Title: Finding Their Way
Series: Restoration, Book 2
Author: A.M. Arthur
Genre: Contemporary Romance, M/M Romance
Sensuality Rating: Erotic
Source: review copy provided by publisher
Published: July 20, 2015 by Carina Press
Thanks to an abusive father and a string of bad relationships, Riley McCage learned the hard way that people are not kind without a reason. Now, after landing a job at popular gay bar Pot O Gold, Riley is on the right track--until the night Boxer finds him drunk and drugged in the back room of an exclusive sex party.
Donald "Boxer" Boxwood wasn't looking for anything beyond some casual kink until he peeled Riley off the floor and gave him a safe place to stay. But there's something compelling about the guy crashing on his couch, and the two forge an instant friendship that eases into unmistakable attraction. Despite Riley's hesitancy, Boxer knows one thing to be true: he needs Riley in his life.
Riley risked everything to run away and build a new life for himself, and his secrets aren't something he'd ever wish upon his kind, gentle new friend. But when the past comes to call, he'll have no choice but to put his trust in Boxer…and believe people can change enough to deserve a second chance.
Reviewed by: J9 and Crissy
J9: I loved book one of this series (J9’s review) so was excited to read Finding Their Way. The group of friends that this series follows are just wonderful as they’ve built a family of sorts together.
Crissy: I’m a huge fan of this author and this series so far. I like the breakaway from the sister series and how the author has made this one a separate entity in itself.
As for the story, I really like how the first story is incorporated into this book. This story begins around the time Tag is stabbed in book one. I also enjoyed the tie-in with those events to Riley and Boxer.
J9: Let’s start with characters. What did you think of Riley and Boxer?
Crissy: I adored Riley and Boxer. Mostly I liked that they were damaged goods but not completely broken. Things happened to them – especially Riley – that might have weakened lesser men, but not Riley or Boxer. They had their issues but they didn’t let those issues own them.
I have a thing for Boxer’s need to save strays. It kind of defined him. Louis, Riley, Izzie, Elliot, Lenny – there is a pattern and long history of him saving someone then making them family. Where it could be an issue, I think Boxer made it more, made it mean something to him and to each of his strays.
J9: I love that Riley and Boxer are just two ordinary men trying to build a life. They’re not rich lawyers sipping Dom outta fluted glasses, but working class men taking their sick dog to the vet and wondering how they’d pay the bill.
Riley was definitely young for my taste but his years of hard living on his own gave him a maturity that I really appreciated. Boxer also had quite a family history that instead of making him a cynic, like Riley, made him a caretaker of those he loves.
So what did you think of the romance? For me, these two characters just clicked. I could see their pull toward each other, both emotionally and sexually. I loved how they communicated. For instance, when Riley hears from his fellow bartender that Boxer has “rescued” other men, he straight up asks Boxer. The way these two communicate was very real to me and I loved that.
Crissy: Ohmigod! I loved their romance. The fact that they were more of acquaintances at the beginning and that evolved into a friendship with definite attraction then into a relationship, it is fabulous. Their growth and journey – emotionally and individually – is beautiful.
J9: Okay, let’s talk about the sex! I admit here that I’m a vanilla sex reader. I don’t love D/s or much kink in my romance but Riley and Boxer were HAWT! It was fascinating to watch these two dance around their attraction, but also the vulnerability of them asking each other for what they want sexually.
Crissy: Jesus. These guys are beyond hot. I’m an all-over-the-board reader when it comes to sex. I love kink and I love dominance. The thing is so many times in a D/s relationship the dominant is the larger partner and the sub the smaller. But in this story,
It is perfect for these guys.
J9: I also really enjoyed Boxer’s circle of friends that were introduced in book one of the series. Their friend Elliot better have a HEA in book three!
Crissy: Ell breaks my heart in so many ways. I want so much for him to get everything that life has for him, but I have a little bit of a fear that it’s only going to get worse before it gets better. Although, given this author’s track record and my love of this series, the endgame is going to be so delicious.
J9: So was there anything you didn’t like about this book? I thought the mystery part would be a tad forced but it worked really well for me. I don’t want to spoil it but how Riley’s past finds resolution felt very organic to me, like that’s really how someone in real life would handle a situation like that.
Crissy: I won’t say that I didn’t like it, but that same mystery aspect you’re talking about. It’s easily placed. And while I figured it out, I feel that the way the author used it and eventually resolved it was nice. Too many times in this genre, parents are vilified, but in this story I felt like there was redemption and beauty and forgiveness where wrong-doings had once been made.
J9: While I won’t re-read this book, it was an above average read that I can really recommend to MM readers.
Crissy: I adored this book, quite possibly more than I liked the first. While there are mystery aspects in this story, I felt the relationship and character growth is what kept me glued to the pages. It’s definitely a recommended read. I’m dying to see what’s next.
J9 and Crissy’s Rating:
0 COMMENTS:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.