Crossing Lines is a sexy and sweet age-gap, opposites-attract mm romance set in Hollywood.
When Matt is propositioned by Jasper, a hot older guy, he’s more than down. That is until he realizes Jasper has a boyfriend, and Matt would be joining them both. He’s not into it, especially since the boyfriend is a jerk, so he ditches them both. What Matt doesn’t expect is the lingering disappointment that the handsome man who approached him wasn’t single and he didn’t get a chance to know him better.
Jasper is not used to rejection. He didn’t become one of the most successful and highest-paid executives in all of Hollywood by accepting defeat. So when Matt, the sexy young barista, turns him down flat not once but twice, he doesn’t quite know what to do. Jasper finds himself going out of his way to get to know what’s behind Matt’s reluctance when it’s clear there is a mutual attraction between them.
Crossing Lines is an age gap, opposites attract mm romance set in Hollywood. There’s some angst and plenty of heat, but you can count on a HEA. (CW: references to past sexual assault.) This is the third book in the Hollywood Hopefuls series, but it works as a standalone novel.
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“Here we are,” Jasper said, pulling into a parking lot near the waterfront and killing the engine. Surprisingly, Jasper felt oddly nervous now that they were there. He’d thought this was a safe idea for a first date, but he was suddenly second-guessing himself, and he didn’t know why. What if Matt hated it? What if he thought it was too cliché? What if he was expecting more? What if it was too much?
Matt had unbuckled his seatbelt and was looking around the marina through the windshield. “What are we doing at Marina del Rey? You’re not taking me on a boat, are you? Because I’ll have you know I get motion sickness and puking in front of you is not on my list of desirable outcomes for this date.”
Jasper unbuckled his seatbelt, too. “We’re not going on a boat.” He opened his door and said, “Come on, we need to make a quick stop before we settle in.”
Once they were out of the vehicle, Jasper pointed to a big screen hanging near the water. “It’s a drive-in movie night,” he told Matt, biting his lip as he waited for Matt’s reaction.
“Really?” Matt’s eyes lit up as he looked at Jasper. “I’ve never been to a drive-in movie before.”
Jasper grinned, relief easing the tension he’d been holding in his shoulders. “Yeah. I heard about it from one of the writers on our show, and I thought it sounded fun. I hope you can handle a musical, though. It’s La La Land tonight. Have you seen it?”
Matt’s eyes sparkled and his smile spread further. “Have I seen it? Ryan Gosling playing piano? It’s one of my favorites.”
Book three in a connected series, although they can be read as a stand alone. I read book 1, missed book 2, now we have book 3. I will say this one was FAR better than the first. There were still some issues, but still. WAY better.
Matt is out with his brothers celebrating the youngest turning 21. Matt is propositioned by Jasper and at first he agrees, till he finds out it is actually Jasper and his boyfriend and Matt backs out.
Jasper and his boyfriend have an open relationship, but it kind of seems that Jasper isn’t as into it as he seems. So when the boyfriend doesn’t come home until morning, they break up. No one really seems that upset about it. Even though they were living together.
Turns out Matt runs a coffee cart on the studio lot where Jasper is a television producer/writer/creator. So begins the flirtation. And then the honest to god dating. It was cute.
Things naturally progress for them. Matt’s siblings play a decent role in the book, as does Jasper’s business partner. They never explicitly say they are exclusive or open, which turns into a bit of an issue later on.
One head scratcher for me was Matt tensing up and putting a stop to the sexy times when Jasper touched his back. Because of past issues, etc. But… he was ready, willing and able to go home with Jasper from the club without even knowing him.
The book was super tropey as well. Age difference, rich/poor, no parents taking care of siblings, etc.
The misunderstandings didn’t need to happen- especially since Jasper was more experienced.
Overall, it was cute. And easy read with a little past trauma rearing it’s head but not too angsty at all.
3.5 pieces of eye candy
Jeris Jean is a life-long Minnesotan with an obsessive love of books. She has a master’s degree in English Literature but didn’t write her first novel until she was in her mid-thirties. Something just “clicked,” and all fell into its rightful place.
Jeris is a lover of cats, coffee, binge-watching tv shows, her bffs, puzzles, knitting, white sunglasses, black nail polish, purple hair, and reading and writing like it’s going out of style, especially mm romance.
She lives with her husband, two sons and their cat, Fluffy Cat Love, in a lovely little suburb of Minneapolis.
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