2.5 Stars

This is a well written story but it was a bit too slow for me. The author has written a story that includes people of colour and she did this so well and this aspect of the story was refreshing to read. I didn't mind the slow burning friends to lovers aspect of the story but I don't like the 'big misunderstanding' trope. So even though it is a pleasant read it just wasn't for me.

Lito has been living in Atlanta but he is given a promotion and moves to work for his employees in a different town. It goes without saying that the small town of Black Lake, Alabama is not like Atlanta at all. There are no gay clubs, few eating places or any other forms of entertainment. Lito wonders how he will survive in this small quiet town, but he has his dog with him and so he will find a way.

As Lito settles into his new home and job, he meets a fellow dog owner Dave and finds out that Dave runs a search and rescue volunteer group. Lito joins the group and gets to know everyone. He also gets to know Dave and their attraction is mutual.

The two men get gradually get closer to each other, negotiating differences to find something to hold onto. This is a story about two men who have come from two different worlds and how they find love in each other. Lito is a Latino coming from the big city and obviously gay. Dave is a white American, straight appearing, ex-army guy, who was born and bred in a small town and he is used to small town life.

The real challenge for the two of them is to explore what is possible. Is it possible for these two gay men to have a relationship which is meaningful and satisfying in this remote town, particularly with the demands that are placed on Lito by his job?

It is a nice gentle story with no high drama or unnecessary angst. I enjoyed that aspect of it but I just didn't feel drawn into the story. If you enjoy slow burning, friends to lovers stories then this one is definitely for you.

Copy provided by Kensington Books via Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Ruthie – ☆☆☆
3.5 stars

This is the second in the series but is a standalone with a similar theme.

I enjoyed this story, but did feel that it was somehow overly long. The pace was very slow, and at times the inner voice arguing with themselves about whether this was something serious or not went on for too long. For a relatively angst free plot, this indecision was at times frustrating and not news. The men were good together, and some reticence was to be expected, given both the location and their differences. I enjoyed the dog rescue elements, although again I didn't think that the repeated explanations about Lumpy and Woozy were necessary.

A story with an original backstory and plot, just maybe a little slow for my taste.


Sarah – ☆☆☆
3.5 stars

This is the story of a sweet romance between two interesting and likeable men. Lito and Dave meet in a pet store and get to know each other when Lito and his dog, Spot, join Dave’s search and rescue squad.

I enjoyed this more than the previous book in the series, but it is still a little bit too slow and a bit too cute for me. The search and rescue plot is interesting and I really liked learning about Lito’s job. Outside of his rescue work, Dave’s life is pretty bland, and he feels too old to still be so uncomfortable with his sexuality. Lito is a braver, more colourful character but his reactions are a little bit over the top and the miscommunication between Lito and Dave was overdone. There are a couple of steamy scenes in this story but overall it isn’t a terribly sexy romance.

This is a sweet rural romance. It is a simple and fairly predictable story. I didn’t feel much of an emotional connection to either Lito or Dave and I didn’t get very invested in their relationship.


Angie – ☆☆☆
This was a sweet romance and low on angst. To be honest, it was super slow and even the few steamy scenes couldn't pick this book up. There was a lot of inner monologue which drives me nuts, I like dialogue. Lito and Dave are good together, it was just too slow, I found myself putting it down and coming back to it, hoping I would get more into it.

Trigger warnings: casual homophobia, casual racism

After Worth Waiting For, I was prepared to read this book, the second in the series, with a box of tissues. Thankfully, it was a lot less emotionally wrenching than the first, though it was still delightfully angsty.

“’It’s different here.’ Painfully so. The not-rightness was hard to explain, but Lito tried anyway. ‘I’m the only man at work. Also the only non-white person, the only non-straight one, and the only one who’s ever lived within reasonable shopping distance of an IKEA. Everyone’s been nothing but nice, but it keeps feeling like the old ‘bless his heart’ kind of Southern nice, you know? Like they’re not sure what to make of the strange gay decorator so they’re just faking it.'”


Lito is out of the closet but struggling to find his place in rural Black Lake, Alabama after a promotion that required him to move from Atlanta. He’s worked his way from night clerk to head of design at a family chain of hotels, and as part of his promotion, he’s refreshing the chain’s Alabama location with local flavor. Dave is, well, just plain adorable. He’s the kind of person who signs his texts as if they were from him and his dogs. He’s lived in Black Lake all his life – except for his military tours, and works for the town doing maintenance, as well as helping run the local volunteer search and rescue team. When they meet for the first time, they’re both initially attracted to each other, so Dave invites Lito a practice for the SAR team he’s a part of. It takes time for them to realize the other is interested, and decide to pursue a relationship.

“Figured for my first time seeing your house it’d probably be a bit much for me to just show up at the door and be like ‘Wow, like your place, I brought a bottle of wine and another of lube, what’s for dinner?’”


At first, their relationship seemed more of the “only other single gay guy in the entire town”-type, but as they spend more time with each other, the chemistry built up. Unlike the previous book, both Lito and Dave are out, though they’ve both had vastly different experiences as gay men in the south. Lito’s family kicked him out as a teen when they found out he was gay, and part of the impetus behind his initial move from Miami to Atlanta was to get away from those memories. Dave’s family is much more supportive, the sort of big boisterous happy closeness that Lito remembers with regret and wishes he could have from his family. Lito’s also got some of that stereotypical gay fabulousness – the first time he meets Dave at a pet store, he’s wearing a tight pink shirt and rainbow earring. Dave, on the other hand, as a built, white ex-Army guy, easily passes as straight, to the point where some of his acquaintances forget he’s gay. If you can’t guess, it’s these differences, and their inability to reconcile them, that cause a rift in their relationship.

I especially enjoyed the volunteer search and rescue part. I have a soft spot for romance books with dogs, so this was right up my alley. I loved reading about the various training aspects – for both the people and dogs! – and also got a kick out of the school talk that Dave and Lito gave at Dave’s nephew’s school.

Overall, I enjoyed the book, and I’ll definitely be picking up the next in the series! If you’re interested in a sweet dog-filled romance, this book is for you!

I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Worth Searching For by Wendy Qualls
Heart of the South #2

Misfit –doubtless
Happy in his skin – definitely
Looking for love – debatable

Carlos “Lito” Apaza moves from Atlanta to small town Alabama with a pay raise and increased responsibility BUT he has no idea how or when he will make friends. As he walks through a pet shop in Black Lake he meets a tall manly drool-worthy male. They chat a bit and Dave Schmidt ends up asking Lito and his dog Spot to join the dog-rescue practice happening that week. Both men are attracted to one another but are not sure whether or not that attraction is reciprocated.

There is a slow build to their relationship that is sweet and at times steamy. Their experiences with family, friends and colleagues have varied but neither is “in the closet” and they really begin to care for one another. Well, as with all good romances, there is a problem that causes a rift and yet neither can get the other out of his mind. How they get back together is a delight to read that left me quite happy they managed to work things out.

The supporting characters – human and canine – made me wonder who might show up in a future romance in this series and there was more than one that I would like to know more about, that’s for sure!

This is my first book by this author but I will gladly read more as they are available.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books – Lyrical Shine for the ARC – this is my honest review

4-5 Stars

I’m glad I found this book on netgalley! This was such a sweet romance between Dave and Lito. And having dogs play such a big roll was an added bonus! I loved how Lito came back to Dave. It was sweet and swoon worthy. You can tell the struggled with their feelings for each other and they were scared of what it could become. Im glad they are together and happy again!