What do you think?
Rate this book
Why I Love... #2
Why I Love Waiters
As a member of a covert army unit, John Davidson isn’t scared of many things, yet one look into the dark blue eyes of Heath Kane and John knew a different kind of fear for the first time. John couldn't be gay, at least not out and proud in his unit, even with Don't Ask, Don't Tell being repealed. He'd never been interested enough in any man to risk the fallout.
Heath Kane left home never wanting to return. The army-base town wasn't the best place for a gay kid to grow up, but his grandmother did her darnedest to make it good for him. Now he's paying her back for all her love. She’s getting older and needs help with the family restaurant, so he waits tables at the Corner Café while taking online courses to get his degree. Even though the army base provides lots of buff eye candy, he knows it’s best to keep his eyes to himself.
Yet neither Heath nor John can deny their attraction, and when John returns from a visit up North, he seems willing to act on their mutual interest. Are John and Heath willing to risk everything to hold each other?
This book is part of the Why I Love... series.
Gay / Contemporary / Romantic Comedy / Series
210 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 5, 2011
7 people are currently reading
202 people want to read
About the author
T.A. Chase
161 books892 followersThere is beauty in every kind of love, so why not live a life without boundaries? Experiencing everything the world offers fascinates me and writing about the things that make each of us unique is how I share those insights. I live in the Midwest with a wonderful partner of thirteen years. When not writing, I’m watching movies, reading and living life to the fullest.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
August 11, 2011
This was okay. I actually liked it better than Why I Love Geeks (I didn't really care for Herbert in Why I Love Geeks, and the humor in that one felt kind of forced to me). So I liked the relationship between these guys better than the guys in Geeks, and the plot felt more natural.
But I found it odd that in this one there's a "Heath" which is so similar on the page to "Herb" that I kept getting them confused when they were both in a scene. Which I think was also partly caused because while Heath wasn't a science geek like Herb, there were things about his personality and the way he was presented that felt very similar to Herb--his speech patterns/talkativeness, as well as other things. I know they were different characters at the core, but as I made my way through the story, it felt like I was reading a less annoying version of Herb, and when they were on the page together I found it easy to confuse them. I would have liked to see John with someone who was more unique and not so much like his brother's boyfriend.
The end was a little too much, and I would have liked it better with less Herb and Chuck in it overall and would have liked the story to concentrate more fully on John and Heath instead of all the antics with Herb and Chuck. Still, overall it was an easy read.
But I found it odd that in this one there's a "Heath" which is so similar on the page to "Herb" that I kept getting them confused when they were both in a scene. Which I think was also partly caused because while Heath wasn't a science geek like Herb, there were things about his personality and the way he was presented that felt very similar to Herb--his speech patterns/talkativeness, as well as other things. I know they were different characters at the core, but as I made my way through the story, it felt like I was reading a less annoying version of Herb, and when they were on the page together I found it easy to confuse them. I would have liked to see John with someone who was more unique and not so much like his brother's boyfriend.
The end was a little too much, and I would have liked it better with less Herb and Chuck in it overall and would have liked the story to concentrate more fully on John and Heath instead of all the antics with Herb and Chuck. Still, overall it was an easy read.
January 14, 2023
'Why I Love Waiters' is book two in T.A. Chase's series, 'Why I Love', and it reacquainted me with some familiar faces, mainly Herb and Chuck, plus it introduced me to John, Chuck's brother, and Heath. I liked the previous book, which starred a homicide detective and a geek, so I was looking forward to this one, starring an Army Ranger and a waiter. Once again, an incongruous match.
Looks like Heath is a lot like Herb in the fact that there isn't much of a filter between his brain and his mouth. It's gotten him into some trouble, that's for sure. An only child, Heath left his small town and headed to college and the big city. But when his dad and gramps were killed, he came home to help grandma with the family restaurant. John is now free, since the repeal of DADT, although it hasn't gone into effect yet, and he doesn't care about the men in his unit knowing about him, but he's not willing to risk Heath's safety, especially after hearing how Heath was attacked and beaten a couple of years before. Ever since John saw Heath, his first day at the cafe, he's wanted him, and wanted to protect him.
Please find my full review at Rainbow Book Reviews
Looks like Heath is a lot like Herb in the fact that there isn't much of a filter between his brain and his mouth. It's gotten him into some trouble, that's for sure. An only child, Heath left his small town and headed to college and the big city. But when his dad and gramps were killed, he came home to help grandma with the family restaurant. John is now free, since the repeal of DADT, although it hasn't gone into effect yet, and he doesn't care about the men in his unit knowing about him, but he's not willing to risk Heath's safety, especially after hearing how Heath was attacked and beaten a couple of years before. Ever since John saw Heath, his first day at the cafe, he's wanted him, and wanted to protect him.
Please find my full review at Rainbow Book Reviews
June 5, 2016
One tiny itty bitty little complaint. A SFC living in the barracks?? Umm.. no. I don't even think that's technically allowed. And even if it were allowed, why would you want to when you are single and making that E-7 pay?
Read
February 24, 2013The first book in the series had a similar incipit, twink meets hunk, and so it was not a surprise, but Why I Love Waiters is as funny as it was Why I Love Geeks, and as an added bonus, we have the chance to read more about Chuck and Herb from book 1.
This story follows John, Chuck’s brother, while he goes back to the small town where he is stationed and where he is falling in love with Heath. If he hasn’t yet done a move on the cute guy is only since he needs to decide if risking his military career is a price he is willing to pay. But as soon as he has the first taste of Heath, he is totally sold, and nothing will prevent him to make the guy totally his own.
