Clueless: Squad Goals Book 1, Willow Thomas

Lexi is the favorite of the duo in this one for me.  With his pining it was natural for him to brush off many flirty attempts by Ryder in the beginning and I can't say I was a fan of the way it came off as Ryder playing with him before they actually said all the words.  But I think it was Lexi's way of being present, being able to see Ryder, and his whole way of being there for his friends, family, their struggles, joys, and confrontations.  His whole being drew me in.  Even when he was being a little dumb about Ryder.

I wish Ryder were truly his match.  When he was on and good, he was good, but there were a bunch of moments that he both nearly and really did stuff it up that I couldn't love him.  I liked him, sure, because he did have times where his utter joy in everything that is Lexi brought him closer to the best version of himself.  What I didn't like was how he was so absolutely clueless about everything that he hurt Lexi, seemingly toyed with him, and then continued to almost punish him because he couldn't really open his eyes and get his head out of where the sun doesn't shine.

The resolution was a bit rushed, but with a shorter, low-angst story I don't think I can fault that too much, it just needed to hold more weight than it did.  It definitely felt like a young college kid book with some of its sophmoric humor, but again, with the setting being in college, it's not a true fault, it just made the book seem a little sillier than it could be.  None of those things are truly negative things, just observations.  Lexi was the star and his group of amazing friends are absolutely the draw to the series that I will most assuredly return to.

*$4.99 on Amazon or FREE on KU!

Little Pleasures: Paddle Creek College Book 3, HJ Welch

Xander was in a real fix and there really wasn't anything he could do about it.  I appreciated that he had a wonderful brother and a fantastic little sister to give him support, but it seemed nothing could stop the mental torture and anguish his step-mother was determined to put him through.

I'm not exactly sure how I feel about Xander even such a long time after reading the book.  He started off discouraged and distraught, his love of dinosaurs and basic sweetness came through, and he was at home with Ruben, but I just didn't connect with him.  I saw him, but I didn't feel him.

Ruben was much the same for me.  He was a good Daddy for Xander.  I absolutely appreciated how he introduced his desires and their possible dynamic to Xander; that was probably the thing that made me like him more than anything else.  Adding in how protective of him he was toward Xander's step-mother and Ruben really fit the role of the protector Daddy with a caring streak a mile and a half wide.  But there were little things that just didn't sit right with me.  His many, many assurances to Xander, and to himself, that he was just doing a favor for Xander's brother did nothing to endear me to him.

Speaking to the introduction of the HIV+ thing...  I'm of two minds and one is slightly more dominant.  Part of me feels a bit icky about it because there's spicy time without external protection and Ruben bringing it up was a minor announcement with a question of understanding, both of which were acknowledged by Xander with understanding and acceptance, and then the issue was dropped.  No explanation beyond that at all.  I'm not 100% sure I liked that.

However, and this is a big however, I feel that it was complete in its sparseness.  It was addressed adequately for understanding and consent and it wasn't made to be a giant elephant in the room.  The way it was done was simple and I can see it as removing the stigma of the disease when the reality of it now in a modern, western society with all the new medications and treatments is that it doesn't have to be the slow, awful killer that would have those affected be like the lepers before them.

So overall I think the story was sweet.  It wasn't my favorite by this author at all, but it was a nice read.

*$4.99 on Amazon or FREE on KU!

The Roommate Proposal: Perfect Opposites Book 2, Jace Hadley

Aleksei and Logan seemed very much on the opposite of everything and maybe that's why they fit together so well. I was drawn to both men, but for very different reasons. With Aleksei it was his struggle. His struggle to accept himself openly, while not always necessary for everyone, it was vastly important for him. Mainly because he had all his true acceptance buried beneath the weight of blackmail, control, close-mindedness, fear, and familial piety. Through his determination to be with Logan he found his strength to live his truth.

But it wasn't as simple as just wanting to be with Logan, it was a taste of freedom, love, passion, and happiness that opened to door to his own transformation. And without their brief separation he wouldn't have been able to see what he wanted for himself for the long term and not just until he could graduate.

Logan's charm was in his earnestness and his lack of guile. I can't say that his initial "invitation" to change their dynamic made me feel really comfortable, but with Aleksei's eager acceptance and initiation later on it got a little better. But Logan's general demeanor, honesty, and encouragement felt sweet and not manipulative and predatory. When we get to see Logan's heart, his way with family, and his understanding of Aleksei's personality quirks I really fell for him and new he was right for Aleksei.

