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Men of Smithfield #5
Sam and Aaron
A never-before-published Men of Smithfield book
With our family's legacy, Meyers B&B, in the flailing hands of me, Sam Meyers, and my sister Wynne, we're determined to revive the place. We've started a series of blind-date cooking classes, and taken on our first boarder. Granddad is even now rolling in his grave.
Signed up for the class is our new guest, Aaron Saunders, a Californian transplant who's distractingly handsome and clearly up to no good. I can't quite figure him out. He blew into town and has been relentless in his search for…something.
The sexy sneak is intriguing. And we've had a steamy moment. Or two. But now I can't stop wondering why he's searching in secret. From the library, to the historical society, to my own backyard, Aaron leaves no stone unturned or record book unopened. He's definitely gotten my attention. But that might not be the only thing he's after.
With our family's legacy, Meyers B&B, in the flailing hands of me, Sam Meyers, and my sister Wynne, we're determined to revive the place. We've started a series of blind-date cooking classes, and taken on our first boarder. Granddad is even now rolling in his grave.
Signed up for the class is our new guest, Aaron Saunders, a Californian transplant who's distractingly handsome and clearly up to no good. I can't quite figure him out. He blew into town and has been relentless in his search for…something.
The sexy sneak is intriguing. And we've had a steamy moment. Or two. But now I can't stop wondering why he's searching in secret. From the library, to the historical society, to my own backyard, Aaron leaves no stone unturned or record book unopened. He's definitely gotten my attention. But that might not be the only thing he's after.
126 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 16, 2014
12 people are currently reading
245 people want to read
About the author
L.B. Gregg
25 books628 followersLB Gregg (Lisabea) writes fun, fast-paced contemporary male/male romances for a variety of publishers including Riptide, Samhain, and Carina Press. Her wildly successful Men of Smithfield books feature hot, hunky men looking for love in small town New England. Find more information about LB, The Men of Smithfield, and her fun series Romano and Albright at www.lbgregg.com.
You can also friend LB on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/lb.gregg.1
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Like her author page http://on.fb.me/216EIiF
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews
August 21, 2015
Written August 21, 2015
3.6 Stars - Everything you need for some pleasant hours in a lighthearted feelgood style
Book #5
Sam and Aaron is the fifth book in a (quite short novels - 4-6 hrs audiobooks) M/M series about 'Men of Smithfield'. New gay love-couples in every book. So far joyful, lighthearted and smexy stories. I've liked them all. You don't need to read them in order - just pick one and enjoy. (Reviews: )
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"Smithfield", New England, US in present time
Sam Meyers is a still single gay guy, soon to be thirty, who can't stop worrying about the family's legacy, Meyers B&B. Life is full of his own requirements and long to-do lists. Then his sister Wynne has a new idea. They shall start a series of blind-date cooking classes. Their very first boarder, Wynne's (if you ask Sam, crazy) idea as well, Aaron Saunders, a young Californian, is participating in the first class evening. Sam likes him...and life starts to changes.
But there is something odd and mysterious about this charming (very smart dressed and beautiful petite) stranger. Twice (big blond) Sam discoveres Aaron in burglary alike situations (in the library and in church) at dark nights. Who is this new stranger in town? What is he looking for? Why? ~ The guy Sam can't resist flirting with and feel those horny yummy since long time closed feelings for.
*********************************************************
Audiobook and narrator
The first four were all narrated by Shannon Gunn, a husky-voiced favorite (gay-steam) narrator. This fifth is narrated by a new name for me, Anthony Elmer. He did it simply great. I liked to listening to him. A few times had I problem to know who was talking but beyond that, perfect.
*********************************************************
This was 4:52 hours 'Smithfield' fun. As always successes this writer in to make me chuckle and giggle. Besides two lovely main characters, there are also more fun second characters. The plot / storyline was intriguing good and it all hold my interest to the end.
In short: great entertainment and a perfect listening for bus trips to and from work two days this week. It almost feels a little sad that this cozy M/M series is over for me now. Recommended as great in betweens reads.
I LIKE - yummy sweet, fun and entertaining stories
3.6 Stars - Everything you need for some pleasant hours in a lighthearted feelgood style
Book #5
Sam and Aaron is the fifth book in a (quite short novels - 4-6 hrs audiobooks) M/M series about 'Men of Smithfield'. New gay love-couples in every book. So far joyful, lighthearted and smexy stories. I've liked them all. You don't need to read them in order - just pick one and enjoy. (Reviews: )
*********************************************************
"Smithfield", New England, US in present time
Sam Meyers is a still single gay guy, soon to be thirty, who can't stop worrying about the family's legacy, Meyers B&B. Life is full of his own requirements and long to-do lists. Then his sister Wynne has a new idea. They shall start a series of blind-date cooking classes. Their very first boarder, Wynne's (if you ask Sam, crazy) idea as well, Aaron Saunders, a young Californian, is participating in the first class evening. Sam likes him...and life starts to changes.
But there is something odd and mysterious about this charming (very smart dressed and beautiful petite) stranger. Twice (big blond) Sam discoveres Aaron in burglary alike situations (in the library and in church) at dark nights. Who is this new stranger in town? What is he looking for? Why? ~ The guy Sam can't resist flirting with and feel those horny yummy since long time closed feelings for.
