Review of To Love and Protect by Kay Simone and Jason Collins

 by Kay Simone and Jason Collins

2 stars

Hank Bartlett dreams of something more than his sleepy Ohio hometown, where the work is back-breaking and the money he makes goes straight to his family. He's only 25—way too young to end up stuck in the same tiny town for the rest of his life... Especially when he's the only gay guy in a 100-mile radius.

When he walks into The Spike on his first night in San Diego, a gorgeous older man catches his eye across the bar. But Ben turns out to be more than just a handsome stranger—he's also kind, generous, and inspiring. And soon enough, Hank is head over heels.

Now if they could just figure out what to do about those pesky death threats...

"Get married and you're a dead man..."

When Bennett's father disowned him for being gay, Ben turned his back on his family's wealth. He relied on his intelligence and drive to build a business and a life that he's proud of. Ben refuses to be told what to do by an old bigot, and he's definitely not interested in fulfilling a ridiculous marriage requirement just to inherit money he doesn't want anyway.

So why the hell is he getting threats designed to keep him from the altar?

It was easier to ignore the threats when he was single and reeling from a nasty breakup. But that was before Ben fell for Hank—sweet, open-hearted, optimistic Hank who tugs at parts of Ben's heart he didn't even know existed. Suddenly, Ben isn't quite so sour on romance after all. But the closer he gets to Hank, the worse the intimidation gets.

Whoever's sending the threats will stop at nothing to break the two men up. Will Ben and Hank find a love to have and told hold, or will death do them part before they can even get started?

We finished this a few weeks ago and have put on reviewing cause, ugh, we were so disappointed.  We pick up EVERYHTING by Kay Simone and well, love all her work, but To Love and Protect was too much everything for us and we struggled to finish.  We struggled to hear Kay’s voice in wither character and with so many themes and twists, this one did not work at all.

Hank Bartlett is a gay 25-year old man leaving, for the first time his small Ohio family home, and stiking out to San Diego to rope himself a wealthy husband.  On his first night in town he meets Bennett, a handsome older man who seems just his type.  But Ben was disowned by his father when he came out, only to find out that his father willed him his entire estate, but he has to get married.  Ben doesn’t really seem to care if he inherits the millions, but his family benefits if he doesn’t get married. And just as he starts getting closer to Hank, he starts getting death threats.

SO many things going on, we have a Virgin May/December insta love – oh yes.  Even though Hank and Ben don’t hook up the first night they meet, they basically fall in love and Ben installs Hank as a permanent feature in his life; helping to fid somewhere to live, giving him a job at his company. Of course with the age-gap, Hank is also a virgin, and Ben finds himself wanting to keep and protect Ben forever.   And then there is the mystery – who wants Ben dead?  There is ex-boyfriend trouble and family infighting, and twists and turns which we found confusing.  Unfortunately in the end when the perp was uncovered, we were kinda like – really, hunh???

Needless to say we struggled.  To Love and Protect was too sappy, confusing, and lacked a flow.  Honestly we ended up skimming just to finish this book.  As hard as we tried to like To Love and Protect, we didn’t enjoy this author team up.

Review of FU: Fixer Uppers by Devon McCormack

by Devon McCormack

3.5 Stars

MIKEY

I've never messed around with a guy before. Not that I haven't been attracted to guys. The opportunity just never came up.

I stand at the front door, naked. My bro's roomie, Scott, is pissed about how much noise I made with the girl I just escorted out of their apartment, but I figured we were alone, and I couldn't help that she liked to scream out to let me know she was enjoying herself. Just like I can't help that the raging boner I have right now is for Scott, not her. I don't know what it is about the angry glare he's giving me that turns me on so much, but I just want to tug on his curly brown locks and hear him call out my name as I show him a good time.

Scott doesn't want anything to do with me. At least, I think that's the case, but I learn just how wrong I am one night when we wind up tearing each other's clothes off and racing for the bedroom. He blows my mind...and well, me too. We spend the next few days messing around before I head back to California. That's supposed to be the end of it. But after my sister makes a crap investment on a rundown house near my bro's apartment in Atlanta, I jump at the opportunity to help her fix it up. I don't want her to have to stay with our parents, who I've avoided since I left for college--don't get me started.

Scott volunteers to work on the project too, which gives us plenty of time to have a little fun together. It's supposed to be about fixing up the house, but the more time I spend with him, the more I realize it's not the only fixer upper Scott's working on. He's doing something to me--making me better. And even though I'm heading back home when this is all over, I don't want it to end. Because I'm falling for Scott...so hard.

If you have read anything by Devon McCormack you know he brings the heat, and FU: Fixer Uppers does not disappoint.  This is an easy read, with some fun charters and some serious steam.

What did we like about FU: Fixer Uppers?  Although Mikey is an arrogant egotistical bro, that is his charm. He is full of himself, and knows who and what he is, and that is a huge turn on.  And we loves Scott’s prickly exterior, his self-doubt, makes him endearing and makes you really root for his happy ending. And pray that Mikey doesn’t bereak his heart.

The relationship between Mikey and Scott is fun, hot and easy to understand.  They are both hot guys and enjoying having a good time together.  Mikey’s reaction to being so attracted to another man isn’t really a topic in the book, rather, it is explained the he has crushes on other men, but never acted on them. 

Where to book lost us a bit was the drama with Mikey’s family, and honestly we were a bit confused.  We understand what happened to their dynamic, but felt that Mickey’s continuous seriously angry reaction 15+ years later was a little stretched.  The relationship between Scott and his father was more believable, and so tended to highlight the disconnect between Mikey and his parents.  This is really the story of why Mikey is the player he is and how he doesn’t really settle down.

There is a lot going on the FU: Fixer Uppers, friends-with-benefits, sister’s divorce, house renovation, family drama, self-worth issues,  and a few other things , but somehow they kinda sorta work together?   Maybe.  But be warned, there is a lot, a lot, a lot of sex, like every other page.  We enjoyed the between-the-sheets, up-against-the-wall, in-the-moving-truck (you get the picture) sexy time, but there is a lot, so you might need a cold shower after finishing the book!