There is the layer of homophobia playing in the story, but it’s also true that both Heath than John have a circle of supporting family and friends that has never given them the feeling to be alone; they have option, and finding an happily ever after is never a question, even if maybe they need to change their plans. The author decided to maintain the story on the light mood, she plays with her characters and with the reader, making this novel a little sexy, little funny thing, just a bit of this and that, without exaggerating with both ingredients. You smile and you coo on how cute Heath and John are together, doubling the cooing when Chuck and Herb come to visit: Heath and Herb together are almost too much, and that is the reason why Chuck and John give them little time to plot.
Nice, smooth, light read, for a R&R and lazy afternoon.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1611249465/?...
This story follows John, Chuck’s brother, while he goes back to the small town where he is stationed and where he is falling in love with Heath. If he hasn’t yet done a move on the cute guy is only since he needs to decide if risking his military career is a price he is willing to pay. But as soon as he has the first taste of Heath, he is totally sold, and nothing will prevent him to make the guy totally his own.
There is the layer of homophobia playing in the story, but it’s also true that both Heath than John have a circle of supporting family and friends that has never given them the feeling to be alone; they have option, and finding an happily ever after is never a question, even if maybe they need to change their plans. The author decided to maintain the story on the light mood, she plays with her characters and with the reader, making this novel a little sexy, little funny thing, just a bit of this and that, without exaggerating with both ingredients. You smile and you coo on how cute Heath and John are together, doubling the cooing when Chuck and Herb come to visit: Heath and Herb together are almost too much, and that is the reason why Chuck and John give them little time to plot.
Nice, smooth, light read, for a R&R and lazy afternoon.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1611249465/?...
January 31, 2014
I really liked this book and I preferred it to the first book in the series. It just focused on the relationship between the two MC's and there was no distracting sub plot. The book follows John who's Chucks' brother from the first book and Heath - the man he falls for. John is a soldier and Heath works in a café near the army base. It's a sweet, sexy and funny story which also features the characters from the first book. Herb is still hilarious and he and Heath both say things they shouldn't when they shouldn't - mostly about sex. They're quite similar characters who quickly become friends - this makes for an entertaining read. The main story holds your attention, feels real and is very sexy in parts. It's just the book when you're looking for a light and funny read with plenty of steam to keep you sizzling. Will definitely read again.
August 11, 2011
2.75
Sweet, cute and fluffy. T.A. Chase always delivers in that her stories make me smile.
John is military and he's trying to decide if he wants to give it up for love. Heath is a waiter, a sweetheart and totally into John.
The reason why I didn't rate this story higher is because John and Heath were very similar but not as engaging as the previous book's couple, Chuck and Herb.
Also, the end of the story annoyed me because it seemed to come out of nowhere in a way. I thought Heath and John should have had their own special day since they were the MCs in the book.
This was okay but not T.A. Chase's best.
Sweet, cute and fluffy. T.A. Chase always delivers in that her stories make me smile.
John is military and he's trying to decide if he wants to give it up for love. Heath is a waiter, a sweetheart and totally into John.
The reason why I didn't rate this story higher is because John and Heath were very similar but not as engaging as the previous book's couple, Chuck and Herb.
Also, the end of the story annoyed me because it seemed to come out of nowhere in a way. I thought Heath and John should have had their own special day since they were the MCs in the book.
This was okay but not T.A. Chase's best.
August 21, 2011
I want to know who convinced Doc to fire up the flux capacitor and send Marty back to 1985 to steal this cover?? Could it be any worse? UGH.
It was a sweet story, I liked John but I think Heath was as little too Herb, he's like Herb Part 2 but not as well done and even Herb came across a little unlovable in parts. About 80% of the sex talk could have been/should have been removed; it seemed a bit forced and gratuitous.
It was a sweet story, I liked John but I think Heath was as little too Herb, he's like Herb Part 2 but not as well done and even Herb came across a little unlovable in parts. About 80% of the sex talk could have been/should have been removed; it seemed a bit forced and gratuitous.
August 8, 2011
This was a sweet story. I loved Heath and John together they were perfect for each other and I loved that we got to catch up with Herb and Chuck again.
February 26, 2017
2.5 stars
An ok read but nothing extraordinary. I preferred this to Why I Love Geeks .... just about. It is the second book in this series and is about John Davidson an army officer and Heath Kane a waiter, we do also get to catch up with Chuck and Herb in this story. Heath is on only child and following the death of his Dad and Grandfather he comes home to help his Grandma with their restaurant and to study online. John is an officer in the army and flirts with Heath when he comes in to eat at the restaurant.
John is not bothered about his fellow army buddies knowing about himself being gay but becomes increasingly protective of Heath and does not want him to come to any harm as a consequence of their relationship. On a 4 day trip to Atlanta that Herb and Chuck join them on Heath and John's relationship progresses and develops. It doesn't take them long to fall in love. The main characters obviously love each other but I struggled with the unrealistic nature of their what felt like insta-love.
I found Heath very similar to Herb from book 1 and I found this a little confusing at times and not very original. I also noticed some inconsistencies in the story that were quite distracting and some elements were left un resolved. I was not a big fan of the ending at all if I'm honest but it did fit the over all theme of the book.
This is a typical T.A Chase read in that's its sweet and easy reading.
An ok read but nothing extraordinary. I preferred this to Why I Love Geeks .... just about. It is the second book in this series and is about John Davidson an army officer and Heath Kane a waiter, we do also get to catch up with Chuck and Herb in this story. Heath is on only child and following the death of his Dad and Grandfather he comes home to help his Grandma with their restaurant and to study online. John is an officer in the army and flirts with Heath when he comes in to eat at the restaurant.
John is not bothered about his fellow army buddies knowing about himself being gay but becomes increasingly protective of Heath and does not want him to come to any harm as a consequence of their relationship. On a 4 day trip to Atlanta that Herb and Chuck join them on Heath and John's relationship progresses and develops. It doesn't take them long to fall in love. The main characters obviously love each other but I struggled with the unrealistic nature of their what felt like insta-love.
