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Stewart Realty #4
Essence of Time
For years, Rob Frietag has resisted anything resembling a true emotional connection, preferring instead to explore life, and his own desires, without committing to anyone for very long. The reason remains known only to a few, among them Jack Gordon, his college cohort in female conquests, and life-long friend. At thirty-seven, while he is close to achieving his career goal, head chef at a five-star restaurant in Chicago, he is still very much alone.
After an intensely emotional relationship with Suzanne Baxter in Ann Arbor, Blake's heart is left shattered. Completely broken by what he believes was his one true love, he arrives at a Chicago food and beer festival, prepared to drink his sorrow away. When the two men meet, their lives change forever. But time is of the essence. When Rob acknowledges his true feelings, he will stop at nothing to keep them together, including finding a surrogate mother for the child Blake so desperately wants.
Lila Warren is recovering from a nasty divorce, needs cash and believes carrying their baby will fulfill her in ways marriage never did. None of them could suspect that the connection they share would provide the final emotional key to their life-long puzzle.
When Rob s secret is revealed, time becomes the one luxury they don't have, setting in motion a chain of events that destroys the fragile illusion of happiness for them, and everyone who loves them.
After an intensely emotional relationship with Suzanne Baxter in Ann Arbor, Blake's heart is left shattered. Completely broken by what he believes was his one true love, he arrives at a Chicago food and beer festival, prepared to drink his sorrow away. When the two men meet, their lives change forever. But time is of the essence. When Rob acknowledges his true feelings, he will stop at nothing to keep them together, including finding a surrogate mother for the child Blake so desperately wants.
Lila Warren is recovering from a nasty divorce, needs cash and believes carrying their baby will fulfill her in ways marriage never did. None of them could suspect that the connection they share would provide the final emotional key to their life-long puzzle.
When Rob s secret is revealed, time becomes the one luxury they don't have, setting in motion a chain of events that destroys the fragile illusion of happiness for them, and everyone who loves them.
332 pages, Paperback
First published June 23, 2012
About the author
Liz Crowe
100 books1,229 followersLiz Crowe is a Kentucky native and graduate of the University of Louisville living in South Carolina. She's spent her time as a three-continent expat trailing spouse, mom of three, real estate agent, brewery owner and bar manager, and is currently a digital marketing and fundraising consultant, in addition to being an award-winning author.
The Liz Crowe backlist has something for any reader seeking complex storylines with humor and complete casts of characters that will delight and linger in the imagination long after the book is finished.
Her favorite things to do when she’s not scrolling social media for cute animal videos is walk her dogs, cuddle her cats, and watch her favorite sports teams while scrolling social media for cute animal videos.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
July 1, 2012
Liz Crowe has done it again with her book Essence Of Time. It is an amazing and wonderful story of Rob and Blake, two entirely different young men with similar emotional needs. I have absolutely loved every book that Liz Crowe has written but when I started reading this book, I found myself not wanting to like these two men. HOWEVER, that was not to be. Liz's awesome genius spun a separate storyline for each character making it impossible not to fall head-over-heels for them. She gives a detailed background of each one that explains where they are physically and emotionally. Then she brings them together in their own story. I was hooked and absolutely fell in love with Rob and Blake. Liz then introduces us to a third character named Lila who adds a whole new perspective to their relationship. I am not going to even hint at any details except to say that the intensity of their relationship is so emotionally gripping that you will not be disappointed. Liz Crowe...I will say it again, you are a genius. I didn't think that any book would get to me the way that Closing Costs did but I was so wrong. I wept like a baby reading the last few chapters. You have a gift of taking the reader through every emotion possible. Thank you for an awesome book and a truly wonderful ride.
March 28, 2013
I'm not sure I should be reviewing this book right now. My mind was just blown to smithereens, my libido is off the richter scale and my heart is broken.
I'll go ahead and confess that I've read book 1 in the Stewart Realty series because I got it for $.99. I went to grab the second in the series, because who doesn't love a manwhore? I I didn't buy any more because $3.99 for less than 200 pages is a bit steep in my opinion.
Last week I see this book is $.99 so I buy it thinking it's going to be like the other book...all hot steamy and angsty....ha, not so much. This is truly a sleeper! Liz Crowe is a genius. To write across decades with a group of friends, intertwining their lives and hearts (and other body parts) made for a spectacular read!
Regardless of the cost, I'm going back to get all of this series! Well played, Liz, with your "I'll hook them with a couple at $.99" ploy! This book was such a bargain, I don't care what the others cost.
I'll go ahead and confess that I've read book 1 in the Stewart Realty series because I got it for $.99. I went to grab the second in the series, because who doesn't love a manwhore? I I didn't buy any more because $3.99 for less than 200 pages is a bit steep in my opinion.
Last week I see this book is $.99 so I buy it thinking it's going to be like the other book...all hot steamy and angsty....ha, not so much. This is truly a sleeper! Liz Crowe is a genius. To write across decades with a group of friends, intertwining their lives and hearts (and other body parts) made for a spectacular read!
Regardless of the cost, I'm going back to get all of this series! Well played, Liz, with your "I'll hook them with a couple at $.99" ploy! This book was such a bargain, I don't care what the others cost.
June 14, 2012
EOT left me completely heartbroken to say the least. I'm a huge Liz fan and really enjoyed this story except for the ending. Although it encounters twists and turns near the end I still felt ripped apart. The story itself was good. I enjoyed learning about Rob and Jack ad college students and the experiences they faced that turned them into the men we love. The story of Rob and Blakes relationship was beautiful. I couldn't give half ratings but EOT is 4.5 stars!! Great job Liz!
February 15, 2014
Essence of Time is book four in the Stewart Realty series by Liz Crowe. This is the amazing and breathtaking story of Rob and Blake, and it is BY FAR my favorite book of the four. Jack and Sara’s story (books 1, 2 and 3) was thoroughly enjoyable, and utterly erotic. Rob and Blake’s story, however, an unparalleled story of love, with all its many complexities.
Blake Thornton is Sara’s brother. We meet him in the first three installments of this series, but Essence of Time gives us the backstory of Blake’s relationship first with Suzanne, and then with Rob Frietag, Jack’s long-time friend and former co-participant in the carnal experiences of college life. Author Liz Crowe fills in the missing pieces that are merely hinted at in in the first books of the series, but Essence of Time invites the reader to experience the deep commitment and unwavering devotion that is Blake and Rob’s love story.
I was thoroughly captivated by the events in this book. It held me spellbound and kept me voraciously turning pages from the very beginning. Blake and Rob’s relationship is intense. They are head-strong men with pasts that still haunt them both to some degree. But despite their differences, Blake and Rob love powerfully – emotionally, as well as physically. Ms. Crowe writes some of the most potently erotic scenes I’ve ever read. Theirs is not just a physical connection, however; it’s emotional and passionate and intensely arousing.
To say anything too specific about the plot of the story would be doing Ms. Crowe (and potential readers) a disservice. Suffice it to say that the story took turns (several of them) that rendered me breathless, with my heart in my throat. Just one word of warning: Do Not, I repeat, DO NOT read this book in public, unless, of course, you are willing to explain to perfect strangers why you are crying inconsolably. “Shredded” is the only word that accurately describes what this book did to me, and the proof is in the evidence that it’s taken me three weeks to muster up the nerve to re-visit the story in my head long enough to write a review. Bravo, Liz Crowe. Essence of Time is masterful storytelling!
Five+ intense, emotional, beautifully-written stars!
Blake Thornton is Sara’s brother. We meet him in the first three installments of this series, but Essence of Time gives us the backstory of Blake’s relationship first with Suzanne, and then with Rob Frietag, Jack’s long-time friend and former co-participant in the carnal experiences of college life. Author Liz Crowe fills in the missing pieces that are merely hinted at in in the first books of the series, but Essence of Time invites the reader to experience the deep commitment and unwavering devotion that is Blake and Rob’s love story.
I was thoroughly captivated by the events in this book. It held me spellbound and kept me voraciously turning pages from the very beginning. Blake and Rob’s relationship is intense. They are head-strong men with pasts that still haunt them both to some degree. But despite their differences, Blake and Rob love powerfully – emotionally, as well as physically. Ms. Crowe writes some of the most potently erotic scenes I’ve ever read. Theirs is not just a physical connection, however; it’s emotional and passionate and intensely arousing.
To say anything too specific about the plot of the story would be doing Ms. Crowe (and potential readers) a disservice. Suffice it to say that the story took turns (several of them) that rendered me breathless, with my heart in my throat. Just one word of warning: Do Not, I repeat, DO NOT read this book in public, unless, of course, you are willing to explain to perfect strangers why you are crying inconsolably. “Shredded” is the only word that accurately describes what this book did to me, and the proof is in the evidence that it’s taken me three weeks to muster up the nerve to re-visit the story in my head long enough to write a review. Bravo, Liz Crowe. Essence of Time is masterful storytelling!
Five+ intense, emotional, beautifully-written stars!
June 14, 2012
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The Essence of Time by Liz Crowe is 4th book in her Realtors Series; it arguably the best of the 4.
Liz does an amazing job creating backstory for characters from Floor Time, Sweat Equity and Closing Costs. It provides true prospective into many of the decisions they make and made in the prior books; decisions that on the surface were beyond frustrating but with the backstory make so much sense.
Liz's ability to develop more than just two main characters provides the Essence of Time with so many layers. You will enjoy watching them all interact as their story develops. This story has wonderful and very sexy love scenes that intertwine with the raw emotions associated with building and maintaining a long-term relationship.
This book is engaging; a true can't put me down read.
Liz's writing compels you to become engaged with her characters; you will find yourself truly vested in their relationships and well being.
It is the kind of book that sits with you after you are done; sitting and wanting more.
I highly recommend this book and the other three in the series; prior to reading Fifty Shades a few months ago I had not read in years (everyone knows the busy life drill); I then started to read all the time; tried a few books but nothing special until I found Liz's The Realtors Series, it is truly captivating!
I think I am more obsessed with these characters than I was with Christian. Liz's character developing is great; and her female characters are strong and relatable to most women. Her male characters strong, vulnerable, and driven to show they women in their lives how much they need to love them.
Liz pleased keep up the wonderful story telling!