Sometimes when the hurtful break comes each MC spend their time unequally feeling the hurt, realizing where they went wrong, and then planning or hinting at the grand gesture...nothing wrong with that, but it's predictable. What I really enjoy is when they use the time away to see, really and truly see, what they are and what they want to become and then go about making the changes necessary to enact their own transformation. When Logan and Aleksei came back together they had each found the thing inside them that would compel them to find and move toward their best selves so that when they reconciled they could really make the best foundation for a happy future together.

So it's pretty clear that I enjoyed the book. There were definitely a couple things, a few moments that had me nervous or frustrated about what might happen next, but I found that there were quite a few moments that overrode them and won me over. I want to read more in the series right away, especially our lovely misunderstood jock's story...

*$4.99 on Amazon or FREE on KU!

Masters of Romance, Emma Alcott

Side Character

https://amzn.to/3to2Oc2

Quick and dirty, that's what I was expecting and that's what we got.  What I didn't expect was the subtle cuteness or the awkwardness or the two-way pining that happened.  Sawyer's friends were hilarious and I had no idea they'd even play a role, but the role they played actually made this short story much better.  I have to admit, the synopsis really turned me off, but since I like this author I was willing to give it a shot and I'm actually glad I did.  The set up for what's to come was the tiniest thread so I'm not sure what we'll get with Bad Boy, but if there are moments of cute like here in Side Character, I'm all in.  There was a lot of depth missing as well as an actual promise of transition from crush to real, but if you only focus on the funny side characters and the awkward cuteness that was endearing, then I think you'll probably like this prequel just fine.  3 stars.

Bad Boy

https://amzn.to/3xS3Lww

A tattooed reclusive ex-con and an imaginative, skittish, young man...on paper neither of them belong together, unless that paper is in a romance novel, then all bets are off and they're a match made in literary heaven.  I liked Colton and Russ together when the moments were good and not awkward and I mostly enjoyed Russ' POV.  Aside from that, the story was hit or miss for me and I'll be back because the group of authors are more intriguing than this particular coupling ended up being.

I think what bothered me the most was Colton's reactions and thoughts.  There were so many moments that I rolled my eyes and either skimmed through or longed to skim through his portion of the story.  Juvenile can be appropriate and amusing and endearing, but in Colton's case it was inconsistent and made me uncomfortable.  Especially the jumping in the sack thing right away...way too soon and on the heels of some disturbing thoughts racing through Colton's brain.

It's Russ that saved it for me and while I wasn't a fan of everything he did, thought, or said, he was the character that I gravitated to from the very beginning.  I like a bit of redemption with my romance and while I believe Russ had nothing to prove to anyone, he needed to show for himself exactly the type of man he was; a good man deserving of the young man that captured his attention and his heart, not to mention other bits of his anatomy.

There was some contrived drama that pushed the story forward but was honestly overkill and inappropriate, so I feel that could have been beta-read out of there, but I can't say I didn't understand why the author went in that direction.  It was kind of an easy road forward conflict-wise and seemed ready-made for overreactions and prejudice to overcome.  I wish it had been less predictable and more organic though.  Other than that, I enjoyed reading this story and am definitely coming back because my curiosity has been piqued with the group of authors that deserve their own HEAs.  3.5 stars.

Adler's Hart: Briggs Ferry Bay Book 2.5, Misty Walker

Really short and a little too simplistic, but gruff older men who hide a soft, vulnerable, gooey middle seem to bypass any reservations I had regarding the story's basic plot.

Adler is gruff and surly and all the best kinds of hotness when we first meet him.  His fragile heart is there for us to see despite all the bearish behavior that's trying to hide it.  His reaction to Hart is just as described in the synopsis, but Hart sinks deeper than I expected and while the timeline is super short to seem to feel so much for the younger man, there's a long reflection that makes Adler's change of heart believable.  It's still tentative though, so what follows makes me feel better about how his offer is presented.

Hart is vivacious, caring, insightful, and just right for Adler.  His youth is quite apparent in some of his reactions and I'm mostly glad that we got to see him acting his age most times.  Having fantastic parents and a stellar friend helped him to see beyond what his unseasoned life experience didn't allow him to see about Adler and led him to reciprocating Adler's grand gesture with one of his own.

