Rating: 3 Stars out of 5
Lowell hasn’t been back to his home town in 20 years. But after his abusive father dies, he feels the need to be there to care for his mother. So he goes from being an out and proud single gay man in Manhattan to the “only” gay man in a fairly conservative town. And then he finds out that he bought the house next door to his former childhood friend and crush.
Jase is in his childhood home raising his daughter after a pretty bitter divorce. A divorce brought on by the fact that he couldn’t deny the fact that he was gay any longer. But his ex-wife doesn’t want their daughter exposed to any of the men that could be in Jase’s life. So he sticks to one offs when he does to gay bars in the city. But then Lowell moved in next door.
I was a bit disbelieving that Lowell didn’t recognize that the house he bought was next door to his former childhood friend’s house. But, ok. Although awkward at first, they quickly fell back into the friendship they had as kids. When Jase could no longer deny his attraction, things heated up. Quickly. But he was staying firmly in the closet.
One of the things I really liked about this book is the everyday adult issues that came up. Kids, ex wives, hating your job, sick parents, etc. So often books just kind of gloss over real life things. I want to yell “what about your job?” “do you grocery shop?” Silly. But true. The author dealt with these things without them being silly filler.
Lowell and Jase were really hot AND sweet together and seeing Lowell with Jase’s daughter was heart melting. Some of the things that keep my rating at 3 stars: Lowell basically is like a puppy waiting for Jase. They fight, break up, Lowell takes him right back. I also think it is pretty unrealistic that Jase was in the closet with even his closest friends. And while this could have been a HEA, we really just get a happily for now…
Cover Artist: Aaron Anderson has created a new cover that is perfect for the storyline.
Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | ARe | Amazon
Book Details:
ebook, 2nd Edition, 200 pages
Expected publication: July 22nd 2016 by Dreamspinner Press (first published January 25th 2011)
Original TitleThe Boy Next Door
ISBN 1634773829 (ISBN13: 9781634773829)
Edition LanguageEnglish
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 