*********************************************************
Audiobook and narrator
The first four were all narrated by Shannon Gunn, a husky-voiced favorite (gay-steam) narrator. This fifth is narrated by a new name for me, Anthony Elmer. He did it simply great. I liked to listening to him. A few times had I problem to know who was talking but beyond that, perfect.
*********************************************************
This was 4:52 hours 'Smithfield' fun. As always successes this writer in to make me chuckle and giggle. Besides two lovely main characters, there are also more fun second characters. The plot / storyline was intriguing good and it all hold my interest to the end.
In short: great entertainment and a perfect listening for bus trips to and from work two days this week. It almost feels a little sad that this cozy M/M series is over for me now. Recommended as great in betweens reads.
I LIKE - yummy sweet, fun and entertaining stories
August 7, 2021
Audiobook - 3.5 stars
Story - 3.5 stars
Story - 3.5 stars
December 5, 2014
I always know what to expect when it comes to a book by L.B. Gregg. Her books are funny! And sweet... funny and sweet! They are the perfect short, light read when your mind needs a break from torment or angst. They are palate cleaning books, if you will.
When I see a "Men of Smithfield" book I just start grinning.
Sam and Aaron were a very enjoyable couple. When Sam was described as a viking lookalike, I was hooked.
*come to mama*
I adored all of the embarrassing situations that Sam got himself into and the comedy of errors cooking classes. I had a HUGE smile on my face the entire time I was reading.
Sure, the truth of Aaron's motivations isn't all that mysterious and, sure, this book could have been a WHOLE lot hotter, but it was a very nice read by one of the most consistent M/M authors out there.
**Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review**
When I see a "Men of Smithfield" book I just start grinning.
Sam and Aaron were a very enjoyable couple. When Sam was described as a viking lookalike, I was hooked.
*come to mama*
I adored all of the embarrassing situations that Sam got himself into and the comedy of errors cooking classes. I had a HUGE smile on my face the entire time I was reading.
Sure, the truth of Aaron's motivations isn't all that mysterious and, sure, this book could have been a WHOLE lot hotter, but it was a very nice read by one of the most consistent M/M authors out there.
**Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review**
July 22, 2016
3.25 stars
I liked this book but didn't love it. It felt incomplete somehow and wasn't at all what I was expecting.
Smithfield is a small town in New England. Sam has lived there most of his life, and now runs a bed and breakfast (inherited from his grandfather) with his sister, Wynne. While dropping off books at the library one night, Sam runs into Aaron, who appears to be burglarizing the place. Sam gets stuck, literally, and Aaron drops to his knees in rescue.
So the beginning was great. But then as Aaron and Sam circle around each other, the story lost focus. There is a mystery here, which isn't immediately apparent. It has to do with why Aaron is in town. Aaron sneaks around a lot; he seems to be looking for something. And Sam is attracted to Aaron, but doesn't quite trust him.
The big reveal wasn't a huge surprise. The clues led us there. And fortunately there wasn't a lot of angst between Aaron and Sam, but there's not much relationship development either.
There was the potential for major steam, but in each instance, we get the beginning and then a sort of fade to black.
The writing flowed well. I liked the secondary characters, especially Wynne and Claire, who works at the B&B with Wynne and Sam. Wynne and Sam's mom, Laurie, was also surprisingly well-developed, even though she's never on the page. There was some mention of MCs from previous books, but this book works as a standalone.
I would have given this an extra star had the ending been better defined. Not every book has to end with a ride into the sunset, but with the revelation and tip-toeing around in this one, I wanted more than I got. And not just more about Sam and Aaron's relationship, but more about Sam's thoughts on the mystery and ultimate revelation and more insight into Aaron's state of mind.
So this gets an average rating: It was an engaging book, but it lacked oomph.
I liked this book but didn't love it. It felt incomplete somehow and wasn't at all what I was expecting.
Smithfield is a small town in New England. Sam has lived there most of his life, and now runs a bed and breakfast (inherited from his grandfather) with his sister, Wynne. While dropping off books at the library one night, Sam runs into Aaron, who appears to be burglarizing the place. Sam gets stuck, literally, and Aaron drops to his knees in rescue.
So the beginning was great. But then as Aaron and Sam circle around each other, the story lost focus. There is a mystery here, which isn't immediately apparent. It has to do with why Aaron is in town. Aaron sneaks around a lot; he seems to be looking for something. And Sam is attracted to Aaron, but doesn't quite trust him.
The big reveal wasn't a huge surprise. The clues led us there. And fortunately there wasn't a lot of angst between Aaron and Sam, but there's not much relationship development either.
There was the potential for major steam, but in each instance, we get the beginning and then a sort of fade to black.
The writing flowed well. I liked the secondary characters, especially Wynne and Claire, who works at the B&B with Wynne and Sam. Wynne and Sam's mom, Laurie, was also surprisingly well-developed, even though she's never on the page. There was some mention of MCs from previous books, but this book works as a standalone.
I would have given this an extra star had the ending been better defined. Not every book has to end with a ride into the sunset, but with the revelation and tip-toeing around in this one, I wanted more than I got. And not just more about Sam and Aaron's relationship, but more about Sam's thoughts on the mystery and ultimate revelation and more insight into Aaron's state of mind.
