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Food For Thought by Amy Lane

From Dreamspinner:FoodForThought

Emmett Gant was planning to tell his father something really important one Sunday morning—but his father passed away first. Now, nearly three years later, Emmett can’t seem to clear up who he should be with—the girl with the apple cheeks and the awesome family, or his snarky neighbor, Keegan, who never sees his family but who makes Emmett really happy just by coming over to chat.

Emmett needs clarity.

Fortunately for Emmett, his best friend’s mom has a cookbook that promises to give Emmett insight and good food, and Emmett is intrigued. After the cookbook follows him home, Emmett and Keegan decide to make the recipe “For Clarity,” and what ensues is both very clear—and a little surprising, especially to Emmett’s girlfriend. Emmett is going to have to think hard about his past and the really important thing he forgot to tell his father if he wants to get the recipe for love just right.

Marieke’s thoughts:

Emmett is dating a girl, a sweet, good looking girl that wants a serious relationship, just like Emmett does. She has the perfect family, and Emmett wants it all. Family is everything to Emmett, as he doesn’t have one of his own. He’s always been alone with his dad, who loved him but didn’t know how to communicate it. His best friend Vinnie–– who’s family lived next door to him when he was a kid–– is his substitute family. Vinnie’s mom is the only mom he’s ever had, and she sees him as one of her own kids. That’s why she gives him a mysterious cookbook after one of their family gatherings.

That day Vinnie and his mom both try to talk to Emmett about his girlfriend, and about how he never seems to look like a man in love. They hint about knowing he might have feelings for men, and it scares the hell out of Emmett. If he’s gay, he’ll never have the big family he craves.

Keegan is his neighbor, and a good friend. They hang out all the time, and Emmett can’t seem to put his girlfriend before Keegan, who’s openly gay. With a little help of the magical cookbook, Emmett finds clarity, but so does Keegan.

I have to say, this was the first time I read an Amy Lane book that didn’t blow me away. The plot idea was good, but the way it was worked out, wasn’t. It all felt very stilted and too unnatural. It just didn’t flow. Emmett wasn’t as likeable as I like my main characters. Keegan is great, but his role is too predictable.

Vinnie’s family is awesome but they too have only a small role in the story. They probably have a huge role in Emmett’s life though, so I kind of missed that part. And in the end it all happened just a little bit too easy and too fast. It could’ve been amazing, but now it was just so-so. I was very disappointed as I am an Amy fan, but I can’t give it more than three stars. It’s not a bad story, but it’s not great either. For a light read before bed it’s perfect, but not exciting.

Rating: 3

 

Morgan’s Thoughts

As usual Amy made me tear up when I read about the death of Emmett’s dad… God – this was supposed to be a light sweet book! Damn you Amy (shaking fist!).

But… of course that helps us to buy into Emmett’s lies and betrayals.

I loved the cooking part and the paranormal aspect to the receiving of said book… In general I’m digging this series as a whole.

Another win for the Queen of Angst!

5

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Threefold Love by Ki Brightly

Dreamspinner Presents http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=6278

ThreefoldLoveBlurb

Captain Xavier Hobbs, a decommissioned combat engineer, was chronically lonely in the Army. But once he is back to being a civilian, with no family and nothing to ground him, he drifts. All he wants is a real home, a real life, and love—but that is easy to wish for and hard to make happen.

When he meets Andrew Landry, a high school English teacher, Xavier thinks he has found everything he has ever wanted, maybe even someone he can trust with his scars—the ones on his mind and body. Andrew’s quick wit and outgoing personality reel Xavier in slowly but surely. But he isn’t certain which way Andrew swings, and doesn’t dare to do more than hope the friendly man is actually flirting.

Then, on what Xavier idly wishes were their first date, disaster strikes in the form of Duncan McNeil, a fellow Wiccan and Andrew’s fiancé. Xavier’s hope is smashed to pieces, but Duncan and Andrew may have a different point of view. All they need is a little magic, some hope, and a lot of love to put everything back together.

