Fables Retold, Morgan Brice and Various Authors

I'm a sucker for a good fairy tale retelling, especially when there are a few twists or modernizations thrown in wisely. Four of the included stories really caught my interest and two were written by a couple of my must-read authors so I was pretty excited for this anthology.

Below are reviews for only four of the stories: The Cat Returns to Adderly, Sam Burns; The Seventh Ring of Bertram Bell, W.M. Fawkes; Gruff, Morgan Brice; and The Demon's in the Details, Meghan Maslow.

The Cat Returns to Adderly, Sam Burns
This was a really unique take on Puss in Boots, that the boots were the tool used to bring back the element of humanity in a supernaturally altered cat.  The romance itself took a back seat to Luke's making a home in the mansion of a missing witch while making sense of the life he's trying to gain.  In and amongst all the little discoveries there's something going on between him and the Alastair of his dreams, but none of that really comes together until the very end and by then we're supposed to believe there's a romantic connection, though it's a bit of curiosity, lust, and desperation all mixed up in a way that's okay for a start, but not a good way to end the story.  While the epilogue bit was cute and shows a far more settled couple, it doesn't really deepen the believability of the romance.  I wished there were more magic, more romance, and more of a build, but overall the unique take and interesting premise was passable.  3 stars.

Gruff, Morgan Brice
I love Fox Hollow!  Each story in this world fits the setting and adds interest to a town I wish I could visit in real life.  Adiel and Joe are new additions to the town and their meet-cute was a good intro to Adiel, getting to know Joe came a bit later.  My favorite bit was probably the first shift where they meet one another's goats...adorable!  Their hesitance was endearing until Adiel let his fear and insecurity get the better of him.

The romantic conflict was super predictable and the way they both flew off the handle and stomped off full of self-righteousness and hurt feelings was definitely not appreciated, but what made it excusable was that during their separation both truly reflected on their overreactions and made really astute observations that led to believable resolutions.

And the introduction of the Three Billy Goats Gruff aspect was far more dramatic than I expected, they were powerfully different, violent, and challenging.  Very little resembled the Norwegian fairy tale beyond the desire to consume the challenger and I liked the intent behind the changes.  They were a little repetitive, but still quite effective.  The whole experience helped Adiel to prove, not only to Joe, but to himself that he was stronger than he thought, that he was deserving of more than he's been given or had accepted up to now.  And the assists from Joe were just right; a partnership and a non-verbal show of just where his own heart and hopes lay.  Definitely unique and great addition to the Fox Hollow stories.  4 stars.

The Seventh Ring of Bertram Bell, W.M. Fawkes

Quite grim nearly from the start with a whole lot of loss and apprehension about huge life changes for everyone, Elio had a lot to come to terms with over the course of the story.  The creepy nature of Bertram, the house setup, the mystery...all of it was fitting to the original tale.  While I was glad things worked out as they did, I didn't connect with any of the characters much at all even though I really wanted to.  I was more interested in Grim, the random dog who was a mystery on their own and left unexplained to the very end.

There was a lot that was unresolved by the end, most the minutiae of consequences from the climax, and I would have really appreciated seeing some of the transition because Elio had two more huge changes coming at him; the hopeful expectation regarding those changes just wasn't enough to satisfy me.  Between the magic that I wanted more of and the friends-to-lovers setup with Dutch that I also didn't get enough of, the story was fine, I just didn't feel there was enough.  3 stars.

The Demon's in the Details, Meghan Maslow

By far the best book I have ever read from this author.  Poe and Tommy are fascinating and memorable on their own and together they are incendiary and fickle and salty and sweet too.  I enjoyed their roller coaster, though I wish it had been an alternating POV and not just Poe's.  From the very beginning I was intrigued and engaged and interested in the MC's and rooted for their HEA, which they most definitely got.

The plot was clear and focused, it progressed well without too many complications thrown in just to make things more interesting.  There was drama, of course, but it was resolved in a way that fit the characters and the family they surrounded themselves by.  There weren't any true surprises along the way, but neither was it exactly predictable; it was just right, in my opinion.  There was a strength in the subtleties, the bad guys were clear, and the good guys were a lot of fun while also being clever and deadly.

