AotM ~ A Kind of Romance by Lane Hayes (Reviews + Giveaway)

A Kind of Romance

Amazon (Ebook) ~ Audible

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.

5 Stars!!!

*Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie by the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review*

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 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!!

*Audible code provided to Bayou Book Junkie by the author/publisher for my listening pleasure in hopes of an unbiased opinion, a review was not a requirement.*

This is Book 2 in Lane Hayes' A Kind of Stories series and though it could probably be read as a standalone, do yourself a favor and read all of these beautiful books! 

Benny Ruggieri hopes to make it big as a costume designer and works two part-time jobs to support himself in his family's Italian restaurant and in a bagel shop. He is the rainbow colored sheep of his family, and though loved by most of the women, the men mostly ignore him. He has been fabulous since a young age, which is not acceptable to his father and then stepfather. Though Benny didn't always have acceptance, he stood strong about who he is. He loves make-up, pretty clothes, coloring his hair, theater, singing and dancing. When the owner of the bagel shop is injured, Benny goes with him to the hospital and calls his son Zeke to come to the hospital.

Zeke Gulden is a Wall Street executive who is ruthless and all about money and prestige. Though he had a supportive mother when he came out, his father was not at first. Zeke is about one-upping, keeping score, being better than anyone else, holding grudges, plotting revenge and has little time to be bothered by his father or siblings. Though Zeke is unhappy to get the call about his father he goes to the hospital and is embarrassed to find Benny, who is embarrassing in all his colorful glory. Zeke is out of the closet and never pretended to be anything but gay, and he's a snob to those who he feels puts their gayness out for everyone to see. Zeke is even more unhappy when he's pressured to go on a date with Benny by his father, who says Benny is his one. Zeke and Benny agree to go out on a date to humor his father.

Benny and Zeke are the definition of opposites attracting. I loved Benny's character from his first introduction in Book 1 and this book just made that love grow. He is a great friend and son. He sees the color of the world around him and though his life hasn't been easy, he doesn't allow that to hold him back. I think I spent 75% of the book not liking Zeke. From the outside looking in, Zeke has it all but he spends most of his time making himself miserable because he can't give forgiveness to anyone for anything. And though he loves his father, he also hates him and won't forgive him for the things his father said about Zeke being gay when he was a teenager, regardless of how hard his father has worked to change. In order to get Benny back, Zeke has to finally fix himself and learn forgiveness and acceptance.

This book was narrated by Seth Clayton and he did a wonderful job! He had great timing, inflections and was easy to listen to. I was able to easily differentiate between the character voices.

This was a good addition to the series and gave some brief glances of Rand and Will which I enjoyed! And Benny and Zeke may have spent a lot of time trying to figure out their relationship, there was no struggle when it came to the two of them getting down and dirty. They were hot and steamy!

Overall: 5 stars

Performance: 5 stars

Story: 5 stars

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