Book: Love and the Real Boy
Genre: M/M Romance
Series: Coming About #2
Author: JK Hogan
Publisher: Wilde City Press
Cover Artist: JK Hogan (KHDGraphics.com)
Blurb
How much heartache can one man take before he breaks? Rich Langston asks himself that question every day.
A Seattle advertising exec who uses his designer suit and showy car like a suit of armor, Rich refuses to let the world get to him. His traumatic childhood has ruined any faith he had in people, friendship, and love. After a meltdown that led to him alienating everyone in his life, Rich agrees to help with the restoration of an antique sailboat as a form of penance.
Roped into heading up with the boat repair by his mother, marine restorer Patrick O’Dowd finds himself having to babysit a moody, spoiled rich boy with absolutely no carpentry experience. His easy-going nature is sorely tested, but he quickly realizes that things are not always what they seem; sometimes a fancy suit is nothing but an elaborate deflection from what’s real.
Through unavoidable personality clashes and fierce attraction, both Rich and Patrick explore their hidden pain and inner demons, and they end up finding with what really matters—love.
Excerpt
Rich forced himself to relax. Why shouldn’t he give his brain a little mini-vacay? He was of a stressful nature—he had to constantly stress over work, over making enough money to keep himself in suits and expensive toys to remind himself he wasn’t homeless anymore, that he wasn’t going to end up like his mother. He stressed over the wrong people finding out he was gay, while stressing that he might just go mad from lack of companionship—and that was just the tip of the crazy-berg.
Underneath it all sat his pent-up grief, anger, and guilt from his stolen childhood, cowering like a beast in the dark, a sleeping monster. That was Rich’s biggest, most constant fear—that one day he would no longer be able to contain it. What would happen then? Would he lose his mind?
So all things considered, why shouldn’t he just let it go for one night? What was wrong with letting a big, burly Irishman take him in hand—heh—and drive the boat for a while.
Review
Foxy Rating = Four and a half stars
*Copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest
review
This is the second in the Coming About series. I did not
read the first book in which Rich first appears and apparently he was not a
likeable character. For that I am kind of glad I read this first as I had no
preconceived aspersions to cast at poor Rich. I loved him and just wanted to
hug him to death.
The book opens with Rich’s (Ricky as was) early years and
explains his struggles and how he protected his younger brother JM. This was
heart wrenching in parts as just gave the reader a much needed insight to this
character as later in life he takes his much concealed hurt to twist and lash
out at the world and the people in it. However in his later life after he has
made something of himself he meets the loveable hunk that is Patrick and his
wonderful Irish family. Nothing gets past Patrick and straight away he can see
through the prickly barriers that Rich has put in place.
Little by little Patrick, along with the love of his family,
is able to gradually thaw the frosty demeanour of this hurting but sexy man.
The interaction and chemistry between the paring was great and endeared them to
me at each step (and two steps back!) their relationship developed at.
I don’t think by not reading the first book first (usually a
good order to read in!) has detracted my enjoyment of this book, however I
shall now go back and read the first book and see how bad Rich’s behaviour
really was towards Rory and Justice. I also want to know more about Justice and
why Rory pushed away from Rich. After all they were supposed to be best friends
and Rich was in a way, Rory’s saviour. I hope the next book is about Rory, that
man is hiding something for sure!
Overall I loved this book, it had a great flow, loveable characters,
plenty of smexy time and enough content to keep me entertained throughout. Four
and a half stars.
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About the Author
J.K. Hogan has been telling stories for as long as she can remember, beginning with writing cast lists and storylines for her toys growing up. When she finally decided to put pen to paper, magic happened. She is greatly inspired by all kinds of music and often creates a “soundtrack” for her stories as she writes them. J.K. is hoping to one day have a little something for everyone, so she’s branched out from m/f paranormal romance and added m/m contemporary romance. Who knows what’s next?
J.K. resides in North Carolina, where she was born and raised. A true southern girl at heart, she lives in the country with her husband and young son, a cat, and two champion agility dogs. If she isn’t on the agility field, J.K. can often be found chasing waterfalls in the mountains with her husband, or down in front at a blues concert. In addition to writing, she enjoys training and competing in dog sports, spending time with her large southern family, camping, boating and, of course, reading! For more information, please visit www.jkhogan.com.
Giveaway!
Ecopy of Love and the Real Boy
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