There was compassion, heart, passion, and family in all the right ways.  I really want more from this world.  If you sign up for the author's newsletter you could gain access to a short story from Tommy's POV from when he met Poe and while it was kinda nice, it was incredibly short and I thought it was underwhelming.  I'd recommend not reading it after the story, read it as part of the story where it belongs chronologically if you really want to read it, I just think it was unnecessary.  4.5 stars.

*$8.99 on Amazon

Tales as old as time…reimagined.

What if your favorite fairy tales…kicked some serious, urban fantasy ass?

Fueled by magic, steam, and scorching men, this MM romance anthology has just the thrill you’re looking for.

Stories included:

Blake & the Beast by Rhys Lawless (Beauty & the Beast)

The Cat Returns to Adderly by Sam Burns (Puss in Boots)

The Seventh Ring of Bertram Bell by W.M. Fawkes (Bluebeard)

Gruff by Morgan Brice (Three Billy Goats Gruff)

The Demon's in the Details by Meghan Maslow (Rumpelstiltskin)

Spirit of Snow by Richard Amos (Snow White)

Crossing Lines: Hollywood Hopefuls Book 3, Jeris Jean

Crossing Lines (Hollywood Hopefuls Book Three)

Release Date: March 30, 2021

Genre/s: Contemporary M/M Romance

Trope/s: Age-gap, Hollywood

Themes: Trust, commitment

Heat Rating: 4 flames

Length: 61,095 words/181 pages

In Drawing Lines we got a glimpse of something between Jasper and Matt so I was intrigued before this release was even announced.  What we got in their story was far more depth, hurt, patience, and growth than I expected.  Jasper and his successful yet stagnant life met Matt's burgeoning yet haunted life and neither expected the chemistry, disappointment, insecurity, or the love that they'd find with one another.

Aside from the bar scene, their sexual chemistry was kind of muted for most of the book.  There were definitely some spicy scenes, but in the face of Matt's history and hang ups there were other things that became more important.  Jasper's patience with Matt's limits was wonderful because it showed how much he truly valued Matt and was willing to go at his pace.

That being said, both men had a tendency to get a bit too much in their own heads and then get hurt and then offended and lash out at one another over a few issues that really would have been solved by good ole fashioned communication.  They were stellar at it in some cases and then not at all when it came to really sensitive things.  Adding in some contradictory actions and statements and I was left a little confused a couple/few times.  Not enough to write anyone or anything off, just enough to be taken out of the flow of the story unnecessarily.

While this wasn't my favorite of the series, it was a solid follow up with some incredibly tender and sweet moments that stemmed from individual growth and realizations that brought both men to exactly where they needed to be and who they could share it all with.

*$4.99 on Amazon

Add to your Goodreads TBR list!

Crossing Lines is a sexy and sweet age-gap, opposites-attract mm romance set in Hollywood.

When Matt is propositioned by Jasper, a hot older guy, he’s more than down. That is until he realizes Jasper has a boyfriend, and Matt would be joining them both. He’s not into it, especially since the boyfriend is a jerk. What Matt doesn’t expect is the lingering disappointment that the handsome man who approached him wasn't single.

Jasper is not used to rejection. He didn’t become one of the most successful executives in Hollywood by accepting defeat. So when Matt, the sexy young barista, turns him down flat, he's determined to find out why, especially when there is such undeniable chemistry between them.

*Crossing Lines is the third book in the Hollywood Hopefuls series, but it works as a standalone novel, though I absolutely suggest getting to know Ethan from Drawing Lines since he's adorable, the best friend of Matt, and there is a bit of storyline overlap that adds perspective.

Excerpt

Jasper turned in Reid’s arms and simply nodded. Reid’s face lit up, and he drug Jasper off the dance floor. They made their way to the bar to reload on drinks, then they found a small table in the bar area to scope out their options. After quickly scanning the bar, Jasper knew they’d have no trouble finding a willing third. While he was probably a solid 8, even at his age, Reid was a fucking 10, taking tall, dark and handsome to a whole other level. Jasper could already see guys shooting them the Pick me! Pick me! eyes. They were practically licking their lips.

