Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Rooms for Romance #2

Diversion Plan

Rate this book
Brent Riddick has been up to his armpits in work ever since he started his job as the Truman School’s manager. He admits he probably qualifies as a workaholic, although he doesn’t really care. He’s simply more comfortable standing in front of a board meeting than sitting in a cocktail lounge and has no desire to examine his lack of a social life. So it isn’t a big deal to him that he sorta forgets it’s his birthday. Unfortunately his staff, led by the hotel’s sexiest troublemaker, Guthrie, remembers the occasion and Brent is begrudgingly forced to allow his co-workers to take him out for drinks. However, when all those birthday drinks go to Brent’s head and he ends up going home with an equally drunken Guthrie, things get a little more complicated.
Guthrie Walker is the kind of guy who always knows where the next party is happening. He also has a Plan B Party and a Plan C Party if his original party plans fall through. He’s still young and figures there’ll be plenty of time later to get serious about life. Drinking and dancing with his friends is definitely more fun than dealing with his messed up finances or dwelling on the festering rift with his family. So what if he occasionally drinks a little too much, does a few club drugs, comes in late to work a time or two, and suffers from an almost perpetual hangover? Everyone does it, right? Too bad the judge overseeing his case after Guthrie is arrested for drug possession doesn’t see things that way.
As if things weren’t messy enough, the court-ordered Diversion Plan requires Guthrie to enlist the help of his supervisor at work - who also happens to be one of Guthrie’s many one-night stands - if he wants to stay out of jail, retain his server’s license, and not lose his job. The hotel is already short-staffed and Brent is too much of a softie to say no to his desperate subordinate. Which is how Brent ends up vouching for Guthrie and agreeing to monitor his compliance with the court’s mandates. Now Brent just has to come up with a way to divert the party boy’s attention away from his club-scene past and himself away from lusting after his hot mess employee.

330 pages, ebook

Published April 21, 2023

5 people want to read

About the author

Tag Gregory

15 books37 followers
TAG has been living in Portland, Oregon, so long that it’s almost like being a native. They don’t even mind the rain that much anymore. TAG loves the city and the state with a passion. TAG has been writing for almost a decade, starting out with a hesitant toe in the realm of fanfiction before venturing into the scarier world of self-publishing original works. With an eclectic background as an attorney, microbiologist, all-around nerd, and adventurer, TAG brings to all their writing an off-kilter sense of humor, unbounded curiosity, a love of historical and contemporary details, and astonishing powers of research. If you are looking for a gripping story, with compelling characters that deal with real world issues, then you're in the right place.

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
7 (28%)
4 stars
9 (36%)
3 stars
9 (36%)
2 stars
0 (0%)
1 star
0 (0%)
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
Profile Image for Bizzy.
631 reviews
April 22, 2023
I liked the general idea of who these characters are and how their relationship developed, and in particular thought Guthrie’s journey with sobriety was well done (though perhaps could have been fleshed out more). I also liked reading a romance set in Portland, which is an underused locale in the romance world. Unfortunately I struggled a lot with the writing, especially the choice to write this in first person present. The characters do a lot of introspection, and that’s usually something I like, but here the writing style and POV make it sound like they were telling the reader all of their thoughts in an awkward reality show confessional instead of feeling like a window into their thoughts.

There were also some minor writing choices that bothered me, like the totally unnecessary mention of the characters going to a burlesque show and being “grossed out” by “bare titties.” This didn’t add anything to the story, and didn’t seem like an intentional choice to develop the characters, but rather an expression of the author’s own biases or beliefs about how gay men feel about women. Lack of attraction isn’t the same as disgust, and I don’t know why so many authors feel like they have to show their characters being disgusted by women’s bodies to “prove” they’re only attracted to men. Similarly, at multiple points the characters think of more flamboyant or femme men as “flaming queers” which is a really odd word choice that felt judgmental because the context was the characters explaining how different they were from those other people. The book has an overall vibe of being very accepting, which made these moments stand out more.

