Cherish

Faith, Love & Devotion #3.5

by Tere Michaels

LGBT, Contemporary
Faith, Love, and Devotion; Previous Duty and Devotion

Several years after the end of Duty & Devotion, Matt and Evan are living quietly in their Brooklyn home with the twins, Danny and Elizabeth. The older girls--Katie and Miranda--are off at college, Evan is about to be promoted to captain, and things are calm.

Briefly.

Evan accidently learns that Miranda has a new boyfriend and is talking marriage after just three months of dating. After peeling himself off the ceiling, he demands a conversation with his eldest daughter, which erupts into, as Matt calls it, “a steel cage match”.

Miranda indeed has a boyfriend (Kent), a business major (from Connecticut) and they are most definitely serious. In fact, Miranda wants to bring him to Thanksgiving dinner--along with his parents, Blake and Cornelia.

There is much debate but Evan agrees--mostly because Miranda's part of the bargain is that she won't get engaged or elope until the parents have met.

Thanksgiving descends into madness before the turkey is cut.

This book contains explicit sexual situations, graphic language, and material that some readers may find male/male sexual practices.

Genres: M M Romance, Romance, Contemporary, Gay For You, Contemporary Romance, Novella, LGBT

90 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 20, 2012

About the author

Tere Michaels unofficially began her writing career at the age of four when she learned that people got paid to write stories. It seemed the most perfect and logical job in the world and after that, her path was never in question. (The romance writer part was written in the stars—she was born on Valentine’s Day.)

It took thirty-six years of “research” and “life experience” and well… life… before her first book was published but there are no regrets (she doesn’t believe in them). Along the way, she had some interesting jobs in television, animation, arts education, PR, and a national magazine—but she never stopped believing she would eventually earn her living writing stories about love.

Her home base is a small town in New Jersey, very near NYC, a city she dearly loves. She shares her life with her husband, her son—who is also her personal trainer—and an exceedingly spoiled cat. Her spare time is spent watching way too much sports programming, going to the movies and for long walks/runs in the park, reading, and doing yoga.

Nothing makes her happier than knowing she made a reader laugh or smile or cry. It’s the purpose of sharing her work with people. She loves hearing from fans and fellow writers and is always available for speaking engagements, visits, and workshops. Send her a message through her contact page or connect with her on Instagram (@TereMichaels) and Facebook.

She teaches regularly at SavvyAuthors, as well as running a private consulting and developmental editing business.

Reviews

[Heller · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

I LOVE Matt and Evan. Love them. I really enjoyed seeing where these two men are at in their lives so this was a wonderful and unexpected treat for me.

The chemistry between them remains explosive but tempered with tenderness and quite a bit of love. This is a novella, only 88 pages and focuses on the Miranda, the eldest Cerelli daughter, bringing home her fiance and his parents to meet Evan and the family for the first time during the Thanksgiving holiday.

I did not like Miranda. I'm not a fan of drama for drama's sake and she really pushed it here. She's the oldest child but least mature of them all.

I really enjoyed how Matt and Evan handled the holiday and I love Matt's relationship with the other kids in the family. This was a great little slice of life piece. I worry that Evan is working too much still but he and Matt have a system that works for them and works quite well. I love their idea of a couple's activity, so very them.

This was really a wonderful read and a must read for fans of the series. Recommended!

[Elise ✘ a.k.a Ryder's Pet ✘ · Rating 2 out of 5]

⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱*Matt deserves better*⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱

Three and a half years (in book timeline) and we're back with police officer Evan Cerelli (38?) and disgraced former cop turned security consultant and a househusband Matthew ‘Matt’ ‘Matty’ Haight (49?). Miranda (22), Evan's oldest daughter has a boyfriend now, Kent Moran (22), and want to get married. After these news, a Thanksgiving dinner is planned with all of them, plus Kent's parents. Who comes into the house without knowing that Miranda's dad is with a man. Or that they are cops in the house.

