, Phin's not a GQ model or straight out off the cover of Sports Illustrated. He's a real man with a few extra pounds and initially he's a bit self conscious about it but as his relationship progresses with Scott he comes to realize that Scott likes what he sees and he's not interested in Phin being any different...which is one of the things that I liked about Scott.
There's a lot going on in this story besides Scott and Phin's growing relationship. Scott's got some definite family dynamics to deal with there's a cousin who's oars aren't in the water and he's 'out to get Scott for stealing his inheritance', there's issues between Scott and his mother that are coming to the forefront of their relationship because of his inheriting his grandmother's farm as well as mom's relationship with her latest 'loser' boyfriend...seriously woman, if you think this joker treats you well than we need to talk...he's so much excess baggage but you know love is blind...deaf and sometimes downright dumb.
So simply put this is a bit of a romance/mystery/thriller type story and Scott's not alone in having things to work out because Phin's got his own baggage from his past to deal with but at least none of his is coming after him or anyone else it all about putting his memories in the past where they belong so he can move on.
My biggest hang-up with this story was the details...I mean the abundance of details. Don't get me wrong I like detail in my story but it's a matter of finding the right balance and in this case I found that the amount of detail tended to be too much, to often. Sorry I re-lived more than I needed to when it came to gardening, canning and country life in general and that could very well be on me because...country girl here, done it, seen it...ate the rhubarb.
I enjoyed the parts where Scott went exploring his new surroundings that worked for me and I liked seeing the little town of Gilead through his eyes as he discovered his new surroundings. I was good with any time that Scott and Phin spent together unfortunately for some reason I just never became a big fan of Scott and Phin together...as a couple. They never quite seemed to work and maybe that was due in part to the fact that while I liked Scott and as a person he really did mature from where he was at the beginning of the book, I just never quite connected with him and to be honest I also had a teeny, tiny issue with Phin as well...
Scott and Phin were supposedly working on a total honesty concept and at one point Phin seemed to be priding himself on his total honesty but it was all while having a loaded handgun in his night table. A gun that he had promised Scott wasn't there...so yeah, I had a tiny issue with this because total honesty...not so much.
I think one of my favorite parts of this story was 'Nancy', Scott's grandmother...yes, I'm talking about the deceased grandmother who left Scott her house. Throughout this story we are painted a picture of one person viewed through the eyes of her grandsons...Scott and Mike, the grandson who felt should have inherited things, Scott's mother, who while I have to admit is probably one of my least favorite mothers...ever had her own less than unbiased view of who Nancy was and we are given a look at her through the eyes of the community she lived in and lastly we are painted yet another picture of 'Nancy' as she was to her best friend and neighbor...Phin.
For me Nancy was representative of almost any of us because I'm betting if you asked 6 people you know to write down their impression of you what you would find would be 6 impressions that differed to varying degrees. This for me made Nancy seem real. I don't think any of us act exactly the same with each person we know and unless it's done intentionally or with malice intended I think subtle changes in a persons behavior happen as part of an instinctual response to a persons environment and even though she was technically dead Nancy seemed to be the driving force behind a lot of what was happening in this story.
Overall 'The Rhubarb Patch' was a sweet, second chance, starting over, finding true love kind of story and while it wasn't as good for me as I had hoped it would be there was still more that I enjoyed than I didn't and I'm looking forward to seeing not only what but who comes next in 'The Men of Gilead'.
Yeah, let's start with rhubarb because that's where this story really begins. I'm a country girl so needless to say I'm familiar with rhubarb and country life in general. Which was part of the appeal this book held for me.
When Scott Howe inherits a house in the country from his estranged grandmother, he's not really sure what to expect but he takes this as his opportunity for time and chance to allow him to make the changes in himself that he needs to make if he's ever going to be truly happy. Scott's tends to want to make others happen even when it's at the expense of his own personal happiness and his identity and while he recognizes this, he also knows that it's not the road he needs to take it he's ever going to be truly happy and content with himself. So Scott packs up and heads for his new home in the country just outside of Gilead and declares it to be 'the year of no men' or no men until a tightie white, orange rubber boot wearing, rifle carring Phineas Robertson confronts him in...come on you know where it is...take a guess...that's right...in the rhubarb patch.
While Phin and Scott may each like what they see when they first meet and granted Scott definitely gets to see more than Phin, lol!!! This is not a love at first sight story...not even close. Phin and Scott start out as neighbors and from there they progress to friends and then lovers. They take their time getting to know each other and Scott tentatively tries to hang on to his 'year of no men' vow but Phin's kind and gentle nature and his patience are more than Scott can resist not to mention his big, bear of a body...yep, Phin's not a GQ model or straight out off the cover of Sports Illustrated. He's a real man with a few extra pounds and initially he's a bit self conscious about it but as his relationship progresses with Scott he comes to realize that Scott likes what he sees and he's not interested in Phin being any different...which is one of the things that I liked about Scott.
There's a lot going on in this story besides Scott and Phin's growing relationship. Scott's got some definite family dynamics to deal with there's a cousin who's oars aren't in the water and he's 'out to get Scott for stealing his inheritance', there's issues between Scott and his mother that are coming to the forefront of their relationship because of his inheriting his grandmother's farm as well as mom's relationship with her latest 'loser' boyfriend...seriously woman, if you think this joker treats you well than we need to talk...he's so much excess baggage but you know love is blind...deaf and sometimes downright dumb.
So simply put this is a bit of a romance/mystery/thriller type story and Scott's not alone in having things to work out because Phin's got his own baggage from his past to deal with but at least none of his is coming after him or anyone else it all about putting his memories in the past where they belong so he can move on.
My biggest hang-up with this story was the details...I mean the abundance of details. Don't get me wrong I like detail in my story but it's a matter of finding the right balance and in this case I found that the amount of detail tended to be too much, to often. Sorry I re-lived more than I needed to when it came to gardening, canning and country life in general and that could very well be on me because...country girl here, done it, seen it...ate the rhubarb.
I enjoyed the parts where Scott went exploring his new surroundings that worked for me and I liked seeing the little town of Gilead through his eyes as he discovered his new surroundings. I was good with any time that Scott and Phin spent together unfortunately for some reason I just never became a big fan of Scott and Phin together...as a couple. They never quite seemed to work and maybe that was due in part to the fact that while I liked Scott and as a person he really did mature from where he was at the beginning of the book, I just never quite connected with him and to be honest I also had a teeny, tiny issue with Phin as well...
Scott and Phin were supposedly working on a total honesty concept and at one point Phin seemed to be priding himself on his total honesty but it was all while having a loaded handgun in his night table. A gun that he had promised Scott wasn't there...so yeah, I had a tiny issue with this because total honesty...not so much.
I think one of my favorite parts of this story was 'Nancy', Scott's grandmother...yes, I'm talking about the deceased grandmother who left Scott her house. Throughout this story we are painted a picture of one person viewed through the eyes of her grandsons...Scott and Mike, the grandson who felt should have inherited things, Scott's mother, who while I have to admit is probably one of my least favorite mothers...ever had her own less than unbiased view of who Nancy was and we are given a look at her through the eyes of the community she lived in and lastly we are painted yet another picture of 'Nancy' as she was to her best friend and neighbor...Phin.
