Who’s afraid of the big, bad Wolfe?
Red Ridley knows he could have a happy life in Ever After, New York, waiting on tables at Mom and Pop’s, making numbers add up for clients, studying business at the junior college – and maybe, just maybe having the man of his dreams, Mark Woods, the young owner of the local garage. One problem. Red’s gorgeous. Amazing looking. Totally unique. And no one who … one who sees him – especially his grandmother, who’s his biggest promoter — believes he won’t end up on the cover of a magazine. Gran’s dreams come true when famous New York agency owner, Brock Wolfe, shows up in Ever After and sets his sights on Red.
Red doesn’t want to leave Mark, but Gran has given everything to raise him, and the money he could make would give her a happy, easy life. Then, the news gets worse – Gran could lose her house — so Red breaks down and goes to New York where the Wolfe shows just how bad he can be. Faced with a fate worse than death, Red needs a hero or needs to be one. Is there any chance to live happily in Ever After?
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I’d fallen in love with fairy tales as a child and have never outgrown them. Consider my absolute delight to find that some writers of the M/M genre are penning remakes of some of my favorites. Tara Lain’s ‘Better Red’ is a sophisticated and wonderful reimagining of the classic story “Little Red Riding Hood”. This writer takes time to develop the story well with believable characters, true-to-life actions, and reactions as well as consequences. We encounter the very beautiful and androgynous Redmond Ridley who waits tables at Mom and Pop’s, a local restaurant. He has a crush on the very manly and valiant Mark Woods, who owns the local garage. But in walks the big bad wolf–a New York agency owner by the name of Brock Wolfe who has Red’s grandmother wrapped around his finger. Do NOT expect a lot of fluffy stuff with this story, folks. Tara Lain demonstrates her ability to paint with a dark brush by tackling tough issues such as emotional misuse, sexual harassment, physical abuse, and the psychological damage that can result from them. I couldn’t be more pleased with a book. Thanks, Tara!
Better Red is the first book in the Ever After, New York series. The book is set in the contemporary world with just a hint of magic to it. Like the book’s title suggests, the plot is loosely based on the Little Red Riding Hood fairy tale, but instead of a naïve young girl, Red Ridley is an innocent young man who’s trying to do the best he can for his grandmother and himself. Red’s vision for his life is far different than the vision his grandmother has; all Red wants is to work at a job he likes and fall in love with the handsome local mechanic, Mark. Gran, on the other hand, knows Red has it in him to be supermodel—a sentiment that’s shared by Brock Wolfe, the sleazy and manipulative talent manager from New York City. But fame and money aren’t all what they are cracked up to be, and Red will have to decide whether to follow his heart or follow the money.
The story has all the classic feels of a fairy tale but manages to keep a fresh and unique spin on a popular and well known tale. On a personal level I didn’t agree with Red’s choices and found him a little too pure and honorable for my tastes, but he fit the character mold that was needed for this story. I really liked how the author incorporated all the new platforms people use to achieve fame such as video blogs and social media accounts. There were a lot of wonderful details that the author added that made the whole influencer/model aspect of the story feel real and dynamic instead of just the standard background plot device.
Kirt Graves narrated the audiobook and did a great job. Kirt’s voice was smooth and rich and did an array of different character voices. I found it very easy to listen to his narration and enjoyed it greatly. The audiobook production was well done and enjoyable.
Red has always stood out because of his hair and his otherworldly looks. It’s not particularly what he wants but it is what it is. And then a chance comes to make a living off those looks. Will Red take that chance so he can pay for his Gran’s care, or will he stay home and live HIS dream and be with his savior, Mark?
This is a great modern twist on Little Red Riding Hood. I like how Red and Mark’s relationship developed – it’s both sweet and steamy with two wonderful characters. Of course there are villains, as in every great fairy tale – Brock as the wolf and Phil as another. All in all a sweet, modern twist on the classic Red Riding Hood fairy tale.
This is a retelling of an old fairy tale with a twist. You will recognize the characters and the story right from the start. Red is a young man who must find his way and learn what life has in store for him. As much as he wants to please his grandmother will Red find himself and fight for what he truly wants?
I found this story to be an interesting one. One of the bad guys, I cannot really say villains were not who I expected them to be giving this story a fresh twist. When Red meets Mark the sparks ignite and the two must figure out not only their own emotions but how and if their story will continue. I enjoyed seeing Red’s adventure take shape and seeing Mark and Red find their way made for a nice read. This is a fast-paced story full of characters that will keep you engaged all the way to the end.