“I used to be an angry, lonely prick. Then I met a guy with four amazing kids and more issues than the Sports Illustrated back catalog and boom—happiness.”
“Boom, happiness?”
“Okay, boom. Boom. More booms. A mushroom cloud. Then happiness.”

Overall, this was a nice read, but it annoyed me too much to enjoy it. I didn't like Miranda in the book. She's a cruel, manipulating person who takes it out on Evan, but mostly Matt. And I don't, really don't, like how Evan let's Miranda get away with it. I keep being unsatisfied with this series. I feel like Evan isn't really fully into the relationship as Matt is. I seriously feel - and believe - like Matt deserves better. I do adore Kathleen ‘Katie’ (19?) and Matt's relationship - their closeness - as I like Matt having someone on his side. The twins Elizabeth (12) and Danny (12) are adorable though.

“Do me a favor, elope when you’re forty.” Evan sighed as he walked over to where Katie was standing.
“Deal.”

Quick basic facts:
Genre: - (Adult) Contemporary Romance (M/M)
Series: - Series (Can skip book #2), Book Four.
Love triangle? - No.
Cheating? - No.
HEA? - Yes.
Favorite character? - Matthew ‘Matt’ ‘Matty’ Haight
Would I read more by this author/or of series? - Unsure.
Would I recommend this book/series? - Unsure.
Will I read this again in the future? - No.
Rating - 2 stars.

[Mo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Only 4 stars because it was a shorter read than I wanted. But I still loved it. Thanksgiving at Evan and Matts. Should be fun. Throw in bitchy Miranda - not sure where that came from! She did not come across with so much animosity in the previous books, so that took a bit of getting used to. Great to see Evan finally being able to accept who he really is and how happy he is with Matt. OK, it is tough with work and kids etc. but the story comes across as lifelike. All the books in the series were great but I think Numero Uno was the best for me.

[The Bursting Bookshelf of a Wallflower · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars or should I say hearts!

Matt and Evan are one of my favorite m/m couples of all times and I really enjoy revisiting them from time to time. Cherish was a perfect opportunity to get a little glimpse at their crazy life with the kids.

And knowing Matt, Evan and their family a Thanksgiving that could have been peace- and joyful turned out to be a true minefield of possible desasters. So welcome at Tension House. I loved how Tere Michaels was able to make all the characters stay true to themselves while letting them develop and become more and more interesting.

I loved Matt's patience and his devotion to Evan and their family. This quote sums it up quite nicely:

Just another day of family drama and taking out the recycling and loving Evan with every fiber of his being.

I can't wait to read more about them in the next short story of the series!

This book made me laught out loud an infinite number of times, while touching me in a very special way! Very well done Tere Michaels.

[Madison Warner Fairbanks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cherish by Tere Michaels
Faith, Love, and Devotion series book #3.5 or #4. Contemporary M-M romance, family drama novella. Best read in series order.
Miranda has a boyfriend at college and there is talk of marriage. Evan doesn’t take the news about the potential marriage well and demands she bring him to Thanksgiving dinner. The boyfriend’s parents get invited as well but they are in for a shock. Miranda didn’t share the family dynamics ahead of time. Seems Miranda still has emotional issues to deal with.
It’s a family Thanksgiving drama.

Descriptive writing at its best - Evan talking to his eldest and waiting on a response.
“Evan was convinced his brains were actually going to explode out of his ear”…

[Christina · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

It was so nice to catch up with Matt and Evan again. Cherish takes place several years after F&F. Matt and Evan are happy and settled in their new lives. We get a little glimpse of their day-to-day life and the trials of raising a family.

The focus is mainly on Miranda's unresolved issues with her mother's death and her father's relationship with Matt. I understand her feelings about losing her mother but her childish behavior was simply unbearable. She irritated me from the beginning but her antics in this book pushed me over the edge. Evan should have thrown her ass right out of the house. Come on, she's not 12! Even through all Miranda's drama, the chaos that ensued over Thanksgiving dinner had me smiling ear to ear. I'm no stranger to family drama and tense holiday dinners so I couldn't help but find this funny. I wish I had Matt to make it all better though!