For me Nancy was representative of almost any of us because I'm betting if you asked 6 people you know to write down their impression of you what you would find would be 6 impressions that differed to varying degrees. This for me made Nancy seem real. I don't think any of us act exactly the same with each person we know and unless it's done intentionally or with malice intended I think subtle changes in a persons behavior happen as part of an instinctual response to a persons environment and even though she was technically dead Nancy seemed to be the driving force behind a lot of what was happening in this story.
Overall 'The Rhubarb Patch' was a sweet, second chance, starting over, finding true love kind of story and while it wasn't as good for me as I had hoped it would be there was still more that I enjoyed than I didn't and I'm looking forward to seeing not only what but who comes next in 'The Men of Gilead'.
July 24, 2017
Sigh…. Phin and Scott…
What a slow burning, emotional read this was. I loved every second of it!
(Okay, I loved almost every second of it… you will not like Scott’s mom or her homophobic boyfriend) I hesitate to bring it up, because it was such a small piece and had no real relevance to the story. But any woman who takes the side of her boyfriend, over her son… is just garbage to me. I have two kids, both boys… let anyone call them “fags” or treat them the way she allowed Joe to treat him and his brother Davis, and they’d be swallowing some teeth and then finding a new place to live. Not in this story… He gets away with it AND the mom continues to pout and make everything about her, always. It made me sick to my stomach, honestly. I didn’t like it at all….
OTHER THAN THAT…
I loved Phin and Scott. Scott had moved to a little rural town, inheriting his grandmother’s house after she’d passed. He wasn’t close to her, due to his mother keeping them apart for her own vindictiveness (yes, again with the mother and her reasoning was just ridiculous)….but, he moves in next door to Phin and his little dog, Katie; Phin seems like a crazy man when they first meet, but I swear, I think I fell for him a little bit too…. He’s so sweet and patient and he had such a big heart. You could see it in everything he did. He taught Scott a lot, not just about country life and gardening, but he also gave him time and space to really find himself. They started with friendship, which I feel like they both needed.
Phin was lonely but content, or pretending to be content living life as a widow and being alone; until he met Scott’s grandma. I feel like she definitely knew what she was doing when she left Scott the house, two birds and all that because, Phin needed him just as much as Scott needed Phin.
Of course, not everyone is happy about it and some relatives take it upon themselves to take it out on Scott. I was surprised at some of the twists in it, but Phin’s secret, I literally saw it coming from miles away. I knew it and I kept waiting on him to reveal it and I was so happy with the way Scott handled it. And seriously, Phin has a dirty mouth and I love it. It was a side to him that I wasn’t expecting lol, way to go, author!'
So, of course, these two have things to work out and several obstacle in their way, before they make it to their happily ever after.. when it’s all that much sweeter when they did.
I really hope Davis gets a story and I really, really hope that someone knocks some sense into their mother and then knocks her boyfriend out or something. Seriously… I can’t let that go… it was awful. If you like slow burning reads with the sweetest man, ever and a magical happily ever after, you should most definitely read this book. 4 stars from me!
*I received this book from the publisher with the promise of an honest and unbiased review*
What a slow burning, emotional read this was. I loved every second of it!
(Okay, I loved almost every second of it… you will not like Scott’s mom or her homophobic boyfriend) I hesitate to bring it up, because it was such a small piece and had no real relevance to the story. But any woman who takes the side of her boyfriend, over her son… is just garbage to me. I have two kids, both boys… let anyone call them “fags” or treat them the way she allowed Joe to treat him and his brother Davis, and they’d be swallowing some teeth and then finding a new place to live. Not in this story… He gets away with it AND the mom continues to pout and make everything about her, always. It made me sick to my stomach, honestly. I didn’t like it at all….
OTHER THAN THAT…
I loved Phin and Scott. Scott had moved to a little rural town, inheriting his grandmother’s house after she’d passed. He wasn’t close to her, due to his mother keeping them apart for her own vindictiveness (yes, again with the mother and her reasoning was just ridiculous)….but, he moves in next door to Phin and his little dog, Katie; Phin seems like a crazy man when they first meet, but I swear, I think I fell for him a little bit too…. He’s so sweet and patient and he had such a big heart. You could see it in everything he did. He taught Scott a lot, not just about country life and gardening, but he also gave him time and space to really find himself. They started with friendship, which I feel like they both needed.
Phin was lonely but content, or pretending to be content living life as a widow and being alone; until he met Scott’s grandma. I feel like she definitely knew what she was doing when she left Scott the house, two birds and all that because, Phin needed him just as much as Scott needed Phin.
Of course, not everyone is happy about it and some relatives take it upon themselves to take it out on Scott. I was surprised at some of the twists in it, but Phin’s secret, I literally saw it coming from miles away. I knew it and I kept waiting on him to reveal it and I was so happy with the way Scott handled it. And seriously, Phin has a dirty mouth and I love it. It was a side to him that I wasn’t expecting lol, way to go, author!'
So, of course, these two have things to work out and several obstacle in their way, before they make it to their happily ever after.. when it’s all that much sweeter when they did.
I really hope Davis gets a story and I really, really hope that someone knocks some sense into their mother and then knocks her boyfriend out or something. Seriously… I can’t let that go… it was awful. If you like slow burning reads with the sweetest man, ever and a magical happily ever after, you should most definitely read this book. 4 stars from me!
*I received this book from the publisher with the promise of an honest and unbiased review*
November 10, 2022
This one had me at the hilarious way these two guys meet! I love awkward! Scott is definitely a normal city guy and Phin the neighbor is a bit strange but too intriguing for Scott to pass up getting to know. I adored big older Phin and his healthy gardening obsession! I will say this one is definitely a slow burn. It has a very realistic feel to it as Scott and Phin are definitely very different men. I appreciated that Phin was a big gentle bear of a man! He was imperfectly perfect, and I was so happy he found happiness again with Scott.
August 10, 2017
Definitely one of the slower books I've read recently. However it fits in with the location of the story. I love learning about the details of the characters' lives. I found myself thoroughly enjoying this slice of life romance. There is a little Rama that happens more so towards the end but overall it's a sweet romance.
I received an arc of this book and am voluntarily reviewing.
I received an arc of this book and am voluntarily reviewing.
July 17, 2018
I like these getting-to-know-you reads. I love when people start out as friends and then become more. I did take away one star because of issues with characters. I like that the author tried to show that a person may seem different to different people. But Scott's mother, as loving as she is to him and Davis, was honestly a bit too much for me.
August 8, 2017
Full review at :
OptimuMM - Home of MM Book Reviews
Well…
The Rhubarb Patch has everything I dislike in a book, like literally everything. When I thought that there is nothing that is going to go wrong, bam! There was another thing I didn’t like.
So you may ask, why the high rating?
Just because I don’t like stuff like Mpreg (although is not actually part of the plot, Scott one of the MCs, is an MM novelist who writes about Mpreg-Sci Fi’s) or Republicans who are pro-guns (the other MC, Phineas, Phin) or knowing about the rural life, that doesn’t mean others will not enjoy it.
In my honest opinion, this book is more a textbook 101 about agriculture. You’ll find every little detail, and I mean every…little…detail about seeding, harvest, farm animals and so…(did you know that you could keep the eggs up until five months in the fridge? well I didn’t…).
Scott inherits his grandmother’s house, and he moves there, running from his past relationship. Well, he is a people pleaser, and he wants to change that. He’s a momma’s boy. Like in most parts I just wanted to shout at Scott to grow the f… up. He’s also a social media addict. Checking on his followers couple of time a day, posting about the country life and he likes googleing. He doesn’t think to find love in the middle of nowhere.