I found Heath very similar to Herb from book 1 and I found this a little confusing at times and not very original. I also noticed some inconsistencies in the story that were quite distracting and some elements were left un resolved. I was not a big fan of the ending at all if I'm honest but it did fit the over all theme of the book.
This is a typical T.A Chase read in that's its sweet and easy reading.
November 24, 2017
Enjoyable but short. I liked the first novel of the series even in spite of the few really, really, reeeally over the top experiments the author squeezed in there. This second one, though, felt rushed. It read more as a summary of what it should have been. All issues and conflicts even the dating, getting to know each other and falling in love between the two MCs happened in the space lost between chapters, even them meeting happened before the start of the book. I find not find that amusing. I especially missed the first meeting. It's one of my favorite events in any novel of the MM variety.
Herb and Chuck's special appearance in this story was cute. When Heath and Herb get together it's really stereotype overload. I dare any reader to disagree. Lol. But they are fun characters, so what you gonna do..( and oh my god, autocorrect recognises 'gonna'as a word. It's the end..)
I will keep the 3rd novel for another time when I'm out of stories to read.. I have a feeling I already read that story as part of the Fated Hearts series..
Herb and Chuck's special appearance in this story was cute. When Heath and Herb get together it's really stereotype overload. I dare any reader to disagree. Lol. But they are fun characters, so what you gonna do..( and oh my god, autocorrect recognises 'gonna'as a word. It's the end..)
I will keep the 3rd novel for another time when I'm out of stories to read.. I have a feeling I already read that story as part of the Fated Hearts series..
March 15, 2019
Fun and adorable with a dash of emotion
John and Heath were just as much fun to read as Chuck and Herb were. Their relationship stands on its own though. Heath is sweet and perfectly matched to John. I loved the first scene of them flirting and the tree house scene was really cute. Usually I don't like when the author switches the focus to another couple, but when we switch over to see Herb and Chuck, I didn't mind at all. It was nice to see their stories blend together. And throwing them all together in Atlanta was genius. Those scenes were so funny. I couldn't stop laughing. The non-stop chatter and inappropriate comments by Heath and Herb were so good. They were hysterical together. I couldn't get enough of them.
But as much fun as this book was, it has some serious undertones, which round out the story. I hated that Heath and John suffered because of the ignorance of others. I'm glad they ultimately found their happiness but wish it didn't have to come the way it did.
John and Heath were just as much fun to read as Chuck and Herb were. Their relationship stands on its own though. Heath is sweet and perfectly matched to John. I loved the first scene of them flirting and the tree house scene was really cute. Usually I don't like when the author switches the focus to another couple, but when we switch over to see Herb and Chuck, I didn't mind at all. It was nice to see their stories blend together. And throwing them all together in Atlanta was genius. Those scenes were so funny. I couldn't stop laughing. The non-stop chatter and inappropriate comments by Heath and Herb were so good. They were hysterical together. I couldn't get enough of them.
But as much fun as this book was, it has some serious undertones, which round out the story. I hated that Heath and John suffered because of the ignorance of others. I'm glad they ultimately found their happiness but wish it didn't have to come the way it did.
May 31, 2017
4.5 *
I don't think anyone is going to be able to beat Herb as one of my favorite characters but Heath gave it a good try.
John Davidson is Chuck's youngest brother who is currently serving in the Army. He keeps the fact that he's gay to himself with the exception of family. Only he can't resist the waiter at his local diner.
Heath Kane once ran far away from the small town to the big city but a tragedy had him coming back home. Now he's stuck; again. Until he notices a certain Army man that always sits in his section.
This story has a lot of similarities to Why I Love Geeks but it also makes a trail of its own.
You can see my full review on my website: http://christinasbookshelf.net/2017/0...
I don't think anyone is going to be able to beat Herb as one of my favorite characters but Heath gave it a good try.
John Davidson is Chuck's youngest brother who is currently serving in the Army. He keeps the fact that he's gay to himself with the exception of family. Only he can't resist the waiter at his local diner.
Heath Kane once ran far away from the small town to the big city but a tragedy had him coming back home. Now he's stuck; again. Until he notices a certain Army man that always sits in his section.
This story has a lot of similarities to Why I Love Geeks but it also makes a trail of its own.
You can see my full review on my website: http://christinasbookshelf.net/2017/0...
Read
March 12, 2017https://justlovereviews.com/2017/03/1...
DNF at 50%
I think it would be in everyone’s best interest if I say as little as possible about this book. The fact that it is my first DNF for the blog should tell you all you need to know, but here are a few things that made this book a hot mess.
1. Internalized Misogyny
Example 1: “…I don’t ever plan on sleeping with her. Not that she’s not beautiful, but she’s a girl. Eww!” John agreed with Heath’s reaction to sleeping with girls.
Example 2: God he sounded like a girl
Example 3: “…I only just asked Herb to marry me. We’d have to figure out where we were going to do it and when. There’s so much crap to think about. I don’t know how women do it.”
“They’ve been trained since birth to understand all the intricacies involved in a wedding.”
2. Flirting as “asking for it.” (this comes just after the MCs first chat and before their first date)
Example: Shooting a quick glance over his shoulder, he caught John ogling him. He put a little extra swing in his hips, and John grabbed his arm before he slipped through the swinging doors.
[…]
“I know what you’re doing, and you better be careful.”
“Why?”
“We won’t be having dinner or a movie when we get to the city. We’ll be having sex in the hotel room all night long instead.”
3. Discussing details of your sex life in front of your partner’s brother
Example 1: “Good thing Chuck and I have sex all the time”
Example 2: “I’m very gay considering what I let John do to me this morning in the shower. It was amazing and perfect. Your brother is an awesome lover.”
