Last Chance series by Riley Hart – Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

This is a beautiful love story—a slow burn, awakening of sexuality for Ryan, who has only ever loved one person previously, his former wife Danielle. Now, in the midst of an unexpected attraction to Caleb White, a man who returned to the small town of Last Chance after having been both in prison and a porn star, he’s shocked when he learns that he’s demisexual. No wonder he’s never really felt a sexual urge with any of the other women who have come on to him in the past. And no wonder his feelings for Caleb include a sexual attraction. After he avidly devours every definition of demisexual from the Internet, he feels changed—like it’s okay to inhabit his body and mind. He’s not an oddity after all.

Ryan works as a mechanic for Shane, from Depth of Field (Last Chance #1), and meets Caleb at an all-night diner one sleepless night. Caleb has returned to the town he left when he was sixteen and his family packed up and moved him away quickly after he and Shane were discovered kissing. Later, in his late teens and early twenties he got into trouble and ended up serving a prison term. By the time he got out, he felt Shane wouldn’t understand, so he never contacted him. And then while spending years working in the porn industry, he wasn’t willing to simply call Shane to renew what might have only been a passing teenage crush for the man.

But Caleb never forgot him, and he returned to Last Chance where he was welcomed with open arms by Shane and his new boyfriend, Van, another young man they went to school with. Caleb bought a house but hasn’t secured a job yet. Over coffee at the diner late one night, Ryan discloses that he needs to find a new apartment, so Caleb offers him a roommate situation. Though reluctant to take it, Ryan eventually agrees.

So the setting is there for two men to become friends, and then become attracted, and then act on that attraction, but this story is, as I said, a slow burn and it was beautifully done. Ryan had always wondered why he never felt the sexual appeal of anyone other than his former wife. And then he felt awkward when he found himself drawn to Caleb, but after he learned what it meant to be demisexual, he began to accept himself, and with Caleb’s help, the two started the slow exploration of their mutual attraction.

The love story is, of course, primarily between these two men. But it’s also the story of a young man who lost his wife after their baby died and she pushed him away. There’s grieving and healing and the love of two people who were friends as well as spouses. Now, Danielle is back in his life when Ryan has to rush to his father’s hospital bedside and it’s evident that they still love each other—though as friends now. And Ryan’s father? A man who loves his child but has never expressed it properly. The two have a chance to make amends and verbalize the love they have for one another. So, as I said, there’s love in this story—multiple facets of love in the same way we humans have so many facets to our personalities.

I really enjoyed the way the author allowed Ryan to fall in love with Caleb slowly. And Caleb was a dream man—one who had matured through the School of Hard Knocks and was both kind and understanding. He was also sexy as hell and totally devoted to Ryan, and Caleb knew he had all the time in the world to wait for this man. It’s very difficult to put the emotions of this story into words. Suffice it to say that it’s much more than a GFY or a bi-curious story, and yet it hits on some of the notes from those sorts of stories, which I happen to enjoy.

Those who enjoyed Crossroads should definitely enjoy this one and if that one was a bit too far out of the realm of believability with two formerly straight men being attracted to one another, this one should hit the spot as an out-and-proud gay man helps a previously thought-to-be-straight man navigate the waters of man-on-man loving. That love and the love Ryan holds for his family make this a must read for 2018. Highly recommended.

COVER DESIGN: X-Potion Designs
COVER IMAGE: Stone Creek City

Cover art is a photo depicting two apparently naked men, one embracing the other from behind. It’s the perfect depiction of the MCs in this story, with Caleb simply holding Ryan close.

