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Be the Match
A senseless accident leaves Ryan Blackstone a single father. His son, Leo, survives, only for the hospital to discover he has leukemia. Ryan’s only hope to save him is a bone marrow donor.
A donor registry reveals a perfect match for Leo but unearths an unsettling family secret: his wife’s brother isn’t really dead. Then they meet, and Ryan realizes Dylan could save him as well.
Dylan McKenzie stopped thinking about his family’s betrayal when they kicked him out twelve years ago. They would rather think he is dead than gay. So the news of his sister’s death comes as a shock. Dylan is afraid being pulled back into the family will hurt him again, but meeting Ryan and Leo upends his plan to keep his heart closed.
Ryan almost lost everything. Now he must decide if he can gamble losing his family to have everything he’s ever wanted. Together, he and Dylan could be the perfect match.
A donor registry reveals a perfect match for Leo but unearths an unsettling family secret: his wife’s brother isn’t really dead. Then they meet, and Ryan realizes Dylan could save him as well.
Dylan McKenzie stopped thinking about his family’s betrayal when they kicked him out twelve years ago. They would rather think he is dead than gay. So the news of his sister’s death comes as a shock. Dylan is afraid being pulled back into the family will hurt him again, but meeting Ryan and Leo upends his plan to keep his heart closed.
Ryan almost lost everything. Now he must decide if he can gamble losing his family to have everything he’s ever wanted. Together, he and Dylan could be the perfect match.
216 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 28, 2024
6 people are currently reading
46 people want to read
About the author
Eliana West
29 books43 followersStoryteller, adventurer, and diversity advocate. Crafting captivating tales while making a positive impact on the world.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
May 24, 2024
What a ride!
I apologize to low-angst readers: This book grabbed me by the ... throat and wouldn't let go. I can throw y'all a lot of tropes--hurt/comfort, found family, interracial romance, bi-awakening (or is it demisexuality?)--but what this book is is a damn good tale of people facing horrible attacks and even worse perpetrators and letting love carry them through.
I like to toss in a bit of narrative here and I'll try to avoid any spoilers: Ryan is from the start a man facing numerous challenges. He is hard-working to a fault; he just lost his wife in a car accident; he is locked into a life he senses he never wanted; he is surrounded by manipulative, aloof, self-centered family that wants to force him into their idea of a life; and his little son has been diagnosed with leukemia and needs a bone marrow transplant. Dylan is a survivor. His hyper-religious parents threw him out as a teen because he is gay. He has found friends and mentors and has created a pleasant life, but he's built walls around his heart to prevent being betrayed and hurt again.
What impressed me most is the way Eliana West transmits this story with compelling, energetic writing and approachable characters. If facing homophobic bigots is a trigger, it may be too much for you. But I was driven by the desire to see these monsters (some far too much like my personal demons) get their comeuppance. That they get. The trip is not easy, but the ending is satisfying.
One more thing: The title, Be The Match, is the name of a real organization that helps people of color find bone-marrow-transplant matches. It's a difficulty faced by many non-white or mixed race patients, and for that alone, this book is worth it.
Be the Match is a great book looking at great problems and depicting great love. Ain't that the best?
I apologize to low-angst readers: This book grabbed me by the ... throat and wouldn't let go. I can throw y'all a lot of tropes--hurt/comfort, found family, interracial romance, bi-awakening (or is it demisexuality?)--but what this book is is a damn good tale of people facing horrible attacks and even worse perpetrators and letting love carry them through.
I like to toss in a bit of narrative here and I'll try to avoid any spoilers: Ryan is from the start a man facing numerous challenges. He is hard-working to a fault; he just lost his wife in a car accident; he is locked into a life he senses he never wanted; he is surrounded by manipulative, aloof, self-centered family that wants to force him into their idea of a life; and his little son has been diagnosed with leukemia and needs a bone marrow transplant. Dylan is a survivor. His hyper-religious parents threw him out as a teen because he is gay. He has found friends and mentors and has created a pleasant life, but he's built walls around his heart to prevent being betrayed and hurt again.
What impressed me most is the way Eliana West transmits this story with compelling, energetic writing and approachable characters. If facing homophobic bigots is a trigger, it may be too much for you. But I was driven by the desire to see these monsters (some far too much like my personal demons) get their comeuppance. That they get. The trip is not easy, but the ending is satisfying.
One more thing: The title, Be The Match, is the name of a real organization that helps people of color find bone-marrow-transplant matches. It's a difficulty faced by many non-white or mixed race patients, and for that alone, this book is worth it.
Be the Match is a great book looking at great problems and depicting great love. Ain't that the best?
May 29, 2024
This was a really good book, the story was captivating and didn't leave me indifferent to how tough life can be. The main characters Ryan Blackstone a widow and his son Leo fighting Cancer. Dylan McKenzie, a teacher who would become very important to Leo and Ryan. This story is also a proof of how badly some things may seem when Dylan was rejected by his parents because of who he is. Ryan is also trying to save his little boy that is very sick and in need of a bone marrow transplant. The title corresponds well to the story of being the match. Both Dylan and Ryan go through hardships and their paths come to cross each other. This story is about hope and new beginnings, be worthy and part of a family even if it is not the traditional type of family. How both Ryan and Dylan fight together for their beliefs, family and happiness. I enjoyed reading this book!
