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Heart of Harmony Grove #3
Michael's Release
I didn’t plan on being a forty-something single parent, but here we are. Billy’s always been my rock, supporting me through thick and thin, even when he could have turned his back on me. But lately, my feelings for him have shifted into uncharted territory. What started as Billy helping me relax quickly turns intimate, uncovering desires I’ve refused to acknowledge. He's my safe space, allowing me to explore a world where someone else takes the lead. I'm terrified, but there's no one else I'd rather give this piece of myself to. Torn between our feelings and our fears, we face an impossible risk everything for love or retreat to the safety of our former lives. Will these steadfast friends finally take the leap into lifelong love? Immerse yourself in this emotional friends-to-lovers gay romance that proves home is wherever your heart is. Michael’s Release is the third book in the Heart of Harmony Grove series. This small town in the Midwest features strong family connections, both biological and found, well-meaning but meddling friends, and just a dash of kink to spice things up.
- GenresM M Romance
234 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 24, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
April 17, 2026
This really gripped me, Quinn. We're in Harmony Grove again. Michael has a son, Henry, who is 4 when the book starts. Michael also works for Mayor Thompson, who is a real piece of work. Billy works at Harmony House and meets James, who lives in an oppressive home. Michael calls Billy, who picks up Henry, who is ill, and brings him to Michael's. The two men and Henry dine with Billy's parents, who keep him for the night. It takes a while, but Michael and Billy become a couple. It works better than they expected. Billy meets James again at Harmony House and brings James home; they become a family of four. Billy's brother Danny brings over cookies and books for James. James understands that he's now part of the family. A social worker visits Billy and Michael to check on James, and she's on their side, but there's a hearing. A state case worker visits; she is mostly on their side as well. It ends up in court, and the Judge knows this isn't normal. He keeps James with Billy and Michael.
August 25, 2023
Michael's Release is aptly named and beautifully written. Michael takes on so much - being overworked, parenting his nephew/son and living with guilt from the past and he's holding on by a thread... Billy is there to step in to help shoulder the stress and maybe even give in to their mutual crushes on each other.
With very little actual relationship angst, the stresses from Michael and Billy's jobs, an extra house guest and other outside interference, we watch these two men navigate their lives and learn to thrive! This book was well paced and the issues presented were believable and presented in a way that does the story justice (and gets Justice too)
I look forward to the next book in the series! While this book could be read standalone, I think you'd enjoy it more if you read the series in order.
With very little actual relationship angst, the stresses from Michael and Billy's jobs, an extra house guest and other outside interference, we watch these two men navigate their lives and learn to thrive! This book was well paced and the issues presented were believable and presented in a way that does the story justice (and gets Justice too)
I look forward to the next book in the series! While this book could be read standalone, I think you'd enjoy it more if you read the series in order.
September 12, 2023
I wanted to love it, but...
I've really enjoyed all the Quinn Ward books I've read over the years until I read this mess. the formula was right and should have made for a sweet, sex read. Thanks to clunky ideas and sketchy execution, this one missed the mark.
*********************Spoiler Alert*****************
The worst for me was how blase Billy was about his change in sexual orientation. In fact, he only mentions once that he's supposedly straight and then never mentions it again. Ugh!
Hope the next on gets much better.?
I've really enjoyed all the Quinn Ward books I've read over the years until I read this mess. the formula was right and should have made for a sweet, sex read. Thanks to clunky ideas and sketchy execution, this one missed the mark.
*********************Spoiler Alert*****************
The worst for me was how blase Billy was about his change in sexual orientation. In fact, he only mentions once that he's supposedly straight and then never mentions it again. Ugh!
Hope the next on gets much better.?
August 22, 2023
I love Harmony Grove. Yes it still needs a little weeding but I think it’s getting there. There were so many moments in this story that moved me. Some made me sad and others made my heart hurt. But there were also some truly beautiful moments. I loved watching Michael and Billy go from friends to lovers. But my favorite moment was when Danny and Blake showed true unconditional love in the way they handled James’s choice. If only we could get a church to move and a mayor booted.
