Changes Going On (Changes #2) by Kaje Harper

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Blurb

Three men, one summer of media, mentorship, and murder.

There's a reason Scott Edison came out as gay and poly on national TV— now no one can try to push him back into the closet. But as his men and his hockey team deal with the fallout from fans and paparazzi, moving forward isn't as easy as he'd hoped.

Will Rice was looking forward to a quiet summer, sharing the work with his guys and giving Scott a refuge from the spotlight. He's hired a couple of young ranch hands, and finally feels ready to give back some of the mentoring that turned his life around decades ago. But good fences won't be enough to keep trouble off the ranch.

Casey Barlow left the Sheriff's Department on his own terms, out and proud. But when the new sheriff is murdered— and Casey's one of the few with a watertight alibi— he's asked to investigate, and he can't resist. He's determined to solve the murder, and still take care of his men on the home front. Then one murder becomes two…

It's a summer of risks and challenges, and working together is the only way they'll make it through.

Review 

My Rating - 5 Stars!

After reading Kaje Harper's Changes Going Down, I was elated to read the Changes Going On. The second book in the Changes series, it could probably be read as a standalone, but reading book one with help set up the relationship.

Scott, Will, and Casey. Aww...The strength of their established relationship is unwavering. The beauty of their triad shows in the way they know this is right for them and defend it. The author excels in describing their relationship, explaining it, and supporting it. 

This is a story of coming out in the NHL, not just as gay but also as polyamorous. There's plenty of press, comments, and negative reaction. Overall, this tale tackles many different issues. If you love athletes coming out, this one is wonderfully done. 

The aspect of homophobia is front and center, as well as the misunderstanding and perceived taboo nature of triads. If anyone doesn't actually understanding triads, this series will open your eyes to the strength and beauty of them. In this story, any combination of only two men just don't work as a couple long term. The third man is what holds the other two together. It's exceptionally illustrated and explored. And I love it all.

The murder mystery is well done, keeping the reader intrigued throughout. There are plenty of twists and turns, all entwined with the continued romance and coming out reactions. 

And yes, the sex scenes are hot as well as tender.

I seriously love and adore this Changes series by Kaje Harper. She excels in character and relationship development. The entirety of Changes Going On is beautifully done and well worth a read. I know I will be adding it to my re-read pile. 

Changes Coming Down (Changes #1) by Kaje Harper

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Blurb

For three gay men in love, opening the closet door could be a risky move.

Sheriff Casey Barlow has a slick, media-savvy challenger out to beat him in the upcoming election. Casey's damned good at his job, but he hasn't kissed the right asses, and early polls suggest voters like his opponent's style. Coming out now, let alone revealing his relationship with two men, could sink any hope of keeping his badge.

Scott Edison has a real shot at the NHL. He's playing the best hockey of his life. Whenever he can, he travels home to his gruff sheriff and their laid-back cowboy, but there are no out gay players in the NHL. As a rookie working his ass off to be called up, he can't afford to make waves.

Will Rice always figured he'd live alone, managing Graham and Annmarie Slater's cattle ranch, but a hot, young hockey player and a compact, muscled lawman rearranged his plans. Even though he's older and lanky and ordinary, he's been sharing their lives and their beds. He doesn't need to be out— isn't sure he ever wants the Slaters to know about him. Life's good the way things are.

Then Graham and Annmarie are killed in a hit and run that may not be an accident. As Will grieves, and Casey investigates, the coming changes will shake all their lives.

** this is a re-edit and expansion of the story in the "Hunting Under Covers" anthology

Review 

My Rating - 4.5 Stars!

Kaje Harper's Changes Coming Down is a riveting menage romance.

This is a story of an established triad. Casey, Scott, and Will are three closeted men who are all pretending to just be three friends who hang out a lot. Each man has extremely different careers, which the cover perfectly illustrates, making the story even more interesting. I don't often get to read about three men who are already an established triad, so I was extra excited for this one.

Damn, these are three men who work tremendously well together, in and out of bed. The men are all equal and I love the age gaps. Scotty's young but every bit an equal part of them. I never felt that something was missing from their relationship, and I absolutely love them together. 

Their story is emotional, with the distance and the problems that come with being closeted. It also includes some suspense, which just adds to their tale.

As I've come to expect from Kaje Harper, the writing is wonderful, with well developed characters, flawless dialogue, and a riveting storyline. With alternating povs, she expertly draws the reader into the emotions, with both the emotions and heat jumping off the pages. 

Changes Coming Down is a super hot romance. As an avid fan of menage romances, this one definitely satisfied. As this is the first in the Changes series, I can't wait for the next one. With this HFN ending, I am excited to see what happens next for these men. 

Fair Isn't Life by Kaje Harper

• Release Date - Nov 16, 2018
• Type - Novellas
• Words - 52,090
• Pages - 148

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Blurb

Luke Lafontaine survived the past year by not thinking about the father he lost, the dairy farm he couldn’t save from bankruptcy, or his way of life that vanished with the rap of an auctioneer’s hammer. Cleaning up city folks’ trash at the Minnesota State Fair is just another dead-end job. But at the Fair, surrounded by a celebration of farm life,  ambitions he’d given up on and buried deep start to revive. And seeing Mason Bell in the parade—gorgeous, gay, out-of-his-league Mason—stirs other buried dreams.

