Can Jason find the courage he needs to be the man Seb deserves?
When Seb Radcliffe relocates to a seaside town in Cornwall, he feels like a fish out of water. He misses queer spaces and the sense of community he enjoyed when he was living in the city, and decides to open an LGBT-friendly cafe–bar.
Jason Dunn is the builder Seb hires to help renovate the rundown space where the cafe will be housed. Jason is also gay, but unlike Seb, he’s deep in the closet. He’s never had a relationship with another man—only allowing himself the occasional hook up with guys who are prepared to be discreet.
The attraction between the two men is instant and impossible to ignore. But while Seb is out and proud, Jason is terrified of being exposed. With the grand opening of Rainbow Place approaching, tension is growing among some locals who object to Seb’s plans. When things escalate, Jason is forced to choose whether to hide in the shadows and let Seb down, or to openly support the man he’s fallen so hard for.
Although this book is part of a series, it has a satisfying happy ending and can be read as a standalone.
Length: 54,000 words approx.
Cover Design: Garrett Leigh @ Black Jazz Design
Amazon
So, I think I seem to be a minority on this one.
I was really on the fence…..
Seb seems to be one of the only out gay men in his town, everyone else seems to be deep in the closet, wanting to be discreet or way too young for him. So, at the insistence of his out and proud married neighbors, after running an idea by them, he decides to make the cafe he was going to open, an LGBT+- friendly cafe. I loved the idea of this, man, if there were more places like this, especially in smaller communities, like mine… it would go such a long way in opening some minds and making our community a safer place for those who need it.
Sighhhh, if only.
Finding a contractor who sees his vision might be tricky, but he lucks out when he gets Jason and his assistant Will…. I was pleasantly surprised by Will, I thought he was going to be a problem, but he wasn’t, he was so great…. Jason, on the other hand, was deep, deep in the closet to everyone except his ex-wife, who he remained best friends with and they raised their daughter together.
Because Jason was so deep in the closet, the attraction he and Seb felt towards one another had to be kept a secret… I couldn’t imagine how that would feel for either of them. Seb being out, and Jason being afraid… I understood it, I seriously did; I don’t think anyone should be forced to come out before they’re ready, and some may never be ready… but it’s selfish to ask the person you have feelings for and who has feelings for you, to keep that a secret. Not keep your secret a secret, but keep a relationship or their feelings a secret. I didn’t like that. I felt like, even though I understood it, I still felt it selfish, because I knew that Seb had deeper feelings for Jason.
In saying that, I really didn’t feel much of a connection between these two until the very end. It was very clinical hookups, it almost felt like a doctor and patient exchanging of mutual pleasure.
I’m sure it was enjoyed, but the way it was explained and the dialogue just seemed….I dunno, clinical is the only way to describe it. I didn’t get it, didn’t feel it at all.
I was also disappointed when things go wrong and the one time…. the absolute time in which Seb would need Jason, he cut and run and hid away. That was….. I couldn’t believe that, it made me incredibly sad. I dunno if there would’ve been redemption for me. Of course, he makes a grand gesture that I thought was nice, but it seemed to me like he did it for the wrong reason and I dunno, I just didn’t like it.
What I loved, was when Seb needed it, the community came together to support him and his cafe.
You don’t have to be a memeber of the LGBT+ community, to support them, and I loved loved loved seeing that!!
By the end, I was glad that it worked out because I love getting a HEA, but I mostly wanted it for Seb because I thought that he deserved it and because I know he had feelings for Jason.
Jason I felt got lucky and I never really warmed up to him. I’m not sure I’ll continue the series, but I would like to see more from this Alex, who was the bigots son… so perhaps we’ll see?
3 pieces of eye candy from me.
Jay lives just outside Bristol in the West of England. He comes from a family of writers, but always used to believe that the gene for fiction writing had passed him by. He spent years only ever writing emails, articles, or website content.
One day, Jay decided to try and write a short story—just to see if he could—and found it rather addictive. He hasn’t stopped writing since.
Jay writes contemporary romance about men who fall in love with other men. He has five books published by Dreamspinner Press, and also self-publishes under the imprint Jaybird Press. Many of his books are now available as audiobooks.
June 15 – My Fiction Nook, The Way She Reads, Gay Book Reviews, OMG Reads, June 18 – Cupcakes & Bookshelves, Two Chicks Obsessed, The Geekery Book Review, Jim’s Reading Room, June 20 – Love Unchained Book Review, June 22 – Bonkers About Books, Kimmer’s Erotic Book Banter, Wicked Faerie’s Tales & Reviews, V’s Reads, June 25 – Mikku-chan, Katie’s Book Corner, July 4 – Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, July 6 – Nicole’s Book Musings, July 9 – Diverse Reader, July 11 – Drops Of Ink, Book Lovers 4Ever, Making It Happen, July 13 – Queerly Reads, Mirrigold, Valerie Ullmer, Bayou Book Junkie, Books That Are A Must Read, Lillian Francis
| Hosted By Signal Boost Promotions |
