This anthology of gay romances of realizing your perfect match has always been in your life was highly enjoyable, a whole lot sexy and fun to boot. ~ Slick, Guilty Pleasures
Description:
Join these bestselling M/M authors as they bring you tales of love, lust, and laughter…between friends.
Featuring seven brand new novellas, each answering the question—what happens when the one meant for you was right there all along?
Review copy provided for an honest review
This anthology of gay romances of realizing your perfect match has always been in your life was highly enjoyable, a whole lot sexy and fun to boot. While some stories were stronger than others, they were all good and the proceeds from this boxed set go to http://onenten.org/about-one-n-ten/ an organization that helps LGBTQ youth and young adults embrace who they are and become actively engaged in their communities and empowered to lead. Enjoy!!
Rough Edges by Cardeno C.
This was a good story, about one man’s ability to overlook another’s bristly behavior and even reach out a helping hand when he needed it. Trust fund baby Brent has wanted Kyle since he met him, but Kyle doesn’t like what he considers Brent’s lazy lifestyle but when Kyle needs a place to stay and Brent helps him through a rough patch he begins to see a whole other side to Brent. I liked this story, but for a good part of it Kyle’s bristly temperament really bugged me and I had a hard time liking him. I found myself often offended on Brent’s behalf. Kyle did grow and change during this book which was a good thing, but I also would have liked to see Brent confront him just a bit more. That being said, it was a decent romance of opposite attract with some nicely written sexy times.
Unexpected Turn by Ella Frank
I loved this story of best friends, one gay and one seemingly not; realizing what they feel for one another was more than friendship. Tyler and Connor have been friends and roommates for years; both in relationships with other people and on the weekend of Tyler’s sister’s wedding their friendship turns to more. While Tyler has always noticed Connor’s attractiveness Tyler is way confused about his seemingly sudden interest in Tyler and the jealousy he feels towards Tyler’s boyfriend. I loved watching Connor work out his feelings toward Tyler and Tyler realizing he’s just not some sexual experimentation for Connor. Their long time friendship made their relationship special and moving from friends to lovers made it that much more special. I loved the easy way between them and watching them realize the perfect person for them was there all along was priceless!
Dare You To by Riley Hart
Friends and neighbors become more in this story by Riley Hart. I enjoyed every minute of this story and watching Dare help Austin move past his comfort zone and Austin helping Dare open up to the pain from his childhood and move forward. Despite how different these two were, they complimented each other. I liked that they took some time to really get to know one another and that Austin wouldn’t let Dare run from his feelings. A sexy and fun story!
Leaning Into Love by Lane Hayes
Friends since college what starts out as a bit of mutual fun turns into so much more for Eric and Zane and despite the complications for Eric’s ex and a threat to Zane’s business these two manage to not only really get to know one another better but find love. I enjoyed their dates and the quiet times they spent together and I especially loved that they communicated well and didn’t let outside forces tear them apart. Lane Hayes is a new to me author, but I will be checking out her other work.
The Sweetest Goodbye by Christina Lee
It is never easy pining for someone who is pining for someone else and that is exactly the case in this book. Billie (William, Will) has been waiting for his first love, his first everything to return from college to see if they can make a go of it again. These are young characters 22ish and Billie seems even younger and perhaps that has to do with his medical condition and the fact that his entire family watches over him like a hawk. His good friend and employee Dylan tries to help Will (as he calls him) to live his life and stop waiting for Leo who has all but admitted he has had a very good time with others since being away at college and while Will has had a few encounters as well, they have been very few and far between. Meanwhile Dylan is there working beside Will hoping he will see him and give him half the attention he’s given Leo over the years. I liked this story, but honestly while I felt the friendship between Will and Dylan I didn’t really feel the heat between them. I loved their friendship and the way they could talk about everything together and maybe it was their age, but they got really serious really fast considering the majority of the book Will was thinking of someone else. I think had this story been longer and we’d seen a better progression of their relationship, I could have accepted it easier but it just felt rushed.
Please Don’t Go by Felice Stevens
This was a sweet story of childhood camp friends who lost contact when one of them had to flee with his mother from his abusive father and the one left behind felt sad, betrayed and confused. All of his life people that were important to Danny left him; his father, his best friend, and then his mother through no fault of her own. Danny has a difficult time letting people get close because of this so when his childhood camp friend all of a sudden appears as a transfer into his office he is bewildered and while some of those old feelings resurface, he isn’t about to open himself up again to the pain of being left again. Paul had an upward battle to fight in order to make Danny see he was there for him and I appreciated that he gave Danny some time to accept and didn’t push too hard, but made it known he wasn’t going anywhere. I’ll admit I always have a bit of an issue with people who can’t seem to move past the past especially 14 years later, but I also get that Danny has some big abandonment issues which leaves him unable to let go of that hurt. It was sweet that their summers together meant so much to one another and that they were able to reconnect and move forward with their lives. As always Ms. Stevens packs a lot of emotion into this one, as well as some super sexy times.
Perfect Catch by N.R. Walker
I’m not going to lie, this story of two Aussie best friends realizing that for once they are both single at the same time and decide to act on their mutual attraction was fantastic (of course me hearing their sexy accents in my head was a huge bonus). Best friends since their early teens and discovering they both are gay forged their friendship, but their timing never worked out. A camping and fishing trip alone forced them both to own up to their feelings for one another and act on them. It wasn’t easy; they were both afraid of losing their best friend if things didn’t work out but they communicated well and their absolute trust in one another helped them give in and go for it. I really enjoyed this one a lot!
Thanks Slick for the review