Sometimes your mouth makes deals that your heart can’t honour.Jude is a highly successful model, but a very reluctant one. His life is full of casual hook-ups with pretty men in glamorous locations, but it’s still empty. However, circumstances decreed a long time ago that this was his path, so he’s resolutely stayed on it and accepted his fate with good grace. He made a deal with himself and his … himself and his hook-ups. Get in, get out and no ties with anyone.
However, an accident at home one night leads to him making a new deal and accepting the offer of help from an unlikely source. It leads to an unexpected summer of falling in love with a larger than life man and his child.
But by the end of the summer his reasons for not staying are still valid. Will he turn away? Can he?
Asa is a talented actor who has spent time away from the scene to look after his son. But now he’s back, and the last thing he needs are complications from the gorgeous man who is staying with him. Scarred from too many betrayals, he has no intention of forming a lasting tie with anyone. However, he can’t resist the beautiful man with secrets, and to his horror he develops feelings.
But a deal’s a deal and they said it was just for the summer. What can Asa do with a man who has forever in his eyes and goodbye on his lips?
From the Amazon bestselling author of ‘Rule Breaker’ comes another scorchingly hot romantic comedy.
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I absolutely adore this series. Lily Morton is one of my favorite gay romance authors. All her books are such a joy to read and each book released is even better than the one before it. I’m sucked in from page one and absolutely adore her characters, so full of sass, snark, life, and love. Highly recommended.
Another excellent story from Lily – Jude the model who ends up being more than Asa expects, and Asa, the father of a little boy that Jude can’t help but fall for. Lovely settings, recommended.
Deal Maker is book two in the Mixed Messages series by Lily Morton. This is my very first book by Lily. It can easily be read as a stand alone. The characters from the first book are present but you don’t need to have read their story to enjoy this one. This is a M/M single father romance that is full of swoons, steam, smiles and so very much heart!
Sometimes we go into a book having no expectations. I was looking for a single father romance and this was recommended by a trusted friend. I was not prepared in any way for the depth of my love for these characters. This author has such a magical way of mixing sweetness, so much humor, and the little bit of needed dilemma. I admit it took me until about forty percent to really and truly fall in love. But fall I did.
Jude Bailey is a twenty eight year old, very successful model. Due to circumstances in his life, including a past betrayal from a former relationship, Jude does not do relationships. He’s a one and done guy. He lets his partners know up front but hook-ups are all he has to offer. But then disaster struck with his apartment and Jude finds himself needing a place to stay for the summer. Little did he know just how much his life would change that summer.
Asa Jacobs is a forty four year old successful actor. He also has the most adorable five year old son, Billy, that he is raising on his own. Asa has taken time off from the world of acting to raise his son. Although there are plans in the works for his return to the screen. Asa needs a new assistant and his step brother has sent a friend to him that needs a place to stay. Asa has also been hurt from which he has not recovered. All that is important to him is the happiness of his son. But we’ll just say that he was not at all prepared for Jude. In all honesty, could anyone be?
These two definitely start right out with that zing of attraction that they both fight. They also both have huge misconceptions regarding each other, and it’s hilarious. Eventually, though, they become friends. Jude and little Billy connect immediately. I loved how these two were together. Little by little, feelings grew, truths were shared, and what they felt became too much to deny.
“If you’re with me I have everything.”
This was such a beautiful, fun, sexy and sweet book. I spent almost all of the second half in full swoon mode. They were so much fun, their banter pretty much had a permanent smile on my face. These two were just so obviously made for each other.
I’m so glad I decided to jump in with this one. I will definitely be looking at more by this author. I’m not going to forget these two and little Billy for a very long time.
“I have everything I will ever need. I have my home.”
“Forever.”
Again a brilliant sassy book written by Lily, great humour and narrated well. Would recommend.
So I was excited for this one because I knew it would take a special man for Jude to settle down with and I wanted to know more about him. He intrigued me in the last book and I knew he had a story to tell. Jude is a well known model but he is also know for lovin and leavin as well. He has a reputation and his friends hope he will find love. He finds himself needing somewhere to live temporarily and his friends house isn’t working out.. He finds himself at Asa’s house. Asa is a well known actor. He is a gorgeous but he also has a way of dealing with people that isn’t always kind. When him and Jude first meet, he judges him harshly due to his career and the hurt of the past. Jude falls into the job and falls instantly in love with Asa’s son, Billy. It’s truly hard not to love this kid. He has so much imagination and love for his dad. I love how Jude isn’t afraid to let someone know how exactly he feels about them and has no filter at all. Yes there’s times he screws up and Asa lets him know all about it. Jude has this way of breaking down walls with Asa and with how comfortable they get with each other, they feel like they can just be themselves and let down the hurt of the past. Asa and Jude have been hurt and have yet to deal with it. Jude is a son that most parents would love to have. He sacrifices to make sure his parents are taken care, this also includes ruining a relationship. In all honestly the relationship wasn’t as strong as what him and Asa have. These two are just beautiful together and I loved every minute of their story!! Asa has a way of making you swoon and he has the ability to make your dreams come true which also leads to some sweet moments between them and Billy plus Jude’s parents. This book has some moments where the characters have to learn to be the better person and realize what they have is what they want. I love when casual turns into something more in a book! So much fun to that moment when they both realize they are in love with the other and vice versa! So great!!
KU. I think I may have liked this one even more than Rule Breaker. Likely due to the fact that we get a bit more insight into Asa’s POV. Jude & Asa have nothing been burned, but watching them come together was great. I love that Lily Morton really gives us so much time with her characters *IN* relationship that we can’t help but root for them. Neither are prefect, but they’re lovely. And hilarious.
I think Billy was also well done for a child. He was neither beyond his years, nor this “prop” that would conveniently disappear. He was woven so completely into the story that you could always feel how much he was loved by Asa & Jude.
We did get a few little appearances by Gabe & Dylan ~ which was fun.
I’m looking forward to Henry’s story!
I discovered the wonderful writing of Lily Morton in her short story The Dog Walker. For the next few months you can find it in the Heart2Heart Charity Anthology available at Amazon . I hope she’ll make it available after the anthology is retired because it’s one of the loveliest things I’ve read and I highly recommend it.
Deal Maker is the second in the Mixed Messages series. This book stands alone, and though characters from the first book Rule Breaker do appear I had no trouble filling in the gaps.
Told in alternating points-of-view, we get both Dylan and Asa’s insights. This is particularly hilarious at the start where Dylan is teasing and spoofing Asa by pretending to be a “dumb model”. The chemistry between the two men is instant, and when Dylan bonds with Asa’s young son, Bill, there’s no doubt where this one is going.
Throughout the plot Ms. Morton throws in some curveballs which help keep Deal Maker fresh and intriguing, but also covers all the bases of what makes a thoroughly satisfying romance…well, satisfying. Interesting characters and colorful descriptions of the surrounds hold with what I enjoyed so much about The Dog Walker, and makes me even more anxious to discover what other wonderful stories Lily Morton has published.
5++ stars
Heat Level: 4
Narration: 5+++ (Joel’s fantastic!!)
Hilarious, passionate, steamy, and sexy! Lily and Joel together are perfection!!
I loved this story, the characters, the heart, the sass, and the snark! I loved book one but I think book 2 is even better! I loved how Jude defied expectations and stereotypes and was such a truly wonderful character. He has a somewhat warped view on relationships and while understandable I’m so glad Asa could heal this part of him, along with Dylan (via Gabe) were able to knock some sense into Jude.
The little family Jude and Asa made together, no matter how it started was a joy to watch unfold. The shenanigans and hilariousness are perfectly balanced with hard truths, healing and a fair bit of sarcasm but it all weaves its way together and into your heart. I found it a joy to read/listen to and can’t wait for Joel and Lily to do it again for book 3!!!
Highly recommended, hilarious perfection!!
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Deal Maker is the second book in the Mixed Messages series by Lily Morton but can easily be read as a stand alone. It is a charming story of a model, Jude, who finds himself in a bit of a bind and needs a new place to stay while some repairs are made to his apartment. He ends up staying with a talented actor, Asa, and his young son. At first, preconceived notions lead to a huge misunderstanding g and a hilarious chain of events and interactions… but it is soon clear that those first impressions were incorrect. Asa and Jude start to notice just how special the other man is and it becomes way too tempting to believe in the family the three of them are starting to feel like.
Their story has a little bit of drama, a good dose of sweetness and steam and a generous amount of humor. The characters are fun, funny, sweet and can definitely get sexy. A fantastic story with loveable characters.
Wow!! Just wow!! This book is hilarious and I honestly couldn’t help but laugh like a lunatic. I loved this book to bits. This is one of the funniest books I’ve ever read and I loved every second of it.
Jude and Asa are just perfect. Jude pretending to be air headed and stupid and getting away wiyh all sorts of shit is pure gold. Oh, the calorie recitation!!
Loved Billy! Such a gem. Peggy and Amos are amazing characters. I have a soft spot for Amos. He can cheer up almost anyone
We also meet Dylan and Gabe from first book. They are amazing friends and so very supportive of Jude. Great book and I’m looking forward to read Henry’s story!! Thank you Lily Morton for making my day!
I loved this book! This author is quickly becoming one of my favorites! Her books have depth with lots of comedic moments. This love story evolves beautifully with both men working through their issues. And when they come together ! Add a beautiful happily ever after and you have an amazing book that I definitely recommend.
What fun this book really is. Humour with Jude and young Billy, and an affecting love story between Jude and Asa. There’s a little family of other characters too who both feed and enrich the book. Vastly entertaining, alternately very funny and very moving. A great read – I’ve already read it twice and will come back again, I am sure.