I just cannot with this book. The characters are ridiculous and OTT, which *may* been okay if there weren’t so many cringe-inducing scenes, or things that happened that made me want to throw my iPad across the room in anger. I hated everyone.
I received an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for a fair and honest review
DNF at 50%
I think it would be in everyone’s best interest if I say as little as possible about this book. The fact that it is my first DNF for the blog should tell you all you need to know, but here are a few things that made this book a hot mess.
1. Internalized Misogyny
Example 1: “…I don’t ever plan on sleeping with her. Not that she’s not beautiful, but she’s a girl. Eww!” John agreed with Heath’s reaction to sleeping with girls.
Example 2: God he sounded like a girl
Example 3: “…I only just asked Herb to marry me. We’d have to figure out where we were going to do it and when. There’s so much crap to think about. I don’t know how women do it.”
“They’ve been trained since birth to understand all the intricacies involved in a wedding.”
2. Flirting as “asking for it.” (this comes just after the MCs first chat and before their first date)
Example: Shooting a quick glance over his shoulder, he caught John ogling him. He put a little extra swing in his hips, and John grabbed his arm before he slipped through the swinging doors.
[…]
“I know what you’re doing, and you better be careful.”
“Why?”
“We won’t be having dinner or a movie when we get to the city. We’ll be having sex in the hotel room all night long instead.”
3. Discussing details of your sex life in front of your partner’s brother
Example 1: “Good thing Chuck and I have sex all the time”
Example 2: “I’m very gay considering what I let John do to me this morning in the shower. It was amazing and perfect. Your brother is an awesome lover.”
I just cannot with this book. The characters are ridiculous and OTT, which *may* been okay if there weren’t so many cringe-inducing scenes, or things that happened that made me want to throw my iPad across the room in anger. I hated everyone.
I received an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for a fair and honest review
March 4, 2017
The first thing I noticed about the romance in this story is that it was a slow build without the reader having to go through the process. This is easily proven when we see them interact together for the first time. When John and Heath do start dating, everything seems to be moving at a fast pace when in actuality it's more about time it happened.
As you read along more and more of Heath’s life and his past is exposed. It's done in such a way that you are intrigued at first. Then you go through changing emotions with each reveal. By the end, you are not only majorly impressed with him but fall in love with him as well.
With John, there isn't a lot of drama or excitement to his back story. Instead, the author focused on John's family and his current standing in the military. I love this approach. John has such an interesting family that you want to know more about. Especially since they’re very close. His struggles with his career are rather eye opening. It makes you wonder how it really is and if it's getting better.
As an extra bonus, you get to see how Chuck and Herb are doing. For those who read the first in the series, Why I Love Geeks, this is a special treat. Plus, you get more insight into John and Chuck's sister Jesse. I found the interactions between Heath and Herb to be the funniest parts of the whole book. I'd love to see more of them in the rest of the series. They are both delightful and a joy to read. While both books can be read alone, to get the most out of them, I would read them both in order. I’m looking forward to the next one in the series and getting to know all these characters and the new ones to come. The author has done a great job of building a realistic society with interesting and complex characters.
The ARC was provided by Dreamspinner Press. My review is an honest opinion of the book.
Www.optimummblog.com
As you read along more and more of Heath’s life and his past is exposed. It's done in such a way that you are intrigued at first. Then you go through changing emotions with each reveal. By the end, you are not only majorly impressed with him but fall in love with him as well.
With John, there isn't a lot of drama or excitement to his back story. Instead, the author focused on John's family and his current standing in the military. I love this approach. John has such an interesting family that you want to know more about. Especially since they’re very close. His struggles with his career are rather eye opening. It makes you wonder how it really is and if it's getting better.
As an extra bonus, you get to see how Chuck and Herb are doing. For those who read the first in the series, Why I Love Geeks, this is a special treat. Plus, you get more insight into John and Chuck's sister Jesse. I found the interactions between Heath and Herb to be the funniest parts of the whole book. I'd love to see more of them in the rest of the series. They are both delightful and a joy to read. While both books can be read alone, to get the most out of them, I would read them both in order. I’m looking forward to the next one in the series and getting to know all these characters and the new ones to come. The author has done a great job of building a realistic society with interesting and complex characters.
The ARC was provided by Dreamspinner Press. My review is an honest opinion of the book.
Www.optimummblog.com
March 3, 2017
*Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie by Dreamspinner Press for my reading pleasure in hopes of an unbiased opinion, a review was not a requirement.*
Why I Love Waiters is Book 2 in T.A. Chase's Why I Love series. John gets back to the base after spending time with his family and decides that he's ready to pursue a relationship with Heath. John is in the military and has been hidden deep in the closet. John and Heath have been flirting for a while, but this time when John goes into the cafe, he decides to make his interest known to Heath and asks him out. Heath has been lusting after John the entire time he's been coming to the cafe and is ecstatic when John asks him out. But, before they get to that date, Heath's grandma wants John to come to dinner so she can meet him and make sure he's going to treat her grandson right. And from there, the relationship between Heath and John goes at mach speed. We don't see a relationship develop, it just is. But things don't go well for John in relation to his job and he's forced to make a decision about what he wants for his future.
I really enjoyed Herb in Book 1, he was just such a cute, unique character. Unfortunately, Heath is the exact, or almost exact, characterization of Herb, which I did not enjoy. Sure brothers can fall for the same type of guy, but what I loved about Herb was that he was so unique. Now he's not. Sadly, for me, this book just felt too similar in characterization to Book 1, but not as well done. I liked John in Book 1, and I didn't dislike him in this book, I was just too annoyed about Heath. And the whole weekend where Chuck and Herb came to hang out with them was annoying. Honestly, by the end of the weekend, I wasn't as big of a fan of Herb's as I had been in Book 1 and I think that's because I had already had enough of Heath. And the lack of filter in a lab nerd was totally believable, but Heath worked with the public as a waiter. It was less believable to me that he would have the same exact lack of filter. I mean, Herb made people that he worked with mad all the time but they ignored it because of who he was and how accomplished he was. If Heath behaved the same way, his grandmother's cafe would close because people would quit coming in because of his lack of a filter.