So this gets an average rating: It was an engaging book, but it lacked oomph.
July 1, 2014
One star because I like LB Gregg's writing style.
One star because this was funny.
Aaaaand one extra star because sex in a church.
One star because this was funny.
Aaaaand one extra star because sex in a church.
June 14, 2015
Rounded up to 4 stars.
Family secrets were a tiny bit too complicated, but the efforts to get through them were rewarded with a nice ending for all participants, hot sex scenes and some really funny situations in which the author put their characters for pleasure and enjoyment her readers.
As always, it was an entertaining read, and I'm content and happy.
June 4, 2015
I enjoyed this one, but had a hard time following the family history. I liked Sam and Aaron and all the secondary characters! Singles cooking night sounded like so much fun! I would love to go stay at the Meyers' B&B :)
Read
February 12, 2020I really love LB GREEG's writing, her characters and the way her stories flow. This one didn't disappoint. She brought together two men who are opposites and showed they really do attracted. I have read most of this series and although this one wasn't my favorite (we all have to have one and mine was Max and Finn) I still loved it and would recommend this series to anyone who loves a good M/M story with heart and heat.
June 12, 2014
On a whole this series has been pretty lukewarm with book four being the best of the bunch in my opinion.
This installment introduces you to Sam and Aaron. Sam is the owner of the towns bed and breakfast, and Aaron a mysterious stranger who is renting a room at the B&B.
Sam is a big beautiful Viking of a man who inherited the B&B from his misogynistic grandfather. Him and his sister are trying to keep their business a float with his sisters idea of a date night cooking class. This part is over the top because every class has somebody ending up in the ER.
Sam and Aaron first meet when Sam is returning his sisters library books after hours and sees Aaron snooping around inside.
So this right here makes me doubt how they could fall shmoopy in love. I mean yeah Aaron told Sam he was on the up and up, but this is supposed to be in New England. I am a New Englander and I can tell you we are not known for trusting strangers, especially when they are caught red handed and feeding us a line of bull shit.
This book did have some funny parts, and I liked seeing some of the characters from the past books, but on a whole it was mostly meh!
This installment introduces you to Sam and Aaron. Sam is the owner of the towns bed and breakfast, and Aaron a mysterious stranger who is renting a room at the B&B.
Sam is a big beautiful Viking of a man who inherited the B&B from his misogynistic grandfather. Him and his sister are trying to keep their business a float with his sisters idea of a date night cooking class. This part is over the top because every class has somebody ending up in the ER.
Sam and Aaron first meet when Sam is returning his sisters library books after hours and sees Aaron snooping around inside.
So this right here makes me doubt how they could fall shmoopy in love. I mean yeah Aaron told Sam he was on the up and up, but this is supposed to be in New England. I am a New Englander and I can tell you we are not known for trusting strangers, especially when they are caught red handed and feeding us a line of bull shit.
This book did have some funny parts, and I liked seeing some of the characters from the past books, but on a whole it was mostly meh!
April 19, 2016
Aaron and Sam was a fun, funny, sexy read. I loved this story it was just what I needed. I probably smiled or laughed my way through at least 75% of the book and really who doesn't like a book that is just pure enjoyment from start to finish.
I've enjoyed all of the books in this series and while it has been a while since Ms Gregg released anything new for the Men of Smithfield, this one was worth the wait. Aaron and Sam were not the only likeable characters in this story. I thoroughly enjoyed Sam's sister Wynne and their friend Claire along with the rest of the date night night cooking class. Of course we also had a visit from some familiar characters as well, the town sheriff, Tony Gervase, showed up once or three times when Sam least appreciated it and I most enjoyed it. Adam was there to offer support when needed and let us not forget the sex...it was steamy sometimes you could almost say it was a near religious experience.
I certainly hope this isn't the last visit I get to make to Smithfield but just a reminder of what a fun place it is to go to.
4.5 stars rounded down for GoodReads.
I've enjoyed all of the books in this series and while it has been a while since Ms Gregg released anything new for the Men of Smithfield, this one was worth the wait. Aaron and Sam were not the only likeable characters in this story. I thoroughly enjoyed Sam's sister Wynne and their friend Claire along with the rest of the date night night cooking class. Of course we also had a visit from some familiar characters as well, the town sheriff, Tony Gervase, showed up once or three times when Sam least appreciated it and I most enjoyed it. Adam was there to offer support when needed and let us not forget the sex...it was steamy sometimes you could almost say it was a near religious experience.
I certainly hope this isn't the last visit I get to make to Smithfield but just a reminder of what a fun place it is to go to.
4.5 stars rounded down for GoodReads.
July 2, 2014
Sam & Aaron is my first Men of Smithfield book and works well as a standalone. I'm a big fan of LB Gregg's Romano & Albright series and her writing typically cracks me up. This book wasn't too different.
Sam is the owner of a local B&B w/ his sister Wynne. They'd inherited it from the grandfather and doing their best to keep it afloat.
Mysterious Aaron comes to town and sneaks around like he's got a secret to hide. He also excites Sam from his doldrums.
The story itself, and the growth of the relationship is sweet. And there are some fun & sexy parts as well.
My biggest problem was that the plot started to get really confusing (I even had to make myself a diagram to see if I could figure out exactly what was happening). And on top of that, I felt we only skimmed the surface when it came to the emotions of the characters. It all felt very...shallow.
