Review of Strong Enough by Melanie Harlow and David Romanov

by Melanie Harlow and David Romanov

4 Stars

I wasn’t looking for Derek Wolfe.I wasn’t looking for anybody. All I wanted was to start a new life in America. But when I found myself stranded here with no place to go, he came to my rescue, offering me a place to stay.

He’s smart, successful, and sexy as hell—I can barely sleep knowing he’s right down the hall. And when the chemistry between us explodes one night with fierce, fiery passion, it’s hard to deny there’s something real there.

But he does. He says he was drunk. He says it was a one-time thing. He says he’s not into guys and what we did meant nothing. He’s lying. Because it happened again, and again, and again. And it’s better every time.  I know we could be good together, and I want the chance to try, but I’m done hiding. If he’s not strong enough to admit the truth, I’ll have to be strong enough to walk away.

This is an interesting story, and if we have understood correctly, the first foray into m/m romance for author Melanie Harlow, partnering with David Romanov.  Strong enough is a story of a deeply closeted Derek, and a man giving up everything to come out of the closet.

Strong Enough is a fascinating story idea; a man, Max, leaving Russia to pursue the American dream, and to being an open gay man.  Max is open, honest and so ready for a change in his life; he is really a joyfully delightful character.  And on the other end of the spectrum is Derek.  Derek is a little older than Max, and SO set in his ways, his beliefs and not straying from who he believes he should be.  Derek isn’t easy to like really, and actually we really wanted to shake him, and then shake him some more. 

This is a dual POV book, which really works.  Max and Derek balance each other, so well.  They are well written characters, and actually this is a very well written, face-paced book.  Their budding relationship and sexual tension kept us enthralled the whole time.  We feel Derek’s struggle with accepting who he is, and want his to step up and be the man that Max needs.  Max is open and loving and it is heartbreaking to see him denying himself what he wants, to be open a free to love who he wants.

The story did seem a little predictable, because let’s be honest, there are only a few ways a deeply closeted love affair could go.  But to be clear, this is not a gay-for-you story, deep down Derek knows why he isn’t connecting to all the perfect-on-paper women he is going pout with, he just isn’t ready to be open to himself.

We did struggle with the progression of a relationship between Derek and Max.  Max states over and over that he is not looking for a relationship, but finds himself falling into a secret relationship with Derek.  We felt that Max was finally able to be free and open, and found it hard to believe that he would tolerate being back in the closet for Derek, after a short time of knowing each other.  Although we love them together, it was hard to understand, and annoyed us a bit – again with us wanting to shake Derek. 

Strong Enough is a moving read, and we so enjoyed getting to know Max and Derek.  The chemistry between these two very different men is seductive, and they play off each other to create a love story that we couldn’t get enough of, and we couldn’t wish hard enough  for two men to get their happy every after.