Blurb:

Lucas

Fire took out my business, my apartment and almost my life a few weeks back, and now I’m living in my best friend’s house while I rebuild, and he travels the world. He found his perfect match and now It’s time I found mine.

After years on my own, I want a family, but I have zero hope in finding my match while I’m still completely crushing on the hottest builder in the world, and to make matters worse, he’s now my roommate.

I thought sharing a house with Carter would help me get over him. I’d see why he’s never had a boyfriend, or anyone worth bringing around town. I’d discover all of his faults up close and squash the perfect god-like image I’ve cemented in my mind all these years.

Problem is, no matter what annoying habits I jot down on my list, the more time I spend with him the more I’m convinced Carter is everything I will ever need. Now I just have to figure out a way to tell him.

Carter

With Michael traveling the world, it’s just Lucas and me in his house while we rebuild the café, bakery, and apartment. I’m happy for Michael. I really am, but seeing another friend get their happy beginning shines a light again on the fact that I might never get mine.

I’m sick of being everyone’s best friend, yet no one’s boyfriend. I want my happy beginning too. I want someone to pick me. To want me. To love me.

So I do what any single guy would do, I sign up for speed dating. Blind dates suck but I’m never going to find the one if I don’t start putting myself out there.

The problem is, the more time I spend living with Lucas the more I realize, I don’t want any of these random hookups. I want the sweetest guy I’ve ever met. The one who bakes me cookies to make me smile. So now I have to figure out a way to show him I can be an awesome boyfriend. I can be his happy beginning if he will just give me a chance out of the friend zone.

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*****

Excerpt:

“Ohh, aren’t you delicious?” The guy wearing deep purple eyeliner preens as I take my seat at table G.

“Ahh, thanks.”

Theo taps the mic, gaining everyone’s attention. “All right, your night starts now. Have fun.”

The app chimes, and the guy across from me immediately starts talking.

“I’m Stuart. Thirty-seven, Capricorn, I’m a stylist and live in the city, but have visited this town a few times. It’s super sweet, I could totally see myself settling somewhere like here. I could open a salon. You obviously work out, so what else do you do besides pumping iron?” He props his head on his hands, tilting it to the side as he waits for my reply.

“I’m Carter. I’m a contractor.”

“Oh, so you’re good with your hands. I knew a big, buff guy like you would be.”

“Thanks. I, umm, live in town, but work all over depending on the job.” Lucas’s warm laugh sounds from somewhere on my left. I turn my head towards the sound, and like being pulled by a magnet, my gaze finds him. He’s sitting across from a man in a suit with slicked-back hair, flawlessly clean-shaven face, and impeccably manicured eyebrows. My jaw tightens.

Really? That guy?

I can’t see his face, but Lucas is smiling, and I hate that this man, whoever he is, is making Lucas smile that way. That’s my smile.

Stuart is talking again, and I’d be lying if I said I had any clue what he was saying. My gaze keeps being drawn back to Lucas.

*****

Review:

I really enjoyed Carter and Lucas’s story. The first part of the story is Carter realizing that maybe he has feelings for Lucas after all, while Lucas tries to get over his crush. The second part is them dancing around telling each other how they feel, then the ending is them figuring out their way to a HEA.

Carter and Lucas are both hard-working, stand-up guys, who share a good group of supportive, and entertaining, friends. They’ve known each other for quite a while, with Lucas trying to hide his crush and Carter being oblivious to his friend’s feelings & the possibility that Lucas might be more than just a friend. But once that seed is planted, it quickly takes hold.

Readers need to be ready to hang in there for the slow burn romance between these two because they seriously take a while to get where they’re going. But it’s an easy read, with enjoyable characters, a touch of humor, and eventually a decent amount of steam. It’s pretty low angst and other than a few moments of “guys, seriously” it was a pretty enjoyable journey.

(While not necessary, it does help to have read the first book in the series. I enjoyed that one too. There were a few moments where the characters did foolish things, just like here, but they were enjoyable, and I was rooting for them to figure things out too. The novella that kicked off the series might be a good idea too but I haven’t read it yet, though it’s on my list.)

*****

Author Info:

Becca Jackson is the author of mm romance stories that deliver heart, heat, and happily ever afters for some totally adorkable and fabulous guys.

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*****