A Love in Laguna NovelTo architecture student Ian Carney, family means everything. Taken in by his brother, Jim, when his father threw him out at eighteen for being gay, Ian yearns to create his own family with his boyfriend, Rico. But Rico’s in Mexico caring for a sick father, Ian hasn’t had sex in a month and a half, and his gorgeous boss, Braden Lord, CEO of the architectural firm Ian interns … the architectural firm Ian interns for, is looking better and better.
Braden’s life is chaos. Just out of the closet and going through an ugly divorce from his wife of fifteen years who’s trying to take custody of his two children, he desperately resolves not to succumb to a completely inappropriate attraction to Ian-even though his kids adore both the man and his crazy cat.
When Rico proves to be a snake in the grass and Ian exercises his powers of seduction, what starts as a “friends with benefits” fling turns into real life real fast. Can Ian give up his romantic dreams for an “old guy” who didn’t come out until he carried a mountain of baggage? It’ll only take a thousand steps.
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This topic is one of my favorites and I enjoyed a lot how the author managed it in this book. Braden and Ian have great chemistry and they found the way to get together in a very interesting plot full of wonderful characters, many heartwarming moments while confronting their past mistakes trying to keep their family together. Ian is Jim’s little brother from book 2 and It was a treat to witness Jim and Ken’s life after their happy ending and how Ian is creating his own path. This book can be read as standalone but has many of the characters of the previous books so I strongly recommend to read the series in order to fully enjoy this one. A wonderful reading
I admit I went into this book a bit reluctant because from the blurb it seemed like Ian planned on cheating on his boyfriend. I’m glad that was soon cleared out and I got to enjoy the story.
Ian and Braden were both sweethearts. I liked their connection and I appreciated the fact that the author didn’t sail easily through their age difference or the boss/ employee situation. It felt real, with them working through their doubts and insecurities. It didn’t go smoothly and they encountered a few bumps, but I loved seeing how they helped and soothed each other, how they didn’t want to give up what they found with one another.
They were stunning together and with Braden’s kids. For me this was a great, sweet story. A few surprises along the way, just enough angst, lots of nice emotional moments, all wrapped in a delightful package about family.
You will love the characters in this book; from the irrepressible Mireille, to Jo Jo with his hero worship, as well as Ian (the romantic) and Bray, who is struggling through a divorce. Mama-san and Audrey are perfect and Anderson is the best…friend, cuddler and hairy blanket all in one. I love the image of him as a neck scarf!
The plot has men fighting their attraction to each other, closets and bathrooms to hide in, and a judge who really knows his business. When a boyfriend turns into something else, and then rethinks his decision, he’s given a lesson in what love really is and what it looks like. The scene with Doug sending Bray to retrieve Ian is hilarious!
Walk down the steps and fall in love. After a trip across the sea bridge you’ll find yourself with plenty of energy to climb them again!
This one didn’t do it for me. The beginning had promise, I thought that Brayden, the boss, newly “out”, noticing Ian as a cute young intern would be a good love story. But, the story seemed to me to be about everything else in their individual lives. There wasn’t really a romance between them. There was so many things thrown in, the job, co-workers, Ian’s boyfriend, Ian’s brother’s wedding, Brayden’s dates, Brayden’ kids, the divorce. To me it was a lot of unnecessary drama. Ian was upset a lot and Brayden didn’t know what he wanted. Brayden at the wedding didn’t make sense to me.
Unfortunately it just didn’t work for me. It needed more romance between the two. They went from friends with benefits to “in love” fast. Ian just got out of 3 year serious relationship and Brayden is in the midst of a nasty divorce. Id think they’d want a breather and actually getting know each other without the kids or the job in the way.
So for me it was just ok.