It was a decently entertaining read.
Just ok, by me...
July 29, 2016
I'm usually pretty leery of series and I tend to drop out by the third book (anything by Lanyon not included) but L.B.Gregg's Men of Smithfield books are consistently good. Her writing is wonderful -there's something breezy and warm and effortless about it, her characters are flawed but imminently likeable and the stories are feel-good reads- funny, wry and utterly charming.
This story came so close to a 5 star read for me (I woke at 4:30 to finish it!) but I felt the last quarter a little too rushed. The delicious tension between the MC's was over far too quickly! I thought the chemistry between the two smoking hot- loved the dirty talk and what little on page sex there was was delicious!
A wonderfully entertaining read.
This story came so close to a 5 star read for me (I woke at 4:30 to finish it!) but I felt the last quarter a little too rushed. The delicious tension between the MC's was over far too quickly! I thought the chemistry between the two smoking hot- loved the dirty talk and what little on page sex there was was delicious!
A wonderfully entertaining read.
June 25, 2014
I yield to no one in my admiration of LB Gregg. She has written some of my favourite romantic comedies, and some of my favourite romances, period.
But this one was disappointing. Amid the choppy writing and copyediting errors were some likable characters (wearing meticulously described clothes) and a cliched plot fragment. This book felt half-baked, unfinished--frankly a one-buttocked, C-minus attempt instead of the A this author is capable of.
Skip this and read In and Out instead.
But this one was disappointing. Amid the choppy writing and copyediting errors were some likable characters (wearing meticulously described clothes) and a cliched plot fragment. This book felt half-baked, unfinished--frankly a one-buttocked, C-minus attempt instead of the A this author is capable of.
Skip this and read In and Out instead.
July 4, 2014
Out of the five Smithfield stories that Gregg has penned, I’ve read now three, including this one, and I think this newest installment is probably my favorite.
This time, Gregg takes us back to the small idyllic New England town of Smithfield, and we follow burly blond bed & breakfast owner Sam, who is likened to a Viking due to his towering height and light hair, and who is struggling, along with his sister, to keep their family business going. While he suffers through his sister’s money-raising schemes, the latest of which is to entice local lonely-hearts to meet cute while cooking at the inn, Sam himself is a little bit lonesome since it seems like all the other available gay men in town got coupled off already (in books 1-4.)
Of course, this means Sam also has his own “meet cute” story, but it’s not over the dinner table at the inn, but at the library, when he gets his hand stuck in the book drop, and only a shadowy figure sneaking in the stacks is there to help him out.
Little does Sam know that his sneaky savior is the newest B&B guest, a cute out-of-towner named Aaron who is quick with picking a lock, looks hot in Henleys, and keeps his secrets close to his toned little chest. (Height difference fans can rejoice at the inches between Aaron, who is around 5’5, and looming Sam.)
All and all, this is a nicely light contemporary romance novella—not too deep, but a quick and fun read. The other Smithfield books I’ve read, Mark & Tony and Max & Finn, had a mystery amongst the romance shenanigans, and this one shares that trait, although the mystery here is very light on suspense in comparison. (And also a little confusing.)
Even though I’m a big mystery-romance fan, I did prefer this book of the three, mostly because I liked Sam better than earlier MCs Mark, Max, and Finn, and he had cute chemistry with Aaron, as well as with the rest of the cast of wacky characters. (I had a hard time warming up to the other two books, but this one was pretty easy to swim into, like a warm bath started by a grousing, over-burdened inn owner.)
Do you need to read the other Smithfield books to enjoy this? Probably not—you’ll see some references to Mark and Finn, and both Tony from book 1 and Adam from book 4 pop up, but I think you can go into this expecting a light contemporary romance and enjoy it as it is.
I think my favorite Gregg works are still her Romano and Albright series, but this one would be a good de-stresser for a long day, or a nice read if you’re sitting by the beach. You might get a little hungry though—those dating dinner classes that Sam and Aaron are forced to take, although full of mishaps, do sound quite tasty. Maybe you can commiserate with them by having a glass of wine to share while you read.
This time, Gregg takes us back to the small idyllic New England town of Smithfield, and we follow burly blond bed & breakfast owner Sam, who is likened to a Viking due to his towering height and light hair, and who is struggling, along with his sister, to keep their family business going. While he suffers through his sister’s money-raising schemes, the latest of which is to entice local lonely-hearts to meet cute while cooking at the inn, Sam himself is a little bit lonesome since it seems like all the other available gay men in town got coupled off already (in books 1-4.)
Of course, this means Sam also has his own “meet cute” story, but it’s not over the dinner table at the inn, but at the library, when he gets his hand stuck in the book drop, and only a shadowy figure sneaking in the stacks is there to help him out.
Little does Sam know that his sneaky savior is the newest B&B guest, a cute out-of-towner named Aaron who is quick with picking a lock, looks hot in Henleys, and keeps his secrets close to his toned little chest. (Height difference fans can rejoice at the inches between Aaron, who is around 5’5, and looming Sam.)
All and all, this is a nicely light contemporary romance novella—not too deep, but a quick and fun read. The other Smithfield books I’ve read, Mark & Tony and Max & Finn, had a mystery amongst the romance shenanigans, and this one shares that trait, although the mystery here is very light on suspense in comparison. (And also a little confusing.)