The confessions were sweet and straightforward as well as simple with very little to complicate an already complicated situation between them.  Their reactions to hurt were expected and their reunion was still simple but managed to pack some really good feels in there as well.  This story really covered a lot of ground despite being so short and I was happily surprised with how it played out.  Made me wish I discovered the series sooner, actually, so you can bet I'm adding the others to my TBR list.

*$2.00 on Amazon

I'm a loner.
Never getting too comfortable or allowing anyone to get too close.
So when I log onto the hook-up app on my last night in Ketchikan, Alaska,
I assume it'll be a quick lay before I go south for the winter.
Until I see the man who shows up at my door.
He's young, wide-eyed, and perfect.

All I want is a one-night stand with no attachment,
I should have known things would be different with a man named Hart.
After the best night of my life, I'm desperate to run.
Except we're snowed in.

I try to keep him at a distance.
But there's something about him that has me opening up,
letting him in against my better judgment.

Suddenly I don't want to be alone anymore.
I want to be with him.
My Hart.

Commitment Issues: Silver Foxes Book 1, Ali Ryecart

So many tropes to love, such a great author, and two well crafted MC's should have all worked together to make this book sing.  It carried a tune alright, but it wasn't what I hoped for though not a bad way to spend a couple/few hours.

Elliot and Freddie both needed one another platonically, but there was a whole lot of chemistry to work with as well.  What bothered me about that was not how long it took them to get on the same page and between the sheets, it was the constant denial and restrained honesty of feelings that took up more than half of the book.  Slow progress is still progress, but these men set up roadblock after roadblock.  Add in the conniving nastiness that was Gavin and you may as well be in quicksand with how the men were moving forward together.

They did finally work it all out, it just took a long time to get there.  I skimmed a lot of the inner monologuing that happened because it was differently worded reiterations of the same hesitations and denials again and again.  Internal angst can really work, but this edged too far into the self-pitying "woe is me" stuff that wasn't depth of feeling or motivational.

While it's clear I had issues with some things, there were insightful friends, wonderful confessions, and a really sweet epilogue to help things along.

*4.99 on Amazon

From fake date to friends with benefits, commitment's not an issue.

Elliot
Freddie's way too young.  I'm twice his age and old enough to be his father.  He's an adorable mix of sexy, smart, sassy, shy and sweet.  But that doesn't mean I'm going to be forced into taking him as my fake date to my oldest friend's wedding, just because my cheating ex will be there.

Freddie
Elliot's everything I want in a man, he's my ultimate silver fox fantasy.  But I've had my heart ripped out by an older guy before, and I've vowed it'll never happen again.  So why have I let myself be talked into posing as Elliot's arm candy at a posh wedding?

From fake date to friends with benefits, commitment's not part of the deal.  So where does falling in love fit in?

Billy and the Beast: Ever After Book 3, Eli Easton

The only reason this isn't a full 5 stars is honestly because of the steam factor.  There was an incredible amount of sweetness, love, grumptastic caring, innocent joy, and the way they truly saw one another...all of that was fantastic and came together so beautifully that it needed Eli Easton's brand of sensual, soul-touching steam to balance it out and make it perfect.  Think Redemption of River and Mating of Michael level of awesome, but without a ton of sexy times.

Aaron was so incredibly gruff and yet so charming with his "I'll show you, show you how much I want you gone...by buying you expensive work shirts and bringing you meals and spending time with you.  *Hmph.  Let that be a lesson to you."  I loved him.  His vulnerability felt real too, not just because of the physical disfigurement, but the weight he was carrying regarding what he couldn't remember and the grief over the loss of his father.  His character was simple and yet still moving.

Finding his counterpart in the irrepressible Billy was sweet and fun because Billy couldn't find a way to stay mired in negativity despite his circumstances.  It wasn't until the villain stuck their nose into things that he found a pain and hurt he hadn't yet truly experienced.  Thankfully his indomitable will got the kick in the pants it needed by a little tea-and-chat session with their resident "witch".  His discoveries meant a whole lot of freedom and I enjoyed seeing that bit come together.

The villain was very predictable, both in who they were, their motivations, and their methods.  But even with all that predictability, it wasn't annoying.  It was slightly over dramatic, but it fit with the tradition of big, dramatic confrontations marked in all fairy tales.  Everything worked out, obviously, and the bad guy actually saw justice, amends were made, and Aaron finally found healing, confidence, and freedom.  Thanks to Billy's heart and spirit they were both able to get the exact "ending" they deserved.  I loved this story, it's my favorite of the series so far, and I can't wait to see what's next for this little town with its own brand of magic. 