Phin is a widow. His husband passed away a few years ago and now he’s living in Gilead. (The story says that Scott’s mom was going back to his family after her husband was abusing her when Scott was a small boy. The so called hubby is the son of Scott’s grandma from whom, he inherits the house. I thought that meant that Phin was the one who moved, several years ago to the neighborhood. But in one point of the story, it’s written that the grandma moved in next door…it’s confusing I know…).
So this is a typical-not-so-typical love story with a lot of details about agriculture and jealous family, rude relatives and a lot of rhubarb.
Who do I recommend this book? Well, to everyone who likes agriculture!
****The ARC was provided by Dreamspinner Press. My review is an honest opinion of the book****
OptimuMM - Home of MM Book Reviews
Well…
The Rhubarb Patch has everything I dislike in a book, like literally everything. When I thought that there is nothing that is going to go wrong, bam! There was another thing I didn’t like.
So you may ask, why the high rating?
Just because I don’t like stuff like Mpreg (although is not actually part of the plot, Scott one of the MCs, is an MM novelist who writes about Mpreg-Sci Fi’s) or Republicans who are pro-guns (the other MC, Phineas, Phin) or knowing about the rural life, that doesn’t mean others will not enjoy it.
In my honest opinion, this book is more a textbook 101 about agriculture. You’ll find every little detail, and I mean every…little…detail about seeding, harvest, farm animals and so…(did you know that you could keep the eggs up until five months in the fridge? well I didn’t…).
Scott inherits his grandmother’s house, and he moves there, running from his past relationship. Well, he is a people pleaser, and he wants to change that. He’s a momma’s boy. Like in most parts I just wanted to shout at Scott to grow the f… up. He’s also a social media addict. Checking on his followers couple of time a day, posting about the country life and he likes googleing. He doesn’t think to find love in the middle of nowhere.
Phin is a widow. His husband passed away a few years ago and now he’s living in Gilead. (The story says that Scott’s mom was going back to his family after her husband was abusing her when Scott was a small boy. The so called hubby is the son of Scott’s grandma from whom, he inherits the house. I thought that meant that Phin was the one who moved, several years ago to the neighborhood. But in one point of the story, it’s written that the grandma moved in next door…it’s confusing I know…).
So this is a typical-not-so-typical love story with a lot of details about agriculture and jealous family, rude relatives and a lot of rhubarb.
Who do I recommend this book? Well, to everyone who likes agriculture!
****The ARC was provided by Dreamspinner Press. My review is an honest opinion of the book****
August 3, 2017
I could not resist this cover, you guys. It’s so eye-catching and lovely, and after reading the book, it’s even lovelier. I was also sucked in by the blurb—which is one of the better written blurbs I’ve read recently. Great cover…promising premise…I was pretty pumped to start The Rhubarb Patch. And, as if those things weren’t enough, there was this excellent opening!
So. Funny.
With a beginning like that, I thought it was sure to be a slam dunk. However, though the first chapter grabbed me, the magic sadly didn’t last. The consistency just wasn’t there, and as such, the story, overall, was somewhat hit and miss for me.
The blurb really is excellent, so you have a pretty good idea of the storyline. Scott has inherited his grandmother’s house just on the outskirts of Gilead. Not only is country living a shock to his system, but his new neighbor, Phin, is a character like he’s never met before. But, despite their colorful meeting and obvious differences, they develop a quick friendship. For the most part, I enjoyed how their relationship played out. Wadsworth did a nice job of building things between them, and I really loved how they respected each other’s differences and opinions. Which is something that was HUGE for Scott. Theirs was a pretty sweet second-chance romance.
I loved Phin a lot. The fact that he and Nancy, Scott’s grandmother, had been best friends for seven years was fantastic, in that he was able to show Scott a side of his grandmother that he had no idea existed. The woman Phin spoke so fondly and reverently about seemed the polar opposite of the woman Scott’s mother had always described. Phin has experienced so much loss in his life: his partner, his beloved Aunt Nina, and now Nancy. It was Aunt Nina who instilled in Phin his love of gardening, and imparted much life wisdom to him as well. I loved, loved this:
And, I also loooved Sister Mary Katherine, perhaps the cutest schnauzer ever.
I liked Scott, too. But, he was definitely a harder sell. He was pretty self-absorbed and immature at times, and it did start to grate on me. Also, I had a hard time buying his relationship with his mom. She was horrible, guys. Her boyfriend was an openly homophobic asshole, yet she stayed with him and defended him to her gay sons. She just completely rubbed me wrong, and I couldn’t comprehend why Scott constantly put up with her bullshit. They went through tough times together. I get that. But, it felt false that Scott would continue to make nurturing that relationship a priority. To be fair, he did start to stand up for himself a bit later in the story. But, it wasn’t enough.
I thought it was cool that Scott was an author, specifically of LGBT sci-fi romances, and fun that he ran into a few fans, even in the small town of Gilead. But, I wish there would have been another mention of the great new bookstore in town, and the possibility of Scott doing a signing there. I felt like it warranted being worked back in at some point. I also felt like the book’s drama/conflicts were drawn out too much, and then came to a head all at the same time. In the end, it turned out to be quite predictable. It partly felt like Wadsworth thought, ‘Oh yeah, this hasn’t been resolved yet,’ and hurriedly, tried to tie off the loose ends.
I did enjoy reading about the picturesque town of Gilead, and am definitely intrigued at the prospect of reading more in this universe (the book is listed as Men of Gilead #1). I loved that the move to Gilead was a chance for Scott to not only find himself but also learn to be himself, and that Phin was integral in that growth in his City Mouse. And, of course, Gilead was the second chance at life that Phin so desperately needed and deserved. I’ll be keeping an eye out for what else is in store for this series.
Reviewed by Jules for The Novel Approach
“What the…?”
A big, bald man in nothing but orange rubber boots and tighty-whities streaked across the yard toward Scott Howe, waving his hands and shouting.
So. Funny.
With a beginning like that, I thought it was sure to be a slam dunk. However, though the first chapter grabbed me, the magic sadly didn’t last. The consistency just wasn’t there, and as such, the story, overall, was somewhat hit and miss for me.
The blurb really is excellent, so you have a pretty good idea of the storyline. Scott has inherited his grandmother’s house just on the outskirts of Gilead. Not only is country living a shock to his system, but his new neighbor, Phin, is a character like he’s never met before. But, despite their colorful meeting and obvious differences, they develop a quick friendship. For the most part, I enjoyed how their relationship played out. Wadsworth did a nice job of building things between them, and I really loved how they respected each other’s differences and opinions. Which is something that was HUGE for Scott. Theirs was a pretty sweet second-chance romance.
I loved Phin a lot. The fact that he and Nancy, Scott’s grandmother, had been best friends for seven years was fantastic, in that he was able to show Scott a side of his grandmother that he had no idea existed. The woman Phin spoke so fondly and reverently about seemed the polar opposite of the woman Scott’s mother had always described. Phin has experienced so much loss in his life: his partner, his beloved Aunt Nina, and now Nancy. It was Aunt Nina who instilled in Phin his love of gardening, and imparted much life wisdom to him as well. I loved, loved this:
“…She told me I’d been ignoring my garden for too long. It was no wonder my plants were dying and my life was full of weeds. But as long as there was breath inside me, I had the hope of spring. Another chance to get it right.”