I love Matt's sense of humor and his quick comebacks. Matt and Evan are a perfect balance to one another. Evan is always so uptight and insecure but I was so happy to finally see him comfortable with himself and his relationship with Matt. He was finally able to show affection in front of his friends and family and damn was I cheering when he introduced Matt as his partner and his boyfriend to Kent's parents. And when he wouldn't let Matt leave. Double cheers!

This was a fun Novella for all Matt and Evan fans.

[BevS · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marvellous series of books. I have enjoyed each and every one of them (although 'Love & Loyalty' features friends of Matt's - Jim and Griffin), which detail the trials and tribulations of two men Evan & Matt (both previously hetero) falling in love after the death of Evan's wife, and the problems they face in raising Evan's four kids, and in dealing with the reactions of their family, friends and co-workers.

Evan is a cop, and is finding it extremely difficult to come to terms with losing his wife AND the fact that he has fallen in love with a MAN! Matt, who was a bit of a hell-raiser and tried to lay everything wearing a skirt, has also had problems of own - loneliness, near alcoholism, losing job etc., How they originally find and help each other and begin to fall in love is dealt with in the first of the series 'Faith & Fidelity', the continuing struggles with (and between) themselves, family and others is dealt with in 'Duty & Devotion', and here we have what is probably the final book in the quartet so far 'Cherish' because that is what they should definitely do - CHERISH EACH OTHER AND THE FACT THAT THEY'VE BEEN GIVEN ANOTHER CHANCE TO LOVE SOMEONE WITHOUT RESERVATION!

I have to admit to shedding a few tears along the way at each of these books, the situations they both find themselves in, and the way they sort things out and muddle through them had me nodding or shaking my head quite a few times as well! Such a lovely series, they will all be keepers on my Kindle for a long time to come. Many thanks Tere.

[Whitney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I could read about Matt and Evan forever. I’m glad that there will be more novellas of them.

I’ve always disliked Miranda. Like, your father is paying your rent in a Manhattan apartment (I don’t even need to live in NYC to know that shit ain’t cheap), you don’t want for anything, probably paying for your Masters too and you REALLY want to call him a crappy parent?

I understand that you lost your mom, but he lost his wife and your siblings lost their mother too. Like, stop being a brat. And now you want to get married to some guy you’ve only been with for four months? While, I wouldn’t be paying my daughter’s rent in the first place, she’d definitely have to be cut off. It was a rouse of course, but still.

Evan is doing what most fathers/parents do. Get over yourself. You ain’t about that life. Some people don’t have support system to help them in their grieving process (as an only-child of a single mother, I’d wouldn’t have anyone to relate to) and she has 5 people.

I hope in the coming works, we see her making more of an effort.

Other than that, loved this. Love Matt and Evan. Would read again.

4 out of 5 stars

[Kaje Harper · Rating 4 out of 5]

I adore Matt and Evan, and loved this glimpse of where they and the family were, a couple of years down the road. I liked the fact that not all the kids were perfect, or necessarily settled into the new family life, and that the issues weren't always the obvious ones. And I love Matt even more now. I heard there may be more short stories or novellas about these two down the road, and will happily read any of them.

[Morgana]

OMG! OMG! OH.MY.GOD!! I can't believe my eyes! Another book in this awesome series! We will see Matt and Evan again! That's THE BEST news ever! YAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!! :D

[Susan65 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Miranda needed her ass beat. Kate was a gem. And Matt was a saint. Doofus boyfriend has no chance of gaining his balls back since he goes back with Miranda.

Love this series, really do, lol.

[JustJen "Miss Conduct" · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't too sure I was going to enjoy this one so much with it mostly being about Evan and Miranda, but I was pleasantly surprised.

