Rick is the second book in the ‘Love at the Haven’ series. This stars Rick Thatcher, the man who inherited Haven Hotel, and Eliot Walker, a consultant that works at a bank. This is told in first person from both Rick and Eliot’s povs.



I liked this story more than I did the first one. Some of the reasons were because there was more emotional build-up and connection between the two characters, and there was also a background plot that hovered behind the romance. The blurb does a pretty good job of telling what the story is about and I don’t want to give away details of the financial conflict.

The romance was better in this book. As mentioned in the blurb, Eliot visits the Haven for his first experience with a man. It so happens that Rick is daydreaming at that instant at the front desk that maybe he should do what the rest of the guys do and take on clients. Then in walks Eliot and Rick is smitten. Eliot is super nervous but the two talk and Eliot thinks Rick is for hire. It surprises Rick, but he wants Eliot so he takes Eliot to his private room where they have a great time.

It's important to talk about the characters because the romance rotates around their longing for each other, their insecurities, and misconceptions. First, Rick doesn’t tell Eliot that he’s actually the manager. Also, since he’s hired by Eliot, Rick’s insecurities rise up telling him if he wasn’t hired, Eliot would never pay attention to him since he’s not clever, he’s just a construction worker/handyman. Rick also torments himself with the idea that Eliot will now go find a proper boyfriend, which makes Rick miserable. Eliot loves the way Rick makes him feel special, but thinks it’s just because he paid for Rick. He doesn’t realize that Rick is acting that way for real. Eliot’s insecurities arise because he thinks he’s not as attractive or experienced as Rick. Each man is insecure, reading things into the other’s behavior that isn’t there, and they don’t speak about their true feelings towards each other, just because Eliot hired Rick. I didn’t have trouble with their insecurities. It didn’t feel overdone, and it made the characters more real. Since the story is heavily character driven, this dance the two men do around each other because of their misconceptions, is part of the problem.

The emotional connection between Rick and Eliot is better in this story than the characters in first book, also the distinction between character voices is more consistent, especially with Eliot. His voice is the same except when he uses his ‘boardroom’ voice as Rick calls it. Rick on the other hand has multiple voices. In the first book, he sounded younger than in this one. In this story, he sounds old and tired at the beginning. When he’s with Eliot the first time, he talks like he’s perfect, knows all the right things to do and ask. I found the voice he used there too sterile. Later his internal voice is voicing lots of insecurities. In the epilogue, he gets this flat tone to his voice that was similar to both characters in the first book. Rick doesn’t sound like himself anymore. I also noticed an inconsistency where he refers to himself by his own name, calling himself, Rick Thatcher. It was confusing because it made me think someone else was talking and I had to stop and reread, which pulled me out of the story. The voices were better than they were in the first book, but Rick’s voice was the most inconsistent, making him sound like he had multiple personalities. I’d like it if the author was better at voice consistency and making the characters sound more distinct.

I liked Rick better than book one. It had better connection between the characters and a better plot. I wish the character voices were more distinct especially on Rick’s part, and more consistent. The concept of the Haven Hotel is interesting and I’d read the follow up books. I give this story, 4 Stars.



I received an ARC copy from the author for an honest and unbiased opinion. ( )

I love Rick as a character. He came into an unknown situation when he inherited the Haven, and he decided to befriend the guys there and help them rather than give up on the hotel. He was such a good guy. He was strictly the handyman/owner/books guy and didn’t engage in any of the sex work until Eliot showed up one night to make an appointment. He was immediately attracted and considered passing him off, but Eliot wanted Rick. They had two nights together, but by the end of the second, they both acknowledged they wanted more. They were sweet together, and I loved how it all worked out. Great group of characters, and I love the sex positivity. ( )