Book Reviews

Book Blurb

Not even his mother’s funeral can convince self-proclaimed party boy Zach Johnson to tone down his snark or think about settling down. He is who he is, and he refuses to change for anyone. When straight-laced, compassionate Aaron Paulson claims he’s falling for him, Zach is certain Aaron sees him as another project, one more lost soul for the idealistic Aaron to save. But Zach doesn’t need to be fixed and he refuses to be with someone who sees him as broken.

Patience is one of Aaron’s many virtues. He has waited years for a man who can share his heart and complete his life and he insists Zach is the one. Pride, fear, and old hurts wither in the wake of Aaron’s adoring loyalty, and as Zach reevaluates his perceptions of love and family, he finds himself tempted to believe in the impossible: a happily-ever-after.

NOTE: This book was previously published by Dreamspinner Press in March 2011.

 

Book Review

"I was driven out of my family for being gay, and I was going to make damn sure they didn't think they had succeeded in causing me to question myself or to hate who I am. I was going to walk in there confident and proud - and as gay-looking as I could possibly make myself. That way, there could be no question in their minds that I was living my life on my terms. And that I wasn't ashamed, even if they were."

What a first impression of Zach. In this second book in Cardeno C.'s 'Home' series, Zach is a very angry and hurt young man, although I doubt he would admit to either emotion. Since he left home when they emotionally abandoned him for being gay, he doesn't believe in relationships, he doesn't kiss - that's too intimate, he wants nothing to do with his home town, he barely keeps in touch with his brother, he is OUT and PROUD and will take offense at any little slight he imagines. It wasn't  too difficult to get a picture in my head of Zach, even though I empathized with the home life he endured after his older brother, Dean, went to college. Coming home for his mother's funeral, Zach meets Aaron, Dean's best friend, and Zach is immediately attracted and simultaneously disgusted with himself. He doesn't lust after straight guys. When he discovers Aaron is gay, that opens a whole new set of problems, since Zach feels something and he sure doesn't want to. "But with Aaron....I did want more. I could feel it. It scared me, terrified me. But I couldn't walk away from it. I couldn't walk away from him."

I'll admit, Aaron made me a little nervous, too. Nobody can be that perfect, right? He's a veterinarian who went to school with Zach's sister-in-law, Kim, moved to town just a year ago, and between work, his volunteer work at a gay rights organization, and all the time spent with Zach's nephews, Aaron hasn't really made a lot of friends. He lives a quiet life, he doesn't drink and he doesn't sleep around. Yep. He made me just as nervous as he made Zach. I mean, come on, there's got to be something wrong with him? "The guy was so perfect he didn't seem real. No one is that selfless, that nice. And even if he was real, what on earth would he want with me? Selfless and nice were not words anyone would use to describe me. Shallow and self-absorbed, yeah. Promiscuous and fun, check." I have to say, though, I would have fallen in love with Aaron within the space of a few hours, too.

It was so beautiful to watch Zach as he realized that Aaron needed him in so many ways. No one has ever taken care of Aaron, but Zach can. Zach can be that one person that gives back to Aaron as much as he gives to Zach. Watching them find and make their own family was such fun for me, particularly when Zach realized living in L.A. and having his career as a chef meant nothing compared to moving home and sharing a business with Aaron. Thank you, Cardeno, for another insanely wonderful story that reminded me of the important things in life. (Oh, and thank you for setting up the next couple's story ~ I can't wait!)

 

 

 

 

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Additional Information

Format	ebook
Length	Novel, 94000 words
Heat Level
Publication Date	07-February-2015
Price	$4.99 ebook
Buy Link	http://www.cardenoc.com/hecompletesme.php