Miranda was just awful. She really needed a wake up call and to be called to the floor for the things she said to and the way she treated Evan (and the rest of the family as well). The other kids are great. Katie is fabulous, and I love her interactions with Matt. Donny also seems to have really grown up a bit since we last read about them.

Matt totally made this book for me. He is such a sweetheart, and I absoutely love his attitude and sense of humor. He is definitely the glue that holds this family together.

[Xing · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm so sad this series is over! So Cherish is all about the family drama. And oh was it reality-TV worthy (in the "I can't stop watching" sort of way and not the "shoot me now" type). Of course, the source of drama is Miranda and, of course, Evan is the one who bears the brunt of her fury. And then there's Matt *swoon* and the rest of the family. It really is an enjoyable read with the loose-ends tied by the last page.

Now excuse me while I look at cute kitty calendars to match the fuzzy feeling in my heart.

[Darkm · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
Always happy to read about Matt and Evan.
What didn't work for me is Matt still doing all the work, being ready to sacrifice himself and being almost selfless, while Evan doesn't really seem to have any strength.
I understand Miranda's pain, I don't understand Evan tolerating the way she treats Matt. Nor the fact that he makes Matt still feel "unsafe" in his home.

[Sunne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't believe that I hadn't written a comment the moment I had finished it.

Well, first, the love is still there. Matt and Evan are in my opinion better than ever. And it's really wonderful to see them interact, struggle and succeed. Just for that the book is worth the read and it would have been a 5 star it not for the following:

I don't get the whole "Miranda dislikes/nearly hates Matt"-thing. Where does that come from? If that has been there before, especially to such and extend - it never was visible before.
In the former books I liked her, she was a bit prickly but not with animositiy, more with caution and teenagerlike. Now she is really spiteful.

Well, her behaviour creates the storyline so you could say it's necessary but still - it's like a different univers.


Addition to my review:
Tere Michaels answered questions on facebook and this was what she answered me:

Me: I really enjoyed Cherish but I was kind of taken by surprise by Mirandas animosity. I had reread the other books before because I had read about that in reviews and wanted to check if I had missed something. So I wonder...where does it come from so suddenly?

TM: I know a few people have seen it as sudden but to me it felt very natural; her anger towards Matt is really just part of unresolved grief over her mother's death. There are people in my life who are still suffering the loss of their mother decades later - it's a very specific kind of pain I think, something that doesn't disappear in a few years. She had to grow up very quickly, then had her "place" taken by Matt. So it's two pronged. He not only replaced her mother, he replaced her as "second in command" of the family as it were. It's always been there - now it's just coming out sideways. (Glad you asked that actually - it feels good to get my thoughts out there!)

Me: Thanks, I assumed that exactly this way, it just never really showed in the previous books, especially not in this viscious form. She also seemed to be content when Matt came back.

TM: Relationships are always a process to me; things sometimes develop positively and sometimes they veer into a bad place as time goes by. At least, that's the way my brain works!

Me: Thanks :)

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Monkey in the middle. Nope, not anymore!

This last story in the series is a lovely treat. We fast forward a few years, and check in with the Cerelli-Haight family. Evan and Matt are united and stronger than ever. Both are doing well with their careers and life is great.
Or more like, life is good.
Or perhaps, almost good?
Evan oldest daughter, Miranda has some shocking news and nearly gives her Dad a heart attack when the rumors reach his ears. In attempt to rebuild their strained father-daughter relationship, Evan invites Miranda’s secret love affair and his parents over for the holidays.
Thanksgiving dinner was destined for epic failure and it did not disappoint.
Even with drama at its finest, Evan stands tall and is determined to keep Matt at his side.
There is not much most parents won’t sacrifice for their kids; thankfully love is one thing Evan refuses to give up.

