Title: A Kind of Home
Series: A Kind of Stories, #4
Author: Lane Hayes
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: June 23
Heat Level: 4 - Lots of Sex
Pairing: Male/Male
Length: 77k approximately
Genre: Romance, Bisexual, Rock star, NYC, humor, light suspense
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Synopsis
Isaac Dalton is the guitarist for Spiral, arguably the biggest rock band in the world. The band’s meteoric rise to superstardom has its perks, but fame and fortune aren’t all they’re cracked up to be. Nonstop touring and performing exhaust him, and when an overzealous fan makes it imperative that Isaac travel with a clingy bodyguard, he is ready for a break from the madness. More so when his newly single first crush shows up on his doorstep. The man is strictly off-limits. He’s a memory from a place Isaac would rather leave behind. And he’s straight.
Fun-loving former athlete slash construction worker Adam McBride desperately needs a new beginning. And New York City is the perfect place to start over and think about how to rebuild his life. A short stint as roommates with his brother’s best friend from high school seems like a mutually beneficial arrangement. However, when friendship gives way to fierce attraction, both men find themselves in uncharted and possibly dangerous territory. Isaac has to decide if he’s willing to take the ultimate risk for a kind of love and a kind of home he never dreamed possible.
Excerpt for A Kind of Home by Lane Hayes
“I’ve got it!” Adam sprang to his feet and waved his hand excitedly.
I gave him a weary sideways glance. “Whatever you’re thinking, stop.”
“No, it’s perfect. You teach me guitar and I’ll teach you how to bake something.”
“Tonight?”
“Not necessarily. When we can. The point is I’ll be here if you don’t feel like being alone. We can keep each other sane with wholesome diversions without having to ask ‘What do you feel like doing, roomie?’”
“‘Wholesome diversions’? You’ve been mainlining confectioner’s sugar again, haven’t you?” I quipped.
“Ha. Ha. Don’t overthink. I’ll keep my hands to myself. You’re safe with me. I promise. I just—we’re both adjusting to change. It might be helpful to lean on each other. That’s all.”
“Platonically?”
“Sure. Boston cream pie for a tip or two on how to play a couple Guns N’ Roses classics. What do you think?”
I lowered my eyes as I worked on the row of buttons on my navy shirt. I was touched. I couldn’t remember the last time someone stopped to notice my state of mental well-being and offered to ease my mind. I knew my friends cared, but they were going through the same things I was. All they could say was “Hang on. It’ll get easier.” Adam was offering something more—himself and his time. Platonically.
I wasn’t sure I trusted myself to keep us in the friend zone. Even now I wanted to tackle him to the bed and grind against him. He was solid, familiar, and trustworthy. Just what I needed to keep my mind off my troubles.
“Okay. You’re on.” I chuckled when he let out a whoop before I continued. “But we each get to choose what we want to learn.”
Adam mulled over my suggestion for a moment, then inclined his head. “As long as you know we aren’t making anything from a box.”
“And as long as you know I can only take so many run-throughs of ‘Sweet Child of Mine’ before I’ll strangle you.”
Adam gave me a megawatt grin and then held up his hand for a high five. I slapped his hand and then rolled my eyes when he broke into a decent impression of Axl Rose’s version of “Patience.”
“Go,” I said, shooing him out of my bedroom. “I’ve got real-life bullshit to deal with. No more nonsense.”
“A little nonsense is good for you, Isaac. It’s what keeps you afloat so the bad stuff doesn’t drag you under.” He reached for my wrist and pulled me against him so our chests collided.
It was a slapstick maneuver that was too rough to be taken as a sensual overture. Until he backed me against the wall and lowered his head a fraction of an inch, stopping when his nose brushed mine. I held my breath, aware of my thundering heart. My world constricted to the smallest fragment of space. I occupied a place against a wall, covered by a man I’d known most of my life. Someone I cared about and, yeah, lusted after too.
Adam lowered his head again, and this time he didn’t stop. He pressed his lips to mine and went perfectly still as though testing my response. When I didn’t protest, he melded his mouth over mine, careful to keep the connection light. I reached out and ran a tentative hand along his cheek. Adam trembled and leaned into my touch, deepening the kiss ever so slightly. Then he licked my lips in a silent request for entry. I groaned when our tongues glided together and let him pull me under.
I broke for air and pushed his chest. This was ridiculous. We were friends only, and we were destined for heartache if we tried to be something else. “We can’t do this. I told you, I—”
Adam tugged at my belt loop and drew me against him. Then he rested his forehead against mine and went still as though he was wordlessly giving me control. I should have pushed him away, but I couldn’t. I fused my lips to his and moaned into the connection. I shivered when he moved his hands up my chest, then placed them on the wall on either side of my head. He nudged my chin with his nose until I exposed my neck. He traced my jawline with the tip of his tongue and then bit my earlobe before whispering in a raspy voice, “No repeats. I’ll behave. But I gotta admit… I really want to change your mind.”
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5 Stars
This is by far my favorite series by Lane Hayes, and I'd thought it was done, so I was extremely happy to see we were getting another story in the series. Isaac is the one member of Spiral that doesn't come from the same hometown as the rest of his bandmates. He hails from a small town in Pennsylvania. When his childhood best friend's brother, Adam divorces his wife, he decides he needs a break from the small town as well, and heads to the Big Apple and Isaac finds himself with a new roommate. Isaac had a crush on Adam growing up, but Adam is straight. Being in close quarters with his old friend Adam shows Issac maybe he isn't as over his crush as he thought and maybe Adam isn't as straight as he thought, but with the music, touring and now a weird secret admirer sending him creepy letters in his life, the last thing Issac needs or wants in his life is romance.
Throughout the series, we haven't learned a whole lot about Isaac, so I'm happy we got to finally meet the real him. His background story is intriguing and I loved that, as much as I love the NYC setting, we got to go back to his hometown and see where Issac's journey started. I absolutely adored Adam. Both he and Isaac are sweet and funny and as for Adam, well, I love a man who can wield a spatula. Together Isaac and Adam fit perfectly. I loved the slow and natural progression of their relationship. We really got to know both Isaac and Adam as individuals before we got to know them as a couple. Although the story is told completely from Isaacs point of view, Adam is still a well-developed character.
I absolutely loved this story. It's well-written and flows well and it's a fantastic addition to the series. The chemistry between Isaac and Adam was out of this world and the sex was hot, yet also filled with passion and love. I loved getting to revisit with the guys from Spiral and get a glimpse at where their lives are headed. The storyline of Isaac's creepy secret admirer added mystery and suspense to the story and kept me guessing until the last minute as to who was sending the letters. I can't say this enough, if you haven't read the books in this series, go one-click them, you won't regret it! Highly recommended!
*copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie by the author/publisher for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement.*
3.5 Stars!
Returning home from a long tour, Isaac just wants to settle at home and relax. He's surprised to discover he has a house guest, Adam, his childhood crush and best friend's older brother. Adam has recently ended his marriage and has come in hopes of starting fresh. Now Isaac has to deal with his strong attraction to his friend, a straight man as well as the drama surrounding a stalker.
I love Lane Hayes and I have totally loved this series. Unfortunately for me, though, I found myself having trouble connecting with the story. While I adored Adam and thought he was sweet and funny, Isaac just didn't draw me in. I'm not quite sure what it boiled down to but his character just kind of felt "blah" to me for most of the story. I felt like in the end I wasn't as desperate to see the characters get their HEA. I just mainly wanted to get to the end and move on.
As for the writing, it's hard not to praise Lane's talent. Her stories are always well done and filled with the perfect amount of detail to paint a vivid picture for her readers. I love when we get to catch up with characters from past books and see how they are doing while being brought further into their world with new characters and their stories.
I love this series and definitely recommend it. While this book won't be put on my favorites list, it's still part of Spiral's story and for that reason, I definitely recommend reading it.
***Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie by the author/publisher for my reading pleasure in hopes of an unbiased opinion, a review was not a requirement.***
Things I love…romantic comedies, romance novels, romantic songs and romantic words and basically any swoon-worthy, lovely gesture between two unlikely people that leaves me with a sense of hope that there is good in the world and people who are capable of love. Like Adam’s very strange cookie concoction in A Kind of Home. Broccoli, bananas and chocolate ice cream anyone? LOL.
Be sure to read Isaac and Adam’s story for the inside scoop. A Kind of Home is Book 4 in my A Kind of Stories series. It’s a good old-fashioned “friends to lovers” romance with a rock and roll twist and perhaps the odd cookie or two. Speaking of rock and roll and baked goods…
Here are a few of my favorite romantic things:
Favorite Rom Com: When Harry Met Sally. “Friends to lovers” again! I love it and Billy Crystal was genius in this movie!
Favorite Romance Novel: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. Beautiful prose, an idyllic English countryside and a battle of wills… sold. This is a gorgeous story I could (and have) read over and over. *sigh
Favorite Romantic Songs: I can’t just name one and if I really got going, I could fill pages so I’ll give you three of my faves… “All of Me” by John Legend, “This Must Be the Place” by the Talking Heads, “Your Song” by Elton John.
Swoon-worthy quote: “I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where.
I love you straightforwardly, without complexities or pride;
so I love you because I know no other way”— Pablo Neruda, Sonnet XVII
I love you straightforwardly, without complexities or pride;
so I love you because I know no other way”— Pablo Neruda, Sonnet XVII
And in honor of Isaac and Adam…
Favorite Kind of Cookie: Chocolate chip, no contest. I love brownies, lemon bars and many other treats but chocolate chip cookies are the best!
Happy Reading!
Lane Hayes xo
Meet the Author
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 well-told love story with beautifully written characters. These days she prefers the leading roles to both be men. Lane discovered the M/M genre a few years ago and was instantly hooked. Her debut novel was a 2013 Rainbow Award finalist and subsequent books have received Honorable Mentions, and were winners in the 2016 Rainbow Awards. She loves red wine, chocolate and travel (in no particular order). Lane lives in Southern California with her amazing husband in an almost empty nest.Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads
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