A Flighty Fake Boyfriend: Men of St. Nacho's Book 2, Z.A. Maxfield

These men were a total surprise for me, a fantastic one, in fact.  I went into this thinking it would be pleasant, one of my favorite tropes, with a side of well-written cliched scenario that works out in the end with feels and a touch of humor.  I was both right and so very, very wrong.  This was most of that and yet so much more.

Ryan was ultimately an emotional wreck with a defeated heart and unhealthy habits that could only lead to destruction, well, maybe just an insane ulcer with a side of cancer.  There was an incredible sadness inside him that he hadn't processed until Epic.  The beautifully deceptive Epic.  Under his insightful tenderness and incredible passion he unlocked the grief Ryan had been burying.  With that freedom came fear.

Epic was way more than merely a waiter.  He was vivacious and bubbly and had a zest for life, for experience.  He came across as perceptive and also very young and flighty.  But quite quickly his youthful silliness was shattered as we learned just how much depth there was to this young man.  Being so much more than initially perceived lent a distinct weight to his observations and his care of Ryan.  And his rescue of Ryan not only at the end, but during one particularly messed up scene in the garden at the resort...such a strength and determination in someone still in his early 20's.  He's still young though, so his reactions to Ryan's fear were predictably immature.

The emails.  Damn.  The emails began with hardness, vulnerability, sarcasm, and regret, but bloomed with so much honesty and heartfelt pleas that it was heartbreaking and also the perfect place from which to grow.  Their reconciliation was earned though it was also kept brief.  And then the epilogue sealed their happiness in a way that was so solid and sweet.  It could have packed more of a punch, but it was subtle and not altogether unpleasant.

I was surprised by the story, by the men, and truly enjoyed reading this story.  Epic and Ryan work so well together and their interactions were quietly funny and also very illuminating into who they were individually.  The work Ryan did and the level of intelligence from both men added something extra to this story that made them a little extra special.

*$3.99 on Amazon

All Ryan Winslow needs is a fake date for his ex's wedding. What happens when a fake date turns into real, but impossible, love?

Ryan Winslow has everything he needs to attend his billionaire aristocrat ex's wedding. He's got an out and proud A-list celebrity date, reservations at an exclusive resort in Santa Barbara, and two weeks to enjoy a vacation—his first in six years.

The drive down gives him a chance to visit old friends in tiny St. Nacho's, but that's where things start to go wrong. His workaholic, driven lifestyle takes its toll, and his date calls to say he can't make it. How will he ever find a substitute date for a formal wedding in time?

Epic Alsop waits tables, but that's not all he does. He pays special attention to people, and responds to their needs accordingly. When he meets an overworked, underfed Ryan, he offers him a healing smoothie and a little extra care. When Ryan's date for a wedding cancels, Epic offers to be his fake boyfriend.

What Epic doesn't expect is Ryan's kindness, or the amazing resort vacation he offers. He doesn't expect Ryan's patience, his wit, or his passion.

But they live in different countries, and Ryan's job leaves no room for a social life. The hunger and weariness that drew Epic to Ryan in the first place is only a symptom of the reason they can't be together.

Can fake lovers who fall in genuine love find a way to make their relationship work? Or are they destined to be alone forever?