Sales Links: Amazon

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 240 pages
Published January 28th 2018 by Riley Hart
Original TitleColor Me In
ASINB079DK8B64
Edition LanguageEnglish
SeriesLast Chance #2

COLOR ME IN

LAST CHANCE, BOOK 2

RILEY HART

M/M ROMANCE

RELEASE DATE: JANUARY 30, 2018

COVER DESIGN: X-Potion Designs

COVER IMAGE: Stone Creek City

BLURB

Caleb White has been a lot of places and made a lot of decisions he isn’t proud of. He’s ready to settle down and figure out who he really is. Where better to do that than Last Chance, the home he was ripped away from at sixteen? A fresh start is in order, but he has no idea how the hell to do that when he’s not even sure what he wants in the first place.

Ryan Daily is a pro at hiding his insecurities. He’s never fit in and has spent most of his life knowing there’s something missing. Just when he thought he’d found it, his whole world fell apart and he lost everything.

Then comes a sleepless night in a twenty-four-hour café, where Caleb and Ryan forge a connection full of laughs, junk food, and whispered secrets. In the middle of a budding friendship, they see the blossoming of desire neither of them expected. Ryan has kept his heart protected after having it shattered, and Caleb—no stranger to attraction—finds what he has with Ryan is on a whole new level from anything he’s experienced before. In a world of black and white, they bring each other color.

But life is never simple. When the past comes knocking, Ryan and Caleb will have to reach through the darkness to find the light they see in each other or risk slipping into the shadows for good.

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2ByOVfZ

color me in teaser #1

color me in teaser #2

color me in teaser #3

EXCERPT

At eleven forty-five, he made his way downstairs to see that Ryan was already there waiting for him. They were supposed to be at Shane’s around noon. “We taking my car? I’m not sure I can be seen in yours. I have a reputation to uphold.” Caleb watched, waiting for Ryan to react to his ribbing.

He did, looking up at Caleb through a fan of his dark lashes as Caleb stood on the stairs. Jesus, he was sexy as hell. His hair was messy, which Caleb fucking loved. He wore jeans—not the ones Caleb said he liked—and a button-up black shirt with long sleeves.

He looked so damn innocent, unsure, as he gave Caleb a playful grin and rolled his eyes. “Not flashy enough for ya, huh? The car doesn’t make the man, Salt Fiend.”

The silly nickname sat warm in his chest. “Oh, fuck you.” Caleb reached the bottom step. “I know what kind of man I am, thank you very much. Grab your keys. You can drive. I didn’t want to anyway. Might even take a short nap on the way home—my belly will be so full and all.”

“Well, shit.” Ryan followed behind him. “I didn’t think this through. Do I get a take-back?”

“Nope.” Caleb grabbed his jacket from the chair, then reached for Ryan’s, handing it over.

“Thanks.” His eyes darted away, looking almost bashful. “We need a coatrack.”

They’d managed to break through the first layer of tension; Caleb could feel it. Unfortunately, the bastard seemed fucking thick, and he thought they still had a way to go. “We do.”

Ryan felt his pockets, Caleb assumed, for his keys. His guess was confirmed when he pulled them out and said, “We should be on our way.”

They made it almost to the door before his stupid fucking mouth got in the way. “You look good, by the way.”

Ryan stumbled. Caleb reached out and wrapped his hand around Ryan’s bicep. “No need to get all flustered, Sweet Tooth.”

“I’m not flustered.”

“Not even a little?” Caleb asked.

“Maybe a little.”

He had a feeling that was the case. “I’ll give you space. We’re good, though? You and me? I didn’t fuck up?”

“No.” Ryan reached out then and fixed Caleb’s hood, which had accidentally gotten tucked into the back of his jacket. “You didn’t fuck up. We’re good.”

Caleb nodded. That was exactly what he needed to hear.

Riley Hart is the girl who wears her heart on her sleeve. She’s a hopeless romantic, a lover of sexy stories, passionate men, and writing about all the trouble they can get into together.

She loves reading, flawed characters, and hanging out with her husband and children, who she adores. She and her family live in Southern California, soaking up the sunshine while also missing seasons. Not a day goes by that she isn’t thankful she gets to wake up and do what she loves.

Life is good. Riley also writes young adult and new adult under the name Nyrae Dawn.

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