Advance & Retreat: The Midwest Series Book 4, Brigham Vaughn

Ian finds maturity and what it really means to love.
Sometimes dreams change, sometimes they grow.

Finding someone to love you, all of you, is tough enough when you don't have another persona, another facet of yourself that's just as valid as the one that performs your day job.  Ricky and Rosie are sides of one person and Ricky is about to give up on finding his person.  Ian isn't sure if what turns him on is something he can publicly acknowledge because a history of love and loss has left him painted into a corner, one where the invisible chains are strangling him but he can't see how to break them.  Both men need something more, someone to celebrate every part of what makes them unique and special.

I think this was my favorite story in the series.  While Touch & Go gave me the redemption story that makes me believe, Advance & Retreat gives me the story of acceptance that gives me peace.  Ian is mature in some ways, but tragically young in others.  He's not had an easy life with so many losses and emotional obligations that bind him to people who don't always see the man he should become.  His loyalty is based on a child's need for family and stability and that loyalty almost costs him the one person that supports his soul.  He definitely makes a quite a few big mistakes and while I'm not a fan of the begging, I am a huge fan of his willingness and determination to fix his mistakes even if it doesn't get him what he hopes for.

Ricky is really great when he explains his feelings, his perspective, and his own part in the huge blow up of their relationship.  I thought he was a subtle, soothing presence throughout the whole story even when he was hurting because of Ian's naivety and hurtful reactions.  He was interesting on his own, as was Ian, but it was them together that really sold the story for me.

The cameos from Micah were my favorite of the past characters involved in Advance & Retreat because they came from someone who knew exactly what it was like to truly hurt the person they loved the most.  His story added depth to his advice to Ian and while it's not necessary to have read Touch & Go, I was glad that I did.  The entire cast of The Midwest Series showed up here and there and added a well-rounded feel to the support and breadth of experience in their little family.  A few other side characters drew enough interest to make me hope for a spin-off series because after finishing this story I'm still not ready to let them all go.  I've become attached.

*$5.99 on Amazon

Olympic-size dreams come at a price.

Openly gay college swimmer Ian Harrington feels like he's fighting against a current of tragedy. He's grieving the loss of his parents and best friend, and now he's dealing with a toxic coach and judgmental brother. But he won't let that stop him from chasing his dream: Olympic gold. 

Ricky Chavez has just about everything he wants in life: a great career, a supportive family, and a side gig as drag queen Rosie Riveting. The only thing he's missing is a partner to share it all with. 

When the two men connect after Rosie’s performance, they're immediately drawn to one another. But it's never that simple. Ricky isn't the type of man to hide, and with Ian's coach breathing down his neck, he can't openly love a drag queen without making waves. 

They'll have to brave deep waters to make it to the finish line.

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Quick Reads, Quick Reviews 37

  

• New Horizons: A Metahuman Files: Classified Novella, Hailey Turner
• Stealing the Angel's Innocence: Heaven and Hell's Romance Company Book 1, Idris MacManus
• How Not to Tuck: Lovestrong Book 2, Susan Hawke

Moving on with life after the devastating and life-altering events in DC isn't always straightforward.  Some suffer with PTSD, others struggle to find their new place in the world.  Trevor Sanchez has always been sure of who he is and what he wants.  While he misses the camaraderie and stability and familiarity of his military unit and his place with Alpha team, he's eager to finally become the doctor he wants to be.  When the Sons of Adam don't seem to be laying down their plans, Trevor becomes embroiled in the local faction's drama when they seek revenge on a handsome and frightened paramedic.  Brendan puts patients above himself and once again, he's staring down the barrel of a gun.  When he and Trevor connect it's far deeper than attraction or duty, it's soul-changing.  Understanding the fragility of life and unwilling to dismiss what they feel, they have to navigate their enemy and their duties if they hope to carve out a piece of the future for them together.

Seriously hot.  Trevor is fantastic in his use of abilities as well as his innate sense of concern for others.  While he knows where his past and his future goals will take him he's completely unafraid of what he feels for Brendan and I loved that he was open and willing to accept all that meant.  Brendan was more hesitant only because he's caught somewhere between lust, being starstruck, swept off his feet, and afraid of the threats closing in on him.  Their dynamic in the bedroom was incredible and Trevor's direct attack with the feels while including Brendan in his life really made this story great.  The only issue I had with this was the mental healing of Brendan that needed to be addressed.  I seriously cannot get enough of this series and was extremely happy to get another novella to dive back into.  4 stars.

Someone is stealing souls and the consequences could be dire.  When Oramon, a demon who collects the souls bound for Hell, is placed on an investigative team with an angel as a partner, he knows the issue is much bigger than he originally thought.  And when he meets Sariel he's not only impressed, he's captivated.  As they muddle through the investigation of lost souls they also find new feelings, startling revelations, and a yearning to feel.  Sariel's innocence is the most attractive thing about him and Oramon is only a demon, who can blame him for taking a taste?

I felt that this book was a really good start to this series.  It hooked interest, laid the foundation for the series, and gave good insight into Oramon's character as well as a bit of Sariel.  We'll have to read more from the series to truly understand Sariel's complex feelings for the findings of the discoveries in the first novella.  There are some pretty big bombshells dropped near the end as well as the monumental change in their partnership that begs for more so I'm absolutely on board with reading more.  I do hope we either get an alternating POV in the coming books, at the very least we need a lot more from Sariel to fell the same level of connection as with Oramon.  4 stars.

Honey Combover is larger than life, and so is the cobra between her legs.  It refuses to stay where it's placed and while that has become part of her persona, it's also the reason she's in a little bit of trouble at her day job.  When the school's principal refuses to let her conduct the glee club in her drag persona because of the tape trouble she can't seem to get under control, Larry offers the principal an invitation to see him perform before turning them down outright.  A show and a show later, and what used to be years of bickering and complaining fast becomes the partnership Larry and Godric never saw coming.

Sexy, sweet, funny, campy, and a whole lot of entertainment, this short, lighthearted story is all that was great about the Lovestrong books.  Larry is so extra both as himself and as Honey Combover but every moment felt genuine.  I loved that he was both learning about himself and giving in to everything that made him feel.  Godric was a bit of a surprise and I liked who he ended up being.  The dynamic between the two men felt right and was just what the other needed.  By seeing the good in one another they were essentially freed to be their true selves and were loved for it.  I can't wait to see them together in the periphery of the rest of the series.  Pretty sure I'll never get enough of Honey.  4.5 stars.