This book could probably be read as a standalone, but I loved Book 1 and would highly recommend that you read it! This book did have quirky, funny parts that helped the enjoyment, and frankly, the end of the book pulled everything together for me. You need to read this book and see what you think of it!
Rating: 3.5 stars
Why I Love Waiters is Book 2 in T.A. Chase's Why I Love series. John gets back to the base after spending time with his family and decides that he's ready to pursue a relationship with Heath. John is in the military and has been hidden deep in the closet. John and Heath have been flirting for a while, but this time when John goes into the cafe, he decides to make his interest known to Heath and asks him out. Heath has been lusting after John the entire time he's been coming to the cafe and is ecstatic when John asks him out. But, before they get to that date, Heath's grandma wants John to come to dinner so she can meet him and make sure he's going to treat her grandson right. And from there, the relationship between Heath and John goes at mach speed. We don't see a relationship develop, it just is. But things don't go well for John in relation to his job and he's forced to make a decision about what he wants for his future.
I really enjoyed Herb in Book 1, he was just such a cute, unique character. Unfortunately, Heath is the exact, or almost exact, characterization of Herb, which I did not enjoy. Sure brothers can fall for the same type of guy, but what I loved about Herb was that he was so unique. Now he's not. Sadly, for me, this book just felt too similar in characterization to Book 1, but not as well done. I liked John in Book 1, and I didn't dislike him in this book, I was just too annoyed about Heath. And the whole weekend where Chuck and Herb came to hang out with them was annoying. Honestly, by the end of the weekend, I wasn't as big of a fan of Herb's as I had been in Book 1 and I think that's because I had already had enough of Heath. And the lack of filter in a lab nerd was totally believable, but Heath worked with the public as a waiter. It was less believable to me that he would have the same exact lack of filter. I mean, Herb made people that he worked with mad all the time but they ignored it because of who he was and how accomplished he was. If Heath behaved the same way, his grandmother's cafe would close because people would quit coming in because of his lack of a filter.
This book could probably be read as a standalone, but I loved Book 1 and would highly recommend that you read it! This book did have quirky, funny parts that helped the enjoyment, and frankly, the end of the book pulled everything together for me. You need to read this book and see what you think of it!
Rating: 3.5 stars
January 28, 2014
Meh. Very weak follow-up to a book I genuinely enjoyed.
Right off the bat this is trying a bit too hard for a repeat of the first volume, with Heath blurting out things while John watches fondly, basically a wannabe copy of Herb and Chuck.
All in all, Herb is rather un-Herb like. He seems to have regressed into excitable teenager-dom. I’m disappointed.
Although when Herb and Heath get together it’s even worse. Can you say kiddie party? It’s like Cecil all over. Oh god. T_T
Even the title makes vastly less sense than it did for the first book. Herb is largely defined by his geekiness (although I think nerd might be more applicable), but Heath in no way is defined by his more or less temporary gig as a waiter.
There isn’t much to the main relationship (it’s instant everything and we don’t even get to see all that much interaction), and it subverts the previous book’s awesome relationship some.
This thing mostly feels like a vanity trip. Blah blah.
Only towards the end does this feel like something of interest is happening – and half of that happens off-screen.
Up to that point I actually wasn’t getting much of an affection or attachment vibe between John and Heath (in contrast to their many multiple protestations). For the majority of the story they seem to be all about fucking, while projecting their own hopes onto the other.
Not even versatility can save this. Particularly since John still pulls the conquering army thing all the time. I think that might be almost a quote… Ah, yes. “He invaded Heath like a conquering army, bent on pillaging him.” There we go.
I think I’ve discovered why this kind of writing doesn’t work for me. Stuff like “John stared down into Heath’s blue eyes and saw his entire future opening up in them.” Or “The way Heath moaned and opened to his demand told John his lover felt the same.” Or even “He poured all of his love into the kiss, hoping Heath understood everything John didn’t have the breath to say.”
It’s meaningless. It doesn’t paint a picture in my head – it’s empty phrases. Worse still, it misses creating a real connection to the other guy.
All in all, while this was not a complete and utter bust, it made me feel a little empty.
Oh, and before I forget! Here we go again with the author forgetting details she used. Like Herb claiming he doesn’t have any grandparents he ever heard of – when in the previous book he said he had a party for his twelfth birthday only because his grandmother happened to be in town.
And Heath is hitting town once a month to get laid. But at the same time be believes that love has to be part of it and hasn’t slept around since college – and even then only with people he knew well and was trying to have a relationship with. Um, which is it, please?
I think Heath’s grandmother must have issues with memory. She chides Heath for not telling her that John’s brother joined them with his partner. Yet we listened to Heath telling her this on the phone. But Heath must be afflicted by the same thing, since he merely explains why he did not get around to it. Maybe it hereditary.
Right off the bat this is trying a bit too hard for a repeat of the first volume, with Heath blurting out things while John watches fondly, basically a wannabe copy of Herb and Chuck.
All in all, Herb is rather un-Herb like. He seems to have regressed into excitable teenager-dom. I’m disappointed.
Although when Herb and Heath get together it’s even worse. Can you say kiddie party? It’s like Cecil all over. Oh god. T_T
Even the title makes vastly less sense than it did for the first book. Herb is largely defined by his geekiness (although I think nerd might be more applicable), but Heath in no way is defined by his more or less temporary gig as a waiter.