*$3.99 on Amazon

One stolen rose leads Billy to the Beast of his dreams...

The rose is so perfectly pink and delightfully fragrant, so temptingly within reach through the bars of the locked gate. One snip later, and a masked man from Billy’s darkest fantasies grabs his arm.

Billy’s punishment for the theft? To toil in the estate’s horribly overgrown garden for the summer. Only this summer job comes with a mystery. Who is the sexy, scarred, irascible man who lives at Malfleur, and what dark secret from his past is he hiding?

The Beast believes he deserves his self-imposed exile for the crime he committed one awful, reckless night—a night he can’t even remember. He believes no one can love the ruin of a man that survived that cursed accident.

He didn’t count on Billy Martin.

Holding Hans: Ever After Book 2, Tara Lain

Right away my heart went out to Hans.  He's young, figuring things out for himself with the help of a cute new guy in town, and so very responsible before his time.  Dealing with a confused father, a massive debt, a twin who loves him but still manages to be a bit self-centered, and a passionate love of music and overwhelming talent but not being able to do anything great with it...there was just so much on his narrow shoulders that I couldn't not want more for him.

The plot twisting around a mysterious manor and some awkwardly shady dealings surrounding guests and lodgers was a much darker take on the story, but I actually felt it was incredibly modern in its subject matter.  It was handled delicately, which was appreciated, except it felt a little unfinished.  Rune's original job took over at one point and muddied the whole thing going on with Hans and it pulled too much attention away from what should have been the plot's focus.  There were threads left untied, justice unserved, and questions unanswered by the end that took some of the attention and joy from the happier ending we got in the epilogue.

And speaking of the epilogue, it was totally sweet and very fitting, but it was a bit abrupt because we didn't really get a whole lot of settling into the happy between Rune and Hans.  So while I liked Rune, there just wasn't a lot about him, not very much true telling of his own background to satisfy my hopes for him coming out from being undercover.  The intimacy between them was alright, though truncated due to Hans' innocence and Rune's job objectives, and was kind of dimmed under the weight of everything that was going on.  Because of that I didn't mind the fade-to-black bit near the end because without a lot of development between them with transparency a super steamy scene would have made me slightly uncomfortable to read.

A couple of other peeves of mine in the story were Greta and Red.  Greta's self-serving attitude put them all in danger, though without her the plot would have gotten nowhere, so I can't be too upset.  I just felt like their bond through the whole story was one-sided until the end where she only came to the rescue only because she overheard something that gave validity to all the warnings Hans had been trying to tell her about.

Red was supposedly Hans' best friend, but where was he?  Knowing about Hans' difficult life situation, even if only the basics, should have meant that he would be genuinely concerned enough about him to check in every now and again, to at least inquire if he could help, or even just be there for advice about Rune.  There were quite a few moments that I felt like there was so little support.  That could have been the point, but it didn't match the characters.  Even with the attitude of not airing dirty laundry for the town Hans didn't seem the type to have a best friend he virtually never spoke to until Red shows up in the epilogue to support Hans' public performance.

Despite a few frustrations, the story overall was incredibly updated and I truly enjoyed the reading.  My favorite side character was Corey Orey and I wish so much that he had gotten a bit more page time, that he and Hans had a little more opportunity to develop a friendship and some collaboration to nurture Hans' curiosity and passion for his music.  For now, I'm not ready to leave Ever After so I'm going to read Eli Easton's contribution with Billy & the Beast.

*$4.99 on Amazon

How much evil can you cook up in one small town?

When your father gets wonky, marries a weird woman, and runs off to Europe, leaving you and your twin holding the bag for the bills, what else can you do but –
Sleep a night in the forest,
Follow a trail of pebbles to a strange mansion,
And succumb to the attraction of cinnamon rolls, the world’s most beautiful piano, and Madame, the strange woman who gives you your dreams for next to nothing.
But fairy tales teach one lesson –
--when things are too good to be true – run!
Hans Meyer finds that out the hard way, when he wakes up tied to a bed in the dark. Even Rune, the cute guy who buys him root beer floats, isn’t who he seems.

Can piano power, twin power, and a healthy dose of love power overcome the darkness and finally make Hans happy in Ever After?

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.

Follow Arden...

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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.

Follow Brigham...

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And don't forget the giveaway!

