Finding Finlay

Hawthorne Bluff #1

by R.J. Peterson

When banker Finlay Reynolds learns that Clayton Bradley is back in town, he’s both excited and a little scared. It’s been six years since they last saw each other, and Finn never acted on the attraction he felt back then and still feels now. Would Clay give him a second thought now that he’s back? Clay’s return to Hawthorne Bluff is a second chance for him. He ran away years ago and his life took a dark turn. When his grandmother, who had always stood by him, suffers a stroke, he comes back to support her and run his family’s bed and breakfast. But his time in prison changed Clay and he’s not sure the town can forgive him. And then there’s a couple of unsavory characters from Clay’s past that just won’t leave him alone. Can an ex-con and a banker find romance after all those years? Maybe finding Finlay is exactly why Clay is back in Hawthorne Bluff.

Genres: Romance

184 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 6, 2023

About the author

R.J. Peterson is a retired graphic designer.

He is an avid reader, preferably while sipping a vodka martini or some bourbon on the rocks. RJ’s had a long and varied career, including library page, car wash attendant, customer service representative, interpreter for the deaf, travel agent, and graphic designer in the marijuana industry. He also worked in banking for twenty-five years. In addition to starting up a writing career, he still works as a freelance designer, creating book covers and other items for several authors.

RJ loves to travel and has been on 50+ cruises. When not on a cruise, he and his husband live in New England.

Reviews

[DLB2572 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finlay & Clay

I'm rounding this up from 3.5. This is a sweet story and definitely is a slow burn. It's not a bad story.

I received an ARC and this is my unbiased opinion

[Merissa (Archaeolibrarian) · Rating 3 out of 5]

FINDING FINLAY is the first book in the Hawthorne Bluff series and tells the tale of Clay, who fell in with a bad crowd after moving to Chicago and did his time, and also Finlay, local boy done good who stayed in Hawthorne Bluff. Now, Clay's back in town so maybe the timing is finally right for them both.

I enjoyed this story. It was low-angst considering the set-up of the story but I will admit to not really having much of a connection with the main characters. For me, it seemed like there was a lot of telling, and not a lot of showing. Plus, things were mentioned and sorted out so easily. I'm not into trouble where there really shouldn't be but this was just too easy. Even the thread of uncertainty that ran through it was sorted out very quickly and with little hassle.

All in all, a good story that I enjoyed.

** same worded review will appear elsewhere **

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jun 5, 2023

[Pontiki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clay has moved home to help run his grandmother’s bed and breakfast after she has a stroke. She was there for him when he left home and got into some trouble years earlier, ending up in jail for 3 years.

Finn is a banker, and when he sees Clay is back, he decides he wants to pursue him, since he was interested in him years ago, but he was just realizing his sexuality then.

With support from people in town for Clay, and a mutual interest in each other, Clay and Finn start the relationship they’ve both been waiting for.

The writing is a bit awkward and stilted for the first third of the book, and the boyfriend talk happens way too early, before the second date. Moving in at the end is similarly clunky in how it’s presented.

Sweet characters, but nothing too exciting happens, a sleepy story in a sleepy town. Not bad, but not a great read.

I received this ARC for free and am providing my honest review as thanks.

[L H · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a second chance story of sorts. Not the usual that I like where the couple had something and it didn't work out the first time for whatever reason and now they have a shot. This is the other kind I like where one of them sees the opportunity to seize the day in a way they had not before. Finlay sees Clay's return to town as an opportunity to befriend Clayton after a run of bad fortune for Clayton both before he fled town and when he left. He fled town to get away from a bad crowd, wound up in one anyway and did town. Now that they are older and Clay is out back and looking to settle in the town they grew up in and have a good life, his past comes to call. They have some obstacles to get past but in the end they are able to wind up together. I liked this story and both men sticking it out to get to where they wanted to be.
I received an ARC from GRR and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Ida Umphers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been reading lots of dark and angsty stories lately so this one came as a change of pace and delight. Both Clay and Finlay are decent men who for various reasons didn't click in the past through no fault of either of them, but now get their second chance. Finlay is the straight-arrow who stayed in Hawthorne Bluff and made a career for himself as a banker. He's also taken some time to figure out his sexuality. Clay, was the adventurous one who went off to the big city, fell in with the wrong crowd and has now served his time in prison. When his grandmother needs him to come home and help her run her bed and breakfast, he's right there, even though he's unsure of his reception in town. Fortunately, people in Hawthorne Bluff, take him for the man he is now not who he used to be and he and Finlay get their relationship. I liked these two guys and I liked this town. I'm looking forward to seeing more of it and learning about more of the people.

[AshPenny37 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finding Finlay is my first book by this author and it was very sweet… actually a little bit too sweet for my taste. It's absolutely not anyone's fault - it's a perfectly well-written novella with a smallish town white collar worker (Finlay works in a senior position in the bank) rekindling a flame he had for one of the town bad boys turned good, Clayton.