Shh Mom's Reading
www.shhmomsreading.com
and join the conversation at
www.facebook.com/ShhMomsReading
@shhmomsreading
The Essence of Time by Liz Crowe is 4th book in her Realtors Series; it arguably the best of the 4.
Liz does an amazing job creating backstory for characters from Floor Time, Sweat Equity and Closing Costs. It provides true prospective into many of the decisions they make and made in the prior books; decisions that on the surface were beyond frustrating but with the backstory make so much sense.
Liz's ability to develop more than just two main characters provides the Essence of Time with so many layers. You will enjoy watching them all interact as their story develops. This story has wonderful and very sexy love scenes that intertwine with the raw emotions associated with building and maintaining a long-term relationship.
This book is engaging; a true can't put me down read.
Liz's writing compels you to become engaged with her characters; you will find yourself truly vested in their relationships and well being.
It is the kind of book that sits with you after you are done; sitting and wanting more.
I highly recommend this book and the other three in the series; prior to reading Fifty Shades a few months ago I had not read in years (everyone knows the busy life drill); I then started to read all the time; tried a few books but nothing special until I found Liz's The Realtors Series, it is truly captivating!
I think I am more obsessed with these characters than I was with Christian. Liz's character developing is great; and her female characters are strong and relatable to most women. Her male characters strong, vulnerable, and driven to show they women in their lives how much they need to love them.
Liz pleased keep up the wonderful story telling!
March 29, 2014
OMG! Talk about being blown away!... Get ready for one of the biggest emotional roller coaster rides ever!! ... This is not a genre I choose when buying books, but it was given to me in exchange for an honest review... I had previously read the first 3 short stories in this series & I recommend you read them first before this book 4 ... They were very good reads, but this is way above & beyond the others & my favorite Liz Crowe book so far! ...
At first, I was skeptical as to whether I would like this long story, but Ms. Crowe now has me hooked on her writing style!... The words & details are so gripping that I felt like I was pulled into the story with the characters :o ... So many ups & downs, good times & sad would leave me emotionally drained each time I read!... As much as I wanted to keep turning the pages after quite a few chapters, I would have to step away, shake my head, look around and remind myself that I was reading fiction, not living in it!! ... Then towards the end of this book, there will be twists & turns you will never see coming that almost made me mad at the Author :o lol ... So yes, I highly recommend this 5 STAR MUST READ to all fiction lovers of any genre! ... I can’t wait to get the rest of the books in this Stewart Realty series :)
At first, I was skeptical as to whether I would like this long story, but Ms. Crowe now has me hooked on her writing style!... The words & details are so gripping that I felt like I was pulled into the story with the characters :o ... So many ups & downs, good times & sad would leave me emotionally drained each time I read!... As much as I wanted to keep turning the pages after quite a few chapters, I would have to step away, shake my head, look around and remind myself that I was reading fiction, not living in it!! ... Then towards the end of this book, there will be twists & turns you will never see coming that almost made me mad at the Author :o lol ... So yes, I highly recommend this 5 STAR MUST READ to all fiction lovers of any genre! ... I can’t wait to get the rest of the books in this Stewart Realty series :)
October 11, 2014
It takes a special gift to put words together in such a way that it causes people to laugh or cry, sometimes within the context of one chapter. Author Liz Crowe demonstrates that not only is she a master at weaving a storyline featuring believable characters, but she delivers an exceptional reading experience.
Although Essence of Time contains elements of ménage and bisexual relationships that may be uncomfortable for some readers, it is first and foremost a love story. This particular book focuses on Rob, Blake and Lila, with the whole Stewart Realty team featured. After reading Essence of Time, I am eager to read more about the characters. The author has made a name for herself with the WHA (What Happens After), which means readers don't have to say goodbye to beloved characters.
Not only is the writing impressive, but the author provides some rather unexpected plot twists that definitely captured my attention. I would classify this as an "intense" read with scorching love scenes and some mind blowing angst.
Although Essence of Time contains elements of ménage and bisexual relationships that may be uncomfortable for some readers, it is first and foremost a love story. This particular book focuses on Rob, Blake and Lila, with the whole Stewart Realty team featured. After reading Essence of Time, I am eager to read more about the characters. The author has made a name for herself with the WHA (What Happens After), which means readers don't have to say goodbye to beloved characters.
Not only is the writing impressive, but the author provides some rather unexpected plot twists that definitely captured my attention. I would classify this as an "intense" read with scorching love scenes and some mind blowing angst.
April 13, 2013
Where do I start? This book left me in shambles….and I had to let several days pass before I could write a review. I loved this book!! The story was emotionally gripping, full of drama, hot sex and couldn’t have been better written. Liz gives us several story lines to follow, Rob, Blake and Lila, which merge together so seamlessly throughout the book. I loved the relationship between Rob and Blake! It was a truly beautiful love they shared. I will admit that this book left me utterly heart-broken and took a plot twist that I swear I never saw coming and had me crying ugly tears! Liz Crowe does it once again!
March 26, 2013
3.75 stars
This long story took a long time to get the characters together. This is my first of the Stewart Realty Book so maybe that's the way they all are. You really get to know their backstory when they finally meet.
Rob and Jack meet in college. They are womanizing, drunk roomies. As they go their separate ways they keep in touch and stay in the same circle of friends even living on different continents. They each find love in their own way and it is so intertwined they could have been from a Tennessee trailer park.
This long story took a long time to get the characters together. This is my first of the Stewart Realty Book so maybe that's the way they all are. You really get to know their backstory when they finally meet.
Rob and Jack meet in college. They are womanizing, drunk roomies. As they go their separate ways they keep in touch and stay in the same circle of friends even living on different continents. They each find love in their own way and it is so intertwined they could have been from a Tennessee trailer park.
December 11, 2018
I was not sure of this book at the start after finishing the others in this series...Man am I glad I finished. I am not one to write reviews, but this one deserves one! I can't tell you the last time a book tugged at my heart strings. Big fat tears here, I totally did not see that coming. Great Book!
January 5, 2014
Review originally posted at Ramblings From This Chick
Essence of Time is the fourth book in the Stewart Realty series by Liz Crowe. I had not read any of the other books in the series before reading this book and I read this one easily as a standalone. I will say that because of that I really had no idea what to expect with this book and I didn't have a clue the emotional wringer that this book would run me through. This book was really good don't get me wrong, but it was absolutely heartbreaking at times. Prepare yourself ahead of time and have the tissues on hand with this one.
Rob Frietag has lived his life making no commitments, and making as few emotional connections as possible. He tends to run when things get close to that, and there are very few people who know the reason behind that. His best friend Jack Gordon is one of the few that knows everything, and they spent their college years enjoying life to the fullest. Rob throws everything into making a successful career as a chef and is finally realizing his dream in his late thirties. Blake Thornton is trying to drown his sorrows after the end of his emotional relationship with Suzanne Baxter when he attends a beer festival in Chicago when he meets Rob. Rob helps take care of him after he ends up drunk and alone. Rob and Blake instantly hit it off and find a connection with one another that they both didn't expect or want.Through their ups and downs Blake and Rob finally accept everything between them and are ready to spend their lives together. Rob will stop at nothing to make Blake happy, and will do everything he can to find a way to give Blake the one thing he can't. When they talk to Blake's sister Sara, she tells them of a single mother looking to make some money after a terrible divorce. Lila Warren has a young daughter and will get pregnant for them in order to care for her child. But when Lila doesn't get pregnant right away, they all begin to realize that they are growing attached to each other. Lila finds a relationship with Blake and Rob to be everything that she has been missing and they grow to love her as much as they love each other. But with Rob's secret hanging over their heads, time quickly becomes the one thing they don't have.
I really loved Rob and Blake. They were both so great in completely different ways. But their relationship worked so well because they were the perfect compliment to one another. Their road wasn't easy, but it showed just how strong their connection was once they finally came together. Rob and Blake were able to share their passion for cooking and brewing together, and I loved that they opened up a place together. I liked seeing them share so much passion outside of the bedroom as well as inside. They were so hot together and had off the charts chemistry. But the beauty of their relationship was in the emotional bond that they shared. I will admit that I didn't like Lila right off. I honestly didn't want anyone to come in between the guys, and at first she did. I thought that she was not needed in their relationship and that they could have found someone else to give them what they wanted without causing problems between them. But she did grow on me, and I saw that they were both falling for her as she was for them. It was a struggle at times to merge their relationship from being two to being three, especially with her daughter involved as well. But I think it was worth it and that it was what was right for all of them in the end. It was great that they had such a support system and that they all had one another to lean on.
I knew this book was going to break my heart from the moment I found out what Rob's secret was. I honestly didn't know exactly how things would go, but I knew something had to happen and it wasn't going to be good. I can honestly say I was surprised with what happened, and yes it broke my heart but not in the way I had expected. I am still heartbroken about what happened, and I think that this is one of those that will always stay with me because I absolutely loved these characters so much. It was so hard to get through this one at times, especially the last 30% or so. It was so worth the read, but it was just emotionally draining to say the least. I will say that the reason this book is a 4 star for me rather than a 5 star is because of how this book was done. It was divided into portions based on the characters, and that felt disjointed and choppy to me. It took me a really long time to get into this book because I felt like it was slow to get to the relationship. Yes we got a lot of back-story, and it was great to see what each of the guys had been through, but I just struggled with the format. I have to say that this book was still a really great read though, and it made me want to instantly go back and read all the rest of the books in the series. I highly recommend this story, and I think that it was beautiful even as it was breaking my heart. I can't wait to read the rest in this series, and I look forward to reading more from Liz Crowe in the future. Next time I will be better prepared and have tissues at the ready though.
**Review Copy Provided by Book Enthusiast Promotions**
Essence of Time is the fourth book in the Stewart Realty series by Liz Crowe. I had not read any of the other books in the series before reading this book and I read this one easily as a standalone. I will say that because of that I really had no idea what to expect with this book and I didn't have a clue the emotional wringer that this book would run me through. This book was really good don't get me wrong, but it was absolutely heartbreaking at times. Prepare yourself ahead of time and have the tissues on hand with this one.