Review

My first impression is that I wish this had been released in the fall. With the storyline and the wiccan stuff – it felt like a fall novel. But – that didn’t detract from my enjoyment too much, and I did enjoy this very much.

I really enjoyed the characters. Each man in this triad is unique with their own special contributions to be made that together forms a more perfect union. That is always the hard part for any ménage/romance – to convince the reader that the three is better than the couple. In this case Duncan and Andrew are 15 years into their relationship and are not showing any real sign of trouble but when Xavier shows up, Andrew’s longing for a slightly different love-making experience is the initial crack that allows them to explore the idea of a third.

Duncan is solid, dependable, easy going and … surprisingly sexy in the bedroom! There is more to him than meets the eye and when we start to see the dynamics of the triad it is clear that Duncan is far more of the leader than anyone else and it’s his strength that holds the three together.

I enjoyed the wiccan information/storyline. I think it was perhaps important to show how they could open their relationship and still be consistent with who they are as a people.

All in all I really enjoyed this (new to me) author and this triad love story.

4 of 5 hearts

4

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Outcome (Aftermath #2) by Cara Dee

Cara Dee Presents:  http://www.amazon.com/Outcome-Aftermath-Book-Cara-Dee-ebook/dp/B00NML5KGI/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1427768959&sr=1-1&keywords=outcome+cara+dee

outcomeBlurb

Three years ago, Chase Gallardo ran toward freedom with his fellow survivors after having spent five months in captivity. He hasn’t stopped running since. Only now, it’s the memories he’s constantly trying to escape. Haunting echoes of a man who forced Chase to play the part of another, the kidnapper’s younger brother. Chase may have survived, but that doesn’t mean he’s really living. Until one day, when his employee tells him there’s a man sitting at the bar, wearing only underwear.
Remy Stahl has given up—almost. For a year, alcohol, drugs, and faces without names have kept him company. But he has two friends who refuse to give up on him, and they lock him up in his house in an attempt to save him from himself. But never underestimate an addict’s desire to see the bottom of another bottle. Remy escapes, and he doesn’t give a rat’s ass that he’s nearly naked.

This is the sequel to Aftermath, where Cam and Austin met, struggled, and fell in love. Outcome takes us back to Bakersfield with Chase and Remy’s story. Fueled by anger, guilt, and shame, they’re not off to an easy start. But it’s only a matter of time before they learn how much they need each other in order to move on.

Review

(From previous site)

If you remember Aftermath – which you MUST read before you read this – you’ll recall that Chase was one of the captives held by Remy Stahl’s brother.  In fact, Remy was the “name” Chase was given and his role to play in the demented farce he was forced to play in the basement.  At the end of Aftermath, Chase is contacted by Remy in an attempt for Remy to express his immense regret that Chase suffered at his brother’s hands.

In this, the sequel, we pick up where Aftermath left off, Chase is a year out of captivity and he is feeling more secure in his life.  He has refused Remy’s apologies thus far and doesn’t think he will ever be ready to face him.

Remy, on the other hand, is checking out.  He is in a drug driven downward spiral that is only halted when his friend pulls him in and puts him in a forced “detox” situation.

Running from this detox, Remy runs into Chase by accident.  This spurs Chase into re-evaluating his feelings and the two enter into a somewhat strange, but infinitely mutually helpful relationship with each other.

They have many ghosts to vanquish and we see some very interesting new developments in the kidnapping case which may serve to split them apart.

**

I absolutely loved Aftermath and was so pleased to see the sequel.  This is a lot easier to read than Aftermath – mostly because we’ve already seen most of the horrors the men had to survive.  Instead, this was a delightful, healing sequel that showed us more of Cam and Austin and allowed us to see Chase and Remy come to peace with their pasts (more than just the past that they shared with Remy’s brother.)

Their love story is sweet and sexy and you will want to read this all in one seating, it’s so engaging.

I highly recommend this and give it 5 of 5 hearts.

