Leo & His Lion: Oh My! Book 2, Andi James and Lila Wilde

With Dylan's inability to adult and Leo's insecurity regarding coming out, it seems like they'd have some pretty big difficulties finding their forever happiness.  And while they do have their stumbling blocks, it's the way they fight for their individual happiness that truly brings them together and makes them memorable and very sweet to watch.  They each have something the other lacks and through their moments of discovery, their passion, and their constantly building connection they find exactly what they need.

There was something so satisfying in watching Dylan become the man he is meant to be.  Not only do we get the eye-opening kink discovery, we get to watch him be incredibly clumsy along the way to finding out who he wants to be and achieving that path for himself.  His foibles are actually quite endearing and speak to the innocent and genuinely good soul he has.  I found that just under the surface of all that scattered mess, he was actually the stronger partner in the story.  It was through him that Leo found his courage.

Leo was complicated in that he came from a family of love but had no confidence in their ability to accept a fundamental part of him.  There's no specific timeline for anyone admitting that part of themselves, and while I wished it hadn't taken him so long, his journey was one of moving from fear to freedom.

The connection both men shared right from the start was apparent in Teddy & His Bear.  Starting from a moment in that book was a great way to go, but things felt a little awkward the morning after.  It felt like Leo was trying too hard to show his adoration, support, and awe of Dylan's artistic abilities and dreams.  It just didn't feel organic to the moment.  Dylan's journey of kink started off quite awkward for me and I didn't know how I felt in those moments, but when we got to their "Ah ha!" moment, it all settled together and felt right.  The way they wove the kink into their budding relationship was believable as well as sexy.  While their connection did grow in a really fantastic way, it was the conclusion that really had me sold on these men.  They made the choices they did regarding their futures as individuals and they weren't dependent on the other man.  It brought the story from sexy and nice to solidly good with both steam and feels to add to the more admirable qualities of the MC's themselves.

*$3.99 on Amazon or FREE on KU!

Leo Varma doesn’t need love. At thirty-seven, he’s satisfied with focusing on his career, friends, and casual hookups. Besides, getting into a real relationship would mean finally telling his conservative family that he’s gay, and possibly losing them forever. He’s convinced himself that living in the shadows is good enough... until he meets Dylan. 

Dylan Drake-Matthews might be a catastrophe on two legs, but he loves life. After taking a part-time job at the club Leo frequents, the wide-eyed nineteen-year-old dives into the kink scene with both feet. When his first few attempts end in disaster, Leo takes Dylan under his wing, and everything clicks in a surprising way.

But secret encounters can only carry them so far. Dylan’s authenticity and personal honesty make Leo wish things were different in his own life, while Leo’s family situation keeps him from being what Dylan needs. Can Leo face his fears? Or will he let the love he never expected to find slip through his fingers?