Rob Frietag has lived his life making no commitments, and making as few emotional connections as possible. He tends to run when things get close to that, and there are very few people who know the reason behind that. His best friend Jack Gordon is one of the few that knows everything, and they spent their college years enjoying life to the fullest. Rob throws everything into making a successful career as a chef and is finally realizing his dream in his late thirties. Blake Thornton is trying to drown his sorrows after the end of his emotional relationship with Suzanne Baxter when he attends a beer festival in Chicago when he meets Rob. Rob helps take care of him after he ends up drunk and alone. Rob and Blake instantly hit it off and find a connection with one another that they both didn't expect or want.Through their ups and downs Blake and Rob finally accept everything between them and are ready to spend their lives together. Rob will stop at nothing to make Blake happy, and will do everything he can to find a way to give Blake the one thing he can't. When they talk to Blake's sister Sara, she tells them of a single mother looking to make some money after a terrible divorce. Lila Warren has a young daughter and will get pregnant for them in order to care for her child. But when Lila doesn't get pregnant right away, they all begin to realize that they are growing attached to each other. Lila finds a relationship with Blake and Rob to be everything that she has been missing and they grow to love her as much as they love each other. But with Rob's secret hanging over their heads, time quickly becomes the one thing they don't have.
I really loved Rob and Blake. They were both so great in completely different ways. But their relationship worked so well because they were the perfect compliment to one another. Their road wasn't easy, but it showed just how strong their connection was once they finally came together. Rob and Blake were able to share their passion for cooking and brewing together, and I loved that they opened up a place together. I liked seeing them share so much passion outside of the bedroom as well as inside. They were so hot together and had off the charts chemistry. But the beauty of their relationship was in the emotional bond that they shared. I will admit that I didn't like Lila right off. I honestly didn't want anyone to come in between the guys, and at first she did. I thought that she was not needed in their relationship and that they could have found someone else to give them what they wanted without causing problems between them. But she did grow on me, and I saw that they were both falling for her as she was for them. It was a struggle at times to merge their relationship from being two to being three, especially with her daughter involved as well. But I think it was worth it and that it was what was right for all of them in the end. It was great that they had such a support system and that they all had one another to lean on.
I knew this book was going to break my heart from the moment I found out what Rob's secret was. I honestly didn't know exactly how things would go, but I knew something had to happen and it wasn't going to be good. I can honestly say I was surprised with what happened, and yes it broke my heart but not in the way I had expected. I am still heartbroken about what happened, and I think that this is one of those that will always stay with me because I absolutely loved these characters so much. It was so hard to get through this one at times, especially the last 30% or so. It was so worth the read, but it was just emotionally draining to say the least. I will say that the reason this book is a 4 star for me rather than a 5 star is because of how this book was done. It was divided into portions based on the characters, and that felt disjointed and choppy to me. It took me a really long time to get into this book because I felt like it was slow to get to the relationship. Yes we got a lot of back-story, and it was great to see what each of the guys had been through, but I just struggled with the format. I have to say that this book was still a really great read though, and it made me want to instantly go back and read all the rest of the books in the series. I highly recommend this story, and I think that it was beautiful even as it was breaking my heart. I can't wait to read the rest in this series, and I look forward to reading more from Liz Crowe in the future. Next time I will be better prepared and have tissues at the ready though.
**Review Copy Provided by Book Enthusiast Promotions**
October 8, 2014
5 Grand Stars 10 if I were able
I was given this book for my honest review.
Please before you get down to reading this one of a kind legend get the following supplies, boxes of tissues, favorite ice-cream, blanket, get into your comfy chair, put the lock on the door with the DO NOT DISTURB SIGN, tell the family it’s pizza hut night and TURN OFF THE CELL PHONE.
Jack-hunky, cute, scared
Rob-hot and closed off but sexy as heck
Sara-scared, pretty
Blake-young, hot and confused
This is Rob’s journey to finding himself with in the universe. He is a man of little words and when he does speak he speaks volumes above the rest. Rob has been on a quest to finding the things that are unattainable to what he really wants. He can be hard at times and come off as crass and heartless but this is because of the turmoil and the strength that his childhood provided. This man is heck bent of keeping his heart closed from love. Does this man find love?
The close circle of friends that has become Rob’s safe haven is special in itself. He keeps his secret that he has been dealing with all of his life close to his heart and rarely lets anyone close to it for fear that the secret that he keeps may ultimately be his end. Is keeping said secret the way to for him to live his life with a constant fear of the unknown happening? If the unknown happens to come around again will he be able to deal with it or just give in? This is the one fear that keeps him from letting love into his heart.
Blake is a young stud that has been hurt by the best of women. He wears his heart on his sleeve though with that comes hurt by all around. Leaving life up to chance has always been fine till one night he gets so off the wall blitzed that he can’t remember getting to where he is at. A strange feeling of serenity comes about him not knowing why or how he got to this point he fears that when waking up and staring into a man’s eyes his stud goes on full alert in a very good way but frightening to. Is Blake now attracted to the opposite sex? Can he admit to himself that the man with the sparkling eyes can see into his soul? Can he let said man into his soul? This is different in so many ways for him but at the same time feels right.
Blake and Rob’s journey together is so phenomenal is so many ways though Rob has been around the world and has experienced life with women and men he feels that this one connection to Blake hits his soul completely but with fear of the unknown that lurks with every breath he takes. Can Rob and Blake make it together? Can Rob show Blake that that being with a man is just as satisfying as being with a woman but with more of a connection that neither has felt before? Can Rob let go and tell Blake of his secret that he fears may be the end for them? This is their story.
What about Jack? Does Jack find his true happiness? Did Sara find her happiness with in also?
To the author this was one absolute amazing read that had me from page 1 and tugged at my heartstrings till the very end. There is no doubt from this reviewer that you are one amazing talented writer and you definitely know how to keep your readers surprised at every turn. I wish I was able to give you more than the 5 stars because of this out of this world read that kept surprising me till the very last page.
Did I forget to mention that the sex is way way hot hot and more hot?
Happy Reading
I was given this book for my honest review.
Please before you get down to reading this one of a kind legend get the following supplies, boxes of tissues, favorite ice-cream, blanket, get into your comfy chair, put the lock on the door with the DO NOT DISTURB SIGN, tell the family it’s pizza hut night and TURN OFF THE CELL PHONE.
Jack-hunky, cute, scared
Rob-hot and closed off but sexy as heck
Sara-scared, pretty
Blake-young, hot and confused
This is Rob’s journey to finding himself with in the universe. He is a man of little words and when he does speak he speaks volumes above the rest. Rob has been on a quest to finding the things that are unattainable to what he really wants. He can be hard at times and come off as crass and heartless but this is because of the turmoil and the strength that his childhood provided. This man is heck bent of keeping his heart closed from love. Does this man find love?
The close circle of friends that has become Rob’s safe haven is special in itself. He keeps his secret that he has been dealing with all of his life close to his heart and rarely lets anyone close to it for fear that the secret that he keeps may ultimately be his end. Is keeping said secret the way to for him to live his life with a constant fear of the unknown happening? If the unknown happens to come around again will he be able to deal with it or just give in? This is the one fear that keeps him from letting love into his heart.
Blake is a young stud that has been hurt by the best of women. He wears his heart on his sleeve though with that comes hurt by all around. Leaving life up to chance has always been fine till one night he gets so off the wall blitzed that he can’t remember getting to where he is at. A strange feeling of serenity comes about him not knowing why or how he got to this point he fears that when waking up and staring into a man’s eyes his stud goes on full alert in a very good way but frightening to. Is Blake now attracted to the opposite sex? Can he admit to himself that the man with the sparkling eyes can see into his soul? Can he let said man into his soul? This is different in so many ways for him but at the same time feels right.
Blake and Rob’s journey together is so phenomenal is so many ways though Rob has been around the world and has experienced life with women and men he feels that this one connection to Blake hits his soul completely but with fear of the unknown that lurks with every breath he takes. Can Rob and Blake make it together? Can Rob show Blake that that being with a man is just as satisfying as being with a woman but with more of a connection that neither has felt before? Can Rob let go and tell Blake of his secret that he fears may be the end for them? This is their story.
What about Jack? Does Jack find his true happiness? Did Sara find her happiness with in also?
To the author this was one absolute amazing read that had me from page 1 and tugged at my heartstrings till the very end. There is no doubt from this reviewer that you are one amazing talented writer and you definitely know how to keep your readers surprised at every turn. I wish I was able to give you more than the 5 stars because of this out of this world read that kept surprising me till the very last page.
Did I forget to mention that the sex is way way hot hot and more hot?
Happy Reading
November 1, 2012
Originally posted on Breath of Life Reviews
Essence of Time is officially tied with Paradise Hops as my favorite Liz Crowe book. It definitely has Liz's signature writing style, emotional turmoil, erotic sex scenes and plenty of time with characters old and new. The thing about the Stewart Realty series is that characters from previous books never completely leave the spotlight. They're all connected somehow and each character is crucial to another's development. I enjoy the connections because that's the way real life is. Not to sound cheesy but we are all connected and one person can affect many people's lives with their choices, good or bad.
I didn't expect to enjoy a story that was not solely centered on Jack Gordon and Sara Thorton so imagine my surprise when I not only enjoyed it, I fell in love with Rob and Blake. Anyone who knows me knows that I am a total sucker for wounded male characters, especially the emotionally wounded kind so when I first started reading the Stewart Realty series, I truly felt like Liz Crowe was writing these men for ME. Silly I know but I just love it when characters have these virtually impossible obstacles to overcome, some of which carry on for years or may not truly be overcome. You never know with Liz Crowe, her books are anything BUT predictable.
Essence of Time, while longer than its predecessors, doesn't drag on with unnecessary information and is still, by my definition, a short but amazing book. It's become extremely difficult for me to talk about these books without giving anything away, and this particular book is the hardest. There is so much going on and some surprising revelations by some of the characters that kept me reading well into the night and crying at the ending in the morning. Essence of Time affected me so much emotionally, I had a difficult time formulating articulate sentences for this review. I kept replaying scenes over and over in my head and reliving the last 80 or so pages.
