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Bad to the Bone
Alex can’t think of himself as anything but a failure. In high school, he was on the fast track to a career in pro football when he forged an unlikely friendship with a half-Comanche boy from the wrong part of town, Ricky Lee Jennings. Their shared love of books could have grown into more—but a homophobic teammate attacked Ricky Lee, and Alex wouldn’t risk his scholarship to defend him. Ricky Lee was kicked out of school, and Alex never heard from him again. Now Alex’s glory days are nothing but a memory. An injury ended his football aspirations, his marriage fell apart, and his dreams of making a difference as an environmental lobbyist are as dead as his fantasies of sports stardom. But all that could change in one magical night, when Ricky Lee shows up at their high-school reunion.
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First published May 15, 2018
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About the author
Nicki Bennett
40 books68 followersGrowing up in Chicago, Nicki Bennett spent every Saturday at the central library, losing herself in the world of books. A voracious reader, she eventually found it difficult to find enough of the kind of stories she liked to read and decided to start writing them herself.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
May 25, 2018
This was for the most part a sweet second-chance romance between two men who were friends in high school and could have been more if it weren't for small town bigots and needing that scholarship.
Back in high school, Alex was going to be a big shot football player at college until an injury put an end to that dream. But that injury didn't happen until he had already lost his heart to Ricky Lee, a boy his age from the wrong side of the tracks, who shared his love of books.
So Ricky Lee left town, and Alex stayed. He's now working at his hardware store he co-owns with his sister, his marriage has failed, and his life hasn't turned out at all how he imagined it would.
And then Ricky Lee comes back into town because of their high school reunion and makes it very clear from the start that he's never forgotten Alex. Ricky Lee now lives in Portland and is some kind of technology genius. He wants Alex and he starts his pursuit from the time he arrives back in town.
This being a Dreamspun Desires title, the plot and happenings inside are deliciously OTT, the characters are slightly too perfect, and the supporting cast is a bit one-dimensional. I liked Alex's sister a whole lot - she seemed to have a good head on her shoulder, and I liked his cop friend as well. I liked Alex and Ricky Lee, and Ricky Lee's somewhat flamboyant friend/business partner.
As the romance gets its second wind, the small town bigots do their very best to try to put a cork in it. This is where the plot leaves realistic territory and veers dramatically into what the hell just happened.
I was entertained, of course, and the scenes where Alex and Ricky Lee are on page together without others are really well done. I believed that they still had feelings for each other after all these years, and that those feelings were easily rekindled into a raging fire.
This is a feel good book. It's an easy read for a day at the beach or curled up in your favorite chair with your favorite beverage. It's not deep, it's not memorable, but it's definitely enjoyable.
** I received a free copy of this book from its publisher. A positive review was not promised in return. **
Back in high school, Alex was going to be a big shot football player at college until an injury put an end to that dream. But that injury didn't happen until he had already lost his heart to Ricky Lee, a boy his age from the wrong side of the tracks, who shared his love of books.
So Ricky Lee left town, and Alex stayed. He's now working at his hardware store he co-owns with his sister, his marriage has failed, and his life hasn't turned out at all how he imagined it would.
And then Ricky Lee comes back into town because of their high school reunion and makes it very clear from the start that he's never forgotten Alex. Ricky Lee now lives in Portland and is some kind of technology genius. He wants Alex and he starts his pursuit from the time he arrives back in town.
This being a Dreamspun Desires title, the plot and happenings inside are deliciously OTT, the characters are slightly too perfect, and the supporting cast is a bit one-dimensional. I liked Alex's sister a whole lot - she seemed to have a good head on her shoulder, and I liked his cop friend as well. I liked Alex and Ricky Lee, and Ricky Lee's somewhat flamboyant friend/business partner.
As the romance gets its second wind, the small town bigots do their very best to try to put a cork in it. This is where the plot leaves realistic territory and veers dramatically into what the hell just happened.
I was entertained, of course, and the scenes where Alex and Ricky Lee are on page together without others are really well done. I believed that they still had feelings for each other after all these years, and that those feelings were easily rekindled into a raging fire.
