Jasper Warren is a happy-go-lucky young man in spite of the tragedy that’s marred his life. He’s on a road to nowhere with his roommate, Lacy, whom he adores, and a dead-end retail job in Chicago. And then everything changes in a single night. Though Jasper doesn’t know it, his road is going somewhere after all. This time when tragedy strikes, it brings with it Lacy’s older, wealthy, sexy uncle … sexy uncle Rob. Despite the heart-wrenching circumstances, an immediate connection forms between the two men.
But the secrets between them test their attraction. Will their revelations destroy the bloom of new love… or encourage it to grow?
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Sad but uplifting M/M romance with hints of a compassionate ghost or two…?
My favorite M/M subgenre is the older man falls for the younger man. The book opens with a life-altering event for Rob forcing him to make a significant decision. Then we back-track to what brought him to that moment in time. We meet sweet and crazy, in a good way, roommates: Jasper and Lacy. Jasper is gay and on the prowl for his next conquest. Lacy is the true-blue friend who is his wing-woman, never thinking of herself but always there for Jazz. When secrets (and there are a lot of them) are revealed, the book gets fiercely real and raw. I cried through quite a bit of this book! There is an HEA but there is a lot of pain to endure before that beautiful moment. I was afraid it wouldn’t happen…
This was a well-written, passionate and often times sad story of several people who want and need someone to just tell them they are worthy of being loved. There are hints of a ghost or ghosts leading Jasper to make up his mind. Maybe it’s his subconscious but I prefer to think that it’s his BFF helping to pave the way for Jasper and Rob. Over all this is a beautiful book. The blurb doesn’t really do it justice. I volunteered to review an ARC of this book through Gay Romance Reviews and I give it 4.5 sweet and steamy stars.
Rick Reed is a new to me author and I would read more by him. This was an age gap romance. I liked that it was not an instant connection kind of love. The characters had a depth to them, seemed more realistic than a lot of stories I have read. Tragedy brings them together and they end up with at least an HFN. Good, realistic story.
I am voluntarily leaving a review form an ARC that I received. My reviews are solely based on my thoughts and opinions.
Tragedy old and new for Jasper to negotiate: compelling
4-4.5stars
This was a compelling story which brings together two men deeply affected by a young woman’s death by overdose. It’s driven by emotion, not romance, though there is that and some heat too.
Jasper is a survivor and a great character. Originally a small-town boy from a cash-strapped, working class family, he’s living a frugal existence in Chicago and lost alot in his 25 years so he’s cautious about building a continuing connection with a successful, much older man who lives thousands of miles away. When the two finally trust each other enough to reveal their secrets, it’s a critical step.
But it is Jasper’s memories of Lacy, the goth girl who leaves him so abruptly, that carry a large share of the story’s punch. Visiting their old haunts, recalling their conversations and quiet times, Jasper evaluates their friendship and, along with the good memories comes to some uncomfortable conclusions. Rob’s memories are of a very different girl who turned away from him and her parents to reinvent herself.
The author is a favorite of mine because each of his books seems so unique. This one is no exception. I would have liked a bit more romance but it’s nevertheless a good, thoughtful read brimming with emotion and with a hopeful end.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
Jasper and Rob
An emotional story, awfully realistic at times, grief is a big word here. Jasper his best friend Lacy committed suicide and at the time of the funeral he meets Rob her uncle. Together they sneak away and they bond. They both are connected through Lacy.
Rob is a wealthy man and invites Jasper over to California. Something unexpected is revealed and In no time Jasper goes back home. When Rob follows Jasper, Jasper wants to show Rob the Lacy he knew.
Throughout this story we see them stumble and struggle, with past, family, tragedy and life itself. More than once there are moments where there is a kind of mystical atmosphere created. There are heavy moments and secrets.
Even though the author always knows how to hold the readers attention, I couldn’t fully connect with the characters, for me there was a distance.
An emotional story, with kind and good developed characters, the circumstances were difficult. The story has a mild romance, it was captivatingly written and had a comfortable pace.
The journey we are introduced in this book are of two amazing men, we see what their lives were like in the past and what led them into the now. I enjoyed both of these men and their growth from friends to lovers. Very enjoyable!
As always Rick R Reed has given us a beautifully written story with tons of feels. It is heart-wrenching in places and heartwarming in others. I loved Jasper. How could you not? He was a sweet young man. Average. Happy with his meager life, simple apartment and best friend and roommate. Until he finds her dead in her room. He meets her rich uncle at her funeral and finds out he didn’t know her at all.
Rob feels an attraction to Jasper but he is half his age, sweet and sexy. What would he want with an old man like him? And he is not his usual type at all. Men his age or older and in his class. Is this the real thing or just a fleeting attraction?
Grab this book and find out. It is well worth the read.
If you like May/December, hurt/comfort, Millionaire/poor and an allover great sweet romance with tons of feels this is for you.
The plot of this book is so unlike anything else I have read! I loved everything about it – the characters, the whole spectrum of amazing emotions, the connection and all the baggage they carrried. I did not expect the book to be so emotional and so easy to put down! It was definitely a very pleasant surprise!
Losing someone you love is one of the hardest things we will deal with in life. Jasper has had a lot of loss in his life, his Dad may still be alive but he barely exist. Living with Lacy in a small apartment in Chicago Jasper was living life. But when things go bad, suddenly and without warning, his world spins. Lacy’s uncle comes and turns Jasper’s world upside down again.
Rob and Jasper are many years apart in age but both have secrets they keep, both have unimaginable loss, can they help heal one another with love?
I don’t want to go into detail about this book and give anything away. It was a great storyline, emotional, laughs too. Give it a try, it really makes you think about words that are said or not said before it’s too late
Lacy’s death brings Jasper and Robert into each other’s lives. They meet at the funeral service and attraction simmers,but it’s definitely not the right time,nor are they in the right state of mind,to act on it. They keep in touch,over the months, through email and text messages, and slowly a deeper connection forms between them. But there are secrets,the kind that could ruin what they managed to built.
The Secrets We Keep is so much more than a romance between young Jasper and Robert, wealthy and older. It’s a journey of self discovery, of painful introspection and incrimination. So,Jasper and Robert’s love story is more of a background to learning how to look beyond the obvious, how to confront harsh realities and re-evaluate previous judgments and emotional issues.
The book is a beautiful study in overcoming grief, learning from one’s mistakes and letting go of lingering resentment. And most importantly, forgive yourself and look forward to the future,allow love and happiness into your life.
Absolutely a must read.
Secrets can be wonderful things. Sometimes they are devastating , depending on how they are revealed.
Both Jasper and Rob have secrets from their pasts. Both tragic and life changing.
The author puts the reader on a roller coaster of many emotions and I enjoyed the ride.
The way the author has set their story up, how they meet, the reason they meet and what transpires between them was so well written.
We are taken on a journey where we are introduced to two amazing men, we get to see what their lives were like in the past , that led them to the “now”. I very much enjoyed how their story progressed. The humor they shared along with growing feelings and heat. There is so much I’d like to say but I don’t want to give things away. The reader should discover them during the story.
I did so enjoy the clarification about something…..I agree 100%, it would have been a deal breaker for me as well.
Wonderful characters that pull you in , make you fall for them and want nothing but their HEA.
I was given an Advanced Readers Copy for an honest review.
Rob and Jasper were brought together through a tragedy of a woman they both loved. Rob being her biological father and Jasper being her roommate, each man had secrets about Lacy that when brought to light unearthed a completely different woman then who they knew. Their friendship grew through email and their love grew through time. This was a deeply emotional story of loss, forgiveness, and finding your happily ever after.
The Secrets We Keep is a story that deals with the aftermath of suicide, with the addition of a May-to-December couple of main characters. This is NOT a light read. It is somber and full of reflection.
That side of the story is really well written. The emotions that pour off each page with make you stop and think. However, for me, I found it overshadowed the romance side of things. I didn’t really feel a connection between our main two. There was no build up to them individually, rather just a carry on from the feelings they were dealing with regarding Lacy. There is an epilogue with them, so you do get something, it just didn’t exactly work for me.
The writing, though, is wonderful, and there were no mistakes that disrupted my reading. The story is a great one, and the pacing is smooth. The characters themselves will interest and intrigue you. I have no hesitation in recommending this book!
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian – I Dig Good Books!