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Mallory Vineyard #2
Future Gay Boyfriend
Ryan Kingston is having a terrible year. His twin brother and his best friend just got engaged, leaving him feeling adrift and out of place. Prepared to ring in the New Year drunk and without a date at the annual Mallory Vineyard party, Ryan is blindsided by desire when he shares an unexpected kiss with the last person he expected…another man.
With his darkest years hopefully behind him, Darian Fulton is finally ready to step out of the shadows and embrace his true self. Armed with pink lip gloss and a snazzy silk tie, he is determined to keep his New Year’s resolution and find his own slice of happiness; one that shows up in the form of Ryan Kingston, an alluring and apparently not-so-straight-after-all man.
Darian sets his sights on making Ryan his future gay boyfriend after a simple kiss, which quickly turns into two, then three, then more. Ryan and Darian find themselves more involved with each other than they’d ever planned. But Darian worries that Ryan is going to change his mind about being with a man—and after a surprising job offer, Ryan is worried about losing Darian for the temptations of a big city career.
Between impromptu shopping trips, midnight ice cream runs, and a long list of firsts, Ryan and Darian are faced with the choice of conquering their fears together or missing out on all of their dreams.
With his darkest years hopefully behind him, Darian Fulton is finally ready to step out of the shadows and embrace his true self. Armed with pink lip gloss and a snazzy silk tie, he is determined to keep his New Year’s resolution and find his own slice of happiness; one that shows up in the form of Ryan Kingston, an alluring and apparently not-so-straight-after-all man.
Darian sets his sights on making Ryan his future gay boyfriend after a simple kiss, which quickly turns into two, then three, then more. Ryan and Darian find themselves more involved with each other than they’d ever planned. But Darian worries that Ryan is going to change his mind about being with a man—and after a surprising job offer, Ryan is worried about losing Darian for the temptations of a big city career.
Between impromptu shopping trips, midnight ice cream runs, and a long list of firsts, Ryan and Darian are faced with the choice of conquering their fears together or missing out on all of their dreams.
268 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 11, 2019
148 people are currently reading
297 people want to read
About the author
Kate Hawthorne
93 books938 followersWith over two dozen published romances to her name, Kate Hawthorne has built a recognizable brand around telling emotional stories that pack a figurative (and sometimes literal) punch.
Existing on a steady diet of wine and coffee, Kate spends her days dreaming up angsty stories full of heat, kink, and heart. Kate now lives in Louisville, where she writes romance, reads romance, and hides from the humidity.
Visit her website at http://www.katehawthornebooks.com
Existing on a steady diet of wine and coffee, Kate spends her days dreaming up angsty stories full of heat, kink, and heart. Kate now lives in Louisville, where she writes romance, reads romance, and hides from the humidity.
Visit her website at http://www.katehawthornebooks.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
April 12, 2019
I was really loving this book until the last few chapters when Darian decides to tell Ryan that he is moving across the country for a job. There wasn't a discussion of "Hey I just got a great job offer and I might consider moving to take it"-he flat out announced to Ryan that he was moving in 3 months. After Ryan tried hard to be happy for him but was unsuccessful, Darian graciously asked Ryan to move with him but made it very clear that he was going to move even if Ryan didn't come with him. He very helpfully pointed out that Ryan's job was going to disappear when his father sold the company that he currently worked for and that his best friend and brother were now married, so there was basically nothing left of his life in California so he might as well move.
Darian has a fit when Ryan makes it clear that he doesn't want to leave his life in California and
Darian moves to New York a few days early after once again getting angry that Ryan wasn't jumping for joy at the thought of moving his entire life to New York. Unfortunately, Ryan gives in and moves so that he doesn't lose the man he loves. I think this was supposed to be a romantic gesture but all I could think of was how selfish and immature Darian was not to try to discuss things with Ryan before making this decision. How could Ryan want to spend the rest of his life with a man that wouldn't even consider his feelings before making big life-changing decisions? This book was a 4.5 star read for me until the last few chapters.
Darian has a fit when Ryan makes it clear that he doesn't want to leave his life in California and
Darian moves to New York a few days early after once again getting angry that Ryan wasn't jumping for joy at the thought of moving his entire life to New York. Unfortunately, Ryan gives in and moves so that he doesn't lose the man he loves. I think this was supposed to be a romantic gesture but all I could think of was how selfish and immature Darian was not to try to discuss things with Ryan before making this decision. How could Ryan want to spend the rest of his life with a man that wouldn't even consider his feelings before making big life-changing decisions? This book was a 4.5 star read for me until the last few chapters.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 13, 2019
Up until the last 70%, This was a 4-5 star book for me. Within the last 30%, we see that Darian is actually a hypocrite and a spoiled brat. He literally does exactly what Ryan’s ex did to him years ago, and has no remorse. I thought maybe at the very end he would realize and apologize to Ryan for doing the same thing that obviously tore him up, but no luck. Darian was selfish and used sex as a way to avoid talking about the hard shit and actually communicating with Ryan. By the end, I just thought that Darian was a child who didn’t deserve Ryan. I am so disappointed with this read, as I loved the first book in this series and love love loved the short stories released about their first meeting on New Years Eve. I don’t know what the authors were thinking, but this is not a healthy relationship if one partner is expected to sacrifice while the other partner seems quite quick to move on if he doesn’t get what he wants. Darian needs to grow up!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 16, 2019
I really wanted to like this one but it was just...different. For one thing it was sort of off to the races because there was no build up. The 2 MCs meet and even though one was straight, Ryan, it was like an insta-lust with just a little indecision and then, BAM, they were in a relationship. OK, so I can kind of get past that and it it's going good until the second MC, Darian, who is gay makes a huge life changing decision that Ryan was bound to be hurt and confused by. Then everyone is telling Ryan that he's an idiot and he should just go along with Darian with no regard to Ryan's feelings at all.