This is a feel good book. It's an easy read for a day at the beach or curled up in your favorite chair with your favorite beverage. It's not deep, it's not memorable, but it's definitely enjoyable.
** I received a free copy of this book from its publisher. A positive review was not promised in return. **
May 18, 2018
No está mal, pero el poco conflicto que hay es forzado y artificial y los personajes son unidimensionales, a ver, si me voy a esta línea busco algo rápido, ameno, mono, eso no quiere decir que tenga que ser tonto o básico hasta para un parvulito. A veces creo que quien escribe este tipo de cosas lo hace con cero respeto por su propio trabajo.
May 17, 2018
A second chance at love brought on by a high school reunion, starring two men with a history that ended before either one was ready to let go, and a small-town setting are the key ingredients of this entertaining novel. Alex and Ricky Lee used to be best friends but were separated by circumstances beyond their control. With Alex too ashamed of his lack of actions during the event that cause Ricky Lee’s expulsion from high school and Ricky Lee focused on building a better life, they haven’t had any contact for ten years.
Please find my full review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Please find my full review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
May 9, 2018
I was given a copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
This is a sweet second chance romance between two high school friends who find each other again at their school reunion.
As adults, Alex has settled into the small town they grew up in and he runs his family’s hardware business with his sister. After being chased out of town as a teenager, Ricky Lee now lives in Portland and works in the tech industry.
As a Dreamspun Desires story, the book has lashings of drama, more than a little glamour and a hint of a Cinderella story underneath it all. Alex and Ricky Lee are both a little bit too perfect and their high school nemesis and his friends are a little bit too horrible - but it all works in a classic Harlequin romance sort of way.
I actually found some of the supporting characters more interesting than Alex and Ricky Lee. I really enjoyed Alex’s sister, his cop best friend and Ricky’s assistant. There is a crime story subplot that felt a little bit OTT but on the whole, this is an entertaining - if slightly fluffy read.
This is a sweet second chance romance between two high school friends who find each other again at their school reunion.
As adults, Alex has settled into the small town they grew up in and he runs his family’s hardware business with his sister. After being chased out of town as a teenager, Ricky Lee now lives in Portland and works in the tech industry.
As a Dreamspun Desires story, the book has lashings of drama, more than a little glamour and a hint of a Cinderella story underneath it all. Alex and Ricky Lee are both a little bit too perfect and their high school nemesis and his friends are a little bit too horrible - but it all works in a classic Harlequin romance sort of way.
I actually found some of the supporting characters more interesting than Alex and Ricky Lee. I really enjoyed Alex’s sister, his cop best friend and Ricky’s assistant. There is a crime story subplot that felt a little bit OTT but on the whole, this is an entertaining - if slightly fluffy read.
October 14, 2018
3.75 stars rounded up
Oh, this is a good one for me!! I liked the idea of bad-boy coming back for high-school reunion. I easily believed in Alex and Ricky Lee getting back together. The unresolved tension was sizzling, and I enjoyed they getting back together, making themselves hot gossip of the town. The might be a little too heavy, but nonetheless still fit the story.
Oh, this is a good one for me!! I liked the idea of bad-boy coming back for high-school reunion. I easily believed in Alex and Ricky Lee getting back together. The unresolved tension was sizzling, and I enjoyed they getting back together, making themselves hot gossip of the town. The might be a little too heavy, but nonetheless still fit the story.