As bittersweet as the ending was, I couldn't imagine Rob and Blake's relationship going any other way. Nor could I imagine a better companion than Lila. She's a fighter, a survivor and caregiver all in one. Lila's not as much of a hard ass as Sara or as tragic as Suzanne but that doesn't mean she's a push over. She has this quiet, understated will of steel that enables her to continue fighting whatever life throws her way.
I am experiencing a lot of "firsts" with Liz Crowe's books and one big one is that the Stewart Realty series is my first time reading a m/m relationship (mostly due to mental scarring from a previous experience). Rob and Blake's relationship is at times tempestuous but overall romantic, heartwarming & heartbreaking.
There's one thing I want to say to Liz Crowe concerning Essence of Time, bravo on the ending. Seriously, thank you for not taking a cheap way out and turning Blake or Rob into a villain so that the ending would be "easier" for readers. I don't see how this book could have ended any better, so thank you.
The bottom line is that Essence of Time is emotionally gripping, hard to put down and even harder to let go of. My favorite book of the series hands down
Essence of Time is officially tied with Paradise Hops as my favorite Liz Crowe book. It definitely has Liz's signature writing style, emotional turmoil, erotic sex scenes and plenty of time with characters old and new. The thing about the Stewart Realty series is that characters from previous books never completely leave the spotlight. They're all connected somehow and each character is crucial to another's development. I enjoy the connections because that's the way real life is. Not to sound cheesy but we are all connected and one person can affect many people's lives with their choices, good or bad.
I didn't expect to enjoy a story that was not solely centered on Jack Gordon and Sara Thorton so imagine my surprise when I not only enjoyed it, I fell in love with Rob and Blake. Anyone who knows me knows that I am a total sucker for wounded male characters, especially the emotionally wounded kind so when I first started reading the Stewart Realty series, I truly felt like Liz Crowe was writing these men for ME. Silly I know but I just love it when characters have these virtually impossible obstacles to overcome, some of which carry on for years or may not truly be overcome. You never know with Liz Crowe, her books are anything BUT predictable.
Essence of Time, while longer than its predecessors, doesn't drag on with unnecessary information and is still, by my definition, a short but amazing book. It's become extremely difficult for me to talk about these books without giving anything away, and this particular book is the hardest. There is so much going on and some surprising revelations by some of the characters that kept me reading well into the night and crying at the ending in the morning. Essence of Time affected me so much emotionally, I had a difficult time formulating articulate sentences for this review. I kept replaying scenes over and over in my head and reliving the last 80 or so pages.
As bittersweet as the ending was, I couldn't imagine Rob and Blake's relationship going any other way. Nor could I imagine a better companion than Lila. She's a fighter, a survivor and caregiver all in one. Lila's not as much of a hard ass as Sara or as tragic as Suzanne but that doesn't mean she's a push over. She has this quiet, understated will of steel that enables her to continue fighting whatever life throws her way.
I am experiencing a lot of "firsts" with Liz Crowe's books and one big one is that the Stewart Realty series is my first time reading a m/m relationship (mostly due to mental scarring from a previous experience). Rob and Blake's relationship is at times tempestuous but overall romantic, heartwarming & heartbreaking.
There's one thing I want to say to Liz Crowe concerning Essence of Time, bravo on the ending. Seriously, thank you for not taking a cheap way out and turning Blake or Rob into a villain so that the ending would be "easier" for readers. I don't see how this book could have ended any better, so thank you.
The bottom line is that Essence of Time is emotionally gripping, hard to put down and even harder to let go of. My favorite book of the series hands down
May 21, 2014
I am completely torn on this book. I started this book disconnected from the story and characters and finished in tears, not entirely sure how I became attached along the way. Putting together cohesive thoughts and even a rating for this review has been very difficult.
To be perfectly fair, I have not read the other books in this series and approached it like a standalone since it revolves around different characters. I had difficulty connecting from the start because it took so long to really get to the heart of the story, to the coupling of Rob, the classically trained chef, and Blake, the brewmaster. I am a huge proponent for thorough character development – it is the backbone of every story. But the format here, separate sections detailing the individual histories of the main characters, and then that of their relationship, had mixed success for me and had the tendency to drag on and on. In Rob’s case, there was just too much focus on his college playboy/tag team days and previous relationships (background clearly for the other books). With very little emotion, it was difficult to connect to him. Even understanding the reason behind Rob’s distance, which typically would at least create empathy, I felt more sadness and pity for the choices he made and not for him. In contrast, Blake’s story, was an engaging roller coaster ride in itself, and delivered us right to the moment where he met Rob. From here the story and their relationship finally started gaining momentum. They were a great couple together, but it took such a long time to get to that point.
I can’t say when it happened, as the book itself spans years, but I found myself invested in the two. Perhaps it was Blake’s nonchalant acceptance of Rob’s secret, or just simply Blake’s presence, or the two building their brewpub together, or ultimately the addition of Lila to complete the picture. Although originally pulled in to the mix to give Rob and Blake a baby via surrogacy, she added a level of intimacy that was previously missing throughout their entire relationship from my perspective. Although for me, if you are going the ménage route, the sex needs to be more passionate/explicit than it was here, and not alluded to in thought and hindsight. But all that aside, the true catalyst for change in all of the relationships in this book is Rob. I can’t delve more so as not to spoil, but the direction this book takes – holy smokes – you don’t exactly expect a true HEA in the traditional sense – but with my somewhat detached view, I did not expect to be torn to pieces. Cried like a baby. I reached the end of this book emotionally distraught, confused by the epilogue’s disjointed and not quite enough for me conclusion/HEA, which left me wanting more. And now here I am, total quandary. This was a good book, definitely a great story concept, VERY emotional at times, but the individual pieces didn’t fit together to form the completely cohesive story I was hoping for.
Find more reviews at www.rawbooksonline.com.
To be perfectly fair, I have not read the other books in this series and approached it like a standalone since it revolves around different characters. I had difficulty connecting from the start because it took so long to really get to the heart of the story, to the coupling of Rob, the classically trained chef, and Blake, the brewmaster. I am a huge proponent for thorough character development – it is the backbone of every story. But the format here, separate sections detailing the individual histories of the main characters, and then that of their relationship, had mixed success for me and had the tendency to drag on and on. In Rob’s case, there was just too much focus on his college playboy/tag team days and previous relationships (background clearly for the other books). With very little emotion, it was difficult to connect to him. Even understanding the reason behind Rob’s distance, which typically would at least create empathy, I felt more sadness and pity for the choices he made and not for him. In contrast, Blake’s story, was an engaging roller coaster ride in itself, and delivered us right to the moment where he met Rob. From here the story and their relationship finally started gaining momentum. They were a great couple together, but it took such a long time to get to that point.
I can’t say when it happened, as the book itself spans years, but I found myself invested in the two. Perhaps it was Blake’s nonchalant acceptance of Rob’s secret, or just simply Blake’s presence, or the two building their brewpub together, or ultimately the addition of Lila to complete the picture. Although originally pulled in to the mix to give Rob and Blake a baby via surrogacy, she added a level of intimacy that was previously missing throughout their entire relationship from my perspective. Although for me, if you are going the ménage route, the sex needs to be more passionate/explicit than it was here, and not alluded to in thought and hindsight. But all that aside, the true catalyst for change in all of the relationships in this book is Rob. I can’t delve more so as not to spoil, but the direction this book takes – holy smokes – you don’t exactly expect a true HEA in the traditional sense – but with my somewhat detached view, I did not expect to be torn to pieces. Cried like a baby. I reached the end of this book emotionally distraught, confused by the epilogue’s disjointed and not quite enough for me conclusion/HEA, which left me wanting more. And now here I am, total quandary. This was a good book, definitely a great story concept, VERY emotional at times, but the individual pieces didn’t fit together to form the completely cohesive story I was hoping for.
Find more reviews at www.rawbooksonline.com.
October 30, 2014
First let me say that Liz Crowe’s books redefine romance in that they are EPIC in their scope of life and their love, loss and forgiveness. Even though there is a poly relationship this isn’t what I would classify as a ménage romance if that might put you off. So much more to this story then three people being a couple and it happens late in the story. One valuable you might learn from this story is that love comes in many shapes, sizes and genders and at the end of the day none of that matters.
The story features Rob as he discovers himself over the spans of almost 15 years. Rob a self-confessed bi-sexual man with a hungry appetite for women or men. He doesn’t ever apologize for his preferences and I really loved that about his character. Crowe never made it into any sort of gay anxiety and that it was just who is. Rob did protect his heart cause he was always afraid that his childhood cancer might come back one day. He had his share of sex buddies but never really committed to anyone protecting his heart.
Rob’s passion for food and alcohol had him moving to Paris to study and discover his real passion and his first relationship with a man. After being gone for some time he moved back to the US and began to rebuild his life and open his dream of his own restaurants. He seemed happy but he always worried his cancer might come back. The tension was built through out the book that Rob was living on borrowed time. This kept me reading as anticipation that it was all going to go bad.
One day he meets a very drunk and beautiful Blake and falls in love. Blake is younger and just had his heart crushed by a mutual friend Suzanne. Suzanne’s story was tragic and heart breaking and I really wanted them to work it out. I would have liked to have her more in the story but she may have her own book. You will fall in love with Blake he’s got a big heart, he’s beautiful and he loves Rob. Rob takes Blake and helps to rebuild his heart as well as open up his own.
Blake and Rob become a couple and live together for years happy with life usual trials. Remember this is epic it spans a considerable amount of time. They decide as Rob hits 40, and his cancer might be on the horizon again that they want to have a kid. This is when we meet Lila who is a down and out mother of a young girl. She’s in need of money and they are in need of someone to help them. Of course they all form an attraction to each other and begin to build a loving relationship. Lila took some time to come around to living with the three of them but she did in the end.
I don’t want to spoil what happens in the last quarter of the book but just be aware it’s hard for everyone. You’ll need some tissues but it’s worth the epic love story. After you read this you should read Good Faith as it follows on the story of Rob and their children’s love stories. I think it’s on sale now worth checking out very good too.
Loved this book worth the journey.
The story features Rob as he discovers himself over the spans of almost 15 years. Rob a self-confessed bi-sexual man with a hungry appetite for women or men. He doesn’t ever apologize for his preferences and I really loved that about his character. Crowe never made it into any sort of gay anxiety and that it was just who is. Rob did protect his heart cause he was always afraid that his childhood cancer might come back one day. He had his share of sex buddies but never really committed to anyone protecting his heart.
