The One Decent Thing by Eliot Grayson

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Blurb

Everyone says kindness costs nothing. It’s a lie. Kindness can cost you everything.

Sebastian
The only decent thing my high school bully ever did for me got him sent to prison. Aidan was a jerk, but he saved me from making the worst mistake of my life, and in return, my parents ruined him. Now that he’s out, I’m determined to make amends. No matter what he needs, no matter how long it takes, I will make it all up to him. But first I’ll have to figure out how to hide my attraction to my sexy, confusing new roommate.

Aidan
Saving him cost me everything. I have nothing and no one—except Sebastian. He’s determined to make good on a debt I never asked him to repay. He’s offering me money, a place to stay, and help adjusting to life on the outside. But all I’m really wondering is…who can save Sebastian from me—the desperate, bisexual ex-con who probably wants more from him than he’s willing to give?

The One Decent Thing is an M/M new adult bisexual romance with lots of heat, angst, and physics jokes.

Review 

My Rating - 5 Stars!

The One Decent Thing is an extremely unique new adult story by Eliot Grayson.

High school classmates, Sebastian and Aidan were certainly never friends but Aidan went out of his way to help Sebastian when Sebastian was at his lowest. The results are life changing. 

Sebastian's parents are evil, causing Aidan to lose four years life, as he's wrongly convicted. Good god, I wanted to punch them.

Fast forward and Sebastian's returning the favor, helping Aidan upon his release from prison. There's a whole lot going on, but Aidan, who's always been into girls, suddenly finds himself turned on by his new roommate.

It's a fascinating story of understand and acceptance. Both men are extremely realistic and mature about their situation, making for the superb tale that it is. It's a powerful story of standing up, taking a chance, and trying to right wrongs. 

The writing is fantastic. Not only are the characters complex, the storyline is twisted and multi-layered. Everything flows well and the dialogue is superb. The author combines a serious issue with a slow burn romance and a slew of family issues. The author excels in the development and execution of this emotionally driven story.

The One Decent Thing is remarkable as Eliot Grayson impresses in this riveting novel. A quick tale, it's an interesting read for sure. Honestly, it's one that will be in my head for a while. 

Smoking Gunn (A Bridge to Abingdon #7) by Tatum West

Amazon Link

Goodreads Link

Blurb

Jamie:
I only have two rules: I don’t tangle with anyone who wants a relationship. And I’m the one who decides when it’s over.

The guys I see are quick and dirty—that’s what I want. I keep my head down and my heart to myself. The only person who sees the real me is my daughter, and I need it to stay that way.

My life is small, and the guys at my new job hate me—and they’ve got plenty of good reasons. I’m not the kind of guy who deserves a redemption. I keep my life simple, small, and easy.

Well, I kept it that way. The minute I saw Cole Gunn, everything changed. He’s a hardbodied bundle of sensuality and pent-up desire. He keeps looking my way when I run into him at the gym.

Cole is the exception to both of my rules—but he’s an ex-con, I’m a cop, and my boss was the one who landed him in prison for a decade. But that’s not going to stop me from trying.


Cole:
I don’t fit in here in Abingdon. I don’t have a fancy job, and I got my degree in prison instead of at Jackson Academy. My only goal now is survival, and I don’t have time for anything else.

Yeah, I had dreams. I wanted a boyfriend, maybe a family. That went down the tubes the second I was convicted. My name has been cleared, but the scars are still there—and no good man would want anything to do with me.

Did I say Jamie Grant was a good man? He’s not. But he might be the brashest son of a b*tch I’ve ever met. He rolled up to my uncle’s farm the week after I got out of the clink to accuse me of stealing the beehives on my property, and he started undressing me with his eyes long before he proved my innocence.

I dodge every one of his advances. I keep telling him he’s pissing me off, that I don’t want a damn bit of what he’s offering, that he’s a fool for hanging around. None of that is true, of course, and that sizzling hot smirk tells me he knows it. I can’t get that infuriating man off my mind—and the things I’d do to him in bed would make a stripper blush.