Even though I’m a big mystery-romance fan, I did prefer this book of the three, mostly because I liked Sam better than earlier MCs Mark, Max, and Finn, and he had cute chemistry with Aaron, as well as with the rest of the cast of wacky characters. (I had a hard time warming up to the other two books, but this one was pretty easy to swim into, like a warm bath started by a grousing, over-burdened inn owner.)
Do you need to read the other Smithfield books to enjoy this? Probably not—you’ll see some references to Mark and Finn, and both Tony from book 1 and Adam from book 4 pop up, but I think you can go into this expecting a light contemporary romance and enjoy it as it is.
I think my favorite Gregg works are still her Romano and Albright series, but this one would be a good de-stresser for a long day, or a nice read if you’re sitting by the beach. You might get a little hungry though—those dating dinner classes that Sam and Aaron are forced to take, although full of mishaps, do sound quite tasty. Maybe you can commiserate with them by having a glass of wine to share while you read.
August 30, 2016
I started this book with no expectations whatsoever, since I haven't read anything from this author before. The overall tone of the book was pleasantly light. Sam is a B & B owner in his late 20s. He runs the B & B with his sister, Wynne, and Claire, a close friend and employee. I liked reading about the siblings interacting and the dialogue was quirky enough to keep me entertained for a bit. When Aaron enters the picture as this mysterious out-of-town resident, Sam's routine gets disrupted because he finds himself stalkingfollowing Aaron around and trying to figure out the enigmatic newcomer. Sam is intrigued, and hasn't had a relationship in a long time, so he tries to pretend that Aaron is not hot and that Sam is not interested in him. Ha. If getting hot and heavy in a church of all places is not interested, I don't know what is.
The book is part of a series but there are no cameos -except for a couple of brief ones from a cop- so it reads great as a standalone. My problem with the book was mainly that the characters' description didn't match their actions. Sam is made out to be this withdrawn, boring, older-than-his-years guy, who rarely dates, is oh-so-proper, and everything by the book kind of guy. The way he talks makes him seem insecure and if I had not be given a physical description of him, I would automatically assume him to be a nondescript, fade-into-the-background type of character. Yet, the author tells me that Sam is hot. Not only is he hot, but he has a dirty dirty mouth and a dominating side when it comes to sex. But considering how the character was presented and how non-threatening he appeared in every other interaction he's part of, I had a hard time believing he could all of a sudden become this alpha male, using crude language during sex, and acting all "who's your daddy?" It didn't feel authentic. And I didn't buy it. This was just awkward dirty-talk. And I love some good dirty-talk, but when the character can't otherwise pull it off, it just seems fake.
We're told Aaron is twink-like and oh-so very mysterious because he breaks into different buildings in town for his research. I won't say anything about the research because there's a big reveal at the end of the book and I don't want to spoiler anyone but seriously? It was utterly ridiculous and I even skimmed quite a few pages.
The characters felt underdeveloped, and I wish I had gotten more page time with them. There was so much page time devoted to the B & B events that were hosted, with detailed dialogue from irrelevant side-characters that didn't really contribute anything to the plot or to the story. There were some funny bits, but honestly, a lot of them felt forced. I didn't laugh as much as I think I was expected to.
I haven't read the other books in the series so I can't compare this to them. If you're a fan of the series, you might like this. I think the author's voice just didn't sit well with me personally.
ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The book is part of a series but there are no cameos -except for a couple of brief ones from a cop- so it reads great as a standalone. My problem with the book was mainly that the characters' description didn't match their actions. Sam is made out to be this withdrawn, boring, older-than-his-years guy, who rarely dates, is oh-so-proper, and everything by the book kind of guy. The way he talks makes him seem insecure and if I had not be given a physical description of him, I would automatically assume him to be a nondescript, fade-into-the-background type of character. Yet, the author tells me that Sam is hot. Not only is he hot, but he has a dirty dirty mouth and a dominating side when it comes to sex. But considering how the character was presented and how non-threatening he appeared in every other interaction he's part of, I had a hard time believing he could all of a sudden become this alpha male, using crude language during sex, and acting all "who's your daddy?" It didn't feel authentic. And I didn't buy it. This was just awkward dirty-talk. And I love some good dirty-talk, but when the character can't otherwise pull it off, it just seems fake.
We're told Aaron is twink-like and oh-so very mysterious because he breaks into different buildings in town for his research. I won't say anything about the research because there's a big reveal at the end of the book and I don't want to spoiler anyone but seriously? It was utterly ridiculous and I even skimmed quite a few pages.
The characters felt underdeveloped, and I wish I had gotten more page time with them. There was so much page time devoted to the B & B events that were hosted, with detailed dialogue from irrelevant side-characters that didn't really contribute anything to the plot or to the story. There were some funny bits, but honestly, a lot of them felt forced. I didn't laugh as much as I think I was expected to.
I haven't read the other books in the series so I can't compare this to them. If you're a fan of the series, you might like this. I think the author's voice just didn't sit well with me personally.
ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
March 5, 2015
****Reviewed for Prism Book Alliance****
4.5 Stars
All the novels set in the Men of Smithfield series have a certain New England charm and Sam & Aaron is no different. The language is witty and Sam’s point of view as the “Viking” among his shorter family was entertaining. I loved his slightly crotchety “old man” demeanor despite his young age. Aaron’s mysterious agenda brought excitement and it was a delight to follow Sam follow Aaron. Sam’s sister and friend were well balanced foils and brought a feminine touch to the cast of characters.
If you are up for some semi-public sex, date night cooking lessons, humorous banter, and late night shenanigans, wrapped up in a bit of a mystery, I recommend picking up this book.
4.5 Stars
All the novels set in the Men of Smithfield series have a certain New England charm and Sam & Aaron is no different. The language is witty and Sam’s point of view as the “Viking” among his shorter family was entertaining. I loved his slightly crotchety “old man” demeanor despite his young age. Aaron’s mysterious agenda brought excitement and it was a delight to follow Sam follow Aaron. Sam’s sister and friend were well balanced foils and brought a feminine touch to the cast of characters.
If you are up for some semi-public sex, date night cooking lessons, humorous banter, and late night shenanigans, wrapped up in a bit of a mystery, I recommend picking up this book.
May 10, 2015
*** 2.5 Stars ***
I found his book high in mystery and zany antics, but low on chemistry and romance. Honestly, I spent more time trying to figure out how these characters were connected (building family trees in my head) than losing myself in their relationship.
Probably my least favourite of this series.
I found his book high in mystery and zany antics, but low on chemistry and romance. Honestly, I spent more time trying to figure out how these characters were connected (building family trees in my head) than losing myself in their relationship.
Probably my least favourite of this series.
June 5, 2015
This felt all sorts of disconnected to me. Like the 2 MC's never really bonded at all besides flirtation. Yet it was love.. I dunno maybe it's just me. Plus add in the quirky family tree storyline. Eh. I did giggle a few times which bumped this up to 3 stars
September 19, 2019
I really enjoy LB Gregg's writing and this series in particular. This is not my very favorite of the series (the first one I read, Mark and Tony, and then the more unusual Adam and Holden are my favorites) but she's a gifted writer who creates characters you care for. Sam is a local's local, known to all and he chafes at the small town world in which he lives. Aaron is the mysterious new comer who is staying at his Bed and Breakfast. Shenanigans en sue. It's a fun, light read wth occasional grace notes. Really, what more could you want?
Each book is stand alone, though past characters do make appearances, you don't have to read them in any particular order, though Mark and Tony is the first one and sets the tone very nicely.
Each book is stand alone, though past characters do make appearances, you don't have to read them in any particular order, though Mark and Tony is the first one and sets the tone very nicely.
November 8, 2019
DNF @ 41%.
I don't really care for either Sam or Aaron and I definitely don't buy them as a couple.
I don't really care for either Sam or Aaron and I definitely don't buy them as a couple.
September 5, 2014
This review can be found at The Blogger Girls.
Sam’s life revolves around his responsibilities and that pretty much means keeping the B&B, left to him and his sister by his grandfather, running. When he attempts to return some library books, he ends up getting stuck in the book drop box and meeting a suspicious man named Aaron who turns out to be one of his guests. Before Sam knows it, his attempt to figure out why Aaron is sneaking out at night leads him into more than one compromising position, not to mention Aaron is strangely appealing and definitely peaks Sam’s interest. Unfortunately, Aaron came to town to uncover a long-lost secret and that secret might just turn Sam’s life upside down in more ways than one.
There was a ton of banter in this one that, while not as funny as I’ve come to expect LB Gregg books to be, was still amusing in a certain way. I liked that Sam was so easy to interpret and that he was so interested in why Aaron was skulking around like a criminal. The fact that Sam always caught Aaron while he was doing something law breaking (even though Aaron said he wasn’t) was fun to watch especially since Aaron was able to sneak out, leaving Sam to get caught. I loved that Sam was so strong with a bit of sarcasm to him. I didn’t really like Aaron for much of the book because I felt like his attempts at flirtation with Sam were just pretty ways of making fun of Sam. Still, I liked Aaron once he stopped talking and I did like the fact that he was so curious and made no attempts at hiding that fact.
While I liked the story in the end, I found the fact that everyone criticized Sam for being dull and boring quite aggravating. Even Aaron and Claire, Sam’s ‘second best-friend’, went so far as insulting him over and over about how boring Sam was. I can’t even explain how much that pissed me off especially when Sam would accept those insults like they were okay. On top of that, I really, really disliked Claire. Not because she was bitchy or anything but because she was really annoying. She acted more like she was fifteen than a grown adult.
In the end, I liked the story but I can’t say it was my favorite. Most of the characters rubbed me the wrong way for the first half of the book, even the ones we’ve met in previous books who I used to adore. Thankfully, after a fashion, they stopped calling Sam boring and that’s when the story really picked up for me. I really liked Sam and Aaron eventually grew on me. Still, it was fun experiencing the small town mentality again and seeing a few of the previous characters. With that said, if you’ve enjoyed the Men of Smithfield series then you’ll enjoy this one as well.