There isn’t much to the main relationship (it’s instant everything and we don’t even get to see all that much interaction), and it subverts the previous book’s awesome relationship some.
This thing mostly feels like a vanity trip. Blah blah.
Only towards the end does this feel like something of interest is happening – and half of that happens off-screen.
Up to that point I actually wasn’t getting much of an affection or attachment vibe between John and Heath (in contrast to their many multiple protestations). For the majority of the story they seem to be all about fucking, while projecting their own hopes onto the other.
Not even versatility can save this. Particularly since John still pulls the conquering army thing all the time. I think that might be almost a quote… Ah, yes. “He invaded Heath like a conquering army, bent on pillaging him.” There we go.
I think I’ve discovered why this kind of writing doesn’t work for me. Stuff like “John stared down into Heath’s blue eyes and saw his entire future opening up in them.” Or “The way Heath moaned and opened to his demand told John his lover felt the same.” Or even “He poured all of his love into the kiss, hoping Heath understood everything John didn’t have the breath to say.”
It’s meaningless. It doesn’t paint a picture in my head – it’s empty phrases. Worse still, it misses creating a real connection to the other guy.
All in all, while this was not a complete and utter bust, it made me feel a little empty.
Oh, and before I forget! Here we go again with the author forgetting details she used. Like Herb claiming he doesn’t have any grandparents he ever heard of – when in the previous book he said he had a party for his twelfth birthday only because his grandmother happened to be in town.
And Heath is hitting town once a month to get laid. But at the same time be believes that love has to be part of it and hasn’t slept around since college – and even then only with people he knew well and was trying to have a relationship with. Um, which is it, please?
I think Heath’s grandmother must have issues with memory. She chides Heath for not telling her that John’s brother joined them with his partner. Yet we listened to Heath telling her this on the phone. But Heath must be afflicted by the same thing, since he merely explains why he did not get around to it. Maybe it hereditary.
March 3, 2017
I freaking LOVED this book!! Make sure you read the first one. Review submitted to prism book alliance
October 1, 2014
3 star review by Amber
In this second installment of the Why I Love Series we’re introduced to a loveable guy named, Heath. Heath is a waiter at his grandmother’s cozy diner in Georgia. A regular patron of the café is John, an Army Ranger who is regularly deployed to very dangerous countries. John also happens to be the younger brother of Chuck who we met in book one. John, who is recently out of the closet to his family has a massive crush on Heath, hence why he goes to the café so frequently, aside from the good food of course.
After a pep talk from his brother John decides to ask Heath out. Very similar to book one, Heath and John, hit it off and find themselves in bed rather frequently. Also, similar to book one, this seemed like insta-love too. I don’t know what’s missing from these books but both one and two have left me feeling absolutely nothing. I haven’t closed each book with a smile on my face, which is unusual for me with this author.
I was endeared to Heath. I love the fact that he came to Georgia to help his grandmother out. You can tell they have a deep, love and affection for each other. His grandmother accepts who he is and who he loves without question, which is admirable.
We get a few moments of Herb and Chuck throughout the book. A seemingly forgettable trip to Atlanta has both couples meeting up due to Chuck wanting to ask John to be his best man in his wedding to Herb.
It’s unfortunate that these two books weren’t better. I just didn’t feel any kind of connection to the characters.
A copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review. Please visit www.lovebytesreviews.com to see this and many more reviews, author interviews, guestposts and giveaways!
In this second installment of the Why I Love Series we’re introduced to a loveable guy named, Heath. Heath is a waiter at his grandmother’s cozy diner in Georgia. A regular patron of the café is John, an Army Ranger who is regularly deployed to very dangerous countries. John also happens to be the younger brother of Chuck who we met in book one. John, who is recently out of the closet to his family has a massive crush on Heath, hence why he goes to the café so frequently, aside from the good food of course.
After a pep talk from his brother John decides to ask Heath out. Very similar to book one, Heath and John, hit it off and find themselves in bed rather frequently. Also, similar to book one, this seemed like insta-love too. I don’t know what’s missing from these books but both one and two have left me feeling absolutely nothing. I haven’t closed each book with a smile on my face, which is unusual for me with this author.
I was endeared to Heath. I love the fact that he came to Georgia to help his grandmother out. You can tell they have a deep, love and affection for each other. His grandmother accepts who he is and who he loves without question, which is admirable.
We get a few moments of Herb and Chuck throughout the book. A seemingly forgettable trip to Atlanta has both couples meeting up due to Chuck wanting to ask John to be his best man in his wedding to Herb.
It’s unfortunate that these two books weren’t better. I just didn’t feel any kind of connection to the characters.
A copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review. Please visit www.lovebytesreviews.com to see this and many more reviews, author interviews, guestposts and giveaways!
March 26, 2013
Sequel to Why I Love Geeks, I didn't like this as much as the original. Mostly because both the alphas and the twinks had the same personalities, it wasn't very original. Actually, the story was quite shallow but I did enjoy their adventure and I really liked having a chance to see Chuck and Herb again.
There were quite a few inconsistencies or distractions that kept pulling me out of the story. Among them, the fact that at the beginning, John's brother walked him to the gate before his flight, John then handing in his ticket and getting on the plane. Really? Then he was served peanuts and I believe they have gone far far away. Sadly, I miss my peanuts and don't know of any airlines that are willing to serve them. And a major issue - when the guys returned from Atlanta and John mentioned that his brother and Herb had been there too, Heath's grandma turned to him and asked why she wasn't told they were there. And yet, while in Atlanta, Heath had spoken to her on the phone and told her that Chuck and Herb had flown down. Yes, I doublechecked to be sure. I think that a good beta or editor should have picked these up. These are just the glaring issues for me.