June 28, 2018
If not for the writing, strong and smooth and nuanced in keeping with Dreamspinner's usual standards of quality, and the surprisingly high emotional capacity of the story, this would be a two or even a one star review. Nothing indeed feels fresh within these covers, from the bland leads who even manage to be a living stereotype (once more a blue-eyed, blond, buzz cut jock shacks up with the long-haired, brown or brunette or half-Native American of his dreams, the only surprise here being that the latter protagonist is taller, bigger and much more of an alpha type than the former) to small-town stupidity and bigotry pushed to extremes, from the unsophisticated divide between gay allies (Alex's sister Alanna and his best female friend Sam work as his enablers, or rather fag-hags, in the same capacity as Ricky Lee's assistant and buddy, the non-binary Crae) and haters (pretty much the remainder of the cast) down to the overly crude contrast between the perfection that is Alex (that man has the fortitude of a monk in his private live coupled with the selflessness of a saint when it comes to being a force for good in his community) and the wild temptation that the rakish, socially forward Ricky Lee embodies. Despite the sedate, sometimes agonizingly slow pace, I got the impression that their romance was told rather than shown in technicolor; a few debatable choices when it comes to storytelling worsened the situation (Ricky Lee being a man of few words and Alex tending to procrastinate a lot when it comes to his feelings, the mantle of pushing things forward fell to Sam and Crae through conversations, a device whose repetition variation-free soon becomes tedious; the only POV belongs to Alex, who, it has to be confessed, is not the sharpest pencil in the box thus fails to deliver the tale in anything akin to exciting fashion). Last but not least, the rather trite and bare and formulaic plot may charitably be assessed as half-baked at best, with much filler alternating between bouts of contrived drama, excessive outrageousness, the token ridiculous secrets (Ricky Lee came back a rich man thanks to his genious-level intellect - how strange, then, that he still speaks and behaves as the average older teen; the main villain turns out to be both an homophobe, a creep, a womanizer and a drug trafficker for no better reason than "small towns receive a lot less attention than bigger ones") and more than the odd contradiction (Sam is supposed at the beginning of the book not to know about Alex's bisuality, yet by the time Alex and Ricky Lee first had sex the cat is out of the bag so far as she is concerned, with no foreshadowing at all of any shift of her perceptions; Crae gets described as so androgynous and highly flamboyant as to resist gender identification, yet he sports dreadlocks, an hairstyle that normally screams male, and exhibits a high proficiency in a typically androcentrist martial art, namely muay-thai).
May 18, 2018
Beautiful, really really great story! Need an extended review.
Read
June 6, 2018 4 Hearts
This was so damn fluffy that I am still trying to feel my seat under my butt and I love it.
Second chance romances are a favorite of mine and when they MC’s have history that goes back to their childhood I am head over heels in love.
Told from the POV of Alex as he is getting ready for his 10 year high school reunion, we learn about this high school football star who was best friends with the half Comanche boy he met in the town library. Ricky Lee and Alex became fast friends as pre-teens and then best friends as the years passed. With Ricky Lee living in a toxic home environment, he spent a lot of time with Alex and his family and that time gave the boys a chance to bond. But during the end of their high school years, when that bond turned into more and Ricky Lee kissed Alex in the same library where they met, a vicious classmate saw the kiss and caused enough trouble to get Ricky Lee kicked out of school. No, he wasn’t kicked out because of the kiss but the kiss was the catalyst for the school bully to get his way.
Now, as Alex is back in his hometown of Freeland running the family hardware store with his sister after the death of his parents, the end of his football career and dissolution of his marriage, Alex comes face to face with the one boy he could never forget. On the surface, Alex and Ricky Lee seem so different with Alex still in the closet and Ricky Lee riding out and proud on his Harley with its rainbow patch. But that friendship they shared and that first kiss left an impression on both boys that followed them into adulthood and this reunion, is the beginning of something beautiful.
This book was so sweet. I adored Alex with his morning runs alongside his dog Buck, his relationship with Sam – the only female police officer in town and Alex’s high school girlfriend turned BFF – the way he takes care of the town and still manages to fight the good fight of environmental efforts while running the family store. Alex considers losing his football career to health issues a failure, because he came home, but he’s taking it day by day. When he sees a slick Ricky Lee at the reunion accompanied by an assistant, Alex thinks they could be together and it deflates a bit of his anxiety and hope. But what Alex doesn’t know this new Ricky Lee and some of that is how Ricky Lee, never forgot his first kiss either.
I really enjoyed watching these two get to know one another again and how they would reflect on the past. Sure, Ricky Lee has a secret he didn’t tell Alex immediately but the way the communicated regarding the issue was refreshing and making out to make up is always totally worth it. These two have amazing chemistry and the fact that their friendship goes back year’s makes the ten year separation is just like a decade worth of foreplay.
The deal with Odell, the bully that saw their first kiss, and the library irked me because I just wanted these to be happy and Alex to be okay with being open about his sexuality. I guess it gave opportunity for Ricky Lee to kidnap Alex and take their relationship to a new level and I was so giddy during that time.