In the midst of an investigation where I’m getting framed all over again, Jamie Grant is the only one who cares about my story. He keeps coming back, begging for more.

If this is what life is like on the outside, I might just want more of it.

Smoking Gunn is the seventh book in the Bridge to Abingdon series. Each book focuses on one sizzling couple, and each can be read as a standalone. There’s plenty of hot mm love, lots of sensual firsts, lovely beehives, crazy uncles, and an HEA that’s sweeter than honey. Cole Gunn and Jamie Grant are the redemption at the end of the Abingdon Series. Enjoy!Jamie:
I only have two rules: I don’t tangle with anyone who wants a relationship. And I’m the one who decides when it’s over.

The guys I see are quick and dirty—that’s what I want. I keep my head down and my heart to myself. The only person who sees the real me is my daughter, and I need it to stay that way.

My life is small, and the guys at my new job hate me—and they’ve got plenty of good reasons. I’m not the kind of guy who deserves a redemption. I keep my life simple, small, and easy.

Well, I kept it that way. The minute I saw Cole Gunn, everything changed. He’s a hardbodied bundle of sensuality and pent-up desire. He keeps looking my way when I run into him at the gym.

Cole is the exception to both of my rules—but he’s an ex-con, I’m a cop, and my boss was the one who landed him in prison for a decade. But that’s not going to stop me from trying.


Cole:
I don’t fit in here in Abingdon. I don’t have a fancy job, and I got my degree in prison instead of at Jackson Academy. My only goal now is survival, and I don’t have time for anything else.

Yeah, I had dreams. I wanted a boyfriend, maybe a family. That went down the tubes the second I was convicted. My name has been cleared, but the scars are still there—and no good man would want anything to do with me.

Did I say Jamie Grant was a good man? He’s not. But he might be the brashest son of a b*tch I’ve ever met. He rolled up to my uncle’s farm the week after I got out of the clink to accuse me of stealing the beehives on my property, and he started undressing me with his eyes long before he proved my innocence.

I dodge every one of his advances. I keep telling him he’s pissing me off, that I don’t want a damn bit of what he’s offering, that he’s a fool for hanging around. None of that is true, of course, and that sizzling hot smirk tells me he knows it. I can’t get that infuriating man off my mind—and the things I’d do to him in bed would make a stripper blush.

In the midst of an investigation where I’m getting framed all over again, Jamie Grant is the only one who cares about my story. He keeps coming back, begging for more.

If this is what life is like on the outside, I might just want more of it.

Smoking Gunn is the seventh book in the Bridge to Abingdon series. Each book focuses on one sizzling couple, and each can be read as a standalone. There’s plenty of hot mm love, lots of sensual firsts, lovely beehives, crazy uncles, and an HEA that’s sweeter than honey. Cole Gunn and Jamie Grant are the redemption at the end of the Abingdon Series. Enjoy!Chief Steele told me to pick my battles when it comes to Cole Gunn. He must not know me very well because I haven’t even started to fight.

Jamie:
I only have two rules: first, I don’t tangle with anyone who wants a relationship. And second, I’m the one who decides when it’s over. The guys I see are fun and easy—exactly how I want them. I keep my head down and my heart to myself. The only person who sees the real me is my daughter; I don't make friends or keep them in a town that hates me. I don’t need redemption. I just want to make it through the day.

The minute I see Cole Gunn, everything changes. I can’t keep him off my mind—or out of my fantasies—even when I’m interrogating him at a crime scene. Cole makes me want to bend both of my rules—but he’s an ex-con, I’m a cop, and my boss thinks Cole is the one behind a recent string of thefts.

Screw that. Cole Gunn isn’t going to prison again. He gives me hope, passion, love: all the things I thought I didn't deserve. I've never been a hero before, but when it comes to Cole, I think it might be time for a change.

Cole:

I don’t fit in here in Abingdon. I don’t have a fancy job, and I got my degree in prison instead of Jackson Academy. My only goal is survival on the outside. I ain’t got time for anything else. Yeah, I had dreams. I wanted a boyfriend, maybe a family. That went down the tubes the second I was convicted. My name has been cleared, but the scars are still there—and no good man would want anything to do with me.