“How about him,” Reid said, nodding his head toward a table near the back. Jasper followed his gaze to a table with three young guys, seemingly in jovial conversation. He watched the three men for a few minutes, trying to gauge their relationship to one another. It certainly seemed like they were close, but the vibe was very platonic. Easy laughs, casual postures, but not sitting close or touching at all. They appeared to be oblivious to the entire club around them, and from what Jasper could tell, they were celebrating. Judging by the baby face on the one guy, it could be his 21st birthday. Jesus. I’m old enough to be that kid’s dad.

“I hope you’re not talking about the ginger, because if you are, I’m going to have to institute a must be old enough to rent a car policy.” He shot Reid a judgmental glare.

Reid laughed. “Not the baby gay. The blonde.”

Jasper considered this. The blonde was also really young, early twenties at best. He was good looking in a boy-next-door sort of way, but Jasper wasn’t particularly attracted to the innocent type. If they were going to have a threesome, he wanted someone who would know what to do. And when his eyes flicked to the third man at the table, all Jasper could think was “Bingo.”

“Him,” Jasper said, not phrasing it as a question.

“Lip Ring?” Reid lifted an eyebrow.

Jasper slowly raked his eyes over the man, considering his appearance. There was something about him that seemed vaguely familiar, thought he was sure they didn’t know one another. He’d certainly have remembered meeting him. He was young, too, but older than the other two. Definitely still in his twenties. He had black hair that was shaved on the sides and longer on top, and it had a few streaks of blue in it. He had piercings in his eyebrow and lip, and while the black hair and piercings would make a lot of guys look rough, the man’s clear blue-grey eyes and easy smile made him seem approachable, kind even. He was long and lean, dressed in all black, tight jeans and a t-shirt that was rolled at the sleeves. His exposed arms were all creamy-pale skin contrasted with stark, bold tattoos, all black and grey and striking blue.

“Yeah,” Jasper croaked, realizing he had been staring for longer than he probably should have been, “him.”

Reid grinned. “Fuck yeah. I’ll go say hi. You go grab a…looks like he’s drinking a beer?”

Jasper stood up quickly. “I’ll go talk to him. You get the drinks.”

About Jeris

Jeris Jean is a life-long Minnesotan with an obsessive love of books. She has a master's degree in English Literature but didn't write her first novel until she was in her mid-thirties.  Something just "clicked," and all fell into its rightful place.

Jeris is a lover of cats, coffee, binge-watching tv shows, her bffs, puzzles, knitting, white sunglasses, black nail polish, purple hair, and reading and writing like it's going out of style, especially mm romance.

She lives with her husband, two sons and their cat, Fluffy Cat Love, in a lovely little suburb of Minneapolis.

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Enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway for a chance to win ebook copies of both previous books in the series (Running Lines and Drawing Lines)

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It's a Steal, Arden O'Keefe

I adored the premise and thought the beginning was quite cute with the complete opposites of the two mens' personalities, but it kind of quickly went off the rails and added a whole lot of elements and intrigue and drama that detracted from the whole overall feel.  Honestly this was a low 3 star, maybe even a 2.75 star book for me because of just how much was added to increase the conflict for no conceivable reason.  Manufacturing situations to make the story more interesting totally didn't work here.

What should have been a simple meet*cute between two men that had great reasons to discover more about one another through their individual differences alone devolved into cybercrime, family drama that was pretty much solved by one sisterly outburst that was one-sided and unfair as well as being overly simplistic, a rockstar that was actually a rocker with a respectable and enthusiastic fan base rather than a rock star, and a different family drama that was solved by a black hat hacker with a soft spot for a young man they hadn't spoken to in nearly a decade breaking silence and making actual contact so they could wave their magic wand and fix everything that was wrong.

It was just too much crazy with too little substance.  There were some nice moments, but timelines in the background snippets we got were confused and confusing, there was very little actual connection between the men, and way too much in-the-head explanations that basically told the story and not enough dialogue or depth driving the story.  So it was nice, just not my favorite.