And, I also loooved Sister Mary Katherine, perhaps the cutest schnauzer ever.
I liked Scott, too. But, he was definitely a harder sell. He was pretty self-absorbed and immature at times, and it did start to grate on me. Also, I had a hard time buying his relationship with his mom. She was horrible, guys. Her boyfriend was an openly homophobic asshole, yet she stayed with him and defended him to her gay sons. She just completely rubbed me wrong, and I couldn’t comprehend why Scott constantly put up with her bullshit. They went through tough times together. I get that. But, it felt false that Scott would continue to make nurturing that relationship a priority. To be fair, he did start to stand up for himself a bit later in the story. But, it wasn’t enough.
I thought it was cool that Scott was an author, specifically of LGBT sci-fi romances, and fun that he ran into a few fans, even in the small town of Gilead. But, I wish there would have been another mention of the great new bookstore in town, and the possibility of Scott doing a signing there. I felt like it warranted being worked back in at some point. I also felt like the book’s drama/conflicts were drawn out too much, and then came to a head all at the same time. In the end, it turned out to be quite predictable. It partly felt like Wadsworth thought, ‘Oh yeah, this hasn’t been resolved yet,’ and hurriedly, tried to tie off the loose ends.
I did enjoy reading about the picturesque town of Gilead, and am definitely intrigued at the prospect of reading more in this universe (the book is listed as Men of Gilead #1). I loved that the move to Gilead was a chance for Scott to not only find himself but also learn to be himself, and that Phin was integral in that growth in his City Mouse. And, of course, Gilead was the second chance at life that Phin so desperately needed and deserved. I’ll be keeping an eye out for what else is in store for this series.
Reviewed by Jules for The Novel Approach
July 24, 2017
This was actually my first Deanna Wadsworth read, and I didn't realize it until midway through the book. I'd been following her on twitter, etc for a while, but for whatever reason hadn't quite gotten to read one yet, so I was excited to read this one.
I definitely had mixed emotions with this book. I loved the storyline. Scott moving to the tiny village of Gilead, Ohio to start his life over after inheriting his, previously unknown to him, grandmother's house. With that idea, he needed to work on becoming a new person. Someone who didn't give over his entire personality to the man he was with, re-creating the pattern every time, the one he learned from his mother.
Meanwhile, Phin was such a generous man, a true heart of gold who had lost so many loved ones in his life, and just wanted to spend his days in his garden with his sweet Sister Mary Katherine (cutest name for a dog ever!). Yet, he didn't hesitate to develop a friendship with the City "Mouse" who moved in next door.
This story was a very slow burn. These two men developed a good strong friendship, long before anything romantic actually took place. And that was exactly what they needed, for both of them. Scott, so he could learn more about himself, what he wanted, what he needed, and what he liked. Phin because he needed to finish morning the loss of his partner, as well as his best friend. By the time, they actually kissed (and so much more that night!), there was no doubt they were in love.
One of the issues that I had with the story was the length. I found myself skimming more than once. There were some very long descriptions of places, canning processes, etc that seemed to lengthen the story unnecessarily. Although it was a critical part of Phin's life, even a cathartic process for him as he grieved, it felt like it was dragging the story in places. At 4700 locations, it was a long book anyway, with a lot of story to tell with these two men, so it felt a bit forced.
Also, there were a few unresolved issues that I would have liked to have had follow up on. (I won't give them because it would be a spoiler.) However, that being said, sometimes life doesn't always resolve all the issues, and that is one of the things that I did really enjoy about the book. Sometimes life gives you differences that are unresolved and you have to learn to incorporate those into your life.
If you are looking for a sweet love story (with some definite HOT spots), I think you will enjoy it.
3.5 pieces of eye candy
I definitely had mixed emotions with this book. I loved the storyline. Scott moving to the tiny village of Gilead, Ohio to start his life over after inheriting his, previously unknown to him, grandmother's house. With that idea, he needed to work on becoming a new person. Someone who didn't give over his entire personality to the man he was with, re-creating the pattern every time, the one he learned from his mother.
Meanwhile, Phin was such a generous man, a true heart of gold who had lost so many loved ones in his life, and just wanted to spend his days in his garden with his sweet Sister Mary Katherine (cutest name for a dog ever!). Yet, he didn't hesitate to develop a friendship with the City "Mouse" who moved in next door.
This story was a very slow burn. These two men developed a good strong friendship, long before anything romantic actually took place. And that was exactly what they needed, for both of them. Scott, so he could learn more about himself, what he wanted, what he needed, and what he liked. Phin because he needed to finish morning the loss of his partner, as well as his best friend. By the time, they actually kissed (and so much more that night!), there was no doubt they were in love.
One of the issues that I had with the story was the length. I found myself skimming more than once. There were some very long descriptions of places, canning processes, etc that seemed to lengthen the story unnecessarily. Although it was a critical part of Phin's life, even a cathartic process for him as he grieved, it felt like it was dragging the story in places. At 4700 locations, it was a long book anyway, with a lot of story to tell with these two men, so it felt a bit forced.
Also, there were a few unresolved issues that I would have liked to have had follow up on. (I won't give them because it would be a spoiler.) However, that being said, sometimes life doesn't always resolve all the issues, and that is one of the things that I did really enjoy about the book. Sometimes life gives you differences that are unresolved and you have to learn to incorporate those into your life.
If you are looking for a sweet love story (with some definite HOT spots), I think you will enjoy it.
3.5 pieces of eye candy
July 24, 2017
*3.5 stars*
If you're a fan of the opposites attract trope--and really, who isn't?--then you're definitely going to want to check out The Rhubarb Patch by Deanna Wadsworth. Two neighbors, one a city boy who suddenly finds himself in the middle of the country, the other a farmer who likes his solitude, find out sometimes even the most unlikely of people can make a connection. At first glance, Scott and Phineas (what a FABULOUS name!) might not seem like they fit, but they sure will make a believer out of you.
When Scott Howe finds out he's inherited his late grandmother's farm in small town Gilead, Ohio, he's surprised to say the least ...and it couldn't have come at a better time. After a nasty break-up with his ex-boyfriend, Scott is more than happy to get away. Finding himself completely out of his element--he doesn't know a weed from a rhubarb plant--he slowly begins to see that his life isn't going exactly as he'd wanted. Of course, his neighbor, Phineas, rubber boot wearing and tighty-whitey wearing guy that he is might have something to do with that, too. These two couldn't be more different, but once they stop sniping and start talking to one another, they find that their differences might not be so bad, Phineas's Republican leaning notwithstanding.
The Rhubarb Patch was a sweet, next to no angst book that pretty much had me smiling from the first page. I loved Phineas. He was so careful to trust, but so in need of having someone he could call his own. And Scott, boy did he need the time and space to figure out he wasn't quite as helpless as people liked to make him think he was. I loved watching the slow dance between Scott and Phineas, their opening up and discovering things about one another. I could have done without the melodrama with Scott's mom and her husband, but other than that one little complaint, there really wasn't anything not to enjoy about The Rhubarb Patch. A quaint, small town, two characters who were genuine and likable, and a romance that was quiet and sweet made this book one I'd definitely recommend.
