Book Reviews

Book Blurb

Theodore inherited Starflowers. The flower shop gives Theodore’s life meaning after a depressing breakup. Focusing on work is easy when he’s absolutely sure there’s no space for a man in his life. If he did allow for a boyfriend, it would be someone boring and everyday. Someone unlike the exotic Attila. He’d have a cubicle job, wear a cheap suit, and drive a Kia.

Sam Grey is a professional gambler who got caught counting cards one too many times, and consequences can be severe. He got beaten up, robbed, injured, and ends up homeless in Pittsburgh, living out of his Porsche. His temporary job helping with the Valentine’s Day craze makes him yearn not only for the perky florist, but for a slower, friendlier way of life. When the shop runs into financial trouble, Sam’s dangerous and exotic skills might be just the thing to help Theodore and show him he’s not just a deadbeat moocher who’s “just passing through.”

 

Book Review

"The end of fear is where we begin the moment we decided to let love in. There's nothing we can do about the things we have to do without. The only way to feel again is let love in." ~  Goo Goo Dolls

Before you make any choice, be certain that you are prepared to deal with the consequences. Theodore left his ex-boyfriend, Attila, in a huff, thinking Attila loved him so much he would come after him. Theo was wrong. Attila never came, leaving Theo heartbroken and devastated. He mourned the loss for a long time, swearing that he'd never suffer the pain and humiliation that came with it ever again. However, when Sam Grey comes into town, it becomes harder and harder to hold on to that conviction.

Sam is the black sheep of his well-to-do family. He dropped out of college and set out on his own, determined to be the best gambler he could possibly be. Sam even creates another persona, Samantha, who can still gamble at places where Sam has worn out his welcome. Samantha originates out of necessity, but Sam soon learns to find comfort in the silky clothing and smooth skin, finding out that he likes dressing as a woman, at least sometimes, and he's a very convincing woman. After a particularly bad mugging, Sam stops for a while in Pittsburgh, to wait until his new credentials come in the mail. Sam is tired of the ups and downs of his nomadic lifestyle and begins to question whether he wants to continue it or not. Needing a job, he wanders into Starflowers, a small florist shop with a Help Wanted sign in the window.

After considering the tall, lean man with the cowboy boots and black leather jacket, Ricky and Theo are desperate, so they hire him. Theo instantly feels the attraction to Sam and quickly repeats his mantra: “I'm not boyfriend material.” Sam answers with: “I'm just passing through.” Even at that point, they both know that getting together is inevitable. When Theo finds that Sam has no money and no place to go, he invites him to stay and Sam accepts. Theo continues to hold on to the pain Attila caused him and keeps Sam at arm’s length, emotionally at least. In bed it is a different story. Sam is confused by Theo's mixed signals, but senses that a wrong move will make Theo go flying off in the wrong direction. Sam tempers himself and his reactions, but he's secretly hoping that Theo will forget his past experience with love and give him a chance.

This is my favorite book of the ‘Steel City’ series. Theo and Sam are so well presented that I truly felt like they were people I would like to know instead of just characters in a book. Sam is smart, savvy, exotic, and definitely unique. He may look tough but underneath he has a heart of gold. Sam goes above and beyond helping Theo and his family, endearing himself to them. Theo is understandably cautious, but he's also swishy, cute, sexy, bossy, and stubborn. He almost lets his past destroy what he has in the present. Fortunately, Theo realizes that loving Sam not only eases the pain of losing Attila but, in fact, it is better than anything he has ever had before. I believe fans of the series will love this story. New readers can read it without having read the rest of the series, although some of the background will be missing. Thanks, Kate! I loved meeting Sam and learning more about Theo.

 

 

 

 

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Additional Information

Format	ebook
Length	Novel, 334 pages/88000 words
Heat Level
Publication Date	12-February-2016
Price	$4.99 ebook
Buy Link	https://www.amazon.com/Lucky-Starflowers-Kate-Pavelle-ebook/dp/B01BQL3PTO