*$4.99 on Amazon

*Prices accurate on date of posting*

Edric Wilcher has realized growing up that there are simply two things in this world he can never imagine his life without—music and coffee. This is the reason why he chooses the life of a famous rock star—at least, famous in his own small town, and then, goes ahead and opens up Rockstar’s Hideout Café. Every morning he serves his regulars and has a nice, long chat with them before they go back to their daily routine. His charms work wonders on them. Thanks to the good genes bestowed upon him, he doesn’t look half bad. So, it strikes him as odd that this new customer who walks in that morning carrying a heap of books doesn’t seem to even spare him a second glance.

“Coffee” is what he orders and Ed goes out of his way to make him feel special. But the redheaded nerd—okay, a cute nerd, probably cutest he’s seen in his life—just leaves with his books, leaving even the muffin-on-the-house completely untouched. The mystery surrounding this guy gets the best of Ed and when he finds a book left behind by this customer, he can’t help follow the trail to see him just one more time. Even if it is to get a name.

Dean Harrett has somehow misplaced the one thing that was supposed to help him out of his current problems—and that thing is not a cheesy, romance novel. What matters to him the most is what he’s kept in the book—the perfect plan that can make or break his future. And that book has gone now. Only if he can remember where he’s last seen that book…

Of course! The café, where that annoying barista just wouldn’t leave him alone so he had to leave.

But now Dean has to get back there and look for himself before anyone can lay their hands on it. He doesn’t even want to think about the worst-case scenario of someone finding out what he is up to. But this only means he will have to face the annoying, but handsome barista again. Ugh!

To celebrate Arden's debut release they have organized a MASSIVE giveaway!

Head over to Facebook to enter for you chance to win:

https://www.facebook.com/authorardenokeefe/posts/127174749062744

Amazon Gift Cards worth up to $200 and some amazing goodies are up for grabs!!!

"An enormous, gigantic THANK YOU everyone who has pre-ordered or purchased  IT'S A STEAL! This is a way of me showing how much I appreciate it. By following THREE easy steps (refer below), you stand a chance to win one of over TEN prizes!!!

I call this giveaway MASSIVE for a reason ... read on" -Arden O'Keefe

Here's what you're competing for -

❣️ A grand prize winner who'll receive $50 Amazon Gift Card

(Chosen on September 1st, 2020)

❣️ 5 lucky winners who'll have a chance to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card

(Chosen every Sunday in the month of AUGUST)

❣️ 2 lucky winners who'll receive $10 Amazon Gift Card

(Chosen at random any time during the contest)

❣️ 1 lucky winner will receive a $5 Amazon Gift Card

(Chosen at random at the end of the contest)

❣️ 1 lucky winner will receive a pack of amazing goodies!

(Chosen on September 1st, 2020)

Enter the contest in THREE easy steps over on Facebook -

Step 1: Like Arden's Facebook Page.

(Please note you will also be invited to my Facebook Group "The A-OK Squad")

Step 2: Fill out this Google Form: https://forms.gle/cYuEqk5GK7GGzQgv5

Step 3: Come back and tag AT LEAST 10 friends in your comment on the Facebook post HERE.

And that's it!

About Arden

Arden O’Keefe has several passions and reading is one of them. It is through reading the works of several loved authors that O’Keefe was inspired to craft out some personal creations. The muse never stops to motivate and that’s how the story of Edric and Dean just developed by itself. This is where O’Keefe begins the journey hoping that it doesn’t end anytime soon.

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Finding Me: Voice Out Book 2, Stella Rainbow

Brady's spark and loyalty was engaging when we first met him in Finding You and here we get to see him get his happily ever after with the person who fits all of him.  Luckily Charlie is just as wonderful and a great match because they have their own journey to travel and it's not always on an upward slope.  Together they navigate change, acceptance, and love in a way that was full of challenge and tenderness.  This was such a wonderfully sweet story with an insightful look into how difficult some personal evolutions can be.