*this review will also be posted on www.diversereader.blogspot.com
If you're a fan of the opposites attract trope--and really, who isn't?--then you're definitely going to want to check out The Rhubarb Patch by Deanna Wadsworth. Two neighbors, one a city boy who suddenly finds himself in the middle of the country, the other a farmer who likes his solitude, find out sometimes even the most unlikely of people can make a connection. At first glance, Scott and Phineas (what a FABULOUS name!) might not seem like they fit, but they sure will make a believer out of you.
When Scott Howe finds out he's inherited his late grandmother's farm in small town Gilead, Ohio, he's surprised to say the least ...and it couldn't have come at a better time. After a nasty break-up with his ex-boyfriend, Scott is more than happy to get away. Finding himself completely out of his element--he doesn't know a weed from a rhubarb plant--he slowly begins to see that his life isn't going exactly as he'd wanted. Of course, his neighbor, Phineas, rubber boot wearing and tighty-whitey wearing guy that he is might have something to do with that, too. These two couldn't be more different, but once they stop sniping and start talking to one another, they find that their differences might not be so bad, Phineas's Republican leaning notwithstanding.
The Rhubarb Patch was a sweet, next to no angst book that pretty much had me smiling from the first page. I loved Phineas. He was so careful to trust, but so in need of having someone he could call his own. And Scott, boy did he need the time and space to figure out he wasn't quite as helpless as people liked to make him think he was. I loved watching the slow dance between Scott and Phineas, their opening up and discovering things about one another. I could have done without the melodrama with Scott's mom and her husband, but other than that one little complaint, there really wasn't anything not to enjoy about The Rhubarb Patch. A quaint, small town, two characters who were genuine and likable, and a romance that was quiet and sweet made this book one I'd definitely recommend.
*this review will also be posted on www.diversereader.blogspot.com
July 24, 2017
A Joyfully Jay review.
3.75 stars
I’ll be honest and say that this is not a book that I would have normally picked, based on the blurb alone. But there was something about it that intrigued me, so I took a chance. And while I have some mixed feelings about a couple of the plot points, I’m glad I picked it up.
So right off the bat, these guys are a study in opposites. Country and city. But as we get to know the characters, we see it goes even deeper. Scott is a moderately popular author who has no clue what he’s doing in a small town and with several acres of land. He’s lost his way, and is trying to find himself. Phin is a gardening and cooking extraordinaire, owns a dog and chickens, and is firmly grounded in his life. And a gun toting Republican to boot. What I really loved about these guys is that they find a common ground between them, become friends and make compromises, and really listen to each other. They aren’t perfect. Both men have growing to do, though in different ways, and they certainly make mistakes. But their flaws make them real, and they both grown and learn over the course of the story. Their chemistry totally works, and I enjoyed seeing them take the leap into a relationship together, despite everything in their pasts. The MCs really made this story enjoyable for me.
But some of the other plot points didn’t work as well for me. The storyline with Scott’s mother made a lot of sense, though I didn’t particularly care for the character. But in the end, it felt unfinished. After the big build up, it kind of fizzled toward the end. It was the same with Scott’s grandmother. While she’s passed away, and Scott can never know exactly what her thoughts and motivations were, it felt completely unresolved for me. I would have like that plotline in particular to be better wrapped up.
Read Kris’ review in its entirety here.
3.75 stars
I’ll be honest and say that this is not a book that I would have normally picked, based on the blurb alone. But there was something about it that intrigued me, so I took a chance. And while I have some mixed feelings about a couple of the plot points, I’m glad I picked it up.
So right off the bat, these guys are a study in opposites. Country and city. But as we get to know the characters, we see it goes even deeper. Scott is a moderately popular author who has no clue what he’s doing in a small town and with several acres of land. He’s lost his way, and is trying to find himself. Phin is a gardening and cooking extraordinaire, owns a dog and chickens, and is firmly grounded in his life. And a gun toting Republican to boot. What I really loved about these guys is that they find a common ground between them, become friends and make compromises, and really listen to each other. They aren’t perfect. Both men have growing to do, though in different ways, and they certainly make mistakes. But their flaws make them real, and they both grown and learn over the course of the story. Their chemistry totally works, and I enjoyed seeing them take the leap into a relationship together, despite everything in their pasts. The MCs really made this story enjoyable for me.
But some of the other plot points didn’t work as well for me. The storyline with Scott’s mother made a lot of sense, though I didn’t particularly care for the character. But in the end, it felt unfinished. After the big build up, it kind of fizzled toward the end. It was the same with Scott’s grandmother. While she’s passed away, and Scott can never know exactly what her thoughts and motivations were, it felt completely unresolved for me. I would have like that plotline in particular to be better wrapped up.
Read Kris’ review in its entirety here.
August 10, 2017
4.5 Stars!!!
Scott Howe moves to Gilead, Ohio after inheriting his grandma's house. He's a city boy through and through, a sci-fi author and has decided to stay single for at least a year after his last disastrous relationship. The last thing he expects is to be attracted to his quirky neighbor, who couldn't be more different from Scott if he tried. Phin is a country man, happy to tend to his garden and his aging dog, Sister Mary Katherine. He's not looking for a relationship since he's still kind of grieving the death of his husband ten years ago. Never mind that he harbors a secret that will surely put a stop to any romantic inclinations Scott might feel for him faster than him learning that Phin is a Republican.
I loved Phin, he was such a sweet, patient, caring man. I could understand his reticence to start anything with Scott, especially since he hadn't grieved properly. I think the whole issue with his secret was dealt with in a very sensitive and informative manner, there were a few things I wasn't aware of and found very interesting. I liked Scott, he was really nice, even if there were moments in which he frustrated me. While they were opposites, Scott and Phin fit very well together. I loved that their romance was such a slow burn, the pacing felt just right for them.
I wasn't too fond of Scott's mom, who I wanted to slap more than a couple of times. She was so selfish. And don't get me started on her boyfriend. Ugh. I loved Davis, though, he seemed like a character I'd love to read more about!
The mystery portion of the book was well done, even if it was a tad predictable with respect to Scott's cousin. The part with his grandma was more of a surprise as it unfolded, though.
Overall, this was a delightful read, angsty and sweet and really well-written. Deanna Wadsworth did a fantastic job with this book and I'm very curious about trying the rhubarb now since it's not something we eat in my country, but it sounded delicious. Very recommendable!
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
Scott Howe moves to Gilead, Ohio after inheriting his grandma's house. He's a city boy through and through, a sci-fi author and has decided to stay single for at least a year after his last disastrous relationship. The last thing he expects is to be attracted to his quirky neighbor, who couldn't be more different from Scott if he tried. Phin is a country man, happy to tend to his garden and his aging dog, Sister Mary Katherine. He's not looking for a relationship since he's still kind of grieving the death of his husband ten years ago. Never mind that he harbors a secret that will surely put a stop to any romantic inclinations Scott might feel for him faster than him learning that Phin is a Republican.
I loved Phin, he was such a sweet, patient, caring man. I could understand his reticence to start anything with Scott, especially since he hadn't grieved properly. I think the whole issue with his secret was dealt with in a very sensitive and informative manner, there were a few things I wasn't aware of and found very interesting. I liked Scott, he was really nice, even if there were moments in which he frustrated me. While they were opposites, Scott and Phin fit very well together. I loved that their romance was such a slow burn, the pacing felt just right for them.
I wasn't too fond of Scott's mom, who I wanted to slap more than a couple of times. She was so selfish. And don't get me started on her boyfriend. Ugh. I loved Davis, though, he seemed like a character I'd love to read more about!