Rob’s passion for food and alcohol had him moving to Paris to study and discover his real passion and his first relationship with a man. After being gone for some time he moved back to the US and began to rebuild his life and open his dream of his own restaurants. He seemed happy but he always worried his cancer might come back. The tension was built through out the book that Rob was living on borrowed time. This kept me reading as anticipation that it was all going to go bad.
One day he meets a very drunk and beautiful Blake and falls in love. Blake is younger and just had his heart crushed by a mutual friend Suzanne. Suzanne’s story was tragic and heart breaking and I really wanted them to work it out. I would have liked to have her more in the story but she may have her own book. You will fall in love with Blake he’s got a big heart, he’s beautiful and he loves Rob. Rob takes Blake and helps to rebuild his heart as well as open up his own.
Blake and Rob become a couple and live together for years happy with life usual trials. Remember this is epic it spans a considerable amount of time. They decide as Rob hits 40, and his cancer might be on the horizon again that they want to have a kid. This is when we meet Lila who is a down and out mother of a young girl. She’s in need of money and they are in need of someone to help them. Of course they all form an attraction to each other and begin to build a loving relationship. Lila took some time to come around to living with the three of them but she did in the end.
I don’t want to spoil what happens in the last quarter of the book but just be aware it’s hard for everyone. You’ll need some tissues but it’s worth the epic love story. After you read this you should read Good Faith as it follows on the story of Rob and their children’s love stories. I think it’s on sale now worth checking out very good too.
Loved this book worth the journey.
January 12, 2015
This book through me for a loop. I should have known better and grabbed some tissues, but when this book took a left turn, I was utterly unprepared for the fallout. This is a great read, and we get to glimpse some of the familiar faces you meet in the other books. If you are looking for a book to give you a massive book hangover, this is it.
Rob is friends with Jack Gordon and some of the other characters from his adventures. They met in college, partying and whoring through all the ladies. But Rob has a secret. For his entire youth had been spent in hospitals, getting life saving poison shot through his little body. In remission, he knows he is on borrowed time. This keeps his heart out of things, God knows when his library book will come due.
Blake is Sara's brother. He has come home to work as a brewer, and he has a gift for that. He becomes extremely successful at his job, lifting the brewery to new heights with his creative suds. But the one thing he really wants is the sales distributor named Suzanne. She is everything he has ever wanted, except for the married part.
Rob finds himself enraged when he realizes that Suzanne is being beaten by her husband. In a moment of weakness, he takes her on the brew floor. He is quickly falling for her, but she knows the score. She is damaged and Blake is too good for her. When his strength forces her to own her life, a tragic set of circumstances leaves her reeling. Blake loves her more than anything, but she knows she has to make him go. He spirals down the rabbit hole, but finds himself at a beer expo in Chicago, drunk out of his gourd, and Rob brings him home to sober up.
Rob's life took a turn at the end of college. He decides to study cooking in France. After love with women, here he finds Rene, who shows him what the love between two men can be like. For a time he is happy. But he can't love Rene like he should, and news from home has him heading to the states. He meets Blake at that festival, and is very unsure of everything.
It takes some self discovery for the two men to come together, but love does seem to shine on them. Rob wants a child, to makes them a family. When they meet Lila, there world seems to begin to make sense. They fall for her, but then the universe comes crashing down. This is where the book takes you on such an incredible journey, I can't even begin to explain. The heart wrenching journey will bring you to your knees and spit you out. There is no way to begin to be ready. Do not read this out in public. The gut wrenching story needs to be experienced, and the bawling will not be pretty.
This one destroyed me. But it will yank you down a path that just might make you stop and think about your own life. I know it did for me. Well worth the pain, this is one book anyone who loves an epic tale must read. Be warned, you won't be the same afterwards.
Rob is friends with Jack Gordon and some of the other characters from his adventures. They met in college, partying and whoring through all the ladies. But Rob has a secret. For his entire youth had been spent in hospitals, getting life saving poison shot through his little body. In remission, he knows he is on borrowed time. This keeps his heart out of things, God knows when his library book will come due.
Blake is Sara's brother. He has come home to work as a brewer, and he has a gift for that. He becomes extremely successful at his job, lifting the brewery to new heights with his creative suds. But the one thing he really wants is the sales distributor named Suzanne. She is everything he has ever wanted, except for the married part.
Rob finds himself enraged when he realizes that Suzanne is being beaten by her husband. In a moment of weakness, he takes her on the brew floor. He is quickly falling for her, but she knows the score. She is damaged and Blake is too good for her. When his strength forces her to own her life, a tragic set of circumstances leaves her reeling. Blake loves her more than anything, but she knows she has to make him go. He spirals down the rabbit hole, but finds himself at a beer expo in Chicago, drunk out of his gourd, and Rob brings him home to sober up.
Rob's life took a turn at the end of college. He decides to study cooking in France. After love with women, here he finds Rene, who shows him what the love between two men can be like. For a time he is happy. But he can't love Rene like he should, and news from home has him heading to the states. He meets Blake at that festival, and is very unsure of everything.
It takes some self discovery for the two men to come together, but love does seem to shine on them. Rob wants a child, to makes them a family. When they meet Lila, there world seems to begin to make sense. They fall for her, but then the universe comes crashing down. This is where the book takes you on such an incredible journey, I can't even begin to explain. The heart wrenching journey will bring you to your knees and spit you out. There is no way to begin to be ready. Do not read this out in public. The gut wrenching story needs to be experienced, and the bawling will not be pretty.
This one destroyed me. But it will yank you down a path that just might make you stop and think about your own life. I know it did for me. Well worth the pain, this is one book anyone who loves an epic tale must read. Be warned, you won't be the same afterwards.
June 25, 2012
I'm one of those readers who cheats, and by that I mean that when I'm some way into a book and have gotten a feel for the characters, I cheat and glance at the end of the book so I can see how it's going to end. What's more, if I see something I don't like in the ending, I put the book away and stop reading. Crazy? Yes. Immature? Definitely! But it's the way I am and it's always been pretty easy for me to do. Until Essence of Time.
I was halfway through the book, thoroughly enjoying it all, and did my usual flip to the back. My first reaction was one of shock. The book was not going to end the way I wanted it to. In fact, nowhere even close! However, I found that for the first time in my life, I simply couldn't stop reading the book! It had gotten such a strong hold on me and had captivated my attention to such a degree that it was impossible to put aside.
Rob and Blake's story was absolutely beautiful. It's the only word I can think of to truly describe their relationship. Beautiful. The dynamics, connection, attraction and love between the two protagonists was powerful, to say the least. The wondrous way that we were given insight into their characters, with a very vivid look into their background first, elucidating what made them tick, why they acted/reacted in certain ways, and why they were both afraid to love again, was the perfect introduction. You can't help but fall in love with both characters.
Reading this story made me feel like I was on an constant whirlwind of emotion. I would go from feeling flustered and excited, to angry, to happy, to dread, to ecstatic. I found the story both engrossing and downright sexy. Amusement was never far from the surface either. And I cried like a baby! I usually cry when reading a good book - when something touches me deeply, angers me, or even amuses me. I've have never, however, bawled my eyes out. And that's exactly what I did in this book. I couldn't read at some point because of the tears streaming down my face. I must have gone through an entire box of tissues by the end of the book.
Once again, Liz Crowe has written a powerful love story with a healthy dose of real life incorporated into it. I loved the first three books in this series and the main characters, Jack and Sara, whom I was glad to see playing a significantly large role in Essence of Time as well. However, I have to say that I absolutely LOVED Blake and Rob even more. I feel that their story will stay with me forever.
Liz Crowe is undoubtedly a very talented writer and, to my mind, she has launched an entirely new genre in writing romances. It's like nothing you'd expect from a classical romantic novel but captures your imagination just as potently.
I was halfway through the book, thoroughly enjoying it all, and did my usual flip to the back. My first reaction was one of shock. The book was not going to end the way I wanted it to. In fact, nowhere even close! However, I found that for the first time in my life, I simply couldn't stop reading the book! It had gotten such a strong hold on me and had captivated my attention to such a degree that it was impossible to put aside.
Rob and Blake's story was absolutely beautiful. It's the only word I can think of to truly describe their relationship. Beautiful. The dynamics, connection, attraction and love between the two protagonists was powerful, to say the least. The wondrous way that we were given insight into their characters, with a very vivid look into their background first, elucidating what made them tick, why they acted/reacted in certain ways, and why they were both afraid to love again, was the perfect introduction. You can't help but fall in love with both characters.
Reading this story made me feel like I was on an constant whirlwind of emotion. I would go from feeling flustered and excited, to angry, to happy, to dread, to ecstatic. I found the story both engrossing and downright sexy. Amusement was never far from the surface either. And I cried like a baby! I usually cry when reading a good book - when something touches me deeply, angers me, or even amuses me. I've have never, however, bawled my eyes out. And that's exactly what I did in this book. I couldn't read at some point because of the tears streaming down my face. I must have gone through an entire box of tissues by the end of the book.
Once again, Liz Crowe has written a powerful love story with a healthy dose of real life incorporated into it. I loved the first three books in this series and the main characters, Jack and Sara, whom I was glad to see playing a significantly large role in Essence of Time as well. However, I have to say that I absolutely LOVED Blake and Rob even more. I feel that their story will stay with me forever.
Liz Crowe is undoubtedly a very talented writer and, to my mind, she has launched an entirely new genre in writing romances. It's like nothing you'd expect from a classical romantic novel but captures your imagination just as potently.
March 21, 2013
Years of individual sexcapades, pain and heartache finally lead Rob Frietag and Blake Thornton to each other. After a 10-year long cancer battle as a child, Rob has made it a habit of keeping his emotional distance from lovers that could get too close, while Blake has been struggling to come to terms with a soul-crushing breakup with the woman he thought was the love of his life. But from the moment the men meet, both know they could be more than just a casual fling. Madly in love with one another, the years fly by, their joint business venture grows strong and successful, and the couple longs for a child to complete their family. When Rob and Blake meet potential surrogate Lila, they both know that the circle is complete. Rob is convinced he’s still on borrowed time with that hateful cancer bitch, but with the strength of love between the three of them, they can make it through anything.