Charlie was shy, vulnerable, and so very curious.  Their openness served them well at the same time as giving the reader a glimpse into the ups and downs of accepting your true self after hiding away for decades.  The body dysmorphia was especially interesting in a way that a cis female like myself wouldn't truly be aware of had I not found a story like this.  Not liking myself or being dissatisfied with my body's appearance has nothing on what Charlie and many other non-binary individuals have to face and I absolutely appreciated how this topic was described and handled.  Following that up with Brady's fierceness in the face of hurtful family members showed a lighter and positive outcome for bringing family together despite all the hurt.

Brady's constant encouragement and support was invaluable to Charlie and their dynamic really worked for me.  This was a much lighter story in comparison to Finding You, but its subject matter was completely different and held a different intensity.  The Voice Out community is full of love and brightness in a world that doesn't accept all humans in their variety of flavors.  I'm a fan of this series and am eager for more.

*$3.99 on Amazon

Brady:
I thought I was happy with my life. I have a successful business, an awesome found family, a dog who is a bigger princess than me and volunteer work that keeps me busy and satisfied when nothing else does.

I was content—and I'd thought I was happy, too—to live my life just like that. No mess. No one to demand things of me I wasn't willing to give. No complications.

But then I met Charlie.

Charlie:
For my whole life, I'd been sure I was destined to live a half-life, to hide a part of myself so I wouldn't lose the only two people I cared about. And I was resigned to my fate.

But when my dad died of a sudden heart attack, I realized life was too short to keep hiding. I moved to a new city, but I had no clue how to go about finding a part of myself that I'd buried so long ago.

And then I met Brady.

A man who is out and proud of who he is and a person who has spent their life hiding a part of themselves. Will they be able to forge a path together or would their differences end up pushing them away?

The Redemption of River: Sex in Seattle Book 4, Eli Easton

After leaving the series on such a fantastic high note with incredible depth and connection and understanding between James and Michael in The Mating of Michael, I wasn't sure River's story could match it.  But those concerns were pretty much obliterated because it came damn, damn close to being just as awesome.  In some ways I liked it more, because dogs and raw healing, but the relationship between James and Michael still wins a bit more for me.

Moving beyond grief is hardly ever an easy thing and for someone like Brent it was so much worse because not only did he suffer while watching his wife suffer, he unknowingly took her pain into himself.  His loss of libido was the least of his worries at first, but when it begins to concern his friends and himself he seeks out our favorite clinic and finds a lot more than his missing libido.

"...What did you do to me, Mr. McKay?"
"Love you, maybe? Yeah. I think I just loved you. With everything that I am."

River has a love/let-go (not hate) relationship with his mother and it bleeds into not only his actions, but in his own perception of himself.  That self-sabotage lasts a little too long for me, but no life-altering realization comes quickly or easily and the writing really makes it easy to forgive how long it takes to get River home.  His homecoming is rather wonderful with a humorous moment followed by vulnerability and a plea for forever that really hit me in the feels.

Even though it's Brent that begins our story, the true transformation is in River.  He's held on to his mother's insistent idea of who and what they are that he needs to realize what he has by nearly giving it up.  I'm not usually a fan of separations between lovers once they feel as deeply as Brent and River do, but it really was an important part of River shedding his blinders and realizing what's most important.  Seeing that what he needs above anything else is waiting for him in Seattle takes a little push and some supremely wise insight from Harrison, a fabulously gay octogenarian and friend.

"...whatever it is I've been searching for, it's not out there.  It's not with some guru.  What I've been searching for...is you."

With the grand gesture being made by the right person, a couple that absolutely belongs together, along with some interaction with the other men of the series I've come to love, and a perfectly fitting end and this book is a winner.  How could it not win with its depth of feels, interesting characters, intense and steamy intimate moments, and a wonderfully happy ending?

*$4.99 on Amazon

River Larsen is a world traveler, truth-seeker, and tantric healer.  He's a master of loving all—and no one.  Both his past and his spiritual path warn him against attachment.  When he falls for his surrogacy client and coffee magnate, Brent McKay, River tells himself it's a temporary idyll, a beautiful encounter they'll both enjoy and move on from like mature adults.  Only his heart misses that memo.