So, overall a 3, maybe even a 2.5 but I liked the concept and the fact that I got to see Chuck and Herb again. I'd only recommend this to someone who wants to finish the series or is looking for a light read with a lot of sex scenes and not much other content.
There were quite a few inconsistencies or distractions that kept pulling me out of the story. Among them, the fact that at the beginning, John's brother walked him to the gate before his flight, John then handing in his ticket and getting on the plane. Really? Then he was served peanuts and I believe they have gone far far away. Sadly, I miss my peanuts and don't know of any airlines that are willing to serve them. And a major issue - when the guys returned from Atlanta and John mentioned that his brother and Herb had been there too, Heath's grandma turned to him and asked why she wasn't told they were there. And yet, while in Atlanta, Heath had spoken to her on the phone and told her that Chuck and Herb had flown down. Yes, I doublechecked to be sure. I think that a good beta or editor should have picked these up. These are just the glaring issues for me.
So, overall a 3, maybe even a 2.5 but I liked the concept and the fact that I got to see Chuck and Herb again. I'd only recommend this to someone who wants to finish the series or is looking for a light read with a lot of sex scenes and not much other content.
March 3, 2017
Who would have thought that John would go out and find a man that is so much like his brother Chuck's boyfriend Herb.
I thought Herb was absolutely hilarious in book one of this series. Then when you put Herb and Heath together in this book, let's just say there is soma lot of laughing when the two are togther u till you are pretty much crying from laughing so hard.
John has pretty well been in the closet his whole life because he is in the military but mostly because he has not had a good reason to rock the boat. But when he meets Heath at his favorite cafe that he eats at regularly, John decides that Heath is worth taking the dive.
The attraction between both these men is off the charts. The heat that is between them comes smoldering off the pages as you read this book. I am surprised my kindle did not burst into flames while I was reading this book.
This story is a pretty quick read but it was definitely an amzing read. I love the chemistry between these two men and when you throw in Chuck and Herb in the mix you have a book that is purely amazing.
There is another book in this series that will come out soon and I know from reading the first two books that I will definitely be reading it also. I honestly cannot wait. I have a feeling that if Herb and Heath make any kind of appearance in the next book with the characters in it, it is going to be a book that will be one to remember.
This series thus far is truly an incredible work of art and I highly recommend it.
Was given this galley copy for free for an open and honest review
I thought Herb was absolutely hilarious in book one of this series. Then when you put Herb and Heath together in this book, let's just say there is soma lot of laughing when the two are togther u till you are pretty much crying from laughing so hard.
John has pretty well been in the closet his whole life because he is in the military but mostly because he has not had a good reason to rock the boat. But when he meets Heath at his favorite cafe that he eats at regularly, John decides that Heath is worth taking the dive.
The attraction between both these men is off the charts. The heat that is between them comes smoldering off the pages as you read this book. I am surprised my kindle did not burst into flames while I was reading this book.
This story is a pretty quick read but it was definitely an amzing read. I love the chemistry between these two men and when you throw in Chuck and Herb in the mix you have a book that is purely amazing.
There is another book in this series that will come out soon and I know from reading the first two books that I will definitely be reading it also. I honestly cannot wait. I have a feeling that if Herb and Heath make any kind of appearance in the next book with the characters in it, it is going to be a book that will be one to remember.
This series thus far is truly an incredible work of art and I highly recommend it.
Was given this galley copy for free for an open and honest review
March 8, 2017
A Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words Review An Alisa Review:
Rating: 4 stars out of 5
This was another wonderful sweet story. John has stayed in the closet due to his military career. He has been admiring Heath from a distance and knows he can’t do it for much longer. Heath has been admiring John right back, but fear from past experience and living in his hometown has kept him from making any advances.
John and Heath can’t deny their chemistry once they get the chance to be together. Heath is so adorable and can begin to ramble when he’s nervous or pretty much just anytime and John can’t help but find him more endearing because of it. John and Heath pretty much jump right in once they decide to take plunge into dating, but still take the time to learn more about each other.
Heath continues to hope that he won’t be hurt again by someone he decides to put his trust in and John has a pretty stable head on his shoulders which helps to counteract some of Heath’s more flighty qualities. Seeing them work through their issues and John having to make a life changing decision on if he wants to stay in the military is nice and helps connect with the characters and keep them down to earth. I loved seeing Chuck and Herb again when they came to visit and at the end.
Cover art by Anne Cain is great and I love the visuals of the characters.
Rating: 4 stars out of 5
This was another wonderful sweet story. John has stayed in the closet due to his military career. He has been admiring Heath from a distance and knows he can’t do it for much longer. Heath has been admiring John right back, but fear from past experience and living in his hometown has kept him from making any advances.
John and Heath can’t deny their chemistry once they get the chance to be together. Heath is so adorable and can begin to ramble when he’s nervous or pretty much just anytime and John can’t help but find him more endearing because of it. John and Heath pretty much jump right in once they decide to take plunge into dating, but still take the time to learn more about each other.
Heath continues to hope that he won’t be hurt again by someone he decides to put his trust in and John has a pretty stable head on his shoulders which helps to counteract some of Heath’s more flighty qualities. Seeing them work through their issues and John having to make a life changing decision on if he wants to stay in the military is nice and helps connect with the characters and keep them down to earth. I loved seeing Chuck and Herb again when they came to visit and at the end.
Cover art by Anne Cain is great and I love the visuals of the characters.
