Pre-Release Review ~ Picked Fresh by Posy Roberts ~ (Review, Excerpt, Trailer, Playlist + Giveaway)
Title: Picked Fresh
Series: Naked Organics #2
Author: Posy Roberts
Genre: M/M Romance
Publisher: Labyrinth Bound Press
Hudson Oliva loves stability. He was a throwaway teen before finding Kaleidoscope Gardens, but has since thrived at the commune. When Jude Garrity moves in, life gets even better, but Hudson still craves more. He knows he has to be satisfied with their exclusive status being temporary and that Jude will eventually navigate his full sexual awakening with their other housemates.
Hudson has a journey of his own to make. It might only require going home to settle his grandmother’s estate, but he plans to use his time away to figure out how to temper his feelings for Jude and bury his jealousy once and for all. But when Jude joins him on his trip, Hudson falls even deeper in love, especially after Jude stands by his side when he finally confronts his mother for rejecting him.
However, it’s not all hearts and flowers while they travel. They’re over two thousand miles from home when Hudson learns a ruthless corporate farm threatens the commune they both love. In order to save their way of life, Hudson must ask his mother for help. And if he wants a chance at a stable future with Jude, he has to tell him the truth about his feelings, no matter if it ruins the harmony he’s tried so hard to preserve.
Jude shifted in his seat and stared at Hudson. Hudson couldn’t take his eyes off the road, but the desire to turn toward Jude and mirror him was overwhelming. “What was your first impression of me when I met you at the farmers market?”
“Should I be diplomatic or honest?”
“Honest.”
Hudson ran that day over in his mind. It was crystal clear, still, even though it had been more than nine months ago. Jude had meandered from stand to stand. He initially stood out from the crowd because of what he was wearing: a bright blue, almost turquoise wool coat over a black turtleneck and tight black jeans. In the blur of quilted plaid flannel and fleece hoodies in various shades of drab, olive, and Carhartt, Jude was all Hudson could see.
“I couldn’t keep my eyes off you. You were… stunning.” He shook his head. “I don’t know another word for it. I was talking to some customer about how we raised our chickens, and when I saw you, I stopped midsentence. I stared, felt like a dirty old man because you looked so young, and when I turned back to the woman to carry on our conversation, I had no idea what we’d been talking about. Literally none. It was like looking at you sucked the words out of my throat and the thoughts right out of my head.”
Jude chuckled. “Seriously? Was it the coat?”
“It made you stand out, but no, it wasn’t the coat. It was everything about you. Your broad shoulders and your hair and your eyes and your fucking lips.”
“You like my lips?” Jude pulled his rose-flavored lip stuff out of his front pocket and made a show of smearing it across the bottom one. Then he rubbed his lips together and licked them, all while staring at Hudson with soft bedroom eyes.
The bus vibrated, a jagged noise piercing Hudson’s ears as he drove too far to the right, edging his tires onto the rumble strip. “¡Coño!” He maneuvered back into the center of his lane.
Jude laughed. Hudson’s heart thundered against his rib cage.
“You’re evil,” Hudson said. “Evil, I tell you!”
“Maybe.” Jude bit at his bottom lip.
“Stop. Stop tempting me with your fucking gorgeous mouth. I can’t have you doing that shit while I’m driving.”
“Okay.” Jude smirked but kept his tongue and teeth from doing anything else. He put away those hazel sex-eyes too. “So, how did you see this trip going down?”
“Just like that?” Hudson was incredulous.
“What?”
“You can just turn it on and off like a switch?”
“With you, sure.”
“Well, I can’t.” Hudson gestured to his crotch, where his dick was obvious, thick, and quickly moving on its way to fully hard, even though Jude had stopped the licking and the biting.
“Want me to touch you?” Jude’s voice was breathy as he slid his warm palm up Hudson’s inner thigh. He thumbed over the head of Hudson’s cock, and Hudson got harder. Jude played with just the head, moving back and forth, his touch light and delicious.
“Want me to drive off the road?” Hudson managed not to sound choked off.
“No.” Jude pulled his hand away and smiled like the devil. “I want you to drive. And I want you to tell me about what you want to do on this trip besides the obvious. And for the record, turning it off doesn’t happen like a switch. Turning me on with one look, easy!”
“You’re dangerous.”
“Damn right I am.”
Jude finally feels at home. For the first time, Jude's free from his parents mental and emotional stronghold. Kaleidoscope Gardens has given him more than he could have hoped. A place where he's accepted and respected, a place where he's both wanted and loved. He also has Hudson, a man who he cares for more than he can say. He knows Hudson feels the same about him, he's just waiting for the words.
Hudson now has to face his past. Forced to travel back to his grandmother's farm to settle her estate alongside the mother who had basically turned her back on him, Hudson fears what will happen. He hasn't seen his mother in twelve years and now he'll have to face her without the support of his new family, away from his true home. So he is surprised when Jude joins him on his trip. But Jude is determined to stand by Hudson's side when he finally faces his mother. He knows Hudson will need support and he wants to be there for him every step of the way. This will be the perfect opportunity to spend time getting to really know one another without all the others around.
Before they return home to the commune, though, they'll have to deal with more than they bargained for. With a little detour to Jude's hometown and a heated confrontation with Hudson's mother, the last thing they need is to learn that their beloved home might be in danger.
Honestly, I liked Picked Fresh so much more than the first book. Why? It's pretty simple, Hudson. Never has a character changed so completely in my eyes. I went from thinking he was a selfish jerk to thinking he was sweet and vulnerable and deserved a happy ending.
I loved the interactions between Hudson and Jude. They had great chemistry and they just seemed to click. You could tell that Hudson loved him and needed him and he seemed so much more open to getting to truly know Jude. It wasn't just about sex this time.
As for Jude, well, he's definitely changed and grown. A lot more comfortable in his own skin, more adventurous and more easily shedding his inhibitions. I felt like his feelings for Hudson were deeper than before, he wasn't just enamored with the man from the farmers' market anymore. Now he was ready for a true relationship with the real Hudson.
It was also nice to see things outside of the commune. I'm not going to lie, I'm not a fan of the commune. However, I think now that the story wasn't so focused on sex it was a lot easier to get past those feelings.
I'm also happy I saw a completely different side of Leo and Charlie and their relationship. I'm not sure what the author has in store for the other books but I would really love to see them get their happy ending. I really like them but it was made pretty clear in both books that they still have more story to tell. For now, though, I'm happy that Jude and Hudson seem to be getting their happily ever after.
4.5 Stars!
***A copy of this book was provided to Bayou Book Junkie by the author in exchange for an honest and fair review.***
Interested in reading how Hudson ended up living at Kaleidoscope Gardens? Read Naked Origins—Hudson for free. This is not a romance, but for those who want to dig a little deeper, this story covers much of Hudson’s history that is hinted at in Picked Fresh. Visit https://posyroberts.com/2016/02/02/free-read-naked-origins/ to read the summary and download it.
Title: Farm Fresh
Series: Naked Organics #1
Author: Posy Roberts
Genre: M/M Romance
Publisher: Labyrinth Bound Press
Posy Roberts writes about the realistic struggles of men looking for love. Whether her characters are family men, drag queens, or lonely men searching for connections, they all find a home in her stories.
Posy is a Jill of all trades and master of the drill and paintbrush. She’s married to a partner who makes sure she doesn’t forget to eat or sleep during her writing frenzies. Her daughter, a budding author and cinematographer, helps her come up with character names. For fun, Posy enjoys crafting, hiking, and singing spontaneously about the mundane, just to make regular life more interesting.
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