Michael Murphy (16)

After an accident while visiting Bangkok, Patrick forgets everything--who he is, where he is, why he's there. He forms a connection with Jack, the only person who shows him kindness, and the two quickly become something more. Jack works to help Patrick figure out who he is, but they continue to hit dead ends at every turn. When someone shows up claiming to be one of Patrick's family members, they hit a crossroads--should Patrick try to figure out what he's lost, even if it means he might lose what he's found?

Concept? Great. Execution? Not so much. This fell flat for me at every turn, was rushed in all the wrong places, and left me feeling completely unsatisfied as a reader.… (more)

Actually more a 3.5 star, just not quite a 4.

It's a fun, uplifting story with no real drama or angst involved. The 1st person POV is never my favourite, but in this case he's actually telling us a story which makes it a different experience. It's a little all over the place at times and while I'm not sure if you should call it insta-love, it's definitely a very quick experience.

A book that in a way truly reflects the title; quirky, unpretentious and fluffy. Just what I needed right now!… (more)

While this sequel to ‘Little Squirrels Can Climb Tall Trees’ has some of the same humor, and it’s also about a man who finds his way in the world after being more than a little lost, the feel of it is very different. This time, it is the narrator who needs to learn about his own worth, and as Mano tells his story, a lot of his insecurities and fears are right out there. He is good friends with Kyle (from book one), and it was great to see how much Kyle has grown—to the point where he is now able to help Mano do the same.

Mano has been through emotional hell, and he wants a place to start over. Hawaii is exactly what he needs, a major break from Washington DC where he grew up, with a new set of friends (except for his closest buddy, Jake), and a new outlook on life and what he really wants to do with it. Some of his initial attempts to find the love he so desperately wants are less than successful, but Mano’s irrepressible spirit helps him recover and try again. I loved watching him gradually gain confidence in his personal life, but when his professional assurance grows, it all comes together.

The strength of this novel, for me, lies in the emotions Mano experiences, and how he shares them all, good and bad, as he explores the options that come his way. Having front row seats to everything he feels was tough, since he got hurt quite a bit, but then it was also good, since Mano does eventually figure out how to get what he so desperately wants: a loving relationship with a man he trusts. Their romance is slow, and that makes the eventual physical encounters all the hotter.

If you like romances between very real men who have very real issues, if the emotional side is as interesting for you to learn about as the physical aspect of a relationship, and if you’re looking for a read that is as intense and funny as it is hot and fulfilling, then you will probably like this novel. I loved it just as much as the first book in this series, and recommend you read them both t get the full picture of these wonderful characters.


NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.… (more)

The blurb states that “Kyle's hectic work schedule and inexperience with relationships won't make for an easy romance”—and I found that to be very true. At the same time, the narrator’s style is so funny that, on the whole, this made for an extremely entertaining novel. The deeper truth of these two men finding exactly what they want and need in each other made me smile, and the way both characters learn and grow as they “drift” into a relationship without really noticing it at first is very cute. It is also very romantic (without being too sweet) and definitely hot!

Joseph is the narrator of the story, and his somewhat manic thought processes and hilarious comments had me laughing all the way through. He has an opinion about everything, and is very determined to help Kyle become more self-confident. But Joseph also understands why Kyle is hesitant to come out, and never pushes him into a direction he isn’t ready for. Joseph is a pretty unique guy all around—while he sounds totally focused on the physical side of things, he is actually very good at picking up Kyle’s cues regarding everything else as well.

Kyle is a contradiction in terms. Tall, professionally successful, and a great catch due to his friendly and compassionate nature, he was raised by conservative parents in a small town. To get away from the stifling atmosphere he managed to “escape” to New York City, but he hasn’t really had time to focus on anything other than becoming an ER doctor. All that changes when he runs into Joseph, and he begins a journey of discovery that has him experience new things. The scene where he stands up to his mother was amazing and brought tears to my eyes. Go Kyle!

If you like unusual romances, if you enjoy a bit (okay, a lot) of humor in your love stories, and if you’re looking for a read that is as meaningful as it is funny and hot, then you will probably like this novel. I definitely loved it and look forward to reading more from this author.


NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review.
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