Building Bridges (Sater's Creek #4) by Megs Pritchard

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Blurb

Could Lachlan forgive Elias for all the hurt he'd caused him?


Lachlan Doyle loved his life. After ending a disastrous relationship where his ex ran up debt and left him to pay for it the last thing he wanted was a man in his life. Until he met, Elias, the school bully who had made Lachlan’s life hell.
When Elias apologizes and admits he’s gay, Lachlan responds with a punch to the face. No way was he letting the man who bullied him every day get away with a simple apology.
Elias was gay. Had always been gay but his parents hated gays with a passion. Forced to hide his true nature, he’d resorted to bullying the out and proud gay at high school, Lachlan, who he’d secretly wanted.
Now he was older and maybe wiser, he was done hiding who he was and who he loved. He wanted Lachlan and he was going to get him. Only one person stood in his way. Lachlan Doyle.
Could Elias right the wrongs of his past? Did he have a chance to prove to Lachlan that he meant what he said? And could Elias convince Lachlan that he wanted a life with him in it?

This is an enemies to lovers gay romance, with meddling family who will say anything, and some seriously hot loving!

Review 

My Rating - 5 Stars!

If you enjoy an enemies to lovers romance, you need to read Meg Pritchard's Building Bridges, the fourth book in the Sater's Creek series.  

Elias and Lachlan are just not enemies; Elias was Lachlan's bully in high school. Elias is back in his hometown after leaving the Navy. He's always been closeted as a result of his father's homophobia. Lachlan, who's has been screwed over by his ex, is now face to face with his main enemy. 

What follows is an emotional journey for these men, as explanations are made, but fear rules Lachan's life. Their story is complicated, full of past wrongs and backstabbing. Their story includes frustration, apologies, and forgiveness. And, yes, it includes some hot sex. 

Ultimately, it's a story of moving on and accepting that people change. Watching Elias find himself, as well as his truth and strength in the Navy is inspirational, yet also bittersweet. 

The small town feel is well established, but it's the amazing group of friends and family which makes it fabulous. I love getting more of Keegan, as he's the cutest kid. And, omg, Brad and Reece's parents and their love of sex toys is hysterical. They alone are a good reason to read this book. 

Building Bridges is a wonderful continuation of the Sater's Creek series. It's easily read as a standalone, but I highly recommend reading those too, as they are all fantastic. In this one, Megs Pritchard excels in her illustration of internalized homophobia and the effects it has on everyone. This book is definitely a great read.


The Sater's Creek Series -

Book One -  Broken Promises
Book Two -  Open Hearts
Book Three -  Healing Wounds

Love in the Line of Fire by Michael Murphy

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Blurb

Agent Jonah Pratt heads the Secret Service team guarding the President’s husband. When a routine day turns into a dangerous assassination attempt, the stranger who dives into the melee and takes down the assassin complicates the situation, sparking Jonah’s anger.

Just back from multiple tours of duty in Iraq, Benji hides the fact that he brought the war home with him and that it continues to haunt him. His actions in stopping the would-be assassin are more instinct than strategy. And his first conversation with a furious Jonah doesn’t end well.

Losing a member of his team turns Jonah’s world upside down. And if Benji seems to know exactly what Jonah is experiencing, it’s because he went through the same thing in combat. Jonah’s work consumes him, leaving little room in his life for anything else, and Benji focuses on his studies, working to keep his nightmares at bay. But when they get together, Jonah and Benji recognize a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for love and happiness—one worth fighting for.

Review 

My Rating - 5 Stars!

Damn! I don't know if I can even put into words how much I enjoy Love in the Line of Fire, the sequel to The President's Husband. Although a sequel, it focuses on a different couple, while still having appearances by Gray and David.

Michael Murphy's writing instantly draws me in with hot men, dangerous situations, fantastic story lines, and some hot sex.

Benji's a former Navy Seal who's now attending college where David, the President's Husband teaches. He's a broken men, full of guilt, a sense of failure, PTSD, and anxiety. The author excels in his description of the horrors of PTSD. Some scenes are truly heart-breaking.

Meeting Jonah is an extreme situation, the two get involved slowly, and in a wonderful manner. However, the fear of dating someone who's job involves taking a bullet to protect his charge is a struggle. With excellent writing, it's gritty, raw, and authentic. I love the angst in this book, as it's perfectly developed and absolutely realistic. 

I love this book. Love in the Line of Fire is both compelling and riveting, as well as mesmerizing. I enjoy the couple, their romance, and the angst. Michael Murphy excels in this tale of two men who can help heal one another.

