Let me tell you that this book is full of emotion. I could not put it down and was so sorry when it ended.
Archer is a man who carries a lot of baggage with him from his past. Ryan has strengths that Archer needs but will he make difficult decisions that are right for himself and also for Archer?
This book does have an HEA (it is a romance, after all, and that is a requirement), but the rocky road to getting there is difficult for both men, their families, and ultimately, the reader. I read this quickly and then sat and thought about it for a while, something akin to a book hangover. A wonderful book, one I recommend and will read again.

DNF’d at Chapter Six

I picked this one for the moving storyline the blurb offered. It hints at so much going on beyond a simple romance and I love complex stories. And I was right on the money. This one starts in a dark, sad place and it continues there only slowly hinting at blue skies in the distant part of the book.

Archie Noble grew up hard and fast from having a drug-addicted mother and then life on the Cree Reservation. He got out and was determined to get as far as possible from his roots. The only thing tying him to his past was his little sister. Margie would have better than he did if he could help it. But now Margie and her husband are gone and she leaves self-absorbed shallow living Archie custody of her two young children.

Ryan grieves the loss of the woman who was like a sister to him. He will be there for the two little ones even if dealing with their uncle is more than difficult. Ryan has no common ground with this other man even if they are both gay. Ryan wants a husband and family. He’s a nurturer and loves his job teaching small children while Archie doesn’t believe in long term relationships, love or family though he’d better figure the last one out quickly.

And now you’re wondering why I set this one aside, right? Yeah, this was a book that pulled me in from the beginning. Archie’s early story came first and that was a good thing or his present day behavior would have had me slapping the book closed sooner than I did. There are interesting dynamics and friction caused by how these two guys perceive each other and how their pasts shaped them. I loved all that. And I truly wanted happy things for the kids and the men.

I stopped because I kept setting it aside. I was distracted and couldn’t bring myself to read on. I’ll save this one for later. Or not. No promises. It’s a mood thing and not an aversion to the writing or the characters, I think. Mood readers will get where I’m coming from. So I’ll put a tag on the page and let it sit some more. But it’s also possible that there is a reason that it’s not grabbing me. This one has sat on my shelf for a while.

This is an older release so there are plenty of reviews to help you get a feel for the book to see if you’d like it so check those out. I think the target audience will be m/m Contemporary Romance fans who like a more challenging romance.

My thanks to Riptide for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
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I really tried to like this one. It was a its not you its me type of book. 'So this was a DNF for me