I don’t even know where to begin on this stunning and beautiful book. Ms. Crowe has outdone herself with this 4th installment in the Stewart Realty series. After devouring books 1 – 3 with insatiable hunger, I was anxious to read Rob and Blake’s story. Between Rob and his old friend Jack’s manic double teaming of women in college to the frantic and loving relationship Rob and Blake enter into, Essence of Time is beyond erotic yet not overdone or gratuitous in the least. Ms. Crowe has given readers such an amazing set of characters in this series, with more depth and development than almost any other books I’ve read. Every one of them feels like a friend, and I find myself rooting for, or cussing at, almost every one of them at some point. Rob’s cancer and the way he dealt with it over the years was frustrating, I wanted simultaneously shake and seduce him! And Blake really needed a strong personality to calm and care for him like he was used to calming and caring for everyone around him. I did feel like the addition of Lila into their lives was kind of extraneous and not truly convincing that after so many years together the men could both fall for this woman and love her as much as one another. It’s so hard to review Essence of Time without giving too much information away about the mind-blowing ending, so I will leave readers with this: Even if you have not read the first three books in the Stewart Realty series you must put Essence of Time on your critical to-read list immediately! Ms. Crowe will have you laughing, drooling and crying while at the same time wishing you had her personal email to give her hell about these characters! For all these reasons I feel Essence of Time deserves a JERR Gold Star Award.
Original review for JERR at http://www.justeroticromancereviews.c...
I don’t even know where to begin on this stunning and beautiful book. Ms. Crowe has outdone herself with this 4th installment in the Stewart Realty series. After devouring books 1 – 3 with insatiable hunger, I was anxious to read Rob and Blake’s story. Between Rob and his old friend Jack’s manic double teaming of women in college to the frantic and loving relationship Rob and Blake enter into, Essence of Time is beyond erotic yet not overdone or gratuitous in the least. Ms. Crowe has given readers such an amazing set of characters in this series, with more depth and development than almost any other books I’ve read. Every one of them feels like a friend, and I find myself rooting for, or cussing at, almost every one of them at some point. Rob’s cancer and the way he dealt with it over the years was frustrating, I wanted simultaneously shake and seduce him! And Blake really needed a strong personality to calm and care for him like he was used to calming and caring for everyone around him. I did feel like the addition of Lila into their lives was kind of extraneous and not truly convincing that after so many years together the men could both fall for this woman and love her as much as one another. It’s so hard to review Essence of Time without giving too much information away about the mind-blowing ending, so I will leave readers with this: Even if you have not read the first three books in the Stewart Realty series you must put Essence of Time on your critical to-read list immediately! Ms. Crowe will have you laughing, drooling and crying while at the same time wishing you had her personal email to give her hell about these characters! For all these reasons I feel Essence of Time deserves a JERR Gold Star Award.
Original review for JERR at http://www.justeroticromancereviews.c...
June 8, 2012
*WARNING - Do not attempt to read this book without having a massive amount of tissues ready. This review contains no spoilers :)
Essence of Time is, without a doubt, the best book that I have read this year. Liz Crowe continues to amaze & astound me with her spot on writing, superb character development & her ability to evoke such emotion from within the pages of her books.
HOLY FUCK. Those were the words that I said very loudly as I was in the throes of an ugly cry upon finishing this book. Never have I experienced a book like this. Within its pages, one of the most beautiful love stories that I’ve ever read, is told. When you are done, you will not be the same. You will not look at another book the same way again. For me, it is now the book that all other books are judged against. It is a MUST read and I implore everyone to read this series ♥
We get glimpses of Rob Frietag & Blake Thornton’s relationship throughout the first three books of the series. You know there is a strong relationship between them and you see them falter some in Closing Costs. Liz did such a wonderful job creating & shaping these secondary characters that I became invested in them and had to know more. There were always hints about their past and about the circumstances that brought them together, in Essence of Time, we finally get to see it - and it was magical! There is never a question of should they be together, how long will they be together or even are they right for each other. You know that they are truly soul mates and that their paths, no matter how crooked they seemed, would always lead them to each other.
I loved all the backstory! The book starts out with Rob & Jack in college and ends in the present. You’re given both Rob & Blake’s pasts and how their previous relationships have shaped them. You see glimpses & get history of characters that give you a whole new insight into their personality & psyche. Your eyes are forced opened to the horrific pasts of other characters and, hopefully, your views will be changed by it. I started this book with a few preconceived ideas in my head and I thought I was prepared for possibly lay ahead. I was completely & utterly blindsided by the reality. I am devastated, I am pissed off, I am heartbroken - but I’m still in love with this book and wouldn’t change a thing.
Check out all my reviews at Hesperia Loves Books
Essence of Time is, without a doubt, the best book that I have read this year. Liz Crowe continues to amaze & astound me with her spot on writing, superb character development & her ability to evoke such emotion from within the pages of her books.
HOLY FUCK. Those were the words that I said very loudly as I was in the throes of an ugly cry upon finishing this book. Never have I experienced a book like this. Within its pages, one of the most beautiful love stories that I’ve ever read, is told. When you are done, you will not be the same. You will not look at another book the same way again. For me, it is now the book that all other books are judged against. It is a MUST read and I implore everyone to read this series ♥
We get glimpses of Rob Frietag & Blake Thornton’s relationship throughout the first three books of the series. You know there is a strong relationship between them and you see them falter some in Closing Costs. Liz did such a wonderful job creating & shaping these secondary characters that I became invested in them and had to know more. There were always hints about their past and about the circumstances that brought them together, in Essence of Time, we finally get to see it - and it was magical! There is never a question of should they be together, how long will they be together or even are they right for each other. You know that they are truly soul mates and that their paths, no matter how crooked they seemed, would always lead them to each other.
I loved all the backstory! The book starts out with Rob & Jack in college and ends in the present. You’re given both Rob & Blake’s pasts and how their previous relationships have shaped them. You see glimpses & get history of characters that give you a whole new insight into their personality & psyche. Your eyes are forced opened to the horrific pasts of other characters and, hopefully, your views will be changed by it. I started this book with a few preconceived ideas in my head and I thought I was prepared for possibly lay ahead. I was completely & utterly blindsided by the reality. I am devastated, I am pissed off, I am heartbroken - but I’m still in love with this book and wouldn’t change a thing.
Check out all my reviews at Hesperia Loves Books
November 14, 2012
We meet both Rob and Blake in the first three Stewart Reality books as background characters. In Essence of Time we get to know the story behind these two and how they come to be a couple and what is driving them.
Our first introduction is to Rob we go back with him to when he is a Freshman in college. The first person Rob becomes friends with is Jack. We get to know Rob and start to get a better picture of what shaped him into the man we have met in the Stewart Reality books to date. As we go on the wild ride of Rob's 20's we are there when he discovers and explores his bi-sexuality, his love of cooking and his first real heartbreak.
Blake's background is also followed and explored, Blake like Rob comes to grips with his bi-sexual nature and we also follow his love and heartbreak with Suzanne. Blake has a need to protect and to fix things for the people he loves and in Essence of Time we learn more about where that comes from and realize it isn't just his sister he does this to.
Blake and Rob meet shortly after Suzanne has broken Blake's heart and the attraction and chemistry is strong and instantaneous. That doesn't mean that everything is immediately perfect for them, Ms Crowe writes more real to life and that means we follow the struggle and the ups and downs the men face in building a loving long term relationship.
This catches us up to the present tying in bits from them in the first three books along the way. Now we are introduced to Lila who is to be a the surrogate mother for Rob and Blake to have a baby of their own, Will the secret Rob has been keeping throw that into jeopardy? Don't be surprised at the plot twists and turns and be prepared that by the end of the book you are going to need a few tissues.
As I said Liz Crowe bring an element of real life to her romance (hence her own romance sub-genre "Romance for Real Life") These are written in a way that it is so easy to feel like you are part of the story, part of the lives of the characters and experience the emotions as they happen. When you read Ms. Crowe's books you almost need a break between to process the emotions that the stories create. This is book 4 in the series and while it could be read as a stand alone it is so much a part of the first 3 books that I would really read them in order. Once again I have a ton of praise for this book.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
Our first introduction is to Rob we go back with him to when he is a Freshman in college. The first person Rob becomes friends with is Jack. We get to know Rob and start to get a better picture of what shaped him into the man we have met in the Stewart Reality books to date. As we go on the wild ride of Rob's 20's we are there when he discovers and explores his bi-sexuality, his love of cooking and his first real heartbreak.
Blake's background is also followed and explored, Blake like Rob comes to grips with his bi-sexual nature and we also follow his love and heartbreak with Suzanne. Blake has a need to protect and to fix things for the people he loves and in Essence of Time we learn more about where that comes from and realize it isn't just his sister he does this to.
Blake and Rob meet shortly after Suzanne has broken Blake's heart and the attraction and chemistry is strong and instantaneous. That doesn't mean that everything is immediately perfect for them, Ms Crowe writes more real to life and that means we follow the struggle and the ups and downs the men face in building a loving long term relationship.
This catches us up to the present tying in bits from them in the first three books along the way. Now we are introduced to Lila who is to be a the surrogate mother for Rob and Blake to have a baby of their own, Will the secret Rob has been keeping throw that into jeopardy? Don't be surprised at the plot twists and turns and be prepared that by the end of the book you are going to need a few tissues.
As I said Liz Crowe bring an element of real life to her romance (hence her own romance sub-genre "Romance for Real Life") These are written in a way that it is so easy to feel like you are part of the story, part of the lives of the characters and experience the emotions as they happen. When you read Ms. Crowe's books you almost need a break between to process the emotions that the stories create. This is book 4 in the series and while it could be read as a stand alone it is so much a part of the first 3 books that I would really read them in order. Once again I have a ton of praise for this book.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
June 17, 2012
Essence of Time was like an old college reunion. Around each page, a familiar face showed up. I loved the feeling of connection that I had with this book unlike any other book I’ve read recently. Seeing familiar characters such as Jack Gordon and Sara Thornton in new light, made Essence of Time a fun adventure-filled read. But ultimately this is Blake’s and Rob’s story as they find their way to each other and a part of the big Jack and Sara romance.
