Isha has spent the last year watching his BFF get his happily-ever-after. He’s proud of Dom, but…it hurts to see him so free while Isha’s love life is still on lockdown. Only Isha’s ex-wife knows the secret that he’s kept caged for so long—that he’s queer too, and he’s lonely.Jude’s too chained to his work to notice what he’s missing by being terminally single, but a new face in the village soon … village soon catches his attention. City boy Isha is gorgeous, and when he starts to haunt Jude’s reptile shop as well as the hook-up app on his phone, he’s a welcome distraction from Jude’s business problems.
For a control freak like Isha, letting Jude under his skin is an existential meltdown, but Jude’s not in the market to be anyone’s queer crisis, not when he’s facing troubles of his own. Unlocking their lives could push both men apart forever, but it might be a risk worth taking if sharing is the key to their happy future.
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I was given a free arc copy from the author and the GRR arc team for review.
Isha is Luckys ex sports manager from book 1 and Jude is an exotic animal rescuer/seller who Isha randomly meets when his snake loving son wants his birthday party booked at Ishas store. Isha is seemingly still in the closet for unknown reasons and jude doesn’t want to date someone not out but they can’t resist each other.
Saved the best for last. Despite numerous mentions of big snakes which I despise this was my favorite book of the 3. I loved both of these 2 main characters and thought they had great chemistry together. The 2 kids were adorable too and I loved how the kids so adorably and innocently conspired to get the 2 MCs constantly around each other. The plot kept my interest the whole time. It was so sweet and low angst and medium heat. I loved it.
The only reason I didn’t rate it 5 stars was due to the many mentions of said snakes (yuck) and Isha being so hot and cold confusing. Especially when he didn’t give a real reason for it. Past reasons sure but not current ones.
This book has all the feels!
Once I started reading Jude, I so badly wanted to read it straight through without stopping; I hate it when real life interferes with my reading! This was a fantastic book and boy was it ever hot as fire. Right from the start there was no doubt that Jude and Isha had chemistry in spades. Their sexy time was off the charts.
I should probably mention that while Jude is the third book in the Lucky series it can be read as a standalone. Characters from the other books appear but you shouldn’t feel lost if you haven’t read them. I confess that I’ve yet to read book one, Lucky, and I had no trouble at all starting with book two, Cash.
When they weren’t getting it on with each other things were a bit more complicated. Isha is bi but only his ex-wife knows that, well until he meets Jude that is. Isha doesn’t exactly have friends, he doesn’t really let anyone get too close, but he feels super guilty for not letting those closest to him know that he’s queer.
I loved that Jude has a disability but doesn’t let it stop him from running his own business. Since the blurb doesn’t disclose what it is, I’m not saying anything other than I know someone with this who doesn’t really cope nearly as well as Jude does.
While reading Jude there were times that I really wanted to throw something at Isha because he couldn’t seem to recognize or admit what a good thing he had going with Jude. I shed sad tears and happy tears while reading this and it was so worth every one of them.
I’m a relatively new fan of Garrett Leigh’s writing so I have some catching up to do and it’s something I look forward to accomplishing.
An advanced copy of this book was provided to me but my review was voluntary and not influenced by the author.
***Reviewed for Xtreme-Delusions dot com*** (posting on April 5, 2019)
4.5 stars
Heat Level: 3.5
Another exceptional story by Garrett Leigh!
I loved Jude and Isha! Garrett has a way of exploring the different aspects of being queer in different ways that are so poignant, endearing and relevant. This story resonated with me and I love that Garrett uses the word queer to describe sexuality in this series. I feel I don’t fit in a sexuality ‘genre/label’ but I do relate to the word queer and only have positive feelings towards it, but I know some people don’t like that word for various reasons. The use of queer in this story reflects Isha’s truth and the care Garrett lends to Isha’s story and struggles shine through.
Isha is trying to come to terms with his inability to share the fact that he’s queer. While no longer in the testosterone-filled world as a sports agent and now working with Dom, he struggles with guilt and fear of betrayal by staying in the closet but is still struggling to come out. Once he meets Jude, all bets are off and his worlds collide!
I loved Jude! He was refreshingly real. A simple, introverted, reptile lover worried about finances and prefers animals to people, he was totally relatable! Isha has the ability to change all that. I loved Jude and Isha’s interactions, their meet-cute, surprising mistaken identity hook-up that starts it all and their growing feelings for each other. I enjoyed the progression of the story and while the back and forth of Isha’s give and take was frustrating it makes it all the more wonderful when he ‘comes out’ and drops the ‘angst’ and fear and just loves Jude and himself.
Garrett has created another wonderful story with real characters that each face their own challenges. I love the made family these guys have and Isha’s children are adorable.
A highly recommended read! Loved it!
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As usual Garrett Leigh keeps it real with two complex men who are very different yet ended up working so well together. The writing is on point, as usual, the subtle British humor is present, and the inclusion of the two other couples from the previous books incorporated into the story perfectly. I wasn’t sure, initially, but Isha and Jude as a couple slowly but surely worked their way into my heart and they’re a close second to Lucky and Dom.
Ever since Isha was introduced in book one I’ve been more than a bit intrigued by him. A complete workaholic he doesn’t ever seem to relax and enjoy himself. Firmly in the closest with only his ex-wife knowing the truth about his sexuality he’s only ever had hookups with men and, as a result, has no clue how to process his feelings for Jude preferring to push him away rather than acknowledge that there’s something more than sex involved.
I kind of got him. Yes, the way he went about things with Jude was beyond frustrating at times but I felt he genuinely just didn’t know what to do with his feelings and then there was the problem of coming out to Dom and his children. ( a big shout out for his ex Mina, I really liked her and thank goodness for an ex-wife who isn’t portrayed as a villain.)
Jude is a character who I loved from the very beginning. He has his problems to cope with but he tries to just get on with life. Devoting his time to his beloved reptiles in the shop he owns he hasn’t had the time or the real inclination for any kind of relationship. But with Isha things feel different from the start and it’s not just the amazing sex.
“Tell me what to do,” he whispered.
“Tell me what you need.”
It takes them a while but eventually they get there. I adored the relationship Jude developed with Isha’s children, it felt easy, natural and was totally believable. Jude and Isha seem to take two steps forward and ten steps backward at times as they try and navigate their way through the complexity of their attraction and feelings but I really enjoyed their journey and the Epilogue was pretty damn perfect. (On the subject of Jude’s medical condition I really commend the Author here. I’ve got a family member with this condition and it was very well portrayed.) I’ve really enjoyed this series and I’m hoping we get a little more from these men in the future.
I recommend this book!
DBO~Review by Judith