Roan Parrish - Better Than People

Simon Burke has always preferred animals to people. When the countdown to adopting his own dog is unexpectedly put on hold, Simon turns to the PetShare app to find the fluffy TLC he’s been missing. Meeting a grumpy children’s book illustrator who needs a dog walker isn’t easy for the man whose persistent anxiety has colored his whole life, but Jack Matheson’s menagerie is just what Simon needs.
Four dogs, three cats and counting. Jack’s pack of rescue pets is the only company he needs. But when a bad fall leaves him with a broken leg, Jack is forced to admit he needs help. That the help comes in the form of the most beautiful man he’s ever seen is a complicated, glorious surprise.
Being with Jack—talking, waking, making out—is a game changer for Simon. And Simon’s company certainly…eases the pain of recovery for Jack. But making a real relationship work once Jack’s cast comes off will mean compromise, understanding and lots of love.

Comment: This story seemed interesting, since it would feature animals and, done well, that can make the story even more appealing. I was curious to see how the author would do it.

In this story we meet Jack Matheson, he is still bitter about a fallout with a friend who stole his idea for a book. He is chilling out with his animals when a stumble during a walk makes him hurt his leg and now he has a cat and needs to rest. In order to not let his animals down, he uses the PetShare app so that someone else could take care of them, take them for walks and such since he can't walk.

Simon Burke is a shy, introverted young man who can't seem to function in a world where everyone needs to be assertive and social. He also doesn't have the support of his family, who believe he just doesn't try, except his grandmother, with whom he lives. He adores Jack's animals as soon as he meets them but to talk to Jack is another issue altogether. However, at some point they will have to exchange words...will Jack be able to understand and wait until Simon is ready to be comfortable and talk to him?

This was truly a cute and sweet story. I can see why some readers have said it's too slow, the author does take time to set up things, to let us know how vulnerable the characters are and why their paths would converge and they would hit it off. 

The story is told in alternate chapters, each focused on both main characters. This is not the first book by the author I try, so I was not surprised by the writing style and the structure of the story but, comparing to the other books by the author I had tried, I felt this was a bit "lighter" in the sense the conflict was mostly internal, related to the character's self thoughts and about the other guy, whereas the other books felt as if the issues were bigger than that.

 Jack hurts his leg and needs to rest but his main worries are still about the betrayal someone he considered a friend did. Probably his distracted thoughts made him unaware of where he was walking and that was why he hurt himself. I think Jack is a likable character, very unassuming at first but as the story progresses he does seem to become more assertive. He is also aware of what he wants and how to act on it, so when he feels Simon is someone he wants to know more, he definitely is the most determined of the two.

I think any reader would agree the main attention is Simon (apart from the cute pets). He is more than shy, he feels physical symptoms if forced to do something socially, such as public speaking. This has affected many of his choices, many of his steps and he even found a way to work from home so he doesn't have to interact as much with others. His family is not understanding and of course I loved how much he liked being with his grandmother, especially now his grandfather is gone.

The romance is slow, more on the cute side than anything else and starts with a deepening friendship between the two. At first the talk - as much as Simon was able - and message exchanges were solely about the animals but after a while they started to add more subjects and it was obvious they would be a good couple, since many of the things thy liked were similar. It was quite engaging to me to read about characters who had issues, especially Simon who is affected by things so many people don't even think about, but everyone is different, so this was a nice subject.

As expected, once things start to go well and the guys seem to be hitting it off without issues, something happens and they must deal with it. Most books have more or less elaborated plots or simple ones with other details but I think here things were a bit too simple and this did distract me a bit. Not all parts were always compelling and some others I just overlooked, like the intimate scenes, which weren't anything special to showcase their relationship (in my opinion).

I'd have liked to see more interactions with secondary characters but I confess I found it well done that Simon wasn't "cured" as simply as Jack's physical problem was. Things related to our mental state can take longer, aren't as easy to fix and while we can imagine improvements, it was just good to see them trusting one another. This was a cute novel, yes, but not outstanding for me.