At first, I really liked Darian but he got really demanding, needy and somewhat whiney. Ryan did have some jerk moments but mostly he was just upset because he was being backed into a corner. I didn't think they should end up together because they were at different points in their life and love doesn't conquer all.
I did really enjoy the first book in the series but I wasn't as happy with this one.
At first, I really liked Darian but he got really demanding, needy and somewhat whiney. Ryan did have some jerk moments but mostly he was just upset because he was being backed into a corner. I didn't think they should end up together because they were at different points in their life and love doesn't conquer all.
I did really enjoy the first book in the series but I wasn't as happy with this one.
May 23, 2021
The First 70% were great but then it all went to hell. Ryan and Darian were a great couple but in the end Darian was acting selfish, jepardizing the relationship and blaming Ryan for it.
March 24, 2020
I really enjoyed the first book in the series but this one just didn't work for me. The two characters get together and the relationship is very instant. I'm not a big fan of that usually and it didn't work that well in this book. However, getting past that I was still enjoying it until about the 70% when Darian makes a really big decision without discussing it with Ryan. He announces it and just expects Ryan to be fine with it. Not only to be fine with it but to make huge changes in his life to go along with it. Then when Ryan who is happy for him but not happy about the change doesn't instantly agree to make the changes in his life Darian turns into a spoiled brat. On top of that Ryan's friends and family all agree with Darian which I just found ridiculous. They hadn't been together that long and to just expect Ryan to be fine with making huge life changes for the relationship when Darian didn't even have enough respect for him to discuss it first is crazy. At that point I actually wanted them to stay apart. I really didn't like the resolution in this one and thought it was not only unfair to Ryan but put him in a relationship that was too one sided. A relationship takes compromise and obviously Darian wasn't capable of that.
April 18, 2019
Just no. Poor Ryan needs to make better choices. Going to New York and apologize?
Why is he doing that? Darian is selfish and not wasting a single thought on how his behavior has impact on Ryan‘s feelings and life in general. Expecting Ryan to leave his life behind for what? A fetch and carry job?
Surviving cancer does not entitle someone to be selfish and stomp all over other people. By the way somebody should tell the kid to stop eating tons of ice cream and sweets, sugar feeds the cancer after all.
Why is he doing that? Darian is selfish and not wasting a single thought on how his behavior has impact on Ryan‘s feelings and life in general. Expecting Ryan to leave his life behind for what? A fetch and carry job?
Surviving cancer does not entitle someone to be selfish and stomp all over other people. By the way somebody should tell the kid to stop eating tons of ice cream and sweets, sugar feeds the cancer after all.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 9, 2021
I love both these authors and when they get together they are perfect....This is Rhetts slightly older brother Ryan and Darian's story....I loved how Ryan didn't think twice about dating a man even though he classed himself as straight...They were just beautiful together.....An easy-ish read mostly with a bit of angst later on...Darian knows what he wants and he wants Ryan...They just worked together so well...A brilliant read x
April 15, 2019
Ryan & Darien
I knew this was going to be a must-read for me, it has some of my favorite tropes going on: Gay for you and first times. I loved going back to Mallory Vineyard and getting to know Ryan and Darien who first met there at a New Years Eve party. There was so much sweetness about this couple who you couldn’t help but experience all the feels. When Ryan pulled out the Calvin and Troy reference, I couldn’t help but swoon for these two! You were swept up in their emotional journey together and couldn’t help rooting for their eventual HEA.
I knew this was going to be a must-read for me, it has some of my favorite tropes going on: Gay for you and first times. I loved going back to Mallory Vineyard and getting to know Ryan and Darien who first met there at a New Years Eve party. There was so much sweetness about this couple who you couldn’t help but experience all the feels. When Ryan pulled out the Calvin and Troy reference, I couldn’t help but swoon for these two! You were swept up in their emotional journey together and couldn’t help rooting for their eventual HEA.
August 26, 2020
The story started of great: "Straight" guy fell for femme guy and it is love at first sight. Ryan thought he was straight all his life, and watched from the sidelines while his twin brother found true love. Then he met Darian, a femme guy, recently healed from cancer, and he fell head over heals. And all is well, it was low angst, almost perfect, and then: I completely lost interest in the story at this point, only skim reading the last few pages.