The mystery portion of the book was well done, even if it was a tad predictable with respect to Scott's cousin. The part with his grandma was more of a surprise as it unfolded, though.
Overall, this was a delightful read, angsty and sweet and really well-written. Deanna Wadsworth did a fantastic job with this book and I'm very curious about trying the rhubarb now since it's not something we eat in my country, but it sounded delicious. Very recommendable!
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
November 14, 2022
Nancy left her grandson Scott a house in Ohio. He really didn't know her and had very few memories of her as his mother and father's volatile relationship made them separate when he was small and she kept him away from that side of his family. But his grandmother's unexpected gift came at the right time for Scott. He had just broken up with a cheating ex and needed someplace to be other than staying with his mother and her current boyfriend. He was not sure what he was going to do with the house and when his first meeting with Phin was not a meet cute at all he wondered if staying long term is for him. But grandma Nancy truly gifted him more than the house. Phin, her next door neighbor, was her bestie so as Phin and Scott get to know one another Scott gets to know the grandmother he was never around. And as different and flawed as both men are they come to grow one and accept one another with those differences adding to their connection not taking away from it as they learn to compromise and focus on the love growing between them more than things that they might not agree on. Scott really grows in the country and Phin does as well as he not only introduces Scott to his way of life but really shares it with him. Like life their story is not without complications - a tragic loss for Phin and a crazy relative of Scott's makes things interesting. But at its root this is such a sweet romance of ordinary likeable men who find someone right next door to share their lives with and see the future looking brighter because of it. Nancy, though we never meet her, turns out to be their guardian angel as her gift keeps on giving to both of them.
I received an ARC from GRR and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received an ARC from GRR and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Read
November 14, 2022This is the first book in the “Men of Gilead” series. I absolutely enjoyed reading the first one and I look forward to the next 2 books in the series. This one was a wonderful read. I did not realize that the author that wrote this one wrote the “Lacetown Murder Mysteries” series and I absolutely loved that series! That says a lot about the author’s writing style. It would be awesome as a gay hallmarkesque TV movie pulling a “Breaking Bad” style with a crazed man in his undies running amok! Definitely more than 5 stars for me for the story, the reality of disclosing one’s HIV status and the stigma that comes with it. Kudos to the author!
The story focuses on Scott, a M/M SciFi writer who inherited a house from his grandmother who he guiltily hadn’t visited in a very long time. Right in the beginning, Scott was trying to clear out weed using the weed whacker in his backyard when a bald man wearing nothing but underwear was running and screaming at Scott to stop what he was doing. He was upset that Scott was destroying the “Rhubarb Patch” which is the title of the story! For anyone who does not know the difference between rhubarbs and weed would innocently pull them. That crazy bald guy wearing only an underwear was Phineas, Scott’s grandmother’s neighbor and best friend and it was his rhubarb patch that happens to be on the grandma’s property. Unbeknownst to Phineas, Scott had posted something about that on his social media. During the course, Scott had the hots for him and they became friends. I’ll just stop right there and encourage you to pick up the book and read!
The story focuses on Scott, a M/M SciFi writer who inherited a house from his grandmother who he guiltily hadn’t visited in a very long time. Right in the beginning, Scott was trying to clear out weed using the weed whacker in his backyard when a bald man wearing nothing but underwear was running and screaming at Scott to stop what he was doing. He was upset that Scott was destroying the “Rhubarb Patch” which is the title of the story! For anyone who does not know the difference between rhubarbs and weed would innocently pull them. That crazy bald guy wearing only an underwear was Phineas, Scott’s grandmother’s neighbor and best friend and it was his rhubarb patch that happens to be on the grandma’s property. Unbeknownst to Phineas, Scott had posted something about that on his social media. During the course, Scott had the hots for him and they became friends. I’ll just stop right there and encourage you to pick up the book and read!
November 14, 2022
I was really intrigued by the blurb of this book and I’m really happy I gave it a chance. The Rhubarb Patch is a lot more serious then I thought it would be from the blurb but I still really enjoyed it.
The romance between Scott and Phin is the main storyline and it definitely held my attention. It’s a slow burn but totally worth the wait for me. The friendship they developed was so sweet and that only added to how great their relationship was. These men are very different but are still great together. They do fight a few times but in very realistic ways. I loved that they both respected each other and tried to compromise with each other.
Besides the romance there is also a lot of drama surrounding Scott’s family. He has a complicated relationship with his mom, and he can’t stand her boyfriend. (The boyfriend is awful) When Scott and his mom fought I always thought Scott’s mom wasn’t that great either. She was very self absorbed. Phin has his own history and trauma that we slowly learn about as the story progresses.
I enjoyed the little bit of mystery to the story, even though it wasn’t hard to figure out what was going on. It added a nice element to the story. I am really looking forward to reading the other books in the series.
I did receive a free ARC of this book but that did not influence my review.
The romance between Scott and Phin is the main storyline and it definitely held my attention. It’s a slow burn but totally worth the wait for me. The friendship they developed was so sweet and that only added to how great their relationship was. These men are very different but are still great together. They do fight a few times but in very realistic ways. I loved that they both respected each other and tried to compromise with each other.
Besides the romance there is also a lot of drama surrounding Scott’s family. He has a complicated relationship with his mom, and he can’t stand her boyfriend. (The boyfriend is awful) When Scott and his mom fought I always thought Scott’s mom wasn’t that great either. She was very self absorbed. Phin has his own history and trauma that we slowly learn about as the story progresses.
I enjoyed the little bit of mystery to the story, even though it wasn’t hard to figure out what was going on. It added a nice element to the story. I am really looking forward to reading the other books in the series.
I did receive a free ARC of this book but that did not influence my review.
October 26, 2022
A very slow burn , really sweet romance between two people who are total opposites.
When Scott inherits his grandmothers house, he's totally surprised given he hasn't seen her since he was 5. His mother was married to their son, who was very abusive. She left him and severed all contact with his parents.
When he moves into the house he meets his neighbor Phin, a sweet guy even though he's a bit weird. He's obsessively in to gardening to stay healthy and has the cutest little dog. Their first meet is very memorable and made me laugh out loud.
As they get to know each other better, they start developping feelings but it takes a really long time before they give in due to both having been hurt in the past, Scott by selfish boyfriends and Phin by grief.
I also loved that there was an element of suspense in the story, even though you know straight away who the culprit is. I did have a bit of trouble with warming up to Scott, so much that I contemplated on stopping reading. But I'm glad I didn't because this book turned out to be very enjoyable.
*I received a copy of this book by Gay Romance Revieuws and this is my honest review.*
When Scott inherits his grandmothers house, he's totally surprised given he hasn't seen her since he was 5. His mother was married to their son, who was very abusive. She left him and severed all contact with his parents.
When he moves into the house he meets his neighbor Phin, a sweet guy even though he's a bit weird. He's obsessively in to gardening to stay healthy and has the cutest little dog. Their first meet is very memorable and made me laugh out loud.
As they get to know each other better, they start developping feelings but it takes a really long time before they give in due to both having been hurt in the past, Scott by selfish boyfriends and Phin by grief.
I also loved that there was an element of suspense in the story, even though you know straight away who the culprit is. I did have a bit of trouble with warming up to Scott, so much that I contemplated on stopping reading. But I'm glad I didn't because this book turned out to be very enjoyable.
