5 Stars!

Jesse and Hunter, a budding rockstar and a pediatrician respectively, two people who should never have crossed paths meet on a train from Montreal to Toronto. The two hit it off right away and chat for the entire five-hour trip, but they head off to their separate lives once they step off the train.

They meet again when Hunter contacts Jesse whose band, Jesse and the Joyride, has gained much notoriety and popularity over the past two years since they first met on the train, and asks him to visit one of his sick patients in the hospital, who is a big fan of Jesse and his band.

Jesse agrees and after that initial visit he continues to come back and visit the kids in the hospital, as well as Hunter and soon he and Hunter become very close friends, something neither of them has ever really had before in their lives.

I absolutely LOVED this book and I adored both Hunter and Jesse, they were such caring and sweet guys and they fit perfectly together, whether in friendship or as a couple. They really cared about their families and friends/bandmates and in Hunter’s case, his patients. The author really took her time to develop both Jesse and Hunter as well as their relationship. Not only did they get to know each other, but I really got to know them, as well.

This is an extremely slow burn, like create another word for greater than slow burn story, and usually (for me, anyway) this would have been frustrating and perhaps annoying, but honestly, as the pages of the story and the months of friendship between Hunter and Jesse slip by, I was never once bored or thinking of skimming ahead. This story truly held me captivated and I didn’t want it to end, in fact, I messaged my co-blogger at about the 68% mark and told her “I’m only at 68%, but I’m not ready for it to end.” I almost wanted to set the book aside or read slower to savor the story, but I couldn’t put it down and I was right, because as perfect as the ending was, I really wasn’t ready to say goodbye to Hunter and Jesse.

The unresolved sexual tension and chemistry between Hunter and Jesse was off the charts and once they finally, FINALLY, gave into and acted on their feelings, it was sweet and passionate and absolutely perfect.

Okay, I’m gonna stop babbling now and just say, I’m in awe of the fact that this is apparently this author's debut MM novel. It was well-written and enjoyable and I can’t recommend enough that you go one click this book, you won’t regret it. I’m really hoping this isn’t the author's final endeavor into this genre, because I can’t wait for more! Go one-click it! What are you waiting for?!

*copy provided by author/publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, much more than I thought I would based on the description. This was my first Jenny Holiday read, but definitely not my last. One thing I liked the most is that this book took place over several years, so it was not an unrealistic 'quick love' story like I typically read. It seemed genuine and had everything that makes a great book - humor, heartache, drama, love, great supporting characters, etc.

Jesse Jamison is a rock star, in all ways, but one day he takes things too long and he gets caught cheating on his girl and loses his manager over the bad PR. Only he didn't cheat on his girlfriend with another woman, but rather a man. He's closeted bisexual though, so when his new manager tells him that he has to keep his nose clean, stop his partying ways and keep in the closet, he goes for it.

Jesse meets Hunter Wyatt on a train after the 'cheating' photo is leaked (and before he gets a new manager) and Hunter quickly helps him get over all of it by lending an ear and being a drinking buddy. Jesse is attracted to Hunter, but he knows he can't act on it. They exchange contact info and that's the end of it for 2 years.

Fast forward 2 years and Doctor Hunter Wyatt has emailed Jesse to ask him to visit a sick patient in the hospital. Jesse agrees and this starts what turns out to be a great friendship between Jesse and Hunter. It was really sweet to see how they interacted, but it was also very obvious that there was some sexual tension between them at certain times. Eventually, they do hook up, but that's not the end of the story. Jesse does something stupid, Hunter does something stupid (but brave) and we're left heartbroken (I certainly had tears in my eyes).

They get their HEA, but it's not without years of friendship, self-realization, and determination to make things work in an industry where it's not widely accepted. Jesse won my heart with his gesture to Hunter - that was probably the best moment of the book and I loved everything about it. Of course, he also won me over when he kept visiting the hospital even though he didn't have to and did so without press attention.

