Lydia Michaels penned another winner of a novel, one that not only captivated my attention the entire time, but tugged on my heartstrings as well. I am loving this series, the characters are realistic, easy to relate to and connect with, a family that deals with everyday issues like we all do. Each book is written to stand on its own, each one features a different McCullough, they crossover in each other’s book and seeing them again is like seeing an old friend. The timelines may overlap and run concurrently, so you will see some events that may have already occurred in one of the other books, like a brief glimpse in time and from another person’s point of view. The writing is fantastic and there are many layers to each story. This book is Luke McCullough’s story, his dream of making it big in pro football came crashing down when an injury left him unable to play again. He came home with is tail between his legs and a chip on his shoulder, he never wanted the small town life or to work for the family business. But his life takes an unexpected turn when a newcomer arrives in town and starts working for his family business. Tristan Hughes’ family broke his heart when they could not accept him for who he was and he needed to get as far from them as he could. After landing in Center County, he found a job with the McCulloughs. He and Luke hit it off right from the start and it did not take long for Tristan to make a move on Luke, but Luke is a straight man, has never been with or even looked at another guy. He does not know what to make of it even after he realized he enjoyed kissing Tristan. Afterwards, Luke is confused and winds up going on a bender, not a drinking bender but a womanizing bender. Tristan has always been into boys and has accepted that and he understands Luke is not there and may never get there. Is he gay, is he bisexual or is it just a “gay for you” type of relationship? Either way, he is not ready to come out to his family, he is also not ready to give Tristen up. The author makes these two work for their love and understanding, she puts their hearts through the wringer and the reader’s hearts too. Other challenges and obstacles come in their way, some close to home, another from a coworker and his hater’s cohorts. The emotions pour off the pages of this beautifully plotted story and straight into your heart. There is plenty of drama, some angst, heartfelt emotions, and some hot loving. I loved how supportive and accepting the McCullough’s are, also love the camaraderie amongst the family members, their Mom is a hoot too. Lydia Michaels, thank you for another wonderful story and emotional rollercoaster ride.
🎧 📚🎧 And for the fabulous narration, David Allen Vargo is an entertaining storyteller and a versatile voice artist. This is only my second book of his and I am looking forward to listening to more of his book. His talent knows no bounds, he does an amazing job bringing the characters to life, humanizing them with their emotions and their personality. He has a complete understanding of the characters he portrays, gives each a voice that is a perfect fit for that character and sounds believable in every role he plays. He sets the perfect tone for the story, captures all the character’s emotions and has you feeling every single one. Thank you for another amazing listen and for enhancing this exceptional story to another level.