A huge disappointment.
A huge disappointment.
April 17, 2019
Disappointed.. Warning spoilers in this review
Book started out amazing and ended up really disliking Darian.. After Ryan poured his heart out as to Emily choosing a career and moving away.. What does Darian do, he came across as self absorbed brat and selfish. Who makes a life changing decision to move without having a discussion with your significant other ... Without consideration for the person you are supposed to love... And freaking make Ryan feel guilty about it... I was hoping Emily would have come back.
Book started out amazing and ended up really disliking Darian.. After Ryan poured his heart out as to Emily choosing a career and moving away.. What does Darian do, he came across as self absorbed brat and selfish. Who makes a life changing decision to move without having a discussion with your significant other ... Without consideration for the person you are supposed to love... And freaking make Ryan feel guilty about it... I was hoping Emily would have come back.
January 10, 2024
I'm not really sure how I feel about this one if I'm being honest. There was a lot of spice in this, but I didn't feel the connection. I know it's been a while since I read the first book, but I don't remember Ryan having any thoughts that he might like guys. But yet, in this one, Ryan just looks at Darian, and all of a sudden, he's now gay. It just didn't work for me.
Then you have these two confessing their love for one another, but Darian makes the decision to move to New York without any discussion whatsoever with his boyfriend. If they did, it was behind closed doors that we didn't get to see. That didn't make sense either. Or that everyone sides with Darian. Hello!?!?!?!??! No one just picks up their life and moves without some sort of discussion. This whole scenario shows how young, immature, and spoiled Darian is. Which is sad because he came across as mature for a while there.
Then you have these two confessing their love for one another, but Darian makes the decision to move to New York without any discussion whatsoever with his boyfriend. If they did, it was behind closed doors that we didn't get to see. That didn't make sense either. Or that everyone sides with Darian. Hello!?!?!?!??! No one just picks up their life and moves without some sort of discussion. This whole scenario shows how young, immature, and spoiled Darian is. Which is sad because he came across as mature for a while there.
August 1, 2019
If you are looking for super steamy sexy time this book is definitely for you. Darian was super fun to read about -- until he wasn't. I won't spoil it because that's not what I do...but after all the talking Ryan and he did about their pasts, doing what he did didn't sit well with me at all. Sometimes you need to let go in order to be happy. Do they get their HEA? Read it and find out.
October 5, 2020
Fun, sweet HEA romance.
Enjoyed the first in this series so wanted to know what happens with Rhett's twin Ryan in this one. The only thing that seemed out of place is Ryan's lack of questioning, he appears to accept that he isn't as straight as he always believed a bit too easily. But other than that I liked Ryan and Darian together.
Enjoyed the first in this series so wanted to know what happens with Rhett's twin Ryan in this one. The only thing that seemed out of place is Ryan's lack of questioning, he appears to accept that he isn't as straight as he always believed a bit too easily. But other than that I liked Ryan and Darian together.
September 2, 2020
2.5 stars
DNF 61%
I had problems with this book right from the start. I don’t immediately like main characters when I start reading something new. I have to get to know and like them. Even Ryan, who appeared in the previous book, needed to be introduced as a main character and not just Rhett’s twin brother.
Unfortunately, the book starts off with insta-lust. I didn’t get the chance to connect with Ryan and Darian before they started having sex. Which meant that I didn’t care about the sex. As much as I love smut in my romance books, it doesn’t pack a punch if I’m not invested in the relationship.
But I kept reading, because the book can’t all be about sex, right?
It wasn’t until chapter five – more than 20% into the book, that serious character development and relationship building started to happen. And even that was lackluster. Ryan and Darian are both directionless. Ryan’s life isn’t terrible but isn’t great. Darian has finally beaten cancer and now has to decide what he wants to do with his life. Kurt Vonnegut famously advised writers that “Characters must want something, even if it’s just a glass of water.” Neither Ryan nor Darian had something they wanted. It made them feel incomplete.
The lack of goals meant that both men had boring lives, and so not much of their lives was shown. It also meant the story lacked a subplot. Sure, eventually Darian’s desire to go to college comes up, but it happens after the 50% mark.
The entire first half of the book was focused solely on the relationship. Which would have been fine if there was some tension there. But there wasn’t. Ryan, who had always been straight, adjusts to his newfound sexuality in the blink of an eye, which isn’t a huge surprise. His twin and best friend are both gay, so Ryan is obviously fine with gay men. But I’m not a big fan of ‘gay for you’ stories, and this definitely is one. Ryan had literally never been attracted to another man before.
Since neither man has a problem with the budding romance, they had a lot of sex. Too much sex. So much that it became ridiculous. Everything Darian did got Ryan hard. I got so tired of reading about Ryan needing to adjust his boner. Sex is not substance. It didn’t matter that they were both trying to work out the intricacies of anal sex. A romance isn’t built on sex alone, and there wasn’t enough time spent developing the relationship to get me invested.
