About the Book:
Lavender Shores’s resident tattoo artist, Connor Clark, looks the part—six foot six, musclebound, and covered in ink—and most definitely doesn’t blend in. Grafted into the Bryant family as a teenager to escape his abusive father, the Bryants saved his life, but Connor has never truly felt a part of the founding family royalty. And if his heart’s desire were revealed, it would betray everything the Bryants have done for him.
Micah Bryant was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. He’s always had everything he ever wanted—save the one he desires most. Even moving to New York City for a few years didn’t dampen his passion. Not that Micah had expected it to. He’s known his destiny since he was nine years old, the moment it had walked through his door.
After years of longing, years of secrets and stolen moments of passion and love, Connor weakens enough to allow the town to see how he feels, and let the Bryants know his love for Micah is anything but brotherly. But no sooner had the decision been made than Connor’s biological family returns and shatters it all. Still, Micah holds on to the belief that their romance was written in the stars, but maybe he’d been wrong all those years….
The Finer Details
Narrative Arc: Series
Series Detail: Lavender Shores, book 5
Series Arc: new relationship
Publication Date: November 7, 2017
Publisher: Self-Published
Editor: Desi Chapman, Cristina Manole, and Corrine Harris
Cover Artist: AngstyG Website
Length: Novel, 266 e-book pages
POV: 1st person, two characters
Tense: Past
Pairings: Male/Male
Identities: Gay
Age Range(s): 30 to 34, 26 to 29
Genre(s): Contemporary
Tropes and Tags: best friend’s sibling, musician, body art tattoos/piercings, chosen family, forbidden love
Settings & Locales: Lavender Shores, CA
Ending: HEA
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Advance Review Copy generously provided by the author.
Back Porch Thoughts
Rating
Review
Who else is late to the Lavender Shores party? Just me? Fine, fine…pass me a pina colada and let’s rock.
Okay, so I’m late. And showing up this late in the game was just a bit like being dropped off at a stranger’s cocktail party by a well-intentioned pal where I don’t know a soul — and that (former) pal stranded me there to sink or swim. Being the sort that prefers to hide behind the ficus, this was intensely overwhelming.
Yes, this book can probably be read as a stand-alone because it’s about the whole new relationship than in previous books. But, there’s a gauntlet of delightful (and somewhat loony) characters who, I felt, were sort of barring my way from getting to know these new guys. SO! I decided to take a pause in my book 5 reading experience and go back to the beginning. I read books one through four like a FIEND over the course of three and a half days.
They. Were. AMAAAZZZINGLY fun, emotional, and sexy. Seriously, y’all. I highly recommend them ALL and suggest you start at the beginning.
Fast forward to book five. The Hideaway. Featuring Connor and Micah.
‘Kay. I am all in when it comes to big, burly tatted dudes, so when I finally got back to this book, I already had some drool happening. Connor is a self-proclaimed ‘black sheep’ of the family, or pygmy goat, or…something. He feels like a bit of an outsider — loved, but…not exactly all in. Even though everyone adores him like crazy and have never given so much as a hint that he doesn’t belong.
But then…Gotta say this skims the edge of being a little bit on the taboo side because the incredibly talented Micah Bryant is considered Connor’s little brother.
WHAT?
MmmmmHmmmm. Yep. See, Connor was folded into the Bryant clan when he was a teenager. Raised through to adulthood right along Micah and a few other siblings. And Momma Bryant doesn’t care one whit about him not being of her loins. Soooo…brothers. Kinda.
And this all leads to a mountain of angst and denial and drama the likes of which take an oxygen tank and a pack mule to scale.
There are a ton of reasons for these guys to deny their feelings, but the best one ever to follow their hearts. It’s a journey. And it’s painful picking around in their history. But experiencing them getting their HEA is sublime.
I’m only gonna niggle a little bit. Because of the hefty doses of angst and drama, I needed just a little more balance of intimacy and togetherness to convince me that they’re the soulmates they say they are. I wanted to believe it, but it just wasn’t quite all there for me. And it’s not like they didn’t have tons of sex (hot and steamy and creative sex) because they did. I just needed a little more oomph when it came to their togetherness and the family’s ultimate acceptance.
Other than that tiny little nothing of a complaint, this was glorious.
Also, I’m stating my demand right here and now that there must absolutely be more books to this series. Like, at least ten more books. Lavender Shores is teeming with possibilities and love matches as far as the eye can see. I mean…c’mon, included in the book is a map of the town and multiple family trees that are begging to intertwine and drop new saplings. I won’t be late to them again.
About the Author
Rosalind Abel is the pen name for Brandon Witt's new imprint of MM Romance novels. The writings under Rosalind's name are purely MM Romance, sexy men, beautiful locations, humor, romance, and happily-ever-afters. Rosalind's first series is Lavender Shores.