Blog Tour ~ A Kind of Romance by Lane Hayes ~ (Reviews, Author Guest Post, Excerpt + Giveaway)
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TITLE: A Kind of Romance
SERIES: A Kind of Story
AUTHOR: Lane Hayes
COVER ARTIST: Aaron Anderson
LENGTH: 82,963 words
RELEASE DATE: June 06, 2016
BLURB: Zeke Gulden is a ruthless Wall Street exec. His hard-edged, no-nonsense attitude has served him well in the cutthroat business world, but less so in his personal life. When he finds out his ex-boyfriend cheated on him with a coworker, Zeke can’t let go—not until he finds a way to get even. However, his meddlesome father has other ideas. The new hire at the family-owned bagel store is somewhat colorful, but his dad is sure he’s the perfect man for Zeke.
Benny Ruggieri is a fiercely proud New Yorker who dreams of making it big as a costume designer in the theater. In the meantime, he’s working two part-time jobs in the food biz. When his new boss sets him up with his successful son, Benny has zero expectations. If nothing else, he figures he can entertain himself by making the uptight businessman squirm. Instead, the two become unlikely friends with an inexplicable attraction they can’t ignore. Benny might be the one to help Zeke set aside his quest for revenge, if he’s willing to let go and forgive what he can’t forget… and give in to an unexpected kind of romance.
THEY SAID you could remember exactly where you were and what you were doing when a life-altering event took place. I could do better than that. I could tell you the date and time too. May 9, 7:04 a.m…. It was a Monday. Of course. I was standing in my kitchen, cradling a cup of coffee while reading the news on my iPad when my cell phone rang. I didn’t think twice about it. It rang all the fucking time. The setting was almost always on vibrate, but last night I’d changed it, thinking I didn’t want to miss Taylor’s call in case he decided to come by. He didn’t call. And he didn’t come over. I didn’t really think he would, but when we ran into each other at the farmers’ market in Union Square Sunday morning, I’d foolishly hoped he might. That was our spot. It seemed like providence. A sign of some sort telling us we should stop this nonsense and get back together immediately. True, Taylor had confessed he’d been cheating on me with one of my coworkers for the past six months, but… still.
The second round of incessant ringing served as a reminder I was a complete moron for wanting him back. And when I saw the name displayed on my cell, I knew the caller would agree wholeheartedly.
“Mornin’, Pops.”
“Ezekiel?”
I didn’t recognize the voice on the line. It was masculine but a little high-pitched. Definitely not Dad. Whoever he was, he was calling from my father’s phone. My heart slammed against my chest in a wave of instant panic.
“Just Zeke, actually. You’re calling from my father’s phone. Is he oka—?”
“He fell and hit his head. We called 9-1-1. The paramedics said it looked like a superficial wound, but there was blood everywhere and—They’re taking him to Mount Sinai on First. I’m following now with William. Filipe doesn’t speak much English, so Rand is staying to help mind the store and—”
“Whoa! Hang on. Where was he?” It was a stupid question. However, I felt nauseated from the unexpected adrenaline rush and was struggling to catch up and make sense of this conversation.
“At Bowery Bagels,” the caller replied with a heavy sigh. “I’m so sorry. I—I don’t know what else to say. I’m sure he’s fine, but—I’ll meet you in the emergency room.”
“Wait! Who are you?” I asked, staring into the open great room of my condo in a trancelike state.
I noted the sun’s reflection on the shiny dark hardwood floors and the way the tiny flecks of dust sparkled like fairy dust in the air. But I felt as though I were in a vacuum. Sound was muffled, and the light was suddenly too bright. I pushed away from the island and moved with purpose toward my bedroom, forgetting I’d been waiting for a response until the caller spoke again.
“Benny.”
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Zeke meets Benny at the hospital when Zeke's father is taken to the ER after a fall. Zeke's father is convinced that Zeke and Benny are the perfect match and would make an amazing couple. He's correct, but what will it take to convince Zeke and Benny of this?
