Date of Publication: June 6, 2016
Genre and Themes: LGBTQ, Romance
Format: 234 pages, ebook
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
ISBN: 9781634773225
Cover Artist: Aaron Anderson
Characters: Zeke Gulden, Benny Ruggieri
Blurb:
Zeke Gulden is a ruthless Wall Street exec. His hard-edged, no-nonsense attitude has served him well in the cutthroat business world, but less so in his personal life. When he finds out his ex-boyfriend cheated on him with a coworker, Zeke can’t let go—not until he finds a way to get even. However, his meddlesome father has other ideas. The new hire at the family-owned bagel store is somewhat colorful, but his dad is sure he’s the perfect man for Zeke.
Benny Ruggieri is a fiercely proud New Yorker who dreams of making it big as a costume designer in the theater. In the meantime, he’s working two part-time jobs in the food biz. When his new boss sets him up with his successful son, Benny has zero expectations. If nothing else, he figures he can entertain himself by making the uptight businessman squirm. Instead, the two become unlikely friends with an inexplicable attraction they can’t ignore. Benny might be the one to help Zeke set aside his quest for revenge, if he’s willing to let go and forgive what he can’t forget… and give in to an unexpected kind of romance.
Review:
I’ve read the first book of this new series from Lane Hayes and I honestly cannot recall what that story is about but I do remember George! What I really enjoyed about this book is how there was control in the characterization of the main characters esp Zeke. I thought at first that I was going to hate him so much that I would end up giving this book a low rating but lo and behold – there’s just so much to love about his very complex character. He and Benny have very much something in common and I think that is where they clicked. They’re so different with their personalities and the looks but their past is what made them bridge that gap which Zeke was so adamantly was establishing at the beginning.
Benny is just a lovely muffin but I wished he wasn’t that kind and practical. I would’ve like a little retaliation from Zeke to his douche ex-boyfriend Taylor!!! I really do. But I guess that’s not gonna make sense in the totality of the story because whatever Zeke would do to Taylor would bounced back to his past involving George.
Let go… forgive and forget. ‘not that easy to be honest.
This is arguably the author’s best work to date!
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
About The Author
Lane Hayes is grateful to finally be doing what she loves best. Writing full time! It’s no secret Lane loves a good romance novel. An avid reader from an early age, she has always been drawn to a well-told love story with beautifully written characters. These days she prefers the leading roles to both be men. Lane discovered the M/M genre a few years ago and was instantly hooked. Her debut novel, Better Than Good, was a 2013 Rainbow Awards Finalist and her third in the Better Than Stories, Better Than Friends, received an Honorable Mention in the 2014 Rainbow Awards. Lane loves red wine, chocolate and travel, in no particular order (on second thought, maybe wine first). She resides in Southern California with her amazing husband and a regal old yellow Lab in an almost empty nest.
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