Brent McKay hasn't been interested in sex since his wife died two years ago.  When he goes to Expanded Horizons sex clinic in Seattle for help, he meets River Larsen, a sex surrogate specializing in reiki massage and tantric sex therapy.  Brent never expected to be interested in a man, but River's light-filled spirit, inner peace, and electric touch bring him back to life.  Brent's loyal heart is ready to commit again.  But how can he convince River that love can last forever—if you just have faith?

Discover the rest of the

Sex in Seattle Series...

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Snowfall and Romance: A Snow Globe Christmas Book 6, Wendy Rathbone

I was smitten with all the softness, the tenderness, the quiet honesty of what Matthew and Hayden experienced together.  An incredible snow storm brought together two men who needed exactly what the other wanted to offer and though it took them a couple moments of misunderstandings and slightly bruised feelings, they got around to their own version of an epic romance.

At first I thought it was slow, a little too gentle and tame, but as I kept reading I found myself sinking deeper into their connection and was convinced that it was just the right pace for them.  By the time they got to the more physically intimate moments it felt as if they'd been working up to that for days, if not weeks, and so the timing truly felt ideal for what they shared.  I absolutely believed in what they had created up to that point and was eager to see everything grow from there.

Once they got to that point though, it was as if things became a little stagnant.  Something had to be added to get them around to the point where they could completely commit to their unexpected saviors.  I wasn't a fan of the ex entering the picture and I think his issue could have been a bit more focused on one goal rather than two, kind of three-ish rolled into one manipulative package.  It worked its way around to providing a sense of freedom and purpose so I can't say it wasn't effective, I just think it could have been tweaked a little.

From there we got the big gestures that were a little big and dramatic, but weren't out of the realm of possibility in their situation.  And once they got over the hang-ups surrounding them, it was as if everything fell into place.  Neatly wrapped was their freedom, their love, and their future.  This was a delicately passionate story of two men who were both a little lost in their own ways and found exactly what they needed one dark and stormy night.

*$3.99 on Amazon

A blizzard. A Christmas rescue. A man with the heart of an angel.

Hayden

Hayden knows it was stupid to think he could walk home from the office and beat the blizzard. So what if he worked out all the time until he was big and strong. So what if he hated to ever ask for help. Loners who think they can do everything themselves are just as vulnerable as anyone. His only consolation is if he dies there will be very few people who will miss him.

Matthew

The half-frozen man falling through the door to Matthew’s coffee shop is more than alarming, but it’s a good thing he’d forgotten to lock that front entrance or the beautiful guy covered in snow might have died in the cold.

The man is gorgeous, soft-spoken, helpful, maybe even a bit old-fashioned in his manners. Just the type Matthew always wished for but never met. Sharing a fire and a snowed-in night with him will be no hardship.

When the storm lasts more than a day, attraction blooms. But when it is over, will Hayden and Matthew’s feelings fade? Or will holiday charm and a heart-warming miracle draw them together again?

Rescue, forced proximity, overwhelming attraction, blizzards, and a heart-warming Christmas miracle.

Shipping Orders: Valentine's Inc. Cruises Book 2, Ashe Winters

An unrelenting crush and a subtle fascination collide when a coincidence brings the awkwardly insecure Reign on a collision course with the commanding Adonis, Chase.  Neither is on the cruise to find love, but love is never predictable and when their fling becomes more, it's fear that might keep them from keeping what they've found.

It was hard not to be a little in love with all of Reign's insecurities and I wasn't surprised when Chase crashed hard for him.  But while I eventually found those quirks endearing, I was a bit frustrated with how much Reign held himself back.  Sexually he ended up giving Chase everything that was inside him, but in the quieter moments I was hoping for him to be a bit more verbal and relaxed.  That just wasn't him I suppose, and when we ended the story I was pretty shocked that the glimpse we got of him through Chase's epilogue showed us a much more solid presence.  I wished we had gotten to see more of that than just their bedroom chemistry.

I was a bit more disappointed with Chase though.  There was something about him that rubbed me the wrong way.  It could have been the many, many mentions of how he just couldn't keep Reign, the slightly dismissive way he thought about his interactions with Reign versus Reign's coworker, or maybe just an overall feeling of disconnect between me and his character.  I just wasn't as drawn to him.

