Leaving his enormous family behind, native New Yorker, Elijah, decides to move to Brighton Pier for a fresh start. Being part of a large LGBTQ community and landing his dream job at Inkubus, a local tattoo shop, is too big of a draw for him to turn down. But just when he thinks his new life is going perfectly, he finds out his burgeoning relationship is nothing more than a friends-with-benefits arrangement to the man he was swiftly falling for. Suddenly, everything that felt so right to him feels all wrong, and he wonders if New York, with his family, is where he is meant to be after all.
Jake has worked hard for the life he’s made for himself in Brighton Pier. His life as a bachelor is pretty set in stone. Running his own business and spending time with his family and friends is enough for him, or so he’s convinced himself. Though he’s met a man he cares for, he’s adamant about keeping his single life as is. He has his reasons for not wanting to commit to the beautiful man he’s irrevocably drawn to. He just hopes their friends-with-benefits arrangement will be enough to keep Eli in his life.
When tragedy strikes, and Jake’s world is turned upside down, his instincts lead him to lean on the one person who’s become someone special, despite his best efforts to try and push him away. Eli—unable to turn Jake away when a loss so great takes the strong man to his knees—steps selflessly into the void in Jake’s life, regardless of the toll it takes on him. As both men struggle to deal with their own emotional turmoil, their lives veering off course, they grow inevitably closer as the days pass. But even so, they are still left wondering—can two people, drawn together by tragedy, turn a devastating situation into a fresh start? Or is it too late for a new beginning?
A BEYOND THE COVE NOVEL
M/M ROMANCE
RELEASE DATE: 11.20.18
COVER DESIGN: Cate Ashwood Designs
Amazon – Kindle Unlimited
The smile faded from Jake’s face, his defenses visibly shooting up in the blink of an eye. “We need to talk.”
“No, we really don’t.” Eli dried his hands on some paper towels, leaning back against the counter as he stared at Jake. Now or never. “Besides, I’ve got plans.” He watched the color rise in Jake’s tanned skin, his brown eyes hardening.
Jake sat up straighter in the chair, flexing his right hand into a fist. “With who?” It took everything in Eli not to laugh from the hypocrisy or shudder from the deep timbre of the man’s voice. Was it totally fucked up to think an angry Jake was tempting as hell? Completely fucked up, Eli.
Eli opened his mouth just as someone knocked on his station wall. Both men turned their heads in the direction of the sound. Eli’s pulse sped up, knowing who it would be. He’d like to say his racing pulse was a reaction to the man standing in his doorway, but that would be a lie. Instead, he refused to look at the person in the chair who was actually the cause of his rapidly beating heart and sweaty palms.
“Am I interrupting something?” The guy looked unsure about what was going on, and Eli felt like an ass.
“Hey, Chris.” Eli looked at Jake then back at Chris. “No, you’re not interrupting anything.”
“Are you ready to go?” Chris asked, flashing Eli a smile before side-eyeing Jake again.
Jake snorted in disbelief, looking up at Chris from the chair before standing and towering over the man. “You’re not serious.” Chris, to his credit, didn’t even flinch.
“Chris, can you give me a minute? I’ll be right out.” Eli prayed like hell Chris couldn’t tell how pissed Eli was at Jake.
The guy hesitated, taking one last confused look at Jake before saying, “Yeah, sure. I’ll be out front.”
The second Chris left, Eli faced off with Jake whose dark eyes were shooting daggers. “You’re seriously going out with that guy?” Jake snapped, pointing in the direction Chris had just gone. Good, he’s pissed. Now they were finally on the same page.
“Yeah, I am.” He crossed his arms over his chest, ready for whatever bullshit Jake was going to throw at him.
“Out of spite?” Jake’s voice radiated anger, his nostrils flaring as he looked at Eli like he’d lost his damn mind.
“Jesus, Novak, not everything is about you,” Eli said incredulously. Was this guy for real? For months Eli gave him space, let him make all the rules while hoping things would change. Nothing. Ever. Fucking. Changed.
“Then what the fuck is it about?”
Eli lowered his head and pinched the bridge of his nose, releasing a long, exhausted sigh. He glanced up, meeting Jake’s eyes again then shook his head. “Moving on.” He backed up a step then turned and left Jake standing there. He didn’t look back even though he could hear the man following behind him. Moving on meant moving forward…and no looking back.
Sigh…. I love this whole family!
When I saw the next one coming out and that it was a spin off from the Hard To series, I was sooo hoping it was Zachariah… but just as well, it’s his little brother Eli.
Eli moved away from his big supportive family, and found a job and a slew of friends at tattoo shop, Inkubus Tattoo’s. What he didn’t plan for, was falling for owner and best friend, Jake, who kept making it clear that he wasn’t the forever kind. Forced to listen Jake brag about his conquests and then come right back to Eli, hurt Eli so bad, but, for some reason, he just kept letting Jake in.
I wasn’t sure I was going to like Jake at first… It took me a bit to get to know him and realize at least a little bit, why he was the way he was. I still wanted to shake him and maybe throat punch him… but.. issue’s man.. we all got em!
It was just when Eli had decided that enough was enough that tragedy struck the only family that Jake had, and Eli was running right back to him. To have his back and be there for him. And Jake needed it… he needed Eli, and he the more Eli was there for him, the more he was made to realize that not did he need him, but his nephews he was now raising did too.
And isn’t it obvious how sunken I am for a hot single dad, or a hot uncle, or a sibling that takes on that role. Hot guys that are good with kids are my favorite! I love how realistically the loss was portrayed with the kids, how their grief was so different from both of them and how wonderfully it was handled. Especially because the guys were just kind of thrown into the deep end and it was either sink or swim… especially with Jake’s parents looming and being terrible people.
You will not like them…. prepare for that going in.
But, like every story I’ve read from this author… it all works out in the end, and everyone is stronger and happier because of it. I loved everything about this story…. the chosen family and how amazing Eli’s family is in accepting the new additions in Eli’s life. All of their friends and neighbors that step up and love them unconditionally…. and even the prospect of Ryder and Avery, and hopefully Zach, sooner rather than lter. I have a feeling I’m going to love him!
So, if you haven’t…. go read the other’s in the Hard To series, that this spin-off was based around, you won’t be disappointed… this one is a perfect addition.
5 pieces of eye candy from me!
I have been an artist from a very young age. From drawing cartoon characters and evolving into portraits, making jewelry, photography, and now writing. I have an amazing support system in my family and friends and couldn’t be more grateful.
I live in central New Jersey, love summers at the Jersey Shore, rock music, wine, sexy men, and laughing a lot with my amazing friends and family. Sunday dinners at my parents’ house are crazy, hysterical and you can count on a movie quote…or ten…being thrown out. Insults between siblings is how we show our love for each other!
When I’m not creating, you can find me reading books from my favorite authors. I’m a hopeless romantic, starving for passionate characters and always craving that happy ending, whether in reading or in writing my own books.