I received an ARC in exchange for my review.
Profile Image for NikNak.
626 reviews
April 18, 2023
My first book by this author.

This story follows Brent and Guthrie, told in a dual POV.
Both work at the same hotel and have a somewhat rocky working relationship that turns into a one night stand.
The story covers their fall out from this but also focuses on the different personalities of the two MCs. Brent is the responsible adult and Guthrie is the somewhat free spirited party animal.
Following a night of excessive drinking , Guthrie lands in some shit and Brent helps him through it.
Overall the story is probably what I would describe as pleasant, however the overall plot and characters lacked a little bit of zest to really pull me into the story.
A lot of the chapters followed a somewhat repetitive manner and could have potentially been cut down to avoid the reader losing interest.
However , a perfectly ok read.
Profile Image for Emily.
358 reviews12 followers
April 25, 2023
I really enjoyed book 1 of this series so was excited to jump back in at the Truman Room hotel.

Brett is the boss - a bit stiff and always professional; he tends to lose himself in his work. Guthrie is the laid back bartender/server, often showing up late or hungover because of his late night partying.

I had trouble getting into this book because I did not respect either MC. Guthrie was disrespectful to his boss and coworkers and should have been fired long ago. And Brett didn’t earn my respect because he allowed Guthrie to talk to him disrespectfully. Why would you find it hot when your employee talks rudely to you? Heck if I know. It made Brent seem a bit like a sad sap with no backbone.

I could see where it was headed though - Guthrie was headed for a fall and Brent was going to step up and be his safety net. The plot was well conceived and interesting as we continued, but I just didn’t find myself liking either MC enough to get invested in their journey. It takes Guthrie awhile to admit he even has a problem, which was realistic, but still grated on my nerves to read about his self centered behavior.

The 2 MCs do grow together as they connect through Guthrie’s diversion plan from the courts. They have good chemistry and have some sweet moments as well. I enjoyed the middle part of this book as they are falling for one another.

Guthrie’s family is terrible which is quite sad and does explain some of his early behavior. But Brent’s moment of weakness could have been done slightly better - it seemed abrupt and then not really explained or developed enough. The whole vibe of the book was 80% about Guthrie and his problems, so that just seemed almost thrown in.

The writing is good - descriptive, easy to follow, and enjoyable so I will continue to read books by the author. The characters in this one just didn’t hit the mark for me.

