Windfall

by Amanda Young

Landon and Daniel have been best friends since grade school. Through thick and thin, they’ve always been able to rely on each other. So it only seems natural for Landon to step in and offer assistance when Daniel has a run of bad luck.


Moving in together and splitting the bills seems like a simple solution to Daniel’s financial problems. However, sharing close quarters makes it difficult to keep less than platonic feelings on the down low.


The line between friends and lovers blurs during a late night moment of weakness fueled by alcohol, leaving both men on uneven ground. Just when they think they have things worked out and might have a shot at something more than friendship, a sudden shared windfall provokes all new complications that could end more than the new physical side of their relationship.

Genres: M M Romance, Contemporary, Friends To Lovers, Romance, LGBT, Erotica, Fiction

ebook

First published May 23, 2013

About the author

A bestselling author of erotic romance, Amanda Young penned her first romance at eighteen. That novel was promptly deleted before it could traumatize innocent readers. After several years of honing her craft, Amanda went on to receive her first publishing contract in 2006.

A vivid imagination and a passion for all the things that go bump in the night has led Amanda to create provocative stories that push boundaries and dare readers to expand their comfort zones. Since she tends to write whatever strikes her fancy, her novels fall into many different subgenres. Among her available titles you’ll find contemporary and paranormal settings, gay and straight themes alike.

Amanda Young lives in Virginia with her husband, daughter, and two pampered pooches. When she’s not writing, she can usually be found chasing after a mischievous toddler or daydreaming about the characters in her next book. She loves to hear from her readers, and can be found on Facebook and Twitter. Her website, www.amandayoung.org, is where you can find up-to-date information on all of Amanda’s current and upcoming releases.

Reviews

[Mandy*reads obsessively* · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75*

This was a freebie on amazon and since I have enjoyed Amanda Young's other stories I decided to give this one a go today.
What a nice surprise.
Daniel has a boyfriend ( although I use that term loosely) a job and a hot date with the first after finishing the latter.
Well guess what? He loses both within an hour. Talk about a bad day.
Good thing his best friend Landon is there for him. He moves in with him to help with the bills while Danny keeps looking for a job and tries his best to cheer him up.
Of course Landon has been in love with Danny for years. Danny and his mom took Landon on when his parents kicked him out at 17 and he's been trying to keep a lid on his feelings ever since.
Now I know you are going to be shocked when I tell you...Danny has harbored feelings for Landon too!
( I know, I was surprised too. *lol*)
Anyway, add in a good surprise and a bad one and lots of hot sexy time and I was entertained for a while. :)

[h o l l i s · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't hate this but I just can't find it in me to rate any higher. The characters were rather bland, the story's hook felt kind of out of place, there was a lot of filler by way of sex, and I was really disappointed with how one of the conflicts resolved near the end. Overall the combination just didn't work.

However I'm glad to be able to clear this freebie off my kindle and make room for better things.

[Ro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed for Hearts On Fire Reviews

I have to question Danny’s taste in men at first because Perry is a complete snobby jerk who leaves Danny to screw others and then comes back. When Danny loses not only his job but also Perry on the same day, well, can you blame him for being upset? Luckily, he has his best friend since forever, Landon, to be there for him. Landon and Danny have been there for each other since childhood and they have an easy, comfortable relationship. They trust each other. So it makes sense for Landon to move in with Danny to share the bills and take some of the pressure off him until he finds a new job.

The two are fairly alone – Danny’s beloved mother died of cancer and Landon’s parents disowned him after finding out he was gay. The two were there for each other through each of those events. The fact that Danny has been in love with Landon forever is a closely guarded, kept in his heart secret. Living together is going to be murder.

Danny and his mama had a tradition of buying a lottery ticket and then watching the numbers on TV to see if they won. Buying one with Landon seems like a good way to continue. When the numbers hit, however, everything is up in the air, including Perry sniffing around again and Landon’s horrible family trying to cash in.

The story is more about trusting the one you love and protecting them and how hard that can be to someone’s pride. I thought Danny was a great character and I could understand why he did what he did. And that he would do it again, no matter what the outcome. A sweet friends to lovers with just a little bit of angst.

[Dani Elle Maas · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a story about friends turning into lovers. It is an easy read and a very sweet story. You easily get a positive feeling reading about the main characters Landon and Daniel.

At first you question Daniel’s choice of man as you read about his “fling”at the start of the story. When I say Perry is an ass I am being kind :) .

Landon and Daniel have been best friends forever but what they don’t know is that they have both felt and still feel more than friendship. When Landon moves in with Daniel to split the costs of living expenses, helping out Daniel when he loses his job, things heat up slowly but steadily.

The interaction between both main characters is nice and it makes you smile but its also kind of slow leaving you feeling like the author needs to hurry a little. The connection is sweet and intense and there is obvious love and lust and written nicely by the author.

