The Sum of Everything by April Kelley ~ (ARC Review, Excerpt + Giveaway)
Book Information:
Book Name: The Sum of Everything
Book 2 in the Pickleville Series
Author Name: April Kelley
Release Date: March 15, 2015
Pages or Words: 41,533
Publisher: eXtasy Books
Cover Artist: Carmen Waters
Blurb:
They say opposites attract but can they make love last?
Greg Mitchell’s entire childhood was filled with violence and abuse. That was until he came to work on the Heath Farm. His life was forever changed for the better, including meeting Brian Stockwell. From the first moment Greg met Brian he's been in love. But a threat his father made four years ago has always held him back from pursuing any real relationship with Brian. That was until he learns his father is on his deathbed and of no further harm to himself or Brian.
Greg finds out his family ties are stronger than he thought and they hold Greg back from really getting to know Brian the way he truly wants to. Both men discover that they have more differences than they originally thought.
Categories: Contemporary, Erotica, Fiction, Gay Fiction, M/M Romance, Romance
Excerpt:
Every time Greg Mitchell looked at Brian Stockwell, he hurt. It was like a physical ache in his chest where his heart should be. Greg caught a glimpse of the man he had been obsessed with for the past four years and that ache started up. Brian didn’t even know Greg existed and even thinking about that made Greg feel like he was in high school all over again.
Greg was coming out of the barn, just getting ready to get cleaned up for an evening class he had to commute too. This was his last semester of college and he thanked God every day for that fact. He couldn’t wait to get done. The commute from the farm to school was a bitch, especially this past winter when the snow was up to the windows of his truck and his dick practically fell off every time he went from the bunkhouse to one of the barns. Greg was just glad that it was summer for his last class ever. He didn’t have to worry about the roads being covered in ice and the cold seeping into his bones.
The sun didn’t go down until about the same time Greg got home from class, so he didn’t even have to worry about driving at night in a large city. Although, living in Pickleville his whole life meant every city was large. Living in a small town also meant driving anywhere after ten o’clock at night was an unusual occurrence for anyone who lived here. For a farmhand like Greg that was especially true. Greg had been so focused on finishing school for so long that he just didn’t have time for any extracurricular activities.
Greg sighed as he watched Brian step out of the main house. Brian had shorts on, khaki’s and a dark blue t-shirt. Even from as far away as Greg was, he could see Brian’s cute little nose wriggle his glasses further up his nose. His dark hair had that messy, spiky look that seemed to be at odds with Brian’s nerdy personality type.
Greg rolled his eyes at himself. He couldn’t blame his lack of a social life entirely on his college classes. If Brian ever did give him the time of day Greg still wouldn’t pursue any type of relationship. And he longed to have Brian under him, naked.
Greg sighed again. Roger Mitchell’s parting words four years ago were not an empty threat. Greg’s father was more than capable of following through on hurting anyone Greg even came close to dating. Roger would know too. Greg had seen him on campus more than once throughout the years he had been attending the University.
Yeah, it sounded crazy. It was crazy but it was Greg’s truth. Greg would live in it.
Buy The Book:
Tracy's Review:
4 stars
*this book was provided to me by the author/publisher via Pride Promotions in exchange for an honest review*
Greg finally escapes his abusive, alcoholic parents clutches at the age of 16. He heads to the Heath farm to work, finish high school and start college in the small town of Pickleville.
While attending a cookout at his best friend, Kyler's, Greg has a little too much to drink and confesses his feeling for Brian, an accountant and a friend of Travis and Jarod's.
Well the first thing I'll say is I haven't read book one yet. I actually have it for a scheduled tour next month, but didn't realize this was the sequel until I was already well into the book. I don't think I lost a whole lot from not having read book one. I'll just know the main characters better when I get to "Whispers Home". Although it is a series, and Travis and Jarod play big told in this story, I believe it is fine to be read as a standalone. Now let's get to my review of this story.
I loved Greg and Brian, and the storyline was good, but I felt something was missing. I think the conflict could have been better. I wasn't sure why forgiveness took as long as it did. Yet further into the book what should have taken longer to forgive was swept under the rug. At times the timeline threw me off. Time seemed to jump ahead and I was never sure how long it had been from one scene to the next. I realize ARC's aren't fully edited, so maybe that will be fixed before the publish button is hit.
The book is told from dual POV's, but I felt the author spent much more time on Greg, and I knew much more about his backstory than I did Brian's. And what a backstory it is. Let's just say, some people aren't fit to be parents.
Brian and Greg had a good chemistry. They complimented each other well. The main characters were likeable. This story dealt with a delicate subject, child abuse and while it was handled well, I think I would have loved for it to have been a bigger part of the story.
All in all this was an enjoyable and entertaining read. I am looking forward to some of the secondary characters stories.
About The Author:
Living in Southwest Michigan, April lives with her husband and two kids. She has been an avid reader for several years. Writing her first story at the age of ten, the characters in her head still won't stop telling their stories. If April isn't reading or writing she can be found outside playing with the animals or taking a long walk in the woods.
Where to find the author:
Twitter: @authoraprilkell
Pinterest: April Kelley
Tour Dates & Stops:
Rafflecopter Prize: E-copy of ‘The Sum of Everything’
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congrats on the release april
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