Release Day Blitz ~ What Lies Between Us by Felice Stevens ~ (Reviews, Excerpt + Giveaway)
What Lies Between Us
A Breakfast Club Novella
Felice Stevens
M/M Romance
Cover Designer: Reese Dante
Cover Photo: Stock Photo
Release Date: 02.14.16
Goodreads: https://goo.gl/pCgkE7
BLURB:
Now that he’s living with Sam Stein, Zach Cohen is finally ready to move on from his unhappy past. His days are filled with wedding preparations, yet he still finds time to make plans and decisions without consulting Sam and his mother, firmly believing he knows best.
Sam is ready to settle in for the perfect life with Zach but years of bad habits have come back to haunt him. Struggling to accept himself and his future, he chooses not to share his fears, unwilling to look weak in Zach’s eyes.
Real life gets in the way of the best intentions and when their secrets explode, the aftermath challenges the foundation of a relationship both believed unshakeable. Falling in love is the easy part, and Zach and Sam discover that only with honesty can they overcome what threatens to tear them apart.
This is a novella of approximately 25,000 words in The Breakfast Club series
TEASER
EXCERPT
On his way home, he stopped to get himself a coffee and decided to sit for a while in the warm, pleasantly scented coffeehouse. Zach wondered if the handsome, tattooed man sitting next to him, reading On the Road by Kerouac was there simply to be in the company of strangers, or if he was interested in socializing with people who had similar interests as his own. Like the young woman giving him furtive glances over the top of her e-reader. How would these total strangers initially meet, and how would social media play a part?
Zach thought about everything he’d done today and continued to watch the woman watch the man reading. Zach feverishly began to take notes on his phone, staring off into space every once in a while only to start up again when a fresh spurt of ideas hit him. He stopped only once, and that was to plug in his phone so he wouldn’t lose battery. Shadows draped across the room, veiling tabletops and the customers’ faces with the oncoming darkness. The man who’d initially caught his attention had long since departed as had the young woman. When Zach glanced at the time he was startled to see it was almost five p.m. He hadn’t gotten so involved in anything other than the wedding or him and Sam since they’d met. It had been almost six months since he’d had an idea for a new social media app, and this one excited him. While he’d been in the zone and working, his mother had answered him, agreeing that the food looked good, and wishing them luck, nothing more.
Perplexed over her less than excited response, Zach heeded Sam’s advice and merely answered: Thanks, and nothing further. He backed up his notes and unplugged his phone. Zach made sure to go to the counter and leave a generous tip for the baristas; he thought it only fair since he’d hogged a table for so long. The air seared with a sharp bite upon exiting the warm cocoon of the coffeehouse, and Zach put his head down into the wind. It always blew coldest right off the river, and he increased his stride down the block toward home when his phone rang. He waited until he turned the corner and the rush of the wind died down across his face, before pulling out his phone. His favorite picture of Sam flying his kite, head tipped up to the sky and eyes crinkled with laughter, flashed up on the screen. Impossible to imagine they’d been together only about a year and a half.
“Hi, what’s up?” “Are you home yet?” “Almost. I’m down the block, why?” “Because I finished earlier than I thought and I’m coming home and want you to be there.” That gravelly-edged voice tinged with desire sent a hot thrill shooting through Zach. “Oh yeah? What’s the plan?” Sam chuckled in his ear. “You’ll have to wait until I get home now, won’t you?” Zach increased his stride against the wind and switched the phone to his other ear to dig his house keys out of his pocket as he mounted the front steps of the townhouse. “Then hurry up and get your ass home.” Sam was still laughing as Zach hung up.
5 Stars
*copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie in exchange for an honest review*
This is the continuation of Sam and Zach's story. Zach and Sam are one of my favorite of any of Felice's couples, so I was thrilled to see they were getting a short Novella. We catch up to them about 2 years after the original story ended. Zach has moved in with Sam in his small apartment and they are still deeply in love. They are busy with their lives and in the midst of planning their wedding. But both men are keeping a secret from the other. We watch as they wrestle with their deceptions, both thinking they are doing the right thing to protect their partner, until it all eventually comes to a head.
I loved this story. It was sweet, sexy and well written. It had enough angst to keep me turning the page wanting to see what would happen next. I loved getting to revisit not only Sam and Zach, but the other Breakfast Club couples also!
Very enjoyable and highly recommended!
Zach and Sam are planning their wedding, two years after the original book ended. They are still very much in love, but some unforeseen circumstances might put a damper on their big day.
I loved this novella and this couple! I loved how realistically Felice Stevens dealt with the issues both Zach and Sam had to endure and how their love for each other and their willingness to compromise and support the other made it all better in the end.
The chemistry between Zach and Sam was amazing as always, and I loved seeing all the other couples from other Felice Stevens's books, including Jonah and Gideon, which are one of my favorites!
Definitely recommendable!
Rating: 5 Stars!!!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Felice Stevens has always been a romantic at heart. While life is tough, she believes there is a happy ending for everyone. She started reading traditional historical romances as a teenager, then life and law school got in the way. It wasn't until she picked up a copy of Bertrice Small and became swept away to Queen Elizabeth's court that her interest in romance novels was renewed.
But somewhere along the way, her reading shifted to stories of men falling in love. Once she picked up her first gay romance, she became so enamored of the character-driven stories and the overwhelming emotion there was no turning back.
Felice lives in New York City with her husband and two children. Her day begins with a lot of caffeine and ends with a glass or two of red wine. Although she practices law, she daydreams of a time when she can sit by a beach and write beautiful stories of men falling in love. Although there is bound to be some angst along the way, a Happily Ever After is always guaranteed.
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/felicestevens/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/FeliceStevens
Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/felicestevensauthor?ref=hl
Newsletter: http://felicestevens.us8.list-manage2.com/subscribe?u=d43061d90bf2256eb322ed69f&id=586ac8fa57
GIVEAWAY
The Breakfast Club Series
Beyond the Surface, Book 1
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1MPImrX
Amazon UK http://amzn.to/1S1zUpD
Betting on Forever, Book 2
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1Px4utJ
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1X3tWG7
Second to None, Book 3
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1Vp6UK4
Congratulations on your new release Felice I've added it to my wish list.
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