Thanks!
Charlotte N
Thanks!
Charlotte N
June 8, 2024
Be the Match is a great title for this book, as Dylan is tested to be a bone marrow match for his nephew and he’s hoping Ryan will be his love match as well! I loved the development of Ryan coming to terms with his sexuality, fighting for respect from his family and friends, but also placing boundaries and not letting anyone disrespect Dylan as well!
This is an emotional romance dealing with child cancer, death of a spouse, religious and parental trauma, but the relationship between Dylan, Ryan, and Leo outshines all the negatives! There was a good amount of chemistry between Dylan and Ryan, especially as they are fighting against their feelings at first! Great read!
This is an emotional romance dealing with child cancer, death of a spouse, religious and parental trauma, but the relationship between Dylan, Ryan, and Leo outshines all the negatives! There was a good amount of chemistry between Dylan and Ryan, especially as they are fighting against their feelings at first! Great read!
September 15, 2025
On kobo (EPub 2 Adobe DRM) 188 pages
A rather charming romance, though with disturbing elements. Dylan McKenzie was thrown out by his family after they discovered his journal. He was sheltered by a teacher - and while not formally adopted regards he and his partner as his parents. Grown up he is a successful second grade teacher and is startled to be contacted by Ryan Blackstone, widower, about a bme marrow donation - Dylan being a match for Ryan's son Leo, who has leukemia. It transpires that Leo's mother was Dylan's twin sister...
How Ryan and Dylan connect and both sort out their dysfunctional family relationships is an engaging story.
A rather charming romance, though with disturbing elements. Dylan McKenzie was thrown out by his family after they discovered his journal. He was sheltered by a teacher - and while not formally adopted regards he and his partner as his parents. Grown up he is a successful second grade teacher and is startled to be contacted by Ryan Blackstone, widower, about a bme marrow donation - Dylan being a match for Ryan's son Leo, who has leukemia. It transpires that Leo's mother was Dylan's twin sister...
How Ryan and Dylan connect and both sort out their dysfunctional family relationships is an engaging story.
May 29, 2024
Amazing!
I will be honest & say while I have a child of this community. I hadn't read a LGBTIQA+ story before. I'm so glad this heartfelt amazing story is my first but won't be my last. There is sadness, joy, intrigue, sexual tension & awakening of self, betrayal & love lots of love. This story had my attention from the first page till the last. Please give this story a read you will be pleasantly surprised. 🥰
I will be honest & say while I have a child of this community. I hadn't read a LGBTIQA+ story before. I'm so glad this heartfelt amazing story is my first but won't be my last. There is sadness, joy, intrigue, sexual tension & awakening of self, betrayal & love lots of love. This story had my attention from the first page till the last. Please give this story a read you will be pleasantly surprised. 🥰
December 12, 2025
so the prose is very rough and i think the resolution is way too easy and also the of it all is very quick like it’s been one summer??? BUT this was so well plotted it made full use of its concept and the development is really nicely paced!! i loved that i loved the found family and the sense of belonging these two find with each other and create for those they love.
March 15, 2025
Sweet but heartbreaking
Good story with some unfortunate ties to reality in there. I loved the character of Dylan. He survived so much and became so much stronger for it. Ryan has just floated and trusted through life and it comes as a shock when it is all upended on him. I am glad he finally stood up for himself.
Good story with some unfortunate ties to reality in there. I loved the character of Dylan. He survived so much and became so much stronger for it. Ryan has just floated and trusted through life and it comes as a shock when it is all upended on him. I am glad he finally stood up for himself.
September 18, 2025
Mid-reading of this and I need to note the problem I have with the premise (dead wife's twin) and the MC prioritizing someone over his child IN THE HOSPITAL! Crazy can't begin to describe this.
And, that's a wrap...55% and I'm DNFing. The crazy sister, the half explained lunch...it's not working for me anymore.
And, that's a wrap...55% and I'm DNFing. The crazy sister, the half explained lunch...it's not working for me anymore.
December 16, 2025
This was an amazing read, I just couldn't put it down, the family drama, the deceit, the lies and the love that saves everything. It begins with a child battling leukemia and the search for a viable donor, that brings Dylan into Ryan's world. There are family members that you want to strangle and friends that stick by through it all, it's just a wonderful story.
June 23, 2024
I was captivated by this book--could not put it down until I finished it. The story and the characters were delightful. Loved the ending. I saw this book recommended by an author I follow. She loved it so I took a chance, and I am so glad that I did. Recommend reading.
did-not-finish
October 16, 2025DNF @ 36% - The idea and themes sounded great, but I'm not enjoying this at all. Ryan is awful - the way he goes along with everything his family says, and even worse, the way he treats Dylan. Dylan is uninteresting. The writing style doesn't work for me, either.
June 12, 2024
Noah fence but this book exudes such aggressive “straight woman writing a MM romance book” energy it kinda tickles me lol. The story might even turn out to be good later but I wouldn’t know. Pass.
July 22, 2024
A sweet, relatively low angst story. Even though at times you knew where the story was headed, for some reason it kept my attention the whole way through. An enjoyable read!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews