A story of two men and the boundless love that forever changed them.
Vannguard Shaw has spent the last ten years serving a life sentence and adjusting to the ache of solitude. He accepts his fate, a sacrifice for the only man he ever loved and the one person who saw beyond his rough edges.
Drayton grew up with a trust fund and pre-planned future, but an unexpected encounter one night forces him to abandon everything and start from scratch. He is now a self-made man and developer of one of the most sought after electric exotic automobiles in the world with a fortune greater than that of his birthright. Yet, he’d surrender it all—again—for the only man who’s still ever-present in his heart.
After a decade and entirely too much distance between them, Vann is suddenly released back into a world that has been nothing but cruel. Drayton never lost hope they would once again reunite and pick up where they left off, but Vann’s stubborn nature and repeated encounters with a heartbreaking world prove to be a challenge.
Vann needs to tap into his fighting spirit’s reservoir of strength and hope life doesn’t punish him for taking a chance. Only then will he realize his own value and feel worthy enough to finally have Drayton’s heart. And their chance at forever.
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* Although part of a series, this full-length novel can be read as a stand-alone. *Word count: 124K
“Emotionally, beautiful and inspiring” – Amanda L Amazon Reviewer
“A great addition to this series. One of the most romantic books I’ve read this year.” – Bayou Book Junkie
“Overall…Their story is beautiful, heartbreaking, inspiring, sexy, and moving.” – Two Book Pushers
There are a lot of second chance love stories out there in the world. But I really don’t know that I’ve read one like this. One of them knowing where the other is (prison) and working to get him out. And the other having no idea what is going on- until he is released. Right into the arms of his first love and the man he went to prison for.
Oftentimes with this trope there is a lot of push and pull. One character pushing the other toward reconciliation and the other fighting it tooth and nail. Instead, we found two men who were separated by a decade and a lifetime of experience,getting to know each other all over again, falling in love all over again.
Both of them are so SO damaged- but they don’t use that against each other. Vann tries to use his damage- quite often- as a reason that Dray should walk away. Vann has accepted his lot in life- forever the ex con who will never be as good as Dray. But he doesn’t feel sorry for himself. It is more of a realist attitude. And while it could have gone overboard with the platitudes of Dray reassuring Vann- it never happens. He reassures him, he loves him, he is THERE for him. Which is exactly what Vann needs.
There was also a whole story line about what Drayton had been doing with his life for the past ten years and how he was trying to draw Vann into that life. Some of it was a bit of a stretch for me- but it also reinforced what kind of men they were, Vann refused to have anything handed to him and Dray wasn’t going to buy his love or trust.
Matt and Julian feature fairly prominently (as they should since Vann is staying at their halfway house) and we got some great cameos from previous characters.
There is a slow build of sexual tension since they don’t get much alone time at all in the beginning. What they do get is seriously hot. When they get alone time- whew! Have a fire extinguisher handy.
This is a must read that can be a stand alone- but you should really read them all. Excellent writing, great characters and a moving story.
Favorite Line: “The only positive of being away from you for so long is that now I get to enjoy falling for you all over”
4.5 pieces of eye candy
“You’re cute when you don’t get your way.”
