“What we have can’t be faked.”Max Jackson’s life is pretty close to perfect—except that he’s secretly in love with his straight best friend and roommate. He’s got his dream job and a family he secretly pretends are his own. But they aren’t… no matter how much he might wish it were true.After the tragic death of his wife, Parker Wilson didn’t have time to wallow in grief—not when he had two young … grief—not when he had two young children to raise. He’s not looking for romance or a new partner. He doesn’t need one anyway… he has his life-long buddy Max to help him through every struggle.
When Parker loses his job and can’t afford his daughter’s pricey insulin, Max suggests fake marriage for insurance coverage. Since he’s already a second parent to Parker’s cute kids, it should be easy… until the marriage becomes a little too real.
Welcome to Hidden Creek, Texas, where the heart knows what it wants, and where true love lives happily ever after. Every Men of Hidden Creek novel can be read on its own, but keep an eye out for familiar faces around town! This book contains dad jokes, a pair of kids that will steal your heart, and more heat than a Texas summer.
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Cowboys & Princesses
I want to visit Hidden Creek. Of course I may never leave but it’s worth the risk. Max, Parker, Cindy and Teddy make the most adorable family. I loved their silliness, their honesty and how fully they love. A feels good, heartwarming romance that will have you craving fair food and family moments.
What a great story. I loved the connection between Parker and Max and the kids. The prologue was a bit tough to get through but the rest of the story was easier to get through. I loved the slow burn aspect and especially Parker’s journey.
This is my review of the audio version:
This book is full of love and laughter, with some tears thrown in occasionally. I liked the slow burn love story of best friends Max and Parker, who became so much more once they entered a marriage of convenience. The interaction between the men was sweet and eventually sexy, and their relationships with Parker’s kids Teddy and Cindy were funny and heartwarming. I also appreciated the attention given to explaining and celebrating demisexuality.
The narrator’s terrific performance made a good story even better. I really enjoyed this audiobook.
Life can certainly be unpredictable, but for Parker it tore his world apart. If not for his children and best friend, he might not have had the strength to survive it. It didn’t take long for me to admire both men and root for something wonderful between them. Thankfully, they didn’t disappoint with the depth and rightness of their changing relationship.
I didn’t get a great sense of Max right at the start, other than his heart and his willingness to support his best friend, but when we first get into his head we see right away that he’s never second-guessed his role in the lives of those that matter most to him. Parker needed him, Cindy and Tommy needed him, so he stepped in and took the burden happily. I admired that about him quite a lot.
And then there’s Parker. He struck me as both caring and strong right in the beginning despite having the rug pulled out from under him. But when we see him again, he felt so very young and a little on the immature side. Not the immaturity that comes from irresponsibility or selfishness, but from youth and inexperience. He didn’t regain his maturity and solidness until much later as his relationship with Max became something more. Maybe it was because all the pieces were slotting together as they should be, or maybe it was just because his reaction to those changes was so smooth.
Their relationship was very slow-burn, but the explanation for that is rooted in sexual identity and the focus being on building a family rather than a sexual connection. Even with the “educational” aspect of the sexuality discussion, it all felt like a pretty natural transition. With no angst at all, I was wondering how the story and the couple were both going to progress, what kind of conflict would be used to give us some sort of tension or literary climax. To be honest, the whole thing felt tame and mild, and that wasn’t necessarily bad, it was just a longer and fluffier story than I was expecting.
Overall it was a nice change of pace and I learned to love all the sweetness, the tender way their family found stability, security, and happiness in the aftermath of so much grief. Overcoming those difficulties was a bit overly simplistic though, yet it fit the lighter feel of the story. Max gained everything he could ever want and Parker gained everything he could ever need. Once again we see that Hidden Creek is the town where love is love and love is all.
4.25 stars
Heat Level: 3.5
Narration: 5
A brilliant demisexual tale with healing, hope, and deep friendship.
The first chapter of this story is devastating and I’ll admit it had me in tears and hugging my loved ones close. As the story progresses we see the process of grief and moving forward for Parker and his children. Max is a pillar of strength and always there for them, however, he can be and 3 years later they have formed a little defacto family of sorts. Max loves Parker with all his heart and always has. He wants Parker in his life and loves the kids as his own. For Parker, the hits just keep on coming and for the love of his daughter, he enters into a fake marriage with Max. With the fake wedding being able to solve some of his problems, he thinks; why not?
When a fake marriage turns into a (rather large) backyard family wedding, feelings change and emotions are tested. I really enjoyed this approach to a fake marriage and its organic progression into more. I enjoyed the demisexuality being discovered and thank Susan for not including any stupidity or second-guessing. Once they realized they were more they stuck to it and I loved that! Max and Parker are so good together and I loved the family dynamics. I’d have to say the book may have started with sad tears but it definitely ended with happy ones. An ending with all the feels that you just can’t help but smile! This story is a really great addition to Hidden Creek Season 4!!