*4 ‘bout time Evan stars*

[Katrina Passick Lumsden · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I love Matt and Evan, I just didn't love this book as much as the others in the series. Mostly this book is just a showcase for how poorly Evan's oldest daughter, Miranda, has coped with the death of her mother and with her father's subsequent, unconventional relationship with Matt. While I agree it would be hard for any teenager to deal with all that, I couldn't help but also feel like there were several things left unsaid in this piece. Also, a lot of the drama seemed to be forced into place. I thought Kent's parents were an interesting counterpoint to the homophobia angle, but I also felt like the mother's showdown with Evan sort of popped up out of nowhere and wasn't resolved all that well.

But maybe this book just irritated me because I wanted to slap Miranda's spoiled self all over Manhattan.

[Awilk -never sleeps- · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took me a long time to purchase this, as I thought it was a little expensive for such a short read. I still think that, but I enjoyed the rest of this series so much that I was compelled to know how they were getting on.
I loved this little look into how everyone was. I do adore this series, and this little short was wonderful. Now I have the urge to go back and re-read the whole series, but I really do have to many unread books waiting for me, but I know that at some time in the future I will be visiting these wonderful men again.

[Isabel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series! The chemistry between Matt and Evan is wonderful and their love beautiful! They face their problems together and together they solve them... Matt gives Evan the strenght that he needs and is always so supportive... is amazing to read!

[Valentina Heart · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This review was originally written for MM Good Book Reviews and can also be found there.

Since I’ve been following this series from the very start and always more than enjoyed the life of two unlikely partners, I was overjoyed that there was more to look forward to.

This one, actually shorter than the previous books and more of a snippet of the lives of our favorite characters, revolves around Miranda, the oldest daughter. She is feeling abandoned and more of an outsider when it comes to her family and is the source of headaches, particularly for her father. She’s been dating while off to college and has apparently met the man of her dreams in Kent to the point where she’s talking marriage. It’s clear to everyone that her actions are more a product of spite, but Kent’s parents are coming to Thanksgiving dinner and serious or not her father feels pretty close to a heart attack.

I do love the couple as well as their relationships and I do tend to list Tere Michaels as one of those authors everyone must keep in mind when it comes to contemporaries. That said, this story focused more on the family and less on Evan and Matt. When they were in the picture it was mostly about sex or Evan’s self-doubts, which didn’t really sit well for me. But it was Miranda who annoyed me the most. She was way too childish for her age and behaved in a way that was damaging primarily to her. I couldn’t understand that and the quick flip from a ‘villain’ to someone somewhat supportive made me want to ground her for life.

Matt was a delight as always, no objections there, but Evan was always a difficult man to love continuously. He is set in his ways and constantly riddled with guilt, to the point that you feel bad for Matt. It does get old after a while and there’ve been three books already.

However, I loved the whole family event type of thing, because there was drama and affection and lots of humor. The humor particularly made it all refreshing and had me upping it for half a rating. Overall this was a lovely holiday story with some irritating characters, but that’s just how families work.

[clear skies · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have really enjoyed this series and I think Tere Michaels is a good writer. I would love to see her publish some more books in this genre on a selfish note. However, I was left disappointed with this new instalment.

Evan has moved on from his closeted day and he's doing better. However, he also seems to be stuck in the same spot. Still not very comfortable with things which just makes me sad for Matt. This is a holiday themed-story it is all about family. I think Michaels is one of the few authors who has made the family aspect work in the M/M genre. I have to question the book though; basing it all on one of the kids freaking out was a bit...disappointing in my eyes.

Miranda apparently isn't the biggest fan of Matt. Her mother died, she looked after the family, until Matt came into their lives and he became the number one care-taker. I get it. Miranda is growing up, she's fallen in love and she has no one to talk too. A mother is a mother, and she feels like Matt has also taken away the last parent she has. What I did not understand the amount of animosity she had towards Matt. I never sensed that in the other books. I could be mistaken, but it never felt like she resented Matt like she did in this book.