Grade: 7/10

Roan Parrish - Where We Left Off

Leo Ware may be young, but he knows what he wants. And what he wants is Will Highland. Snarky, sophisticated, fiercely opinionated Will Highland, who burst into Leo’s unremarkable life like a supernova… and then was gone just as quickly.
For the past miserable year, Leo hasn’t been able to stop thinking about the powerful connection he and Will shared. So, when Leo moves to New York for college, he sweeps back into Will’s life, hopeful that they can pick up where they left off. What begins as a unique friendship soon burns with chemistry they can’t deny… though Will certainly tries.
But Leo longs for more than friendship and hot sex. A romantic to his core, Leo wants passion, love, commitment—everything Will isn’t interested in giving. Will thinks romance is a cheesy fairy tale and love is overrated. He likes his space and he’s happy with things just the way they are, thank you very much. Or is he? Because as he and Leo get more and more tangled up in each other’s lives, Will begins to act like maybe love is something he could feel after all.

Comment: Having liked the previous book in this series and existing only one left, I've decided to give myself some closure and read this story as well.

Leo is a young man, just now entering university and he chose New York because he knows it's where Will, a man he met because of an older friend, lives currently. He thinks it will be a good idea to be in that city and to be with Will now and then, especially because he is quite aware he is in love with Will. What he didn't count on were all the challenges such a big city puts in his path plus the fact Will seems to only see him as a kid, a friend. Or does he? Could it be that player Will can actually like innocent Leo and want to be with him? There is a lot for Leo to learn, in particular about himself ...

In this final third book, we finally have the story of Leo and Will, two characters introduced in the first book, who hooked up briefly but apparently left quite an impression on readers. To be honest, I barely remembered them after so long, and even less because of book #2, since they were not the focus. I only remembered that Leo and Will were not an item at all, just tow guys who met through mutual friends and kissed. Now Leo can't seem to understand maybe their connection didn't go both ways...

In fact, this is likely the biggest issue most readers probably had with this story. Leo is a 18 year old when the story begins and we follow him through an year in his university life. Will is closer to 30, he's 27 if I remember correctly, and besides being a man who can't seem to settle, he is at a different stage in his life. Are they friends, do they get along well, romance aside? Yes, the things they have in common align well and the different tastes are respected enough for their friendship to work. The problem is when they go into romance territory.

I belong to the team that says "no". Again, they are in different places in their lives and they just don't mesh. Most of the story is about Leo finding himself while dealing with Will's aloofness, friends-only attitude but still carrying a torch for him. Had the author made the age difference less obvious (or non existent) I think the story would have gained a lot in terms of reward. I'll explain: there's no way there could be a believable HEA between these two, they just don't mesh in terms of maturity. Leo isn't a young but mature young men nor is Will an older but understanding guy. Both have flaws that make a romance between them doomed from the start.

However, the author tries to convince us of that and I don't think it worked because there's a lot more scenes with why it doesn't than why it does. I'll say I kind of wished the romance could have been with other people, perhaps while Leo and Will kept their platonic friendship and still gaining something from it (Will could give advice and Leo could give faith of youth), some sort of perspective. I very much preferred Leo's interactions with other characters instead of with Will.

As one can imagine, Leo's journey isn't without rejection and devastating truths. I felt sorry for him but I also thought how he didn't have to be in that position. I could also understand Will's side, his difficulty in not wanting to push Leo aside completely so he sent mixed signals...this was also annoying, if he was so much more clever and aware of his personality, why didn't he explain things to Leo in a better way? Obviously the author wanted to let things be in the air, for a possible HFN. I, honestly, didn't like this choice.

Like I said, my favorite part was following Leo's learning experiences through college and the friends (his own age!) he met, how he started to understand himself better... but the romance, or its potential, no. Another idea could have been to place these two later in life, still an age gap but with an older Leo... I think there were other ways to give the reader an emotional story with a better romance.

Grade: 5/10

TBR Challenge: Roan Parrish - Out of Nowhere

The only thing in Colin Mulligan’s life that makes sense is taking cars apart and putting them back
together. In the auto shop where he works with his father and brothers, he tries to get through the day without having a panic attack or flying into a rage. Drinking helps. So do running and lifting weights until he can hardly stand. But none of it can change the fact that he’s gay, a secret he has kept from everyone.
Rafael Guerrera has found ways to live with the past he’s ashamed of. He’s dedicated his life to social justice work and to helping youth who, like him, had very little growing up. He has no time for love. Hell, he barely has time for himself. Somehow, everything about miserable, self-destructive Colin cries out to him. But down that path lie the troubles Rafe has worked so hard to leave behind. And as their relationship intensifies, Rafe and Colin are forced to dredge up secrets that both men would prefer stay buried.