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I normally am not a big fan of friends to lovers, but wow, this book blew me away. What I love even more are stories about fake marriages (for good reasons ofc) that then blossom into true romantic feelings. I love Susan Hawke’s unique twist of words, that form a beautiful story of friendship and family relationships. Max and Parker are two amazing friends (who soon become more) who support and care about each other, making this a wonderful story! This book had me laughing, smiling, and not wanting the story to be over!
I have cried, I have laughed, I have had to fight my racing heart and I have had to read some sentences a dozen times just because they held such an emotional punch!
Hidden Creek is a special series but this addition just elevated it to the next level. I have no words to describe what a pleasure it was to ”meet” Parker and Max, their family and their story. Susan Hawke totally pushed the bar to the stratosphere with this gem!
Sometimes what we are looking for or not looking for is just right in front of us!
Best friends. One experienced a tragic loss and left to care for his two wonderful children. A best friend who has been in love with him for far too long. Can this one tragedy forge a relationship that Max has been dreaming of with his best friend?
Max is the epitome of a best friend, way beyond a best friend he is. When tragedy struck his best friend’s life, there was no doubt that he’ll be there for whatever his best friend and his children need. This is aside from the fact that Max just adore Parker’s two children.
Parker is fumbling, he has never gotten over the fact that his wife went into a burning building to save her cat and leaving him alone to care for their children. Not until his best friend talked, explained and made him realized why that is.
Up until the wedding, the attraction has been one-sided. But now feelings are starting to surface. Parker is slowly realizing facts and how he has overlooked a few things over the years.
Ms Susan Hawke, you have managed to really impart a sweet, gay-for-you, best friends to lovers story. I love how sweet, caring and thoughtful Max is, how out-of-his-depth Parker is but still he goes with it, knowing that Max will never lead him astray. I love the fact that despite the changing feelings Parker is experiencing, his trust in his best friend will always bring him calm and acceptance. I love Cindy and Teddy and how naturally they have accepted Max as a stepdad and they are so so sweet. And Max’s family, I wish all families can be like that, accepting and supporting! Thank you for a wonderful, swoony and lovable story!
Parker and Max have been best friends forever but it’s only after disaster hits Parker and time to heal among other factors that they become more. This is a feel good read with giggles and awesome rhyming word one liners in series 4 of hidden creek.
* AUDIOBOOK REVIEW *
Heart melting!
I love single parent, best friends to lovers and some hot chemistry between the characters. This has it all!!!
No unnecessary descriptions of surroundings
Good dialogues
Well described characters that’s developed in to realistic personalities
Steady building of the storyline with a HEA
Narrator:
Clear pronunciation and read with feelings
4 stars overall
Heartwarming family moments make Max a VERY happy man
August 23, 2019
Format: Kindle Edition
Although it has its steamy moments, Susan Hawke’s story of best friends Max and Parker living and loving in the aftermath of a family tragedy is cozily heartwarming, kids and pets making their relationship a real “family affair.” From the first devastating chapter to the warm, happy ending, this story was filled with friendship, generosity and love. Though Max had been the unrequited love figure standing by clueless Parker’s side since fifth grade, his patient love isn’t rewarded by a closer connection until a medical crisis pushes them to take the marital plunge. Max, with his humor, solid support and inventive efforts to bond more closely with Parker’s son and daughter, was my favorite character and I was so happy for him as the life he had waited for finally materialized! Parker is a great single parent, but since Max has always been on the scene to help raise the children has he REALLY done it on his own?
Expect some heat, kid antics, extended family interventions, a few moments of high drama, and a lot of cozy family togetherness, including some ‘high times’ at the county fair.,
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
I enjoyed reading this beautiful, emotional MM romance with an undertone of “friends to lovers/second chances”. It has a well-paced entertaining plot filled with trials & tribulations. The interesting characters are unique & complement each other.
There is: a apparently straight man (Parker Wilson) trying to deal with the sad loss of his wife (Deirdre) also loses his job & has a problem with the required medical treatment for his daughter medical condition when his best friend (Max Jackson) suggests a fake marriage between the two of them but then the attractions flare, Parker’s two precocious children (Cindy & Teddy), their two rescue dogs (Bolt & Greta), a caring family, friendship, drama, secrets, humor, unexpected twists, a sad loss, grief, devastating news, disbelief, memories, medical issues, a fake marriage, strange attractions, disagreements, heartache, unexpected longings, conflicting emotions, playfulness, verbal banter, well-meaning manipulations, compromises, sensual teasing, some steamy scenes, declarations, love, contentment, happiness & a sweet happy ending.
Realize by Susan Hawke is the second book in the fourth season release of the Men of Hidden Creek series. This is a contemporary mm romance with a second chance feel to it since its finding love after loss of spouse,. It also has friends to lovers, fake marriage turns real and gay for you themes.
I absolutely love the friendship and relationship between Max and Parker. They are sweet together even before it turned romantic. And then they were also sexy together. Everyone thought they were already together. The supporting characters are fun and loveable. Those kids are adorable. The story is funny, fun, sweet, sexy and just enough drama to be more interesting. Definitely had me feeling the emotions. Perfect fit for Hidden Creek.
I received an advanced reader’s copy of the book and I am voluntarily leaving my honest review and recommendation.