Carter Haywood lives for the weekends—specifically the one weekend every month when he escapes real life, with all the pressures of work and caring for his special needs brother, to do whatever he wants, with whomever he wants. Sex is only a release; he’s not looking for love, a relationship or even a second night with the same man, until he walks into a bar and finds someone who makes leaving it … it all behind impossible. After one incredibly passionate encounter, he breaks his rule and goes back. He needs to see this man again. And again.
Damaged goods. That’s all Reed Kincaide sees and hears when he looks in the mirror. Anxiety and ADHD define his life and he’s learned to keep people at a distance, never letting them get close enough to know who he really is. When Carter proposes a monthly weekend of sex without strings, it’s the ideal arrangement for him. Or so he thinks. Every month, leaving Carter proves to be more and more difficult. It’s not only the intensely hot sex they have in their hotel suite; Reed wonders about the secret life Carter refuses to share.
As months pass and they grow closer Reed finds himself falling for Carter, but he needs more than hurried hugs and farewell kisses. He wants it all. Letting Reed into his carefully constructed family life could upset Carter’s whole world, but it might be the risk he’s finally willing to take, if it means keeping Reed. Once bodies are engaged, the heart is sure to follow, and Carter and Reed discover that holding on to each other is the first step in letting go of the past.
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Another hit by my favorite author! Two people who think they know what they need find what they really want! Ms. Stevens knows how to make her NYC locales come to life and doesn’t disappoint the confirmed romantic.
Story 5 Stars
Audio 5 Stars
Carter Haywood is the devoted caretaker for Jackson, his 10 year old special needs half brother. His life is filled to the brim with responsibilities and Carter rarely looks after his own needs. His guilty treat is the one weekend a month getaway where he can escape from his complicated life and indulge in some pleasure. His private time also alienates him in a sense. Yes, he gets his human touch but there is no commitment as Carter leaves first so not to be hurt and always has control over any liaisons. He also feels a real relationship would never work because it would confuse and hurt his little brother.
On one of his excursions Carter meets a handsome bartender named Reed and they click. After an explosive encounter, Carter does with he is best known for, he dismisses Reed. Well we are left with a really furious bartender that is seething over the callous way he was treated. Reed has had to learn to deal with some challenging obstacles. He has ADHD along with a sometimes overwhelming anxiety. This brush off isn’t helping and he feels he should have known better.
The men do reconnect and start a no-strings one weekend a month together kind of relationship. Carter first believes it’s enough. Reed realizes he is falling and challenges Carter on his stark ideas of what they really are. When he finds Reed has had enough, Carter opens his eyes and realizes that being without the feisty bartender is not going to work. Can he repair the damage that the wall he built around his heart has caused and let someone into his guarded life he shares with Jackson?
The book was wonderfully written and the two MC’s had a common past life experience that I believe strengthened their connection. I highly recommend this enchanting story of two broken Souls putting back the pieces of their lives. Happy Reading!
Audio: Narrator Mr. Charlie David
I love this audio version. Mr. David had the perfect cadence and changed his voice to due justice to the different characters that grace “The Arrangement”. I was totally absorbed and felt the characters came to life. Mr. David displayed the perfect emotions the men exhibited and I especially loved the voice of Carter. It was such a wonderful listening experience and I highly recommend the audiobook.
Every time Felice Stevens’s book is coming out, I always full of anticipation, who else people’s gonna hate that I will love. Seriously, Felice has her own way to drive me to love an annoying MC that people wants to slap or put a fist on his face.
Micah from Memories of the Heart is one of the example. Its almost everyone wanted to punch Micah, while I loved him and wants to wrap him in a mama bear hugs.
Carter has the same vibes as Micah. Arrogant, stubborn, selfish and soon as you know what he did to Reed, you’ll have a feeling to hate him and punch him in the mouth !
Not me. Nah. Never.
I knew he has issues, and I was right. It’s just need people with patience like me and Reed to find out. (Pat my back).
From a one night stand arrangement to a life time arrangement, the two MCs having an an interesting development.
I know that Carter won’t let Reed slipped easily from his arms after the night Reed broke down with his panic attack. He can’t, because Carter knows how to handle people like Reed, and he knows he’s the right person for Reed.
He’s just too stubborn to admit that he also needed Reed in his life. I liked Carter’s relationship with his brother, that’s what brothers relationship supposed to be, IMO.
Reading The Arrangement, makes me happy. That brotherly love is still there, that people with some disability deserves to have love and even more love (I won’t called ADHD as an ability tho, since I have one as well, and I feel as normal as I can be, no matter what people sees in me).
It warmed my heart that Reed is finally has a place and person he can called ‘home’ in Carter.
I’m glad Felice is an auto read author for me, because I’s a sucker for a guaranteed HEA.
Well done Felice, can’t wait for your next work !
Felice Stevens is one of my favorite m/m contemporary romance writers. She just has a way of writing flawed characters that makes you want them to be happy. This book is no different. I loved that the male leads shared similar backstories, the struggle for intimacy was so authentic – I didn’t feel the emotional bond was contrived at all. And yeah, it was hot as hell. But hot sex does not a book make. What makes this book, as well as many of her other ones, is how well she developes the characters. Loved it!