Rob Frietag and Blake Thornton look very different physically. Rob is tall and blonde while Blake is dark haired with bright green eyes. But emotionally they are both struggling with finding themselves and finding the one person that they can love unconditionally. Flawed by their own history, each guy was not really looking for what they needed but rather they were looking at what they thought they wanted. All previous relationships paled once Rob and Blake got together. If you are a fan of Liz’s Stewart Realty books, Essence of Time promises to show you a different side of Rob and Blake as well as what makes them the steamy guys that they are.
The passion in Essence of Time is hot and smoking! It will leave you wanting a cold beverage when you are done reading just one scene. There is something sexy about the desire that builds between Rob and Blake. But it is the emotional connections that are woven between the characters that create a story you won’t want to put down. The headstrong men, Rob and Blake, don’t let things come easy to them. I wanted to strangle them both at different parts of the story. While at other points, I was cheering their open and heartfelt love on. Liz Crowe knows how to write powerful stories that will pull at your heartstrings and make you wish for a love like that.
While Essence of Time is book four in the Stewart Realty books, it does read as a stand alone book. It isn’t necessary to read the other books before reading Essence of Time but if you do read the other books first, Essence of Time will give you the background on your favorite characters, letting you inside their minds and seeing what makes them tick.
If you are fan of romance stories that drag you into the story and make you want to read the book from cover to cover, you are going to love Essence of Time. Just don’t blame me for your lack of sleep!
Rob Frietag and Blake Thornton look very different physically. Rob is tall and blonde while Blake is dark haired with bright green eyes. But emotionally they are both struggling with finding themselves and finding the one person that they can love unconditionally. Flawed by their own history, each guy was not really looking for what they needed but rather they were looking at what they thought they wanted. All previous relationships paled once Rob and Blake got together. If you are a fan of Liz’s Stewart Realty books, Essence of Time promises to show you a different side of Rob and Blake as well as what makes them the steamy guys that they are.
The passion in Essence of Time is hot and smoking! It will leave you wanting a cold beverage when you are done reading just one scene. There is something sexy about the desire that builds between Rob and Blake. But it is the emotional connections that are woven between the characters that create a story you won’t want to put down. The headstrong men, Rob and Blake, don’t let things come easy to them. I wanted to strangle them both at different parts of the story. While at other points, I was cheering their open and heartfelt love on. Liz Crowe knows how to write powerful stories that will pull at your heartstrings and make you wish for a love like that.
While Essence of Time is book four in the Stewart Realty books, it does read as a stand alone book. It isn’t necessary to read the other books before reading Essence of Time but if you do read the other books first, Essence of Time will give you the background on your favorite characters, letting you inside their minds and seeing what makes them tick.
If you are fan of romance stories that drag you into the story and make you want to read the book from cover to cover, you are going to love Essence of Time. Just don’t blame me for your lack of sleep!
June 18, 2012
Article first published as eBook Review: Essence of Time by Liz Crowe on Blogcritics.
Essence of Time is part of Liz Crowe's Stewart Realty series. This time, the storyline focusses on Rob and Blake - stepping back in time through their lives to find out why the men are the way they are, and following them through to present day.
Rob has avoided relationships all his life. Sure, he's had plenty of sexual encounters, but he won't approach anything resembling an emotional connection with anyone. Only Jack Gordon knows why, and Rob's determined for it to stay that way. The last thing he wants is pity.
Everything changes for Rob when he meets Blake. Blake's had troubles of his own, including a badly broken heart, and he's not interested in being with someone new, either. But it seems the men can't resist each other, and that their happy ending may be in sight. That is, until Rob's big secret catches up with him and threatens everything they have, including the possibility of having a child together with a surrogate mother.
Essence of Time is a very long book, but that's because it's covering so much ground. There are several characters and story lines, all of which link together at the end, and the background is necessary for us to understand what's happening now. And I have to say, I enjoyed every bit. The plot is forever twisting and turning, and is brilliant. There's plenty of drama, emotional moments and hot sex, and the whole thing is excellently written. So if you're happy to read a roller-coaster of a book with m/m sex and plenty of ménage, and also to have your heart-strings seriously pulled, then definitely check out this book.
Essence of Time is part of Liz Crowe's Stewart Realty series. This time, the storyline focusses on Rob and Blake - stepping back in time through their lives to find out why the men are the way they are, and following them through to present day.
Rob has avoided relationships all his life. Sure, he's had plenty of sexual encounters, but he won't approach anything resembling an emotional connection with anyone. Only Jack Gordon knows why, and Rob's determined for it to stay that way. The last thing he wants is pity.
Everything changes for Rob when he meets Blake. Blake's had troubles of his own, including a badly broken heart, and he's not interested in being with someone new, either. But it seems the men can't resist each other, and that their happy ending may be in sight. That is, until Rob's big secret catches up with him and threatens everything they have, including the possibility of having a child together with a surrogate mother.
Essence of Time is a very long book, but that's because it's covering so much ground. There are several characters and story lines, all of which link together at the end, and the background is necessary for us to understand what's happening now. And I have to say, I enjoyed every bit. The plot is forever twisting and turning, and is brilliant. There's plenty of drama, emotional moments and hot sex, and the whole thing is excellently written. So if you're happy to read a roller-coaster of a book with m/m sex and plenty of ménage, and also to have your heart-strings seriously pulled, then definitely check out this book.
July 2, 2014
3.5 of 5 stars for ESSENCE OF TIME
Rob Frietag has spent his life avoiding emotional attachment. Every time he begins to feel a connection beyond physical with a lover he walks away, choosing sexual gratification instead. Rob believes that his love 'em and leave 'em attitude is justified, but after years of hiding his heart behind a wall of indifference he begins to question the wisdom of the choices he made in the past.
When Rob meets Blake, he finally opens himself up enough to share a loving relationship with his partner. Unfortunately, love without trust is a broken circle, and Rob still harbors secrets from his past that threaten to tear them apart.
I really wanted to like this story more than I did. The erotic scenes and were sensually written, and I enjoyed the passionately descriptive wordplay. The initial character development is well developed but I was frustrated by the disjointed timeline, as it frequently jumped forward and then backtracked to fill readers in on what they had missed. There were a few intensely written scenes that captured my attention, but the overall presentation was very factual, which I made it difficult for me to emotionally connect with the characters. What drew me in initially was the promise of a unique storyline, but I was disappointed once again as the plot slowly progressed towards its rather predictable ending.
Recommended for readers 18+: Content includes substance use, physical abuse and sexual assault that may be disturbing to some readers.
My OFFICIAL REVIEW written for Carly's Book Reviews
Rob Frietag has spent his life avoiding emotional attachment. Every time he begins to feel a connection beyond physical with a lover he walks away, choosing sexual gratification instead. Rob believes that his love 'em and leave 'em attitude is justified, but after years of hiding his heart behind a wall of indifference he begins to question the wisdom of the choices he made in the past.
When Rob meets Blake, he finally opens himself up enough to share a loving relationship with his partner. Unfortunately, love without trust is a broken circle, and Rob still harbors secrets from his past that threaten to tear them apart.
I really wanted to like this story more than I did. The erotic scenes and were sensually written, and I enjoyed the passionately descriptive wordplay. The initial character development is well developed but I was frustrated by the disjointed timeline, as it frequently jumped forward and then backtracked to fill readers in on what they had missed. There were a few intensely written scenes that captured my attention, but the overall presentation was very factual, which I made it difficult for me to emotionally connect with the characters. What drew me in initially was the promise of a unique storyline, but I was disappointed once again as the plot slowly progressed towards its rather predictable ending.
Recommended for readers 18+: Content includes substance use, physical abuse and sexual assault that may be disturbing to some readers.
My OFFICIAL REVIEW written for Carly's Book Reviews
June 16, 2012
This book is hands down the best of the 4 books. Liz does an amazing job with this story giving you so much detail into Rob, Blake and Lila... Jack is very present and Sara as well :0)
The way she sets this book up is very very good, a three part series starting with Rob she takes you through his college years with Jack, then to paris and his second love, then to the states for his third love and finally brings you into the prior books where he met blake at the beer festival. Next up is blake and how he came to be a brewer, his heart break with his first love, he meets Rob but life takes twists and turns before he becomes happy. Enter Lila and she is friends with Sara and she enters into a contract that changes her life forever...each part/section ends up tying all 4 books up in different areas and you'll say oh I know this part!
There is so much emotion behind this book. It is the longest of the 4 but it is not slow and is very detailed. She could not make this story any other way! As you know from reading Liz Crowe that she gives you the roller coaster of emotion and it is very present for this book as well. I bawled toward the end and had to sit up to finish reading the book at full attention. Ended the night with puff eyes, a headache from emotions and a hole in my heart from a bad situation and a good situation
You MUST MUST read this book as I promise you will need the closure from all 4 books an I can't wait to see what her next book the escalation clause brings! Happy reading and don't forget your box of tissues!
The way she sets this book up is very very good, a three part series starting with Rob she takes you through his college years with Jack, then to paris and his second love, then to the states for his third love and finally brings you into the prior books where he met blake at the beer festival. Next up is blake and how he came to be a brewer, his heart break with his first love, he meets Rob but life takes twists and turns before he becomes happy. Enter Lila and she is friends with Sara and she enters into a contract that changes her life forever...each part/section ends up tying all 4 books up in different areas and you'll say oh I know this part!
There is so much emotion behind this book. It is the longest of the 4 but it is not slow and is very detailed. She could not make this story any other way! As you know from reading Liz Crowe that she gives you the roller coaster of emotion and it is very present for this book as well. I bawled toward the end and had to sit up to finish reading the book at full attention. Ended the night with puff eyes, a headache from emotions and a hole in my heart from a bad situation and a good situation
You MUST MUST read this book as I promise you will need the closure from all 4 books an I can't wait to see what her next book the escalation clause brings! Happy reading and don't forget your box of tissues!