When a little bit of unexpected drama finds them, what happens next is easy to figure out and kind of predictable. The story is a fast, easily read, as said before, and it makes you smile. The characters are worked out nice, fitted well together and they share a nice chemistry on top of a close, warm, open friendship.

A nice sweet HEA finishes the story up in a comfortable way combined with no worries about financial security for the future.

Over all, it’s a nice story nothing more, nothing less.

Review posted at :
http://sidlove.com/2013/11/07/book-re...

[Anke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yes, I liked this a lot! Some drama, but not too much, no big misunderstanding, but two guys who - after thinking it through - talked about it! Imagine that:) well rounded story and I wouldn't mind reading more about Danny and Landon.

[Nic]

"I have been happier in the past week than I ever imagined possible and it doesn't have a damn thing to do with the money. You're the real prize, The lottery was just a bonus."

Windfall is a feel-good story, a pleasant escape into a world where it is possible to win the lottery and also get the man of your dreams at the same time!

I got this book as a freebie from All Romance eBooks but at the time of writing this review it is no longer on sale. However at only a couple of dollars, it's still not bad value for a sweet friends-to-lovers story. Daniel and Landon have been friends for a long time and Landon secretly loves Daniel. When circumstances bring them together, Landon moving in to help Daniel get through a rough patch, Daniel starts to realise he has feelings too. These guys are pretty hot together and there's a little bit of drama thrown in too.

I really enjoy a friends-to-lovers story so a nice way to spend an hour or so!

I publish all my m/m reviews on my blog so if you want to see all my m/m reviews in one place come visit at Because Two Men Are Better Than One!

[GayListBookReviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet, cute and fun story about two guys who've been falling in love since kindergarten. Both of these guys were adorable in their own way and were a great compliment to each other. I was rooting for them to open their eyes and realize how they both felt about the other from their first moments together.

Daniel is a big bear (sans the hair) with a huge heart and a soft and easy disposition. Meant for loving monogamy, he can't understand why he's unable to make his relationships last. The only relationship he's been able to count on is the one he treasures with his best friend, Landon. So, of course, he'd never do anything to jeopardize their friendship. No matter how much he would give to have Landon return the feelings he tries to deny.

Sweet, jaded Landon is a fierce little tiger who would do anything to protect Daniel. He's given up on Daniel ever seeing him as more than a friend, he learned young to put away the dreams of things he can't ever have. Landon will take Daniel any way he can have him and he knows deep down, he's not good enough or Daniel would already be in love with him.

When the attraction that simmers between them finally combusts things get very sexy. Their new relationship keeps getting better and better as they find they can't keep their hands off each other or go back to being platonic friends. They were hot together!

I enjoyed watching these guys together first as friends and then as lovers. They're funny, sarcastic, sweet, and always taking care of each other. These guys prove the 'friends make the best lovers' adage all over the place.

While there are quite a few typos, as is to be expected with a self-published book, they don't detract from a fun little tale of two men who've taken care of and supported each other their whole lives and what happens when fortune smiles as life throws them some curveballs. A fast and enjoyable read that had me smiling.

Reviewed by Nina

[Angel **Book Junkie** · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 brilliantly written stars

Wow! This was a brilliant short m/m story. This book was written about a guy named Daniel whose whole world falls apart until his best friend from childhood changes everything. It was a great read and the only thing that truly pissed me off was how much of a jerk Perry was and the whole incident with Landon's parents. I would definitely read more from this author!

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute, sweet friends to lovers story. The MCs were very likeable guys and I found myself rooting for them to really see the other.

[LaShonta · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a light, cute read that I really enjoyed. The only thing I would change is Landon's parents. I wouldn't have given them jack! Otherwise, it was an awesome read!

[Jenny Wood · Rating 2 out of 5]

Seriously?? They paid off the parents?? That ruined the whole book for me!

I HATE when the bad people in stories get away with it without getting the karmatic kick in the teeth they deserve. Lame.

[Otterpuss · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet little friends to lovers story. A little cliched in places but enjoyable none the less.

[DC · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars. Somewhat cute friends to lovers story but I found the characters to be rather vague and underdeveloped. I was able to visualize what Landon might look like from the descriptors provided but Danny was more a puzzle. Other than being a big guy, there isn’t a lot we’re told about him, and even with that, there are discrepancies. Early in the story, Danny doubts his possible status as a bear because his chest is as smooth as a babies bottom. But then a few chapters later, Landon is gushing over Danny’s hirsute chest. At the beginning, Danny just oozed low self-esteem to the point it was starting to get annoying but which made it understandable how he was controlled by someone like Perry. And while he becomes more self assured through his relationship with Landon, I don’t agree with what he did to solve the issue with Landon’s parents. The set-up for that was very shakey and they should have been left in the gutter where they belonged. If this whole interlude was meant to be the angst part of the story, it should have been further developed and turned up a notch. As it stood, it didn’t really add any value to the story.
In addition to the inconsistencies regarding the character descriptions, there were quite a few grammatical and editing errors which, to me, were distracting.