December 2, 2014
synopsis:
john is in the army, and he is gay. he made a choice to go into the army, knowing that he would have to keep his sexuality quiet when he went in. after visiting with his brother and seeing the new relationship that he is in, john admits that he has feelings for someone where he is stationed. heath is a waiter in his grandmother's restaurant and he is really cautious about going on dates because he almost died when he was too trusting about someone who seemed too good to be true in his small hometown. he has a crush on john, and when john makes some moves, heath can't believe his good fortune. as he and john get to know one another, he has to deal with john leaving for an assignment. when john comes back, they both know that this is a relationship that they want to develop. unfortunately, someone has it in for john within his troop, and they have to decide what they want to do.
what i liked: the premise.
what i didn't like: TWO people with stream of consciousness vocalizing.
john is in the army, and he is gay. he made a choice to go into the army, knowing that he would have to keep his sexuality quiet when he went in. after visiting with his brother and seeing the new relationship that he is in, john admits that he has feelings for someone where he is stationed. heath is a waiter in his grandmother's restaurant and he is really cautious about going on dates because he almost died when he was too trusting about someone who seemed too good to be true in his small hometown. he has a crush on john, and when john makes some moves, heath can't believe his good fortune. as he and john get to know one another, he has to deal with john leaving for an assignment. when john comes back, they both know that this is a relationship that they want to develop. unfortunately, someone has it in for john within his troop, and they have to decide what they want to do.
what i liked: the premise.
what i didn't like: TWO people with stream of consciousness vocalizing.
June 30, 2012
2.5 stars
A light, fluffy romance between John, who's in the Army, and Heath, a waiter in his grandmother's café. The story's plot is pretty simple, and there isn't a great deal of depth to the characters either. There is some humour and we're reunited with Chuck (who is John's oldest brother) and Herb from Why I Love Geeks. I felt two scenarios , were treated far more lightly than they deserved but it is in keeping with the overall style of the novel.
A light, fluffy romance between John, who's in the Army, and Heath, a waiter in his grandmother's café. The story's plot is pretty simple, and there isn't a great deal of depth to the characters either. There is some humour and we're reunited with Chuck (who is John's oldest brother) and Herb from Why I Love Geeks. I felt two scenarios , were treated far more lightly than they deserved but it is in keeping with the overall style of the novel.
March 3, 2017
Why I Love Waiters a book in a series, but it stands alone pretty well.
Why I love Waiters is John and Heath's story. We hear about John in How I love Geeks. John is Chuck's brother, lives in Georgia and is in the Military. He has met Heath and found himself more than attracted to the cute little waiter, but in his line of work and their town, neither of them would be safe if they were to come out.
First I am going to say, the story is cute, but It had a lot of Chuck and Herb in it. Especially Herb even on the phone. There was so much of Herb rambling that to me it got a bit obnoxious.I wish the story had focused more on John and Heath.
Having said that, the story is fast and fun and very cute. It is a feel-good romance that will make you laugh and warm your heart.
If you like military men, police detectives, waiters, geeks and a cute, hot romance, this is for you!
Why I love Waiters is John and Heath's story. We hear about John in How I love Geeks. John is Chuck's brother, lives in Georgia and is in the Military. He has met Heath and found himself more than attracted to the cute little waiter, but in his line of work and their town, neither of them would be safe if they were to come out.
First I am going to say, the story is cute, but It had a lot of Chuck and Herb in it. Especially Herb even on the phone. There was so much of Herb rambling that to me it got a bit obnoxious.I wish the story had focused more on John and Heath.
Having said that, the story is fast and fun and very cute. It is a feel-good romance that will make you laugh and warm your heart.
If you like military men, police detectives, waiters, geeks and a cute, hot romance, this is for you!
September 5, 2011
Rating is 3.5 stars.
This is a sweet short story that was originally presented as a serialized book on the author's website. It is also a sequel to Why I Love Geeks, and in fact, the main characters of that book are almost more prominent than the actual main characters of this story. Even the HEA was theirs.
And whose idea was that dreadful 70s cover?
I'm sorry to say this book did not live up to my expectations but is probably worth a recommendation for TA Chase fans, of which I remain a faithful, if slightly disappointed one.
This is a sweet short story that was originally presented as a serialized book on the author's website. It is also a sequel to Why I Love Geeks, and in fact, the main characters of that book are almost more prominent than the actual main characters of this story. Even the HEA was theirs.
And whose idea was that dreadful 70s cover?
I'm sorry to say this book did not live up to my expectations but is probably worth a recommendation for TA Chase fans, of which I remain a faithful, if slightly disappointed one.
August 10, 2011
I really enjoyed "Why I Love Geeks" and the character of Herb - I gave that novel 5 stars. However, in this sequel, John and Heath did not grab me the same way. In fact, they annoyed me. Silly dialogue, unbelievable plot (lack of military research really threw me out of the story) and the over-the-top ending just put this book in the "do-not-read-again" pile. Shame, because I normally love TA Chase's books.
August 22, 2011
I enjoyed this book as I enjoy most of the stuff by T.A. Chase. It was an amusing short read that had me laughing out loud at times. Chase's writting as usual is smooth. It was good to catch up with characters from "Why I love Geeks". Truth be told although the characters were likeable I was never able to really invest myself in them. I will probably read this again (as I tend to do with most books I like), but it will be for when I'm in the mood for what I call popcorn reading.
August 7, 2011
This story was sweet and funny. But I have to admit, that the plot simply didn't work for me. Even the couple, Heath and John, they were so blank and uninterested characters. It was nearly boring reading story. I definitely didn't like Heath and all, and by sex scenes I never felt like "wow this was HOT", because it wasn't! But I did enjoy reading more about Chuck and Herbert.
October 16, 2016
I'm sad to say that I just found this book bad. And that's saying something seeing as I've been on a huge Siren spree lately. The idea of the story was okay but the writing was not good. I didn't really like either MC and their story was borderline ridiculous. I guess I was just expecting something....better.
dnf
August 31, 2011Sorry, can't take it anymore. Normally I really like books by TA Chase, but this one is getting on my nervs. I'm at about 65% and Heath and Herb behave like 15 year olds and their partners more like parents humoring the kids. No, doesn't work for me.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews