Release Day Review: Open House by Mickie B. Ashling

Title: Open House
Series: The Open Series: Book Two
Author: Mickie B. Ashling
Release Date: October 24, 2016
Category: Contemporary
Pages: 200

Dreamspinner Press  ~ Goodreads

By the time Seth Wilder and Bryce McFarland return to Chicago after their UK cruise, they’re halfway in love. They decide to move in together to see if their feelings can survive in the real world.

Seth receives word that a mandatory autopsy was performed on his late partner because his death was a suicide. The medical examiner’s findings are disturbing and leave some doubt as to the underlying cause of death.

Because of the suicide clause, life insurance benefits had been denied, but in light of these new findings, Seth’s lawyer advises him to appeal. The insurance investigator turns out to be the man who broke Bryce’s heart twenty-five years ago. The guy has fallen on hard times, and when he sees how successful Bryce has become—and how large Seth’s potential payout might be—he decides he wants a piece of the pie. Bryce and Seth’s new relationship is severely tested in this second novel in the Open Series.

*Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie by Dreamspinner Press for my reading pleasure in hopes of an unbiased opinion, a review was not a requirement.*

5 ++++++

In the first book, Open Seating, Bryce was the strong one, being there for Seth after Mark dies.  Feelings become involved and now these two are moving forward as a couple but what or who is lurking in the shadows to cause problems for them?

I fell in love with Seth, he was so vulnerable, but with Bryce by his side, nothing is impossible.  Same with Bryce, even though in this installment we see Seth take on the role of being the protector.  Even if these two have only been together for a few weeks, which some readers didn't love because of the short time between Mark's death and Seth & Bryce moving forward as a couple, it should be up to the reader to form their own opinion.  I for one applaud this author for pushing the buttons, who has a right to determine the length one must grieve before they can move on?  The chemistry between Seth & Bryce is hot, they click, they are the ying & yang to each other. 

But there outside forces, by way of an ex of Bryce's, who has his own agenda.  How many hurdles must they go through, how many fires must they put out, how many things keep getting in their way before they can relax or will the storms take over and sweep them away?