5

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Slaying Isidore’s Dragons by Cody Kennedy

slaying-isidores-dragons

From Harmony Ink:

Admittedly, after counting down the months, then weeks, days and hours until this book came up for review, I almost convinced myself that perhaps… just perhaps, Cody Kennedy would have at least one flaw, and that maybe this book would not be what Omorphi was to me. I laugh as I write this review, because I can’t believe I even entertained the idea that he wouldn’t hit it out of the park! I simply just sit here in the dark of my bedroom, AMPED to write this review. I must begin, as one does, at the beginning. The moment I laid eyes on the cover, I was sold by Reese Dante’s intense vision of the novel. Isidore’s beautiful soul, his tragic pose, calls as hauntingly as Christy’s eyes do from the cover of Omorphi. The prologue grips you from the few pages it takes up… and explosively, the novel takes flight.
Declan and Isidore, tied to one another by common misfortune, find new life as they begin to share a life. Declan has always been strong, but wary of people due to being a “dip kid,” as he terms being the child of a diplomat. He is quick to speak his thoughts, quick to defend those he loves—his friends, his mother, and his boyfriend—and yet, he does not commit to violence unless pushed to great lengths. Isidore grows so much during the novel that it’s hard to picture him at the beginning, wishing only for the day to be over, so that the pain can stop. When Declan moves to take him in, to protect him, and when Sorcha—my gods, she’s a beautiful character and truly, goddesshood would behoove her!—when Sorcha meets him and decides the de Quirkes are not ever going to let him go, I lost my heart. To watch him bloom as Isidore begins to know a completely different life, one where he is loved and valued, where he is a part of a family that loves and cherishes one another; watching Isidore, tiny Isidore, start to shine so brightly, I swear that my eyes teared up almost every single time he laughed.
Master Kennedy, having advertised Slaying Isidore’s Dragons as a young adult Jason Bourne novel, spoke truth. It had everything I wanted from the advert: suspense, romance, action, truth, cliffhanger chapters… the works! As was expected, Kennedy crafted a balance that never tipped once in these wonderful pages, and he knew exactly where to place breathing moments. And, you know, I have to say that even knowing as I went into this book that it would end in a beginning, one where, as a beloved Doctor from Gallifrey once put it, “everybody lives!” I love the spin that Kennedy puts on things. I love how his masterful storytelling sucks you straight the characters’ world and you forget that he’s going to give you that HEA at the end. You get so lost in Declan and Isidore’s lives that you worry if Isidore’s going to be okay or if his evil dragons are going to get a win, and that though Declan fights valiantly, he will be vanquished!
Then, of course, you remember that like life, Cody Kennedy finds a way. He will bring you back to the beginning at the end, and he will remind you that though life has dark moments (that sometimes, feel like dark lifetimes), the sun will shine through, that all you have to do is fight. Hope is real, and everyone has a chance to be victorious, to slay their dragons… if you just believe, if you hold to hope, if you act.
I always include a “what I liked and didn’t like” paragraph in my reviews, and being mindful not to tell too much, I must include one here. First, there wasn’t a single word I didn’t like. Not one. That being said, on to what I did like. I loved the allusions to David and Jonathan from the Books of Samuel in The Bible. I loved the mentions of Alexander the Great and Hephaistion. I simply loved the conversation Isidore has with first Declan and then Sorcha about how to write his paper on Hephaistion without lying. I loved the intensity of the chemistry between Isidore and Declan, and I love the way that it culminated in beautiful displays of both affection and lovemaking. I loved the relationship between Declan and Sorcha. I love the description of Declan’s coming out to his parents. I loved Mike and Bobby. Heck, I even loved Professor Lowe.
Naturally, I’m going to have favorite parts. One of my favorite scenes in the entire book is Isidore defending Declan in the school cafeteria. I loved watching Declan challenge Isidore’s four half-brothers, willing to take all of them on at one time, holding Isidore behind his back in a daring, “just try to take him from me; I dare you!” move. I loved the tender moment where Declan breaks down in Isidore’s arms. I loved the gift that Declan makes for Isidore. I loved Isidore meeting Mike, and I loved Isidore protecting Caleb. And there are so many, many, many more moments that I loved.
But… now it’s over. I’ve reached the hated last page and the moment where I just don’t know what to do with myself. I guess it’s a good thing that I bought a hard copy, then. I will just pick that baby up and start an immediate re-read. After all… this is a Cody Kennedy book. Cody Kennedy books are meant to be read over and over again. Just like Nico and Caleb, and Christy and Michael before them, Declan and Isidore bring a message of hope, a message of it gets better… and really, don’t we all need a reminder every now and again that we are strong enough to weather the storm?
All I can say, in conclusion, is THANKEE, MASTER CODY!!!!! This book was well worth the wait and it was a total honor to review! Also… when is Tharros going to be released?

