Roman Frost is barely surviving.Every day of his life since the accident that left him scarred and disfigured has been one disaster after the next. Every year is another reminder that he should be dead. All he wants is to be left alone in his secluded manor home but of course his beloved nephews think differently.They’re convinced what he needs is a restart and what better time for a new … for a new beginning than at the start of a new year?
Ash Beaumont isn’t what Roman expected when his nephews sent him an assistant. He’s young and bold and he isn’t intimidated by Roman’s scars or his scowls. He doesn’t pander and he doesn’t back down. He’s a breath of fresh air and the more time Roman spends with him, the more he remembers what its like to really live.
The season of change is full possibilities. Ash brings light into Roman’s dark life. But is Roman brave enough to step from his shadow and back into the world or is his relationship with Ash just another disaster waiting to happen?
more
A scarred man living in seclusion has an attractive young assistant foisted upon him – can new year miracles happen?
Roman Frost used to be a party animal until an accident made him a surrogate to his brother’s three children. Now he is a recluse of his own making due to his scars and guilt. His nephews, on the other hand, are determined to pull him into the outside world.
Enter young, handsome, and smart Ash Beaumont. He is everything that Roman used to desire and chase. Now he has to confront his desires every day making for an interesting living arrangement. Did I forget to mention that Ash is a live-in assistant?
Or that Ash can see beyond Roman’s physical scars? Things are heating up in the Frost household.
I loved this fairy tale retelling of “Beauty and the Beast” in Once Upon A New Year (Blue Lemon Press, 2019) by Jess Bryant. I would have to say this is one of my top ten favorite romances of the year.
Frost may seem like he is cold, but he is anything but ice. Bryant does not shy away from making an alpha male someone with a heart. Ash is extremely funny and in many ways the complete opposite of Frost. Two are fiery, complex, and their chemistry can make you squirm.
Start your New Year off right with Frost and Ash. You cannot go wrong with this happily-ever-after.
I received an ARC of this book and I am writing a review without prejudice and voluntarily.
Roman Frost is everything I love in a hero. The fact he is so broken and living a dark self-imposed life was so sad. I did not pity Roman Frost; I was heartbroken for him. For years, he has lived in seclusion in his lonely mansion preferring no contact from the outside world. His nephews have decided Roman needs to have his dark bubble of existence breeched. So they hire Roman an assistant. I won’t go into details because this is a quick read. I can tell you this book has plenty of emotion and the chemistry between Ash and Roman was scorching hot. Not to mention their relationship did not start off well. No, not at all. I will also tell you that both Ash and Roman are two wonderful characters. I was so pleased that the author packed this short book will so many feels and the sweetest of endings. ‘Sighing loudly right now as I recall Ash and Roman’s sweetest moments.’
I definitely recommend this book! I am looking forward to the next Frost’s story coming soon!
This is my honest and unbiased review and I thank you for taking the time to read it. 🙂
Roman is a recluse. He was in a car accident and has scars on half his face and on his body. Ash gets hired as Roman’s assistant. Roman keeps giving Ash a hard time because he’s attracted to him and believes he looks too much like a monster for Ash to care for him. I really enjoyed this book.
I’m loving these short M/M stories by this author. The story sucks you in and you feel invested for the characters. I was really rooting for them here.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Scarred, damaged broken, but he’s a survivor! Roman is still emotionally as well as physically scarred from the accident and suffering from survivor’s guilt.. Gibson thought roman neded an assistant, so he had Dawson, the baby deliver the news. Ash, Beau’s brother was sent to be an assistant to Roman while drawing him out of his misery into the world. Roman felt himself ugly and scarred and didn’t see the beauty Ash saw. Before he was scarred, Roman was a playa who enjoyed men. After the accident he was virtually celibate. One sighting of Ash and he woke up again. Now Roman is fighting his own inner demons and his attraction to Ash. Ash sees the scars, but doesn’t let that define Roman. Roman constantly lets his fears and guilt speak for himself. Can Ash reach Roman? Will Roman put his demons to rest? Can Roman finally forgive himself for surviving the crash? This is a warm loving story because you can feel Roman’s pain and struggle and Ash’s absolute Grace and love. Well done! The Frost family is stronger because of their tragedy. I received this ARC from Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Jess Bryant delivers on this sweet romance. The reclusive Roman and the energetic Ash clashed in the beginning. Roman with his insecurities and Ash wanting to show him that he is worthy of love. Their working relationship developed into a romantic relationship. It was nice to see the two come to an understanding and confess their love for one another. Their chemistry was off the charts and their romance was sweet.Roman found his reason to keep going in Ash and Ash found his home with Roman. I’m truly a fan and cannot wait to read Branson’s story.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Roman Frost had started the cyber-security division of Frost Financial so his family could see he was still functioning. But his nephews knew they couldn’t let him retreat any further into himself or he would never come back to them. He really did need human interaction to pull him out of his despair, whether he wanted it or not!
