Escaping an abusive relationship left Luke Preston anxious and spouting panic-induced poetry. Desperate for a fresh start, Luke accepts a job remodeling a tired old beach house for a professional soccer player and his model girlfriend. While his passion is literature, not sports, focusing on the renovations eases his anxiety. Until the job he signed up for turns out to be more complicated than advertised.
Sidelined with a serious injury, soccer star Michael Martinez decides his beach house is the perfect place to recuperate. Remodeling might be the diversion he needs to keep his mind off his busted knee. Falling for the pretty designer with some quirky habits wasn’t on the drawing board. Unfortunately, Luke didn’t build a big enough closet for Michael to hide in. Having a star-powered sports career used to be all Michael lived for, but he’ll have to reevaluate his plans and find the right words if he wants to build more than a beach house with Luke.
4.75 stars
Getting away from his abusive ex, Luke has moved and is staying with his friend Brandon and helping out at BGoods, the Boutique Brandon owns. Luke is actually an Interior Designer, and is nervous, but excited to start a new job, a remodel for Jamie and her fiancé Famous Soccer star, Michael.
When Luke shows up at the scheduled meeting he is met, and even after his best efforts is turned away by Michael. The mysterious Jamie is nowhere to be found. He receives a call later from Michael who would like to meet with him about the design. Michael decides to hire Luke to make a few changes. While discussing business, Michael's cheating ex Jamie shows up at the door. Turns out Jamie is NOT a girl, and Michael is NOT straight. Michael is however deeply in the closet.
Luke is attracted to Michael, but tries to keep things on a professional level. This doesn't last long, before the first kiss happens, but these two men tiptoe around their attraction for one another for a while. When they finally do come together, though they sizzle up the pages.
Unfortunately Michael's closet is threatened. Will Michael come out, or will he just climb further in?
I love Lane's writing. I have loved every one of her books, this one was no exception, but I have to say... I didn't love Luke at first. I cringed at times, he was so pushy, whiny and... Well, he just didn't know when to shut-up. It took me a while to warm up to him. It annoyed me that he was so unsympathetic to Michael's reasons for being in the closet.
The book flowed well, and moved along at a nice pace. The sex was hot and the characters had good chemistry. I loved the secondary characters in this book, and am looking forward to Brandon's book, but what I would REALLY love is a book for Alex!
love the angst!!!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the new release, Lane. I love angsty reads. They always give you something to think about even after you finished the book.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy both I often read a lot of angst then need to read a lighter book afterwards.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the release! I enjoy both angsty and lighter books, it just depends on what my mood is at the time.
ReplyDeleteI'm fine with either. Although I gravitate more towards lighter stories I don't mind angsty stuff.
ReplyDeletecongrats and thanks for the post. I generally prefer stories with more meat in them, whether it come from angst, or a mystery/adventure/thrill. - Purple Reader,
ReplyDeleteTheWrote [at] aol [dot] com
Love both types of books. colby69@verizon.net
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the release, Lane! It sounds great. I prefer angsty books, although after a lot of them, I will go for a lighter read.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your newest release, Lane. Can't wait to grab a copy and start reading. :)
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the new book Lane - can't wait to read this one!
ReplyDeleteOh and I love both angsty and light reads just depends on my mood.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the new release, Lane! I like angsty books as long as they get their happy ending.
ReplyDelete