Rating:amazing

Buy from: Amazon

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More than Chemistry Audiobook by Kate Sherwood narrated by Derrick McClain

Dreamspinner presents http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=6288

more than chemistryBlurb

Jack Lawson grew up poor and can’t forget it. He’s a huge success in the business world, but it won’t be enough until the image of “poor little Jack” is completely wiped away. When Jack runs into his old friend, Noah Mercier, he decides that Noah’s sister, an up-and-coming movie star, would be the perfect evidence of glamorous success. If Jack can win Hayley, it will be clear to everyone, including himself, that he has truly arrived.
The problem with Jack’s grand plan is that he’s more attracted to Noah. Jack’s never worried about the gender of his conquests, but Noah just isn’t flashy enough for Jack’s scheme to set the world on fire… unless Jack realizes he has practically no control over deciding who he wants – and even less choice in who he needs.

Review

Jack is a millionaire running a chemical company when he meets Noah, an acquaintance from the past. At first, Jack (comfortably bi-sexual) is attracted to Noah and figures he’d like a quick affair with the man, but after speaking to him he learns that Noah has a famous sister and it’s her coat-tails he’d like to ride. A final bit of proof that he’s made it and is not the poor loser he was in high school.

Noah and Jack end up spending a lot of time together working on an ad campaign for Jack’s company. During this time both men seem to be falling in love but Jack can’t shake off his plan of wowing the public with a famous girlfriend, so he doesn’t act on his feelings.

Luckily, once he does manage to take out the famous sister, he’s come to the conclusion that Noah means more than glory and he sets about winning Noah’s heart instead.

**

This was a very short, cute love story along the lines of Cyrano. Noah is in the awkward position of setting up Jack with his sister but coveting him for himself.

Since it was a short story things moved ridiculously quickly but it was still a great story with a lovely HEA.

Audio

Derrick McClain is new to me as far as narration goes, but he did a very nice job with the story. He infused emotion and differentiated voices and even managed a passable female voice when needed.

I enjoyed both the story and the narration and give it 4 of 5 hearts.

4

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Saugatuck Summer by Amelia C Gormley

Riptide Publishing Presents http://riptidepublishing.com/titles/saugatuck-summer

SaugatuckSummer_500x750Blurb

Hi, I’m Topher Carlisle: twenty-one, pretty, and fabulous. At least, that’s what I keep telling myself. But let’s get real. Walking the fake-it-til-you-make-it road to independence and self-respect isn’t easy. Especially since my mom’s a deadbeat alcoholic, and most of my family expects me to turn out just as worthless. Oh, and I’m close to losing my college swimming scholarship, so let’s add “dropout” to the list.

My BFF has invited me to stay at her beach house on the shore of Lake Michigan. That’ll give me one summer to make money and figure out what I want to do with my life. So of course I decide to have an affair with my BFF’s married, closeted dad. Because that always works out.

Now I’m homeless, friendless, jobless. Worthless. Just like my family expects, right? Except there’s this great guy, Jace, who sees it differently. He’s got it all together in ways I can only dream of—he’s hot, creative, insightful, understanding. He seems to think I don’t give myself enough credit. And if I don’t watch out, I may start to believe him.