I loved Hunter. He knew what he wanted out of a relationship and wasn't willing to settle for someone who was closeted again. I get why he left town, but he suffered when he returned and I felt terrible for him. I'm just glad Jesse was there for him to help him cope.

Oh and what about Billy (a band member) in this book? That guy was hilarious! I really wish the rest of the band members would get their own books since they were all unique and lovable characters for different reasons.

Disclaimer: I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Good, The Bad, and Everything In Between

The Good. Where do I start? Ok, so for argument’s sake,let’s go for the basic fantasy romance catnip. just take your flirtiest and dirtiest rocker boy fantasy, pair him up with your sexy AF Silver Fox kind of doctor type. Can you picture it? I mean, jeezus. The mental images alone *bites knuckle*....

But Ms. Holiday didn’t just depend on their physical connection and excellent sexual tension to keep me reading, oh no. She gave me some solid character work, good dialogue, some very touching emotional moments, and you’ll see why I was in romance novel heaven.

Ms. Holiday really drew a crystal clear picture of these two men and their personalities and the Firsts (meet, kiss, love scene), were excellent. They sold the love story to me and I wanted more, more, more. I loved that their friendship was strong and that their connection was clear as a bell in each of their scenes. There was a good balance of internal monologues and external dialogue to keep the story moving.

The Bad and Everything in Between. There’s nothing that I thought was bad about this tale. Even when things inevitably fall apart, Ms. Holiday took the time and care to keep the reader in both of Jesse and Hunter’s heads so you knew their feelings, even if their actions were abrupt and sometimes a bit disappointing. It made sense and I could believe their struggles with those choices.

If there was one thing that I didn’t adore perhaps, is the subplot involving Jesse’s sister, since it wasn’t fleshed out much beyond what was absolutely necessary for this romance, and there are some things, particularly involving the jackass ex husband, that you can telegraph from a mile away. Jesse and Hunter’s time apart was more focused on Jesse than Hunter, and frankly I adored Hunter, so I wanted more though I understood that those scenes had the potential to take this story in an entirely darker path and very late in the game. Also, there’s some abrupt turns and big passages of time that do allow the story not to feel too rushed, but again, I wanted more because I’m a greedy, greedy reader. *shrugs* hey, it’s how I roll.


The Bottom Line 4.5 stars
I loved Jesse and Hunter. Still thinking about them the next day, and I want more in that ‘verse with Jesse’s band. Ms. Holiday continues to impress me and I’m eager to see what comes next. If you’re in the mood for some m/m rocker romance, I would recommend this.

Infamous, Jenny Holiday

Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews

Genre:  Romance, LBGTQIA

I really enjoyed this read, I love romances which have the issue of fame to contend with.
It has to be hard, trying to meet someone when the media are out to catch every possible hint of scandal, and happy to make up what isn't happening, to put a spin on an innocent photo.

Jesse got caught in just that when his band was starting out, and promised their new manager he'd take more care in future.
The band has risen to heights they only dreamed of since then and Jesse has done everything his manager asked, dated whoever he was told, made up and broken up on demand.
Its a shallow life though, he doesn't think he's unhappy, thinks he has what he dreamed of until he meets Hunter....

Hunter has just come out of a relationship where he had to play room-mate not partner to his lover. He finally realised that contrary to what was promised when they met, that's all he'll ever be. He's heartbroken but determined not to live in someone's shadow, not to hide who he is.

He and Jesse get closer through his work and Jesse's charity meetings at the hospital, and a friendship develops. Hunter thinks Jesse is straight, but one night...well, leads to some changes. He tells Jesse though he's not hiding who he is, not ever again.
Jesse is stuck, be with the man he's come to love and lose his career, let his bandmates down or keep his career and lose Hunter.
Tough one and the way it played out was wonderful. No two page drama but chapters of it, lots of angst, lots of wondering”can they? Will they? How can...?” and I adore books that make me feel like that.

Stars: Five, great read, real situation, not a one plot story but one with some real substance to it.

ARC supplied for review purposes by Netgalley and Publishers