Release Day Review ~ Buyout - A Love Story by Dev Bentham
Title: Buyout - A Love Story
Author: Dev Bentham
Release Date: February 8, 2017
Category: Contemporary
Pages: 69
Everyone deserves a second chance. Or do they? Sean and Martim fell in love at Harvard. Things broke apart when Martim fell into a downward spiral of addiction after his father died. Sean kicked him out but has regretted it ever since. He’s never gotten over losing Martim. But then, not many aspects of his life have lived up to his collegiate dreams.
When he’s sent to evaluate Martim’s family hotel for foreclosure, Sean is once again in the position to put Martim out on the street. In the time since they parted, Martim has pulled himself together, although both health and financial problems linger as a result of his years as an addict. Can the two men bridge the gap of distance and time to rekindle their relationship, or will they fall apart again under the burdens of guilt and disease?
Set in Lisbon, Portugal, this is the story of lovers reunited after more than a decade apart, and their second chance at romance.
4.5 Stars!
Was this really only 69 pages? It felt like a full-length novel to me, not in a bad way or anything but because it covered so much. Plus, I actually teared up twice during the story. It's definitely an emotional read and it got to me.
Sean is sent to Lisbon by his boss to basically let the owners of a hotel know that they are behind on their loan and Sean's boss Rex is preparing to foreclose on the property. This usually wouldn't be too hard for Sean but, unfortunately, in this circumstance, the owner of the hotel happens to be Martim. Martim and Sean dated and lived together while they attended Harvard. Martim became addicted to drugs his senior year and Sean sent him packing. Now a decade later, Sean is in Lisbon to tell the man he never truly got over that once again he was kicking him out, only this time he was also taking away his family's hotel legacy.
Things aren't so cut and dry, though, and Sean is forced to reevaluate his own life, his feelings for Martim and what kind of future he wants. These two men share so much, between their past and their undeniable bond, they both have to admit to themselves that they still love each other.
I felt so sorry for Martim, I have such a soft spot for people in his situation. I couldn't help letting the tears fall when he spoke. Sean was a tiny bit harder to like but that was totally based on personal perceptions as opposed to the character completely. I'm glad they were able to move away from the past and find the happiness they deserved.
The writing was well done and the story very well thought out. I very much enjoyed it and would totally recommend it.
*Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie by Dreamspinner Press for my reading pleasure in hopes of an unbiased opinion, a review was not a requirement.*
5 Stars!
A really intelligent, believable tale that had me rooting for both guys, but in a realistic, IRL way, and not a fangirl way.
This tale is really believable - perhaps because I work in finance and see things in black and white and cold hard figures. I respected the tale and Sean, the hard-working guy, and felt empathy for Martin, who'd succumbed to various demons in his teens and 20s. Normally, I don't think I could contemplate an ex-druggie/user as a lead, but the author imbued him with decency and a sense of familial responsibility, as well as plain common decency. She made me like them both, in very different ways and for very different reasons.
The tale is utterly realistic, to the point I wasn't sure if the leads could overcome what lay between them, but they did and in a fashion that was entirely believable and mutual. I loved how Sean found his inner self and stood up for what was right, vs what he should have done in his role. He was a bit of a git at times, but he'd been hurt in the past - betrayed even - and I understood him. He was definitely the bigger man, as I don't think I'd have been capable of the forgiveness he showed. Martim, too, redeemed himself and his honesty and admissions were the plain, simple truth, without embellishment or faux redemption.
I loved the outcome they had to their problems and their relationship, and believed in them. I'd love to read a short story showing them living their HEA, making a success of their joint venture, but that really would be the icing on the cake, as this author left the guys, and me, in a great place.
ARC courtesy of Dreamspinner Press and Bayou Book Junkie, for my reading pleasure.
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