Review

(From previous site)

This book exemplifies for me the reason why m/m is such a powerful subgenre.  Amelia has written two very flawed MCs and yet their love story is both powerful and sweet.  She touches on some very timely subjects: the nature of what qualifies as abuse, the boundaries and taboos of sexual desire, racial equality, societal “norms”… But she is neither preachy nor overbearing.

There are times you hurt as you turn the page, watching Topher place himself in bad situation after bad situation, but the pay out is so worth it.  You can see growth, love, and understanding.  No – it’s not all peaches and cream, but when is life, ever?

Another beautiful thing Amelia has done is to give us two MCs who BOTH have flaws, and yes, it is a Rescue Me story, but in the end both characters are “rescued”, and neither is helpless.

I found her exploration of Topher’s sexuality particularly well done.  You would expect that an out and proud man would “know” himself pretty well, but as she shows us, that isn’t always the case and we internalize so much from our environment without really asking ourselves if this is ME or THEM.  Very well done.

Amelia is a fantastic writer whose characters drive this story through aching pain and delicious happiness.  She has great editing and a smooth, writing style that is evocative and decadent without crossing over into purple prose.

It felt real, and believable, and still so sweet.  Some of this is the first person usage, which I really like.  It felt intimate and I like that – especially in an angsty book.  Though I would have loved more from Jace’s POV or even Brendan’s you definitely know what they are thinking and it doesn’t detract from the story.

This is the first in a series and the first I have read of this author.  I look forward to more.

An excellent book, I highly recommend.

5 of 5 hearts

5

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Spring Break at Villa Hermes (Brandt and Donelly book 4)by Xavier Mayne

Dreamspinner Presents http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=6231

SpringBreakattheVillaHermesBlurb
Troopers Ethan Brandt and Gabriel Donnelly celebrate the one-year anniversary of their engagement by flying south for a week of calm relaxation at the Villa Hermes, a gay boutique hotel on the beach. But when the rest of the guests turn out to be college guys on spring break (unwittingly booked into a gay hotel by a passive-aggressive travel agent), their week turns out to be anything but calm.

Ted, one of the spring breakers, has harbored a crush on his roommate and best friend, Bark, since they met freshman year. Now, on their fourth and final spring break, Ted knows they must soon say good-bye. A lacrosse star and ladies’ man, Bark has no idea Ted has fallen for him—until a storm forces the entire group underground for twenty-four hours of stress and truth-telling. Bark doesn’t want to say good-bye to Ted at graduation either. He just didn’t know how to put his feelings into words or if he could face the consequences of speaking them. Brandt and Donnelly help the college guys through their crisis by showing them what love between best friends can grow into.

Review

Ted and Bark are friends and roommates in their last year at the university. This is to the their last “hoorah” and Ted plans to say good-bye to the man who’s been his unrequited love interest for the last four years. But when a manipulative travel agency books Ted and his friends at the same gay resort as Brandt and Donelly a lot of things happen that change that plan.

**
This is an absolutely hysterical and lovely story. Ted’s friends are full of charismatic stories that get told one night as they all huddle against a storm.  Each striving to be their own man and to deal with their own sexuality in ways that none of the others ever guessed.

Xavier Mayne has given us more wonderful secondary characters with just as much flavor as Bryce and Nestor.  I also love that Xavier is not shy about letting the secondary characters sometimes steal some of the limelight.  In this case Ted and Bark’s story, though lovely and really sweet, has moments where it is eclipsed by the tale of the underwear model and the bear and a blossoming bi-sexual hippy.

I love that we continue to be awed by the love between Brandt and Donelly again – there are still layers to explore in their relationship- and it is always fun to check in on them as they get closer to marriage.

I have really enjoyed this series tremendously and I think that this comes in second as my favorite of the bunch.

I whole-heartedly recommend it and give it 5 of 5 hearts.

5

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Rainbow Blues by KC Burn

Dreampsinner Presents http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=5102

RainbowBluesBlurb

Having come out late in life, forty-three-year-old Luke Jordan is at a loss about how to conduct himself as a gay man. As a construction manager, he’s not interested in being out at work, but he’d like to find a boyfriend or at least some gay friends. Two years after his wife got all their friends in the divorce, he’s no closer to the life he wants.

Zach, Luke’s adult son, takes charge and signs him up for the Rainbow Blues, a social group for gay blue-collar workers. At an event, he not only finds friends but meets Jimmy Alexander, part-time stage actor and full-time high school biology teacher. Jimmy loves the stage but wishes potential boyfriends weren’t so jealous of the time he devotes to it. When he meets Luke and finds him accepting of his many facets, he thinks it’s a dream come true.

Their relationship quickly moves into serious territory, but their connection is tested to its breaking point by the offer of a juicy movie role that takes Jimmy to the opposite coast and into the path of a very sexy costar.

Review

(From previous site)

I really, really enjoyed this new book by KC Burn.

I was already a KC Burn fan through her Cop Out series, so when I saw she had a new book coming out, I was excited.  When I saw that it was about an older man and another older man, my NOT twenty-something heart just about burst!

Without being depressing or boring, KC gives us a nicely more-realistic love story (I say more, because it is still a romance after all) between guys who are closer to 40 than 20.  The relationship has to survive busy careers, time management issues, long distance, kids and the two MCs have to make time for their relationship.  (When I read what I just wrote it sounds tedious and humdrum, but it wasn’t!  It was gentle, and caring, sometimes very sexy and hot and yet very really sweet and loving. )

Jimmy can be a neurotic queen, but you love each neurosis and totally root for him.  Zach, the son, is sometimes a selfish prick, but we understand his motives and love him, too.  And poor Ryan… well – you’ll have to read it to see what happens to him.

My only complaint is Luke:  he’s maybe a little too flawless.  He didn’t get to do much growing beyond his initial “I’m divorced and alone and I don’t know how to fix it” phase at the beginning.  After his son “fixes” that, he is pretty much perfect. He seems to have read and follow the  “How to be a great and understanding boyfriend” book, to the letter.

But – it works.  I just fell in love with Jimmy and Luke, and I suspended my disbelief and accepted that sometimes Hollywood will just come knocking on your door and that your twenty-four year old son will think your thirty eight year old boyfriend is a boy toy, and that your very first non-hetero relationship will be perfection…

Overall, it was great to read about older men NOT falling in love with someone half their age, (though that can be a good story) it’s a nice change of pace.  It was nice reading about a mature relationship unfolding in a way that you could really see happening to you or any of your single friends.

KC is a great writer, with lovely timing and an excellent editor.

I highly recommend this book – giving it a 4.5 (deducting only for the lack of true angst in Luke).

4.5

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More Than Chemistry-Kate Sherwood

Dreamspinner Press

Jack Lawson grew up poor and can’t forget it. He’s a huge success in the business world, but it won’t be enough until the image of “poor little Jack” is completely wiped away. When Jack runs into his old friend, Noah Mercier, he decides that Noah’s sister, an up-and-coming movie star, would be the perfect evidence of glamorous success. If Jack can win Hayley, it will be clear to everyone, including himself, that he has truly arrived.

The problem with Jack’s grand plan is that he’s more attracted to Noah. Jack’s never worried about the gender of his conquests, but Noah just isn’t flashy enough for Jack’s scheme to set the world on fire… unless Jack realizes he has practically no control over deciding who he wants—and even less choice in who he needs. 

  

This was a nice little novella which gave us the story of billionaire businessman Jack who runs into a former high school classmate Noah during a meeting with the advertising company Noah works for.  This cute little romantic comedy that’s perfect for someone who may be in search of a light read. Jack’s character I felt was a bit odd it was just something off about him. Oh, it was nothing serious, it was just the fact that I had a hard time believing that he was this successful billionaire businessman. His personality was not a personality that I would think would fit a billionaire businessman type but that’s okay as it made the story a little more interesting. He had a great sense humor, which is good, but I felt that sometimes he was a little too funny for a businessman to be. I felt like it would’ve been hard to take him seriously because he was more funny than serious. I felt that he hid behind his humor a lot to hide his insecurity. This insecurity is residual from his childhood. He grew up poor so now he’s finally in a position where his dreams are finally realized. Even though he’s the successful powerful billionaire businessman intelligent handsome has everything going for him on the inside he still the poor and insecure teenager from high school who never felt that he was good enough. This is what drives him to make this ridiculous deal with Noah in reference to his sister who is on her way to becoming a celebrity.

