The Dark Horse

Provincetown #3

by Will Freshwater

Two years after the tragic death of his parents and brother, Danny Cavanaugh is living in Boston and running the family business when all he really wants is to move back to Provincetown and build a life with his boyfriend, Peter. Just as Danny is about to wake up and start fresh, he finds himself pulled back into the past with a startling revelation about Max Balais, his former best friend and the first guy he ever loved.

Adrift from the political career he left behind, Peter Wells can’t seem to find his way. Neglected at home and unsure what to do with his faltering career, he returns to Washington, D.C., for a casual weekend, where he has dinner with an old flame and unexpectedly gets a once-in-a-lifetime job offer. Frustrated by Danny’s inability to commit and longing for purpose, Peter is tempted to step back into his old world and fall back into his ex-partner’s waiting arms.

Max Balais wasted most of his twenties in Provincetown, working dead-end jobs and hooking up with strangers. At 31, he’s finally making good money as first mate on a fishing boat but can’t seem to get over Danny and move on. During a weekend trip to Boston, he meets Jamie, a talented musician and ghost from his distant past. What starts as another one-night stand turns into something that makes Max question whether there’s still a chance to find the love and life he’s always wanted. Max thinks he has it all figured out until Danny shows up on his doorstep, wearing his heart on his sleeve.

Danny, Peter, and Max are all at a crossroads -- questioning whether it’s better to hold on to first love or bury it forever. A triangle of lost love and missed opportunities sets the stage for an epic ending to The Provincetown Series. Who will beat the odds and come out the winner?

Genres: Queer, LGBT

202 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 16, 2023

About the author

Will Freshwater was born and raised in a small steel town outside Pittsburgh. He graduated, cum laude, from Boston College and was awarded a Juris Doctorate from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. Will has lived and worked in Boston, Philadelphia, Washington, DC, and Tampa. Although he enjoyed a successful career as a corporate attorney, Will can happily confirm that his true vocation is writing. He currently resides in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, with his husband, Stephen, and Daisy, their golden retriever.

Contact Will: www.willfreshwater.com

Reviews

[John Bator · Rating 5 out of 5]

Will Freshwater wrote another page turner in his Provincetown series. I read it while on vacation last week in two sittings. At around 180 pages, it's the perfect vacation/beach read. I love how he's developed and matured the characters throughout the series, and you really don't know how it's all going to resolve until the very end. I'm sad to see the series come to an end, but as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end. Thanks for the stories, Will!

[Babara-Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

WHAT A CULMINATION OF LOVE! ❤️

This author- I have no words at the moment to express the brilliance of a total mind fu**!

Everything happens for a reason….

This is the culmination of different aspects of different types of love- the love of a lover- the love of a best friend- the love of a found family and estranged family…

These characters had me in a chokehold throughout their journey that spanned over three books…

Max, Danny, Peter/John and Jamie and all their supporting friends in Provincetown will take you on a exhilarating joyride- so buckle up and enjoy the ride!

Betrayal, loneliness, stubborn mindsets, stupid mistakes, friendships and most of all love is woven in an intricate way to showcase first love, second chances and forgiveness.

This is the third book of the trilogy that ties all the loose ends together with lots of twists in the bends to mess with your mind the Will Freshwater way!

A sweet epilogue follows three years later with even more surprises!

I look forward to more from this amazing author!

I voluntarily received an ARC from GRR for an honest non biased review.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful conclusion to an engaging series. While this series was not at all what I expected going in, I enjoyed seeing the full journey that these characters went on over the course of these 3 books. This book was well written and real.

[Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

This last book of the trilogy is beautifully written, teasing and leaves the reader in the dark until the very end. It explains and adds depth to the three main characters. This gentle book has many twists and turns, the characters infuriating me at times, and cleverly ties up all the loose ends from the previous two books. Will Freshwater has produced a triumph here and I look forward to the next offering from this writer.

[Michael Pilkenton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great finish to this Trilogy

This book was a great read and a fast one at that. The book moves fast and keeps you enthralled. The story follows the first two books and does a great job of adding new characters but also completing storylines of old ones. I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed this book and from a gay male author. Something about men writing books on men is the only books I read. You cannot get the feelings, instincts, drive or verve from a female writer of gay male literature. I love a man’s touch, story, sexuality and this book and series shows it being done very well. Please read and enjoy!