*I received a copy of this book by Gay Romance Revieuws and this is my honest review.*
November 11, 2022
Romance first, intrigue second with a skosh of awakening and steam galore
Scott Howe is a city boy, sci-fi author of 30yo and diminutive size at 5’8” but he doesn’t let that hold him back. What holds him back is his incessant need to please the guy in his life to his own detriment. He has inherited a house in the country from a unlikely source but decides this will be his new beginning with a “Year of No Men!” What he finds in this little town where you sneeze on one side of town and someone on the other side says, bless you, is Phineas Robertson aka Phin, 42yo and big at 6’2” tall. Phin has lost so much in his life that he is shy about making friends with his new neighbor.
Oh. My. Word. I laughed and I cried. Read the dedication, there really was a Mary Katherine. It will make chapter 27 all the more poignant. There is a unique meet-cute for these two great guys. What they find together is what love is made of regardless whether it is straight or gay. The next book will be about the new book store owner and I’m already planning on reading it. Sounds astounding. I volunteered to review an ARC of this book through Gay Romance Reviews.
Scott Howe is a city boy, sci-fi author of 30yo and diminutive size at 5’8” but he doesn’t let that hold him back. What holds him back is his incessant need to please the guy in his life to his own detriment. He has inherited a house in the country from a unlikely source but decides this will be his new beginning with a “Year of No Men!” What he finds in this little town where you sneeze on one side of town and someone on the other side says, bless you, is Phineas Robertson aka Phin, 42yo and big at 6’2” tall. Phin has lost so much in his life that he is shy about making friends with his new neighbor.
Oh. My. Word. I laughed and I cried. Read the dedication, there really was a Mary Katherine. It will make chapter 27 all the more poignant. There is a unique meet-cute for these two great guys. What they find together is what love is made of regardless whether it is straight or gay. The next book will be about the new book store owner and I’m already planning on reading it. Sounds astounding. I volunteered to review an ARC of this book through Gay Romance Reviews.
July 25, 2017
Reviewed for My Timeout Book Blog by Sarah.
This book has been something so unexpected and not what I expected at all. It deals with grief, pain and family strife along with hate, and of course hot sex between two hot men.
When I first selected this book up seeing it was a M/M book I thought it would be filled with nothing but attraction and sex between the characters but I found so much more in this book. I found such a strong plot filled with some complex topics. From a grieving neighbor to a grieving grandson, complex relationships between family members.
The love found between these two characters is slow going and their affections run very deep for each other. They truly bring out the best in each other and bring comfort for the pain each feels. This story was also filled with wonderfully funny moments with a dog named Sister Mary Katherine who use to belong to a nun. Needless to say I was so sad to see the book end and wished there was more about this couple. I can’t wait to read more from this author in the future.
This book has been something so unexpected and not what I expected at all. It deals with grief, pain and family strife along with hate, and of course hot sex between two hot men.
When I first selected this book up seeing it was a M/M book I thought it would be filled with nothing but attraction and sex between the characters but I found so much more in this book. I found such a strong plot filled with some complex topics. From a grieving neighbor to a grieving grandson, complex relationships between family members.
The love found between these two characters is slow going and their affections run very deep for each other. They truly bring out the best in each other and bring comfort for the pain each feels. This story was also filled with wonderfully funny moments with a dog named Sister Mary Katherine who use to belong to a nun. Needless to say I was so sad to see the book end and wished there was more about this couple. I can’t wait to read more from this author in the future.
January 21, 2018
The Rhubarb Patch is the first book in a new series from Deanna Wadsworth, I went into this book thinking it was going to be a cute May-December romance, and it was, but it was also so much more.
This book comes out of the gate with lighthearted fun but quickly becomes more serious. I experienced the gamut of emotions reading this book. I literally laughed, cried, got pissed and went awww while reading. Both MC's are strong characters but they are both flawed and dealing with some very significant things.
The relationship between Scott and Phin develops slowly and is interspersed with some interesting details about the town of Gilead and gardening/canning,so much so that they become characters in their own right. This gave the book a more rounded, full feeling and added so much to the story line.
Be prepared to sit and read for several hours, because once I got started I did not want to put this book down. The characters are real and likeable and I want to visit Gilead again and again.
Please tell me Davis is getting a love story of his own??
This book comes out of the gate with lighthearted fun but quickly becomes more serious. I experienced the gamut of emotions reading this book. I literally laughed, cried, got pissed and went awww while reading. Both MC's are strong characters but they are both flawed and dealing with some very significant things.
The relationship between Scott and Phin develops slowly and is interspersed with some interesting details about the town of Gilead and gardening/canning,so much so that they become characters in their own right. This gave the book a more rounded, full feeling and added so much to the story line.
Be prepared to sit and read for several hours, because once I got started I did not want to put this book down. The characters are real and likeable and I want to visit Gilead again and again.
Please tell me Davis is getting a love story of his own??
November 9, 2022
I loved the chemistry between Scott and Phin. Their developing connection mirrored a collection of numerous feelings being discovered throughout their story. Phin was such a down to earth person who had a love of nature along with the will and ambition to till to soil (not afraid to dirty his hands). Scott had inherited the neighboring house from his estranged grandma Nancy and Phin provided Scott with answers to Scott's many questions about Nancy. The negative opinions Scot's mom expressed toward Nancy was totally the opposite of what Phin revealed. It had heartbreak, a potentially tragic plan of a relative's revenge involving murder, and secrets. I enjoyed the description of how charming the town of Gilead was and scenery, too. Overall, a good read. We meet several characters that promise to have their stories told in future books. Looking forward to the next book "La Famiglia". This is my honest and voluntary review for the ARC I received.
August 7, 2017
A Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words Review
rating 4 stars out of 5
For the Full review visit http://wp.me/p220KL-bfD
From that review: " I loved The Rhubarb Patch (Men of Gilead #1) by Deanna Wadsworth. As a fan of the 'slow burn' and a narrative paced according to the storyline, this book sang to me like a katydid on a summer country night. It was sweet, realistic, heartwarming, and loving. Wadsworth has given us a beautifully written story full of characters with heart, dealing with loss, homophobia, warring relatives, and a mother whose maternal abilities leave much to be desired. And all the people here feel true and layered, whether we like them or not, two legged or four legged.
And it all starts with a rhubarb patch."
For all our reviews, author interviews, and such, visit us at http://scatteredthoughtsandroguewords...
rating 4 stars out of 5
For the Full review visit http://wp.me/p220KL-bfD
From that review: " I loved The Rhubarb Patch (Men of Gilead #1) by Deanna Wadsworth. As a fan of the 'slow burn' and a narrative paced according to the storyline, this book sang to me like a katydid on a summer country night. It was sweet, realistic, heartwarming, and loving. Wadsworth has given us a beautifully written story full of characters with heart, dealing with loss, homophobia, warring relatives, and a mother whose maternal abilities leave much to be desired. And all the people here feel true and layered, whether we like them or not, two legged or four legged.
And it all starts with a rhubarb patch."
For all our reviews, author interviews, and such, visit us at http://scatteredthoughtsandroguewords...
