Review of Just a Summer Deal by E. Davies & Zach Jenkins

by E. Davies & Zach Jenkins

2 Stars

"You think you can go gay for the summer?"
"I'm the bad egg in Team Gay."

Gay romance author Aaron Douglas has almost everything going for him: a successful career, fun friends, and loving parents who live just far enough away. Unfortunately, he's earned a love 'em and leave 'em reputation, though. Finding a gorgeous gay romance author in this little Colorado town is a thrill, even if Conor says he's straight. When Aaron's landlord kicks him out, the solution is obvious: Aaron can stay with Conor, they can write and fix up Conor's cute farmhouse together, and they can pretend to date. That's all. Aaron won't fall for another straight guy again...even one as amazing as Conor.

"What do I know about gay romance?"

Conor Kennedy just wants to renovate and sell his old farmhouse, escape this small town, and find a nice girlfriend. His novels don't sell, though, and his repairs are taking forever. Everything feels broken until Aaron jokingly offers the perfect solution. Why not pose as a cute gay couple for the summer? Both of their careers will benefit and they'll both get the company of a great new friend... plus Hope, the stray golden retriever who's chosen to live with them. But all Conor can think about is the most illogical thing of all: he wants to do more with his gay co-author than write romance novels.

"Will you sweep me under the rug again?"

Living in tight quarters during the renovation while writing a book together challenges both men to stick to the terms of their deal. They're opposites in almost every way, and the tension is thick. As their fake relationship deadline approaches, questions loom over them both: were they only faking, or has something real blossomed between them? When the internet learns of Conor's past, will their love be strong enough to keep them together?

We aren’t usually a fan of second-chance romance, but it works so well in this short story.  Waiting for Clark is a must read!

Let’s start this review by saying that we did finish this book, but it was a bit of a struggle.  This is a gay-for-you romance, and the story idea has so much potential, but just didn’t come tighter in the end for us.

First off we meet Aaron, a successful, out, m/m romance author who is living a complete bachelor’s life; partying with friends, one night stand and living the good life.  He does however have a crush on another m/m writer, Conor, who is straight, and reaches out to him to see if they can connect.  They meet, and really like each other and decide to collaborate on a book tighter.  Somehow that translates into a fake-relationship for media, and living tighter to fix up Conor’s farmhouse.  But all this comes with a deadline, the end of summer.

See, sound like a cute premise, and we were SO SO SO hopeful.  They meet, fireworks, write and renovate a house and fall in love, all in an idyllic country setting.  That’s the first half. But man, it just has so many issues.  First off, the gay-for-you is done so much, but it can still be done well.  But, there isn’t real transition for Conor.  One minute he is trying to set up a one-night-stand with his neighbor, and the next minute he is making out with Aaron to post on Social Media.  Huh?  Conor never really explores his sexuality, just *knows* he wants to be with Aaron.  The between the sheets feels awkward, like they are kissing and then the next is full on. 

We are also a bit confused about that too. There is no chemistry between Aaron and Conor, none, zip, zilch; they just don’t seem to mesh with each other.  Other than both being romance authors, they have really no connection, nothing that keeps them coming back to each other.  They bicker ALL THE TIME about the book, about writing schedules, process, what to write, leaving tools around the house, and on and on and on.  Honestly, this is like after living with each other for like 2 weeks.  If this was us, we would have moved out!   

For 2 writers you think they would be better at communication, but nope, and the characters struggle with this internal angst “does he feel the same” “is he still faking this relationship” “what is going to happen at the need of the summer”. We honestly wanted to bang our head against the wall – for pete sake, just talk to each other!  There is so much miscommunication, confusion and unnecessary angst and it takes up way too much time.

So, all in all, it is really hard for us to say this, but we weren’t really a fan of Just a Summer Deal. We tried so hard to like this cute idea of a book, but it never really came together for us. 

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!