Did I say Jamie Grant was a good man? He’s not. In fact, he might be the brashest son of a gun I’ve ever met. He rolled up to my uncle’s farm the week after I got out of the clink to accuse me of stealing the beehives on my property, and before I could even prove my innocence, he asked me for my number.

I dodge every one of his advances. I keep telling him he’s pissing me off, that he’s a fool for hanging around. But I'm lying through my teeth, and that smirk tells me he knows it. I can’t get that infuriating man off my mind—the things I’d do to him in bed would make a stripper blush.

But in the midst of an investigation where I’m getting framed again, it turns out Jamie Grant is the only one who gives a d@mn about my story. Unlike everyone else who's abandoned me at the first sign of trouble, he keeps coming back, begging for more.

Turns out he's the part of my story I never expected. But it's only when Jamie's lost to me that I realize: he's the love of my life, and I'm not ready to give up on my happy ending.

--
Smoking Gunn is the seventh book in the Bridge to Abingdon series. Each book focuses on one sizzling couple, and each can be read as a standalone. There’s plenty of hot mm love, lots of sensual firsts, gorgeous beehives, redneck uncles, ex-wife best friends, a sweet lil girl, and an HEA that’s sweeter than honey. Cole Gunn and Jamie Grant are the redemption at the end of the Abingdon Series. Enjoy!

Review 

My Rating - 4.5 Stars!

Smoking Gunn is a tough read. The seventh book in Tatum West's A Bridge to Abingdon series, it a great addition to this entertaining series.

From the start, the story is gripping and emotional. What follows is a compelling story of a man who was wrongfully convicted, and is now released from prison.

This book is that of a romance within a mystery. The mystery is well done, always in the background, finishing off with some great action. 

Jamie and Cole are super sweet together, with some good conflict in their way. I enjoy the cop versus ex convict aspect a lot. Yes, it adds to the story a lot, but it also adds well to their issues as well.

Their tale involves some suspense, danger, and romance. Throughout most of the story I was actually more intrigued by the mystery than by the romance. But in the end the romance is wonderful and I fell in love with these men.

Smoking Gunn is perfect when you're in the mood for a good light mystery with a good romance. I found this Tatum West book to be a fast read and I loved it.

Ten (Love by Numbers Book 1) by Tia Fielding

*Updated on 2-11-2020 with new edition*

Amazon Link

Goodreads Link

Blurb

A Love by Numbers Story

Can two broken men build one life?

Ten years.

That’s what Makai lost for a crime he didn’t commit. He’s been exonerated, but the abuse he suffered in prison isn’t so easy to leave behind. He heads to the one place he remembers being happy: Acker, Wisconsin, where he spent summers with his grandpa. Unfortunately, not everyone wants Makai there.

Ten days.

That’s how long Emil, now twenty-one, was held prisoner as a teenager. The mental and physical injuries he suffered at the hands of a drug trafficking ring still haunt him.

Nightmares, anxiety, and PTSD challenge the connection forming between Makai and Emil, though together, they might find a way to move beyond their pain and into a future—and a relationship—that both had thought impossible.

Now they just have to convince Emil’s father, the town sheriff. It won’t be easy with danger closer than they know….

Review 

My Rating - 5 Stars!

Tia Fielding's Ten is a remarkable book, with a tone that had me immediately invested.

Both men are so broken, having endured tragic situations through no fault of their own. Emil's has been through hell.  And Makai spent 10 years in jail for a crime he didn't commit.

The slow burn in this story is exceptionally written, as the two men come together slowly and naturally, get closer and eventually fall in love. It's beautiful and tender.

One aspect that I find wonderful is that of Joey, with his immediate reaction to Makai being priceless.

He wasn't looking for someone but he found a beautiful soul, and both men help the other to heal, as well as live again. It's exquisite to watch the transformation of these two men. 

And, do not forget Mouse and the kittens!!

Ten is an emotional ride that I loved. It's a exquisite tale of love, growth and trust and I highly recommend it.