The only reason I got as far as I did in the book was because I skimmed. A lot. I never got invested, and gave up because it wasn’t worth my time to finish reading.
I am especially disappointed that Darian wasn’t more fleshed out. He was the more interesting of the two men. As a cancer survivor, he had a unique view on life. It was mentioned a number of times that he was finally wearing the kinds of feminine clothes he’d always wanted to wear, but that wasn’t delved into. And for a guy who just got over cancer, his family was noticeably absent. And I hated that Kristen, who’d been portrayed as a bitch in the first book, was Darian’s BFF. I know people act differently depending on who they are around, but she was still a bitch to Ryan, and her character just felt inconsistent.
I did appreciate that Ryan was verse. He didn’t immediately assume he would top, which is noteworthy, especially since Darian was so feminine.
I also have to point out that this e-book had a lot of formatting issues, especially at the beginning. Paragraphs were indented differently, or not indented at all, in a very noticeable way. I also didn’t like that the book started with a prologue when the story continued without any sort of time break into chapter one.
After reading some reviews from people who actually finished this book, I’m glad I gave up when I did. Apparently things happen in the last few chapters that made people super mad.
I will finish the series, but I’m definitely less excited about the final book now. Hopefully it will be like the first book and not this one.
Find the original post, complete with list of likes and dislikes, at Love is Love Reviews
DNF 61%
I had problems with this book right from the start. I don’t immediately like main characters when I start reading something new. I have to get to know and like them. Even Ryan, who appeared in the previous book, needed to be introduced as a main character and not just Rhett’s twin brother.
Unfortunately, the book starts off with insta-lust. I didn’t get the chance to connect with Ryan and Darian before they started having sex. Which meant that I didn’t care about the sex. As much as I love smut in my romance books, it doesn’t pack a punch if I’m not invested in the relationship.
But I kept reading, because the book can’t all be about sex, right?
It wasn’t until chapter five – more than 20% into the book, that serious character development and relationship building started to happen. And even that was lackluster. Ryan and Darian are both directionless. Ryan’s life isn’t terrible but isn’t great. Darian has finally beaten cancer and now has to decide what he wants to do with his life. Kurt Vonnegut famously advised writers that “Characters must want something, even if it’s just a glass of water.” Neither Ryan nor Darian had something they wanted. It made them feel incomplete.
The lack of goals meant that both men had boring lives, and so not much of their lives was shown. It also meant the story lacked a subplot. Sure, eventually Darian’s desire to go to college comes up, but it happens after the 50% mark.
The entire first half of the book was focused solely on the relationship. Which would have been fine if there was some tension there. But there wasn’t. Ryan, who had always been straight, adjusts to his newfound sexuality in the blink of an eye, which isn’t a huge surprise. His twin and best friend are both gay, so Ryan is obviously fine with gay men. But I’m not a big fan of ‘gay for you’ stories, and this definitely is one. Ryan had literally never been attracted to another man before.
Since neither man has a problem with the budding romance, they had a lot of sex. Too much sex. So much that it became ridiculous. Everything Darian did got Ryan hard. I got so tired of reading about Ryan needing to adjust his boner. Sex is not substance. It didn’t matter that they were both trying to work out the intricacies of anal sex. A romance isn’t built on sex alone, and there wasn’t enough time spent developing the relationship to get me invested.
The only reason I got as far as I did in the book was because I skimmed. A lot. I never got invested, and gave up because it wasn’t worth my time to finish reading.
I am especially disappointed that Darian wasn’t more fleshed out. He was the more interesting of the two men. As a cancer survivor, he had a unique view on life. It was mentioned a number of times that he was finally wearing the kinds of feminine clothes he’d always wanted to wear, but that wasn’t delved into. And for a guy who just got over cancer, his family was noticeably absent. And I hated that Kristen, who’d been portrayed as a bitch in the first book, was Darian’s BFF. I know people act differently depending on who they are around, but she was still a bitch to Ryan, and her character just felt inconsistent.
I did appreciate that Ryan was verse. He didn’t immediately assume he would top, which is noteworthy, especially since Darian was so feminine.
I also have to point out that this e-book had a lot of formatting issues, especially at the beginning. Paragraphs were indented differently, or not indented at all, in a very noticeable way. I also didn’t like that the book started with a prologue when the story continued without any sort of time break into chapter one.
After reading some reviews from people who actually finished this book, I’m glad I gave up when I did. Apparently things happen in the last few chapters that made people super mad.
I will finish the series, but I’m definitely less excited about the final book now. Hopefully it will be like the first book and not this one.
Find the original post, complete with list of likes and dislikes, at Love is Love Reviews
July 2, 2020
I really loved Ryan and Darian’s story for the most part. Ryan has never been attracted to a man before but when he sees Darian at a New Year’s Eve party he is instantly intrigued Darian seems to be equally enamored with Ryan and they dive head first into a relationship with each other. Ryan never freaks out about being attracted to Darian and actually having a gay twin brother and gay best friend probably helps in that aspect. I love that he knows what he wants and goes for it. Darian has beaten cancer and is kind of unsure what he wants to do with his life.
