~~ Ready For Love by Stella Starling

(Book #1 in the Semper Fi, The Forever Faithful series)

Jake Hansen has been crushing on Gabe Byrne for half his life, but since Gabe is a straight, self-proclaimed commitment-phobe who moved away years ago to join the Marines, that crush is strictly a fantasy-best-enjoyed-in-private. And even when Gabe starts to flirt with him like crazy, Jake still knows better than to think it means anything.

Because falling in love with your straight bestie? Not just a cliche, but a guaranteed recipe for disaster.

…right?

Growing up, Gabe never saw “Little Jakey” as anything more than the kid who always liked to tag along after him and his brothers, but somehow, being friends with Jake has become the best part of his day. And after a seven-month deployment? Seeing Jake is the one thing he’s looking forward to the most.

He just didn’t expect that hanging out in person again would be so confusing… or keep blurring the lines about how straight he is… or keep making him want things that he never thought he would.

Things that seem a lot like forever.

 

Review

I liked this book despite myself. 

I adored Jake. I loved his self awareness and fun. 

Gabe is a commitment phobe and a reactor so not my favorite character type. He also is in the I have never felt desire for any other man but you type and not a demisexual so also not my favorite. He does a lot of not self aware stuff. 

And yet it is a sweet romance and I liked Jake enough and he liked Gabe enough that I enjoyed myself. 

A nice circle of friends and family. I have already started the next book in the series which is way sweeter and I like it much more.

Looking for Love is one of those feel good, leave you with a smile romances. It's not all sunshine and roses; it does have some angst, but the story is more about Zach and Micah finding each other and holding on in spite of that angst. It is lengthy, but with Starling's writing style and gift for storytelling, the time seemed to fly by. This is not a book that you can read one chapter and put it aside - I didn't want to put it down. 

Zach is a serial dater, always looking for that spark that leads to a lifetime love while Micah has never even had a romantic partner. Their different in so many ways, yet absolutely perfect together. Micah has an innocence about life that is sweet and endearing, and Zach has seen some of the worst things in life, but he's determined to be better than the examples set for him. 

To say more would give spoilers and this is one that you need to read and enjoy for yourself. It is the second in the Semper Fi, The Forever Faithful series, which is a spin-off of the At Last, Beloved series, but you won't have any problem following Micah and Zach's story. Warning: once you've read this one, you'll want to read the others. The characters are addictive!

A Moment of Weakness (Forever Faithful) by Karen Kingsbury (?)

In my review of "Family," the penultimate book in Karen Kingsbury's "Firstborn" pentalogy, I said: "I've said this in previous reviews, but it also applies to this book: If you liked the previous tales of the Baxter family, you'll most likely enjoy this one...but if you didn't care for the prior installments, then don't even bother with "Family". That statement alone probably tells you whether or not this is for you." The same applies to "Forever," the series' finale. I must also say that the ending segues into the events of the next series, and will make you want to get your hands on "Sunrise," the subsequent Baxter tale, as soon as you can. (Yes, I already have a copy.) One other positive comment: One of Ms. Kingsbury's strengths is describing what's going on in her characters' minds, and that talent shines even brighter in this novel than in her previous works. When you read about the Baxter family and their struggles, you feel what they're going through, and you understand why they're doing what they are. That is a sign of an excelllent writer.