Jase Rafferty grew up hiding his sexual curiosities—until he meets Bryan Keating. Bryan’s sexuality is no secret, and being deployed overseas together allows the two men to forge a solid friendship. The sexual attraction is undeniable, but after one lust-filled week, they must go their separate ways.
A year later, a chance meeting gives them one more weekend together, even though they know Jase … Jase can’t risk his military career or his family obligations to be with Bryan.
Several years pass before Jase finally accepts the desperate longing in his heart and body. But when fear and hatred threaten to tear them apart, Jase must make a tough decision, one that he isn’t sure he and Bryan can overcome. Together, they must choose to weather the storm or say goodbye forever.
This is a male/male romance meant for ages 18+ due to adult language and adult situations.
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Jase and Bryan have a long road to love, with sexual awakening and uncertainty, angst, drama, homophobia, and villainous parents along the way. There is a lot I liked about this book. I appreciated the dual POVs so we get to know what both men are thinking and feeling. I absolutely loved Bryan, his self-awareness and acceptance of his own sexuality, and his steadfast devotion to Jase. Jase has a tough road, with homophobic parents, his own uncertainty and turmoil, and the fear of losing his child. Sometimes the actions of the men didn’t really mesh with the fact of them being tough ex-military men (my ex-army brother-in-law would just say ‘F@ck you all’), but overall it was a good book and well worth the read.
An enjoyable story that includes being able to accept oneself and to fight for one’s happiness
I enjoyed reading this story. I enjoyed the bond that Bryan & Jase had – even b4 the kiss behind the dumpster. I liked how Bryan was understanding of Jase’s actions, especially when it came to protecting his son. I also enjoyed how Jase grew as an individual to finally accept his sexuality and be able to take a stand for it.
Story-wise, it was enjoyable and entertaining. There weren’t any dull moments in the story.
I would definitely recommend this book to others.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is a well written M/M friends to lovers and more. The author brings strong characters in Bryan and Jase as well as Jase’s young son Gray. It’s an emotional story with Jase coming to terms with his sexuality and dealing with blackmail and his insecurities with his father. It’s a realistic read that had me glued to the pages from beginning to end. The story moves fluidly with descriptive and detailed scenes and is a wonderful read. Loved and recommend this book.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own and freely given.
“I loved you then, then I loved you again. I love you now, and I’ll love you every day for the rest of our life. Storms and all.” Bryan Keating
This is my favorite line of the story. What’s not to love about a love that is destined to be and circumstances that continually bring two souls together? This was a touching story about Bryan, Jase, and Jase’s adorable son Gray. Jase and Bryan met while in the army, but fear prevented Jase from perusing a relationship until the last week of their deployment. They say goodbye, but a friend’s wedding brings them together, this time with the addition of Jase’s scheming wife and small child. Said scheming wife and a homophobic father cause the burgeoning relationship to be placed on pause until Jase leaves the army in hopes of reuniting with Bryan and forming a family of three.
What I loved
• FIrst person POV
• Alternating narration
• Realistic portrayal of the fear LGBTQ parents feel when outsiders threaten to take children
• Great dialogue (even if the dialogue of the seven year old did seem a bit sophisticated, it worked for what the story needed)
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I really enjoyed this book. It’s Bryan and Jase’s story, one is out and one isn’t. Their love overcomes all the obstacles in their way.
Bryan had feelings for his straight friend Jace when they were the military. Jace want a divorce but was blackmailed into staying married or she would tell his parents about Bryan. But one day she went too far with his son and his parents didn’t believe what she said. They met again in Texas at a friends wedding then they lost touch but Bryan told him that every year he goes to the Gen Con in Indianapolis where he lived. Took 5 years but found each other then having problems with his parents. Things got hashed out. Great book!
I love the prequel into the full novel that is to come. Once again A.D. Ellis shows that it doesn’t matter the gender of the couple but its what they over come to be together. Great read as we look forward to the full novel.
Bryan and Jase have a history together as the two became best buddies while serving in the military—well, maybe a little more than that.
Fast forward one year as they reconnect at a friend’s wedding:
Jase’s life revolves around taking care of his adorable son, Grayson, because the mom shrugs off all the responsibilities of caring for him. He also remains in the military while Bryan has moved to Indianapolis. The feelings between them haven’t changed. Knowing his secret, Jase’s miserable wife blackmails him by threatening to out Jase, namely to his father if he doesn’t keep the bank account at her disposal.
Fast forward five years: Bryan is openly gay man with a great job and living a decent life. With Jase’s marriage over, Jase and Gray make a life-changing move to … Indianapolis! C’mon, of course they’re going to find one another! They really settle in perfectly with Bryan. They secure a great school and some nice friends for Gray, a job that Jase was made for, flying EMT helicopters, and making new friends through Bryan. But Jase is also petrified of losing Gray if his homophobic father finds out about his true feelings for Bryan.
Knocking on their door, the unthinkable happens and Jase’s disgusting, ignorant, homophobic, good ol boy of a father unexpectedly comes a knockin’ and sees just enough to have a meltdown and take Grayson away. If Jace knows what’s good for him, he’ll leave his faggot friend, who happens to to be corrupting Jase and trying to turn him gay. Gah, my blood pressure!
Ok, you know that in the end all will end well, but it’s sad that so much time was lost for Bryan and Jase. It boils my blood how a father, who clearly sees what a great guy Jase is, can cut him down with his devastating words and threats.
I love Bryan. He unconditionally supports and loves Jase and Grayson like no other had ever done before him.
I like Jase. His undying love for his son is commendable. The only problem I had was that I thought he should have fought for his love and relationship with Bryan. It bothered me as to why he didn’t. I suppose I wanted him to show a bit more backbone.
All in all, this was a really good book. I loved the concept of the storyline. Grayson was absolutely adorable, and I loved how accepting he was of their relationship. Plenty of adults could learn some lessons through the eyes of this child. I’m looking forward to reading the next in this series, and I highly recommend this one.
Jase hides who he is inside. Bryan is out and proud. They have an immediate and instant chemistry! I floved Bryan and Jase!!! They worked and fought hard to be together!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Honestly, it was not what I expected. I expected miscommunication and tons of unwarranted angst, but what you get here is a very real telling of how it may be with one MC in an unloving marriage and his best friend who he loves very much. Both MCs start out in the military as just friends, and then develop feelings for each other. The whole time one MC is married, but clearly it is not a good marriage. His wife is just terrible. Then fast forward a year with little to no contact and they find each other again only to be separated again for five years…then finally they meet up, but of course that does not go as planned either. All in all though, it was a very real telling of this type of story with one MC completely out and the other struggling and having homophobic parents and no support system. I thought Bryan and Jase were perfect for each other and were very good at communicating and Gray was the perfect compliment to them both.
I love Bryan. He is an amazing character. It feels like I actually know him in real life. Jase on the other hand wasn’t nearly as impressive. I felt like he was always going out of character and couldn’t decide. I know he had fears and I understood the ones in the earlier years but not the most recent ones. Knowing how is dad was, he should of looked into that when he got back with Bryan. Especially after the parents first visit. Luckily he majorly redeemed himself by the end. I am looking forward to reading Brody and Nick’s story.