RISKING IT ALL
MORNINGSTAR ASHLEY
M/M ROMANCE
RELEASE DATE: 09.07.18
Cover Artist: Designs by Morningstar
Cover Photo: David Velez Fotografia
Blurb
Jaden King was raised in Boston to a wealthy family that taught him what love and hard work is. He has a challenging and rewarding career until everything was turned upside down. What was once a promising future has quickly become a frightening and unknown reality. After months of dealing with the fall out on his own, he decided getting away--or more realistically, running away--to White Acre and his best friend sounded like the perfect plan.
Danny Keegan is a laid-back man with simple tastes and an even simpler life. He adores the little town of White Acre where he grew up, he loves his parents, and he enjoys his uncomplicated life. He’s always told himself the fact that he’s a closeted gay man in a conservative, parochial town wasn’t an issue and coming out of the closet wasn’t necessary. But with the addition of Jaden in his life he realizes as happy as he is, he could be happier and the future of a love of his own doesn't seem so out of grasp as it always had.
When Jaden and Danny meet, their chemistry is undeniable but playful flirting doesn't mean anything. They start spending all their free time together, and what started as a simple friendship quickly turns into something much more than either saw coming. But, Jaden carries a secret that could end it all before it even begins. And though Jaden is scared to tell the truth and risk everything that has come to mean so much to him, he knows that he can’t go on without laying himself bare, leaving Danny with an important, life changing choice to make. His content little life or what could be the love of his life.
Will Jaden’s truth be too much for Danny, or will Danny decide a life out in the open, full of love, laughter, and passion is worth risking it all?
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07H57WCJR
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07H57WCJR
Excerpt
The doorbell chiming through the house interrupted his thoughts. Good, he was tired of thinking about it. Hence why he hated lying around doing nothing. Too much thinking happened. Sigh. Maybe he should just go back to Boston.
The chill that ran down his spine halted all thoughts of that. Not yet. He wasn’t ready.
He got up off the lounge. His body immediately protested the move, wanting nothing more than to crawl back onto it, but finding out who arrived at Mac’s humble abode was too intriguing to pass up. Plus, he was bored and nosy.
“Jaden!” Mac’s voice yelled out deep and loud as he stepped into the foyer behind Mac. Jaden swore the man had no manners.
“Mac, you do not need to bellow. Didn’t your parents teach you how to use your indoor voice?” Jaden asked as haughty as he could.
Mac startled, probably not expecting him to be so close, then his near-constant smirk appeared as he replied, “Forgive my rudeness, my King.” Then the man bowed. Snarky bastard was making fun of his last name.
Jaden was really enjoying getting to know Mac. “Clearly, the art of sarcasm runs strong in you. But I love the title. Do continue to use it,” Jaden replied with a wave and a wink. It was then he turned his focus on Danny—yummy, bearded, gorgeous Danny—standing at the front door. Danny was the epitome of tall, dark, and handsome but with a boyish next-door charm. Dark brown hair, tanned skin from his work outside, and hazel eyes—more gold than brown with little flecks of green around the iris—made Danny one yum yummy package Jaden wouldn’t mind unwrapping.
"Oh, wishes do come true. It looks like my handsome knight in shining armor has shown up to rescue me," Jaden purred.
"I don’t know about the knight in shining armor bit, but I'm here to take you to Allie. She said you have plans to hang out tonight." Danny's voice was deep and smooth, sounding like silk would feel as it slid over Jaden’s skin.
Jaden didn’t know what he was talking about because he was sure he had no such plans. Something in Danny’s eyes told him to just go along with it. Maybe this had to do with the broken voicemail Bennett left him earlier. It had been so bad, he had no way of understanding what was said.
“Oh yes, my knight, how could I forget plans with my dear Allie? Let me just grab my things from my room then we can go.” Jaden walked upstairs to his room, torn between wanting to hang out with Allie and wanting to spend time with Danny flirting.
Five minutes later, Jaden was climbing into Danny’s truck—climbing being the keyword since the truck was so tall he felt like a child, small and clumsy, trying to get into it. It was the least graceful he’d ever been in his life.
The beast of a machine was over six feet tall and dark blue with silver running boards which did nothing to help him get into the vehicle without using all his muscle. His muscles weren’t much since he hated working out and figured all his walking in the city was the equivalent to going to the gym.
As soon as he settled into his seat—buckling up, of course—Jaden turned to face Danny. “Where is it we’re going exactly? Because I don’t remember making plans with Allie. Or are you kidnapping me? I could absolutely get on board with that,” Jaden said playfully. “I bet you’re the type with a secret sex dungeon in your basement where you torture poor innocent boys like me.” Jaden fluttered his eyelashes, holding his hands to his chest in mock innocence. “Not that I’m opposed to a little torture of the sexual kind.”
“You’re trouble, aren’t you, Jaden?” Danny glanced over at him, smirking before looking back at the road.
“With a capital T,” Jaden replied, biting his lip. “
All I know is Bennett needed you out of the house for something to do with Mac, and I owed Allie a favor, so I came to get you to take you to her.”
4 Stars!
Jaden comes to White Acre to visit his best friend Bennett and heal from a bad breakup that left him with more than just bad memories. He never expected the easy friendship he strikes up with Danny or bonding with him through their mutual love of a video game or even slowly falling for the closeted man. But Jaden has a secret that he's not sure won't send Danny running from the hills. And anyway, Danny isn't ready to really come out of the closet to his family and friends, is he?
I adored Danny, he was so sweet, reliable and supportive all-around. I don't usually like closeted characters, because frankly, they get on my nerves, however, Danny had a good, selfless reason to be in the closet. I liked Jaden very much, too. He was a good man, but even if I could understand his reticence to telling Danny of his secret, I felt he dragged it out a little too much. They had great chemistry and I loved the progression of their relationship and all the tender, sweet, hot moments we got to share with them.
I loved catching up with Mac and Bennett and this little town the series is set in, even if not all its inhabitants are as nice as Danny and his friends.
Overall, Risking It All was a solid continuation to this series by Ms. Ashley. The writing was really good and there was a good balance between romance and light angst, which thankfully wasn't dragged out endlessly. Very recommendable!
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
Morningstar Ashley is a transplant from the Yankee-controlled territory of New York, and now finds herself in the heartland of cowboys and longhorns—Texas. Armed with her imagination, wit, and trusty sidekicks in the form of her two crazy kids, devoted dorky husband, big lap dog, and rambunctious cats, Morningstar spends her time reading the books she loves, crafting her own characters, and arguing the merits of hot chocolate over the bitter brew known as coffee. (Hot chocolate wins, FYI.)
After a lifetime of trying to get people to realize her first name wasn’t Ashley, Morningstar decided the best way to settle the debate was to put her name on a book cover. Now she find the accomplishment of publishing so satisfying her mind won’t stop creating stories of love across the spectrum of LGBTQA+.
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