$20 Amazon gift card

Wayward Love: Cedar Cove Book 2, Rhys Everly

I'm a huge fan of May/December relationships and with a premise promising an intelligent, driven young man and an older man that needs new perspective and life breathed into his existence, I had high, high hopes for this story.  I'll admit that I'm less of a fan of the author's stories under their other pen name and I figured I'd give them another chance.  I wish it had worked out.

Kyle had exuberance that he let run away with him at every single turn.  For being so smart he was so very unaware of his impetuousness and both men would have greatly benefitted from some good old fashioned communication.  Andy's stick needed to be removed for sure and sometimes it takes a bit of steamrolling to make him see the light, but Andy was stubbornly awful about everything because he was uncomfortable.

And then there was the relationship.  Kyle's assertion that it's just for fun is something that always comes back to bite everyone and his impetuous nature had him promising things and then blowing up when he just needed to stand still and see things from another perspective for five minutes.  Andy's excuses about keeping things special and therefore secret is the same in that it always gets revealed in the worst way and this was completely avoidable, but he was more selfish than all the rest for unsustainable reasons.  Countless times he was shown love and support for the possibility between him and Kyle and he continually shot it down because he hid behind the disapproval of his children.  As a parent, children's feelings are absolutely taken into account when navigating a new relationship, but to allow adult children to dictate your adult relationship is beyond ridiculous.  Nope, just a big fat nope all around.

The grand gesture had sweet moments, but it was nearly ruined by impulsiveness on both sides, yet again.  I know my opinion is in the minority for this book and I feel awful about that, but there's just no denying that the relationship was dysfunctional, the adults acted more like children, acceptance was demurred as often as it was spat on, and straightforward honesty was thin on the ground.

*$5.99 on Amazon

He’s a ray of sunshine, but he’s my son’s best friend.

My life has had three modes since my wife passed away.

Work.
Work.

And work.

And I’m not even any good at that.

Unless I find the money I owe everyone, only a miracle can keep my bar afloat.

Until he comes into my life.

Kyle Brady. 

I’ve never looked at another man the same way I look at him. 

It’s a dangerous feeling.

Somehow I’m roped into letting him help my business and he wants to fix everything.

Including my broken heart.

Want to know how?

Read now and find out.

Quick Reads, Quick Reviews 47

  

• Becoming Sienna: Tide Series Book 0, T.M. Bashford
• Rebound: Latent Series Book 0, Alana Timms
• Whispers of the Heart: Hartwood Valley Book 1, Anita Therry

There were a few things that held promise, but I'm not sure that everything worked together to actually draw me into the larger series.  The two MC's can be great for one another if they can only figure out what the specter in Sienna's world and what they want.  With a mystery within a mystery there are a lot of tangled threads to unravel and it left me with a more confused and dissatisfied feeling than intrigued and invested.  Quite a lot of the emotional aspects felt forced and I had a hard time with Sienna's end choice.  Yes, healing is necessary, but I don't think her choice is actually the right one for both her and for the situation.  Overall I'm just not exactly a fan of the story and it didn't make me want to read more from this world, especially because the first story in the series isn't about the MC's from here.  2 stars.

I find that this story lacked balance for me.  We spent far too long pining for a friend who though virtually nothing of Trent, not even enough friendship to care about their dynamic and the situation Trent would face without him.  Chasing after his own urges put Trent into a situation that was more than unfortunate.  I did like Noah, though I thought there were so many threads and desires he had regarding his views on their inner wolf that would have beefed up the story and made it so very intriguing.  If we hadn't spent so long on Trent's yearning and the discordant feelings for both alphas we could have had an amazing story.  As it stands, Trent was alright though a bit one-note with a bit of a backbone, Noah was intriguing though in a basic way, and the story was merely alright when so much potential was set aside.  Honestly though, the vampire lounge thing really should have happened, I was really interested in that, but it too was set aside in favor of other unimpressive details.  3 stars.

I liked both characters and thought they matched together as a couple.  Their attraction in the past was there and while I didn't like that it took so long for them together, once they gave in to what they really wanted, it worked out in a sweet way.  That both men didn't expect monumental changes or for the "lowly omega" to give up his dreams and hard work now that he had an alpha in his life was wonderful.  Not everything was easy, especially with someone attempting to undermine and lie their way into taking everything away from them.  As they discover who it is and why it gives both men a chance to support one another.  And in the face of everything, they not only come together as a partnership, but they created a family and an environment where they could all truly thrive.  3.5 stars.