I really enjoyed reading this amazing, slow-burn MM romance with a “Fairytale” undertone & found the plot well-paced, interesting & quite intriguing with unique characters. I will admit that I was definitely not too impressed with the manipulative Grandmother (Nora) or with the narcissistic Brock Wolfe, the CEO of “BrandFace” a modeling agency who was under the impression that power & money can buy everything. I am not going to repeat the plot but this book is definitely worth reading.
There is: a beautiful young man (Redmond Byron Ridley aka Red) actually quite wise for his age, a homophobic town bully (Phil Gordat), a male mechanic (Mark Wood) highly interested in Red, the villainous CEO (Brock Wolfe), drama, intrigue, some suspense, some action, confrontations, threats, mild violence, attractions, emotional manipulations, harassment, unusual friendships, unease, dissatisfaction, indecision, devious plans, attempted blackmail, protectiveness, contentment, romance, love, mild steam & a sweet, satisfying conclusion.
Small-town dreams and small-town romance shine in this variation on Little Red Riding Hood that’s so low on heat and such a slow burn that it’s almost cozy. There’s plenty of chemistry between the MCs, mind you, but Tara Lain stays true to the age and experience level of her characters. Generally I’m hesitant about HEAs with 18-year-old MCs, but in this case it works. It’s an engaging retelling, a cross between an allegory and a fairy tale, complete with an oracle and larger-than-life evil characters. If you’re looking for a low-angst, charming read, this book should fit the bill nicely.
Better Red by Tara Lain is the first book in the Ever After series. This is a fascinating story with amazing characters. I loved Red and Mark, and was annoyed by Brock and even with Gran at times. I love this! I cannot wait for more in this series.
Better Red is the first book in the Ever After series and it was fascinating read. It’s a great retelling and an imaginative tale of Little Red Riding Hood, that’s written well and has an interesting plot. I really loved Mark and Red, and there were times that Gran really annoyed me. This story is filled with angst, evil characters, and romance. A great read and I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.
Better Red by Tara Lain was given to me in exchange for an honest review.
Reading a twist on a fairy tale was exactly what everyone should have in their library and this is definitely one you need to have. Red just wants to be invisible but with his unique looks and auburn hair it is impossible.But Gran has bigger plans than that for her only family. Mark Woods, a shy mechanic, has been in love with Red forever. While checking to make sure Red is safe while walking home late he ends up saving Reds life. When Red is given an opportunity to become a model by a man named Brock Wolf gran snaps it up for Red like it is her favorite ice cream but Mark has a bad feeling about Brock. When Mark and Red make plans for a date, Red is whisked away to start his modeling job. Red, angry for being forced, but Brock will always do anything to get what he wants. The characters in this book are fantastic. They are colorful, adorable and so relatable I couldn’t put it down. I can’t wait to visit Ever After again.
I fell in love with all the characters and how they each intertwined with each other. Red had a unique look that lead him to some bad occasions.
Recommend this for anyone who loves Tara’s books.
I received a Arc for a review.
This is a great story! Especially if you enjoy fantasy blended in with a retelling of fairy tale.
Red works in a small restaurant in a small town in New York state. His grandmother raised him and he’s always drawn the attention of people in town, due to his unique looks. Not always favorably, since some people are not comfortable with beauty. When a town bully attacks Red, Mark, the town mechanic, rushes in to save Red.
Complications set in! Mark is shy, Red’s grandmother is determined that Red leave and make his mark in the world of fashion, and there are strange people who keep intervening in Mark and Red’s lives, not always in a positive way.
You’ll meet a woman who makes everyone’s favorite tea, a high powered talent agent and a mysterious driver. Look for advice along the way.
Plan on setting aside everything in order to read this! You’ll definitely become a fan of Tara, if you aren’t already.
Better Red is an imaginative take off inspired by the Little Red Riding Hood story. You can’t help but fall for Red and his woodsman. This is a tale of country vs city and sticking to what you know is right. I loved the creative way the author spun this tale and I highly recommend.
Who’s afraid of the big, bag Wolfe?
Fans of Tara Lain’s Pennymaker series will enjoy this new series beginning. Fairy tale retelling? Check. Subtle hints of the supernatural? Check.
