Heaven on Earth

Heaven on Earth – Compass Boys Book 1 by Jayne Rylon and Mari Carr “All the water in the ocean can’t sink a ship unless you let it inside.” If you haven’t read the other books from Compton Pass / Compass Ranch it’s ok because this is a stand-alone and you will be able to follow along just fine. Just know that the Compton Family is big and loving and welcoming because: “‘The blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb.’ Meaning people you fight alongside become closer than relatives.” Austin has found his place in his family - he is content and living his dream. Hayden has no family around and is trying to find her way out of a very bad situation. They have a “meet cute” and the story rolls from there. This was a quick read that made me laugh (I cannot quote it here but please know that I laughed out loud at Location 1499 and will ABSOLUTELY work that title into a conversation this month), it made me sad, it made me happy and it made me look forward to the next book in this series. I absolutely recommend this book and the entire Compass Ranch series. Due to the open door sex scenes, I would not recommend it to my mom ~wink~

***5 ‘Just A Little Bit Longer’ Stars*** You know those series that make you feel like you’ve come home when you start reading them, whether they’re a new book or you’re doing a re-read? Well, Heaven On Earth gave me that feeling from the very first page even though it’s been many, many moons since I first read the Compass Brothers & Compass Girls series. I felt like no time had passed at all and I back home hanging out with my friends and family. I had the whole dopey smile thing going on. I swooned. I got the teary eyed sniffles. I laughed and I even did a little growling at certain points. But I thoroughly enjoyed Austin and Hayden’s journey and loved catching up with the Compton clan and seeing how they rally around those they call their own. Austin is all kinds of book boyfriend material. He is so much more than what most people see, including himself. There is a kind and compassionate man under the smexy as h$ll tatt’d up bod who’ll give a person in need the shirt off his back. He really is the epitome of the good ‘old country boy with a heart of gold and a wicked silver tongue. Hayden is a stubborn little thing, who will admit to not making such great choices in her past but is bound and determined to learn from them and better herself. But with some of those choices still quite fresh they have her only seeing one very small portion of what her future could truly be. I loved Hayden, I didn’t always agree with her, but I enjoyed watching her evolution into becoming who she was always meant to be. Austin and Hayden’s journey to their HEA was all kinds of fun, slow burn, swoon worthy goodness. I really enjoyed how they got to know each other, despite the circumstances that had them colliding into one another. They got to know each other and truly see who they were, not only by their words, but their actions and that process connected them on a soul deep level. And the slow burn between them was spot on given what Hayden had gone through, but once the line was crossed, things got quite smexy between them. What I enjoyed the most was seeing them grow. One can argue, and be quite correct, that Hayden evolves the most thank’s to Austin, but Austin changes as well and the lightbulb moments he has are just as great. The road bump in their journey wasn’t a surprise, it’s spelled out from the beginning, and though I got growly because of it, it was necessary and I liked how everything played out in the end. The writing was engaging and seamless, which comes as no surprise since this isn’t their first rodeo together. The pacing was great and I enjoyed the dual 3rd person POV’s. And this will come as no surprise, but I loved getting to catch up with the Compass family we’ve met along the way as well as get a closer glimpse at the Compass Boys.. All of this was so well woven into Austin and Hayden’s journey that it never overshadowed their journey but served to give it more depth while peaking my interest in what the future will bring for everyone. And though you don’t necessarily NEED to read the Compass Brothers or Compass Girls series to enjoy this book, the authors to a wonderful job at giving you the pertinent info on the characters you meet in the book, it will give you that much more of an understanding of this huge family’s dynamic and make the the journey a lot more fun. ~ Copy provided by the author & voluntarily reviewed ~

"Stay just a little bit longer" runs deep and true in this book, and when it finally all comes together with this theme, I admit, I cried some happy tears But enough of that, come'on, who is super-duper excited that we are back in Compton Pass!!!! I know I was all fan-girly to get back there, and that cover, wowsers, that cover is fan-freakin'-amazing. We also now know that not directions, not seasons, but elements are the themes for the boys. This makes such perfect sense, because Austin is as down to earth as it gets Austin is the son of Silas, Lucy, and Colby, and has known love and support his whole life. While he doesn't think he quite fits in the Compton mode, the truth is, he fits the best at home, on the ranch, and with his family. He tried higher learning, and while he could do it, it didn't give him what he needed in life. He has built his own piece in the ranch operations, he does their long-haul trucking, and that is where he meets Hayden. Once he meets her, he keeps giving her reasons to stick around a little longer, staying with him until the next point. This leads them to a relationship that always seems to be trying to beat the clock. That weighs on Austin, because he wants nothing more than to be with Hayden always, but understands her need to grow and stand for herself Hayden hasn't had an easy life, and her stubbornness has left her in situations she should have given up, time and time again. She is smart, strong, and sweet, but she has the streak of following a decision she has made, without stopping to see if it is the right one. It takes her a while, a really long while, but eventually she comes around. But as she is figuring this out, we get to see the development of the relationship with her and Austin. We get to see the way they work together, fit together, and compliment each other The ending made me happy cry, and I felt like I had finally got to visit with some family and friends who have been away too long, by going back to the Compass Ranch!