2.5/5 stars.
Profile Image for Louise Ryan.
432 reviews8 followers
April 20, 2023
This is my second read by this author and this series and I enjoyed this one just as much, if not more, than the first book. Brent and Guthrie were well-developed MCs and it felt like they had a genuine chemistry and connection from the off. They started off with a sort of frenemies relationship, as described from Brent’s POV but their relationship quickly evolved and they forged a cute friendship as the basis for their romantic relationship through their avoid-alcohol-at-all-costs activities. There was little to no angst from their relationship but some drama from Guthrie’s father which made sense given Guthrie’s circumstances but was a sad addition to the plot. However, it opened the door for Guthrie to rebuild his relationship with his mother and sister so there were HEAs all round.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for brownsoda.
308 reviews4 followers
April 28, 2023
This is my first experience with the author and I was able to continue without reading what came first. I was struck with the contrast MCs. Brett stiff awkward and Guthrie, "laid back' coming to work hungover. I tried really hard to be a fan of Guthrie. I just found him hard to love. Even when things come crashing around him, I really only think about how this affects Brett. By no means did I dislike this book, it was a good read. I just couldn't connect with MCs romance. I know this is my issue not the book. I will be checking out other books by this author. I received an arc copy from Gay Romance Reviews and this is my review
1,723 reviews14 followers
April 13, 2023
The story is engaging what with the “partying” situation of one m/c and his need for intervention. Both m/c’s play their part very well. The storyline has it’s merit, too, I will say I have a small negative comment. I found the “Christian bashing” to be a bit heterophobic. Never can I agree with discrimination in any way. Are their unkind people in every situation of life? Absolutely! I found the actions of the parent abhorrent but also the way he’s stereotyped just as sad. Stereotyping can go both ways and neither are acceptable. That being said, the m/c’s are both entertaining and their journey was great to watch so the overall review is one that I can encourage. I voluntarily reviewed an arc of this book.
Profile Image for Allyn.
533 reviews
April 26, 2023
Diversion Plan is a solid addition to the Rooms for Romance series. I love the descriptions of Portland and the happenings at the hotel. Brent and Guthrie have solid chemistry, and their banter is entertaining. They both help each other grow so much over the course of the story. I like how it deals with alcohol addiction and PTSD in real and respectful ways. However, it could use some editing. It gets a little repetitive at times, especially Brent’s constant internal monologue about how wrong it is for him to be with Guthrie. Overall, it’s really enjoyable.
17.1k reviews175 followers
April 26, 2023
He is a workaholic and is much happier in front of a board meeting than going to a saloon. Life is about to get interesting when they appear on the scene and makes him question where his life may go now. Can this be a new start to a different life? Will he fall for them? How will it all go? Follow them to find out
1,010 reviews3 followers
April 29, 2023
I really liked this book! Partly because it stomped all over my old stomping grounds of Portland and Eugene, but mostly because Guthrie and Brent are so stinking’ sweet and perfect together. I was a little skeptical of starting out a relationship with a court-ordered recovery plan, but the way Brent approached it with Disney princesses as a distraction was pretty adorable. Recommended!
Profile Image for Joyffree.
3,439 reviews62 followers
April 22, 2023
Diversion Plan by Tag Gregory is a heartwarming and funny romance novel about two men who find love in the most unexpected places.

Guthrie Walker is a party boy who loves to live in the moment. He's always up for a good time, and he doesn't care who knows it. Eventually, Guthrie takes his party lifestyle just a bit too far and ends up in front of a judge. He is forced to enlist Brent's help in order to avoid jail time.
Brent is his complete opposite. A serious and responsible man who takes his job very seriously. However, Brent agrees to help Guthrie, but only if he promises to stay out of trouble and get his life together.
As the two men work together, they begin to develop a friendship that neither of them expected. Guthrie starts to see that there is more to life than partying, and Brent starts to loosen up and have some fun.

Overall this was a good read and I will be looking for more work from this author.
Plenty of light moments and humor dotted within the personal growth and angst - well balanced
There were areas I felt the author sort of went a bit off focus - scenes and/or thoughts that were not IMO relevant
The 'rents definitely need an awakening
Profile Image for Splash.
310 reviews2 followers
April 25, 2023
This is book two in the series but can definitely be read as a stand-alone. I only read book one after finishing this one. The characters of the first book are only mentioned maybe once in the whole book, so you won't be missing out on much.
Though I do suggest reading book one because it's a good story.
But book one had one problem that this book had as well: too many long scenes that aren't that important to the story.
I mean, yes, it's nice they're taking a trip (book 1) and it's vital to their relationship and the author loves the Portland area. But I, as a reader not anywhere near Portland, don't need to read in major detail about all the things to see and do around Portland. It was already better done in book two than in book one, but the problem still occurred.
Another thing: the spacing is kinda odd.

If you didn't know yet: this book is about Brent, the responsible adult, a former nerd and therefore of course bullied in school, and Guthrie, party animal extraordinaire with a bit too much party. Since Guthrie has to be sober for a few months Brent comes up with a diversion plan. What I loved: the diversion plan wasn't sexual at all, despite them having had a one-night stand before. Instead, they got to know each other during this time and both learned to finally have some hobbies. Because Brent is - of course - a complete workaholic and Guthrie didn't really know what to do except party. So it was really nice seeing them kinda rebuilding their lives.

All in all it's a very enjoyable read.
514 reviews6 followers
April 26, 2023
This was a new to me author and the combination of the blurb and artwork in the cover intrigued me and I’m glad I took a chance on this one. This was a great story with some interesting characters and tackled some tough topics. This is book 2 in the series and I believe can be read as a standalone.