The books revolves around Darian being a total virgin and Ryan being a virgin in the anal department and how they approach and conquer that.
The one thing that bugged me is that Darian up and decides he’s moving to NYC from California and springs it on Ryan, even after knowing that’s what his first love did to him, leaving him heart broken. He asked Ryan to come with him and when Ryan says no, everyone makes Ryan out to be the bad guy when he says no because his life is in California. Darian decides that Ryan has no reason to stay in California and when he still doesn’t want to go to NYC, Darian gets mad and leaves. I know it’s the plot point of tension but I hated seeing everyone tell Ryan he was being selfish for not upending his life and just taking off. Even if the only reason he didn’t want to go was that he was scared and his twin and best friend were in California and he didn’t want to leave them, that’s his choice and should be respected by everyone instead of everyone siding with Darian. Doesn’t it make Darian equally selfish to decide for himself that Ryan didn’t have anything to stay in California for and that it obviously meant he didn’t love him anymore? Shouldn’t both decisions be equally respected? I don’t know... that just bugged me.
The book was still a good one and I still enjoyed the fact that it revolved a lot around ice cream!
I am excited for the next book!
The books revolves around Darian being a total virgin and Ryan being a virgin in the anal department and how they approach and conquer that.
The one thing that bugged me is that Darian up and decides he’s moving to NYC from California and springs it on Ryan, even after knowing that’s what his first love did to him, leaving him heart broken. He asked Ryan to come with him and when Ryan says no, everyone makes Ryan out to be the bad guy when he says no because his life is in California. Darian decides that Ryan has no reason to stay in California and when he still doesn’t want to go to NYC, Darian gets mad and leaves. I know it’s the plot point of tension but I hated seeing everyone tell Ryan he was being selfish for not upending his life and just taking off. Even if the only reason he didn’t want to go was that he was scared and his twin and best friend were in California and he didn’t want to leave them, that’s his choice and should be respected by everyone instead of everyone siding with Darian. Doesn’t it make Darian equally selfish to decide for himself that Ryan didn’t have anything to stay in California for and that it obviously meant he didn’t love him anymore? Shouldn’t both decisions be equally respected? I don’t know... that just bugged me.
The book was still a good one and I still enjoyed the fact that it revolved a lot around ice cream!
I am excited for the next book!
February 12, 2021
I finished this one but barely...first off in the first book of this series, Future Fake Husband, Cole gets involved with Rhett, his best friend Ryan's twin brother. At one point in the book Cole's grandfather says, "Weird they're both gay." Insinuating that Ryan was gay as well as Rhett, yet this book opens up and Ryan is supposedly straight. Immediately I was like, "what?" So I moved passed that let it go as the ramblings of an old man, but at a New Year's Eve party after putting his sloppy drunk female date into a rideshare he returns to the party and someone catches his eye. I man with a flair who Ryan has a very un-hetero reaction to. I have no issues with GFY stories, but this one moved so fast I got whiplash. Top it off that neither main character Ryan or Darian had any real direction in their lives, their characters weren't really developed except for the fact that Darian was a cancer survivor, and this book was kind of boring. I don't mind sex in books in fact I rather enjoy it but this book seemed to follow a pattern, go out, have sex, have some more sex, no communication, no real getting to know one another, it got old very fast. I would have expected Ryan to at least have a bit of a freak out about discovering his sexuality but even that was boring. What I did like was that Darian loved exploring his feminine side yet was all MALE and that Ryan was so accepting of him, but even that wasn't explored. So, this one was a miss for me. It had the potential to really explore some great areas of gay romance but unfortunately it just fell flat.
February 25, 2021
Supposedly straight boy kisses obviously gay boy. You know how this story goes already. Angst ensues until the straight boy realizes he’s somewhere on the queer spectrum, and then they live happily ever after.
This book is nothing like that, and I loved it all the more for it. Yes, Ryan has only dated women until this point in his life, until he sees Darian at a party and the entire structure of his life realigns. He kisses Darian once, then twice, and then more than kisses happen. But the angst and second-guessing about his sexuality are never more than waved over because Ryan is a secure enough person to accept/acknowledge what (who) attracts him. And it happens to be Darian.
The two are just short of perfect for each other, and the drama ensues when both put so much effort into achieving that unattainable perfection for the other person. Also, enough of an age-gap exists that Darian is starting out in his life while Ryan has come awfully close to “settling.” This is the conflict that sparks the actual dark moment in this book, which was significantly more angst than I expected (or perhaps that was the wine). I had to force myself to put the book down and get some sleep, trusting that Hawthorne and Denning would present me with the promised happily ever after in the morning.
They more than delivered on the unspoken promise of the romance genre, and now I can’t wait to return to the vineyard and begin reading the final book of this trilogy.
