The universe is trying to tell Sacha Bolic something. A fire escape collapses under him, he lands in crap, and a killer barely misses his target… all in the same few seconds. That’s on top of a long list of mishaps and job dissatisfaction. Not one to ignore signals when they’re shoved in his face, Sacha retires and uses his savings to buy an old building in Skagit, Washington. With a little … help from DIY videos, he’s going to bring it back to its former glory. And, yeah, it’s a metaphor. If he makes one change, others will follow…
Seth Culver avoids entanglements, romantic or otherwise. Who needs them? He’s learned the hard way that people betray you or leave. Still, Seth finds people compelling. He kind of collects them, learning their secrets before letting them go their own way. His commitment to no commitments may have met its match in Sacha. Handsome and hot, Sacha seems to offer a permanence that scares Seth more than anything ever has. Seth will have to decide if he’s going to grab life by the balls or keep watching from the sidelines.
A box of inconsequential belongings hidden for decades in the old building hints at lives imagined but not lived, reminding them both there are no guarantees in love, or this thing called life.
A standalone in the Accidental Roots series, HEA, and hot m/m. 18+
more
Out of the four books I’ve read so far in this series, this one is the most romantic. It seems that Skagit pulls in lost and hurt men and gives them a chance at starting over. This particular book tells a story of two men who on the surface are very different but in truth are very similar.
After way too many close calls Sacha Bolic thinks it’s time to move on from law enforcement and maybe try and connect to other people. He always felt like an outsider with his intimidating looks adding to his social awkwardness. He feels lonely and without second-guessing himself he moves to Skagit. With no plan in mind he sets out to restore an old building that hides secrets and brings him to the man who will see beneath the surface. I loved Sacha’s protectiveness, his unflappable demeanor and levelheadedness. He slowly allows himself to get close to Seth, he slowly falls in love and when Seth is scared he has enough courage for both of them to fight for their love and future.
Seth Culver has never really dealt with his inner demons. The fear of abandonment keeps everyone at bay, even his half-brother Adam. It felt at times that Seth was ready to bolt. His carefree attitude was offset by the deep rooted feeling that it was best he left first than be left behind hurting. But in the end he needed to understand that he was not living. He needed to let people in, needed to learn to trust in Sacha and the promises he made.
Both men uncover old letters and postcards and try to solve the mystery of lovers past. In the end two men from long ago never got their happy ever after, and both Sacha and Seth promise themselves to live their lives to the fullest. While on their journey to discover the truth about what happened to break two lovers apart, they make new friends, discover new things about themselves and each other. It was even-paced, sweet romantic book with elements steam and mild trouble. I loved all the characters, and sneak peak for the next book promised lots of angst. This series is a real gem. I highly recommend it!
I love this series. They all have beautiful love stories and different types of drama and excitement. Plus none of the guys are like the others. Here both Sacha and Seth have their inner demons to deal with. Yes there is a mystery and some drama but the focal point is on the personal growth of these two men, their own and theirs together. Amazingly written and the author’s personal life touch shines through in the care and detail. I so did not want this book to end and now I’m eagerly waiting for the next one. You can bet I’ll be monitoring Facebook for any hints for its arrival. I’m betting after reading this book and the others in the series you’ll be right along with me.
Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team
Veronica –
We met Sacha earlier in this series, while he was working undercover for the Marshall service. At 39 he starts to realise his mortality, quits the service, and moves to Skagit to renovate an old building. Seth has also moved to Skagit to be near his half-brother, Adam, and is trying to start a gardening business.
Both Sacha and Seth have had difficult childhoods and neither has had a serious relationship. Seth is an easy-going guy and Sacha is the more serious and stoic one and they make a pretty good match right from the start. This was a relationship that from the beginning felt like it was in it for the long haul, without too much drama. However, no relationship is entirely drama free.
Seth is a history buff and when Sacha finds a box with some old letters and a photograph of two young men during his renovations, Seth starts investigating to find out who the men are. When Seth gets to the bottom of it and we learn Owen and Theodore’s story, it is absolutely heart wrenching and resulted in me shedding plenty of tears.
As Sure as the Sun is a lovely romantic read and this book has less suspense and danger than the previous books in the series and I didn’t mind a bit. I enjoyed the intimacy between the men, their discoveries about Owen and Theodore, and watching them fall in love when they didn’t expect or want to. A solid four stars from me.
Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of As Sure as the Sun (Accidental Roots #4) by Elle Keaton to read and review.
The previous books involved crime, criminals, danger. The series is, after all, labeled as “romantic suspense.” This is pure romance. It is entirely about Sacha and Seth’s relationship journey. It’s not a bad story, just not what I was expecting from the series.
Sacha had had it with being a US Marshal so he retires and moves to Skagit where he had been undercover earlier. He buys a building to refurbish. He runs into Seth, Adam’s younger half-brother, who offers him a place to clean up and a meal. They develop a friendship that ultimately turns into more.
There are some side stories relating to Sacha’s foster brother one about a box of stuff found hidden in the walls of the building, but nothing related to the crime, human trafficking, kidnapping etc. found in the previous books. While the story about the old stuff in the box has some metaphors for what is happening with Sacha and Seth I saw no point in the story about the brother other than the brother giving Seth some insight into Sacha’s background. It was convoluted and I felt it detracted from Sacha and Seth. And what was the point of the guy from the Chamber of Commerce…I kept expecting that to be where the crime/suspense part was going to come from.
Overall the story was okay but kind of a let down after the previous books. It doesn’t leave me in a rush to read the next book.