Blog Tour: Coming Back Home by April Kelley (Exclusive Excerpt, ARC Review + Giveaway)
Title: Coming Back Home
Series: Pickelville
Author: April Kelley
Publisher: Extasy Books
Cover Artist: Carmen Waters
Length: 31,435 words
Release Date: October 15, 2015
Blurb: One huge fight changed Seth’s life forever.
Seth Murray just might be the most stubborn man on the face of this plant. He refused to move back to Pickleville because of one fight with his father. That is until he gets a call saying that his dad has passed away suddenly. The first person Seth thinks about is the one man he gave up because of his stubborn pride. Five years ago, all Seth wanted was to be with Carter. Now he doesn’t know what he wants. And Carter has his own life. One that Seth certainly didn’t see coming when he finally reconnects with the man again. One that revolves around a certain blonde haired, blue-eyed little girl that completely melts Seth’s heart the minute he meets her.
Seth knew Carter saw him. How could he not. Carter walked right passed him into the horse barn like Seth had been invisible, though. Seth followed him in and stood there for a second watching Carter go into the tack room. Seth followed him in and then closed the door after him, plunging them both into darkness.
“Open the door, Seth.”
“No.”
“Then at least turn on the light.”
“No, I like it this way.” It made the conversation they needed to have that much easier. Still scared the crap out of him though, not that he would be admitting that anytime soon to anyone.
“Seth.”
“I’ll turn on the light when you tell me what your problem is.”
“I don’t have a problem. Now, turn on the light before you trip over something.”
“Right, like you’re really worried about my wellbeing at the moment.”
“What’s that supposed to mean? I don’t want you to get hurt.”
“Well, it’s a little too late for that, now isn’t it?”
“What are you talking about?”
“I’m talking about the way you’ve been treating me. Like I have the damn plague or something.”
He heard Carter sigh. “Seth, please. Just open the door so I can do my job.”
“The sooner you tell me what your problem is, the sooner I let you out.”
“I can physically remove you from in front of that door.”
Exclusive Excerpt
Carter walked into his parent’s house. “Hey Pops. I saw Seth’s truck out by the main house, but I can’t find him anywhere.”
“Shoe’s off,” Jaron said. Surprisingly, his dad was sitting on the couch reading a book and not in the kitchen which was his norm. “He’s upstairs taking a nap with Issy.”
Carter stopped right in the middle of taking off his boots and nearly fell over. “Why would you let him do that?”
His dad set down his book and scowled at Carter. “Why wouldn’t I, is a better question Carter?”
“Maybe because he’s going to be in and out of her life. I don’t want her getting attached if that’s the case,” Carter said, recovering himself enough to finish taking off his boots.
“We’re talking about Seth here.”
“Who we haven’t seen in five years?”
“But you could have visited him, Carter. Plus, if that’s your theory than Issy shouldn’t be around Owen and Neil either, because they don’t live in town and they’ve only seen her, what twice?”
“That’s different.”
“How?”
“Because I don’t—” Want to get into their pants, was what he wanted to say but didn’t finish the sentence.
“And there it is,” Jaron said.
“There what is?” Carter said, heading towards the stairs.
“You still have a thing for him or you wouldn’t be trying to deny it at the same time you’re over at his farm helping him every day when he can do all that himself now,” Jaron said with a smile.
Carter rolled his eyes. “Whatever, Pops.”
“Don’t Whatever me. I’m right and you know it.” Jaron picked up his book again as if the conversation never happened.
Carter made his way up the stairs. He didn’t want to examine his feelings for Seth to closely. Nothing good could come of it. Carter had Issy to think about first and foremost.
Tracy's Review:
4 Stars
*copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie by author/publisher via Creative Minds in exchange for an honest review*
I have read probably close to half of the Pickleville series, and I have to say, this was my favorite book and couple by far. The storyline was good and it flowed well. The characters were both likable and well developed. I loved Carter's daughter and her interactions with both Carter and Seth. This was a good book, but it had the potential to be great.
I think what it needed, and really what most of April's books, I've read have needed, is to move into the relationship bit slower. All her characters seem to go from avoiding each other, or hiding their feelings, to being in a fully committed relationship, at warp speed. This is not to say it doesn't take them a while to enter into the relationship, I just wish they would have entered into it at a more realistic pace. One date, then sex, and bam.. You're in love and a happy couple. I would have loved a prologue in this book to see what Seth and Carter were like together as young men. To see how they felt about each other and to know what was going through their minds when Seth left, instead of just being told what happened.
One other thing I have a problem with, and it's not just this author. I am finding more and more characters in the M/M genre are taking on the roles of M/F. One seems to always be much smaller and much weaker. More sensitive, and almost seems to take on the female roll. I think this is why I stepped away from the M/F genre. I craved equals. I dislike a whiny, crying, damsel in distress female. I don't want huge cavemen, with no feelings. I want the romance, love and sweetness, but I also want to know when I am reading a Gay Romance, that I am reading about two men, and not a man and a woman, who both happen to have a penis!
Okay, I have complained enough, and April, I'm sorry for taking my Gay Romance fiction frustrations out on your review, this was not my intention. This was a good book, and if you have loved the rest of the Pickleville series, you'll love this one as well!
Living in Southwest Michigan, April resides 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.
Winner’s Prize: E-copy of Coming Back Home.
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My opinion is I can't wait to read!! It looks very good and a sweet little girl.Wow!!!! Congratulations on your release!!!
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