I read two of Lane's books back to back and I'd been looking forward to this book. I loved Rand and Will, and couldn't wait to get to the next book in the series, after I read their story. I was intrigued by Benny, so when I opened the book and saw it wasn't Benny's POV, I was a bit disappointed. I had just finished "Better Than Safe", and didn't really care for Paul, he was a stuffy, suit wearing Brit. When I started reading Zeke's POV, I just wanted to hang my head. Not another stuffy suit, that would cause me to want to toss my iPad across the room! But Lane did good, he may be a stuffy suit, but he didn't grow up that way. Throughout the story, he slips easily back into his Brooklyn persona at times, and that made him much more relatable, even if he wasn't always likable. Benny was very likable. He's out and proud and a little flamboyant, or colorful as Zeke likes to call him. I loved getting to know him better and finding out what made him tick. I love a snarky character, and Benny had snark in spades!
I adored this story. As is the case with most of Lane's stories, and I've read every one of them, she takes two people who should not go together, and makes them fit. Benny and Zeke are total opposites on the surface, but once you begin to dig you find the similarities. The chemistry electric, the sexual tension palpable. The sex was smoking hot. I couldn't put this down once I started. It held me captivated and turning the pages to see what would happen next. The story is well written and moves at a realistic pace. I loved watching Zeke grow and come to terms with and let go of his anger from the past.
This book is filled with heartbreak, sweetness, steamy sex, forgiveness, romance, love and laughter. I'm so glad I had the chance to meet Zeke and Benny. I think you should go one click this book, and meet them also!! Highly recommended!!
4.5 Stars!
I loved A Kind of Romance. Zeke and Benny were great, as individuals and as a couple. I truly enjoyed watching these two men, apprehensive of starting an actual relationship, navigate from an obligatory date in order to appease Zeke's meddling father to a friendship and then to more.
Personally, I loved Zeke, he had a few sharp edges for sure and boy oh boy, was he stubborn. This man could hold a mean grudge, but I just connected to him. He was straight forward most of the time, he'd express what he was thinking without any regard to whether or not it could be construed as insulting. Zeke was the kind of character I love because he was real and he was flawed.
Benny was funny and snarky yet sweet. He wasn't full of drama just for drama's sake. His strength and confidence was great and blended well with Zeke's personality.
My only complaint was that I truly wanted to get Benny's POV throughout the story. I felt like there was something missing because we weren't always seeing the whole picture. Benny was such a wonderful character I would've loved to see the relationship through his eyes.
In the end, this was another great read from Lane Hayes and I'd definitely recommend it.
Hi Lane! Thanks for being here today, it's always fabulous when we get to welcome one of my favorite authors to Bayou Book Junkie!! I know you visit NYC quite often, and your last two books have been set there. Can you talk about what makes NYC so special to you?
Hi Tracy! Thank you for having me here today! New York City has been one of my go-to travel destinations for well over a decade. I live in a beach town in Southern California, an hour south of LA. And while I admit, LA has its own unique charm (including fantastic weather), nothing compares to the Big Apple for me. I love the sights, the sounds, the energy. The museums, theater, restaurants, parks and… yes, even the people-watching is world-class. It never gets old! No matter how many times I’ve visit Manhattan, I’m always anxious to plan my next trip back. I might use the excuse of a Broadway show I want to see or the chance to be with friends who’ll be in town, but the truth is I can’t get enough. LOL.
My romantic nature must be to blame. I see a movie or novel come to life when I’m walking the streets. So many wonderful stories have been set in the city. A stroll along Fifth Avenue isn’t just a tourist-ridden traffic zone. To me, it’s Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Big, Easter Parade and so many more. Every neighborhood has a story. Washington Square Park isn’t just a pretty green patch in SoHo filled with NYU students filming class projects. It’s the setting for a Henry James novel, Washington Square, published a hundred and thirty-six years ago. The area wasn’t always nice. A couple decades ago, the park had a shady reputation. It wasn’t a good area to get lost. And this evolution fascinates me. Gentrified to run-down then revitalized. Like a person or a family.
A Kind of Stories series is set almost entirely in Manhattan and in a way, the city is a character in the books. In A Kind of Truth, it’s a place to make dreams come true. The overall feeling of hope and opportunity or certain defeat is in the streets. In my newest release, A Kind of Romance, Benny and Zeke are both NYC natives. They don’t view the city the way a tourist would. This is home, which naturally makes their focus more about family and friends. Their relationship with the setting is like that of an old relative. Someone you know well and whose moods you’ve learned to navigate over the years.
As a writer, I’m endlessly inspired by the Big Apple. Sometimes it’s sensory overload…too many people, too much traffic. However, I don’t dwell on the less than ideal aspects. I’m usually too busy day-dreaming and plotting my next romantic storyline in the city that never sleeps.
Happy Reading! Lane Hayes xo
5 Stars
*copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie by the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review*
I read two of Lane's books back to back and I'd been looking forward to this book. I loved Rand and Will, and couldn't wait to get to the next book in the series, after I read their story. I was intrigued by Benny, so when I opened the book and saw it wasn't Benny's POV, I was a bit disappointed. I had just finished "Better Than Safe", and didn't really care for Paul, he was a stuffy, suit wearing Brit. When I started reading Zeke's POV, I just wanted to hang my head. Not another stuffy suit, that would cause me to want to toss my iPad across the room! But Lane did good, he may be a stuffy suit, but he didn't grow up that way. Throughout the story, he slips easily back into his Brooklyn persona at times, and that made him much more relatable, even if he wasn't always likable. Benny was very likable. He's out and proud and a little flamboyant, or colorful as Zeke likes to call him. I loved getting to know him better and finding out what made him tick. I love a snarky character, and Benny had snark in spades!
I adored this story. As is the case with most of Lane's stories, and I've read every one of them, she takes two people who should not go together, and makes them fit. Benny and Zeke are total opposites on the surface, but once you begin to dig you find the similarities. The chemistry electric, the sexual tension palpable. The sex was smoking hot. I couldn't put this down once I started. It held me captivated and turning the pages to see what would happen next. The story is well written and moves at a realistic pace. I loved watching Zeke grow and come to terms with and let go of his anger from the past.
This book is filled with heartbreak, sweetness, steamy sex, forgiveness, romance, love and laughter. I'm so glad I had the chance to meet Zeke and Benny. I think you should go one click this book, and meet them also!! Highly recommended!!
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie in exchange for a fair and honest review. ***
I loved A Kind of Romance. Zeke and Benny were great, as individuals and as a couple. I truly enjoyed watching these two men, apprehensive of starting an actual relationship, navigate from an obligatory date in order to appease Zeke's meddling father to a friendship and then to more.
Personally, I loved Zeke, he had a few sharp edges for sure and boy oh boy, was he stubborn. This man could hold a mean grudge, but I just connected to him. He was straight forward most of the time, he'd express what he was thinking without any regard to whether or not it could be construed as insulting. Zeke was the kind of character I love because he was real and he was flawed.
Benny was funny and snarky yet sweet. He wasn't full of drama just for drama's sake. His strength and confidence was great and blended well with Zeke's personality.
My only complaint was that I truly wanted to get Benny's POV throughout the story. I felt like there was something missing because we weren't always seeing the whole picture. Benny was such a wonderful character I would've loved to see the relationship through his eyes.
Lane Hayes is grateful to finally be doing what she loves best. Writing full time! It’s no secret Lane loves a good romance novel. An avid reader from an early age, she has always been drawn to a well-told love story with beautifully written characters. These days she prefers the leading roles both be men! Lane discovered the M/M genre a few years ago and was instantly hooked. Her first novel was a finalist in the 2013 Rainbow Awards and her third received an Honorable Mention in the 2014 Rainbow Awards. She loves travel, chocolate, and wine (in no particular order). Lane lives in Southern California with her amazing husband and the coolest yellow lab ever in an almost empty nest.
Winner’s Prize: $25 Gift Card to Ebook retailer of choice (DSP, Amazon, ARE Café)
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