A Mary’s Boys Novella Steven Conley loves the excitement of owning his own Hamburger Mary’s restaurant in Denver, Colorado, and his chosen family of coworkers makes life even better. Steven never regretted leaving the corporate grind behind until his father’s harsh deathbed words leaves him doubting himself. Ryan Fuller abandoned a lucrative career to start his own party-planning business, but he … party-planning business, but he keeps afloat by coordinating funerals for the local mortuary. When Ryan bumps into Steven–his best friend’s uncle and the man Ryan has secretly crushed on forever–the attraction explodes into a night of passionate abandon for both men.
Steven is blown away by the care and deep connection he feels for the hot young mortician–until Ryan admits who he really is. Reeling from the recent upheaval in his life, Steven must decide whether to give Ryan a chance. To find love, they must risk it all….
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Sometimes the age-gap is the least of their problems (an audio review)
This is my fourth visit to the world of Hamburger Mary’s. The bar in Denver is full of drag queens, gay men, and LGBTQ-friendly Allies. It is a warm and welcoming place created by Steven Conley. His sister Pat helps run the place, but it’s Steven who sank his entire life savings into the bar. And most of the time he has no regrets. A visit to the deathbed of his father, though, sends him into a tailspin of doubt and regret.
After the visitation, Steven does something truly out of character for him that just piles on the guilt. Except he can’t completely come to regret his actions because they bring him into Ryan Fuller’s life. Ryan has crushed on Steven for years from afar so this coming together is a dream come true for him. But life offers some harsh realities when it comes to acceptance because of the significant age gap and the fact Ryan is Steven’s nephew’s friend. Talk about awkward.
Ryan has his own existential crisis to deal with. He gave up a lucrative career to open a party planning business. His goal is to bring joy to people’s lives. But paying the bills is tough so he works part time at the funeral home. He fights the urge to go back to his old life. Just as Steven battles with the idea of going back to his successful life in high finance. Hamburger Mary’s is a dream come true, but it barely pays the bills. What can he offer Ryan? If he derails this dream, he might be in a better place financially, but there’ll be an empty chasm in his soul.
Both men have tough decisions to make – follow their dreams or give up those lives for the lure of financial security. It’s a battle people make every day. Of course I hoped the men would continue on the paths they’ve chosen – only I hoped they would do it together.
Throw in Mandonna and Ariel Merman the drag queens, a tenacious sister with great advice, and a close friend bartender who will call BS every time, Steven finds himself surrounded by love. Now he just has to get over himself and find a way to make Ryan part of his life forever.
I have loved Mary’s Boys and I’m sad to see the series end. These men will hold a special place in my heart and I’ll probably return again in the future. Gerrod Larkyn narrated this series and he did a great job. I’m so glad I got to visit this world and the amazing men who inhabit it.
I love this series. It is fun and has lots of feels. each book has a special couple but you get to spend more time with previous ones as well.
This is Stephen’s book. He is the owner. He gave up all his wealth and job to open Mary’s and now is questioning his decision. He is so far in debt he doesn’t think there is any way out and he is unhappy. His friends are finding love but he isn’t even happy hooking up anymore. Then at his dad’s funeral, he meets a young man… has hot sex and wishes he could see him again which he does at the funeral. They hook up again and decide to go on a date… Until he finds out that Ryan is his nephew’s best friend and a year younger than Topher making him 26 while Stephen is in his forties.
This is a really good age gap stories ( I may be partial as that’s a favorite trope of mine). I love both Stephen and Ryan, I loved their stories and they meld perfectly.
I think this is my next favorite of the four (Mascara and Bandages still has my #1 spot here but it is close)
Gerard Larkins’s narration just gets better and better. I love his drag queen voices, his distinct voices for each character and his dying dad’s voice were great. He gave me the creeps. He brings out the excitement and the drag shows are like you are there watching. It’s so fun I highly suggest the audios!
I can’t get enough of this series!!! Wow!! I love Steve and Ryan. I’ve been hoping Steve would find his happiness. I hope there will be more books! All the characters are wonderful and add so much to each story. Highly Recommend!!!
Age is just a number.
When you find your special someone, numbers are irrelevant.
Love is the great equalizer and this novel portrays it beautifully.
You’ll fall in love with a scientist, an events planner and the entire cast of Hamburger Mary. I want to go and see it for myself.
Be prepared to laugh, sigh and maybe cry. Most of all, embrace the messages included in this tightly woven plot. You’ll be so glad you got to read it!
Loved this series!! This book 4 is as good as the previous one and featured a relationship with an age gap that are one of my favorite tropes in MM. The love story of Steven and Ryan is sweet and funny with some drama and a few difficult parts but everything will be worthy at the end. A wonderful reading
Steven’s father dies in the beginning. He meets Ryan at the funeral and has a one-night stand with him. Ryan was Steven’s nephews’ best friend and has always had a crush on Steven. They have great chemistry. This was a great wrap to the Mary’s Boys story line. I loved how all the side characters were there to show their support. I loved this series, wish there was more.
I am voluntarily leaving a review form an ARC that I received. My reviews are solely based on my thoughts and opinions.
I loved this May/December romance! I think this might be my favorite story in this series! For once the older MC is not the self-assured one going after the younger guy and trying to take care of him in some way or other. The opposite is true rather, because Steven sincerely worries about the age difference between them, in part because he doesn’t see himself for the wonderful person he is. Ryan is definitely the one doing the pursuing and the one to convince Steven that what they have is real, or can be real rather. In spite of the doubts and a less than stellar start to their relationship, the chemistry and emotional bond between Ryan and Steven is mind-blowing and gave me all the exhilarated, bubbly joy I look for in a romance. In previous books, Steven seemed very confident and happy with himself and where he is in life, he’s a rock for the others, and that made this story a little bit of a surprise as it shows us a whole different side to him. Ryan and Steven have made similar life choices, if at different moments, and even though they come from very different backgrounds, and that helps them understand each other in a way few others can. We also got to see quite a lot of Pat in this story, as she’s Steven’s sister, and that is always a good thing.
This was the perfect way to wrap up this series with none other than Steven, the owner of Hamburger Mary’s. This man was not looking for love but the more time he spent with Ryan, the more he couldn’t help but fall for the younger man. Ryan with his long-time crush on his best friend’s uncle was in heaven after years of harboring a crush on the older man. There was a happily ever after for both men plus a really sweet gathering of the entire Hamburger Mary’s family to rally around Steven after he got over his self-doubt.
Deeds & Confetti is the fourth book in the Mary’s Boys series by Brandon Witt and I loved it. Nephew’s best friend theme with an age gap, this book was fun, sweet, sexy and funny. There was angst and drama to add spice but still made me happy reading. Steven and Ryan are great together! Had me feeling some feels, too. I loved this book and the whole series. Highly recommend.