Blurb:
Four years ago, Kollin Haverty’s best friend, Riley Meadows, dropped off the face of the earth. When he shows up out of the blue, armed with a flimsy excuse for disappearing and having nearly completed his transition from female to male, Kollin wants to pick up where they left off. But Riley’s unwillingness to be honest with Kollin prevents him from fully trusting Riley again. Despite Riley’s insecurities and Kollin’s abandonment issues, they quickly discover there’s something more than friendship between them.
When a ghost from Riley’s past unexpectedly appears with haunting memories in tow, Kollin’s anger about being lied to outweighs his desire to be the understanding boyfriend Riley needs. As Riley’s web of strategically withheld secrets begins to unravel, he must find the courage to pursue his own peace before he can move forward with Kollin, and Kollin must decide what’s more important—supporting his best friend or protecting himself.
Where To Buy:
Dreamspinner Press || Amazon US || Amazon UK || All Romance eBooks || Kobo Store || Barnes & Noble
Review:
I absolutely adored this story. From the beginning I wanted Kollin to have his own story. Now that I have it I want more! He’s so sweet and Riley is perfect for him. Together they work to overcome their obstacles and support each other through the hard times. I enjoyed seeing how they both handled things and their relationship developed.
Kollin has a heart of gold. He tries so hard to help others make sure everyone around him is happy. The way he handles his feelings for Riley are so wonderful to read. Even when he blows up at Riley you can tell he doesn’t want to hurt Riley. It’s great getting to see Kollin grow up to be an empathetic adult that finds love in the sweetest of ways.
My heart hurt for Riley. He had such a troubled past. He came a long way in the four years he was gone. But there were times I wanted to smack him too since some of the troubles were self inflicted. However we are our own worst enemy and critic so his struggles were expected. I liked the man Riley grew to be. He still had some issues to overcome but he had support through the rest of them Riley’s struggles in the story had me on the edge of my seat the whole time. I was afraid something would happen that keeps Riley and Kollin from being together. The way he loves Kollin wholly and completely is beautiful to see on page.
The journey these two take to read their happy ending is wonderful. They work together. They have their ups and downs, fights and love. They work out how sex will go between them and they talk. They act like the adults they are and they work to make their relationship happen. It’s such a wonderful happily ever after for them too. You can tell they’re going to both make it long term; individually and as a couple. I hope it’s not the last book for all of these characters. However if it is, you can be assured everyone is happy and with the person they’re going to spend the rest of their life with.
Stars:
Four and a half
Excerpt:
Adam rolled his eyes to mimic her and then turned his attention toward Kollin. “Look who the cat dragged in.”
For some reason, Kollin’s heart fluttered. Waves of nervousness raced through his body as he tried to figure out why Adam thought he should know the stranger. He’d never told either of his parents about meeting the guy at the bookstore, and even if he had, Adam couldn’t have known he was the same person.
The man studied the ground, seemingly reluctant to look at Kollin, but Kollin knew he couldn’t identify him even if they were staring directly at one another.
Fortunately Adam saved him from further embarrassment. “I didn’t recognize Riley until he threatened to own me in Ping-Pong.”
Kollin sucked in a huge gulp of air. The nervous flutters, which had been nothing more than a curious enigma, ceased, and he suddenly felt as if a boulder had settled in the pit of his stomach.
He hadn’t spoken to Riley Meadows in over four years. When Kollin’s parents kicked him out, Riley had been the one who kept Kollin sane. He tethered him to reality when all he’d wanted was to escape inside himself. They’d kept in touch when Riley first went to college and somehow became even closer—until Riley seemingly dropped off the face of the earth. Phone calls, e-mails, texts… all unanswered. Kollin eventually took the hint and gave up.
Now Riley was back?
About Shell:
Shell Taylor is a full-time mother of three exuberant and loving kiddos and one fur baby, a tiny but fierce Yorkie-poo named Rocco. As a Christian who practices love, grace, and humility, she tries her best to instill these same virtues in her rowdy kids. She is a huge fan of Marvel comics and will never stop loving Harry Potter (Hufflepuff pride, baby!) When Shell isn’t writing, she can be found binge watching Netflix or volunteering at her church and childrens’ school. Shell considers herself blessed to have married a strong, supportive man who works hard to allow her to continue to follow her dreams.
Author Contact:
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Tour Stops:
October 14: Diverse Reader
October 17: Hearts on Fire
October 18: Rick R. Reed
October 19: Drops of Ink
October 20: Bending The Bookshelf
October 21: Author Dean Frech
October 24: Love Bytes Reviews
October 25: Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words
October 26: Because Two Men Are Better Than One
October 27: MM Good Book Reviews
October 28: Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents
October 31: Bonkers about Books
November 1: My Fiction Nook
November 2: Wicked Faeries Tales & Reviews
November 3: Making It Happen Blog
November 4: BFD Book Blog
November 7: Bayou Book Junkie
November 8: Molly Lolly: Reader, Reviewer, Lover of Words
November 9: Prism Book Alliance
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