Few things make me as ragey as parents disowning their children for who they happen to love, or who they are attracted to. Few things make me as ragey as parents not giving their children the unconditional love they are owed.

 

So, when I opened this book and started reading about Dillon getting on a Greyhound bus the minute he gets his high school diploma, for reason of his asshole stepfather, I was pissed beyond measure and crying for this poor boy, whose entire childhood is marked by neglect, malnourishment and lack of love. I raged helplessly and impotently, and I cried hot tears, knowing that Dillon's fictional story is not so fictional at all for many, many children all over this country. 

 

But then Dillon gets off the bus in Omaha, and while he protects his heart as best as he knows how, he's not immune against Adam's charm and determination. Even though he tries.

 

The author did a fabulous job bringing across the pain and fear both Dillon and Adam experienced, even if their stories are not the same. I liked how Dillon keeps himself inside his protective shell, never having learned how to open up, and how Adam keeps trying to get inside this lonely boy's heart, how persistent and stubborn he is.

 

I really liked the writing in this book, and I was fully immersed in the story from the start. I loved the grandmother who becomes a grandma to Dillon as much as she is Adam's, and I loved the easy flow of the novel from beginning to end. 

 

As a side note, I don't usually pay much attention to covers, and they don't determine whether I'll read a book or not, but in the case of this book, it was unfortunate that it landed in my lap around the same time as another book with the same two young men on the cover. While this one only shows partial faces, it's still the same stock photo, and that startled me for a moment. 

 

Anyway, this was definitely worth my time, and it's worth yours as well. Give it a try. 

 

** I received a free copy of this book from the author. A positive review was not promised in return. **

This has been a nice enough story. I got good recommendation on it from a friend.

 

The story starts with Taylor and Alex breaking up. They both love each other but their relationship somehow doesn't really work. They keep fighting. I don't know what they were fighting about since it wasn't mentioned but I guess since they were both quite young I can get it (round 21-22 years old). Alex is the one to break the relationship not wanting to get to the point were they break up while hating each other. 

 

Alex moves to another city far away to keep away from Taylor and we continue the book 2 years later where the both of them try to make it work with someone else but right about that time something happens that make Alex come back. 

 

Naturally since the both of them miss each other and want each other it flows into the direction of returning to each other. Taylor is skeptic but Alex really want to make it up to Taylor. 

 

There were a few side characters - both Alex and Taylor's family, Taylor's friends and Alex's best friend. I thought that they weren't developed enough. The characters were quite flat. There was something more interesting about Taylor's guy (the one he started dating) but we didn't get enough details for the character to feel really substantial (since this one is the first in a series I guess either he or Alex's guy - or both! - will be in the next one so we'll get the story).

 

Both Taylor and Alex were really sweet but I felt they were to emotional for two guys.. can't really explain this one better..

 

So while the story was sweet and the return together was nicely done I felt that this story lacked in substance. This is Leighton's first book so I can understand the struggle to bring her best to us. I liked the writing and I liked how the story progressed so all in all it was an enjoyable read. Leighton published her second book quite recently so I'll give it a go as well. 

This month I have quite  a blend of books to read.

 

Harder (Caroline & West #2) 

by Robin York

This is the second (and last) book in the series, the first been Deeper which I absolutely LOVED! no surprise there! I loved everything Robin wrote in the pan name Ruthie Knox, so naturally I utterly fell in love with this one as well. Yeah, it's going to break my heart but I can't help myself, I really can't..

 

Marked by Midnight (Midnight Breed #11.5)

by Lara Adrian

Another short novella in a series I really enjoy. Can't wait for the full novel though so this one is a fair teaser ;)

 

Daylight Again (Hell or High Water #3)

by SE Jakes

I planned on reading this book in the previous month with two other novels in the world of Hell or High Water but didn't find the time. Hope it'll be as good as "Free Falling" which was really a pleasure to read!

 

The Siren (The Original Sinners #1)

The Angel (The Original Sinners #2)

The Prince (The Original Sinners #3)

The Mistress (The Original Sinners #4)

by Tiffany Reisz

I got a really good recommendation for this one and I postponed it FOREVER since I wasn't sure how I would feel about it, but after reading Beyond and loving it (though I though I wouldn't :P) I really want to give it a (fair!) chance.

 

Back to You

by Leighton Rose

Another one which came with an amazing recommendation! 

 

Need You Now (1001 Dark Nights)

by Lisa Renee Jones

Though I was disappointed with "Inside out" series I DID enjoy Lisa's other short stories. 

 

The Vampire Shrink (Kismet Knight, Ph.D., Vampire Psychologist #1)

by Lynda Hilburn

I read a great review of this one and really felt like giving it a go! Just recently I've realized it's actually a series... so we'll see how it goes.. 

 

Fatal Shadows (Adrian English #1)

A Dangerous Thing (Adrian English #2)

by Josh Lanyon

I've heard this one is a good MM series so I'm giving it a go. Didn't plan for the next books in the series since I have SO MUCH books to read so I'll see what I'll do with the rest of them if they're as great as I've heard. 

 

This month I think the "better" greetings will be - GOOD LUCK :)

 

 January Goals / January Recap

February Goals / February Recap

March Goals / March Recap

April Goals / April Recap

May Goals / May Recap

June Goals / June Recap

4.25 ~ Book Review by Caroline

This is a very easy read. There is very little angst, lots of sweetness and the odd mis-communication. Dillon and Adam suited each other from the very start. The only criticism I had was that their conversation came across as very ‘adult’ for a 2 such young people.

Dillon had the most miserable childhood neglected by his 2 parents who were more interested in drinking and partying. Luckily for him he was resilient and able to keep himself together until the day he turned 18, then he jumped on a bus and got the hell out...

Read more at Prism Book Alliance

Finding Home opens up with Dillon leaving his hometown of Chicago on his eighteenth birthday. He boards a Greyhound bus bound for Omaha and doesn’t look back. You’re immediately sympathetic to him and you want him to succeed in finding happiness in his new home.

Dillon and Adam meet somewhat by chance when Dillon rents a room at Adam’s grandmother’s extended stay motel. He, Adam, fills in whenever she needs his help covering the night shift, and it just so happens that he was there the day Dillon walked in. After that moment they’re pretty much inseparable. Dillon was a great character, one that I felt I could identify with. You find yourself rooting for him throughout the whole book. Adam is an inked up tattoo artist as well as a total softy when it comes to all things romance. He was totally swoon-worthy and perfect for Dillon. If I have any criticism of this book, it would be that everything seems to work out just a little too perfect. None of the conflict lasted longer than a few pages, but even with that I still enjoyed it. The way Adam and his whole family embraced Dillon with open arms was great to see. The one thing I felt was missing from this book was resolution with Dillon’s parents. I really figured that at the end we would see him dealing with that whole mess, but that time never came. Not a huge deal, but I was surprised there wasn’t anything dealing with that.

This was a solid four star book for me. The writing, plot, character development, and story arc all came together nearly seamlessly to create an intriguing read. I’d recommend this book to anyone looking for a good M/M romance to read.