Comment: A few more reads gone, more days passed, still a lot of worry on what is going on in the world, but it does feel nice to have routines to continue. It's time for another TBR Challenge post and this month the theme is the all encompassing "series". It wouldn't be difficult for me to find a book to suit this theme, the problem would be to pick one but I ended up choosing this one simply because it was next on my list of books to read.

In this book we meet Colin Mulligan, a very troubled man who isn't in the best of places in his life. He is a closeted gay man who has spent his whole life being who he felt his father would have wanted him to be, which would include mocking one of his younger brothers precisely for being gay. Colin now lives on his own and that means it's easier for him to escape once in a while to a bar where gay hookups often happen. He is not in a good place so his hookups are always attempts to punish himself, until the day Rafe, a guy who watched as Colin is attacked, helps him. Then, since Colin is a mechanic along with his father and his other brothers, Rafe leaves his car and a note for Colin, which is the first step into how they start working together to help a group of teenagers at a youth center Rafe works in. But will Colin be able to let go of his prejudices, of his fear, of all the negativity he carries and grab happiness?

This is the second installment in the Middle of Somewhere series by Roan Parrish. I have read the first book back in 2015 (yes, I know...) and although I no longer remember details, I remember Colin was featured as the most antagonist character because of how he treated Daniel, his younger brother and the protagonist of that first book. I think I got such a bad impression of Colin it felt hard to imagine a redemption, but now, years later, I finally got to it and I should say I liked this story more than I did the first one.

I felt this book was much more emotional than what I expected but, for me, this was a good thing. I liked how the author portrayed Colin's feelings and his POV on what was happening. Colin has fixed himself in such a way, he can't seem to get out of a denial spiral over his feelings and his thoughts. He is gay but he feels his father, the person he most admires and doesn't want to disappoint, would not like him anymore. Throughout the novel, we have glimpses of why Colin got to evolve with such thoughts and how the conflict of who he is and who he pretends to be started to cause him so much pain.

One method to escape this, was to mistreat his brother Daniel, especially when he came out to the family and moved away. Colin felt this was something he couldn't do so he took it out in anger and verbal abuse. Seeing things from Daniel's POV in the other book certainly made readers dislike Colin but everything can be seen in so many different angles, having Colin's made me feel sorry for him. There are sections of the book where his head space is really down, he has depression, he has panic attacks, his thought process is so set on a way, he physically feels the effects of all that pain.

Obviously, since this is a romance, once he starts to interact with Rafe, his mind opens up and we get to see his softer side. He feels attracted to Rafe, he knows Rafe is gay but he would not be OK with being with him romantically.. well, until it was clear they were into one another. I think the evolution of their relationship was believable, within the confines of a novel of course, and I think both their issues were addressed as it was possible without moving this book into a silly or a miserable level. Sure, some things might not be as realistic as one could imagine, but I liked how the author made them talk, spend time together, start to trust one another...

Closer to the end, there were some scenes/situations I wasn't too fond of, but although they didn't ruin the book for me, I felt they weren't as well accomplished. Still, putting aside the details I would change, it felt the author did think about how to develop things in a way I liked reading. Following Colin's mind in some chapters was quite hard, what he said/thought made me feel like crying because I could understand how easily someone can let go and follow dark thoughts. At the same, time, I felt this added more layers to Colin and made me appreciate him more and how he manages to turn around and slowly becoming someone more stable.

All things considered, this was a book that worked out for me. There's a third book too, I might get to it next month or soon, but I admit I'm not eager... hopefully, I will be positively surprised as I was with this one. I think the author is talented and if something clicks, then that makes it easier to appreciate the book. If I like the next book too, I might invest more in the author's other work.

Grade: 8/10

Avon Gale, Roan Parrish - Heart of the Steal

Responsible, disciplined William Fox channeled his love for art and his faith in the rules into being an FBI Art Crimes agent. Right and wrong, justice and injustice—the differences are clear, and Will has spent his career drawing a line between them. Maybe his convictions have cost him relationships, but he’s not willing to compromise what he knows is right. Until the night he meets Amory Vaughn.
As the head of his family’s philanthropic foundation, Vaughn knows very well that being rich and powerful can get him almost anything he wants. And when he meets endearingly grumpy and slightly awkward William Fox, he wants him more than he’s wanted anything. Vaughn is used to being desired for his name and his money, but Will doesn’t care about either.
When Vaughn falls back on old habits and attempts to impress Will by stealing a painting Will admires, their nascent bond blows up in his face. But Vaughn isn’t willing to give up on the glimpse of passion he saw the night he took Will apart. Before Will knows it, he’s falling for the man he should have arrested, and Vaughn has to realize that some things can’t be bought or stolen. Love has to be given freely. But can a man who lives by the rules, and a man who thinks the rules don’t apply to him, ever see eye to eye? 

Comment: I've heard about this book at a site somewhere and immediately added it to my TBR list. I think what made me want to try was the opposites attract trope this book seemed to offer, with two different people, from different backgrounds and different personalities, and I was eager to see how the story would play out.

In this story we meet William Fox, a very responsible man who is a bit shy and is at a party because his sister is the planner and he wants to support her. One of the guests is Amory Vaughn, a man many look up to because he is rich and because his family has always had a foundation that helps mostly the arts.

Although there doesn't seem to exist much in common between them there's attraction and the night ends up with a conversation over art and a hot encounter. William, however, thinks he won't see Amory again, especially because he is not confident enough to assume Amory would be interested in him.

The reality, however, is that he is. Amory sees in William not only a fellow admirer of art but also a person he can feel connected with, something he hadn't felt for a long time. But his tactics to conquer William are not very proper. Will these two ever find a common ground?

Overall, this story did feel a good one and my favorite part is clearly the romantic development. I've read, since I finished the book, some reviews and some readers have commented a lot on a detail that has annoyed them a lot. 

In the beginning of the story, after their first encounter, Amory - because he is used to get what he wants no matter the method - tries to prove to  William he is interested in him by doing a certain gesture that isn't certainly polite nor socially acceptable. The indignation comes from William's reaction to it due to the fact William is an FBI agent, therefore bound to serve the law. What Amory did is not lawful so one should expect according reactions from William and when he not only did not act but still pursued a relationship with Amory (some time later though), many got annoyed with this.

The indignation comes then, mostly, from William's lack of proper and professional behavior. I can accept that but to be honest, for me, I felt quite separate from this fact, as if it was just a detail and not a huge factor. I can't explain well but it just didn't feel such a big deal, as if William's profession was just a detail to impress us why they are different people. We certainly didn't see much of William's work as a key point in making the plot move forward - except perhaps in a weekend discussing being polite to all kinds of people in the force, diversity for all and so on.

Somehow, I could just focus on certain details, especially the romance, which I sort of liked, despite some scenes I felt were there just to increase the drama. I actually think the reasons why they had some conflict before the HEA were realistic but done in a way that, for a reader,c an feel rather pointless. Relationships aren't easy but if you get to a point where things seem so perfect, then a conversation should solve things before an eureka moment does it for you.

My favorite part were all the scenes where we get to see them interacting socially, where they spend time together trying to have a good time and this excludes the sex not that those scenes were that bad but for me, they were just a confirmation of their emotional bond.

The differences between them lead the plot to a place I felt a little annoyed at, this need to create a situation to better balance with the "right" decision that is to just the other as he is and thus be happy.

As for the characters, I just liked them together, I liked how they seemed to try to be considerate about the other person but I must admit there are little things between them, things that put them in opposed places in terms of mental readiness to accept a relationship, which weren't dealt as easily as I would imagine. This means I got the feel they were cute and happy together but there was always the possibility their differences would always be an excuse if things didn't go so well all the time. I don't know, just an impression.

Just to summarize, I liked the characters, i liked several scenes in how their relationship progressed but this is not one of those stories I'd feel compelled to read over and over.

Grade: 7/10

Roan Parrish - In the Middle of Somewhere

DANIEL MULLIGAN is tough, snarky, and tattooed, hiding his self-consciousness behind sarcasm.

Daniel has never fit in—not at home with his auto mechanic father and brothers, and not at school where his Ivy League classmates look down on him. Now, Daniel’s relieved to have a job at a small college in Northern Michigan, but, a city boy through and through, when Daniel arrives in Holiday, Michigan, it’s clear that this small town is one more place he just won’t fit in.
REX VALE clings to routine to keep loneliness at bay: honing his large, muscular body until it can handle anything, perfecting his recipes, and making custom furniture. Rex has lived in Holiday for years, but his shyness and imposing size have kept him from connecting with people. Though he loves the quiet and solitude of his little cabin in the woods, Rex can’t help but want someone to share it with.
When Daniel arrives in Holiday, they are smitten with each other, but though the sex is intense and explosive, Rex fears that Daniel will be one more in a long line of people to leave him, and Daniel has learned that letting anyone in could be a fatal weakness. Just as they begin to break down the walls that have been keeping them apart, Daniel is called home to Philadelphia where a secret is revealed that changes the way he understands everything.
Can a scrappy professor, an intense carpenter, and a stray dog make a go of it in their cabin in the woods? Sometimes, you have to go to the middle of nowhere to end up exactly where you want to be.

Comment: I've heard a lot about this book in one of my usual hunting-for-new-books places and I got curious about the idea of a relationship between a shy man and a teacher that is moving. I was curious about the possible relationship they might develop and based on the positive reviews, I was confident it would be a good book.

 

This is the story of Daniel Mulligan, a young man who just applied to a teaching position at a college in a small town in Michigan. Daniel comes from Philadelphia and hopes to one day go back home despite his conflicted relationship with his older brothers and father.

Daniel hits a dog on his first night in Michigan, after the interview for the college, and is helped by a gorgeous bigger man who takes care of the dog and Daniel himself. They seem to hit if off, but Daniel leaves.

Rex is a solitary man who lives in a cabin in the woods near the town. He likes his privacy but can't help being attracted to Daniel and wanting to be with him. Wen Daniel comes back for his job, they meet again and start to be together. With time they share a lot about themselves and develop a solid relationship. Will they find true happiness too?

 

I liked the story overall. It was interesting to see a slow paced development of a relationship that seemed quite balanced. The author seemed to give importance to the correct details and I was glad about most things.

What I think wasn't as successful was maybe the pace of the rest of the story apart from the romance. It wasn't always easy or interesting enough for me to follow some scenes and I lost focus a couple of times.

Daniel also faces some situations that could have been dealt with differently. Another thing I wasn't very fond of was how this was told only from Daniel's perspective...I would have liked to see Rex "speak" too, some things would have certainly have felt more interesting if told from Rex's POV.

 

The romance was really special because we can tell the feelings they have for each other are real and truly emotional. It was very sweet to see them slowly fall in love without realizing how deep their feelings were but surely guessing.

Daniel was someone I empathized with because he was afraid of letting go, of assuming someone would want him that much and I think this must be common to all f us, to think that at some point maybe the other person doesn't feel that's serious about us, but Rex is a fascinating character and super cute. Daniel has some issues to deal with, especially when it comes to his family and the expectation in life he has because of the way he grew up. I liked he didn't change overnight, but he learned to compromise and trust Rex to help him.

Rex is unique and I liked meeting him. He is quiet, likes older movies and has a personality that could put off many people because of his shyness and size, so opposite. But he cherishes Daniel and does what he can to make him happy and to help him in the difficulties he's going through. Rex's personal story is also touching and I really wanted him to be happy.

I enjoyed seeing them together and in love.

 

The secondary characters were interesting and in some cases I'm curious to see what happens to them. I assume any sequel would be with one of them, considering what happened in this book.

The plot is simple but has interesting subjects and in the parts I wasn't slightly bored with certain things, I was curious about how things would play out. Towards the end we learn something that is important and now I'm eager to know more.

 

The HEA wasn't sugary, it was simple and hopeful. I have hopes about seeing the guys again in future books, to know how they are, which decisions they took related to their lives...

All in all, I'm glad I read this, I wasn't always delirious about what was happening and some scenes seem to drag on... the intimacy moments between Rex and Daniel were actually sweet and easy to read, not exaggerated or full of silly endearments. The writing is positive but I do think some issues would have been done differently.

Grade: 7/10