Guthrie and Brent are an interesting pair of MCs and their boss/employee relationship becomes complicated after a birthday celebration for Brent gets intense for the pair. Guthrie ends up in a bit of trouble some time after and Brent comes to his aid. I enjoyed seeing their relationship develop from the tangled bit of feelings and attraction in the beginning to something of trust where Brent finally feels able to open to Guthrie about his past and Guthrie knows he has someone who has his back despite the difficulties he has managing his sobriety and family issues.

Even though this was a fun opposites attract romance, there are some serious topics discussed with regard to Guthrie and his sobriety, his father’s negative and hostile attitude toward Guthrie and his sexuality and Brent’s history with his ex. I think the author handled these sensitive topics with care.

Looking forward to reading more from this author! I read a complimentary copy of this book and this is my honest and fair review.
Profile Image for Shana_Bobana.
406 reviews4 followers
April 26, 2023
This book had an overall great story concept but there were a few things that kept me from fully enjoying the story.

There will be spoilers in my review so be careful if you don’t want spoilers.

As far as the characters go they were interesting enough but sometimes I just did not like the way they spoke. There were multiple uses of the phrase “flaming queer” in a derogatory way. They were basically say “oh we’re not those kind of gay guys”. It made me feel gross just reading it. Also at one point in time the men talk about being grossed out at the women’s bare chest in a burlesque show and it added nothing to their characters. It came across as just a way to use the cliche that gay men find women gross. It didn’t make the characters any more interesting.

Also the first time they have sex they were both drunk but Gunthrie was so drunk he can’t remember it at all. That really didn’t work for me, and made me feel uncomfortable anytime it came up. The characters could have still hooked up drunk and regretted it, without one of them being blackout drunk.

I gave this book three stars because there were parts of it that I enjoyed but the points I mentioned above wouldn’t allow me give it anything higher than three. I am not sure if I will read any more books in this series.

I did receive a free ARC of this book but that did not influence my review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
328 reviews3 followers
April 25, 2023
OK, but not great. First off, that cover needs work. I like something that doesn't look like every other M/M romance out there (random hot guy facing reader from the chest up), but this isn't professional enough. (I kept wondering what that beer bottle thing on the right was supposed to be.)

My favorite thing about this book was the author's clear love for Portland and all the things there were to do there. It's neat seeing characters with a premise that requires them to do things other than drink and go to clubs.

I also liked that Brent's issues with dating an employee were handled in a mature, realistic fashion, but Guthrie wasn't particularly believable. The number of times we're told he screwed up and got black-out drunk... perhaps there really are people like that out there who do manage to keep their jobs without annoying all their co-workers, and I have been lucky enough not to meet them.

The two first getting together happens because of one of said drunken nights of debauchery, which wasn't believable for the Brent character either. In summary, I was rooting for these two, but I didn't fully engage with their story. Too much was too much plot device, and I found the swapping interior monologues a bit repetitive and also self-indulgent.
Profile Image for Juniper.
3,450 reviews25 followers
April 25, 2023
Brent and Guthrie’s growing connection allows both characters to shine in their own respective ways— the opposites-attract thing shows the both strength sand weaknesses for both, and while Guthrie’s issues are the ostensible catalyst for their deepening relationship, it’s not a one-sided thing by any means: he’s good for Brent too. Both are, for the most part, easy to like and care about, and the more readers get to see of who they are, the more that holds true. There’s something expansive about the writing style overall that at times pulled me in and at others, pushed me away a bit— I enjoyed seeing broad swathes of the characters experiences and the way the setting plays a vital role in their lives, but at times the momentum of the story itself seemed to lag a bit in the face of it all. All in all, however, an enjoyable read.

