Skip thought he had it all: the fabulous husband, the great apartment, and the teaching job he’d always wanted. Even the cat was perfect. When his partner of eight years decides he wants something else—something that doesn’t involve Skip or the apartment or even the cat—Skip decides it’s time to go home to the other side of the country. 

However, Skip’s hometown doesn’t just hold a loving meddling mother but also the memories of his awkward crush on a boy he met his senior year in high school. A boy he humiliated himself in front of just when it looked as if his fantasies might become reality. Finding out Paul Miller is now working at the same high school where Skip has just been hired flips his world upside down. After a heated night together, Skip is happy being friends with benefits. Paul will have to convince him love is worth the risk.

 

Review

I liked the humanness of this romance.

Skip's marriage to Monty fell apart and he didn't even really see it coming. He doubts trusting his feelings.

He has a wonderful support system with a bestie and her husband, a great sister and her partner and an amazing mom. 

This has the moving back home theme in a lovely way. Skip ends up teaching at his old high school where it just so happens his high school crush teachers too. Oh, and their moms are friends and in PFLAP together. Squee!

Paul is super hot. Super great. And is just getting over the death of his long term boyfriend. 

Skip has a lot of fear of love ending and for the most part it felt real and understandable but he doesn't talk about his feelings enough for me and I kinda wanted to bop him in the head a few times.

And yet... a real pleasure of a read overall.

---Spoilers ahead---

This was absolutely terrible.
The first half bored me out of my mind.



And the second half was filled with Skip and his doubts… I really got tired of it. And don’t get me started on Paul with his pushy ways. You have been together for a few months, why does Skip need to make a commitment? He was married for 8 years and his husband cheated on him, give the guy a break.

And even though nothing happened with a 3rd party this really irritated me:

The kid watched them, making eye contact with Skip, who wished he could see Paul’s face to find out if he was interested or not. For his own part, he wasn’t looking for anything else tonight, but he’d never pass up an opportunity for a nuclear blow job in a bathroom stall while his lover was fucking the guy who had his cock in his mouth.

And then the mom… OMG, where does she get a right to be mad at her son for how he handled things with Paul. That is their business.

So basically everyone acted like an ass in this book.

I would have DNF-ed, but I wanted to finish it so I could rant about it in my review…

I guess when it's meant to be, it can be simple and easy. But Skip doesn't feel that way, because he's been burned. So while things with Paul just fall into place, he is constantly waiting for the end.

This was a fairly low drama story. Just like the title says, a simple romance. Great supporting characters all around. Skip's friends and family are awesome! I would've loved to get inside Paul's head. He fell head over heels very quickly, but we missed it.

3,5 stars

The title says it all.. A simple sweet romance!!



I enjoyed it. There was little angst in the story but not much more either!!!

It’s about Skip, who’s been hurt in a previous relationship. His partner (husband) decides to leave him after 8 years. So that clearly sucked…
Skip is devastated and decides to go back to his hometown to let behind all his former memories of his relationship. He goes to live with his mother until he gets on his feet again.

He gets a job as a teacher at a high school where he meets his old time crush from his high school-years again. I loved Paul. Paul really had the patience to deal with the hurt of Skip. Skip had become very distrustful of relationships. He didn’t allow himself to believe in love any more.

Although, I understand that Skip was hurt before but come on… If you can’t see good when it’s right in front of you!!! I would marry Paul…

”You don’t wanna get your hopes up.” She let her hand fall down to his shoulder, brushed away imaginary lint, then adjusted the collar of his button-down shirt
“But it’s all about hope. Hope and love and fun and trust, and all those go better together.”

Halfway the book I was skimming. That’s never a good sign for me… Soo much words …. Wanted to slap Skip over his head!!!

I loved the secondary characters, his sister Kat, his friend Faith with her husband Johnny. Paul’s and Skip’s mothers were great too..

The sex was very well written….. So that was a big plus!

Oh how I love reading about characters over thirty. So this was a real treat, main characters in their mid-forties, healthy and kinky....yummy!  They’re  already in an established relationship without much angst. Watching Gunny & Mac press on into retirement from the armed forces was interesting and satisfying. They were sexy, crazy passionate together and I felt S.J.D. Peterson’s ability to let us peek into their thoughts was seamless. She created characters I'd like to watch for years.