This book is nothing like that, and I loved it all the more for it. Yes, Ryan has only dated women until this point in his life, until he sees Darian at a party and the entire structure of his life realigns. He kisses Darian once, then twice, and then more than kisses happen. But the angst and second-guessing about his sexuality are never more than waved over because Ryan is a secure enough person to accept/acknowledge what (who) attracts him. And it happens to be Darian.
The two are just short of perfect for each other, and the drama ensues when both put so much effort into achieving that unattainable perfection for the other person. Also, enough of an age-gap exists that Darian is starting out in his life while Ryan has come awfully close to “settling.” This is the conflict that sparks the actual dark moment in this book, which was significantly more angst than I expected (or perhaps that was the wine). I had to force myself to put the book down and get some sleep, trusting that Hawthorne and Denning would present me with the promised happily ever after in the morning.
They more than delivered on the unspoken promise of the romance genre, and now I can’t wait to return to the vineyard and begin reading the final book of this trilogy.
April 12, 2019
Another great add to the series. I loved 'Future Fake Husband' and hoped there would be one for Ryan and this was worth the wait. Ryan is thrown into the unknown when he meets a man; a man he's attracted to. I loved seeing Ryan embrace the new twist in his life in a positive way, taking a chance to see where it can go with Darian even though he was a man. Darian might be one of my favorite characters yet, when you first meet him you're hooked with the sweet and bright man. This story is heartbreaking but also inspiring to be what you can be and even if you're behind you are right where you need to be. Their chemistry is intense with a desire and sweetness that you can't help but cheer for. Mix in old favorites like Rhett and Cole and this epic story has everything you could want from laughs, tears and bright smiles. I can't wait for more from these two amazing authors. {Sidenote: Previously released free prequel stories 'Darian's Resolution' and 'Ryan's Decision' are added into this novel so you get even MORE of Ryan and Darian}
April 14, 2019
Ryan and Darian meet just in time to be each other's New Year's kiss, and this begins a very sweet and sexy romance. Ryan has always believed himself to be straight, but when he is suddenly drawn to gorgeous young Darian, Ryan doesn't stress over learning he isn't so straight after all. That makes me love him right away. Darian has battled cancer and come out the other side determined to live life to the fullest, and his growing relationship with Ryan makes him want things he never thought he would have. These two are sweet, sexy, and perfect together. There isn't a an overwhelming amount of angst, but each man does have issues with insecurity. While I would enjoy seeing more of interaction with their families (especially Darian's brother), I do love Ryan and Darian so much, and watching their love story evolve is heartwarming.
This is a lovely sequel to Future Fake Husband, Cole and Rhett's book. I recommend them both!
This is a lovely sequel to Future Fake Husband, Cole and Rhett's book. I recommend them both!
April 22, 2019
I liked this but had some issues
I liked that there was little to n o coming out angst for Ryan. It’s cool to have a book every so often where being interested in a man for the first time isn’t some dramatic angsty mess but I found a few things confusing and frustrating. 1- I think tuna had every right to feel crappy about darian just announcing he was leaving to move across the country without even talking to him about it first and it annoyed me that everyone seemed to think Ryan was being a jerk or dramatic about it. 2- there was zero reason explained for Ryan having such an issue with going to New York. 3- I don’t think darian had a leg to stand on saying that that he didn’t mean enough to Ryan for Ryan to move with him when he never even considered staying for Ryan, that I think that would have been a good choice but still. I liked it but the central conflict was frustrating to me.
I liked that there was little to n o coming out angst for Ryan. It’s cool to have a book every so often where being interested in a man for the first time isn’t some dramatic angsty mess but I found a few things confusing and frustrating. 1- I think tuna had every right to feel crappy about darian just announcing he was leaving to move across the country without even talking to him about it first and it annoyed me that everyone seemed to think Ryan was being a jerk or dramatic about it. 2- there was zero reason explained for Ryan having such an issue with going to New York. 3- I don’t think darian had a leg to stand on saying that that he didn’t mean enough to Ryan for Ryan to move with him when he never even considered staying for Ryan, that I think that would have been a good choice but still. I liked it but the central conflict was frustrating to me.
January 23, 2024
A fairly mellow story, Alex accepts his new identity with as much ease as his next breath. I loved how he didn't feel the need to keep everything a secret. He embraced having a boyfriend and was really encouraging when Darian was dressing in clothes that he truly wanted to wear. The story is a bit of of a non starter because everything is going well and both MC's are happy. I was gutted that they had difficulties with their intimacy, for their big moment, we wanted a steamy hot scene but it was refreshing that it wasn't perfect. Practice makes perfect and the scenes got hotter. There is some angst due to hard frought decisions which will impact both MC's but love always wins and I loved Ryan for finally getting there. The bonus at the end took us full circle to the night they met and it was the perfect way to end the book, reminding us how their chemistry started. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 28, 2024
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Ooph, that was one sexy novel!! I’m still blushing.
They met New Year’s eve and sparks flew. No matter that Ryan was straight. He can’t stop kissing Darian, and touching. So much touching! For someone who’s never dated a man before, he makes an incredible boyfriend.