Goodness. This book really made me smile and that end was totally worthy of a movie ending. It was perfect and adorable for these two who I hope have a long and wonderful relationship and they do show their hometown that love, really is just love.
This was so damn fluffy that I am still trying to feel my seat under my butt and I love it.
Second chance romances are a favorite of mine and when they MC’s have history that goes back to their childhood I am head over heels in love.
Told from the POV of Alex as he is getting ready for his 10 year high school reunion, we learn about this high school football star who was best friends with the half Comanche boy he met in the town library. Ricky Lee and Alex became fast friends as pre-teens and then best friends as the years passed. With Ricky Lee living in a toxic home environment, he spent a lot of time with Alex and his family and that time gave the boys a chance to bond. But during the end of their high school years, when that bond turned into more and Ricky Lee kissed Alex in the same library where they met, a vicious classmate saw the kiss and caused enough trouble to get Ricky Lee kicked out of school. No, he wasn’t kicked out because of the kiss but the kiss was the catalyst for the school bully to get his way.
Now, as Alex is back in his hometown of Freeland running the family hardware store with his sister after the death of his parents, the end of his football career and dissolution of his marriage, Alex comes face to face with the one boy he could never forget. On the surface, Alex and Ricky Lee seem so different with Alex still in the closet and Ricky Lee riding out and proud on his Harley with its rainbow patch. But that friendship they shared and that first kiss left an impression on both boys that followed them into adulthood and this reunion, is the beginning of something beautiful.
This book was so sweet. I adored Alex with his morning runs alongside his dog Buck, his relationship with Sam – the only female police officer in town and Alex’s high school girlfriend turned BFF – the way he takes care of the town and still manages to fight the good fight of environmental efforts while running the family store. Alex considers losing his football career to health issues a failure, because he came home, but he’s taking it day by day. When he sees a slick Ricky Lee at the reunion accompanied by an assistant, Alex thinks they could be together and it deflates a bit of his anxiety and hope. But what Alex doesn’t know this new Ricky Lee and some of that is how Ricky Lee, never forgot his first kiss either.
I really enjoyed watching these two get to know one another again and how they would reflect on the past. Sure, Ricky Lee has a secret he didn’t tell Alex immediately but the way the communicated regarding the issue was refreshing and making out to make up is always totally worth it. These two have amazing chemistry and the fact that their friendship goes back year’s makes the ten year separation is just like a decade worth of foreplay.
The deal with Odell, the bully that saw their first kiss, and the library irked me because I just wanted these to be happy and Alex to be okay with being open about his sexuality. I guess it gave opportunity for Ricky Lee to kidnap Alex and take their relationship to a new level and I was so giddy during that time.
Goodness. This book really made me smile and that end was totally worthy of a movie ending. It was perfect and adorable for these two who I hope have a long and wonderful relationship and they do show their hometown that love, really is just love.
October 27, 2018
The Blogger Girls
New author for me, and the sample for the narrator, Colin Darcy, sounded good, so I decided to give it a whirl…and I am really glad that I did. I love a good reunited love story, and I love when the underdog comes back bigger, faster, stronger, and richer than his bully. We get this in Bad to the Bone, and so much more.
Alex and Ricky Lee were high school best friends and lovers. Until bad decisions forced Ricky Lee out of town and Alex was left without his promised future. Years pass, and though Ricky Lee never replied to Alex’s letters, he unexpectedly comes back to town to see Alex, and makes a big scene during their high school reunion. The lust and desire are still there. It is obvious that even though they have both had other relationships, one even got married to a woman, they still love each other.
However, the reason Ricky Lee was considered bad to the bone was more his Native American heritage and his is no-good father. The poor kid had the cards stacked against him and no one in his court to back him up. But Ricky Lee comes back with a secret, and though the town is still caught in their backwards and bigoted ways, he and Alex come out on top.
Colin Darcy does a great job narrating this story and bringing both Alex and Ricky Lee to life. I was not expecting his deep Ricky Lee voice, but it grew on me pretty quickly and by the end it fit him perfectly. As an audiobook goes, this one is not very long so you are moving along at a pretty good pace. This is a case where much could get lost in the speed, but Colin does a stellar job keeping the listener engaged and left rooting for the good guys to finally finish first.
