Will's a farmer, Scott plays hockey for the NHL and Casey's a small town sheriff or at least he was until he lost the election, what do these 3 men have in common you might wonder...well they're in love of course...with each other. But you all knew that from 'Chanages Coming Down' the first book in this duology, right?

 

Here in 'Changes Going On' we pick-up where things left off...Will, Scott and Casey are dealing with the aftermath of Scott coming out to the world and in the middle of it all Casey gets a call that pulls him back to law enforcement and away from his men...that's right there's murder afoot and the town that tossed him aside for a shinier sheriff now wants him to come back and find out who shot the sheriff? and somehow one murder turns into two and there seems to be a few young members of the LGBTQ community who are at risk and in need of someone to watch over them...enter Will with a little help from his hockey player.

 

It's going to take all 3 of these men working together to solve a murder, keep the kids safe and keep their love strong but that's ok because these men are up to the task.

 

I've enjoyed both of the books in this duology, but this one really nailed it for me. While there was more than just one thing going on in this story at any given time the author wove things together like a fine tapestry and always at the center of it was Will, Casey, Scott and the love they held for one another.

 

Like any book this one held the good...the bad and the ugly with thankfully more good than bad or ugly. I think one of my worst niggles was Scott's mom. For all her professing to love her son and want him to be happy, I just never quite felt it. To me it always felt like she wanted to cut Will out of things and that bothered the hell out of me. Will is this sweet, gentle soul who's had more than enough crap come his way in life and making Casey and Scott happy means the world to him and her making him feel not just insignificant but unwelcome in his own home...not cool Casey's mom...totally not cool. So I'm sorry even though she seemed to have been coming around by the time she returned home. When it comes to being a good mom...she's got some work to do.

 

As for Casey's mom who also popped by for a visit...that woman is pretty epic in my books...not perfect but she's definitely well on the road to fixing things and she's epic and a bit larger than life in her own right.

 

"Changes Going On" also brought some new secondary characters into play who added more than a little interest to the story there was Rusty and Kris who came on as ranch hands and then there was the appearance of a few of Scott's teammates along with the return of some of Casey's former deputies to help him solve the murders.

 

I really liked all three of these men at the end of the first book but I have say at the end of this one I think Will owns a little bit more of my heart than Casey and Scott...not much but he's just too sweet and gentle of a soul not to stand out. 

 

"Changes Going On" was a busy story with a fair bit going on which definitely kept the reader on their toes and while we were given a bit of a rest part way into the story it was nice to have that time to catch up with what I thought I knew and file things away in my brain for future reference before jumping back into the action the plot one again took off on a race to the finish line.

 

I know this is suppose to be the end of the road for this story but for my part I'd love to see what's happening with these men at a future date and find out if Casey might run for Sheriff at some point in time and how Scott's NHL career is doing and what's happening on the farm with Will and his efforts to pay it forward to kids in need of a little kindness.

 

We started with "Changes Going Down" and now things have wrapped up with "Changes Going On" but I truly hope that one day we'll find out about the "Changes to Come"...but that's me hoping and dreaming again for just a little more.

 

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A copy of "Changes Going On" was graciously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

I know we've all heard that joke but in this case it's not a joke but the beginning of a new series by Kaje Harper...but...before I get into my review...

 

I'm going to tell you a quick story that sort of relates to this book...

You see Scott Edison, our hockey player is playing for the Toronto Marlies and he's working really hard to achieve the dream...every little boy who has every laced on a pair of skates and held a hockey stick has probably had this dream. Scott's waiting for that day when he gets his big break and is called up to play in the NHL and not just for any team...nope, Scott's dream is to play for the Toronto Maple Leafs and now for my little sidebar story...

 

I was actually going to write this review yesterday but as is often the case fact turned out to be stranger than fiction when the Leafs played the Carolina Hurricanes and it happened that both of the Hurricanes goalies came up injured so apparently in a situation like this the team can draw on pretty much anyone to fill the position and that's what Carolina did they called up the zamboni driver to be their goalie and not just any zamboni driver nope, since it was a hometown game for the Leafs they used their zamboni driver and as I'm sure most hockey fans already know...the Leafs lost...final score 6-3 for Carolina and now that the laughter has died down I'm going to try and get serious about my review. Sorry, I just needed to share this because...for years now people have said that the Leafts are jinxed and after this I think they might be right but also...Scott you seriously need to reconsider your life choices. 

 

Ok, enough of the sidebar stuff let's talk about what truly matters here...this book. I'm a fan of Kaje Harper. I adore her series 'The Rebuilding Years' I've read the e-books and loved it so much I have the audiobooks as well which made the decision to read 'Changes Coming Down' pretty much a no-brainer for me. 

 

Casey's a sheriff, Will's a cowboy and Scott plays hockey (as I've mentioned) so honestly each of these men have cause to want to stay 'in the closet'. It's not right and it's not how the world should be but it is how the world is in far to many places and while I'm not a fan of staying in the closet and I can't say that 'it worked' for me in this case what I will say is that it suited the situation and the dynamics for want of a more practical way to express things. 

 

In spite of the fact that the relationship between these three worked and I liked the story I was really hoping that they'd give me more feelz than what I got. Which isn't to say that I won't read the next book because I definitely want to read the next book. There are questions to be answered still and our threesome is definitely in the midst of some life changing events and while I may not be 'in love' with them yet. There's some very strong like going on for my part and I'm curious to find out how things turn out for them and what else life has in store for them as a trio and as individuals.

 

Ms Harper had a fair bit to lay out here with the relationship dynamics, background for the MCs individually and as a threesome/thruple/menage/trio/traid whatever name you choose to give them and then there's each man's story as it pertains to them but also as it effects the relationship and for me it was nicely done.

 

Situations were well represented and clear and not to downplay it but there's also a bit of a mystery going on here and in spite of the fact that it was maybe a bit obvious as to the why and who of it, I really didn't find myself disappointed over it since the mystery part of things never felt to me like it was a priority in the story but more like a secondary aspect that helped to facilitate everything else.

 

'Changes Coming Down' is a solid beginning to a new series by Kaje Harper and I honestly can't wait to find out what the changes will be? Here's hoping that the next book is in the works.

 

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An ARC of 'Changes Coming Down' was graciously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

and to all a good night by kaje harper
This book starts out with Mac and Tony and it's near Christmas and this year if Tony doesn't show up in FL at his moms for the holiday she will come find him.
She knows nothing of his love for Mac. We learn of the cases at the homicide dept that Mac is handling.
The cases and leads to solving them are discussed and things fall into place.
They are able to talk every day but try to keep busy while apart from one another.
What I really like about this book as this is not my genre is that the sex scenes are not explicit and are just mentioned-no details.
Looked for more from this author but again it's not my genre but appreciate the style of writing and I enjoyed the book.

 

I would love to know more about pretty much everyone in this book (other than Lyon and Xen). More about Tobin and the king. More about that annoying captain, who drove Lyon crazy in the second part of the story. There is So. Much! Loved it.

Reviewed for Sinfully.

Donnie isn’t sure of the reaction he is going to get when he stops by his hometown in North Dakota after having done a six year prison term for a car accident that killed a man and injured his best friend and lover Adam, as well as Adam’s older brother. Donnie hasn’t kept in contact with anyone, ignoring all the family’s attempts at contact, and he has now been out of prison for six months. Donnie just needs to know that Adam is okay and then he can continue his journey to California to start his new life.

Reactions to Donnie’s return are mixed, but not necessarily for the reasons he thinks. The one thing that hasn’t changed is Adam’s effect on Donnie. When Adam asks him to stay for a while and help out at the family store, Donnie can’t refuse. Nate, who now runs the store isn’t happy at all about Donnie’s return and makes it very clear. Adam’s father isn’t as disapproving, but things are pretty uncomfortable. A lot has changed, but a lot has remained the same and even though Donnie doesn’t plan to stay, he knows it’s not going to be easy to leave again.

I wasn’t sure how this would go, so I prepared for some major angst. What I got instead was a quiet, but emotional homecoming story. It’s not just Donnie that has to deal with his past and reconcile the person he was with the person he is now. Everyone has gone through changes in the past six years and everyone has their own mistakes to acknowledge. The one thing that hasn’t fundamentally changed is the love between Donnie and Adam and the sense of family between Donnie and the Lindbergs.

Adam realizes that his love hasn’t changed, but that they aren’t the kids they used to be. He knows he needs to let Donnie decide whether he will stay or go and he wants to do his best not to pressure him. I enjoyed Adam and Donnie becoming friends again, getting used to being around each other and sharing some of what the last six years were like. It’s obvious Donnie’s time in prison wasn’t easy and has changed the way he sees himself, but it has only made Adam see him as a stronger person than ever before. As Donnie finds his place in the world again, Adam’s brother Nate and their father also have to do some of their own readjusting.

This holiday story struck a wonderful balance between the emotion of reconciliation (without getting heavily angsty) and the romance of Adam and Donnie finding their way together again. Whether as friends or lovers, their connection comes through beautifully. There were one or two characters that showed up early that I expected to play a bit more in the plot then disappeared, including the sheriff, but other than that, I really enjoyed this second-chance Christmas story and highly recommend it.