A man who acts before he thinks, a man who thinks before he acts, and the ensuing mishaps on the path to the ultimate love match.
~ ~ ~
Emerett “Lake” Lakewood has a healthy ego and a flair for the dramatic. After losing his best friend to marriage—completely crushing his heart—he deems it prudent to distract himself, and what better way than playing cupid?
He’s already got his eye on two young men desperately seeking romance, and he has a plan to hook them up.
Barbecues.
Photoshoots.
Reciting Shakespearean love declarations.
Lake is killing it. Love is positively pulsing in the air. Anyone could see it.
Well, anyone other than Knight, his best friend’s dad, who cautions Lake to stop meddling. To leave love to its natural course.
Lake has always valued Knight’s frankness, but this time he’s wrong. Without him, two hearts might be doomed never to find love.
Besides, what does Knight know about romance? He’s barely dated in all the seven years Lake’s known him. He’s clueless.
Though, there’s a thought. Knight has everything going for him. Sensibility. Kindness. Generosity. And for a forty-four-year-old, he’s—objectively—freaking hot.
Why is he single?
~ ~ ~
“. . . [T]here may be a hundred different ways of being in love.”
~ Jane Austen
And a hundred different ways not to recognize it.
~ ~ ~
“Emerett Has Never Been In Love” is a fun, fast-paced gay romance retelling of Jane Austen’s Emma.
Amazon – Kindle Unlimited
Goodreads
Lake tried not to look in Knight’s direction when he arrived with takeout. And, even though he’d done it a thousand times in front of Taylor, he didn’t swap his Malai Kofta for Knight’s Tandoori Chicken.
They spent the hour after dinner in Taylor and Amy’s darkened living room, looking at pictures projected onto the wall and hearing amazing stories of misadventure.
All too soon, the lights came on again. Lake felt Knight’s eyes on him.
Did Lake have to undrape himself from the couch and leave the happy couple to themselves? Was that really necessary?
On the smaller sofa, arm curled around Amy, Taylor laughed. “I know that look, Dad.” He glanced at Lake. “It’s time to leave.”
Knight said, “It is getting late, and you both . . . well.”
Was Knight blushing faintly at the thought of his son being intimate?
Lake smirked. “Probably a good idea to leave the love birds.”
Knight threw him a cautionary look.
It probably didn’t say much about the graciousness of his character that Lake was laughing inside. Laughing, and itching to make Knight squirm. “Staying longer would be encroaching—”
Knight strode over and pulled Lake to his feet with startling ease. Lake laughed. “Hey.”
“We’ll see you at the barbecue tomorrow,” Knight said pleasantly to Taylor and Amy.
“Sure thing, Dad.”
Knight ushered Lake out of the house, and Lake tossed a goodbye over his shoulder.
Outside, in the fresh early-summer breeze, Knight softly clapped the back of Lake’s head. “Really, Lake?”
“Hey, I didn’t do anything.”
Another chastising look. “That’s my son.”
“And adult, married sons don’t get intimate?”
“No—Yes. I’d just prefer not to make a thing of it. Bedroom affairs are private.”
“Bedroom affairs. I’m still shocked you didn’t call it your manhood or member. And, holy shit, now I’m wondering if you’re prudish in bed. If you’ve ever had one night stands, or if you only have sex after forging a deeper connection—and I’m gonna run home now.”
Lake started to hoof it and Knight snagged his shirt, holding him back. “Are you asking if I have sex just for the sake of it?” Lake looked at him, which took a little more courage than normal. “I prefer to know—and actually like—a guy, but occasionally release is the ultimate goal.”
What a fun read that had me smiling from the first page to the last.
A modern retelling of Emma, except, yanno, gay.
Retelling, or reimagining, of a classic is no easy feat. Not only is the author updating it to current times, but also switching from traditional male female relationships to male male relationships. And you know what? She did it really well.
The whole tone of the book was so similar to the original. The main character- in this take, Lake, has a heart of gold. He wants everyone happy. He unwittingly played matchmaker once and now his best friend is married to the woman of his dreams. So now he wants to help others find love. Even when they haven’t asked for help.
He moves himself into his best friend’s father’s house but is absolutely oblivious to the fact that this man, Knight, is all heart eyes for him. As is another character who he is trying to set up with Harry. Because Harry actually has a crush on his cousin. And then there is Josh who acts kind of sketchy and seems to flirt with Knight which makes Lake a little (a lot) jealous. And who is West???
Oh the tangled webs they weave.
There were a few things that niggled. They seemed to always be throwing a party. Lake’s back story is alluded too with some brief mentions. Maybe knowing more of those things would have made Lake’s motives more clear. We get more description of Knight’s house than of Lake’s background. But ultimately, I don’t think these things really detracted from the story as a whole.
Lighthearted, cute, fun, silly at times… put this on your tbr.
4 pieces of eye candy
I’m a big, BIG fan of slow-burn romances. I love to read and write stories with characters who slowly fall in love.
Some of my favorite tropes to read and write are: Enemies to Lovers, Friends to Lovers, Clueless Guys, Bisexual, Pansexual, Demisexual, Oblivious MCs, Everyone (Else) Can See It, Slow Burn, Love Has No Boundaries.
I write a variety of stories, Contemporary MM Romances with a good dollop of emotion, Contemporary lighthearted MM Romances, and even a splash of fantasy.
My books have been translated into German, Italian, French, Spanish, and Thai.
Contact: http://www.anytasunday.com/about-anyta/
Sign up for Anyta’s newsletter and receive a free e-book:
http://www.anytasunday.com/newsletter-free-e-book/
Contact Anyta:
Join my Facebook group to chat all things Slow Burn Romance:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/SlowBurnSundays/
You can also find me here: www.anytasunday.com
For information about new releases and freebies, follow me on BookBub:
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/anyta-sunday 
a Rafflecopter giveaway