Red Ridley is a beautiful young man in smalltown Ever After, New York. He lives with his grandmother, who has big dreams for him. Unfortunately, Red’s dreams don’t match up with his gran’s, and when modeling agent Brock Wolfe comes to town and offers him a chance to go to NYC and make it big, she pushes him to go. Mark Woods has admired Red for a long time, regularly coming into Mom and Pop’s, the restaurant where Red works. When Red and his gran need help, Mark is there, but gran thinks Mark will hold Red back.
Ms. Lain did a fantastic job making Mr. Wolfe that disturbing combination of sinister and captivating.
This is a sweet take on Little Red Riding Hood but it’s subtle and not too over the top other than the names but that’s fun. I loved the quirky little town of Ever After and it’s filled with great characters. I listened to the audio and the narration is done well. There were a few cringey character voices but nothing too bad. Overall and entertaining read and enjoyable listen.
I am a big fan of Tara Lain. I love her writing and books. This one I am on the fence on. The writing is great and Red and Mark I love. It is other characters that have me hem and haw. For example Gran. She seems like a nice woman really but what she does to Red her grandson has me not like her. She guilt’s him into being a model. She doesn’t take into account his feelings or what he wants only what the money can do for them. She only sees that her dreams are coming true and forgets about Red for a bit and his feelings.
Brock Wolfe don’t get me started on this man. He is just blech. He is a wolf in sheeps clothing from the start. He is conniving and underhanded. And what he does to try to keep Red where he wants him is all kinds of manipulation.
Red I like. He was quiet and sweet. I hated how some treated him in the town but he was a good guy. He liked his hometown and wanted to stay there. He wanted a quiet life and to be with Mark. He didn’t want glitz or glamour just happiness. I loved how he gave up what he wanted to help his Gran and make her happy. I also loved how Mark was there for him and in the end helped him and Gran even after Gran was not so kind to him.
Mark I love. He was stoic and quiet. He was a smart guy but people didn’t know this about him since he ran the garage. He took it over after his dad died. He wasn’t a fancy guy but loyal and loving. He loved red and would do what was needed to make red happy. That was all he wanted was for Red to be happy even if it meant letting him go. He helped Gran after Red went on to the city even though Gran wasn’t the nicest to him and in the end what he did had me swoon.
the story was cute. Not overly steamy and not whimsical but cute and sweet. Red and Mark have you liking them from the beginning and rooting for them to be together. I am glad that Gran realizes a few things before it is too late and that Mark was always there for them no matter what. Enjoyed the story.
Creating a new take on a well-known and oft-recreated fairy tale is no easy task. Little Red Riding Hood, the Woodsman, the Big, Bad Wolf, Grandma…all of them are represented here and there are some unique things that make this an intriguing premise, but I have to say that I think there was an issue with a little too much ambition. With a bit more streamlining and redirected focus on the romance and character growth I showed up for this would have been an awesome story.
The model contract was something we saw coming with all the emphasis on Red’s beauty and while I was glad we got a reality check with the near-immediate introduction to the far harsher side of that world, I was disappointed that we were left so confused. He’s awesome at all the improv, the showmanship, the presentation, the snark, the beauty…so, is he going to find a way to model and have Mark? With so many visits and detailed experiences showing just how amazing he is in that world it felt like we were leading up to something that we didn’t get anywhere close to getting.
Red’s intelligence was what really got me, but there were very few flashes of it that I felt it was a wasted opportunity. And then there’s his youth. It was incredibly apparent in his lack of decision-making, gullibility, easily-influenced nature, and his lack of a backbone. There were a lot of awesome things that could have been done with his character, but I ended up feeling quite underwhelmed. Lots of things he does are completely understandable and excusable if you consider his age, I just wasn’t wowed.
We focus so much on Red’s conflict with the modeling world and his intense attraction to Wolfe, his wilting under his grandmother’s plans for him, and how often he completely forgets about Mark, his supposed true love interest, that there’s almost no time left for developing the actual romance. I ached for Mark though I felt he was made to be so supportive and understanding that he just became a doormat. I came for the romance and got very little of that. I’m hoping so hard that the series improves because this author is usually absolutely fantastic.
I loved the side characters with names that hint heavily about which stories will follow in this series and I loved the potential between Red and Mark. And the two “magical” characters really captured my attention as well so it’s highly likely that I’ll be back for more from this town…maybe we’ll even get to see how things are going with Mark and Red when we return.