Book Reviews

Book Blurb

Is it better to keep some secrets locked away?

Matt thought his life was perfect, but he learns there’s no such thing when the man he planned to marry breaks his heart and leaves him holding the pieces. Needing to escape and lick his wounds, Matt heads to New England to spend time on his brother’s lobster boat. A one-night stand proves to him that empty sex does nothing to mend old hurt, and neither does running away.

So when Matt’s best friend, Luke, a firefighter, is seriously injured, Matt steps up, even if it means facing bigotry and ignorance. Luke has been hiding his feelings from Matt all their lives, and revealing them after so many years won’t make life easier for either of them. But nothing worth having ever comes easily….

NOTE: This book was previously published by Amber Allure in March 2013.

Book Review

The meaning of 'Three Little Words' can be profound, and speaking them or not speaking them can change entire lives. At the very least, they can determine someone's happiness or plunge them into utter desperation. Both main characters in this story have some truths to face, but it is mainly Matt who needs to finally be honest with himself and figure out how to say those 'three little words' to the man he has loved for a very long time. The emotions Matt goes through before he finally gets there are heart-wrenching, and I was glued to the pages as I silently cheered him on to get himself together.

Matt has a problem. When he returns from one of his many trips for work, the lover he has lived with and intended to marry, has moved out and left him a rather impersonal letter informing him that he needs more. Matt is devastated. He loved Brandon deeply, and even wanted to marry him, yet, as the days pass and he tries to come to grips with the new situation, he slowly begins to realize that not all was as it should have been. There is another man, his best friend Luke, whom he loves more deeply, but he has never dared to admit it, not even to himself. On top of which Luke has never come out, fearing his super-conservative parents' reaction. And although they kiss before Matt runs away to spend time with his brother, Matt isn’t ready to risk his one true friendship.

Yes, Matt is confused. His thoughts and actions as he comes to terms with his situations do not run in a straight line, nor would they in real life. In the end, he does admit that he loves Luke, that he is the man he wants to spend the rest of his life with. But it is almost too late. Catastrophe strikes Luke, and Matt runs back home to help and support him. Even then he cannot get himself to utter the 'three little words' that will tell Luke how much he means to Matt. Even then there is more suffering to go through for Matt before he finally sees the whole truth.

This book is packed with drama, self-doubt on all sides, and pulled me in from the very start. Even now that I have finished the story, Matt and Luke are still with me, and I suspect they will be for a long time. Yes, they are flawed and didn’t always make the right decisions, but they are also utterly human and very likable because of it. If you like stories with characters that won’t let you go, if you enjoy reading about men trying to deal with the mistakes they made in the past, and if you're looking for a spellbinding, emotional read that packs quite a punch, give this novel a try. I'm pretty sure you'll find it as fascinating and ultimately rewarding as I did.

 

 

 

 

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

Additional Information

Format	ebook and print
Length	Novel, 200 pages/59896 words
Heat Level
Publication Date	26-August-2016
Price	$6.99 ebook, $14.99 paperback, $14.99 bundle
Buy Link	https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/books/three-little-words-by-allison-cassatta-7378-b