[Jack Harkness · Rating 5 out of 5]

S.A.M.

Prerequisite: Read books 1 (Favorite Son) and 2 (The Light Reflected) before reading this book.

Continuing the story of John/Peter, Max, and Danny, this third and last installment of the Provincetown Series, neatly wraps up the different threads of their lives with their found family in Provincetown. Even the side characters' lives are brought to a satisfying conclusion. Although the ending isn't what I expected and hoped for, it ends perfectly.

The story is fascinating and compelling. The pace is good and it kept my interest. The characters are very well-developed and the scenery is carefully and gorgeously described. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the series and very much recommend it.

[Vols77 · Rating 5 out of 5]

A captivating book and series. I read the first two books over a year or so ago and finally am reading this one. It is superb, like catching up with old friends. Danny, Peter, and Max get the perfect finale with some many questions from books one and two resolved. I loved this triangle and was all in on them. Fun to see how all three have grown since book one but none fully happy till they get together. You will not be disappointed in this read. It has it all--great story, great characters, romance, men with some issues, men learning from mistakes. I cannot recommend it highly enough. I did receive an ARC and leave this honest review.

[Juniper · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book beautifully sews up all the narrative threads from the previous stories in the series, and gives readers worlds of insight into the characters who’ve inhabited it along the way. The story flows well, with unexpected developments and turns that, once they’ve happened, seem perfectly suited– the ending here wasn’t what I thought it was going to be, and that was honestly the biggest delight of a story that offered many. A gentle note that you’ll want to start with the previous books, if you haven’t already– all three are well worth a read.

*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

[Malia Winger · Rating 4 out of 5]

To say that I ran to the Kindle store to get this book is not an exaggeration. Peter, Danny, and Max are all at a crossroads. The widow of Peter's mentor is pulling him back into the political arena, Danny is struggling with making peace with the past and Max's place in his life, and Max is has uncovered the past treachery that derailed the future he was planning. Provincetown has played a major role in shaping the lives of all three men but things are changing there too. They all struggle to find a way to make the small town they love so much fit into their expanding lives. The ending of the story made me cry with happiness at how far they all traveled.

[Michael Jags · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Dark Horse" is great wrap up to the Provincetown Series. A quick read that bounces interestingly between the characters and how their stories turn out. Just like with "Favorite Son" and "The Light Reflected", Will Freshwater makes you feel like you are right there with the characters whether it is D.C., Boston or Provincetown. This is my favorite part of Will's writing. He is so good at describing the environment that you see the beautiful views, city streets and crowds. smell the air and taste the drinks and food all the while laughing, crying and being in the moment with the characters. Can't wait to read what Will writes next.

[K Cruz · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you loved Favorite Son and The Light Reflected, you will love the way this series is wrapped up with The Dark Horse! I was honored to be one of the first to read this story, and I was not disappointed.
Will gave us all the answers we were looking for after the first two books.
A story about persevering through trials and tribulations in friendships, family and in love. This series has a little bit of everything while representing relationships so gently and beautifully. Check this series out!!
Will is a talented writer and I cannot wait to see what's in store next.

[Gary · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the final book of his trilogy, Will Freshwater has once again demonstrated his brilliance as a storyteller. Through the lives of Max Balais, Danny Cavanaugh, and Peter Wells, Will has crafted an unforgettable tale of love and friendship. My favorite quote from the novel speaks to this so memorably: "In the end, it was the coming together of wayward spirits that mattered. During the darkest times, the radiant love from a community of friends-turned-family was the trick of the light."

Thank you, Will, for writing a beautifully evocative story that captures the light reflected.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a beautifully written story.

At times you'll be struck by the complexity of the intertwined relationships and then by the characters inability to truly know themselves and their motives.

Too often they let others move them, as though they were chess pieces on a board, and had no power over their own lives.

I received an ARC from GRR and thoroughly enjoyed the trilogy.

This final book deepened our understanding of each character, even though there will be times you'll want to reach out and shake them.

Sometimes we make life more complicated than it really is!