I loved the pacing of this story. Being along for the ride as they make their way to boyfriends. And as they each try and sort out what their future will look like. They come to a crossroads, and it requires a few tears to get through (theirs and mine)
For the record, I’m on team Ryan. I think Darian was in the wrong and should have been the one to grovel.
Also, I still hate Kristen! LOL
Ooph, that was one sexy novel!! I’m still blushing.
They met New Year’s eve and sparks flew. No matter that Ryan was straight. He can’t stop kissing Darian, and touching. So much touching! For someone who’s never dated a man before, he makes an incredible boyfriend.
I loved the pacing of this story. Being along for the ride as they make their way to boyfriends. And as they each try and sort out what their future will look like. They come to a crossroads, and it requires a few tears to get through (theirs and mine)
For the record, I’m on team Ryan. I think Darian was in the wrong and should have been the one to grovel.
Also, I still hate Kristen! LOL
November 10, 2020
Too much angst and drama...
I wanted to love this book. I really did. The first book in this series was so sweet. The fake boyfriend trope was cute - but mostly because the MC seemed to have great communication, and didn’t hold back from each other. This was not that book. This book felt grittier, and not in a good way.
It had all the characteristics of a great book. A virgin cancer survivor, gay for you, and no shame in the relationship. But I really hated the fact that the PTSD that Ryan must have had from his ex was not brought up between the MCs, and the it seems like there way so much drama and angst that didn’t need to happen. Plus Ryan was always having to apologize which pissed me off.
Coming off the sweetness of the first book this one just left me irritated. Hopefully the next book will be better, since I love these authors’ writing!
I wanted to love this book. I really did. The first book in this series was so sweet. The fake boyfriend trope was cute - but mostly because the MC seemed to have great communication, and didn’t hold back from each other. This was not that book. This book felt grittier, and not in a good way.
It had all the characteristics of a great book. A virgin cancer survivor, gay for you, and no shame in the relationship. But I really hated the fact that the PTSD that Ryan must have had from his ex was not brought up between the MCs, and the it seems like there way so much drama and angst that didn’t need to happen. Plus Ryan was always having to apologize which pissed me off.
Coming off the sweetness of the first book this one just left me irritated. Hopefully the next book will be better, since I love these authors’ writing!
April 1, 2019
At a New Years party, Ryan puts his drunk date in a cab. Disgusted by her bad behavior. Darian’s date dumped him because he is just to gay. When they meet, the gay guy and the straight guy, feel a pull towards each other. A kiss, ice cream, and another kiss leads to so much more than either man thought possible.
Some insta-love, gay for you, and hot chemistry made this a nice story. I liked both characters a lot. Ryan was kind of clueless and Darian was a little over the top but they were meant for each other. Characters from the first book played a large part in this one. We even got to see a softer side of Kristen. Some angst and lots of ice cream made this a very nice book.
I received an arc of this book.
Some insta-love, gay for you, and hot chemistry made this a nice story. I liked both characters a lot. Ryan was kind of clueless and Darian was a little over the top but they were meant for each other. Characters from the first book played a large part in this one. We even got to see a softer side of Kristen. Some angst and lots of ice cream made this a very nice book.
I received an arc of this book.
April 12, 2019
GFY MM Romance
3 stars!
This book is set in the same world as "Future Fake Husband" by the same authors. I would call this book 2 in the series as it would spoil the other book if you read them out of order.
This book fell short of my expectations. I don't feel like the final resolution made sense to me. I don't like the whiney Darian. He acts very much like a spoiled brat.
I did like the feminine touches Darian likes to wear and I liked the GFY/coming to acceptance storyline.
I would say this book has a TON of sexy time-high heat level. For me, it was maybe 60 sexytime/40 plot-relationship. It wasn't a deal breaker but I think it was too much.
Overall, it was an ok read but it wasn't as good as I hoped.
3 stars!
This book is set in the same world as "Future Fake Husband" by the same authors. I would call this book 2 in the series as it would spoil the other book if you read them out of order.
This book fell short of my expectations. I don't feel like the final resolution made sense to me. I don't like the whiney Darian. He acts very much like a spoiled brat.
I did like the feminine touches Darian likes to wear and I liked the GFY/coming to acceptance storyline.
I would say this book has a TON of sexy time-high heat level. For me, it was maybe 60 sexytime/40 plot-relationship. It wasn't a deal breaker but I think it was too much.
Overall, it was an ok read but it wasn't as good as I hoped.
March 22, 2021
First times shared are the sweetest
Awww ... This was the sweetest book. Yes, there was a tiny bit of angst towards the end, but mostly it was a lovely store about two people finding what they've always wanted in each other. Ryan has never been with another man and is absolutely enamored with the beautiful and sassy Darian from the beginning. Darian has never been intimate with another man because of an illness robbing him of several years. Ryan's always thought he was straight. Darian is finding his more feminine gay side. With friends and family butting in at every turn, these two navigate new waters together and it's just ... Awww! Everything about this book was just engaging and heartfelt and I really, really liked it. Definitely recommend this book!
