Their Four Date Experiment: An Opposites Attract MM Romance

by Jeff Adams, William Gayheart

What happens when a tech-skeptic journalist meets the algorithm designer who might be his perfect match?

Journalist Theo Barrett is determined to expose the dangers of algorithmic dating after watching his parents' marriage crumble because of it. His latest target is LoveLogic, the cutting-edge company promising data-driven relationship success.

When a confrontation with the company's founder, Zach Mendez, goes viral, Theo’s editor offers him an irresistible opportunity: participate in a series of dates with Mendez himself while documenting the experience. What begins as research slowly transforms as Theo discovers the wounded heart behind Zach's brilliant mind—a man driven to prevent others from experiencing his own past betrayal.

As their connection deepens, Zach discovers a critical flaw in LoveLogic's algorithm that has been inflating their compatibility score. Now both men must choose between professional integrity and the relationship that's challenging everything they believe about technology and human connection.

If the algorithm that brought them together is flawed, does that make their feelings any less real?

Their Four Date Experiment is a steamy, emotional, opposites attract romance, featuring professional rivals and the undeniable chemistry that happens when two stubborn men discover their greatest challenge just might lead to their HEA.

Genres: Enemies To Lovers

332 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 18, 2025

About the author

Jeff Adams has written stories since he was in middle school and became a published author in 2009. He writes both gay romance and LGBTQ young adult fiction…and there’s usually a hockey player at the center of the story.

Jeff lives in northern California with his husband of more than twenty-five years, Will. They are creative collaborators, writing and podcasting together. For nine years they were the co-hosts of the Big Gay Fiction Podcast.

Jeff is also a Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies (CPACC) by the International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP). He's an advocate for accessible web content and helps creative entrepreneurs understand how they can make sure their content is accessible by everyone.

Reviews

[Ed Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought the story was ok. After all, I did finish. The writing was so academic that at times it felt like I was being lectured by one of my college professors. I also didn’t feel the connection between Zach and Barrett.Their first two dates were so stiff and their conversations really boring. I think my favorite character was Barrett’s mother. I loved the way she handled their relationship and encouraged Barrett even though she had every reason to be against any relationship brought on by computer dating. I did notice a few places that could have used a good editor, but not enough to influence my review of the book.

[Betsy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm so glad to see these two writing together again. This was an enjoyable romance with the added benefit of nuanced discussion of the logical and intuitive approaches to problem solving and relationships.

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was thrilled when I discovered the works of Mr. Gayheart, then thrilled again when I found his husband's works, so, imagine my joy when I found this tale, a joint effort by both men! It's a wee bit drawn out at times in the first bit and a little heavy on the technical speak, but the push and pull between these two is so irresistible. I've read a couple of stories set around dating apps, this one is so much more intense and elaborate. You may find it a bit overloaded with data speak, or you may not, but stick with it, it's a wonderful, touching tale of two men who has no idea what they really wanted until it smacked in the face.

[Fritz42 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this to pieces. I think what I loved the most was how both Theo and Zach fought passionately from their perspectives, but at the same time, would truly listen to each other. It caused them to constantly evaluate their positions and be open to change, both professionally and personally. It was fun watching them challenge each other. You could see how much they enjoyed it. My favorite thing was because of the true integrity of their beliefs, they allowed themselves to be vulnerable with each other. They really understood where the other one was coming from before the end of the experiment.

Yes, there was some technological "jargon" that I had to reread at times to understand, but it didn't hamper my enjoyment. In fact, it made me dig deeper and enhanced my enjoyment.

I'm going to "dig deeper" into both authors' backlist of books. I enjoyed their writing and want to read more, whether that is individually or together.

[Rita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Likeable, flawed characters that both go through personal growth and emerge stronger together. I don’t normally care for adversarial relationships, but this one worked because they were both open to engaging with criticism thoughtfully rather than defensively. They both have a strong core of personal integrity that helped them not lie to themselves. They didn’t overreact and lash out. The road to the happy ending was bumpy and had many conflicts to resolve but none of it sprung from poor communication or self inflicted bullshit. In other words this story avoids all my pet peeves in this trope, and was very enjoyable.

[Ellie Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This premise had a really interesting and thoughtful premise, placing MCs Zach and Theo on opposite sides of the dating app argument.

When the algorithm places CEO of the dating company Theo with his harshest critic, investigative journalist Theo, although it's great publicity for them both on a professional level, personally it appears to be a match made in hell!

But both men have deeper reasons for their own bias, which are gradually revealed during the story, as are the strong principles they both share. This story is a lovely lesson in conscious compromise with two very different but genuinely likeable men who have to learn that they are much stronger together.

[Sharon Leff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Algorithm Romance…Reliable…Verifiable…

Readers will delight in the language, the discussions, interactions, debates, and counter points. What begins as an almost challenge between a prominent journalist and a Tech CEO/Founder of a dating app develops into something more, and more, and more, gradually.

And what concludes is that the dating apps operated using algorithms actually provide an introduction to opportunity and the consequential relationship development occurs based on choices.

The truest sort of nerd love that transpires deserves a sequel. Well done!