This story focused a ton on their sexual compatibility and while we saw some more tender and "foundation-shaking" realizations during those encounters, there was a bit of depth that I was missing.  Even the reveals of pasts and fears didn't feel as momentous as I thought they would.  Keeping the angst relatively low and forgoing a huge separation/reunion bit pleased me to no end however, and it made the ending much more satisfying for me.  I would really have enjoyed a bit more of a balance between the bedroom and character evolution, but aside from that I enjoyed this story.

*$3.99 on Amazon

A happy ever after is not in the cards for me. But a short fling aboard a ship crossing the Atlantic might just be exactly what I need. 

When my friends suggest I take a much-needed vacation on their Valentine’s Inc. hosted cruise, I leap at the chance. I don’t have a lot of expectations for this matchmaking singles cruise—I’m certainly not looking for a future Mr. Chase Kelton. 

What I’m not prepared for is walking into my assigned suite to find a man passed out on the first day. I recognize the shy barista immediately. He’s been serving me my morning fix for a year and driving me crazy with the hard shell he keeps locked around himself. I want to break it. I know there’s an entirely different man beneath it that I’m itching to reveal.

Reign is the proverbial fish out of water, and when I discover the real reason he’s on this cruise, I see an opportunity I can’t resist. He needs a companion to show him the ropes—I can do that and so much more.

I've Got You, Becca Seymour

I didn't read Let Me Show You prior to this so I wasn't privy to all that Scott was ashamed of.  I will say, though, that I'm pretty glad.  Going into this with no notions of who these men were gave me a chance to view them through a clear lens.  In doing so I found humility, humor, passion, fear, vulnerability, understanding, growth, and love.  I wouldn't have it any other way.

Scott was the victim of both internalized and external homophobia.  Because of the abuse suffered from all angles, he lashed out in jealousy and fear toward someone he knew didn't deserve it.  (Those events were in Let Me Show You.)  Luckily, that man was forgiving and held out a greater hope for Scott than he had for himself.  It was Scott's insecurities and the intimations of their cause that interested me at first, but it was his genuineness that kept me invested in his evolution.  He knew when he was saying or doing something in reaction to fear and was trying hard to overcome it.  I respected that.  What I loved most was that even through his fear, once he made the decision to make something work, he didn't run.  By turning to those who had his back despite seeing him at his very worst, he began to accept the makeshift family that was waiting to love him back.

And then there's Davis.  His lighthearted way of living life was a little too pretty, a little too perfect to fully accept.  I'm becoming a single mom myself and despite not having the kind of community he does to help with child rearing, I can't believe that it's that easy.  I'm not the type to stress out or worry or become anxious so I can relate to him in a way, but the complete lack of struggle in so many things was a bit off-putting.  Thankfully he was a cool guy who loved fully and rolled with the punches.  His stability and calm gave Scott the perfect foil to his struggles.  He was also pretty funny and gave a lighter feel to the story that could have taken a much more angsty turn.

When the confrontations came, it was through love, hard-won inner strength, and the support of those who had his back that gave Scott the determination to stand against that which had crushed him in the past and threatened to ruin all that he was building.  I really, really liked where the story ended up and was left feeling light, happy, and content.  I wish there were more, actually.  I want an extended epilogue to see how their family grows and settles.  The steam is high but more behind closed doors with reminiscences  rather than a hot in-the-moment play-by-play.  Overall, this was a wonderful story where the title was truly apt.

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When a single dad and a newly outed veterinarian meet by chance, it takes red-cheeked conversations, a tentative friendship, and the willingness to put their hearts on the line to show these men they’re made for each other. 

Single dad Davis Jackson is busy balancing his coffee shop and being the best dad he can be. That doesn’t mean he’s not lonely. After a fumbling encounter with a man who looks as gorgeous as he does unhappy, Davis is left wondering who the mystery man is.  

All Davis knows is that he has never felt such an instant attraction to anyone before, but when he discovers the brown-eyed man’s identity, it’s clear the recently out-of-the-closet veterinarian is lost and quite possibly broken.