[Bkwrm24 · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars ⭐️

I wasn't quite sure what to expect from the conclusion of this trilogy, but the author did a fantastic job in tying up several loose ends with these three men. Even though it took a different direction as to what I was expecting it was satisfying nonetheless. It was nice to see the conclusion of these three lives intertwined in love, friendship and several emotional moments. I would most certainly recommend for fans of this story.

* I received an ARC from GRR, this is my open and honest review *

[Deb Kel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just Wow! I love this series and this last book of the trilogy is just so well written and beautifully emotive. The author continues to take us on a tantalising journey that has you hooked until the final page teasing us with the outcome that keeps you on tender-hooks. This along with the twists and turns along the way kept me hoping for a happy ending for the main characters and tied all the loose ends up so beautifully. Highly recommend and am looking forward to more from this author.
I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review.

[Ida Umphers · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I began this series, I never would have predicted how this third book would go and I love that about it! The writing is excellent as it has been in the previous two books, the characters fully developed and like real people, sometimes I am totally supportive of them and sometimes infuriated, but never does the author leave us feeling like their behavior doesn't make sense for them. I'm not about to spoil things with details here. I'm just going to say if you want an amazing series that will introduce you to great characters and surprise you like real life does, do not miss this one.

[B. Valdez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just finished this final book in the series! I loved seeing how the story came together and brought Peter back in after the past we got in book two. Book two is still my absolute favorite in this series. I do love how the romance turned out and there were quite a few turns the story took where I felt my heart breaking and found myself cursing the characters for making poor decisions. I can't wait to see what else this author writes and I hope that he returns to Provincetown in a future project. Next gen anyone?

[K-Me · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are as invested in Peter, Max and Danny as much as I am you are of course going to read this book! Now that I have read this book, I can say read the series if you have not. So many real-life situations and emotions. People grow, change and experience so many different types of relationship through their lives. Beautiful ending to a touching and romantic journey of hope, doubt, fear, friends, careers and love.

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

The conclusion. Max finds out he was accepted at Berklee but that his talent was more as a soloist, and Daniel and Peter are now a couple. Max gets involved with the people Peter met when he arrived in P'town , goes to Boston and reencounters the guy he met during his first trip. THEY become a couple too. And Peter is appointed the interim Senator from Massachutts when the senator who fired him dies. Daniel buys a house in Washington, D.C. Love conquers all.

[B.J. Irons · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved the first two books in the series and this last book was the cherry on top. Will does a perfect job at tying all the loose ends from the first two books together in The Dark Horse. The result of the love triangle that is now a tangled web will keep you guess until the very end where it is unwoven. Highly recommended.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this book was another wonderful addition to the series, anyone invested in Danny, Jamie, Max or Peter’s stories will want to read this book, I really enjoyed this series and I thought it was very good for a Debut series so I’m really excited to see what comes next for this author. Would definitely recommend this series.

[Leonie Duncan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series has been very interesting reading. John/Peter, Danny and Max have each had parts in the previous installments. I wondered how their story would end and I was not disappointed. The seemingly complicated relationships are fulfilled. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

[DLB2572 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful Ending

I'm rounding this up from 4.5. This entire series took me on an emotional rollercoaster ride and this book continued that ride. It was all worth getting to this beautiful Ending of this trilogy.

I received an ARC and this is my unbiased opinion

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

He lost his brother and his parents in an accident and so he concentrated on his career with his boyfriend. He is struggling with his feelings and so when an ex reappear things may change again. What is going to happen? Will he go back to his ex? See where they will take you

[Gwen · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a journey. The Dark Horse ties up all the loose ends. Danny, Max and Peter hit a defining point, where they could live happily ever after of drop the ball on love. There are decisions to make, doors to close and the writer does it with style. Great ending to this trilogy.

[Geboyd · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I need to sit with this book for a while. I was not sold on the first two books in this series but this book snuck up on me. I am still trying to decide how I feel and days after reading this, I am still thinking about it.

[Amanda Reeves · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has been such a great little series and this was the perfect end to it. This was the best of the three and I was so happy with the wrap-up.

[Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

You need to read the first 2 books. This is a great conclusion to this series. You want to read these book and get to know these characters so you experience the growth they exhibit.

[Jack Fraker · Rating 5 out of 5]

another great book by Will

A great follow up to the first book in this series. Cannot wait to read the third book I’m this seres.