The whole book was set up around Miranda acting like a brat. The other kids did take a back-seat to her drama. But I wanted to see a progression with Matt and Evan. Instead I felt it became too bogged down with the kids and other secondary characters.

It was written well and flowed for an easy read. I love Matt and Evan and I enjoy reading about them.

[Barb ~rede-2-read~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this last installment in the Faith & Fidelity series. Matt and Evan, both still as sexy and loving as ever, with Matt still providing the stabiity in the family, and Evan still leading with his emotional side.

This story centers on Miranda and her inability to accept Matt in their lives. She invites her new boyfriend Kent and his parents for Thanksgiving Dinner, however she has not only failed to tell any of them of Evan's and Matt's relationship, but also failed to tell them of the fact that they are law enforcement with guns in the household. When all the facts get aired, Kent's mother seems more upset by the gun issue than the fact that the couple is together.

This sets the stage for the chaotic, and yet endearingly human, Cerelli family Thanksgiving celebration. Hearts are broken, tempers fly, and through it all the love and devotion of Matt and Evan, and Evan's love for his children, remain strong.

I really enjoyed this story and I wish it was a bit longer but I'm so happy the author gave us this sequel. I definitely recommend this one to all fans of the series.

[Fangtasia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yay! This story is starred by Matt and Evan, is about Miranda having a secret boyfriend, and she invites the future in-laws to meet her Dad and his partner on Thanksgiving. The recipe for a dress-rehearsal of Armaggeddon, don't you think?

This is one of my favorite m/m couples and series. Believable, flawed, every-day kind of guys who fall in love and make it work, in spite of all the obstacles. The absolute best is they are mature guys, close to fifty in this story. *fist pump* Yeah! HEA in action!

This latest installment is, as usual, perfect in all ways except one: it is WAY too short. I could not help looking at the bottom of my Kindle screen to see my progress, dreading the end. Because I wanted to spend a lot longer in their company.

Oh well, guess a re-read of the whole series is in order, right?

[Bookwatcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short (and overpriced, IMO) story that made me smile
:-)
All the craziness that could happen in a thanksgiving happened in that house... and I love it all!

It's a great series, I enjoy ALL books, and must admit the third book, Duty & Devotion, is my favorite.

It all start with a bitter and sad lonely man raising 4 kids... and ended... no, wait, can't said it. You must read all to know!

5 stars (TO ALL BOOKS OF THE SERIES! I think it's the first time ALL books in a series got my 5 stars! Yeah, I'm sort of a bitch, so believe me, I'm always bitching, rarely giving 5 stars to 4 books from the same series)

[Claire · Rating 2 out of 5]

meh...

This Short story wasn't really needed to be honest... although I guess it was nice to have the story tied up in a neat bow

[Heather C · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's about 3.5 years after Duty & Devotion and Thanksgiving time in the Cerelli household. Evan and Matt seem to finally have a solid, strong relationship, the twins are teens and Miranda is still a brat. My faves were Matt and Katie in this one.

I would still love to read more about Matt and Evan and the kids. I haven't gotten tired of them yet!

[Mirjana **DTR - Down to Read** · Rating 4 out of 5]

***4.5 stars***

Evan and Matt have come so far! Seriously love these two!!



This is a real family, dealing with real issues, in the real world. But you don't lose the love, humor or romance that you look for in a book. I'm seriously obsessed!

Full Review to Come.

[Anke · Rating 5 out of 5]

So Good!

Finished my re-read; still liked it very much, although I didn't really recognized Miranda as the girl from book#1. Still, Evan and Matt were wonderful, their interaction so very believable and I just love the kids:)

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved revisiting Matt and Evan and enjoying their chaotic Thanksgiving dinner. What fun. Except for Miranda. Get over yourself already. I really wanted to smack her one. Not a long read so only a little bit of smexing but it was lovely! :)

[Snowtulip · Rating 4 out of 5]

I so love Matt and Evan! Great story featuring the whole family, Miranda definitely grated on me, but still love Tere Michaels style.