November 12, 2022
3.5-4⭐️
This was a sweet slow burn read, I enjoyed Phin and Scott together. I found the beginning of the book quite interesting and appreciated the time spent creating the small town feel of Gilead. I loved the details of Phin’s life on his farm and all the effort he puts into being self sufficient. Their early interactions provided some humor as they are quite different. I don’t run into many romance novels that work politics into the mix, so this was quite original. It was handled well, with not too much conflict. From the description and the sweet cover, I wasn’t expecting the intrigue and drama that comes in second half. So, that was a fun surprise. The heart of the story though is a really sweet and original opposites attract love story.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
This was a sweet slow burn read, I enjoyed Phin and Scott together. I found the beginning of the book quite interesting and appreciated the time spent creating the small town feel of Gilead. I loved the details of Phin’s life on his farm and all the effort he puts into being self sufficient. Their early interactions provided some humor as they are quite different. I don’t run into many romance novels that work politics into the mix, so this was quite original. It was handled well, with not too much conflict. From the description and the sweet cover, I wasn’t expecting the intrigue and drama that comes in second half. So, that was a fun surprise. The heart of the story though is a really sweet and original opposites attract love story.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
August 12, 2017
I did enjoy the plot and the main characters in this book but found the story very slow to get going. I had difficult pushing out it was worth it, the story gets better with every chapter. There are some extremely funny sections, including the first chapter.
This is a second chance love story, it is Scotty and Phin's story. Scotty is an author of science fiction gay romance and Phone is a semi-retired Financier. They are neighbours, both ending up in the country for different reasons, Scotty is still adapting but has Phin there to lead the way. Their story starts in the Rhubarb Patch it with asparagus, chickens and a cute little dog it could end anywhere.
Reviewed for Amo and Sarah's Book Corner.
I received a copy of this book in return for an honest review.
This is a second chance love story, it is Scotty and Phin's story. Scotty is an author of science fiction gay romance and Phone is a semi-retired Financier. They are neighbours, both ending up in the country for different reasons, Scotty is still adapting but has Phin there to lead the way. Their story starts in the Rhubarb Patch it with asparagus, chickens and a cute little dog it could end anywhere.
Reviewed for Amo and Sarah's Book Corner.
I received a copy of this book in return for an honest review.
May 5, 2020
3.5 stars
Scott first meets his new neighbour Phineas when he runs across their lawns in his underwear to stop Scott from weed whacking a rhubarb patch. Scott has just inherited a house from his grandmother, who he doesn't remember, as he hasn't seen her since he was very young. Scott has moved from the city to small town Ohio, and is very much a city mouse in the country. As Scott settles in to his new to him house, he gets to know his grandmother a little more, helped along by Phineas, who claims her as his best friend.
Phineas has had a tragic life and now lives very simply, growing his own vegetables and trying to live really cleanly. He doesn't want to get interested in this neighbour who may or may not be staying, and who knows nothing about gardening or living in the country.
Phin and Scott are true opposites, with differing political views, different eating habits, different knowledge bases. They are very respectful of those differences, though, which is a nice change. Neither of them saw the other's light and changed who they were. I enjoyed the story and them getting to know one another. I felt bad for poor Phin, with all of the troubles that he had seen in his life, but the fact that Scott was there to support him and respect him was nice.
Scott first meets his new neighbour Phineas when he runs across their lawns in his underwear to stop Scott from weed whacking a rhubarb patch. Scott has just inherited a house from his grandmother, who he doesn't remember, as he hasn't seen her since he was very young. Scott has moved from the city to small town Ohio, and is very much a city mouse in the country. As Scott settles in to his new to him house, he gets to know his grandmother a little more, helped along by Phineas, who claims her as his best friend.
Phineas has had a tragic life and now lives very simply, growing his own vegetables and trying to live really cleanly. He doesn't want to get interested in this neighbour who may or may not be staying, and who knows nothing about gardening or living in the country.
Phin and Scott are true opposites, with differing political views, different eating habits, different knowledge bases. They are very respectful of those differences, though, which is a nice change. Neither of them saw the other's light and changed who they were. I enjoyed the story and them getting to know one another. I felt bad for poor Phin, with all of the troubles that he had seen in his life, but the fact that Scott was there to support him and respect him was nice.
November 15, 2022
Fun, tense and sweet with a bit of spice thrown in. Scott, inherits his GrandMa's house. He meets Phin while he's trying to clear what he thinks is weeds, but turns out to be rhubarb. Scott and Phin, develop a friendship as they bond over the land and Phin's relationship with Scott's Grandma. Being from differing backgrounds and finding ways to work around them adds to the adventure. Then a little intrigue and danger is introduced and the story, gets better. Nicely constructed story with good characters and good elements that need solutions and smoothing. Does Scott maintain ownership of the property? Does he finally understand rhubarb? Can he and Phin be more than friends? Well done. Absolutely enjoyable story. I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 17, 2022
This was an interesting book. It is the first time that I have read this author. It is a slow-burn, small-town, country romance. I don't mind slow burn get to know you before you hit the sheets type romance so it was nice. Plus love finding new authors. Phin and Scott were great and had nice chemistry. Scott moved to a small town after he inherited his grandmother's house where he meets Phin. Phin is his neighbor with who he develops a friendship and then more. Phin growing up in the country and knowing Scott's grandma takes it upon himself to show him around and introduce him to country life making him feel more at home in the country. I liked the side characters and can't wait to read more from this series.
August 14, 2017
Though not the type of book I'd normally read I really enjoyed this story. It's simple love story rings true in the heart of any old romantic like me, it's an up to date concept of the kind of romance every good girl wants with the steamy sex scenes for those that are naughty at heart.
Having never read M/M romance I wasn't sure if I would be able to follow it the way I would a M/F romance but the story is so engrossing and the characters so lovable it never once posed a problem. If you love old fashioned romance with a modern twist definitely give this book a go.
This review was written on behalf of Amo and Sarah's book corner.
Having never read M/M romance I wasn't sure if I would be able to follow it the way I would a M/F romance but the story is so engrossing and the characters so lovable it never once posed a problem. If you love old fashioned romance with a modern twist definitely give this book a go.
This review was written on behalf of Amo and Sarah's book corner.
November 12, 2022
A pretty sweet and exciting love story. The slow build up of the romance was terrific. Phin is a good character. Scott is too, just a bit different from Phin. Together they fit, amazingly. I appreciated them both as they, together, made an opposites attraction very successful. The pasts of both men helped to create a deeper more poignant story. I will say I really appreciated the way this author incorporated the political aspect into this story tactfully. The m/c’s had different even opposing views and this author handled it maturely and without bias. Well done, because that’s rare, in my experience, especially in this particular genre. I voluntarily reviewed an arc of this book.
November 8, 2022
City Mouse moves to the Country
Cute love story of a city boy who moves to the country when he inherits a house from a Grandmother he never met.
Interesting first meeting of Scott & Phin, lots of family drama, but Scott & Phin both learn very important lessons during their romance.
Some danger, sad parts too.
I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review.
Cute love story of a city boy who moves to the country when he inherits a house from a Grandmother he never met.
Interesting first meeting of Scott & Phin, lots of family drama, but Scott & Phin both learn very important lessons during their romance.
Some danger, sad parts too.
I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review.
November 9, 2022
I wanna cry Phins life has been one tragic loss after another... yes losing people is horrific, but also its his loss of hope and sense of future, that really makes us feel bad. He really gutted me, even I miss Katie.
As for Scott, there is a lesson for us all, sometimes we can put too much out there... although something said/written in jest or throw away comment, can cause hurt and upset without meaning too.
As for Scott, there is a lesson for us all, sometimes we can put too much out there... although something said/written in jest or throw away comment, can cause hurt and upset without meaning too.
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