Sam’s life revolves around his responsibilities and that pretty much means keeping the B&B, left to him and his sister by his grandfather, running. When he attempts to return some library books, he ends up getting stuck in the book drop box and meeting a suspicious man named Aaron who turns out to be one of his guests. Before Sam knows it, his attempt to figure out why Aaron is sneaking out at night leads him into more than one compromising position, not to mention Aaron is strangely appealing and definitely peaks Sam’s interest. Unfortunately, Aaron came to town to uncover a long-lost secret and that secret might just turn Sam’s life upside down in more ways than one.
There was a ton of banter in this one that, while not as funny as I’ve come to expect LB Gregg books to be, was still amusing in a certain way. I liked that Sam was so easy to interpret and that he was so interested in why Aaron was skulking around like a criminal. The fact that Sam always caught Aaron while he was doing something law breaking (even though Aaron said he wasn’t) was fun to watch especially since Aaron was able to sneak out, leaving Sam to get caught. I loved that Sam was so strong with a bit of sarcasm to him. I didn’t really like Aaron for much of the book because I felt like his attempts at flirtation with Sam were just pretty ways of making fun of Sam. Still, I liked Aaron once he stopped talking and I did like the fact that he was so curious and made no attempts at hiding that fact.
While I liked the story in the end, I found the fact that everyone criticized Sam for being dull and boring quite aggravating. Even Aaron and Claire, Sam’s ‘second best-friend’, went so far as insulting him over and over about how boring Sam was. I can’t even explain how much that pissed me off especially when Sam would accept those insults like they were okay. On top of that, I really, really disliked Claire. Not because she was bitchy or anything but because she was really annoying. She acted more like she was fifteen than a grown adult.
In the end, I liked the story but I can’t say it was my favorite. Most of the characters rubbed me the wrong way for the first half of the book, even the ones we’ve met in previous books who I used to adore. Thankfully, after a fashion, they stopped calling Sam boring and that’s when the story really picked up for me. I really liked Sam and Aaron eventually grew on me. Still, it was fun experiencing the small town mentality again and seeing a few of the previous characters. With that said, if you’ve enjoyed the Men of Smithfield series then you’ll enjoy this one as well.
June 25, 2014
3.5 stars, rounded up.
Why I read it: I’ve read and enjoyed the earlier books and was happily surprised to see a brand new story in the series. I was provided with a review copy by the publisher via NetGalley.
What worked for me (and what didn’t): Anyone who’s ever read a book by LB Gregg before will know she has a quirky sense of humour – so it ought not be a surprise that the “meet cute” here is when Sam, his butt hanging out of his ripped jeans (argument with a fence), has his arm stuck in the after hours book return slot at the local library, meets Aaron, who appears to be a thief and has a bag of handy lock-picks tries to get him out. Until the police arrive that is.
The mystery about Aaron’s job and his “thievery” is solved fairly quickly but he has an ulterior motive for being in town and it takes a while for that all to come out. In the meantime, Aaron inspires in Sam a desire to be unpredictable and uninhibited – things which he very definitely usually isn’t.
I enjoyed the humour (as I usually do with this author) and had to chuckle at the continuing medical disasters of “Date Night Cooking”. Sam and Aaron have chemistry and… other things which connect them too (my lips are zipped). It’s a story of one man searching for home and another coming to the realisation that what he always wanted is pretty much right under his nose, done with the quirky charm that is an LB Gregg novel.
Read the rest: http://www.kaetrinsmusings.com/2014/0...
Why I read it: I’ve read and enjoyed the earlier books and was happily surprised to see a brand new story in the series. I was provided with a review copy by the publisher via NetGalley.
What worked for me (and what didn’t): Anyone who’s ever read a book by LB Gregg before will know she has a quirky sense of humour – so it ought not be a surprise that the “meet cute” here is when Sam, his butt hanging out of his ripped jeans (argument with a fence), has his arm stuck in the after hours book return slot at the local library, meets Aaron, who appears to be a thief and has a bag of handy lock-picks tries to get him out. Until the police arrive that is.
The mystery about Aaron’s job and his “thievery” is solved fairly quickly but he has an ulterior motive for being in town and it takes a while for that all to come out. In the meantime, Aaron inspires in Sam a desire to be unpredictable and uninhibited – things which he very definitely usually isn’t.
I enjoyed the humour (as I usually do with this author) and had to chuckle at the continuing medical disasters of “Date Night Cooking”. Sam and Aaron have chemistry and… other things which connect them too (my lips are zipped). It’s a story of one man searching for home and another coming to the realisation that what he always wanted is pretty much right under his nose, done with the quirky charm that is an LB Gregg novel.
Read the rest: http://www.kaetrinsmusings.com/2014/0...
April 5, 2017
3.5 stars rounded to 4 because though nothing special, I enjoyed reading it and laughed a lot especially in the beginning.
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This started out great with lots of humor and laugh-out-loud scenes between the heroes that thankfully didn't step into the ridiculous territory. Both Sam and Aaron were likable characters (especially Sam) and Aaron, with his quirky personality and penchant for adventure was just the spice that Sam needed in his life. Their connection and atraction felt real and I was emotionally engaged in the story.
Unfortunately, after a while it became obvious that what Aaron was hiding, directly involved Sam's family. Sam's reaction to this fact, was what spoiled the fun for me; he chose to ignore it, bury his (upper) head in the sand and let his lower head take the lead:( And what's worse, this attitude went on even when it seemed that any relationship between them should not only stop ASAP, but should never have started to begin with. After a while Sam's selective blindness became too much, and made me quite angry with him, because he certainly didn't act like the serious, logical person we knew him to be.