Awww ... This was the sweetest book. Yes, there was a tiny bit of angst towards the end, but mostly it was a lovely store about two people finding what they've always wanted in each other. Ryan has never been with another man and is absolutely enamored with the beautiful and sassy Darian from the beginning. Darian has never been intimate with another man because of an illness robbing him of several years. Ryan's always thought he was straight. Darian is finding his more feminine gay side. With friends and family butting in at every turn, these two navigate new waters together and it's just ... Awww! Everything about this book was just engaging and heartfelt and I really, really liked it. Definitely recommend this book!
April 17, 2021
3.75-4 stars
So, I was REALLY enjoying Ryan & Darian’s story up until chapter 19 (67%). I am torn about who frustrated me more, Ryan, because he was acting like a sulking child and wouldn’t consider moving to New York with Darian. Or Darian who didn’t even discuss his job opportunity and the necessity of moving to New York.
In Darian’s defense, it was a fabulous opportunity for him to do something he loved and turning the job down for a man would have probably strained their relationship. In Ryan’s defense, Darian did what Emily had done to Ryan. Put himself before their relationship. He made the decision without discussing it with Ryan and then begged Ryan to go with him. Perhaps, if Darian had discussed it with Ryan, they would have come to the decision to move to NY together.
It worked out for them in the end but, I hated that Darian never acknowledged that he acted like Emily and didn’t apologize. Ryan took all the blame and that rubbed me the wrong way.
I DID love how Ryan didn’t dwell on being straight and embraced his feelings for Darian. I also loved that sex between them wasn’t perfect and they worked around it.
*****
POV... third person
Standalone or series... book 2 in series. Could be read as standalone but I suggest reading in order for full enjoyment
Hangover... no
Recommend... maybe
Reread... maybe
*****
KU read
Ryan
Darian
So, I was REALLY enjoying Ryan & Darian’s story up until chapter 19 (67%). I am torn about who frustrated me more, Ryan, because he was acting like a sulking child and wouldn’t consider moving to New York with Darian. Or Darian who didn’t even discuss his job opportunity and the necessity of moving to New York.
In Darian’s defense, it was a fabulous opportunity for him to do something he loved and turning the job down for a man would have probably strained their relationship. In Ryan’s defense, Darian did what Emily had done to Ryan. Put himself before their relationship. He made the decision without discussing it with Ryan and then begged Ryan to go with him. Perhaps, if Darian had discussed it with Ryan, they would have come to the decision to move to NY together.
It worked out for them in the end but, I hated that Darian never acknowledged that he acted like Emily and didn’t apologize. Ryan took all the blame and that rubbed me the wrong way.
I DID love how Ryan didn’t dwell on being straight and embraced his feelings for Darian. I also loved that sex between them wasn’t perfect and they worked around it.
*****
POV... third person
Standalone or series... book 2 in series. Could be read as standalone but I suggest reading in order for full enjoyment
Hangover... no
Recommend... maybe
Reread... maybe
*****
KU read
Ryan
Darian
April 2, 2019
Future Gay Boyfriend by Kate Hawthorne and EM Dening is an insta-love, gay for you romance that offers sweetness, sexiness, humor, and a dose of angst. All the ingredients for a wonderfully satisfying read.
Ryan and Darian are fun characters who have an instant, strong connection. They draw you in with their adorably cute interactions that turn deliciously hot. I definitely found myself shipping this couple hard. The supporting cast of characters were also entertaining and amazing to read. Their story makes you fall in love.
I received an advanced reader's copy of the book and I am voluntarily leaving my honest review and recommendation.
Ryan and Darian are fun characters who have an instant, strong connection. They draw you in with their adorably cute interactions that turn deliciously hot. I definitely found myself shipping this couple hard. The supporting cast of characters were also entertaining and amazing to read. Their story makes you fall in love.
I received an advanced reader's copy of the book and I am voluntarily leaving my honest review and recommendation.
February 9, 2025
I liked this book for about the first half. Then I got so mad and annoyed that I couldn't enjoy it anymore. Where I started out liking Darian enough, by the end I just couldn't. The way he treated Ryan made me mad. He just jumps and makes a decision without talking with the one person he claims to love, and then gets mad when Ryan doesn't want to leave his family. Totally selfish. I also couldn't quite understand Kristen. She is so nasty and rude to everyone except Darian. Two peas in a pod for sure. While I love romances and HEAs, I was annoyed that Ryan gave in. He deserves someone who will treat him like an equal.
I'm bumping up to 3 stars because I really loved Ryan. That's about it.
I'm bumping up to 3 stars because I really loved Ryan. That's about it.
August 30, 2019
This was a fun series - they could probably all be read as stand-alone but the characters show up in each others stories so it's worth reading in order. To be honest, the 1st 2 books get 5 stars, straight up enjoyed the MC's and their stories; however, the 3rd book only gets 4 stars - both the MC's were just a little "unlikeable" during most of their story, they fit together but I still did not love them like I did the MC's in the first 2 books.
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