The new assistant his nephew, Gibson, sent over for the job interview was already thirty minutes late, giving Roman the justification for why this won’t work – so he is ready to fire Ash Beaumont before they even meet! He needed his home to be his sanctuary and didn’t want the outside world forced on him. He craved his solitude and hated the stares and whispers when he was forced out around people. His scars made him a monster. Why had it been his brother, Dornan, and his sister-in-law, Gayle, who had died in the terrible accident? They had three sons who had needed them! Nobody had ever needed Roman – he should have been the one who died that night. But he was starting to worry about why Ash was not here, and he checked the traffic conditions across the city of Knights Port. The congestion of red lines indicated there had been a wreck! His mind filled immediately with every horrible memory of his own accident – the screams, the blood and death — until the darkness had taken him away.
The sound of his doorbell dragged him back to the present and his anger flared that “she” forced him to worry like this. Having someone else to worry about would make his barely-functioning life even harder to maintain! He just didn’t want to feel anything. But when he opened the door, there was a young man on his hands and knees, his back end toward him! He stood up and spun around to face him, and Roman saw he was everything he had always loved about men – he was perfect in every way – until Roman saw his eyes open wide in shock and horror! But instead of the reaction being caused by his scars, it was his embarrassment for reaching for a package and knocking down a plant on the porch. He was scraping the soil back in the planter when Mr. Frost opened the door. And Ash was unprepared for the handsome and striking man who scowled at him. Roman knew he could not let this gorgeous young man stay, so he fired him on the spot for being late and not calling. When Ash tried to explain, he would not allow it, and was surprised when Ash didn’t back down – another thing that attracted him! Roman quickly went inside and locked the door on Ash.
Gibson, anticipating his uncle’s behavior, was already driving up to the house to help Ash out. He used his key and went right after Roman, explaining he could not fire Ash when it had been Gibson who hired him. So Ash is Roman’s assistant and moves into the mansion. Ash won’t give up on him. He sees the real Roman, a good man and worth the effort, though sometimes the effort can be painful. But when Ash commits to Roman, he is in it for forever – if Roman will see the truth and let him in.
This is an incredible book that will share the joy and happiness, the fears and trust, and you may find yourself reading it with tears in your eyes – both the happy ones, and the sad. The book is all about love, for family, for friends, for all the people who touch our lives. It’s definitely a keeper!
Once Upon a New Year is a stand alone M/M novella by Jess Bryant. One of the two main characters, Roman Frost, is the uncle of Gibson Frost whom you met in the previous book, Once Upon a December. But, it is not required to have read the previous book. I haven’t read it yet myself.
Roman Frost started the cyber-security division of Frost Financial. Several years ago, Roman was in a serious accident. His body is now scarred as is his heart. He lives alone as a recluse in his home, Stone Creek Manor.
Roman’s three nephews have decided that their uncle needs an assistant. Someone that can draw him out. Because they fear that if their uncle retreats any further, they’ll never get him out of that house again.
Ash Beaumont had been warned by the men who hired him that working for their uncle would be difficult. But, he was not prepared for the beauty of the man who answered the door. Or for the anger when he realized that Ash had been sent to work for him.
“He was what he was. He was a scarred, ugly, damaged man that nobody would want in that way ever again.”
To say that Ash and Roman had a rocky start would be an understatement. The attraction they felt to each other was immediate and strong. But Roman had accepted years before that he was always going to be alone. That no one would ever be anything other than repulsed by him. That he didn’t deserve love or happiness. The longer he was around Ash, though, he began to feel small amounts of hope.
This is a short sweet, sexy story of a man who had given up on having any sort of life. But when Ash comes into his life, he helps him to see that he can be more, have more. I enjoyed this so much and it definitely makes me want to go back and read Gibson’s story. This is the third book I’ve read by this author and there will definitely be more in my future.
This is a lovely short story that is simply a retelling of beauty and the beast. It is a MM romance with enemies-to-lovers theme.
It is very fast paced and I got sucked into the story right from the start. Ash is adorable and sweet and it was great to see Roman finding love and getting his life back 🙂
This novella is sexy and funny. The chemistry between Ash and Roman is awesome and it was obvious that they were meant to be together right from their first meeting.
It was my first book by this author and I love her storytelling, it’s really good. I can’t wait to read more books about Frost brothers.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Once again I have only good things to say about Jess Bryant’s M/M romances. They are fantastic. I absolutely loved Ash and Roman’s love story and gobbled it up in one sitting. This book, along with Once Upon a December, are fantastic afternoon reads. I look forward to reading more from this author. TBR and enjoy.
Roman Frost has been in his house since the accident that took his brother and his brothers wife. Roman has help raise his nephews as best as he can. Ash Beaumont has come to be Romans assistant. Roman refuses to let Ash stay. When Ash calls Gibson, Gibson shows up and tells his uncle that Ash is staying to help him and that is final. After several weeks together Ash and Roman are still having fits and not seeing on the same page. After dinner one night there is a big disaster and Ash runs to his room. Later that night Ash and Roman find common ground. Roman is still afraid to go out in public. What will happen when Roman and Ash get asked to Gibson’s house for a dinner party for Valentine’s Day?
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.