Mason left his hometown for college in Minneapolis without looking back. Student life is fun, classes are great, gay guys are easy to find, but it’s all a bit superficial. He’s at the State Fair parade route with his band when he realizes a scruffy maintenance worker is Luke, his secret high school crush. Luke should be safely home working on his dad’s farm, not picking up litter. Mason wishes he hadn’t fallen out of touch. He’s an optimist, though, and it’s never too late for second chances. Now he just has to convince Luke.

States of Love: Stories of romance that span every corner of the United States. 

Cover Artist: Brooke Albrecht

Review 

My Rating - 5 Stars!

Kaje Harper's Fair Isn't Life is an amazing story. 

Luke struggles with grief, loneliness, and is just trying to get enough work to make ends meet. 

Working at the fair, Luke runs into a former friend, Mason. Mason's life is completely different than Luke's, as he's in college, living a typical college student's life.

Mason's openly gay, while Luke has been in the closet. Luke, who'd been targeted for being big and stupid, didn't want to give people one more reason to bully him. 

Their story is beautiful and tender; a story of overcoming grief and hardships and accepting love. Mason and Luke are clearly so good together, and I appreciate the ways in which the author helps them to fit into one another's lives.  

The author includes a knowledgeable and harsh look into the current economy and way of life facing farmers. This part is both enlightening and somber.

Fair Isn't Life is written well, with a whole lot of heart and care. Kaje Harper does a wonderful job with this remarkable romance. 

GRL 2018 SPOTLIGHT - Kaje Harper - Into Deep Waters

In my attempt to cover some of the attending authors for this year's GRL,
I am reviewing 

Into Deep Waters 

by Kaje Harper!

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BLURB

For Jacob and Daniel, two young gay men aboard a Navy ship in WWII, the risks were high. Not just the risks of injury and death from Japanese planes and submarines, but the risk of discovery, of discharge, imprisonment or worse. Only a special kind of love was worth taking that chance. But from the moment Daniel met Jacob's eyes across a battle-scarred deck, he knew he had to try.

Being together required figuring out what it meant to be gay and in love with another man, in an era when they could be jailed or committed for admitting the desires of their hearts. On a ship at war, their relationship was measured in stolen moments and rare days of precious leave, with no guarantees there would be a tomorrow. And if they survived the war, they would need even more luck to keep their love alive through all the years to come.

This story was written for a photo and story request letter as part of the Goodreads M/M Romance Love is Always Write event. Author royalties will be donated to Lambda Legal, for their continued legal support of the rights of LGBT individuals.

REVIEW

My Rating - 5 Stars!

I read this book a long time ago, but it has remained one of my favorites.

Daniel and Jacob first met during WWII, back when they were teenagers. Daniel was drawn to Jacob  the first time he saw him on the deck of their ship. They become friends and that friendship turns into more.  Together, they struggle to survive the war and it's aftermath.  Their relationship started during a period where gay relationships faced tremendous challenges. Being gay at that time was completely not tolerated. We see them face the challenges of having a romantic relationship, as well as trying to survive the war.  As they delve into a physical relationship, they have to learn together about gay sex, as neither as been with a man before.  The scenes are real and tender.

The author does a fantastic job of creating a believable war story.  You will feel the fear, stress and anguish that war brings.  That said, the story focuses on Daniel and Jacob's experiences and how they viewed what was happening around them.  There are parts of their story that are upsetting and difficult to read.  But their relationship is very emotional and very realistic.

Through their story, we see some of the challenges they face during the years, as the book covers a span of more 60 years. We see the hardship of one man returning home while his loved one is still away at war.  We see the difficulties of post war life.  And we see them overwhelmed by gay marriage being allowed.

Overall, I fell in love with Daniel and Jacob.  Their relationship is very real and very powerful.  They are funny and their relationship is full of sexy moments.  Their life together is a very heartwarming story .   Their story made me think, cry, smile, laugh and think some more.   That is truly the goal of a wonderful story.

Of course,  I gave it 5 stars out of 5 stars!

Kaje Harper

I get asked about my name a lot. It's not something exotic, though. “Kaje” is pronounced just like “cage” – it’s an old nickname.

I was born in Montreal but have lived for 30 years in Minnesota, where the two seasons are Snow-removal and Road-repair, where the mosquito is the state bird, and where winter can be breathtakingly beautiful. Minnesota’s a kind, quiet (if sometimes chilly) place and it’s home.

I’ve been writing far longer than I care to admit (*whispers – forty years*), mostly for my own entertainment, usually M/M romance (with added mystery, fantasy, historical, SciFi…) I also have a few Young Adult stories (some released under the pen name Kira Harp.)

My husband finally convinced me that after all the years of writing for fun, I really should submit something, somewhere. My first professionally published book, Life Lessons, came out from MLR Press in May 2011. I have a weakness for closeted cops with honest hearts, and teachers who speak their minds, and I had fun writing four novels and three freebie short stories in that series. I was delighted and encouraged by the reception Mac and Tony received.

I now have a good-sized backlist in ebooks and print, both free and professionally published. A complete list with links can be found on my website "Books" page at https://kajeharper.wordpress.com/books/.

You can find me and my book reviews on my author page here on Goodreads - I hang out on Goodreads a lot because I moderate the Goodreads YA LGBT Books group. I also post free short YA stories on that group, more than 50 of them so far.

You can also find me on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/KajeHarper