January 25, 2015
This book was quite different from,other books that I have read. There are multiple characters the book tells the story off. All the characters have fascinating events that happen in their lives. All the characters intertwine in some way or another. Either from chance meetings or from growing up together. I think my favorite characters were Blake and Suzanne. I really enjoyed their relationship. If you do not really care for M/M or M/M/F relations then this is definately not a book you want to read. It is not my favorite part of the story and honestly I just skimmed over those parts. But OMG at about 77% I did MOT see that twist in the story and it had me crying!!!! Well done Liz Crowe. Well done. I love it when an author can shock me like that in a book!
Merged review:
well written
This book was quite different from,other books that I have read. There are multiple characters the book tells the story off. All the characters have fascinating events that happen in their lives. All the characters intertwine in some way or another. Either from chance meetings or from growing up together. I think my favorite characters were Blake and Suzanne. I really enjoyed their relationship. If you do not really care for M/M or M/M/F relations then this is definately not a book you want to read. It is not my favorite part of the story and honestly I just skimmed over those parts. But OMG at about 77% I did MOT see that twist in the story and it had me crying!!!! Well done Liz Crowe. Well done. I love it when an author can shock me like that in a book!
Merged review:
well written
This book was quite different from,other books that I have read. There are multiple characters the book tells the story off. All the characters have fascinating events that happen in their lives. All the characters intertwine in some way or another. Either from chance meetings or from growing up together. I think my favorite characters were Blake and Suzanne. I really enjoyed their relationship. If you do not really care for M/M or M/M/F relations then this is definately not a book you want to read. It is not my favorite part of the story and honestly I just skimmed over those parts. But OMG at about 77% I did MOT see that twist in the story and it had me crying!!!! Well done Liz Crowe. Well done. I love it when an author can shock me like that in a book!
June 16, 2014
** 5 stars **
I was completely blown away with this book! Throughout this book I went through many different emotions. I instantly fell for both Rob and Blake. I laughed, I cried, and found myself saying many times, “WTF just happened”. There were also times I thought I knew what was coming, but boy was I wrong.
Rob is trying to accomplish his dream by becoming a chef. He and his best friend Jack make the best of their college life by getting as many women as possible. Even though Rob finds himself having stronger feelings a few times in his life, he has never felt completely whole. That is until Blake walks into life. Blake is establishing his career as a brewer and he is in love with Suzanne, but she is in a very troubled marriage. Just when he thinks everything is on track, Suzanne walks out of his life. While Blake is struggling to move on, he finds himself falling for Rob.
Rob and Blake have a great relationship and are building their lives together. Rob has been keeping a secret from Blake for years and knows he needs to tell him. When Blake finds out Rob’s secret can they work together to work through it? When they decide they are ready for a family Rob looks for a surrogate and they come across Lila. Will they be able to keep this all business or will it turn into more? This book will keep you guessing and on edge throughout the whole story.
Reviewed by: Amy Zec
I was completely blown away with this book! Throughout this book I went through many different emotions. I instantly fell for both Rob and Blake. I laughed, I cried, and found myself saying many times, “WTF just happened”. There were also times I thought I knew what was coming, but boy was I wrong.
Rob is trying to accomplish his dream by becoming a chef. He and his best friend Jack make the best of their college life by getting as many women as possible. Even though Rob finds himself having stronger feelings a few times in his life, he has never felt completely whole. That is until Blake walks into life. Blake is establishing his career as a brewer and he is in love with Suzanne, but she is in a very troubled marriage. Just when he thinks everything is on track, Suzanne walks out of his life. While Blake is struggling to move on, he finds himself falling for Rob.
Rob and Blake have a great relationship and are building their lives together. Rob has been keeping a secret from Blake for years and knows he needs to tell him. When Blake finds out Rob’s secret can they work together to work through it? When they decide they are ready for a family Rob looks for a surrogate and they come across Lila. Will they be able to keep this all business or will it turn into more? This book will keep you guessing and on edge throughout the whole story.
Reviewed by: Amy Zec
June 7, 2014
I was completely blown away with this book! through out the book I went through many different emotions. I instantly fell for both Rob and Blake. I laughed, I cried, I got, and found myself saying many WTF what just happened. There were many times I thought I knew what was coming but boy was I wrong.
Rob is trying to accomplish his dream by becoming a cheif. Him and his best friend Jack make the best of yhere college life by getting as many women as possible. Rob finds himself haveing stronger feelings a few times in his lufe but never felt completely whole. That is until Blake walks into his life.
Blake is establishing his career as a brewer. He finds himself in love with Suzanne, but she is in a very troubled marraige. Just when he thinks his life is on track Suzanne walks out of his life. When he is struggling to move on he finds him self falling for Rob.
Rob and Blake have a great relationship and are building their lives together. Rob has been keeping a secret from Blake for years and knows he needs to tell him. When Blake finds out Robs secrect they work together to work through it.
When they decide they are ready for a family Rob looks for a surrogate and they come across Lila. Will they be able to keep this businesses or will it turn into more? This book will keep you gussing and on edge through out the whole story.
Rob is trying to accomplish his dream by becoming a cheif. Him and his best friend Jack make the best of yhere college life by getting as many women as possible. Rob finds himself haveing stronger feelings a few times in his lufe but never felt completely whole. That is until Blake walks into his life.
Blake is establishing his career as a brewer. He finds himself in love with Suzanne, but she is in a very troubled marraige. Just when he thinks his life is on track Suzanne walks out of his life. When he is struggling to move on he finds him self falling for Rob.
Rob and Blake have a great relationship and are building their lives together. Rob has been keeping a secret from Blake for years and knows he needs to tell him. When Blake finds out Robs secrect they work together to work through it.
When they decide they are ready for a family Rob looks for a surrogate and they come across Lila. Will they be able to keep this businesses or will it turn into more? This book will keep you gussing and on edge through out the whole story.
June 3, 2016
ESSENCE OF TIME is a sexy story packed with intense emotions. This isn’t a genre I usually read but Liz Crowe writes with such honesty that the reader becomes completely engrossed. Rob and Blake are wonderfully “real” people. Crowe makes them flawed and yet imminently likeable. Both, having been burned by love, believe they are incapable of loving again until they find each other. Even time and distance will not erase a mutual attraction that goes far beyond the physical. Their love story is so touching that the sexuality of the lovers is far less important than the story itself. I went through more tissues than I could count crying for these two wonderful men. Tear of pain and tears of joy. I loved Lila and was glad to see them welcome her to their family. Jack Gordon, subject of the first three Stewart Realty books, is back and we get an even better look at what makes him the man he becomes. Crowe includes a shocking turn of events that added another level of emotion to an already packed book.
Because of her experience in the craft brewing industry those parts of the book are factually correct and very detailed adding greatly to the story.
I’ve been a fan of Crowe since FLOOR TIME and she just keeps upping the ante with each new book. I’m glad to see she’s added more books to this series.
Rating: 4.5
Because of her experience in the craft brewing industry those parts of the book are factually correct and very detailed adding greatly to the story.
I’ve been a fan of Crowe since FLOOR TIME and she just keeps upping the ante with each new book. I’m glad to see she’s added more books to this series.
Rating: 4.5
February 24, 2014
This is the back story of Rob and Blake and I recommend you read the first three books of the Stewart Realty series before reading this one. That being said, I REALLY enjoyed this book. You might want to get a good pair of oven mitts to wear while reading it because it is HOT! Like set my IPad on fire hot. Rob is one sexy man and Blake is no schlep either, these men have bodies made for sin and boy do they know how to work it!! I’m not going to lie to you; it’s not all hot sex. This book is broken into four parts; Robs, Blake’s, Rob and Blake’s and Lila’s. There is some heavy stuff dealt with and some tear jerking moments. Now if you know me you know I HATE tear jerkers but I survived this one and will even recommend it. Liz did what she had to do and like it or not it was needed in the story.
I thought I knew where this story was headed, but boy was I wrong! There is such a twist that I was blown away. The twist had me more emotional than what I thought was going to happen. A friend of mine told me not to try and guess where the book is headed because Liz doesn’t do what is expected and I will say, NO SHE DID NOT! Man oh man I WAS NOT expecting that.
I give this book 4 stars and 5 hands down the pants!
I thought I knew where this story was headed, but boy was I wrong! There is such a twist that I was blown away. The twist had me more emotional than what I thought was going to happen. A friend of mine told me not to try and guess where the book is headed because Liz doesn’t do what is expected and I will say, NO SHE DID NOT! Man oh man I WAS NOT expecting that.
I give this book 4 stars and 5 hands down the pants!
November 23, 2016
I like books that choose different characters from a series and gives you a meanwhile...this is how so and so met and their stories.
I liked Blake and Rob in other series and liked both of them as well as their personalities. With that being said, I LOVED this book. Absolute favorite in the series.
I would've never and didn't ever think of how this ended. I bawled like a baby. My kids were worried because I was crying so much. But how freakin sweet!?!? Am I right?!?
I think that even though these books are a series, I think any of them could be a stand alone novel.
Since I was first introduced to them I found myself routing them on.
I truly could picture each one of the characters in any of the books in the series.
Rob started medical school and then promptly changed careers and went to France to learn how to become a chef.
Blake is a brewer of beer. It's a passion of his. He meets and falls in love with a red head named Suzanne. Long story short Blake saves Suzanne's life and then she kicks him to the curb absolutely devastating him.
Enters Rob where they meet at a beer festival. It's cool to watch their inner struggles about each other and then ultimately falling in love with one another.
Just an awesome awesome book!
I liked Blake and Rob in other series and liked both of them as well as their personalities. With that being said, I LOVED this book. Absolute favorite in the series.
I would've never and didn't ever think of how this ended. I bawled like a baby. My kids were worried because I was crying so much. But how freakin sweet!?!? Am I right?!?
I think that even though these books are a series, I think any of them could be a stand alone novel.
Since I was first introduced to them I found myself routing them on.
I truly could picture each one of the characters in any of the books in the series.
Rob started medical school and then promptly changed careers and went to France to learn how to become a chef.
Blake is a brewer of beer. It's a passion of his. He meets and falls in love with a red head named Suzanne. Long story short Blake saves Suzanne's life and then she kicks him to the curb absolutely devastating him.
Enters Rob where they meet at a beer festival. It's cool to watch their inner struggles about each other and then ultimately falling in love with one another.
Just an awesome awesome book!
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