Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Dreamspinner
Length: 61,000 words approx.
Cover Design: Garrett Leigh @ Black Jazz Design
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Blurb
When high school student James has trouble with his truck, Dylan, who is studying to be a mechanic, comes to the rescue. James thinks he hides his immediate attraction well, but is happy to be wrong when Dylan asks for his number. Since James is new to romance, they take things slowly, and because Dylan is in college, James keeps the budding relationship secret from his overprotective dad.
Across town, Mark, a teacher and single father to James and his sister, Frankie, meets Steve at a bar for what both believe will be a quick hookup. Mark doesn’t see any reason to tell his kids about Steve or press Steve for details about Steve’s adopted son…. It’s just sex between them. Isn’t it?
Two very different love stories grow side by side, each hidden from the other. But all of that changes at a family barbecue, when Mark decides it’s time for his kids to meet Steve and for him to meet James’s boyfriend, who none of them realize is Steve’s son, Dylan. The inevitable explosion means the two couples have some explaining to do to soothe the hurt feelings of their families—and lovers.
3 of 5 Stars
I’m kind of in the middle on this one. It is a quick read; there are things I liked and things I disliked, and I really think if done differently would have been a great read as the relationship between James and Dylan had major potential.
James is coming of age and going into his first real relationship. Dylan suffered through a remarkably bad childhood and triumphed to become an amazing adult. The bond and relationship they form is special. James is awkward and lacks self-confidence but truly shines when he’s with Dylan. With James, Dylan feels appreciated and loved for only the second time in his life. These guys are good for each other and seem to be made for the long haul together.
If the author had more fully developed the story of the younger couple on page, this could have been an outstanding story. Unfortunately, so much of the story, for both couples really, happens off page and there are major time jumps so this just feels like an incomplete story.
I didn’t care for the relationship between the dads…it seemed like just sex and unnecessary filler. I suppose that’s what causes the conflict, but they didn’t work for me as a couple and their fight escalated to essentially blowing each other off too quickly and the resolution was unbelievably fast as well.
I did really like the relationship between Steve and Dylan. That made Steve more likeable to me whereas Mark is still just a cardboard character.
James’ twin Frankie and Steve’s friends Carl and Brian were all great characters though.
Author Bio
Anna Martin is from a picturesque seaside village in the southwest of England and now lives in the Bristol, a city that embraces her love for the arts. After spending most of her childhood making up stories, she studied English literature at university before attempting to turn her hand as a professional writer.
Apart from being physically dependent on her laptop, Anna is enthusiastic about writing and producing local grassroots theater (especially at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, where she can be found every summer), going to visit friends in other countries, and reading anything thatís put under her nose.
Anna claims her entire career is due to the love, support, prereading, and creative ass kicking provided by her best friend Jennifer. Jennifer refuses to accept responsibility for anything Anna has written.
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