Blake has never had a boyfriend before. Because he isn’t gay. Until recently, he was part of one of America’s most successful boy bands. After their record label ruthlessly dropped Below Zero, Blake has no choice but to head back to his hometown with his overbearing family. Elion never thought he’d get another chance with his high school crush, the pop star hunk Blake Jackson. Not when his life … his life is the opposite of exciting, stuck as a barista in the town he grew up in. When Blake walks back into his world though, Elion feels like there might be something between them after all.
All Blake wants is to pursue his first love of dance again. But in order to do that, he finds himself the star of a reality TV show, and the producers are determined to spice things up. They don’t care that Blake isn’t gay, not when Elion makes such a cute boyfriend. The pair send the ratings through the roof and find themselves forced to continue the charade. At least for the time being.
As reality and fiction begin to blur, falling in love becomes a tantalizingly possibility. Dangerously so, as a real-life superfan decides that Blake belongs to him and will do anything to claim him.
Elion will have to fight if he’s to keep the man who has fallen into his arms. But Blake will also have to fight to keep Elion safe from harm.
Scorch is a steamy, standalone gay romance novel with a guaranteed HEA and absolutely no cliffhanger.
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Scorch is book one in the Homecoming Hearts series by H.J. Welch. This is my very first book by this author. It is a M/M rock star romance. Well, it might not technically be rock star since one of the heroes was in more like a boy band. But I read it for a rock star romance reading challenge so I’m saying it qualifies. I did enjoy this so much. It was a great mix of sweet, sexy, and surprisingly, suspense.
Blake Jackson is twenty three years old and was a member of the boy band, Below Zero which was world famous. But the band has just been dismantled by their record studio and Blake suddenly finds himself not knowing what to do next. His love has always been more dance than singing. He is forced to move home to Perryville, Ohio and move in with his parents until he figures things out. But when he arrives, instead of getting some much needed down time to think, his parents have taken his future into their own hands and he finds himself thrust right into the spotlight in a reality show.
Elion Rodriguez was a high school classmate of Blake’s but they weren’t friends. He works at Cool Beans coffee house. He is a cheerful, positive gay man who finds joy in every day. He couldn’t believe it when his high school crush, Blake, walks into the coffee shop. He knew Blake was straight but it didn’t stop him from crushing on him. When Blake returns a few days later, he is more than pleased and the two of them strike up a friendship. But the show producers have other ideas. They decide that the show needs a gay romance and convince Blake and Elion to agree to a fake relationship. This thrusts Elion into a very public world he knows nothing about.
As these two spend time together, fake feelings begin to feel real. Blake has never been attracted to a man before but he can’t deny that Elion is all he can think about and his physical response to him is definitely attraction. At the same time, there is someone else that wants Blake for themselves and is not happy at all about the relationship between Blake and Elion.
These two together were so cute. I loved Elion, especially after he shared some of his truths with Blake. I so disliked the producer of the reality show. He was ruthless with the way he treated people. I also strongly disliked Blake’s parents. They completely tried to run Blake’s life and used guilt or manipulation to make him do what they wanted. I wanted Blake to stand up to them more. He had been living away from home for five years. But, he loved his family and I know he was torn.
This was very enjoyable and I was surprised at the events at the end. I didn’t expect the suspense at all. The epilogue was adorable. I definitely won’t hesitate to read this author again in the future.
I loved this one! Such a sweet, crazy story.
I have to confess I felt annoyed a lot in while reading because that reality show was a crazytown and I wanted to punch every crew member i the face several times for not knowing the meaning of privacy. But I guess it was the goal to feel that way.
I loved Blake. He grew so much emotionally and grew a backbone too. Kind of felt like in the beginning he was lost and had zero will to fight for himself. But when Elion came into the picture he kinda bloomed and did everything to protect the other man.
Elion was the crazy, funny, open guys who lived life to the fullest despite his limited options. And he took in stride when he was swept in the reality show.
The whole arc of the story was greaty constructed showing the growth of the main characters as well as the excitement of fame and all the drawbacks of it too.
What I found annoying was the lot of grammar mistakes. I am a grammar nazi, I am a virgo after all, so poorly edited books can drive me crazy.
But the ending was a sweet enough HEA to put me at ease. You can buy with a good HEA any time.
Read if you love MM romance!
Scorch (4 stars)
I have to start by saying this book reinforced how much I despise “reality” TV shows!
Blake comes home after his boy band is dumped by the label only to find his mother has arranged a reality tv show which starts as soon has he walks in the door. Elion is a barista at a local coffee house who had a crush from a distance on straight Blake. When Blake comes into the coffee shop Elion gets caught up in the toxic madness that is the reality show, posing as Blake’s boyfriend in order to juice ratings, a ploy instigated by the show runner unbeknownst to Blake or his family or Elion.
The story is sweet and both MCs are such likeable characters that you can’t help but root for them . You can’t help but want to throat punch Blake’s parents!
This is the first in the Homecoming Hearts series.
*I voluntarily read an ARC and this is my objective review *
Coming home and out makes waves, some good, some bad!
4.5 stars
I really liked this couple and felt badly for them every time Blake’s mom Jenna manufactured more mayhem to disrupt their strengthening relationship. Plenty of obstacles (most suffered with a mic in close proximity), a creepy stalker, some crazed dance moms and a lovely, brave beagle added vibes to their love story. The guys are both down-to-earth and caring of other’s feelings, and for Blake that’s a bit of a miracle considering how his parents act! And Elion’s close relationship with his mom was heartwarming .
This was a nice, easy read with , touching connection and some suspense. I am looking forward to reading more in the series about the other members of Blake’s disbanded group.
Cute and likeable characters it’s easy to root for. Deliciously tropey with a homecoming to a small town, a fake boyfriend set up, some family pressure and with a touch of mild suspense, there is little in the way of angst in this story – but that was just what I was after. This book made me smile. It’s an easy and enjoyable read.
Recommended.
I was gifted my copy of this book, that I write a review was not required, however, I found this review written up on my desk when I cleared it off, so here it is!
Faced with the end of his boy band career, 23yr old Blake runs home to his family, only to find his parents have signed him up to an internet reality show. Elion happens to have had a crush on Blake since school. When the film crew following Blake blow an innocent encounter into something massive, Blake finds himself with Elion as a boyfriend. What starts off as a fictitious relationship rapidly turns into a real one for both young men. But someone doesn’t want Blake to have Elion and both men could be in grave danger.
How I can file a book on the “crime/thriller” shelf AND the “too stinking cute” shelf is beyond my current comprehensive, but when a book tells me that’s where it needs to be, who am I to argue!
The crime bit comes from the stalker/superfan who has targeted Blake as the object of their affections. I did see that one coming at me a mile off, though, and it’s great to watch my ideas unfolding correctly. Ms Welch knows how to keep you on your toes, and even if I did see who it was, I did NOT see it going down like that!
And the too stinking cute bit is the way Elion and Blake develop their relationship. Because, yes, in the beginning, it was all for show, it very quickly became something else for both of them. Something very REAL. And I loved watching that happen!
A very delicious, steamy, sexy read.
5 stars
**same worded review will appear elsewhere**