Overall Impression: I really liked it
New author for me, and the sample for the narrator, Colin Darcy, sounded good, so I decided to give it a whirl…and I am really glad that I did. I love a good reunited love story, and I love when the underdog comes back bigger, faster, stronger, and richer than his bully. We get this in Bad to the Bone, and so much more.
Alex and Ricky Lee were high school best friends and lovers. Until bad decisions forced Ricky Lee out of town and Alex was left without his promised future. Years pass, and though Ricky Lee never replied to Alex’s letters, he unexpectedly comes back to town to see Alex, and makes a big scene during their high school reunion. The lust and desire are still there. It is obvious that even though they have both had other relationships, one even got married to a woman, they still love each other.
However, the reason Ricky Lee was considered bad to the bone was more his Native American heritage and his is no-good father. The poor kid had the cards stacked against him and no one in his court to back him up. But Ricky Lee comes back with a secret, and though the town is still caught in their backwards and bigoted ways, he and Alex come out on top.
Colin Darcy does a great job narrating this story and bringing both Alex and Ricky Lee to life. I was not expecting his deep Ricky Lee voice, but it grew on me pretty quickly and by the end it fit him perfectly. As an audiobook goes, this one is not very long so you are moving along at a pretty good pace. This is a case where much could get lost in the speed, but Colin does a stellar job keeping the listener engaged and left rooting for the good guys to finally finish first.
Overall Impression: I really liked it
May 15, 2018
Check out our
Bad to the Bone
post on Wicked Reads.
Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team
Sarah – ☆☆☆☆
This is a sweet, second chance romance between two high school friends who find each other again at their school reunion.
As adults, Alex has settled into the small town they grew up in and he runs his family’s hardware business with his sister. After being chased out of town as a teenager, Ricky Lee now lives in Portland and works in the tech industry.
As a Dreamspun Desires story, the book has lashings of drama, more than a little glamour, and a hint of a Cinderella story underneath it all. Alex and Ricky Lee are both a little bit too perfect and their high school nemesis and his friends are a little bit too horrible – but it all works in a classic Harlequin romance sort of way.
I actually found some of the supporting characters more interesting than Alex and Ricky Lee. I really enjoyed Alex’s sister, his cop best friend, and Ricky’s assistant. There is a crime story subplot that felt a little bit over the top but on the whole, this is an entertaining, if slightly fluffy read.
Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Bad to the Bone by Nicki Bennett to read and review.
Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team
Sarah – ☆☆☆☆
This is a sweet, second chance romance between two high school friends who find each other again at their school reunion.
As adults, Alex has settled into the small town they grew up in and he runs his family’s hardware business with his sister. After being chased out of town as a teenager, Ricky Lee now lives in Portland and works in the tech industry.
As a Dreamspun Desires story, the book has lashings of drama, more than a little glamour, and a hint of a Cinderella story underneath it all. Alex and Ricky Lee are both a little bit too perfect and their high school nemesis and his friends are a little bit too horrible – but it all works in a classic Harlequin romance sort of way.
I actually found some of the supporting characters more interesting than Alex and Ricky Lee. I really enjoyed Alex’s sister, his cop best friend, and Ricky’s assistant. There is a crime story subplot that felt a little bit over the top but on the whole, this is an entertaining, if slightly fluffy read.
Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Bad to the Bone by Nicki Bennett to read and review.
October 3, 2019
Dreamspun Desires are basically the Mills & Boon/Loveswept of the m/m romance genre - short & sweet m/m romances for the mass market.
Alex, once the high school football star was best friends with the school bad boy Ricky-Lee - they were caught kissing in the library by the school bully and Ricky Lee was expelled for delinquent behaviour. Alex has always regretted not standing up for Ricky but gets a second chance when Ricky unexpectedly returns for their 10 year high school reunion.
This is a nice, light 2nd chance at love romance. The romance itself is a bit too fairytale simple as is Ricky-Lee's revelation of now being a millionaire - However I love the premise of this one and the 2nd chance at love trope is always a winner. There's also a decent level of external plot involving a drug smuggling ring and saving the local library (always something close to my own heart)
I also really liked the inclusion of of Ricky-Lee's non-binary companion Crae - nice to see a kick-ass supporting LGBTQ character who isn't specifically gay or bi.