(This review is based on listening to the audiobook version)
> > Judging a Book by it’s Cover < < Greyscale. Two bare-chested men in an intimate pose, kissing. Bold font. Very intriguing synopsis. > > Looking Deeper < < POV ~> Third-person
OMG ~ Multiple EAR-GASMS!! The things I want to say about this story and it’s narration would not be suitable for all audiences, but suffice it to say, I loved it! Charlie David hooked me with the first “whisper”ed line that made my body stand at attention and beg for more!
Carter and Reed were two tremendously, heart-achingly broken men doing the best they could with the terrible circumstances they were given so young in life.
Carter only allowed himself one weekend per month to decompress and recuperate from the stresses of work and acting as an insta-dad to his 10-yr old special needs brother. He met Reed at the bar that Reed worked at and invited him back to his hotel room. Unaware of the inner turmoil this caused Reed, Carter dismissed the casual hookup once it was over, but the man stayed on his mind so much that he actively sought Reed back out the following month with an arrangement proposal. Their chemistry was undeniable – and hot. I love that the seemingly shy guy got toppy behind closed doors. A smattering of supportive secondary characters were present, plus a larger role played by Jackson / Jaxson. Dialogue and cast interactions felt natural and believable. The plot was rich and full, deep and dynamic. The flow was perfect. Most of the conflicts were internal, but the obstacles were faced maturely and resolved in a timely manner. Predictability was virtually nil. The conclusion was solid and satisfying in a flash-forward epilogue ending.
An amazing story, full of emotion. This is a must-read for all fans of M/M Romance!
Charlie David was an AMAZING narrator, holy cow! I would happily listen to this man read the DICTIONARY! Pronunciation and diction: clear, the pace was perfect. Character intonations and emotional conveyance were spot on. Five EARGASM Stars!
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Book Rating: [R] ~ Score: 44.25 ~ Stars: 4, 4.5 if I could!
Narration: Clarity, Pace, Tone ~ 5 Stars!
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**** Disclosure of Material: I received a copy of this audiobook from the Author/Publisher with the hope that I would voluntarily leave unbiased and unsolicited feedback. I was not asked, encouraged, or required to leave a review – nor was I compensated in any way. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”. *****
Loved this story
This is such a beautiful and poignant story, one that touched me to my core. Imagine knowing that the one person in your life who’s supposed to love you, protect you, nurture you, and even die for you—your mother—has rejected you and tossed you away because you’re damaged goods and just not good enough. Gut-wrenching.
Individually, Carter and Reed have each spent a large portion of their lives damaged because of this.
Carter, successful and driven in business, is determined to never fall in love. If it wasn’t deplorable enough that his mother rejected him as a teen, she did it again when she dropped off his much younger half-brother at his doorstep. Why? Because he is—Damaged. Broken. Learning disabilities. And adorable.
How Carter handled his brother, Jacks, with so much love, commitment for the best care, and put him as his only priority in life was a testimony to his hidden strength and resolve to make things right.
Reed, a part-time bartender and grad student, is fortunate enough to have his father in his life to pick up the pieces that his own mother shattered when she left them both. Why? Because Reed is—Damaged. Broken. He suffers from severe anxiety and ADHD. His dad is an amazing, loving, and supportive man.
When Carter meets Reed at the bar that he works at, he offers an ‘arrangement’ up to Reed, consisting of a hotel hook-up, once a month—sex only (which is pretty damn hot, btw!).
As the two of them realize that it’s so much more than physical contact they crave from each other, their past insecurities become too overwhelming, and self-loathing collides with every last bit of common sense that says they deserve one another.
This is where my heart was shattered. To witness the damage done and how they clawed and fought their way to happiness was so hard to take. But when they find it, it’s magnificent and beautiful, and so beyond well-deserved.
In true Felice Stevens form, her characters are extremely lovable, vulnerable, hard-headed, and real. I was holding my breath, rooting for their HEA until exhaustion set in. The storyline is so well-written and endearing with all the feels. Another brilliant job. I highly recommend this gorgeous five-star read.
Every character was like “I’m bad at communication, so let perfectly articulate my thoughts and feelings so you know what’s going on.” Bit distracting from the fun stuff.
Crawling out of a troubled childhood, Carter owns his own successful business in New York City. Three years ago his mother dumps his little brother at his doorstep and demands money. Having a developmentally challenged ten year old is something he didn’t expect, but embraces. One weekend a month he escapes to a hotel for a tryst with no commitments, no connections, and no names. But one of those weekends gives him something he didn’t expect.
Reed works at a local bar while trying to finish college. His last attempt at a serious relationship turned sour. His ADHD and panic attacks keep him from wanting another relationship. In fact, even one-night-stands are not on his radar. Then this guy walks into his bar.
This book is both frustrating and wonderful. Lots of suspense as the characters work through their internal challenges to finally embrace what they both want. Stevens does an outstanding job keeping the story moving, and giving readers the ending they want.