[GhostMMreader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can a story be sweet and hot simultaneously? Yes, definitively and Windfall is one of those stories that leave you with a smile on your face when you finish it. It's a quick read, quite a typical best-friends-to-lovers story but well balanced. I liked the fact that once these two men came together, the universe seemed to agree and granted them finally the stability they needed in their life.

[Dani Hodge · Rating 4 out of 5]

SHORT & SEXY!

I was able to finish Landon and Daniel's story in one sitting. Windfall was a short, fast, easy-read. I love a good friends to lovers story, and Windfall hit the spot!

This is the first time I have read anything from Amanda Young. I enjoyed the story line, and the writing. If you enjoy short, M/M, Friends to Lovers reads, I suggest picking this one up and giving it a try :)

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good short story, that I enjoyed very much.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Daniel and Landon have been friends for a long time. They have helped each other through some rough times. At the beginning of the story Daniel's life is falling apart. His boyfriend breaks up with him and he loses his job. Daniel turns to Landon for support. They end up acting on their feelings for each other. I enjoyed their relationship growing over the course of the story. There's a little family drama. It's sort of silly but it helped to give a complete picture of how the men deal with stress and with each other. I was totally rooting for them as a couple by the end.

I recommend this story to anyone who likes M/M stories and contemporary love stories.

Quotes:
At one time, Daniel would have sold his soul for a chance to love Landon as more than a buddy. However, those days were long gone and he refused to go down that wistful road again. It only led to torment, indecision, and fear. loc 242

Their upper bodies met and rubbed together, Landon's smooth pecs and abs damp with perspiration beneath Daniel's own hirsute chest. loc 644

[mah1 · Rating 2 out of 5]

After finishing this super-quick romance this morning I was surprised to find out it was written by Amanda Young. Then I took a moment and realized I shouldn't have been. While I have enjoyed her stories in the past, they are often somewhat underdeveloped, which is true about Windfall as well.

Partly, I'm sure, I was affected by the F2L trope, that I dislike in general, but it managed to play a very small part, despite being made to seem like an important part of the setup. In fact even the lottery winning could've been easily skipped.

With two promising MCs I would've like to see the story longer and more in depth. As it was, it was a nice, satisfying read, that I'm sure those who like F2L enjoy.

[Princess Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy Like Sunday Morning

This story just meanders thru the landscape of Daniel and Landon's relationship. Typical friends-to-lovers, young adult drama. No highs, no lows, no depth to the characters or the situations they find themselves in. The loss of a job after seven years, a lover after two years, a family after revealing his sexual orientation and winning a $200 million dollar lottery are all handled with the same blasé attitude. Unrequited love drove the beginning but once they got past that bit of idiocy it was all about the sexcapades. Throw in the spineless ex-lover-slash-lawyer and greedy parents and there you have it, 3 stars.

It would be interesting to find out how all that money affects their relationship.

[Secretly Reading · Rating 2 out of 5]

This fairy tale-esque romance was cotton candy sweet but it needed a good editor. POV changes were messy, sentence structure spotty, and silly mistakes made ("you can file for employment"--do you mean unemployment?) The sex as too much of the relationship and the ending where the ex-boyfriend returns is just weird. This is a case of wasted potential.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an okay read. I didn't feel any depth of character here and I was a bit disappointed but with it being a short book I suppose you can't always get too much depth.
I think it was well written and showed a good storyline.
I wished it could have been longer and characters could have been developed more.

[L Cam · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very sweet reverse gfy almost. The MCs were best friends who fell in love with each other. There's not a lot of drama or angst. That, along with the plot being pretty standard and unoriginal took away from it being a 4 or 5 star. It is still a sweet fluffy read if you need that type of story.

[joani · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a good story but

The sex was drawn out with too much talking and nonsense that it drained the hotness from the act itself. Danny and Landon are sweet together and absolutely love each other, and being that they have been best friends forever makes their love that much deeper.

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute, fluffy, short story about two friends turned lovers who win the lottery and deal with the fallout. The boysecks was somewhat unemotional and I found myself skimming the latter scenes. Still, for a freebie, not bad.

[clear skies · Rating 2 out of 5]

Two best friends who've always been in love with each other, but chose friendship over a potential romance. That is until a job loss a break-up and winning the lottery changes that all.

I liked the characters but damn it got cheesy.

[Shaztwirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice Easy Read.

Three and a half stars from me. There was nothing particularly wrong with this book it just didn't titillate my senses enough for me to say any more than it was a nice story with a couple of good, likeable characters.

[Kendra T · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a generally sweet story about best friends who finally come together, but it felt a little rushed in some senses. I really didn't like the situation with the parents, and I didn't like the way Daniel handled things with secrets. It was an OK story overall, though.

[Ms. Nikki]

Free 6-7-13

[Lucy Smith · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a cute story. The guys seemed immature. I had a hard time accepting they were supposed to be about 30. They seemed more like teenagers.

[jules0623 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Immature characters and a story that, while nice, was nothing special.