August 26, 2023
Engaging story
The plot of this book held my interest more than Teddy’s Temptation did. But I do think it needs a bit of suspension of disbelief about how the foster system works. I kinda wish the kink was a bigger part of the story as more of the plot was definitely focused on family dynamics.
The plot of this book held my interest more than Teddy’s Temptation did. But I do think it needs a bit of suspension of disbelief about how the foster system works. I kinda wish the kink was a bigger part of the story as more of the plot was definitely focused on family dynamics.
June 13, 2024
Thank goodness for Teen Centers!
Every town, city or metropolis should have a teen center available to all no matter what! Open to anyone, known as a safe place to be, open 24/7! I LOVED this story from the very beginning to the end, it had me tearing up so many times throughout the story. ENJOY!
Every town, city or metropolis should have a teen center available to all no matter what! Open to anyone, known as a safe place to be, open 24/7! I LOVED this story from the very beginning to the end, it had me tearing up so many times throughout the story. ENJOY!
August 25, 2023
I absolutely loved this story. This is such a wonderful world and I am really enjoying seeing all of these fascinating characters get their stories and Happy Ever Afters. These two were so cute together and I can’t wait to read the next story.
August 25, 2023
I loved seeing the relationship develop between these long time friends. Seeing them interact with each other and those around him. Billy's family is so amazing and love all the animals.
July 21, 2024
❤️❤️❤️
February 17, 2026
I really liked this friends to lovers romance! Michael and Billy fit together wonderfully. Lots of cute moments.
January 14, 2025
First read: August 30, 2023
Second read: January 14, 2025
3.5 stars
So, there is a major thing in this book that is a contradiction from what's stated in a previous book. Okay, so in the book that transitions between the books set in Annandale and the books set in Harmony Grove, Surrendering Desire, Danny is talking to Blake about his brothers and outright says that Anson runs Harmony House and that Billy does odd jobs and acts like he'll never grow up. In this book, however, where Billy is one of the protagonists, it is actually Billy who is a social worker and an approved foster parent and who runs Harmony House as their public face, and Anson does more of the behind-the-scenes things there. It's further implied later that it was also Billy's brain child to run Harmony House and that he had convinced his brothers to help him. This is an important part of Billy's character, and the plot would have had to be completely different if he were how Danny had originally described him. While I do understand that authors can sometimes change their minds about characters, especially when they go from barely present secondary characters to main characters, it just feels awkward to have such a big contradiction present in a connected universe.
Anyhow, there is also something else I found confusing in this story. When James is first tossed out by his parents for being gay, it's implied that they were his foster parents but later on, it indicates they were his biological parents. So, which was it?
Even with all its issues though, this book is my favorite in the Heart of Harmony Grove series.
Second read: January 14, 2025
3.5 stars
So, there is a major thing in this book that is a contradiction from what's stated in a previous book. Okay, so in the book that transitions between the books set in Annandale and the books set in Harmony Grove, Surrendering Desire, Danny is talking to Blake about his brothers and outright says that Anson runs Harmony House and that Billy does odd jobs and acts like he'll never grow up. In this book, however, where Billy is one of the protagonists, it is actually Billy who is a social worker and an approved foster parent and who runs Harmony House as their public face, and Anson does more of the behind-the-scenes things there. It's further implied later that it was also Billy's brain child to run Harmony House and that he had convinced his brothers to help him. This is an important part of Billy's character, and the plot would have had to be completely different if he were how Danny had originally described him. While I do understand that authors can sometimes change their minds about characters, especially when they go from barely present secondary characters to main characters, it just feels awkward to have such a big contradiction present in a connected universe.
Anyhow, there is also something else I found confusing in this story. When James is first tossed out by his parents for being gay, it's implied that they were his foster parents but later on, it indicates they were his biological parents. So, which was it?
Even with all its issues though, this book is my favorite in the Heart of Harmony Grove series.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews