A shimmery and sexy start to the reissuing of a beloved m/m contemporary romance series.
A one-night stand sparkles far beyond first impressions.
Ash Winters is trapped. His life has to be defined by his routines, which he clings to as his only hope as he recovers from severe depression and a suicide attempt. He avoids contact with friends, his sex life is unsatisfying, and his promising career as a writer has been derailed. But he feels obligated to make it from London to Brighton for his friend’s stag party, and it’s good that he does, because across the dance floor he sees Darian Taylor, a charming, baffling, "glittering pirate of a man," an aspiring model from Essex. They have an electric sexual encounter, but Ash runs away, a panic attack having been triggered when he wakes in a strange place. He’s plunged into another depressive episode. When he reemerges, Darian finds him at a book signing, and despite his anger, they reconnect (quite intimately, over Ash’s desk). As they continue to spend time together, Ash starts to think maybe he could build a new life with Darian—but eventually he pushes Darian away so cruelly that he might not return. This is a republication of Hall’s first book, originally published in 2013, and this new edition has some changes but will be recognizable to readers of the original. Most importantly, it still includes the same extremely Essex voice ascribed to Darian with every sentence of dialogue; this isn't for all readers, but it is remarkably consistent ("hunjed pahcent" comes up a lot), and even when Darian borders on farce it can’t dampen the clear passion the two men have for each other. Hall’s command of tropes and ability to consistently deliver fantastically explicit writing remain top-notch, though fans will notice that while this book is solid, the writing is a bit clumsy compared to recent releases, with some confusing dialogue formatting that can detract from the story. Still, there’s a reason this book, which is the first in the cult favorite Spires series, has had avid readers for years, and it’s because it has the heady combination of red-hot sex scenes with genuine emotional connection that Hall does so well. The clear content guidance at the start of the book is a grace note that underscores the blunt but sensitive treatment of Ash's mental health and shouldn't be skipped.
A shimmery and sexy start to the reissuing of a beloved m/m contemporary romance series.Pub Date: Jan. 17, 2023
ISBN: 978-1-72826-528-5
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Review Posted Online: Nov. 28, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2022
Through palpable tension balanced with glimmers of hope, Hoover beautifully captures the heartbreak and joy of starting over.
The sequel to It Ends With Us (2016) shows the aftermath of domestic violence through the eyes of a single mother.
Lily Bloom is still running a flower shop; her abusive ex-husband, Ryle Kincaid, is still a surgeon. But now they’re co-parenting a daughter, Emerson, who's almost a year old. Lily won’t send Emerson to her father’s house overnight until she’s old enough to talk—“So she can tell me if something happens”—but she doesn’t want to fight for full custody lest it become an expensive legal drama or, worse, a physical fight. When Lily runs into Atlas Corrigan, a childhood friend who also came from an abusive family, she hopes their friendship can blossom into love. (For new readers, their history unfolds in heartfelt diary entries that Lily addresses to Finding Nemo star Ellen DeGeneres as she considers how Atlas was a calming presence during her turbulent childhood.) Atlas, who is single and running a restaurant, feels the same way. But even though she’s divorced, Lily isn’t exactly free. Behind Ryle’s veneer of civility are his jealousy and resentment. Lily has to plan her dates carefully to avoid a confrontation. Meanwhile, Atlas’ mother returns with shocking news. In between, Lily and Atlas steal away for romantic moments that are even sweeter for their authenticity as Lily struggles with child care, breastfeeding, and running a business while trying to find time for herself.
Through palpable tension balanced with glimmers of hope, Hoover beautifully captures the heartbreak and joy of starting over.Pub Date: Oct. 18, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-668-00122-6
Page Count: 352
Publisher: Atria
Review Posted Online: July 26, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2022
SEEN & HEARD
SEEN & HEARD
A thoughtful and pensive tale with intelligent characters and a satisfying romance.
A promise to his best friend leads an Army serviceman to a family in need and a chance at true love in this novel.
Beckett Gentry is surprised when his Army buddy Ryan MacKenzie gives him a letter from Ryan’s sister, Ella. Abandoned by his mother, Beckett grew up in a series of foster homes. He is wary of attachments until he reads Ella’s letter. A single mother, Ella lives with her twins, Maisie and Colt, at Solitude, the resort she operates in Telluride, Colorado. They begin a correspondence, although Beckett can only identify himself by his call sign, Chaos. After Ryan’s death during a mission, Beckett travels to Telluride as his friend had requested. He bonds with the twins while falling deeply in love with Ella. Reluctant to reveal details of Ryan’s death and risk causing her pain, Beckett declines to disclose to Ella that he is Chaos. Maisie needs treatment for neuroblastoma, and Beckett formally adopts the twins as a sign of his commitment to support Ella and her children. He and Ella pursue a romance, but when an insurance investigator questions the adoption, Beckett is faced with revealing the truth about the letters and Ryan’s death, risking losing the family he loves. Yarros’ (Wilder, 2016, etc.) novel is a deeply felt and emotionally nuanced contemporary romance bolstered by well-drawn characters and strong, confident storytelling. Beckett and Ella are sympathetic protagonists whose past experiences leave them cautious when it comes to love. Beckett never knew the security of a stable home life. Ella impulsively married her high school boyfriend, but the marriage ended when he discovered she was pregnant. The author is especially adept at developing the characters through subtle but significant details, like Beckett’s aversion to swearing. Beckett and Ella’s romance unfolds slowly in chapters that alternate between their first-person viewpoints. The letters they exchanged are pivotal to their connection, and almost every chapter opens with one. Yarros’ writing is crisp and sharp, with passages that are poetic without being florid. For example, in a letter to Beckett, Ella writes of motherhood: “But I’m not the center of their universe. I’m more like their gravity.” While the love story is the book’s focus, the subplot involving Maisie’s illness is equally well-developed, and the link between Beckett and the twins is heartfelt and sincere.
A thoughtful and pensive tale with intelligent characters and a satisfying romance.Pub Date: Feb. 26, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-64063-533-3
Page Count: 432
Publisher: Entangled: Amara
Review Posted Online: Jan. 2, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2019
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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