Candice Blake

This one left me smiling. It is written very simplistically and I believe that is where its charm comes from. I thought that a good editor would have a field day with this story yet as I read more I found the simple writing to be completely necessary. Conrad and Elijah were pretty much average guys and an awesome couple. The epilogue was a bit cheesy and over the top for me personally but others will love it. I was angry with the elder Westbrook for all that he cheated Conrad out of. A parent just should not do that. Having taken a cross country trip much like theirs, I could feel the eager excitement of hitting a new city. Well done Ms Blake!… (altro)

Kevin is an aspiring artist, working hard to earn his degree at a prestigious university. Kyle is the school's star quarterback, and he's only enrolled in an art class as a random elective. And because they couldn't come together over the course of the semester to finish the final project they were partnered up to complete, they stand at risk of failing the class. Their only shot is an extension through the winter break--only a couple of weeks to put something together. Kevin offers for Kyle to come stay with his family for the holiday, providing them with the chance to use the entire break to complete their task. Kevin is a bit nervous about having Kyle in close proximity during that time, since Kyle is one of the most attractive guys he's ever seen. But Kyle's obviously a straight jock, right? And even if he wasn't, he'd never go for a guy like Kevin, would he? As they spend their holiday trying to create art, the two young men just might have the chance to create something else completely unexpected.

The story here is one that intrigued me. There's a lot of potential for conflict, push and pull, and self-discovery with this kind of plot. And those are among the types of stories that I enjoy. And once these two get going, that energy does find its way into the story. There is a bit of a slow start here during the setup, but once you get past that, things pick up and move at a fairly steady pace. Readers find themselves along for the ride, one that continues right up until these two find a place to land.

[Disclaimer: I received an uncorrected advance review copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.]… (altro)