*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
5,029 reviews19 followers
April 27, 2023
Sometimes folks have to go through some things. Brent, has no social life, and he's ok with that. He's such a workaholic, that he forgets his birthday. Guthrie, a co-worker organizes a post work social for the crew. Guthrie, is the king of the party boys. He's a by any means necessary, have fun! Unfortunately, he lets his hi jinx take him too far and he ends up in legal trouble. He's dragging a heavy load familial, financial and general life. Brent, ends up overseeing Guthrie's compliance with court rulings. The author, lays these two bare and exposes us to who they really are. We get to watch the men get acquainted with their inner good guy. It's a hard read, but it's a true read and we end up feeling fulfilled and as if we succeeded also. Nicely done. I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Traci S.
2,151 reviews16 followers
April 26, 2023
3.5⭐️
I read the previous book in this series and quite enjoyed it as well. The writing style is very engaging, the two main characters are well developed, and the setting is very lively. Plus, I thought the diversion plan dates were a sweet and creative premise. Brent and Guthrie are very different in personality and the author did a strong job giving each character a distinct voice. It is maybe a bit long at times and I didn’t love some of the choices in negative language, but there is a lot of good storytelling here as well. Guthrie and Brent are a great fit and I especially enjoyed seeing Guthrie put his life back on track with Brent’s help.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
Profile Image for Kitty.
842 reviews25 followers
April 21, 2023
This was a sweet book that I really enjoyed. Brent is Guthrie's boss, and has basically signed up to ensure he won't get into any trouble. I enjoyed the dates and fun days out they had, it frequently made me laugh out loud, and I loved the romantic buildup as Brent gave in to his feelings. It was great to see a couple that work and have fun outside of the bedroom, although the bedroom scenes were definitely not lacking, I was absolutely astonished by the Mystery Box, I hadn't seen that coming at all. Although I felt the second half of the book was a little slower, I still enjoyed it overall and would be happy to read more by this author.
3,613 reviews38 followers
April 23, 2023
The two main characters are opposites in so many ways.
But when a poor choice is made by Guthrie, Brent steps up to help him stay out of jail and keep his job.
In addition, he agrees to be his 'support system'...there for him day and night.
Which of course adds some spice to their relationship.

As Guthrie leaves his love of alcohol and partying behind, he discovers other pleasurable things with Brent.
They have lots of 'dates' and long discussions.
Best of all, they follow through on their attraction to each other.

A wonderful second book in the unforgettable series.

Tag is an author you're going to want to read more of!
3,035 reviews46 followers
April 25, 2023
While Brent and Guthrie are true opposites they truly do give wonderful balance to each other's lives. Brent is the responsible adult and Guthrie is the somewhat free spirited party animal who doesn't have boundaries. When Guthrie is faced with court action Brent steps in to help him show a more moderate life style.
The more time they spend together the more their initial attraction for each other grows.
There is plenty of light moments sprinkled in amongst the more challenging life changes that occur.
I enjoyed this story.
Profile Image for K-Me.
3,009 reviews
April 20, 2023
Guthrie is an extreme partier. Brent is very responsible. Yes, Opposites attract. Guthrie needs Brent and Brent comes to his rescuer. And Brent actually needs Guthrie too. He brings out Brent's better more creative side. I have personally never enjoyed so many Alcohol-Free activities myself! Although it originates from Guthrie's party problem, the relationship itself is based on finding a real happiness. Very clever storyline and I really liked these two!
Profile Image for Ida Umphers.
5,683 reviews48 followers
April 27, 2023
Talk about opposites, Brent is the no-nonsense, nose to the grindstone type and Guthrie starts out as the worst nightmare of an employee, playing around, drinking to excess, drugs, and a very blase attitude about time and responsibilities. I was sure from the blurb I was going to hate him, lol. Kudos to Tag Gregory that we and Brent come to understand Guthrie and root for the two of them to get together. These two both have some things to learn from each other.
Profile Image for Amanda Reeves.
3,938 reviews39 followers
April 22, 2023
This is the second book in the Rooms for Romance series. I really enjoyed the story and the wonderful characters.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews