The Shape of You, a sexy, heart-warming MM romance by Felice Stevens is available now!
The Shape of You
by Felice Stevens
Publication Date: June 29th, 2017
Genre: Contemporary MM Romance
by Felice Stevens
Publication Date: June 29th, 2017
Genre: Contemporary MM Romance
Too big. Too fat.
All his life Eric Sontag has judged himself on his size, believing love and friendship aren't in the cards for someone like him. Tired of being alone and scared of his doctor’s warnings, he enrolls in a nutrition support group, determined to change his life. When a beautiful thin man sits next to him, he can’t believe they have anything in common, but conversation between the two soon proves first impressions aren’t always what they seem.
Drifter. Loner.
Corey DeSantis has always been the scrawny waif; he’s tired of struggling with his art and with life. Scarred by the disappearance and death of his drug-addicted mother, he doesn’t wish for love, believing it will bring him nothing but pain in the end. Now his only hunger in life is his desire to paint…until a health scare and his mentor force him to attend a nutrition class where he meets a man who piques his interest. One drunken kiss later, Eric is all Corey can think about.
The same, yet different.
An unlikely friendship is born with both men wanting more but afraid to listen to their well-guarded hearts. When Corey receives shocking news leaving him angry and helpless, it’s Eric he leans on, to help see him through, while a surprising career opportunity finds Eric leaning on Corey for advice. One night of explosive passion leads to a second and soon neither man can imagine a life without the other. Life is shaped by the challenges accepted and roads not taken but as Corey and Eric walk the path together, they’ll discover the most beautiful destination of all. Love.
Excerpt:
“I know you’re awake.”
Feeling Corey’s lips smile against his back, Eric rolled over to face him. Damn, he was so beautiful. Eric had no idea how he’d gotten so lucky to have Corey want him, but as long as he did, Eric would make the most of it, even though he knew how much it would hurt to say good-bye. Because Eric didn’t expect a future or even a tomorrow, he’d take these moments and tuck them away for later.
“How’d you sleep?”
Yawning and scratching his head, Corey shook the hair from his eyes. “Like the dead. Man, you wore me out.”
They gazed at each other, Eric feeling the heat rise to his face. He’d never been intimate with someone he wasn’t emotionally invested in, but something about Corey mesmerized him. Eric was the helpless moth, and Corey possessed that incandescent glow that drew him so close, he could feel the singe of fire.
“Um, well, after we shower, I think I should make breakfast for us. We never had a chance to write down our dinner last night or anything, and I think that’s important.”
Corey unwound himself from Eric and sat up cross-legged on the bed. Fully dressed, the man was a distraction. Naked and disheveled from sleep? Impossible to resist. Eric wanted to pull Corey close and do all the dirty things he’d only seen in porno movies. But showing restraint, Eric rose from the bed to go to the bathroom.
“We kinda got busy with other stuff.”
His heart jumped at Corey’s infectious grin, and he knew from the sensuous glow in Corey’s eyes, he too wanted a repeat of the night before. But pushing aside thoughts of kissing Corey and sucking his cock, Eric focused on the practical.
“Uh, yeah. What do you want for breakfast? I have eggs or oatmeal and fruit. Think about it.”
He closed the bathroom door behind him and rested against it for a moment, overwhelmed by the previous night, then waking up to find Corey hadn’t changed his mind and remained attracted to him. He wondered what would happen if he did lose all his weight. Would Corey want him then?
Read Today!
*Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie via Social Butterfly PR for my reading pleasure in hopes of an unbiased opinion, a review was not a requirement.*
Eric has always been a big guy but he's come to a point in his life that he has to make serious changes or risk dying young like his father. In an effort to learn how to eat and think healthily about food, Eric attends a nutrition support group. The instructor suggests that the class partner up to provide support to each other and Eric finds himself partnered with the thin man beside him. Eric thinks Corey is beautiful but doesn't see how they have anything in common, so how can they provide support for each other when it comes to living healthy? Whereas Eric enjoys food and finds comfort in food, Corey is the complete opposite and prefers not to eat.
Eric and Corey are opposites in other ways, besides just food. Eric tries to blend in wherever he is. He's used to being talked to badly by others and believes it's deserved. He lacks self-confidence and expects to spend his life alone. Corey knows he's beautiful and uses his looks and sex appeal to get what he wants from others. But, both men are without family and know loneliness, they just react to it differently. Corey is a great support for Eric and helps boost his self-confidence. He's there to encourage him and to push him. It takes Eric longer to become the support Corey but he eventually steps up and provides it. Both of the characters were likable once I got to know them further and both had sad stories that have left them alone in the world.
Eric and Corey built a friendship. When Corey received a call from someone he thought had died, Eric supported him in deciding what he wanted to do and stood beside him when he acted on those thoughts. Together they learned acceptance, love of self, forgiveness and how to give second chances. With each other's support, they were able to get to a point where their weight was not a focus of their life, it just was.
Reading about how Eric was treated by others was hard, but I felt it was important that it was included because this is the reality for many overweight people. The author handled it well and hopefully, this will help make people more aware of how they react to others, whether internally or externally. The story also showed that food can be an issue whether you're overweight or not. I thought this book was just full of realism, from the way Eric was treated by others because of his weight and the way Eric dismissed Corey having any issues in his life because of his thinness. This was an engaging, fast-paced story full of love, that I highly recommend!
Rating: 5+++ stars!
About Felice:
I have always been a romantic at heart. I believe that while life is tough, there is always a happy ending around the corner, My characters have to work for it, however. Like life in NYC, nothing comes easy and that includes love, but getting there is oh so fun and oh so sexy.
I live in New York City with my husband and two children. My day begins with a lot of caffeine and ends with a glass (or two of red wine). I practice law but daydream of a time when I can sit by a beach somewhere and write beautiful stories of men falling in love. Although there are bound to be a few bumps along the way, a Happily Ever After is always guaranteed.
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