Age Rules (An Open Wounds and Breaking the Rules Crossover) by Michelle Frost & Jacki James

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Blurb

After spending twenty years serving in the US Navy while Don’t Ask Don’t Tell was in effect, Darren Davis is unapologetically out and proud. He knows exactly what he wants in a relationship, and up and coming MMA star Andre Harrison isn’t it. He’s too young, his time in Austin is too fleeting, and he’s definitely way too far in the closet. All Darren has to do is convince his traitorous heart that Andre isn’t the man for him.

It’s true what they say, one phone call really can change your life. Rushing home to Austin when his former hockey star father has a heart attack puts Andre Harrison on a path he hadn’t allowed himself to imagine. Between trying to mend his father’s health, keeping his MMA training on schedule, and hiding his growing attraction for hospital President Darren Davis, he finds himself succeeding on all counts except one. Try as he might, he can’t deny the connection he feels with the sexy silver fox, and wonders if something real could grow between them if they’d only break their own rules and give their feelings a fighting chance.

Review 

My Rating - 5 Stars!

Gripping from the start, Age Rules is a fantastic crossover book written by Michelle Frost and Jacki James. 

Andre's a MMA fighter who's closeted due to his career. His famous father is one who constantly reminds him of the importance of being discreet with his sexuality. I always enjoy a good closeted athlete romance, and this one certainly doesn't disappoint. 

Meeting Darren, Andre can't resist the older man who also has his eyes on the handsome fighter. Both can only resist so long. Their romance starts as a short-term sexual relationship, but soon they become more involved than they ever expected. I love the way the authors handle this.

The sex is definitely hot, including some bondage and control scenes, which by the way is sweet and emotional. It was more than I could have hoped for with the emotion of the bondage scene.

The angst is wonderfully developed, natural, and certainly realistic. With angst over the age difference, as well as the closeted status, both are important and relevant issues that are splendidly explored. 

One surprise aspect of this tale I enjoyed thoroughly is the father/son relationship between Andre and his father. I don't want to give anything away, but it's realistic and wonderfully developed. It made me angry, sad, worried, and more.

Andre and Darren's relationship involves facing one's fears, re-evaluating one's values, and deciding if one can live their truth. There's angst, romance, and great friends, in addition to the hot sex scenes. 

If you enjoy MMA stories, or age gap romances, definitely check out Age Rules. The writing is great, as I'd expect from Michelle Frost and Jacki James. For a co-written book they perfectly blended their series and writing styles. It is definitely going on my re-read list.

No Quick Fix (Torus Intercession #1) by Mary Calmes

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Blurb

A retired SEAL is about to face his toughest assignment yet. As a nanny…

Fixer. Bodyguard. Advocate. Brann Calder is expected to play all these roles and more as a member of Torus Intercession, a security firm guaranteed to right what’s wrong. In the military, catastrophe was his specialty. Five months out of the service, Brann is still finding his way, so a new assignment might be just what he needs. Unless it includes two things sure to make a seasoned, battle-trained veteran nervous: life in a small town, and playing caretaker to two little girls.

Emery Dodd is drowning in the responsibility of single fatherhood. He’s picked up the pieces after losing his wife and is ready to move on now, hopeful that his engagement to a local patriarch’s daughter will not only enrich his community but will grant his daughters some stability too.

The only thing standing in Emery’s way is that he can’t he seem to keep his eyes—and hands—off the former soldier he’s hired to watch his girls until the wedding.

Emery’s future is riding on his upcoming nuptials, but being with Brann makes him and his family feel whole again. Too bad there’s no way for them to be together.

Or is there?

Review 

My Rating - 5 Stars!

No Quick Fix is the first book in Mary Calmes' Torus Intercession series, and I'm hooked! 

Wow! Words cannot describe how wonderful Brann is with Emery's kids. He's straight-forward, ballsy, and helpful, as he supports them through their loss, pain, and grief. I adore the way he deals with them. 

In general, I love Brann. He's an ex-Seal who's sent to care for Brann's kids. Never does he expect to fall for the kids, let alone the men himself.

Brann and Emery are amazing together. Their love is intense and all-consuming, making for a great story. Of course, they have a lot to deal with if they're going to be together. Emery's engaged to someone else, and the town is relying on that arranged marriage to happen. 

I love both kids and how they're written. They're good kids and I enjoyed all of their scenes immensely.

The tone is nice and easy, setting the reader up for an enjoyable read from the start. The men are great, in addition to the town, kids, family and friends. I love them all.

No Quick Fix is a fantastic tale about finding a family. I loved every single moment of this story. It's an impressive mix of romance, fun, and danger. Having not read a lot of Mary Calmes' books, I am now interested into checking out her older works. And, as for this series, I cannot wait for the next.