While this one isn't as emotionally deep as some of the other Dreamspinner titles, Its still an engaging happily ever after m/m romance.
Alex, once the high school football star was best friends with the school bad boy Ricky-Lee - they were caught kissing in the library by the school bully and Ricky Lee was expelled for delinquent behaviour. Alex has always regretted not standing up for Ricky but gets a second chance when Ricky unexpectedly returns for their 10 year high school reunion.
This is a nice, light 2nd chance at love romance. The romance itself is a bit too fairytale simple as is Ricky-Lee's revelation of now being a millionaire - However I love the premise of this one and the 2nd chance at love trope is always a winner. There's also a decent level of external plot involving a drug smuggling ring and saving the local library (always something close to my own heart)
I also really liked the inclusion of of Ricky-Lee's non-binary companion Crae - nice to see a kick-ass supporting LGBTQ character who isn't specifically gay or bi.
While this one isn't as emotionally deep as some of the other Dreamspinner titles, Its still an engaging happily ever after m/m romance.
May 29, 2019
Alex will admit he has a number of regrets--losing his football scholarship, participating in a failed marriage, not finding a way to get out of town--but he regrets nothing more than not standing up for his best friend (and boyfriend) in high school, Ricky Lee Jennings. So when Ricky Lee comes back to town for the first time in years to attend a high school reunion, Alex is intrigued and curious about whether he might have an opportunity to at least apologize and put things in the past. But just as much has happened in Alex's life since the last time they saw each other, Ricky Lee has experienced a number of life changes as well. And while the spark that was there between them quickly reignites, they are left with the question of whether they can accept each other for the men they have become. There are some interesting twists here that make for a bit of intrigue--and some side characters who truly get their just desserts--leaving a reader with something both entertaining and endearing.
November 7, 2018
Eh, it's okay.
I really liked Alex. While he's a pillar of the community, he still deals with feelings of failure in a believable way instead of 'author needs angst' way. Ricky Lee, on the other hand, didn't have much of a personality. He shows up, looks handsome, and acts like Prince Charming. He's basically a leather clad boyfriend cut out that walks about and gives Alex someone to fawn for.
The romance doesn't start until about halfway through. It's fine, more of a story of a small town boy who grew up with some disappointments but is still community minded. I wanted the romance to get started a little earlier or have more time to develop, or if not that, a few more tidbits to pepper that part of the story, but okay. However, because this is put on the back burner, the quick romance and quick resolution hurt the story overall.
I really liked Alex. While he's a pillar of the community, he still deals with feelings of failure in a believable way instead of 'author needs angst' way. Ricky Lee, on the other hand, didn't have much of a personality. He shows up, looks handsome, and acts like Prince Charming. He's basically a leather clad boyfriend cut out that walks about and gives Alex someone to fawn for.
The romance doesn't start until about halfway through. It's fine, more of a story of a small town boy who grew up with some disappointments but is still community minded. I wanted the romance to get started a little earlier or have more time to develop, or if not that, a few more tidbits to pepper that part of the story, but okay. However, because this is put on the back burner, the quick romance and quick resolution hurt the story overall.
July 19, 2018
My problem with Nicki Bennett books? I don't want to put them down until I'm done, and then I'm sad there isn't more. It was the same with this book. A sweet story of second chances at love, a little angst, a little back story to how they started, a little drama, and a lot of wonderful emotion that shows how much the characters still cared for each other years after they separated the first time. One that I know I'll read and enjoy again in the future.
July 28, 2018
Now this is what a good book should be. Fantastic characters, extraordinarily plausible situation and setting, real life conflicts, and a good mystery tossed in for good measure. This book read so easily and well that I didn't want to put it down until I'd finished it -- the hallmark of a good book for me. I generally have some complaint about most books, but not this one. This one checked all the boxes for me and was a first class read. Well done.
June 1, 2019
Not a bad story about former friends who reconnect at a high school reunion. However, the romance did feel a bit fast. I think it worked because of the fact that that this is part of the Dreamspun Desires line.
June 16, 2018
3.5 stars
October 1, 2022
Ricky Lee, part-Comanche, comes back ten years later to the little town where he was ill-treated, to find the boy he once kissed. There’s still plenty of prejudice around but it all works out well in the end.
May 28, 2018
A second change romance for two high school sweethearts, who were not allowed to be together.
The half-Comanche boy from the wrong part of town, Ricky Lee Jennings. is back in town for their 10-year high school reunion. When a homophobic teammate attacked Ricky Lee, Alex wouldn’t risk his football scholarship and did not defend him. Consequently Ricky Lee was kicked out of school, and Alex never heard from him again.
Ricky Lee left all those years ago as the town rascal, he is now back and is again treated as such. When Ricky Lee & Alex reconnect, old feelings spark back to life.
“There’s just one more thing.” He moved even closer, backing Alex up against the ladders he’d just racked. “I’ve been wanting to do this all day.”
Ricky Lee lowered his head and brushed his lips against Alex’s. Alex drew in a startled breath, and Ricky Lee swallowed the exhale, closing his mouth over Alex’s.
Alex and Ricky Lee have to fight prejudice and have to face their childhood bully again, but their slow burn romance is heading to their HEA.
The secondary characters, Alex's BFF Sam and his sister Alanna were delightful additions to the story.
July 23, 2021
Klassentreffen, kein neues Thema, aber interessant umgesetzt.
Alex und Ricky Lee waren Highschoolfreunde. Doch während Alex beliebt und im Footballteam spielte, war Ricky Lee schon immer ein Außenseiter. Der Vater ein Trinker, er selbst ein Halbblut und dazu noch schwul. All das machte ihn automatisch zur Zielscheibe von Mitschülern und auch der Schulleiter hatte ihn auf der Abschussliste. Als er dann auch noch Alex geküsst hatte, flog er von der Schule. Dass es einvernehmlich war, interessierte keinen, denn natürlich konnte ein Footballspieler niemals schwul sein.
Jahre später vermisst Alex noch immer seinen Freund aus Jugendzeiten. Auch mit ihm hat es das Schicksal nicht gut gemeint. Eine Verletzung hat dem Traum einer Profikarriere ein schnelles Ende bereitet, die Ehe mit seiner Frau ist gescheitert. Als nun ein erneutes Klassentreffen ansteht, geschieht etwas, womit Alex nicht mehr gerechnet hat, Ricky Lee nimmt daran teil.
Nach dem Rauswurf aus der Schule hat sich für Ricky Lee das Blatt zum Guten gewendet. Sein Neuanfang konnte nicht besser sein, heute ist er Gründer von Polynomial Software, hat ein erfolgreiches Programm entwickelt und ist mittlerweile Millionär. Trotzdem hängt ihm die Vergangenheit noch immer an, so lässt der homophobe Sheriff ihn wegen haltlosen Vorurteilen sofort überprüfen. Das Wiedersehen von Alex und Ricky Lee ist nicht einfach, aber alte Gefühle füreinander sind eine stabile Brücke.
Die Geschichte von Alex und Ricky Lee hat mir gut gefallen. Als Jugendliche hatten die beiden Chance, doch nun als Erwachsene können sie sich endlich über Vorurteile und aufgezwungene Klischees hinwegsetzen und gemeinsam in die Zukunft starten.
Alex und Ricky Lee waren Highschoolfreunde. Doch während Alex beliebt und im Footballteam spielte, war Ricky Lee schon immer ein Außenseiter. Der Vater ein Trinker, er selbst ein Halbblut und dazu noch schwul. All das machte ihn automatisch zur Zielscheibe von Mitschülern und auch der Schulleiter hatte ihn auf der Abschussliste. Als er dann auch noch Alex geküsst hatte, flog er von der Schule. Dass es einvernehmlich war, interessierte keinen, denn natürlich konnte ein Footballspieler niemals schwul sein.
Jahre später vermisst Alex noch immer seinen Freund aus Jugendzeiten. Auch mit ihm hat es das Schicksal nicht gut gemeint. Eine Verletzung hat dem Traum einer Profikarriere ein schnelles Ende bereitet, die Ehe mit seiner Frau ist gescheitert. Als nun ein erneutes Klassentreffen ansteht, geschieht etwas, womit Alex nicht mehr gerechnet hat, Ricky Lee nimmt daran teil.
Nach dem Rauswurf aus der Schule hat sich für Ricky Lee das Blatt zum Guten gewendet. Sein Neuanfang konnte nicht besser sein, heute ist er Gründer von Polynomial Software, hat ein erfolgreiches Programm entwickelt und ist mittlerweile Millionär. Trotzdem hängt ihm die Vergangenheit noch immer an, so lässt der homophobe Sheriff ihn wegen haltlosen Vorurteilen sofort überprüfen. Das Wiedersehen von Alex und Ricky Lee ist nicht einfach, aber alte Gefühle füreinander sind eine stabile Brücke.
Die Geschichte von Alex und Ricky Lee hat mir gut gefallen. Als Jugendliche hatten die beiden Chance, doch nun als Erwachsene können sie sich endlich über Vorurteile und aufgezwungene Klischees hinwegsetzen und gemeinsam in die Zukunft starten.
November 1, 2018
While I don’t usually like “second chance” books, I really enjoyed this one.
This was very heart-felt, with a real-ish type setting but enough “fantasy” elements to make it feel a bit like Cinderella.
I loved the added touches of making Ricky Native American, as well as rich. The “bad guys” were super bad and I definitely felt like I was reading an old timey romance – with a gay twist!
I thought Alex and Ricky Lee had great chemistry and their story was mostly sweet and little hot. I loved Sam – especially the end scene!
Overall this was exactly what you’d expect for the genre, well-written and a quick sweet read.
Audiobook
I found the narrator, Colin Darcy, to be good but not great. He definitely makes the attempt to give everyone a unique voice and does his best to "act" out the emotions. However, there are times when his narration is rather sing-song and while I appreciate his attempts, he doesn't always give a good match in terms of tone or tenor to the emotions that he is reading.
Those are definitely "icing of the cake" type issues and the main body of his narration is good and solid and easily a perfectly fine way to enjoy this story.
Overall 3.75 of 5 stars
This was very heart-felt, with a real-ish type setting but enough “fantasy” elements to make it feel a bit like Cinderella.
I loved the added touches of making Ricky Native American, as well as rich. The “bad guys” were super bad and I definitely felt like I was reading an old timey romance – with a gay twist!
I thought Alex and Ricky Lee had great chemistry and their story was mostly sweet and little hot. I loved Sam – especially the end scene!
Overall this was exactly what you’d expect for the genre, well-written and a quick sweet read.
Audiobook
I found the narrator, Colin Darcy, to be good but not great. He definitely makes the attempt to give everyone a unique voice and does his best to "act" out the emotions. However, there are times when his narration is rather sing-song and while I appreciate his attempts, he doesn't always give a good match in terms of tone or tenor to the emotions that he is reading.
Those are definitely "icing of the cake" type issues and the main body of his narration is good and solid and easily a perfectly fine way to enjoy this story.
Overall 3.75 of 5 stars
May 31, 2018
Definitely has that Dreamspun Desires vibe. Cute fluffy second chance romance about two guys who met in high school. Ah, the things that happen to us in high school resonate through the years! You leave on a high that you're going to conquer the world and then you have to return home when life doesn't turn out as you'd hoped. Alex and Ricky Lee are sweet together. That connection they had in school is still very much present when they reconnect. This is my second book by Ms. Bennett. She has a nice way of telling a story - sometimes a bit slower paced than I'd like - but still quite readable. I was engaged throughout the book.
May 27, 2018
It was fun to see what happens when you come home again. I love how Alex's family and friend help him move forward. I love stories where you get back to your first love when the timing is right. Ricky Lee has a great outlook on life and was able to see the good in a bad situation.
February 15, 2022
eine schoene Geschichte ohne allzu grosse Hoehepunkte und/oder Dramatik,
dieses Buch ist allerdings toll zum Lesen, da es fluessig und fesselnd geschrieben ist
dieses Buch ist allerdings toll zum Lesen, da es fluessig und fesselnd geschrieben ist
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