There are opportunities for more jeopardy with Clay’s past catching up with him and for a bit of drama with Finlay’s family, but that's not the route the author chose. Personally, I prefer my ex-cons to come with a bit more baggage, but if you like super cosy relationships with lots of communication and zero- angst books with a nice bit of steam, this is probably a winner for you. It's 3* from me, though.

An ARC was provided by GRR. This is my honest review.

[C.B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now is the right time, is it the right place? Finlay and Clayton haven't seen each other in six years. A lot have changed, but feelings haven't. Finn is carrying a bit of baggage, will he put it down? Finn, never acted on his feelings for Clay. Is it too late? Does he have a chance? Clay has returned to Harthorne because his GrandMother is sick and he came back to help her. He's not the same man who left, he's an ex con and prison has changed him. He is intent on turning his life around, but the town is not forgiving. Can Finn welcome him? Lots not said between Finn and Clay, can now be said. Will Clay get a chance to prove himself? Good story, the men getting to know each other is at a good pace. Nicely done. Excellent cover art! I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Steph · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the story, Clay has had an interesting life that bought the story to life. I couldn't really identify with Finn. His character seemed a bit flat sand safe. This is a slow burn with very little intimacy, I think if this had been heightened it would have bought a different dynamic to the story. It was a neat and tidy book, meaning everything fitted together, hardly an inch of angst. It ended on a promise of a happy ever after. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Traci S · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a quick read with a premise that was interesting to me. I liked the idea of Clay returning to his home town after being released from prison to help his grandmother, running her Bed & Breakfast when she is no longer able to run it herself. Overall, it’s a cute read and based on the blurb, lower angsts that I was expecting. The writing style, the dialogue in particular , did not feel natural and made it a bit hard to connect with the characters.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

[Amanda Reeves · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first book I've read by this author and it was okay. I enjoyed the storyline and characters but the writing was a little hard to get into. It's one that I finished but I don't know if it's one I would read again. I will be checking out the next book in the series just to give it a chance.

[Saskia Veldhuis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy and pleasant reading but just not a story or characters that are memorable for me. Clay was the more interesting character, being worried about how his past influenced everyone in the town and full of insecurities. The plot was pretty simple and not angsty.
I received a complimentary copy of this book and am happy to leave a voluntary review.

[Karen Rich · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story about love and crushes from years ago, when Clay returns to town after a stint in prison he meets up with Finlay who still has a crush on Clay and then helps him return to a normal life back in town, that is until the bad boys of town start to cause trouble again.
Looking forward to this new series.

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

He is both excited and worried when he learns his crush is about to come home again. They need to come home to help run the family bed and breakfast but they are worried. They have been in prison and they hope the town will give then the chance they deserve. How will it all go? Can they find love and forgiveness? Will their past mistakes ruin their future? See how it will all go

[Tracy Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded to 4. This is a sweet and quick read. Clay and Finn start dating when Clay returns to town after his grandmothers stroke. The story is pretty low angst even though some shady characters from Clay’s past try to make trouble for him. It was an enjoyable read and I will probably check out book 2 in the series.

[Joanne Mccorkell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didnt really connect with either main character and felt the story was being told to me I never felt like I was part of the story. Even the chemistry between Finn and Clay didnt seem to be there.

Sorry not for me

[Jill Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first read for this author and it was pretty good—the storyline and characters were relatable but the writing itself was hard to get into—parts seemed choppy. Finished the book but probably wouldn’t go back to it again.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good story. It has a nice premise but there are moments when it misses the mark. I would still recommend reading this book.

[Sandy Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. This was a great start to this series. I wasn't able to put it down and finished it in one go. I received an ARC of this book and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Geboyd · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a kind of second chance-ish story that was very sweet. It was enjoyable and I will probably continue with the rest of the series.

[Krista · Rating 3 out of 5]

I gave up on this at 60%. It was weird, boring, and downright creepy (but not in a good way) in spots. Three stars is overly generous as a rating.

[❀ Jess ( Semi hiatus )]

DNF @30%

[Amy Malek Concepcion · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finding Finlay

The is was a sweet contemporary MM story. His childhood crush comes home so Finlay decides to shoot his shot. I love second chance stories

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clay comes back to town to help his grandmother run the the family Bed & Breakfast she's owned for years. Finn is happy to hear that Clay is back in town as he has had a secretive crush on him. He soon realizes it wasn't as secretive as he thought. Good start to a new series. I received an ARC of this book for my honest review.

[Vols77 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of those books that surprised me in how much I enjoyed it. It is a great story about two very different men who have taken different paths in life. Seems when younger Finlay was attracted to Clayton but he never acted up on it and suddenly Clayton was gone. Now he is back and Finlay see opportunity to reconnect. Of course expect obstacles when local boy done good (now a banker) Finlay and misunderstood bad boy (Clayton who has been in prison) try to develop a relationship. I loved both of these men and the connection they had. I did receive an ARC and leave this honest

[Thrilled Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book I have read by R. J. Peterson and both times it seems like he writes for the senior set. While there is nothing wrong with that, I think that the scenery gets more attention than the plot or the romance. I feel that he does a good job with both of the main characters, and I found it to be enjoyable throughout.