Book Reviews

Book Blurb

Trent Sutton doesn’t ‘do’ monogamy. He spends his days on the road in his truck, and his nights hooking up with anyone who catches his eye. Casual sex, no strings – Trent likes his life just the way it is. He sees what his friend Connor has, but he’s just not interested. Until he meets Aaron, who gets under his skin, into his head, and finally to the spot no one has reached in a long time – Trent’s heart.

Aaron Calder doesn’t ‘do’ casual. After a few health scares and a couple of traumatic relationships, he’s decided that love – and sex – are not for him. He concentrates on his charity fundraising and ignores the offers that come his way. Until he meets Trent, a man whose dictionary does not contain the word ‘monogamous’. He shuts down Trent’s advances and tries to keep away from Costello’s, the gay bar where they first met.

Except Trent is proving hard to resist….

Book Review

Each book of the ‘Lightning Tales’ series has been emotional, touching, and a joy to read; this fourth book is no exception. But Aaron and Trent’s story goes a step further because they are such complicated, multilayered men. They both have painful pasts to overcome, and their relationship slowly builds from a very shaky start. Aaron has issues with allowing himself to fall in love for fear of getting his heart broken yet again, and Trent has massive commitment issues for reasons that only slowly emerge. Seeing these two men deal with their pasts, their fears, and each other was fascinating and very moving.
 
Trent seems to have his life in order: his job is going well and he is financially secure, he has enough hot men he can hook up with to keep him entertained, and the few real friends he has provide companionship when he needs it. When he runs into Aaron in a gay bar all of that changes. Trent comes on to him, wanting to hook up as usual, but Aaron turns him down. Trent is not used to that, and when they meet again, they start to really communicate. One thing leads to another and soon Trent begins to question his principles.

Aaron is not into casual anything. In fact he has decided that relationships are not for him, sex is not worth the trouble, and he is better off alone. He has been in therapy for years because he wants a life that is a little less lonely, but it is hard work. When he finally manages to set foot in a gay bar and gets propositioned by Trent, he is flustered. When he sees Trent again and they talk, he is interested enough to keep the conversation going.

Both Aaron and Trent have lots to learn about themselves and what they want out of a relationship. After the initial aborted hookup they figure they are better off as friends, but there is too much chemistry between them for that to be a permanent situation. Their slow advances and retreats are the beginning of a beautiful courtship, and they slip into more without even noticing what is going on. Based on their pasts, I think this “sneaking up” on each other is probably the only way this could have worked. It was fascinating to watch and wonderfully satisfying.

If you like friends-to-lovers stories with a twist, if slow-burn romances are your thing, and if you’re looking for a read full of emotional struggles, courage in the face of personal demons, and lots of tender moments, then you will probably like this novel as much as I do.

 

 

 

 

DISCLAIMER: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. This book has been provided by the author for the purpose of a review.

Additional Information

Format	ebook
Length	Novel, 114 pages/50000 words
Heat Level
Publication Date	07-July-2016
Price	$3.99 ebook
Buy Link	https://www.amazon.com/Love-Me-Lightning-Tales-Book-ebook/dp/B01I496BII