Noah is shy and unassuming which causes people to overlook him at times and he doesn’t seem to mind because he really does not like the spotlight being shined on him. He needs Jack and there is a connection between the two but somehow or another Jack decides he has to have the sister to prove to himself more than anyone else that yeah, he’s finally a success because he was able to have a celebrity on his arm. A celebrity who would’ve been nothing more than a trophy because she was not who Jack wanted or needed to be with. 

This story was nice although I think it could’ve had a little more spice to it. I’m not saying full out sex scenes should’ve been written in,  just that it would’ve hurt to have had a little more spice or heat added to it. This know that it was more like a plain salad without the dressing: it’s cool,refreshing, and bland, but still tastes nice. 

⭐️⭐️⭐️

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Silence of the Stars Audiobook by Kate McMurray Narrated by Michael Ferraluolo

Dreamspinner Presents
http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=6236

SilenceoftheStars[The]AUDMEDBlurb
A Spin-off of The Stars that Tremble

Sandy Sullivan has gotten so good at covering up his emotions, he’s waiting for someone to hand him an Oscar. On the outside, he’s a cheerful, funny guy, but his good humor is the only thing keeping awful memories from his army tours in Afghanistan at bay. Worse, Sandy is now adrift after breaking up with the only man who ever understood him, but who also wanted to fix him the way Sandy’s been fixing up his new house in Brooklyn.

Everett Blake seems to have everything: good looks, money, and talent to spare. He parlayed a successful career as a violinist into a teaching job at Manhattan’s elite Olcott School and until four months ago, he even had the perfect boyfriend. Now he’s on his own, trying to give his new apartment some personality, even if it is unkempt compared to the perfect home he shared with his ex. When hiring a contractor to renovate his kitchen sends Sandy barreling into his life, Everett is only too happy to accept the chaos… until he realizes he’s in over his head.

Review

To start – I did not read The Stars That Tremble, but I’m told that’s okay.

Sandy is suffering from PTSD, now working with a buddy as a decorator, mostly outgoing and loving life, but having a hard time dealing with the demons he saw in the war.

Everett is coming off a broken heart, his famous ex has moved on and he’s now focusing on his new career and a new residence.

The two are immediately attracted and begin an affair, but it isn’t an easy road.

Sandy doesn’t want to deal with the PTSD he denies and doesn’t want to burden anyone else with his nightmares, so he avoids sleepovers and commitment.

Everett is still a bit gun-shy, what with being a recent ex of a long relationship and he’s dubious about his own abilities to handle Sandy’s PTSD.

In the end Sandy agrees to get some help and Everett and he get a solid HEA.

**

There were parts of this book that I really liked. I loved the MCs and their POTENTIAL. The PTSD, the socialite and the working class man, the musician and the carpenter… all good mixes and rife with potential.

What I didn’t like was the lack of emotion. Even the sex seemed kind of mechanical and blah. Though they said words to the effect of “you are so hot” “I want you so much” I didn’t FEEL it.

Kate McMurray has an easy and flowing writing style, lots of attention to detail and well developed characters.

I liked this book and I would read more by this author, but I wasn’t wowed by this particular story.

3.5 of 5 hearts

I love the cover!

Audio
I mostly liked the narration by Michael Ferraluolo. He has a very nice voice that is easy to listen to. However, I thought that Everett should have the lighter voice and Sandy the deeper – so that kept throwing me out of the story. But I don’t really think that there is a basis for my interpretation other than Sandy was the Army guy… stereotypes and all that. It didn’t really diminish the overall enjoyment for me – just gave me pause now and then. He differentiated the voices nicely and dealt with the emotion that was in the story well.

4 of 5 hearts for the audiobook

4

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