Genre: M/M Contemporary Romance, part of the Hearts of Parkerburg Series
Release Date: February 1, 2016
Publisher: Appleton Publishing Avenue
Length: unknown
Description: Craig Gilchrist is the oldest of five siblings, the captain of the Parkerburg Fire Department, and all around buddy his friends run to when they have a problem. Unfortunately, he’s keeping a secret not only from the whole town, but his family as well. Living in the shadows works for him until one fateful night when a hot stranger walks across a smoky barroom, forcing Craig to make a move that could rock the foundation of his existence…and fill the void in his heart he doesn’t realize he has.
Melrose escaped the end of a bad relationship to start over in Parkerburg. With the support of his cousin and a job waiting tables at a great restaurant, he thinks his life is finally going pretty smoothly. That’s when his path crosses that of Craig Gilchrist, local fire captain. The big, beefy firefighter is definitely not his type. So why does he suddenly star in all of Melrose’s fantasies?
With Melrose at his side, Craig finally has the motivation to step out of the shadows and let Parkerburg see the real him…until trouble arises and the truth comes to light that perhaps he doesn’t know the real Melrose.
Lies and fears play havoc with their newly acquired relationship. Luckily, once ignited, the hearts of Parkerburg don’t burn out so easily.
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OUR REVIEW:
Craig Gilchrist, the rough and tumble captain of the Parkerburg Fire Department, is everything you'd expect of a small-town fire chief. Except that he's gay, and no one knows--not his friends, not his family, or most of all, not his colleagues. What would the residents of this small town think of him if he ever came out? Would he lose his job? These are all important questions and the very reasons that Craig has not only shut the closet door but chained it up tight.
On the other hand, while not flamboyant by any stretch, recent transplant to Parkerburg, Melrose, is quite obviously gay, and when these two guys meet, lust ignites. Unfortunately for Craig, lust ties his tongue in front of the hot city boy.
Craig's eyes were wide as saucers, and he radiated a heat that Melrose could feel through his suit and everything. Up this close, flecks of green were visible in his hazel eyes. Pretty...
Realizing he still held his hand out like a derp and Shawna exuded waves of disapproval, Melrose dropped it to his lap.
"This is Craig. He's with the fire department." There was a muffled thunk under the table, and Melrose bit his lip and sipped his beer. Someone had just been soundly kicked. "He doesn't mean to be rude. He's just not allowed out all that often."
"I'm allowed out," Craig protested. He cast a glance under his lashes at Melrose that he could have sworn he felt instead of saw.
Melrose is a man who knows what he wants, and a year of celibacy is more than enough. So when he sets his sights on Craig in his usual forthright manner, poor Craig can only cry, "Uncle!"
"Coffee?" Melrose cocked his head to the side, eyes flickering from the still raised cup to Craig's face. The grin that had faded a little came back full wattage. "Okay, coffee... that's a nice medium between blue balls and black eyes."
Overall, I enjoyed this story. It was cute, funny at times, and the sex was hot (although, warning, there is some inventive language used to describe the act and various body parts). In terms of the plot, I felt that while Melrose has a secret that he's afraid to share, it's more something he walked into than intentionally planned. It's also something that could be resolved fairly simply. So for these reasons, this story is a 3.5 stars for me.
OUR RATING: 3.5 stars!
(3/7/2016)
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