Still, it was a light, fun read with some very witty dialogues and likeable characters, and I had a good time reading it. I will definitely look for more of L.B.Greeg's work.
ARC provided by NetGalley
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This started out great with lots of humor and laugh-out-loud scenes between the heroes that thankfully didn't step into the ridiculous territory. Both Sam and Aaron were likable characters (especially Sam) and Aaron, with his quirky personality and penchant for adventure was just the spice that Sam needed in his life. Their connection and atraction felt real and I was emotionally engaged in the story.
Unfortunately, after a while it became obvious that what Aaron was hiding, directly involved Sam's family. Sam's reaction to this fact, was what spoiled the fun for me; he chose to ignore it, bury his (upper) head in the sand and let his lower head take the lead:( And what's worse, this attitude went on even when it seemed that any relationship between them should not only stop ASAP, but should never have started to begin with. After a while Sam's selective blindness became too much, and made me quite angry with him, because he certainly didn't act like the serious, logical person we knew him to be.
Still, it was a light, fun read with some very witty dialogues and likeable characters, and I had a good time reading it. I will definitely look for more of L.B.Greeg's work.
ARC provided by NetGalley
September 7, 2016
Sicuramente, fra tutti i cinque volumi, è quello che mi è piaciuto di più.
La trama mi ha sinceramente incuriosita, il segreto di Aaron e il suo fare misterioso mi hanno tenuta incollata alla lettura di tutta la storia. E poi, punto bonus, era da un pezzo che non ridevo così tanto per certe disavventure occorse al malcapitato di turno. Mi sono piaciuti tanto tutti i personaggi, i nostri protagonisti e la loro storia d’amore, così come tutti i personaggi secondari e la parte che hanno avuto nell’intreccio del racconto. Mi ha fatto davvero piacere il ruolo di Tony, ormai dev’essersi capito che mi sta simpatico, perché l’ho ripetuto ogni volta nei commenti, ma anche rivedere Adam è stato carino, così come lo spazio riservato a suo fratello, che nell’altro volume avevo detestato (neanche tanto cordialmente). L’unica cosa che trovo abbastanza discutibile e di cattivo gusto, almeno per me, è stato l’amoreggiare in luoghi poco consoni, ma non dirò altro per non fare spoiler. Rimane comunque un’ottima storia e mi dispiace che questa saga sia finita. Speriamo che, prima o poi, arrivi un nuovo capitolo.
La trama mi ha sinceramente incuriosita, il segreto di Aaron e il suo fare misterioso mi hanno tenuta incollata alla lettura di tutta la storia. E poi, punto bonus, era da un pezzo che non ridevo così tanto per certe disavventure occorse al malcapitato di turno. Mi sono piaciuti tanto tutti i personaggi, i nostri protagonisti e la loro storia d’amore, così come tutti i personaggi secondari e la parte che hanno avuto nell’intreccio del racconto. Mi ha fatto davvero piacere il ruolo di Tony, ormai dev’essersi capito che mi sta simpatico, perché l’ho ripetuto ogni volta nei commenti, ma anche rivedere Adam è stato carino, così come lo spazio riservato a suo fratello, che nell’altro volume avevo detestato (neanche tanto cordialmente). L’unica cosa che trovo abbastanza discutibile e di cattivo gusto, almeno per me, è stato l’amoreggiare in luoghi poco consoni, ma non dirò altro per non fare spoiler. Rimane comunque un’ottima storia e mi dispiace che questa saga sia finita. Speriamo che, prima o poi, arrivi un nuovo capitolo.
June 25, 2014
Definitely not my favorite of this series, but also not my least favorite. I didn't think it was a bad book, it just didn't really move me. I wasn't really feeling the chemistry between Sam and Aaron. I also felt this was lacking a lot of the humor I expect from this author. Although I did find some parts funny, I never had any laugh out loud moments like I usually do. I also found this pretty easy to put down. I was able to guess the answer to the mystery really easily, once we knew for sure that there was some mystery. I did like the side characters Cole and Claire a lot though.
July 9, 2014
More mystery than romance. Confusing family issues, but might be savory to genealogy fans. Sweet, light, some delightful Smithfield characters. Of the five books in this series, this is isn't my favorite. Mark & Tony and Adam & Holden are still my number one favorites. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars because I'm such a huge fan of the series.
dnf
August 21, 2014Another one of the books I tried several times to read and just can't make it. This time I managed to read up to 30%, but honestly? This is boring. Both men and what they are doing - I'm not interested in anything! The whole time I tried reading this book I missed the wonderful sense of humor the author showed in previous books. But that might just be me.
May 10, 2015
Ha! I think the audio on this was excellent! I love the blips of humor, and will always remember 'even the frogs were scared into silence.' I love L.B. gregg's Smithfield stories, and this one was better for me than book 4. The glimpses of other characters from other stories made it like savoring dessert after the main course. And wow, the unexpected twist did make me wonder....
Want to read
April 1, 2014I always enjoy Gregg's intelligent writing. I'm looking forward to this one. :-)
February 4, 2016
Read it last night and I can't for the life of me recall much about it. Forgettable. :(
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